The weather this spring has allowed rice to be planted across most of the state at record pace. As of May 9, farmers had planted an estimated 95% of the rice acreage. This compares to 90% last week and only 66% this time last year. It is also well ahead of the 5-year average of 79% for this week. The USDA estimates that 82% of the rice acreage has emerged. This compares to 46% last year at this time and 57% for the 5-year average. Our planting progress is 2-3 weeks ahead of the 5-year average and a month ahead of last year. As of May 9, 16% of the crop is reported to be in excellent condition, 45% good, 35% fair, and 4% poor.
Average temperatures were near normal ranging from 2 degrees below normal at Gibert to 6 degrees above normal at Eudora for the week ending May 9. Low temperatures ranged from 39 degrees at Fayetteville to a high of 92 degrees at Stuttgart, Rohwer, and Eudora. Rainfall for the week ending May 9 ranged from a low of 0.02 inches at Eudora to a high of 2.1 inches at Morrilton. Overall, soil moisture supplies were 18% short, 67% adequate, and 15% surplus.
The water is still receding from the flooding that occurred last week. It is still unknown at this time how much of that rice will need to be replanted. Much of the rice is reaching the statge for flood establishment. Remember to wait until the soil dries to apply preflood nitrogen fertilizer and then apply a shallow flood as quickly as possible.
Very early estimates suggest that CL 151 is the most widely planted variety so far (about 24% of the acreage). The next most widely planted varieties are Wells (15%), Rice Tec CL XL 745 (14%) and Jupiter (13%). These numbers are preliminary and may change as we get more information available.
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