News - April 2014

4-H County Appreciation cookout cancelled in the wake of deadly storms 

FERNDALE, Ark. -- The 4-H County Appreciation cookout set for Saturday at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center has been cancelled.

Livestock owners need to be alert for ‘hardware disease’

LITTLE ROCK – Livestock owners need to scan their pastures for storm debris that could prove fatal to their cattle, goats and horses, said Tom Troxel, associate head, animal science, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Heavy rains wash out rice levees, spark flood warnings, advisories in row crop country 

PIGGOTT, Ark. – For some parts of Arkansas, the landscape has become more water than land.  

Soil test for optimum yields 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – A soil test is essential to maximize yields in gardens, says Dr. Leonard Githinji, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Extension Program horticulture specialist. 

Summer annuals help close seasonal gaps in forages 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After an uncharacteristically brutal winter, spring in Arkansas is bringing green growth to the state. If cattle and other livestock have grazed through almost all forage on pasture land, there is a resource available for the upcoming summer months. 

Show off your kitchen artistry in the 2014 Arkansas Rice Expo Recipe Contest 

HELENA, Ark.  -- Ingenious with ingredients? The 2014 Arkansas Rice Expo Recipe Contest is your chance to show off your culinary cunning.  

Ark Forage & Grassland Council offers ranch tours May 2 

LITTLE ROCK – Two northern Arkansas ranches that managed to get forage to grow through flood and drought will be showcased as part of the Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council spring tour on May 2. 

Fertility test bulls now for summer breeding season 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – “A $100 investment in your bull can provide a big return when each calf is worth more than $1,100,” says Dr. David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

Early weaning may help winter-worn cows and new calves 

LITTLE ROCK -- Early weaning may help beef cows worn thin by the hard 2013-14 winter and may help calves be ready for market sooner, say extension cattle experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

Arkansas producers racing pair of storm systems to plant 

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Arkansas farmers have been hitting the fields hard, trying to plant before the next two storm systems, county extension agents with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture said Thursday.  

Farm to You program brings information about food, nutrition to Arkansas schools 

LITTLE ROCK -- Elementary school students around the state of Arkansas are experiencing for themselves this spring just where their food comes from and how their bodies use it for fuel, when the Arkansas Farm to You program makes a stop at their schools. 

Ark. Extension & Soybean Promotion Board present Soybean Science Challenge Award 

LITTLE ROCK -- A brother and sister team whose study of how plant color might be used as an inexpensive method of crop monitoring was named state winner of the first Soybean Science Challenge Award.  

Winter production of strawberries bests break-even mark 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Despite Arkansas’ winter of extremes, researchers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have shown strawberries grown in high tunnels during the winter can produce better-than-break-even yields.  

Arkansas strawberry growers getting online guide to hydroponic production 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  – Strawberry growers in Arkansas will soon have an online, step-by-step guide to tell them everything they need to know to grow berries year round, without soil. 

Various strawberry production techniques shown to increase yields at UAPB 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Strawberry production trials by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff show that using high tunnels, low tunnels and plastic mulch can extend the growing season. 

Mid-South ag, environmental law conference set May 16 in Tunica, Miss. 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  -- The farm bill, agricultural leases, lawsuits hypoxia in the gulf and right-to-farm issues are among the topics on the agenda for the first annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference set for May 16 in Tunica, Miss.  

Blueprint, economic study released for Delta Technology Education Center 

DUMAS, Ark. -- A roadmap to help the Delta Technology Education Center in Dumas realize its full potential is now available, said Mark Peterson, professor-Community and Economic Development with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

Montgomery Co. High School students to ‘Get Real’ about money on April 24 

MOUNT IDA, Ark. -- Juniors and seniors from Oden and Mount Ida schools will be learning real-life lessons about money management on April 24 as part of “Get Real -- Here’s the Deal.”  

Alien invaders poised to enter Arkansas, crowd out native plants, insects

HOPE, Ark. -- Never mind the Martians, there are plenty of earth-bound invaders poised to crowd out Arkansas native species, say experts with the Arkansas Forest Resources Center.

Firewood provides great mass transportation for invasive pests 

LITTLE ROCK -- That firewood you’re planning to take on your next camping trip could turn out to be luxury mass transit for the next big invasive insect and tree disease, said Tamara Walkingstick, associate director of the Arkansas Forest Resource Center.  

Thousand Cankers puts black walnuts in peril 

LITTLE ROCK -- A beetle the size of the period at the end of this sentence is proving to be the biggest smuggler of a major threat to the nation’s eastern black walnut trees.  

April – Time to get ready to breed spring-calving beef heifers

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – April is the time for ranchers to think about the upcoming breeding season. Most cattle producers breed their cows in June so they will calve in March and April, but heifers should be bred 20 to 30 days before the rest of the herd. 

Photo Opp: Kids teaching kids in Conway

A reminder that some 1,800 second-graders will be at the Don Owens Sports Complex in Conway today and tomorrow learning about how agriculture affects their lives every day. And they'll be learning from other kids.

Local foods highlight discussions at OFPA convention 

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – An “Arkansas Grown” branding program has been launched by the state to help consumers identify locally grown food, Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Butch Calhoun told the Ozark Food Processors Association convention on April 9. 

Agriculture honor society recognizes faculty, student accomplishments 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society of agriculture, presented its annual achievement awards April 11 to faculty and students. Chapter president Ken Coffey, professor of animal science in the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, presided at the ceremony and Mike Popp, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness, distributed the awards during ceremonies on campus. 

Division of Agriculture entomologist testifies before congressional appropriations subcommittee 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Rob Wiedenmann, head of the department of entomology in the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, was invited to testify April 10 before a congressional appropriations subcommittee regarding fiscal year 2015 funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service. 

Alfalfa’s benefits to livestock, soil worth the work 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Soil testing is a necessity to reap the benefits of growing alfalfa for hay, said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Minimizing the risks of fescue toxicosis in cattle 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Grazing fescue before it goes to seed and providing plenty of water and shade during the summer can help ranchers minimize the effects of endophyte-infected fescue forage, said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Getting hay equipment ready for the new season 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Making hay is an expensive process and poorly maintained equipment can add unwanted expenses and downtime, said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

Improve reproductive management to improve bottom line 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Livestock producers whose herds have poor reproductive success earn less and have higher production costs per head that those whose herds reproduce successfully, says Dr. David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

Spring is the time to get a jump on aquatic weed control 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- If you own a pond or lake, the warm spring weather probably makes you want to put that body of water to good use. But before you do, check your pond for aquatic weed problems. 

Researchers working to prevent unusual fish losses in Arkansas during winter

LONOKE, Ark. – It’s not unusual for producers to experience some fish losses during cold months due to extreme water temperatures. However, fish farmers in Arkansas reported substantial losses of fish in the spring of 2013 when they began to harvest their ponds, said Dr. Luke Roy, an Extension aquaculture specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence. 

Good Old Days show on May 24 mixes cars and clovers

MOUNT IDA, Ark. -- The Good Old Days Festival vehicle show on May 24 will be a mix of cars and clovers -- all to help Montgomery County’s 4-Hers raise money for their educational programs.  

Farm Round Up Extended opens event to public 

CONWAY, Ark. -- Thirteen-hundred second graders and nine stations in two hours will add up to a trip around the world of Agriculture on April 16-17 as part of the annual Faulkner County Farm Round Up.  

Pecan producers can sharpen their skills at April 24 workshop

ATKINS, Ark. – Producers can sharpen their skills at the April 24 Pecan Growing and Grafting Workshop: Years 1-5.

Poteau watershed workshop rescheduled to April 23 at Fort Smith

LITTLE ROCK – After being postponed because of icy conditions, the Arkansas Watershed Stewards workshop in the Poteau watershed has been rescheduled for April 23 at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center.

Raising poultry at home demands producers’ attention to details

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – On April 3rd a seminar sponsored by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture attracted about 40 Northwest Arkansas people interested in learning more about how to raise poultry at home.

Freeze may affect fruit trees, wet weather may delay row crops

LONOKE, Ark. – The spring’s yo-yoing temperatures may take a bite out of fruit yields this year, while the on-again, off-again spigot may throw row crop planting behind, say extension agents for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Prevent scours, a cause of losses in newborn livestock, Part 3 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – With calving, lambing and kidding seasons in full swing, livestock producers should be mindful of diarrhea, commonly called scours in livestock, says Dr. David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

Bradley Co. Extension to host workshop for businesses seeking gov’t contracts 

WARREN, Ark. – An agency that has helped businesses obtain more than $47 million in government contract work in one year is holding a workshop Thursday, April 17 in Bradley County to help other businesses learn to tap into that market.  

Free Poultry Seminar - April 3, 2014

A free poultry seminar will be conducted on Thursday, April 3, 2014, 6:30 p.m. at the Pauline Whitaker Arena in Fayetteville, AR.