Arkansas
Arkansas farmers expected to produce record soybean yields – Talk Business & Politics
It’s expected that Arkansas soybean yields could set a new record, with each acre yielding an estimated 53 bushels on average, said Jeremy Ross, soybean extension agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The increase is expected despite drought-like conditions throughout the Mississippi Delta Region in 2023. Better growing practices, including proactive irrigation, along with better plant genetics, early planting and favorable conditions for many of the state’s soybean farmers were other factors for improved yields, Ross said.
“We won’t have the final numbers until February, but there is potential for the yield average to be higher,” Ross said. “South Arkansas took it on the chin this spring with heavy rains and some very cold conditions after planting, in addition to several hailstorms in other parts of the state, but overall, it was a good year.”
The previous record average soybean yield for Arkansas was 52 bushels per acre in 2021, which was matched in 2022. The final numbers will be released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in February. Ross said he would not be surprised if the estimate is bumped up beyond 53 bushels per acre for Arkansas.
“Each year our soybean yields just keep getting better and better, and that trends across the entire United States,” Ross said. “Looking back, we were 20 percentage points ahead of the five-year average on planting progress and that translated into the crop being mature 15 to 20 percent ahead of typically where we were.”
Many soybean farmers in Arkansas were done with harvest before Halloween and got a jump on land preparation for the 2024 planting season, Ross said. One farmer he talked to in central Arkansas said his fields were 4 to 5 bushels better across the entire farm.
“I’ve talked to several producers and some farmers say that this is the best year they’ve ever had soybean wise,” Ross said.
Dry periods helped push down fungal disease pressure until the end of the season when “it came on with a vengeance,” he said. Soybean fields planted earlier were able to fend off disease better and farmers were outrunning pests with earlier harvest, Ross noted.
Soybean fields near and north of Pine Bluff saw enough favorable weather in 2023 to bump up the state average. It wasn’t a golden year for most growers in the middle of America, though. Drought in the Midwest pushed soybean yields down in that region and created troubling low-water levels on the Mississippi River, which tripped a domino effect downstream.
Not only were grain elevators filled up at harvest time because barge traffic was limited, but fertilizer wasn’t coming in for post-harvest bed preparations when expected. Some farmers also had to leave soybeans in the field to harvest later, Ross said.
“Grain elevators were having to hold on to more than they typically do because they couldn’t get it shipped out fast enough,” Ross explained. “We really didn’t have a break in harvest. Farmers just rolled from corn to rice to soybeans, and there wasn’t a break to give elevators a chance to get grain shipped out, so everything just kind of started stacking up.”
The rice harvest was also a little better than expected, Ross said, taking up space typically reserved for soybean because it could not make it to the river for export when expected. Some farmers Ross talked to said they trucked their soybeans 50 to 75 miles farther than usual.
“There were a few hiccups and a few glitches along the way, but I think most everybody is doing pretty good now,” Ross said of the post-harvest trials of a bumper crop with low river levels.
Soybeans remain the state’s most widely grown row crop. In 2023, more than 3 million acres were harvested. The crop has a $2.38 billion value, according to USDA estimates. Arkansas traditionally is among the top 10 soybean producing states each year.
Arkansas
Arkansas Educational Television Commission disaffiliates from PBS | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Bill Bowden
Bill Bowden covers a variety of news for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, primarily in Northwest Arkansas. He has worked at the newspaper for 16 years and previously worked for both the Arkansas Democrat and Arkansas Gazette.
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Accounting firms in Arkansas are aggressively adopting artificial intelligence tools. The field is among the most impacted by the AI boom because it is so data-centered.
“All the accounting firms, you know, medium size to large firms that I’ve been talking to, they have incorporated AI to some extent,” said Dr. Gaurav Kumar, a professor of accounting at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Artificial intelligence can do in an instant work that used to take accountants many hours.
Landmark CPAs is at the forefront of the industry’s shift to AI in Arkansas and says the technology has all but eliminated the need for entry-level accountants to punch in numbers for W-2s and 1099s.
“Being able to use software that can auto-populate, can read documents and populate that into the return for us has really made a big difference,” said Rocky Goodman, a tax partner at Landmark.
And it’s the same with audits—AI can look for discrepancies and verify cash payments at lightning speed.
“It’s going to do it like that, whereas it used to take a staff maybe five to 10 hours,” said Michael Pierce, a Landmark audit partner.
And contrary to fears, Landmark says AI isn’t costing accountants jobs but plugging a gap created by a workforce shortage in the industry.
The advantages of AI are clear, but it also demands investment in cybersecurity and ensuring data privacy.
“One of the concerns is privacy. So, you know, if the staff is using personal AI tools, client data could be exposed. So firms must provide kind of secure, enterprise-grade AI options and clear policies,” Kumar told KATV.
Landmark plays it safe and uses enterprise-level AI tools.
“Our IT department obviously spends a lot of time researching to ensure that we don’t have any issues with client information being included in the learning modules that are building out these AIs,” Pierce told KATV.
Another concern is that, despite its rapid growth, AI is not infallible.
“AI can still produce incorrect or sometimes made-up information it can automate tasks, but it cannot replace judgment, ethics, or the ability to interpret complex tax laws or business scenarios,” Kumar said. “So, you know, that’s where a professional CPA, professional accountants, come in—review is essential.”
For that reason, and because data input is no longer a burden, Landmark is hiring CPAs for more of an analytical role.
“It does take a different skill set for someone than it did prior to the AI explosion,” Goodman told KATV.
But AI is reshaping the accounting industry in other ways as well.
“It’s also another challenge because AI is reducing the number of hours it takes to do a work, and traditionally accounting firms have always billed their clients on an hourly basis. So now AI is kind of pressuring firms to shift away from hourly billing and move more towards value pricing and subscription based advisory. So it’s kind of like they have to change their whole model,” Kumar told KATV.
Another factor is the cost of AI—like other firms, Landmark has had to spend a lot of money to stay competitive in its rapidly changing industry.
There is immense pressure to adopt AI, and it’s not limited to accounting firms.
“I’ve been seeing that companies in Central Arkansas are eager to move forward, but they’re trying to do it judiciously,” said Marla Johnson, tech entrepreneur-in-residence at UALR.
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 9 drawing
19-32-41-49-66, Mega Ball: 06
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 9 drawing
Midday: 2-9-6
Evening: 8-3-9
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 9 drawing
Midday: 2-8-4-9
Evening: 5-8-5-5
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 9 drawing
19-24-33-39-40, Lucky Ball: 06
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from Dec. 9 drawing
04-09-28-32-35
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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