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Post-Storm Impacts Concern Arkansas Rice And Soybean Farmers

Courtesy: University of Arkansas Agriculture Extension

WEATHER AND FARMING -  Recent  storms that have hit Arkansas have created problem s for  farmers.  Jarrod  Hardke  is Extension  Rice Agronomist  with the University of Arkanas Division of Agriculture,  he explains  that two of the state’s biggest crops  have seen some impact from Tropical Storm Barry.

"Well Arkansas accounts for right at 50% of the acres and overall production of rice for the United States," Hardke explained. "Rice is the number two most widely grown crop, soybeans are number one."

Rice and soybean farming is big business for Arkansas, 

Credit Courtesy: Farm Bureau Facebook
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Courtesy: Farm Bureau Facebook
Dr. Jarrod Hardke, Extension Rice Agronomist / University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

and last week's weather event (Tropical Storm Barry, later downgraded to a tropical depression) was expected to cause problems for Arkansas farmers once it reached the state.

"With a rice crop in particular, wind alone will sort of make rice wave," Hardke explained.  "When you add significant rainfall,  to a wind of that magnitude it becomes the equivalent of a hand pushing that rice over".

When that happens, rice can't straighten up and is ruined.   Fortunately rice crops weren't as affected by wind although some heavy rains have made impact causing draining issues. 

Hardke said "we really didn't have any high winds throughout the state and instead this rainy period extended over several days."

But for soybeans the weather outcome wasn't so favorably as for soybeans, Arkansas farmers have already  delayed seasonal planting because of early heavy rainfall this past spring and this recent rainfall has made things worse.

Credit Courtesy: creative commons
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Courtesy: creative commons
DOUBLE WHAMMY - Arkansas soybean farmers face both weather-related setbacks due to heavy rainfall and Chinese trade tariffs when combined result in less product and price per bushel.

"We already planted soybeans late and this is going to lead to re-plant situations," Hardke explained. "So I would say that 2019 is the year that the hits just keep on coming."

And  among  those  hits  are  things  like  trade  tariffs  with  China combine  that  with rainy weather means  Soybean farmers are bracing for having  less  product  and  less  profit. 

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.