News - August 2016

Is cross-laminate timber a good fit for Arkansas forestry?

LITTLE ROCK — Architecture and design experts with the U of A Fay Jones School of Architecture recently met with timber and forestry experts for a day-long conference intended to examine the feasibility of adopting a new timber technology that produces structural wood

Rupe named fellow of American Phytopathological Society

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- John C. Rupe, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture professor of plant pathology, was made a fellow of the American Phytopathological Society at the recent annual meeting in Tampa, Florida. By Fred Miller. With art.

Extended rain causing grain sorghum to sprout in head

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A solid week of rain has caused grain sorghum to sprout in the head in many Arkansas fields, causing some grain to be rejected by buyers or sold at discount prices.

As growers struggle to catch up on harvest, commodity futures rise

LITTLE ROCK — As Arkansas producers enjoy a respite from the heavy rains that fell for more than a week throughout much of the state, corn growers in particular are hoping to catch up with a harvest schedule that is quickly leaving them behind.

Arkansas 4-H shooters perform well at nationals, compete for 2017 slots

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas 4-H shooting sports teams and individuals repeatedly placed among the best of competitors during the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championship in Grand Island, Neb.

New state 4-H officers elected at State O’Rama

LITTLE ROCK – This earlier this month, Mary Alice Cole, received the news of a lifetime, she would serve as Arkansas' 2016-2017 state 4-H president – the first Izard Countian to be elected to the post.  

Munching, marching fall armyworms making grass disappear

CONWAY, Ark. – Kami Marsh’s phone is ringing again and at this time of year, it’s because fall armyworms are grazing down lawns and pastures.

More than 400 attend State O’Rama; Cheevers named Governor’s Award winner  

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – More than 400 4-Her’s spent about a week on the University of Arkansas campus for state O’Rama, their summertime opportunity to compete, perform and network with their peers.

Helping parents, kids stay sane through the back to school transition

LITTLE ROCK – Back to school means changes, not only for children, but also their parents.

Mobile Farmers Market to increase visits in Little Rock; organizers set eyes on state

LITTLE ROCK — A new mobile farmers’ market will be bringing fresh, locally-grown produce to easy walking distance for several little rock neighborhoods.

Oosterhuis retires after 40-year career in cotton research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Any serious discussion of cotton in Arkansas will have to get around to mentioning Derrick Oosterhuis, probably sooner rather than later.

Warm weather and persistent rains trigger sprouting in unharvested rice in NE Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK — Heavy rains throughout the state combined with high temperatures have begun to trigger instances of rice prematurely sprouting from panicles, a phenomenon that will likely result in milling and yield losses when harvest begins.

Water rising in farm fields as harvest approaches 

HAZEN, Ark. – With daily rainfall since Friday, there’s been something else growing in Arkansas’ farm fields: water levels.

Explainer: Grain sprouting

LITTLE ROCK – High humidity can cause many problems with ready-to-harvest crops including sprouting. Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist explains:

NASS projecting record rice production; corn yield in Arkansas

JONESBORO, Ark. – Arkansas could see new records in corn yield and rice production this year, according to the August monthly production report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Warm humid summer fostering rice diseases

STUTTGART, Ark. -- A string of hot and steamy nights has led to an increase in both bacterial panicle blight and sheath blight in Arkansas’ rice crop.

How to celebrate National Catfish Month in Arkansas? Go fishing!

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – August is National Catfish Month and beginning anglers can celebrate the occasion by fishing for the state’s native catfish species and learning how to prepare them, Scott Jones, Extension specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said.

Cabot’s Feland wins 2016 Rice Expo Recipe competition

STUTTGART, Ark. – A refreshing lemon rice dish earned Martha Feland of Cabot a victory in the 2016 Arkansas Rice Expo recipe contest.

Lonoke County team wins first Rice Expo Quiz Bowl

STUTTGART, Ark. – Lonoke, Arkansas and Saline counties took the top three spots respectively in the Arkansas Rice Expo’s first Rice Quiz Bowl.

Stuttgart woman wins Rice Expo centerpiece competition

STUTTGART, Ark. – A woman whose hometown is the city that bills itself as the Rice and Duck Capital of the World is the winner of this year’s Arkansas Rice Expo Tabletop Centerpiece competition.

Division of Agriculture dedicates Glenn Bauman Memorial Center

STUTTGART, Ark. — A home whose flagstones, wood and melting-into-the-landscape profile expresses the unique vision of architect Fay Jones, will now serve as a multi-purpose educational center and lodging for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Arkansas rice could wind up on dinner plates in China

STUTTGART, Ark. – China, the world’s largest rice grower, may soon become a customer of the largest rice producer in the United States, according to a panelist exploring the future of Arkansas rice at the sixth annual Arkansas Rice Expo.

Division of Agriculture dedicates new foundation seed facility as state in advance of 2016 Arkansas Rice Expo

STUTTGART, Ark. — The ability to make public commodity seed varieties more available to Arkansas farmers took a great stride forward this week as the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture dedicated and opened its new Foundation Seed Facility in Stuttgart.

Emerald Ash Borer confirmed in NE Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK – The invasive emerald ash borer, already found in 10 central or southern Arkansas counties, has now been confirmed in the state’s northeast – in Randolph County along the Missouri border, Scott Bray of the Arkansas State Plant Board said on Tuesday.

Quartet of palates to judge 2016 best Rice Expo recipe

STUTTGART, Ark. — A professional chef and culinary educator; a weather expert and two leaders of Farm Bureau’s state Women’s Committee are the judges of this year’s Rice Expo Recipe Contest.

Windham departs extension helm after 28 years; Cartwright named interim director

LITTLE ROCK –  Tony Windham, director of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, is bringing to an end a 28-year career that redefined how ideas and innovations flowed within the organization, strengthening local roots and making it better equipped to serve the farmers, families and communities that are its constituents.

Grapes of Arkansas Workshop/Field Day set for Sept. 15

CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – The Sept. 15 Grapes of Arkansas Workshop and Field Day will explore key points along the journey from grape vine to consumer.

Heavy on the knowledge: 2016 Arkansas Rice Expo to feature new info on ag drones, new varieties, resistant weeds and the best in water management

LITTLE ROCK — The 2016 Arkansas Rice Expo will have plenty to offer attendees of every stripe: Those who grow, those who cook and those who eat one of the state’s top row crops. And this year’s iteration of the annual expo in Stuttgart will feature demonstrations and experts speaking about aspects of rice in Arkansas, both new and old.

Still time to register for 2016 Soybean College

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — There are still slots available to participate in the 2016 Soybean College Aug. 18 at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Newport Research Station.