By Carah Hart

Rice harvest has started in southern Arkansas, but an assistant agronomy professor at the University of Arkansas says it’s not expected to be a record crop.

Justin Chlapecka tells Brownfield it’s a smaller crop than in previous years. “Especially from what we predicted earlier,” he says. “Especially with all the rains, we’ve got a lot of prevent plant, and rice prices weren’t the best. So there were some acres that switched to other crops.”

According to the latest crop report from the USDA, 86 percent of the state’s rice crop is headed, with 73 percent rated good to excellent.  One percent of the crop has been harvested.  

Chlapecka says the recent hot and dry conditions can be good and bad for rice harvest. “If you drain too early and it gets dry too quickly, you might get some dead plants and maybe lodging or reduced grain quality if the moisture falls too quickly. But definitely, warm and dry conditions are better than having a really rainy year.”

He says the state has had about 45 inches of rain so far this year, when it typically averages 52 inches.

Soybeans are rated 63 percent good to excellent, with 93 percent of the crop setting pods.  The cotton crop is rated 69 percent good to excellen,t with 34 percent setting bolls.  

Pastures are rated 39 percent good to excellent.  

Published Date: August 12, 2025