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.
Timely tips for the Arkansas home gardener.
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!
May 21, 2018
By Mary HightowerU of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
(701 words)
(Newsrooms: with map showing growth and declines according to the Census; https://flic.kr/p/261SECn )
Download Word version.
LITTLE ROCK – Two-thirds of Arkansas’ counties lost population between 2012 and 2017 and 89 percent of Arkansas’ counties lagged behind the national growth rate, according to the latest Census.
Those losses could have lasting consequences for many Arkansas communities, said Mark Peterson, professor in extension community and economic development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Peterson’s work focuses on helping communities and regions reawaken their economies by looking at their assets in new ways.
According to the Census, only four counties, Benton, Craighead, Saline and Washington, saw growth of more than 5 percent. Seventeen counties, Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Dallas, Desha, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Nevada, Ouachita, Scott, St. Francis, and Woodruff, saw populations losses of 5 percent or more.
Less population will translate into a both a weakened tax base and less investment by public and private entities in infrastructure, and other aspects that make communities strong and stable, he said.
“We have a development spiral model that shows the factors that go into communities on the rise and those that are on the decline,” Peterson said. “Declining communities will see a cycle of that includes less public and private investment, will have fewer jobs or lower paying jobs, a diminished workforce and diminished quality of life.”
The good news, Peterson said, is that today’s economy offers opportunities that could only be imagined two decades ago.
“The 21st century economy is global. It is digital. And it is fast. It is also disruptive and what worked even four or five years ago may not be working as well today,” he said. “The 21st centry economy is loaded with opportunities for communities and regions that understand the key drives of change and how to take advantage of those drivers.”
That, he said. “is important so that communities do not experience further decline.”
Breakthrough Solutions
Breakthrough Solutions, a program of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture with partners in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, is devoted to equipping Arkansas communities, counties, and regions to become vibrant and sustainable in the 21st century economy. Over the years, Breakthrough Solutions has worked with the communities of Harrison, Cleveland County, Berryville, Manila, and several other communities to bring people together, identify fresh opportunities, and launch a revitalization process to realize their desired future.
These opportunities will be explored more fully in the 2018 Breakthrough Solutions Conference and Pre-Conference Workshop on June 6-7. With the theme “Strengthening the Opportunity Pipeline of Your Community / Region”, the conference will feature Liesl Voges, director of the Iowa Great Places Program as keynote speaker.
“Turn Around Communities in the 21st Century Economy” is the theme of the pre-conference workshop and will feature a turn-around community story from Missouri with six key elements, a panel of community leaders with turn-around experience, and action planning to develop turn around strategies for one Arkansas community.
New technologies are another important economic driver, so the conference will include a virtual reality demonstration for tourism, a robot, and a certified drone pilot.
Breakthrough Solutions is a partnership program of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, housed in the Cooperative Extension Service. Our Breakthrough Solutions partners have pulled together a terrific conference and we invite community and regional leaders to join us. You can learn more and register online at www.bit.ly/BTSConference2018.
For more information about community and economic development within the Division of Agriculture, contact your county extension office or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of AgricultureThe University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Mark Peterson, 501-671-2253 or mpeterson@uada.edu, as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
# # #
Media Contact: Mary HightowerDir. of Communication ServicesU of A System Division of AgricultureCooperative Extension Service(501) 671-2126mhightower@uada.edu