Summary of Agriculture in Jefferson County Arkansas University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

1. Agriculture in
Jefferson County
Anthony Whittington
County Extension Agent- Agriculture
Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service

2. Agriculture in
Jefferson County

3. Corn in Jefferson
County
• 33,838 acres in the county (2015 data).
• Jefferson County was #1 in Arkansas for acres harvested.
• 95% of corn in Jefferson County is irrigated.
• Current market price $3.72 per bushel.
• Majority of corn in county is exported via Mississippi River,
but there is an increase in sending corn to local poultry meals.
• Average bushels per acre harvested in 2015 was 201.

5. Cotton in Jefferson
County
• 2,753 acres grown in county (2015 data)
• 1,157 pounds per acre harvested (county average).
• Current market price $.62 per pound.
• Only 5 producers in county remaining that grow cotton.
• Arkansas ranks nationally in cotton production. 4th in lint yield per
acre, 5th for production, and 6th for acres planted.

6. Uses of Cotton

7. Soybeans in
Jefferson County
• 111,607 acres grown in county (2015 data)
• Average county bushels per acre is 53
• Current market price $ 8.50 per bushel
• First introduced in Arkansas in 1925
• Grown in 41 of Arkansas’ 75 counties
• 3.1 million acres grown in Arkansas

8. Over 50% of
newspapers are
made with soy ink.
One acre of
soybeans can
produce 82,368
crayons
Soybean oil is now
a replacement oil in
making tires, thus
reducing fossil fuel
use.
Soy biodiesel is a clean-
burning, non-toxic
renewable fuel made
from soybean oil
The Miracle Bean

9. Rice in Jefferson
County
• 67,124 acres grown in county (2015 data)
• Average county bushels per acre is 167
• Current market price $10.76 per bushel
• Grown in 40 of the 75 counties
• Began in Arkansas in 1902 with one acre in Lonoke County

10. • 1.3 million acres of rice
• Nearly 9 billion pounds of rice
• 50% of U.S. rice acreage is in Arkansas
• #1 Agriculture export in Arkansas
• Arkansas rice production is valued at
$2 billion annually
Rice in Arkansas

11. Grain Sorghum in
Jefferson County
• 5,032 acres grown in county (2015 data).
• Average county bushels per acre is 84
• Current market price $ 3.50 per bushel
• About 60% of crop is irrigated in the county
• Good rotational crop for weed and insect management (nematodes)
• 125,000 acres grown state wide

12. Interesting Facts on
Grain Sorghum
• Primarily used for livestock feed and ethanol production.
• Produces the same amount of ethanol per bushel as comparable
feedstocks and uses one-third less water.
• Becoming popular in human sector. Has recently appeared in U.S. food
products because of use in gluten-free foods.
• Excellent substitute for wheat for those who can’t tolerate gluten. Also
used to make both leavened and unleavened breads.
• Also used for building material, fencing, floral arrangements, pet food,
brooms and more.

13. Wheat in
Jefferson County
• 17,000 acres grown in county (2014 data)
• Average county bushels per acre is 70
• Current market price $ 5.19 per bushel
• 600,000 acres grown state wide
• Most wheat acres are double-cropped with soybeans following wheat
harvest.
• Planted in October-November and harvested in May-June.

14. Program
Implementation
Agriculture
Row Crop IPM and Production Meetings
• Corn Production Meeting- 32 attended
• Cotton Production Meeting- 13 attended
• Rice & Soybean Meeting- 44 attended
• Disease IPM Meeting- 10 attended
• Rice IPM Meeting- 16 attended
• PHAUCET Training (Dumas)- 35 attended
• Pesticide Applicator Training (2)- 49 attended

15. Program
Implementation
Corn Hybrid Variety Trial
• Producer- Felix Smart Jr.
• 12 varieties side by side comparison
• Highest yielding variety 251 bu/ac
• Lowest yielding variety 164 bu/ac
Soybean Excluder Variety Trial
• Producers- Kris & Meredith Baker
• Demo comparing salt tolerant
varieties
• 12 varieties side by side comparison
Agriculture

16. Program
Implementation
Agriculture
PHAUCET Irrigation Program
• Producer- Larry Rasberry
• 64 acre field.
• 3 days to completely irrigate before
PHAUCET Implementation.
• After applying PHAUCET with correct hole
selection, the program reduced the water
usage to only 2 days of irrigation.
• After results of the water savings the
producer used PHAUCET across entire
farm.

17. Program
Implementation
Agriculture
Rice Verification
• Producer- Felix Smart Jr. (1st. Year)
• Variety- LaKast
• Field planted- May 25, 2015
• Field harvest- October 10 , 2015
• Harvest data not available
• 61 acre field
• N-ST*R was used on field
Soybean Verification
• Producer- Larry Rasberry (1st. Year)
• Variety- Delta Grow 4990LL
• Field planted- May 24, 2015
• Field harvest- October 12, 2015
• PHAUCET irrigation program used
• 64 acre field
Corn Verification
• Producer- Kris & Meredith Baker
(2nd year)
• Variety- DeKalb 62-08
• Field planted- April 23 , 2015
• Field harvest- September 21, 2015
• Yield 248 bu/ac
• 59 acre field

18. Ag/Natural Resources
Wildlife
Wildlife Food Plot Demonstration
• Partnering with UAPB (on site)
• 3 year study
• 3 plots with 30X30 sections
• Planting will take place October 2015.
• Measuring the mass of what is eaten to see
which variety (oats, wheat, rye) is most
consumed.
• Fertilizer and lime will be applied based on UA
recommendations.

19. Program
Implementation
HorticultureHealthy Gardens, Healthy Youth
Project Goals:
1. Increase Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
2. Empower Youth in their Communities
3. Contribute Toward a Sustainable
Environment and Food System
4. Build a National Network

20. Program
Implementation
Horticulture
• 3rd & 5th Grade Students at
Townsend Park Elementary
(Dollarway School District)
• 87 Students in the program
• (5) 4X8 raised beds were built
in school courtyard
• Before and after cafeteria
photos were taken to see fruit
and vegetable consumption
based on lessons taught.
• Pre and post surveys were
conducted to assess students’
learning.
• Vegetables grown: Tomatoes,
peppers, squash, cucumbers
• Herbs grown: Rosemary,
peppermint, spearmint,
orangemint, basil, sage, oregano,
lemon balm.
• Educated students on planting
and growing vegetables and herbs,
and about healthy eating.
• Education sessions in the garden
and in the classroom were
conducted.

21. “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble
employment of men”
- George Washington