The Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (ABWEF) board of directors voted to authorize the distribution of a $1 per acre cash rebate to growers for assessments paid on the 2025 cotton acres verified with the Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program. A total payout of approximately $487,000 will be returned to Arkansas cotton growers with delivery expected by end of April.
“Arkansas cotton producers persevered with the same hard work and dedication they bring year after year,” said Joe Mencer, a grower from Chicot County and ABWEF Chairman. “We’re pleased to once again support their efforts through the rebate program.”
The Foundation verified 486,798.3 acres from Arkansas’s cotton producers for the 2025 season. The crop remains a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural economy, with Arkansas holding the third-highest cotton production ranking in the nation.
“The board maintains its commitment to responsibly managing and investing the dollars we’re entrusted with each year,” said ABWEF Executive Director Regina Coleman. “Through the rebate program, we’re able to alleviate some of the financial pressure our producers experience and still maintain an exceptional program.”
The Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (ABWEF) began eradication operations in Arkansas in 1997, making annual expansions that ultimately grew to include all cotton-producing areas in the state over time. ABWEF successfully eradicated the boll weevil in Arkansas in 2008. Since then, ABWEF continues to operate under a maintenance program monitoring the state for the presence of boll weevils, which is entirely a prevention effort.
Source : arkansas.gov