Arkansas farmers and ranchers crippled by natural disasters

This year’s series of natural disasters have crippled Arkansas’ farming and ranching sectors. The barrage of natural disasters including floods, droughts, and fires have resulted in more than half a billion dollars in losses for farmers in Arkansas.

The record floods in the spring damaged many crops and delayed the planting of others. The University of Arkansas estimates that the actual net-income losses for farmers’ six main row crops – soybeans, rice, cotton, wheat, corn, and sorghum – was $335 million. Furthermore the floods will result in additional losses because farmers were forced to plant crops later in the season putting them at greater risk from pests, disease, and damage from severe fall weather.

Following the floods, farmers have been left to contend with a harsh drought that has especially affected hay farmers, who have been left with less than a fifth of their crops in good condition. In addition the lack of rain and the soaring summer heat has increased irrigation costs and could damage the quality of rice harvests as well.

Meanwhile the hot and arid conditions have hampered ranchers, who must contend with low supplies of hay and shortage of water for cattle. This lack of food and water has forced some ranchers to cull their herds. In addition the dry pastures are at greater risk from pest infestations and cows produce less milk in record-setting temperatures.

To make matters worse, firefighters in Arkansas are struggling to control an unusually intense outbreak of summer wildfires. In June and July alone, firefighters fought 483 fires, three times the number during the same period last year.

Arkansas state officials are working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Farm Service Agency to do all they can to help farmers and ranchers secure disaster assistance.