Mostly dry weather with an almost regular weekly rain has provided good conditions for winter wheat planting in Arkansas.

Planting was up to 66 percent completed from the 47 percent planted the previous week, which is also the five-year average. The crop is 40 percent emerged, up from just 16 percent the previous week and the 28 percent five-year average.

Despite fairly widespread rain, “there are still some places that are fairly dry, especially in the western part of the state,” Jason Kelley, Extension wheat and feed grains specialist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said on Nov. 2.

“We’ve had two or three rain events come through, but most areas didn’t have that much rain –it was measured in the tenths of an inch.” Still, “it’s good to get a little moisture in the soil to get the wheat growing.

“A few more days of dry weather would really help to speed planting along.”

Kelley said he expected about a half-million winter wheat acres to be planted in Arkansas this year.

Among other crops, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported:

For more information about crop production, contact your county agent or visit www.uaex.edu.