News - August 2021

USDA announces CFAP help for poultry contract growers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Contract poultry growers have until Oct. 12 to sign up for aid under the second Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP2.

Registration opens Aug. 30 for Walk Across Arkansas fall edition

LITTLE ROCK — Get your team together, because registration opens Aug. 30 for the fall edition of Walk Across Arkansas.

For new UAM professor, classroom beats the trading floor

MONTICELLO, Arkansas — It’s taken a few years, but professionally, Brian Deaton is stepping outside his comfort zone. For the first time in his life, the 44-year-old Texas native has left his home state.

Income Tax School offers in-person, online options for continuing education

LITTLE ROCK — As the final quarter of 2021 approaches, tax preparers begin prepping for tax season. The Cooperative Extension Service offers an Income Tax School to help tax professionals get ready for the 2022 tax season. 

As Arkansas corn harvest begins, market prices see slight decline

MONTICELLO, Ark. — As the high heat of summer begins truly pressing down on Arkansas, harvest of the first of the state’s major commodity crops has begun in earnest.

Tropical Depression 9 looms as Arkansas farmers begin harvest

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas growers will be paying closer to their weather apps with development of Tropical Depression 9 and a forecast path that could bring the storm’s wind and rain to the delta by early next week.  

Researchers say nurseries should up their game on virus detection in berry plants

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station scientists say current testing regimens may be missing a significant number of disease-causing viruses in berry plants. Increased testing is required to ensure growers are getting clean and healthy plants in their fields.

Stiles: Survey takes on more significance with tight grain stocks

LITTLE ROCK — A routine survey being conducted by the National Agricultural Statistics Service may carry additional significance because of the nation’s tight grain stocks, said Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Horticulture department head receives Outstanding Leadership and Administration award from American Society for Horticultural Science

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The American Society for Horticultural Science named Wayne Mackay, horticulture department head for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, its 2021 Outstanding Leadership and Administration Award winner.

Poultry production bottlenecks may mean another tough year for holiday turkey lovers

LITTLE ROCK — While the heat of August may cause you to move the idea of holiday season dinners to the very bottom of your priority list, family cooks take note: This may be another difficult year for putting together the perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey dinner.

Arkansas gains use of Endigo ZC to battle rice stinkbugs

ROE, Ark. — Arkansas rice growers battling yet another insect in their crops have until Aug. 28 to use Endigo ZC, after the Environmental Protection Agency issued a Section 18 exemption on Aug. 13.

Global rice prices spike during COVID pandemic, remain high despite ample supply

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The COVID-19 pandemic created a spike in global rice prices in the second quarter of 2020, according to a new University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture report. Since then, rice prices have remained higher than expected despite ample rice stocks and a record 2020 global rice production.

Division of Agriculture opens herbicide screening tests

STUTTGART, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is accepting samples to test for herbicide resistance in barnyardgrass and other weed species in rice.

Extension researchers work to improve identification, diagnosis of widespread fungal pathogen

LONOKE, Ark. — Taproot decline is a syndrome long misdiagnosed by growers, consultants and even extension agents in Arkansas soybean fields and elsewhere. In 2020, however, researchers managed to finally identify the pathogen that causes the disease, bringing producers much closer to effectively diagnosing and treating the disease.

Crush It! wine webinar presented for amateur and beginning commercial winemakers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station will presentCrush It Arkansas! Winemaking 101 webinaron Wednesday,Aug. 18 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Division of Agriculture appoints Alton B. Johnson director of Rice Research and Extension Station

STUTTGART, Ark. — Coming to Arkansas as the new director of the Rice Research and Extension Center, Alton B. Johnson said, is like coming home. He spent a lot of time working with Division of Agriculture scientists at Agricultural Experiment Station research stations and centers during his doctoral studies.

Potential for Arkansas hops to be highlighted in upcoming Cooperative Extension Service webinar

CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — As Arkansans continue to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are working to help ensure at least one thing: There will be beer.

Competition heats up in Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge

LITTLE ROCK — For people who live on a tight budget and in areas with limited access to food, eating nutritionally balanced meals can be a challenge. Through Arkansas 4-H, youth are learning this important life skill, and on Aug. 6, 50 members showed just how creative they could be in preparing an inexpensive but nutritional meal.

2021 rice field day moves online Aug. 20

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture rice field day, originally scheduled as an in-person event on Aug. 6, will be held online Aug. 20. Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers and Cooperative Extension specialists will present their programs in recorded sessions that will go live that day.

Cooperative Extension Service to implement economic development initiative focused on workforce training

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service is launching a new workforce training initiative, focusing on customer service, essential skills, hospitality, local tourism and marketing and branding.

BEA Report: Consumers returned to casinos, car dealerships in the first half of 2021

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As COVID’s clouds appeared to lift this spring and early summer, consumers returned to restaurants, casinos and car dealerships in the first half of the year, while personal income edged higher in June.

Trent Roberts named first Endowed Chair in Soil Fertility Research

Gas consumption up; prices reach highest average since October 2014

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — More people were hitting the road during the first half of 2021, with demand driving gasoline prices to their highest levels since 2014.

Animal scientist investigates effects of grazing toxic fescue during gestation