Groundwater Pumping Costs Vary Significantly Across Eastern Arkansas
• Research from the University of Arkansas highlights significant variations in irrigation costs across eastern Arkansas, driven primarily by groundwater depth and crop type.
• According to Professor Brad Watkins, farmers in the Arkansas Delta face pumping costs ranging from $47 to $165 per acre for rice and $17 to $60 per acre for soybeans.
• The study attributes these differences to the depth of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer, which is more depleted in historic rice-growing regions like Grand Prairie and northeast counties such as Poinsett and Cross.
Why It's Important?
Farmers in regions with deeper groundwater face higher irrigation costs, which could impact their profitability, especially during dry years requiring additional water. Rice farmers are particularly affected, as their crop demands the highest water usage. The depletion of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer poses long-term sustainability concerns. Additionally, rising diesel prices—up 27% since 2024—exacerbate the financial burden on farmers. These factors may lead to shifts in crop production patterns and increased reliance on water conservation techniques.
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