Arkansas 2009 Crop Losses Near $400M

Agriculture officials say Arkansas farmers sustained nearly $400 million in crop losses for the 2009 growing season.

An estimate released by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture noted that 3,700 full- and part-time jobs were lost, as was $100 million in wages and salaries.

Many growers planted late because of a wet, cool spring. Downpour after downpour fell in the summer and into the planting season, turning fields into bogs.

Soybean growers lost an estimated $204 million, and cotton and cottonseed losses were $120 million. Rice growers lost $46 million.

Though soybeans had the greatest dollar loss, cotton producers had the largest loss as a percentage of gross revenue.