Pick up know-how for tackling diseases, pests and weeds.
Farm bill, farm marketing, agribusiness webinars, & farm policy.
Find tactics for healthy livestock and sound forages.
Scheduling and methods of irrigation.
Explore our Extension locations around the state.
Commercial row crop production in Arkansas.
Agriculture weed management resources.
Use virtual and real tools to improve critical calculations for farms and ranches.
Learn to ID forages and more.
Explore our research locations around the state.
Get the latest research results from our county agents.
Our programs include aquaculture, diagnostics, and energy conservation.
Keep our food, fiber and fuel supplies safe from disaster.
Private, Commercial & Non-commercial training and education.
Specialty crops including turfgrass, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals.
Find educational resources and get youth engaged in agriculture.
Gaining garden smarts and sharing skills.
Creating beauty in and around the home.
Maintenance calendar, and best practices.
Coaxing the best produce from asparagus to zucchini.
What’s wrong with my plants? The clinic can help.
Featured trees, vines, shrubs and flowers.
Ask our experts plant, animal, or insect questions.
Enjoying the sweet fruits of your labor.
Herbs, native plants, & reference desk QA.
Growing together from youth to maturity.
Crapemyrtles, hydrangeas, hort glossary, and weed ID databases.
Get beekeeping, honey production, and class information.
Grow a pollinator-friendly garden.
Schedule these timely events on your gardening calendar.
Equipping individuals to lead organizations, communities, and regions.
Guiding communities and regions toward vibrant and sustainable futures.
Guiding entrepreneurs from concept to profit.
Position your business to compete for government contracts.
Find trends, opportunities and impacts.
Providing unbiased information to enable educated votes on critical issues.
Increase your knowledge of public issues & get involved.
Research-based connection to government and policy issues.
Support Arkansas local food initiatives.
Read about our efforts.
Preparing for and recovering from disasters.
Licensing for forestry and wildlife professionals.
Preserving water quality and quantity.
Cleaner air for healthier living.
Firewood & bioenergy resources.
Managing a complex forest ecosystem.
Read about nature across Arkansas and the U.S.
Learn to manage wildlife on your land.
Soil quality and its use here in Arkansas.
Learn to ID unwanted plant and animal visitors.
Timely updates from our specialists.
Eating right and staying healthy.
Ensuring safe meals.
Take charge of your well-being.
Cooking with Arkansas foods.
Making the most of your money.
Making sound choices for families and ourselves.
Nurturing our future.
Get tips for food, fitness, finance, and more!
Understanding aging and its effects.
Giving back to the community.
Managing safely when disaster strikes.
Listen to our latest episode!
Lindsey SextonSocial Media Coordinator Phone: 501-671-2398Email: arsnaped@uada.edu
by Lindsey Sexton - November 28, 2022
The holidays can be a time of fun family traditions both old and new. Check out these tips for planning and hosting holiday meals.
Revive the Potluck – Offer guests the chance to bring a dish or help cover costs. Not everyone is a confident cook and that’s okay, so it’s always a good idea to have a small list of non-foods items if anyone asks what they can bring to help with the meal. If you’re not quite to the point of being able to ask guests to share in the expense, make a plan and follow through.
Plan Ahead – When cooking for a crowd it can be difficult to estimate how much of each item you’ll need to prepare. The guide below can help you figure out how much to plan on preparing per person.
Eat Before you Shop – Ready to head to the store? Grab a snack on your way out the door. This will help curb impulse purchases at the grocery store and save money. Shopping on an empty stomach can cause you to stray from your list and overspend your budget.
Be on the Lookout for Great Deals – Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day lots of grocery stores run deeply discounted sales. Now is the time to stock up on canned goods and freezer friendly foods if you can.
Save Time with Food Safety in Mind – Long ago, we were taught to rinse meat and poultry before preparing, but these days with improved processing and packaging, there’s no need to risk splashing surface bacteria to your sink and surrounding areas. So skip washing all meat and poultry and take it straight from the package to the pan.
Separate, Clean, Cook – Keep fresh produce separate from raw meat and poultry in the grocery cart, in the fridge and on the counter. Drips and spills can transfer bacteria between foods. Use different cutting boards and knives when preparing fresh produce and raw proteins or sanitize each between the different foods.
No matter the occasion, it’s important to make sure foods are cooked to a safe internal temperature. So grab your food thermometer and look for these target temps as your preparing your holiday meal:
For additional foods and temps visit: Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature - Food Safety
Fridge Eats First – Whether we like to admit it or not, holiday foods typically stay in the danger zone (between 40 and 140°F) for longer than 4 hours during a gathering. Knowing this, let’s be proactive. If you’d like to save any food beyond the holiday, go ahead and package it up as it becomes ready to serve. Put it in the freezer or fridge and serve the rest to your guests. After the event, you’ll have less waste, and food ready for future use. Any properly stored holiday leftovers should be consumed or thrown away in 3-5 days. It is not recommended to store or eat foods left between 40 and 140°F for longer than 4 hours.
Keep Expectations in Check and Take a Walk – Occasional overeating is not the end of the world and doesn’t warrant shame or embarrassment. The holidays are a joyous time. What better way to celebrate than with your favorite people eating your favorite foods? If you end up feeling uncomfortable at the dinner table, skip the nap. A cup of water and a short walk will do wonders.
Better yet, be proactive and avoid the stuffed feeling all together. Survey the foods being offered before you start filling your plate. This will give you the chance to see which items are available. Then take a spoonful of your favorites and skip the rest. This way you won't regret leaving your eating pants at home.
Get Moving – Consider starting a new family tradition. (Feats of strength, anyone?) This year, be sure to keep your sneakers handy. Inviting your family to join you in a short walk or maybe even a friendly foot race could be a fun change-up to your holiday routine.
Happy Holidays Everyone!