Delta hit hard by fall rains

By The Associated Press

LAKE VILLAGE — The Cooperative Extension Service says Ashley, Chicot and Desha counties have been particularly hard hit by the heavy rains in October. Farmers across the state have suffered from the weather.

Chicot County agent Gus Wilson says cotton growers will pull in about half of what they planted. The heavy rains caused rot, hardlocking and some seeds sprouted in the bolls. The cool temperatures kept some bolls from opening.

Wilson says rice and soybean growers are also likely to get only half a crop to market.

Those counties are among the 23 that Gov. Mike Beebe as disaster areas due to the effects of the rain.