Arkansas farmers detail crop losses from flooding as congressional panel meets in Little Rock

Arkansas farmers detail crop losses from flooding

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas farmers say that a record amount of rainfall and flooding this year has put a strain on their crops and their infrastructure.

Farmers and farming advocacy groups on Monday detailed the problems that the year’s weather have caused during a U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry hearing. The hearing, held at the Clinton presidential library and hosted by the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, was the first held in Arkansas since Sen. Blanche Lincoln took over as committee chairman earlier this year.

Lincoln has introduced legislation along with U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., that would provide an estimated $1.3 billion in direct payment assistance to producers in counties declared primary disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.