Parts of Arkansas have been deluged with rain during the last week, but nearly all of the state is in some form of drought, according to the U.S. drought monitor. All of Northeast Arkansas is in a moderate drought, while parts of Greene, Mississippi and Clay counties are under extreme drought conditions.
More than seven inches of rain have fallen during the last several weeks across the region, according to the National Weather Service. However, the prolonged drought conditions have had an impact on the agriculture sector, especially cattle farmers.
Cattle farmer John Kunkel told Talk Business & Politics that he has already ordered wintertime hay in anticipation that the drought conditions will continue throughout the summer and into the fall. Kunkel’s farm is near the Strawberry River, a river that flows from Fulton County and through Izard, Sharp and Lawrence counties…