Arkansas farmers are starting irrigation about a month earlier than usual this year, as drought conditions continue across the state and typical spring rains have been limited, according to an April 23 announcement from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
The ongoing drought has caused concern among agricultural producers, who rely on seasonal rainfall for crop growth. According to Chris Buonanno, science officer for the National Weather Service in Little Rock, “It’s almost looking like Mother Nature is ahead by two months or so. Nature is already going into late spring.” He said that even if normal rainfall returns for the rest of the year, Arkansas would still be behind due to accumulated deficits since July 2025.
Farmers in several counties have already begun irrigating crops such as corn and soybeans to support germination and activate herbicides. Kevin Lawson, Faulkner County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said some producers are using pivots on corn fields where plants had not yet emerged and on soybean fields needing moisture for pre-emergence herbicide activation. Lawson noted that parts of Perry County are experiencing especially severe drought.
Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist with the Division of Agriculture, said that “drought conditions and lack of soil moisture have become issues leading some growers to back off, slow down or pause planting.” He added that concerns about water availability have led some producers to shift acreage away from rice toward other crops. “We’re using irrigation a month ahead of usual. What soil moisture is there… deteriorates rapidly under current dry conditions with high winds,” Hardke said.
Weather forecasts indicate possible relief with widespread rain expected through early next week. Joe Goudsward, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service in Little Rock, said “Through Monday we are definitely going to see an uptick in precipitation,” estimating storm totals between one and three inches across much of Arkansas.
Climate factors such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) play a role in precipitation patterns affecting Arkansas weather. The hemisphere is currently neutral but may shift toward El Niño by May; this could impact future rainfall trends according to Buonanno: “In a nutshell, ENSO causes changes in precipitation patterns across the Pacific that will then affect jet streams and their position which affects our weather.” However, he noted El Niño can reduce tropical activity that sometimes brings heavy rain needed during droughts.
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service receives funding through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state appropriations according to its official website. The service supports social cohesion by offering programs tailored for rural, urban and suburban communities according to its official website. It delivers these programs through county offices and research centers statewide according to its official website, operating within all 75 counties with specialists based at multiple university campuses according to its official website.
Looking forward into summer months—June through October—the Climate Prediction Center shows equal chances for above- or below-normal rainfall in Arkansas outlooks.
