Drought Hits North Central Arkansas Farmers Hard

Lack of rainfall forces farmers to buy hay from out of the area and deal with drying ponds.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:40pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted earth tones, showing a barren, sun-scorched field under a heavy, hazy sky, with a lone, withered tree in the foreground dwarfed by the overwhelming scale of the natural environment.The relentless drought ravaging north central Arkansas has left local farmers struggling to cope with dwindling resources and skyrocketing costs.Mountain Home Today

The ongoing drought in north central Arkansas is continuing to cause significant problems for local farmers, from a lack of hay production forcing them to purchase hay from distant areas to ponds going dry, all of which is hitting their bottom line hard. Farmers and agriculture experts say the effects of the drought will likely linger for some time.

Why it matters

The drought is having a major economic impact on farmers in the region, forcing them to spend more on hay and deal with other costly challenges like drying ponds. This could lead to higher food prices for consumers and put financial strain on the local agricultural community.

The details

Local farmer Lyn Cotter, who raises beef cattle in eastern Baxter County, says the lack of hay production in the area means he has had to buy hay from as far away as White County, driving up his costs. Baxter County Agriculture Agent Paige Barrett also notes that the drought has caused several types of trees to bud out later than usual.

  • The ongoing drought has been affecting north central Arkansas since at least August 2025.
  • The region has received only 13.25 inches of rain from August 2025 to February 2026, compared to the average of 26.52 inches for that period.

The players

Lyn Cotter

A local farmer in eastern Baxter County who raises beef cattle and also teaches math at Pinkston Middle School in Mountain Home.

Paige Barrett

The Baxter County Agriculture Agent who has been monitoring the effects of the drought on the local agricultural community.

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What they’re saying

“There are several factors that will drive up the price of hay this year.”

— Lyn Cotter, Farmer

“I think we will be seeing the affects of the drought for quite awhile.”

— Paige Barrett, Baxter County Agriculture Agent

What’s next

The National Weather Service forecasts north central Arkansas will receive between one and three inches of rain between Wednesday and Sunday, which could provide some relief to the drought conditions.

The takeaway

The severe drought gripping north central Arkansas is causing major hardships for local farmers, forcing them to spend more on hay and deal with drying ponds, underscoring the economic toll that extreme weather can have on the agricultural community. While some rain is expected in the coming days, the long-term effects of the drought will likely linger.