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Arkansas farmers face 8% income drop in 2025 amid falling crop prices and bad weather

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Arkansas farmers face 8% income drop in 2025 amid falling crop prices and bad weather


The net income for Arkansas farmers is dropping by 8% in 2025 alone, according to a report by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center.

There has been quite a bit working against farmers this year, particularly torrential rainfall and declining crop prices. Hunter Biram, an extension economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, suggests that the best-case scenario of Arkansas farmers at this point is still not promising.

“We do not account for farmers to be able to pay themselves a wage, so the best-case scenario for a farmer is to volunteer their time to show up and plant the crop and break even.”

In 2024, Arkansas’ net farm income was $3.17 billion. In 2025, the net farm income is $2.91 billion.

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According to Biram, this is nothing new. “Since 2022, crop prices have declined right about 27%, so this 8% is not an isolated decline, it’s not like we’ve seen some fluctuations, we’re entering a third straight year of a decline in the state of Arkansas.”

Biram says that rice, soybeans, corn, cotton, wheat, and peanuts, are the crops that have all seen a drop in value. “On average, we saw about an 8% decline in all of those crop prices year over year.”

Biram says that the farm safety net presented by the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” is expected to provide relief to farmers across the country. However, farmers will have to wait on that relief.

“They won’t receive that cash from a cash inflow perspective until a year from now, and farmers need to go to the bank right now,” says Biram.

Throughout this time, Biram says farmers have been hopeful, especially with potential measures aimed to help them in 2026. There is still significant doubt though.

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“Farmer are eternal optimists, and they always want things to be better, but right now, there is nothing to be optimist about in terms of where the markets are right now.”

Why is this important for Arkansas?

Agriculture is the #1 industry in the state, accounting for 8% of Arkansas’ gross domestic product. That is the greatest share of the GDP across all of the southern United States.

Click here to view the full report.



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Arkansas

Arkansas needs balanced strategy to address educator concerns about AI

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Arkansas needs balanced strategy to address educator concerns about AI


COMMENTARY: While AI can offer transformative support for students who need it, it also risks eroding the foundational skills we are trying to help them acquire. Arkansas needs a balanced strategy that prioritizes accessibility without sacrificing rigor.



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Congressional subcommittee to hold hearing in Little Rock on ‘failures’ of local housing authority | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Congressional subcommittee to hold hearing in Little Rock on ‘failures’ of local housing authority | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


Joseph Flaherty

jflaherty@adgnewsroom.com

Joseph Flaherty covers the city of Little Rock for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of Middlebury College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, he has worked for the newspaper since 2020.

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11 people arrested in connection with various charges in Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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11 people arrested in connection with various charges in Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


Arrests

Benton County Sheriff’s Office

Scott Minor, 45, of Elm Street in Jefferson City, Mo., was arrested Friday on suspicion of computer child pornography and sexually grooming a child. Minor was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with a $150,000 bond set.

Bentonville

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Damond Drake, 52, of West Highland Drive in Rogers was arrested Saturday on suspicion of delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine. Drake was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

Fayetteville

Cornelius Anderson, 33, of Dawn Street in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of third-degree assault on a family member, third-degree domestic battery, first-degree criminal mischief and theft of property. Anderson remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Eduard Korshakov, 37, of Prairie Dunes Trail in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of aggravated assault on a family or household member, kidnapping, first-degree false imprisonment, third-degree domestic battery and interference with emergency communications. Korshakov remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Efrain Quiroz, 29, of North Shamblin Avenue in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of second-degree battery and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Quiroz remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

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Leo Ward, 21, of West Tanner Drive in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of aggravated residential burglary and stalking. Ward was released from the Washington County Detention Center Monday on $25,000 bond.

Rogers

John Jenkins, 21, of Arkansas 351 in Jonesboro was arrested Saturday on suspicion of fraudulent use of credit/debit card. Jenkins was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

Springdale

Ashlyn Neal, 19, of Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping, second-degree battery, endangering the welfare of a minor, resisting arrest and obstruction of government operations. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

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Jose Neal, 37, of South Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree domestic battery, third-degree domestic battery, interference with emergency communications and resisting arrest. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

Skyler Shane, 31, of Highway 62 in Westville, Ok., was arrested Sunday on suspicion of Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, carrying a prohibited weapon and disorderly conduct. Shane was released from the Washington County Detention Center Sunday on $3,500 bond.

University of Arkansas Police Department

Celso Adame-Gallegos, 19 of Jade Street in Springdale was arrested Friday on suspicion of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with intent to deliver. Adame-Gallegos was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

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