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HARRISBURG, Ark. (KAIT) - Farmers across Arkansas are facing their toughest year in recent memory as the Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting brought together industry leaders, legislators, and farmers desperate for solutions.

“My team has heard from farmers who have worked the same land for five or six generations, and are saying after this year, they may not continue,” Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

The last few years have been rough for Arkansas’ number one industry, farming, and more specifically, the rice industry.

From rising costs of equipment and input prices to the product being harder to sell, the Wednesday Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting was critically important.

Representatives from all aspects of the rice industry gathered at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center to discuss the problem and many other topics.

Gov. Sanders also made an appearance and shared that they are aware of the situation facing rice and other farmers.

“I know that the last year was one of the most difficult in recent memory for our entire ag industry. I know many of you are talking with lenders right now, trying to figure out how you are going to get seed in the ground for the next year. I’m here today to let you know you are not forgotten,” Gov. Sanders said.

During the speech, Sanders spoke about the income tax exemption for farmer disaster relief payments approved in late 2025 in Arkansas, along with other national aid.

Farmer Greg Baltz made the trip from Randolph County to Harrisburg to hear from those at the meeting.

“In fact, I had other commitments today, but I said this is more important to come to. I wanted to see the feeling in the room and understand that people are working on this, trying to clear out some of the things that will help make farming profitable,” Baltz said.

Baltz added there’s only one way the rice industry can make it through this crisis.

“A lot of us come and think, this is our competitor, or they are a buyer or a seller, but the only way an industry like rice will survive is if we join forces together, find out what we can do in common to advance the industry,” Baltz said.

Source : kait8