The sudden announcement that Delta Peanut will permanently close its Jonesboro, Arkansas, shelling operation is more than another plant closure. For farmers across Arkansas, southeast Missouri and northeast Louisiana, it raises serious questions about peanut marketing, storage, grower contracts and the future of a crop that has become increasingly important to the Mid-South… and the […]
The High Cost of Growing Peanuts in Arkansas: Farmers Face More Than Just Production Risk
Peanuts have become an important alternative crop for farmers in parts of Arkansas, particularly on the lighter, sandier soils of the Delta. They provide another rotation option alongside cotton, soybeans, corn and rice and, under the right circumstances, can generate attractive returns… but peanuts aren’t an easy crop to grow. They require specialized equipment, significant […]