News - March 2016

Arkansas cotton makes strong rebound after record-low year

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas producers responding to U.S. Department of Agriculture surveys indicated that they plan to plant about 57 percent more cotton than they did in 2015, rebounding from a record-low 210,000 acres, according to a report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service published Thursday.

Nayga tapped for SEC Faculty Achievement Award

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr., whose research on poverty, nutrition, obesity and novel food technologies has won worldwide recognition, has been honored with the Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award at the University of Arkansas. Nayga is a professor who holds the Tyson Endowed Chair in Food Policy Economics in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas and the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

Extension agents help even experienced growers break into new fields

SEARCY, Arkansas — When life-long cattle and row-crop farmer John Pratt asked Sherri Sanders, the White County Cooperative Extension Service’s agricultural agent, what she thought of him delving into the world of peach growing, her answer was straight and to-the-point: “I told him it sounded like a lot of work,” Sanders recalled with a laugh. 

Crash budgeting can help fix a bad financial situation

LITTLE ROCK – About 40 percent of consumers have trouble making ends meet some months, but a “crash budget” can help get finances back on track, said Laura Hendrix, an extension personal finance expert for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Beekeeping course to be offered in Mena

Little Rock, Ark. – A three-part short course in beekeeping will be offered from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 11, 18 and 25 at the Polk County Cooperative Extension Education Center, 211 DeQueen Street, Mena, Arkansas.  

Rabies vaccination clinics scheduled for April in Dallas County

FORDYCE — The Dallas County 4-H program and the Fordyce Animal Clinic will provide rabies vaccinations at eight locations beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 9. These vaccinations are for cats and dogs only. Cost is $8 per animal.

Cemetery maintenance and workshop planned for April

THORNTON, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will hold a workshop April 18 in Thornton. The workshop will be free of charge.

Vetter to speak in Little Rock on Trans-Pacific Partnership

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The nation’s chief agricultural trade negotiator, Darci Vetter, will speak March 29 in Little Rock about the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-country pact that if approved by Congress, would be the largest free trade agreement in U.S. history.   

Div of Ag elk researcher ‘in the front row’ in race to beat chronic wasting disease

MONTICELLO, Ark. – Wildlife biologists are racing to assess the extent of chronic wasting disease in elk and deer since it was first confirmed in one female elk and one female deer in Newton County in February and March.

Livestock, gardening and more on the agenda for upcoming homesteading conference

RISON, Ark. — Raised bed gardening, cane berries, herbs, needlecraft, small livestock and other topics are scheduled for educational sessions at the South Arkansas Homesteading Conference in Rison.

Mild winter yields expectation of early fruit harvest throughout mid-south

LITTLE ROCK — Growers and fruit specialists throughout the Mid-South are crossing their fingers, as the mild 2015-2016 winter brings on early blooms and harvests.  

Control Feral Hogs with Ingenuity

FORDYCE, Ark. – Farmers and landowners need to use their wits when trying to control feral hogs because the animals are certainly using theirs. Feral hogs are among nature’s smarter animals and will use their brains to stay a step ahead of potential captors.

Governor to help mark Ag Day in Benton County

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who grew up on a Benton County farm, will help celebrate National Ag Day on Tuesday in his home county. 

Genome sequencing & food-borne illnesses on agenda for OFPA convention April 5-6

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – How DNA could hold the key to pinpointing the cause of foodborne illnesses and help scientists prevent wider outbreaks will be one of the featured talks at the 110^th Ozark Food Processors Association Convention on April 5-6. 

Poll: More than 75% of U.S. adults feel stressed about finances 

LITTLE ROCK – More than three-quarters of all adults in the United States say they are stressed about finances, however, a little planning can take some of the uncertainty out of day-to-day living, said Laura Hendrix. 

Arkansas farmers’ markets believed to be growing on pace with nation in population centers; still a rarity in rural areas 

LITTLE ROCK — Small-scale and specialty crop growers using farmers’ markets, roadside stands and other forms of direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales continue to show steady growth, even as margins for large-scale commodity growers remain tight, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture experts said this week. 

Springtime means grazing resumes; producers need to prepare

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Grazing time is coming back with spring’s arrival on cool season perennial pastures around Arkansas, but before dispatching the cattle to the pasture, producers should make some preparations. 

Spreading manure to redistribute nutrients 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Cattle and horses are natural fertilizer producers, but they don’t tend to drop their plant food very evenly as they roam their pastures. That’s where a little dragging can help, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor for animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Late winter rains unlikely to impact 2016 rice acreage 

LITTLE ROCK — Despite receiving more than a foot of rain in four days in some portions of the state, the steady downpour isn’t likely to impact an overall increase 2016 rice acreage, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture experts said this week.

Pipe planning/irrigation workshop set for March 16

McGEHEE, Ark. – Producers can learn more about how Pipe Planner can make their crop irrigation more efficient while saving on water and electricity at a workshop set for March 16 at the University of Arkansas-Monticello College of Technology at McGehee.

Arkansas peanut acreage expected to grow again in 2016; experts plan for sustainability

JONESBORO, Ark. — Peanut production in the Arkansas Delta is expected to continue moderate growth over 2015 numbers, experts and growers said Thursday at a Craighead County Cooperative Extension Service production meeting in Jonesboro. 

April 19 ‘Managing Breeding & Feeding’ field day at Batesville Station

BATESVILLE, Ark. – Managing aspects of the breeding and feeding of cattle are the key topics for the April 19 livestock field day at the Livestock and Forestry Station in Batesville. 

LeadAR members lay wreath at Arlington tomb

WASHINGTON — Two members of LeadAR, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s premier leadership program, shared a once-in-a-lifetime experience Feb. 25 when they participated in the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Farmers wary of 2007 Easter freeze repeat, target March 21 to start planting

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas farmers, wary of a repeat of the 2007 Easter freeze, have their sights set on March 21 to start planting row crops.

EPA moves to ban insecticide Belt; could have major impact for Arkansas growers

LITTLE ROCK — The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday that it was seeking to cancel registration for a key insecticide used to combat crop-hungry pests such as fall armyworm and corn earworm.