Agricultural and Food Policy
 Agri Outlook
Radio
Number 86
Outlook: Arkansas Row Crop Production: Rice, Corn and Sorghum Producers Expect Record Yields in 2007 (4:53 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. Bobby Coats
Extension Economist
University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture
Arkansas rice, corn and sorghum producers expect record yields in 2007. USDA
is forecasting Arkansas corn producers have harvested the state’s largest corn
crop. I’m Bobby Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
On rice, Arkansas is the largest rice producing state in the United States producing
an estimated 95.4 million hundredweight (cwt) of rice or 48% of the rice
produced in the United States in 2007. California is the second largest rice producing
state followed by Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. Arkansas rice
production is down 1 percent from last year’s production. USDA estimates
Arkansas rice producers averaged 7200 pounds or 160 bushels per acre in 2007. If
achieved Arkansas producers will exceed their previous 2004 record yield by 220
pounds or 4.9 bushels per acre. Arkansas rice producers will harvest an
estimated 1.33 million acres of rice or 75,000 few acres than in 2006.
On cotton, low cotton prices, high input cost, and attractive corn prices were key
factors in Arkansas cotton acreage declining from 1.160 million acres last year to
850,000 acres in 2007. Arkansas cotton production is forecast at 1.85 million
480-pound bales. Arkansas cotton production is down 27 percent from last year.
Arkansas cotton producers are projected to average 1,045 pounds per harvested
acre. A yield of 1,045 pounds ties Arkansas cotton producers for the second
highest yield on record. In 2004 Arkansas cotton producers produced a record
yield of 1,114 pounds per acre. The potential for improved cotton prices could
have cotton producers planting more cotton acres in 2008 than they planted in
2007. That said, with the potential for strong corn and soybean pricing
opportunities in 2008 and cotton production costs remaining excessive for many
producers then cotton acreage could struggle. I continue to believe that
Arkansas cotton producers will plant 900,000 plus acres in 2008. Since 1990 Arkansas
cotton producers have averaged harvesting 967,000 acres of cotton.
On soybeans, not since 1961 have Arkansas soybean producers harvested fewer acres of
soybeans. In 2007 USDA estimates that Arkansas soybean producers will harvest
2.780 million acres of soybeans, which is down from last years 3.1 million
acres. Arkansas soybean producers are forecast to produce 106 million bushels
with an average yield of 38 bushels per acre. It is a little early to project
next year’s Arkansas soybean acreage. If expected attractive soybean prices
emerge then Arkansas soybean producers may be in a better position to cash flow
their operations with a like acreage of soybeans next year. If the demand for
corn into the future is sustainable, which is yet to be determined, then soybean
acreage at some point will give up acreage to corn and sorghum as producers
focus on productivity gains from rotation and maximizing profits with the
addition of feed grains.
On sorghum, Arkansas sorghum producers increased their sorghum for grain production from
5.1 million bushels in 2006 to 20 million bushels in 2007. USDA estimates that
sorghum for grain yields will average a new record high of 93 bushels per acre.
Arkansas sorghum producers harvested 215,000 acres, which is up 258 percent from
2006.
This has been Bobby Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas Division
of Agriculture.
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