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Overall, the Delta states (Fig. 13) would appear to be a promising region for switchgrass production. Hybrid poplar farmgate prices are also comparatively low ($50/dry ton) in much of Mississippi and along the eastern border of Arkansas and Louisiana due to high expected yields in the Mississippi River floodplain (Table 6). Farmgate prices for switchgrass are projected to be under $35/dry ton throughout the region except for the southern half of Louisiana (Table 7). The wet soils in southern Louisiana are likely to depress switchgrass yields and thus raise prices.
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Table 6. Short Rotation Woody Crops - Delta
| SRWC | Average yield (ton/acre/yr) | ORECCL Average farmgate price ($/ton) | Acreage of cropland suitable for SRWC (000) | ORECCL Acreage of land with farmgate price <$35 (000) | ORECCL Acreage of land with farmgate price <$40 (000) | ORECCL Acreage of land with farmgate price <$45 (000) | ORECCL Acreage of land with farmgate price <$50 (000) | ORECCL Average cash rent $/acre/yr) | Number of counties |
| Arkansas | 4.79 | $53.19 | 7,973 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,844 | $49.29 | 75 |
| Louisiana | 4.81 | $52.17 | 4,656 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,766 | $45.36 | 64 |
| Mississippi | 4.86 | $50.35 | 5.163 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,658 | $39.94 | 82 |
| $52.10 | 17,792 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6,268 | $45.55 | 221 |
Table 7. Switchgrass - Delta Region
| SWG | Average yield (ton/acre/yr) | ORECCL Average farmgate price ($/ton) | Acreage of cropland suitable for SWG ((000) | ORECCL Acreage of land with farmgate price <$30 (000) | ORECCL Acreage of land with farmgate price <$35 (000) | ORECCL Acreage of land with farmgate price <$40 (000) | ORECCL Acreage of land with farmgate price <$45 (000) | ORECCL Average cash rent $/acre/yr) | Number of counties |
| Arkansas | 6.09 | $35.24 | 7,973 | 34 | 4,181 | 7,805 | 7,967 | $49.29 | 75 |
| Louisiana | 5.37 | $37.95 | 4,656 | 0 | 2,127 | 3,177 | 3,525 | $45.36 | 64 |
| Mississippi | 5.99 | $33.56 | 5,163 | 0 | 4,402 | 5,147 | 5,147 | $39.94 | 82 |
| $35.46 | 17,792 | 34 | 10,710 | 18,129 | 16,639 | $45.55 | 221 |
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