News - September 2018

Food Science marks 50 years of research, teaching and growing an industry

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In the half-century since its first home was constructed at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the Food Science Department has nurtured researchers, teachers, students and clients that have helped grow the nation’s food industry. 

Chancellor’s grant helps Division of Agriculture researcher attack rice blast from within

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Rice blast is the most devastating rice disease in the world, causing the loss of 10 percent to 30 percent of the planet’s crop every year.

Arkansas high school students dig in to environmental, agricultural research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — More than 150 Arkansas high school students and teachers tested water quality, threshed wheat seed and climbed into holes at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center Sept. 25.

Oct. 16 workshop to demystify record keeping for ranchers

LITTLE ROCK – Keeping the right records is critical to maintaining a profitable cattle operation and knowing which records to keep and why is the bottom line for the Oct. 16 workshop to be held at the Livestock and Forestry Research Station in Batesville.

Considering cover crops this winter? 1^st of Division of Ag fact sheet series now available online

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Row crop producers wanting to explore cover crops as a way to help save water, manage weeds and improve soil, now have the first of a series of fact sheets as a resource, said Trent Roberts, associate professor-soil fertility for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

As rains stall harvest throughout northeastern counties, record cotton acreage made vulnerable

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. – What started out as a potential breakthrough year for Arkansas cotton may pivot to a profound disappointment as late summer and early fall rains continue to saturate crops in the northeastern corner of the state.

Ozark Food Processors Association hosts 112^th annual convention; Food Science marks 50^th anniversary

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sessions on food security and food safety will underscore the theme of the 112^th Ozark Food Processors Association annual convention and exposition, set for Oct. 17-18 at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville.

Cooperative Extension Service providing food animal vet training to address need in rural areas

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture announced this week that it will offer the first of a series of educational seminars for veterinarian doctors and technicians designed to expand the availability of veterinarian services to producers raising large animals and other food animals.

Arkansas farmers accelerate harvest ahead of forecast rain

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas farmers accelerated harvest operations in the wake of excessive rains from the remnants of Hurricane Gordon, and those that are under way are making good crops.

Good food safety, sanitation practices can prevent illness at the fair

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  – Livestock experts are urging county and state fair participants to use good food safety and sanitation practices after a Washington County teen fell ill from a kidney disease that can be caused by some E. coli bacteria.

Study of crop plants’ cellular response to aphid pests earns U of A Chancellor’s Grant

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Aphids love plants — can’t get enough of them. Nearly every agricultural plant crop and garden is a target for at least some of the more than 4,000 species of aphids that feed on their sap.

Southeast District Fair Home Economics entries accepted Sunday, Sept. 30

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The 79^th Southeast Arkansas District Fair will be accepting individual educational Home Economics exhibits on Sunday, Sept. 30, from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. at Hestand Stadium Fairgrounds.

Summertime price rise; weather threats elsewhere, sagging soy prices may boost Arkansas winter wheat acres

JONESBORO, Ark. – Higher contract prices may add winter wheat acres in Arkansas, for which harvested acres had dropped its lowest level in six decades.

Student journal details undergraduate contributions to Division of Agriculture research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —The 2018 edition of Discovery, the undergraduate student research journal of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, is available online at:https://scholarworks.uark.edu/discoverymag/

Oct. 18 Walk in the woods offers insight to forest management, landownership

LITTLE ROCK – Managing woodlands is no walk in the park, but join Yell County tree farm owner Pamela Jolly as she shares the story of her journey into forestry at the Oct. 18 to Walk in the Woods forest management program.

Five November dates set for tax preparer continuing education

– Tax preparers have five IRS-approved continuing education opportunities in November through the Cooperative Extension Service.

Pittman to present ‘Recent and Emerging Issues in Ag and Food Law’

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, will present “Recent & Emerging Issues in Ag & Food Law: Overview for Arkansas Ag & Food Industries” Monday, Sept. 17.

Four steps to emergency preparedness

LITTLE ROCK —Hurricane Florence is not projected to directly impact Arkansas, but as the storm makes its way to the east coast of the U.S., it serves as a reminder to make sure your family is prepared for emergencies.

Oct. 11 Arkansas Insect Festival a unique mix of learning, roach races, musical theater

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – See a house of monarchs. Cheer the longshots at the cockroach races. Take in a little entomological musical theater. There’s only one place to do all this: the 16^th Arkansas Insect Festival on Oct. 11 at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center.

Gordon spurs accelerated rice harvest; wet conditions prompt cotton boll rot fret

STUTTGART, Ark. – Rice harvest in Arkansas accelerated last week, spurred by the approach of Tropical Storm Gordon’s remnants, and this week, farmers are hoping for dry weather to get cotton bolls open and combines into the soybean fields.

Tailgating? Food safety rules apply in the parking lot too

TEXARKANA, Ark. – When football season cranks up, so does the tailgating.

Entomology PhD student earns honor for study of oxygen’s role in plant self-defense

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Research into how plants combat aphid attack using a reactive form of oxygen has earned Arkansas entomology Ph.D. student Hillary Fischer honors from the Entomological Society of America.

Local foods workshops present strategies for marketing local foods products

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Food growers and entrepreneurs looking to break into local foods markets can attend a series of workshops by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Arkansas marks 1st annual PTAC Day by helping small businesses grow

LITTLE ROCK –The Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center will be celebrating the first annual PTAC Day on Sept. 26 by doing what it does best: helping small businesses grow through government contracting. 

Rice gene editing research cited as among world-changing science

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Research published by a University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture scientist has been recognized by an international publisher for its high-impact potential.

Blowhard Gordon upping the pressure on Arkansas row crop growers at harvest time

LITTLE ROCK – Combines in Arkansas are running around the clock, as growers race to get crops out of the field before Tropical Storm Gordon sweeps into the state on Wednesday.

‘Seed destructor’ technology likely the next step in war on weeds

NEWPORT, Ark. — As the 2018 summer harvest approaches, Division of Agriculture researchers are embarking on a multi-year trial that will test the efficacy of a new iteration of machinery known as the Integrated Harrington Seed Destructor, and its ability to aid the practice known as harvest weed seed control. The practice is intended to prevent weed seeds from making their way back to the seed bank during harvest, thus denying them the opportunity to germinate and grow in the following season.