Peanut farmers in Northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel have received help through a $5 million loan from the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund, aimed at supporting Delta Peanut, a company that had to halt operations due to loss of federal warehousing licensure. Governor Sarah Sanders emphasized the importance of peanuts as an expanding crop in Arkansas and the necessity of preventing the harvest from going to waste.
The funds will assist Delta Peanut in purchasing this year’s crop while the company seeks an outside buyer. The loan will cover operational costs, including staff and utilities, and entails farmer agreements on delivery fees and lender status for the state. Without this intervention, farmers would have struggled significantly, as local options for processing are limited, with around 40,000 acres of peanuts projected this year in Arkansas. Delta Peanut is negotiating a sale and has received a line of credit to help restore its license, but needs this loan to keep processing operational.
