JONESBORO — It wasn’t that long ago that farmers in east Arkansas were wondering whether their fields would dry in time for planting.
Now they’re battling drought-like conditions. Agriculture officials told The Jonesboro Sun that prices for commodities are still rising, so growers are doing all they can to get cotton or soybeans in the ground.
Additionally, growers say they’re having problems with pigweed, an herbicide-resistant weed that poses a further challenge.
Some rain is expected this weekend, which could give farmers a break. But a lot of cropland got virtually no rain last June. This year, farmers are further behind in planting. They need the rain not only to provide moisture to plants but also to activate nitrogen fertilizer.