Two Arkansas farmers to testify before Congress on Wednesday

by George Jared ([email protected]) 1,544 views 

Row crop farming may struggle to be profitable in 2025, and conditions could lead to many producers shuttering operations this year if Congress doesn’t act. Two row crop farmers from Arkansas are slated to testify before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday (Feb. 5) that is chaired by U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark.

Fourth-generation farmer Jennifer James told Talk Business & Politics that higher input costs and lower commodity prices are decimating the row crop farm community. She thinks many farmers may opt not to plant a crop this spring.

“I’m hearing from lenders in eastern Arkansas (that) several family-owned farms have opted to go out of business now … others may have that decision made for them when they present their crop plans and cash flow,” she said. “They won’t be able to farm a crop based on negative margins.”

One commodity that has been hit particularly hard in recent years is cotton. Farmer Nathan Reed told TB&P that if something isn’t done, many cotton farmers in Arkansas and around the country – in places like west Texas – will opt to grow something else if anything at all.

“Cotton has been hit a little harder than other commodities … we’re in a difficult situation,” he said.

James and Reed, who are scheduled to testify Wednesday, said one critical action Congress must take is the passage of a new farm bill. The last time a farm bill was passed was in 2018. It’s typically renewed every five years, but that hasn’t happened. That bill has been extended until September of this year.

James, a board member with USA Rice, said the 2018 farm bill is still using reference prices from 2012, and the farm economy has drastically changed in the past 13 years, meaning those price points are way off.

“We need a new farm bill,” said James, whose farm is based near Newport. “And hopefully it can apply to 2025.”

Reed, a member of the board for the National Cotton Council, grows rice, corn and soybeans in addition to cotton on his farm near Marianna. If something isn’t done to alleviate negative pressure on cotton, many farmers will have to turn to alternate crops.

Infrastructure used to grow cotton is different from other row crops, meaning once farmers start to make that change, it will be difficult and even more expensive to bring it back, he said.

One rotation crop that typically works well with cotton is peanuts, but most of the soil in his part of the state isn’t sandy enough for the legumes, he said.

“We don’t have a lot of options right now,” he said.