Soybean harvest expected to be fast and furious

FLOWING GOLD — Grain harvested from the Lafayette County corn variety trial. Taken Aug. 19, 2026. | UADA image by Jerri Dew

By MARY HIGHTOWER | University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Soybean harvest made its debut in this week’s Crop Progress report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and Extension Soybean Agronomist Jeremy Ross expects it to move at a brisk pace.

Soybeans were reported at 4% harvested, which equaled last year’s rate and doubled the 2% five-year average.

Corn was 42% harvested, well ahead of last year’s 31% and the 19% five-year average. Rice was 16% harvested. It too, was ahead of the 2025 pace of 13% and the five-year average of 9%.

“Soybean harvest will probably be quick this fall,” said Ross, who works for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “It’s mainly because of the heat, but the lack of moisture and the early planting date for a majority of the soybean acres will contribute to an early and fast harvest.”

In the August Crop Production report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Arkansas’ soybean yield was projected to be a record 57 bushels per acre, said Scott Stiles, extension economics program associate. Soybean acres in 2026 increased 33% over last year to 3.45 million — the highest since 2017.

Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist with the Division of Agriculture, said that rice harvest pace is line with expectations. 

“We should see a pretty large jump in progress over the next two weeks, based on much more rice being ready for harvest and a favorable forecast,” he said.

The National Weather Service forecast through Saturday shows the potential for rain Wednesday and Wednesday night.

Rice acres were down 30% compared to last year for a total of 901,000 — the lowest since 1977. NASS projected the state average rice yield in August to be 7,450 pounds per acre or 165.6 bushels per acre, down 30 pounds per acre from last year, Stiles said.

The weather has been helpful for corn harvest as well.

“The high temps and lack of rainfall over the last two weeks have been great for corn dry down and harvest,” said Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist. “We are well ahead of schedule on harvest and should progress rapidly to completion over the next two to three weeks.” 

Arkansas’ corn yield was projected at 185 bushels per acre, up from 182 bushels last year. Corn acreage was down 6% this year to 760,000.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.