NW Arkansas farmers surveyed about phosphorus levels

<br>(Lincoln-AP) -- The Washington County Cooperative Extension Service plans to survey farmers about phosphorus limits in the Illinois river. Oklahoma has proposed lower limits for the river. The extension

Tuesday, June 25th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Lincoln-AP) -- The Washington County Cooperative Extension Service plans to survey farmers about phosphorus limits in the Illinois river. Oklahoma has proposed lower limits for the river. The extension service is gathering information from hundreds of farmers in an effort to let officials know the affect the move will have on the poultry farmers and others in agriculture. Much of the phosphorus that reaches waterways in Northwest Arkansas comes from poultry litter and commercial fertilizers. The survey will attempt to determine how farmers use poultry litter as fertilizer and whether they use commercial fertilizers.