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Arkansas Cotton Acreage at Longtime Low

1 min read

HARRISBURG – Cotton acreage is down sharply this year in Arkansas.

Agriculture officials estimate that 320,000 acres of cotton have been planted in Arkansas this year. That’s only about half as much cotton as growers planted in 2012.

Jonesboro television station KAIT reports that farmers pulled back on cotton because of thin profit margins.

Producers risk losing money if the weather takes a bad turn or if pests are abundant. Also, the crop is threatened by herbicide-resistant pigweed, which can choke out cotton plants.

Agriculture officials say growers can make more money by planting corn or soybeans.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast or distributed.)

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