December 15, 2009

 

 

Arkansas crop losses estimated at US$309.4 million

 

 

Excessively wet weather damaged crops across Arkansas, causing US$309.4 million in losses, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture said.

 

Farmers in the state endured a wet spring that delayed planting, and heavy rains returned late in the growing season slowing harvest and causing additional crop damage.

 

The US$309.4 million loss represents 9.6% of the estimated total gross receipts for corn, cotton, hay, rice, soy and sorghum, according to a December analysis prepared by a group of University of Arkansas agricultural economists.

 

The December loss estimate is also 38% higher than the US$225 million in damages the university projected in November. In the November analysis, the economists did warn that the losses would increase as the harvest progressed.

 

Total losses were greatest for the soy and cotton crops, the economists said.

 

Soy losses are estimated at US$127.1 million and cotton losses are put at $115.5 million due to decreases in yield, quality and also because of additional fieldwork requirements.

 

Rice was also particularly hard hit, with losses estimated at US$50 million. Arkansas is the top rice-producing state in the US

 

The weather also was responsible for crop losses of US$4.3 million in corn, $7.8 million in hay, and US$4.5 million in sorghum.

 

The economists also said the financial hit from the poor weather extended beyond just the loss of farm receipts and also negatively affected grain processing and cotton-ginning operations.

 

According to initial estimates, the crop damage resulted in the loss of nearly 3,000 jobs and a decline of nearly US$162 million in the gross state product.