Growing in the Delta: One Farmer’s Gamble, and Why It’s Starting to Pay Off
- Date: 27 May 2025
- Author: Jesse Marcus, WWF
17 years ago, Shawn Peebles found himself dead broke. He was farming 7,000 acres in Augusta, Arkansas, growing soybeans, rice, and corn like his father and grandfather before him. But after two floods and the 2008 financial crisis, it was all falling apart.
Then one day he walked into an auto parts store and met Jody Taylor, a farmer who introduced him to an idea he’d never considered: Organic farming.
Jody pulled out a notepad and showed him the premium prices he was getting for his crops. Shawn walked out of the store convinced he’d just gotten a glimpse of the future. He quickly sold everything he owned, save for his $3,500 truck, and rented 200 acres from Jody. Within a few years, Shawn’s gamble grew into one of the only large-scale produce operations in the Mid-Delta—a shining example to farmers in the region and across the nation.
A Different Kind of Farming—In a Place That Needs It
Most of America’s specialty crops—fruits, vegetables, and nuts—hail from California. But water shortages, fires, and urban sprawl are squeezing growers in the Golden State. Companies and consumers alike are starting to look elsewhere.
The Mississippi Delta, which stretches from southern Illinois to Louisiana, offers rich soil, a long growing season, and plenty of water. But it also faces big challenges. Years of consolidation have hollowed out rural towns and pushed farmers toward a narrow set of commodity crops. Infrastructure is scarce. And banks don’t know what to do with a grower who wants to try something different.
Cold storage, processing, and post-harvest infrastructure are virtually nonexistent in the region. Shawn had to get creative—he leased a defunct hospital for $1 a year to house workers and retrofitted an old nail factory for sweet potato processing.
What Makes It So Hard
Banks didn’t want to back Shawn when he started because they couldn’t find data on costs or yields for specialty crops like edamame or green beans. They couldn’t place a lien on a crop sold through a dozen different buyers. Without a clear spreadsheet and a single destination for the harvest, they walked away, leaving Shawn with no choice but to self-finance.
Financing isn’t the only area where Shawn is operating without a net. Cold storage, processing, and post-harvest infrastructure are virtually nonexistent in the region. Shawn had to get creative—he leased a defunct hospital for $1 a year to house workers and retrofitted an old nail factory for sweet potato processing.
Weather in the Delta is another wildcard. Rainstorms are heavier than they used to be. Late frosts come out of nowhere. Hailstorms have taken out entire fields. Insurance under the Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) doesn’t cover nearly enough. If a crop fails, it’s on Shawn. Every year, he puts it all on the line.
Even getting advice can be tough. Local extension agents are trained to support soybeans, cotton, and corn. They don’t always know what to do with pumpkins, peas, or watermelon. That’s slowly starting to change—but not fast enough.
Why It’s Still Worth It
For all its challenges, the Delta offers significant advantages.
Start with water. Just 60 miles south in Stuttgart, farmers drill wells as deep as 1,500 feet before hitting water. Shawn’s wells hit their mark at only 13 feet. He also uses drip irrigation and reservoirs to recycle runoff, which keeps water use low and consistent.
Then there’s the location. The Delta sits within a day’s drive of major cities in every direction. That lowers shipping costs.
Climate change has also lengthened the growing season. Soybeans used to go in the ground in May. Now they’re planted in April. Green beans can be harvested up to three times a year. That opens the door to new crops and more revenue per acre.
And the market? It’s growing. As California struggles, retailers are looking for new suppliers. Shawn’s farm—now at 2,000 acres of specialty crops—has become a trusted source.
What Would Help
For more farmers to follow in Shawn’s footsteps, they need support.
First: crop insurance. Specialty and organic growers need policies that actually cover their risks—like the ones conventional growers have had for decades.
Second: places to sell. One processor in the region could open doors for hundreds of growers. Right now, there’s nowhere for most to take their harvests.
Third: better research and education. Farmers need help figuring out what crops work in Delta soils. They need practical guidance. And they need extension agents who know the difference between downy mildew and leaf spot in squash.
And finally: proof that it works. That’s what Shawn is. A working model.
Looking Ahead
As farmland disappears to housing and water grows scarcer out West, we can’t afford to ignore what the Delta offers.
“I don't think in terms of ‘can it be done?”’ Shawn says. “I think in terms of ‘it must be done.’”
It’s not easy. But it’s doable. And with the right tools, it could become a vital new center for U.S. food production.
Shawn’s story shows what people can achieve with some grit, innovation, and a willingness to adapt to changing times. The Delta may not look like the future of farming yet—but in fields just west of Memphis, that future is already growing.