Cotton farmers in northeast Arkansas are being urged to report damage to their crop as a result of a hail storm while officials seek a disaster declaration.
State Rep. Homer Lenderman told The Jonesboro Sun that damage from Monday's storm is "probably not" enough to warrant a federal disaster declaration. But he said officials are working to get a state disaster declaration.
Lenderman says cotton farmers with any damage should file a report with the Farm Service Agency and the Cooperative Extension Service. He says the total damage needs to be reported for disaster declaration purposes.
An estimated 10,000 acres of cotton is considered a total loss and another 40,000 acres has varying degrees of damage. Lenderman said the hardest hit areas are Monette, Black Oak, Lester and Leachville.