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Excess of water puts northeast Arkansas farmers behind in plantingJONESBORO, Ark. (AP)--Joe Christian of Cash says the wet spring has put him far behind in planting his crops this year. "I've got 84 acres of rice planted," Christian told The Jonesboro Sun recently. He said that, usually, he is nearly finished planting rice by this time and has most of his corn in the ground, too. "We're three weeks behind right now," Christian said. Rain isn't the only factor keeping crops in northeast Arkansas from going into the ground. The cool temperatures this spring are also playing a role. Craighead County Extension Service Agent Branon Thiesse said two plots planted mid-April with rice and corn had soil temperatures of 52 degrees. "That's good for rice and corn, but cotton requires 60 degrees for three consecutive days," Thiesse said. With air temperatures hovering around the high 60s and low 70s, it will likely be a couple of weeks before soil temperatures get into the 60s. Rain April 18 wasn't welcomed by Herb Ginn of Lawrence County. "We could really have done without this," Ginn said. Though a couple of days of sunny weather last week dried out some fields a bit, much farmland remains underwater from the Cache, St. Francis, Black and White rivers and the Bayou DeView. Even when the floodwater recedes, it will still be weeks before land preparation can begin, agriculture experts said. Though the flooding affects only a small percentage of cropland in most northeast Arkansas counties, the acres that are underwater are devastated. In Cross County, flooding is prevalent along the Bay Ditch, which is part of the St. Francis drainage system. County Agent Rick Wimberly said 20,000 acres or more remained underwater Friday as a steady rain fell. "The good thing is, there are no crops under it," Wimberly said. However, it doesn't appear that the water will go down soon. "The reports I am getting is that, up in Illinois and Missouri the Mississippi River has flooded," he said. That means the river won't go down any time soon in this area and relieve the flooded conditions along its tributaries, including the St. Francis. Diesel fuel prices are high, too, placing another burden on the region's farmers. 5/19/08 Date: 5/15/08
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