By John Marsh, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
Jun 15, 2011; 6:27 AM ET
Amidst flash flood warnings and high temperatures, Arkansas rice farmers are feeling "shell-shocked."
Local flooding has pushed Arkansas turtles from their normal habitats and forced them to seek out new stomping grounds. Unfortunately for farmers, the turtles are setting up shop in rice fields and chowing down on crops.
Agricultural Extension Rice-research Coordinator for the University of Arkansas Ralph Mazzanti told Reuters, "This is very rare. So far we have seen it in one county, but over about 300 acres and in several rice fields."
Mazzanti said the turtles have damaged approximately 10 percent of his research rice field and that number could increase.
This loss could impact rice prices in the U.S. According to the Arkansas Rice Federation, Arkansas crops account for roughly 48 percent of U.S. rice production. The U.S. is the third-largest exporter of rice globally.
But how could small reptiles be causing so much damage? When the turtles attack, they cut the base of the plants. This proves increasingly problematic due to strain already placed on the rice plants by spring flooding. In their already weakened state, the plants snap, die and float to the top of the water.
Farmers are currently trying to discourage this migration by lowering water levels, but they are having trouble even finding the culprits. The turtles hide under mud making them difficult to identify, according to Mazzanti.
Turtles aren't the only Arkansas animals on the move and wreaking havoc. In May, white-tailed deer left their habitat near rivers in eastern Arkansas to relocate to agricultural fields and destroy soybean crops. Stinkbugs may also become a problem throughout the summer for growers due to flooding.
"Rice farmers really don't need any more problems, and they don't need to lose any more crops," said Mazzanti.
Ironically, the area affected by the flooding is currently in a drought.
"This is a bizarre situation," says Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Dale Mohler.
Low rainfalls have plagued Arkansas in recent months. Record rainfall amounts upstream have caused significant flooding throughout the region, and over 2 feet of rain fell from the early April to early May alone.
Luckily, good news may be on the way. River levels are expected to drop below flood stage later this week or early next week.
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