The RC&D program was envisioned as a way for counties with similar situations and problems to come together to address problems on a multi county basis. Few RC&D areas in the country constitute a more identifiable area than the Bootheel RC&D. The area is comprised of the six principal Mississippi Delta counties of Missouri. Contained within the six counties is 35% of all the cropland in the state of Missouri.

The area is located at the northern most portion of the Mississippi Delta at the conflux of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. This location has resulted in several strategic advantages for the area. Plentiful groundwater for irrigation is the most important to agricultural development. Soils run from heavy clay gumbos suited to rice and aquaculture uses to sandy loam soils suited to melons and vegetables.

Growing season averages 180 frost-free days allowing for the production of a wide variety of crops including cotton. It could be said that the Bootheel is the northern most extent of a southern climate in the central United States and close to the population centers of the Midwest.

The area has excellent port facilities due to recent port development projects at New Madrid, Caruthersville, and Scott City. These ports are the northern most port facilities that are open year round.

The Bootheel RC&D area consists of six counties located in the extreme southeastern portion of Missouri, commonly referred to as the “Bootheel.” The counties of Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard comprise the 2,160,510 acre area.

The Mississippi River forms the total eastern boundary of the area while the St. Francis River forms a major portion of the western boundary. The region is traversed with 3,554 miles of drainage ditches, which play a significant role in making this area one of the most highly productive agricultural regions in the United States.

The most dominant characteristic of the Bootheel is its flat topography. Crowley’s Ridge and the Benton Hills provide a contrast to the relatively flat terrain. Much of the land form is a result of the changing Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and early earthquake activity.

The major agribusiness and agriculture enterprise is farming (nearly two million acres.) Major crops produced are cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, and rice. Specialty crops include peaches, melons, vegetables, and potatoes.

The Bootheel region has a population of 156,516 according to the 2000 census. The principal cities are Sikeston, Kennett, Caruthersville, Dexter, Malden, Charleston, and East Prairie.