United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Arkansas Prospective Plantings Report
Released March 31, 2015
Cooperating with the University of Arkansas – Division of Agriculture
10800 Financial Centre Parkway, Suite 110 · Little Rock, Arkansas 72211
(501) 228-9926 · (501) 224-5630 FAX · www.nass.usda.gov
This report contains the results from the 2015 March Agricultural Survey. The data are also posted on our Web site at
http://www.nass.usda.gov/ar and in a more detailed report at http://www.nass.usda.gov. Thanks to all who responded to this survey.
Cotton Acreage Intentions at Record Low
Soybean Acreage Highest in the Last 17 Years
All Rice Down 3 Percent from Last Year
Corn: Arkansas corn growers intend to plant 530,000 acres, down 2 percent from last year’s 540,000 acres.
Cotton: All cotton acreage intentions are at 230,000 acres, down 31 percent from last year’s 335,000 acres. If realized,
this will be the lowest planted acres on record. Record keeping on planted acreage began in 1909.
Hay All: All hay acres expected to be harvested in Arkansas are estimated at 1.20 million acres, down 25,000 acres from
2014.
Oats: Oat growers intend to plant 12,000 acres in 2015, unchanged from last year.
Rice: Intended planted acres for all rice for 2015 are 1.44 million acres, down 3 percent from the previous year’s 1.48
million acres. Long grain rice acres are down 50,000 acres from last year while medium grain acres are up 5,000 acres
from a year ago.
Sorghum: Sorghum growers intend to plant 250,000 acres, up 47 percent from last year.
Soybeans: Soybean growers intend to plant 3.45 million acres in 2015, up 6 percent from last year. If realized, this will
be the highest since 1998 when the state planted 3.55 million acres.
Sweet Potato: Sweet potato growers intend to plant 3,800 acres, down 5 percent from last year.
Winter Wheat: Wheat acreage in Arkansas is down 16 percent from last year to an estimated 390,000 acres planted for all
purposes in 2015.
Crop
Principal Crops: Area Planted, Arkansas and United States, 2014-2015
Arkansas
United States
2014
20151
2015/2014
2014
20151
1,000 Acres
Corn
Cotton, All
Hay, All2
Oats
Rice, All
Long Grain
Medium Grain
Short Grain
Sorghum
Soybeans
Sweet Potatoes
Wheat, All
1
2
540
335
1,225
12
1,486
1,270
215
1
170
3,240
4.0
465
Percent
530
230
1,200
12
1,441
1,220
220
1
250
3,450
3.8
390
98
69
98
100
97
96
102
100
147
106
95
84
1,000 Acres
90,597
11,307
57,092
2,723
2,939
2,207
696
36
7,138
83,701
137.3
56,822
Intended plantings in 2015 as indicated by reports from producers.
Intended area for harvest in 2015 as indicated by reports from producers.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
2015/2014
Percent
89,199
9,549
57,093
2,931
2,915
2,197
686
32
7,900
84,635
137.7
55,367
98
87
100
108
99
100
99
89
111
101
100
97
Corn: Area Planted, Arkansas and U.S., 1995-2015
U.S.
900
All Cotton: Area Planted, Arkansas and U.S., 1995-2015
Arkansas
100
1,200
85
500
80
400
300
75
200
70
100
0
16
1,000
14
800
12
600
10
400
65
8
200
Year
Year
All Hay: Area Harvested, Arkansas and U.S., 1995-2015
Arkansas
Rice: Area Planted, Arkansas, 1995-2015
U.S.
65
1,600
Long
64
Medium
Short
2,000
61
60
1,300
59
58
1,200
57
1,100
56
55
1,000
1,750
1,000 Acres
62
1,400
Million Acres (U.S.)
63
1,500
1,000 Acres (AR)
Million Acres (U.S.)
600
1,000 Acres (AR)
90
700
Million Acres (U.S.)
1,000 Acres (AR)
18
95
800
1,500
1,250
1,000
750
500
54
900
250
53
Year
Year
Soybeans: Area Planted, Arkansas and U.S., 1995-2015
Arkansas
4.0
All Wheat: Area Planted, Arkansas and U.S., 1995-2015
U.S.
Arkansas
85
1,600
80
75
70
3.0
65
60
2.5
55
1,000 Acres (AR)
3.5
U.S.
80
1,300
Million Acres (U.S.)
Million Acres (AR)
U.S.
1,400
70
1,000
60
700
50
400
100
40
Year
Year
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Million Acres (U.S.)
1,000
Arkansas