One of the reasons farmers want short-growing season crops is because weather in late summer/early fall can delay harvests and reduce yields and quality.
Rain can keep farmers out of their fields, and wind can blow down a rice crop, resulting in many kernels getting left behind.
A look at historic rainfall amounts supports the idea that keeping harvests in September and October generally reduces the chance of weather impacting a crop:
Arkansas average rainfall in inches:
| October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2014 | 3.34 | 3.48 | 4.55 |
| 2005-2009 | 5.99 | 5.55 | 2.83 |
| 2000-2004 | 2.72 | 4.51 | 6.23 |
| 1995-1999 | 3.53 | 3.82 | 4.01 |
| 1990-1994 | 3.83 | 4.99 | 5.38 |
| 1985-1989 | 3.38 | 3.73 | 6.42 |
| 1980-1984 | 3.04 | 5.77 | 5.03 |
| Average: | 3.69 | 4.55 | 4.92 |
Source: Weather.gov
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