News - December 2022

University of Arkansas at Monticello hosts USDA official; announces $3.7 million grant

HUMPHREY, Ark. — Researchers and administrators with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture hosted a visiting official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture last Friday, highlighting projects that have garnered special federal funding in support of climate-smart initiatives.

Study shows no negative health effects on limit-fed diet in 'high-risk' cattle

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Placing newly received, “high-risk” cattle on a limit-fed diet may result in greater performance with no adverse health effects, according to a study by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Moldenhauer, Wamishe earn rice industry awards at 2022 Rice Outlook Conference

AUSTIN, Texas — Colleagues have honored two faculty members from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture — Karen Moldenhauer and Yeshi Wamishe — for their industry contributions through their work in rice breeding and rice pathology.

YEAREND: Specialty crops took hard hit in 2022, drought responsible for lower yields

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Severe drought and some of the highest temperatures seen in years caused many Arkansas fruit and nut crops to suffer yield losses in 2022.

Arkansas ag econ professor Jada Thompson wins SAEA Emerging Scholar Award

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jada Thompson, assistant professor in the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness in the University of Arkansas System, was recently recognized with the Southern Agricultural Economics Association’s 2023 Emerging Scholar Award for research.

Division of Agriculture, Anheuser-Busch team up to research, promote resource conservation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and Anheuser-Busch are partnering to research and promote resource conservation for rice farming in Arkansas and the surrounding region. Their focus will be on preserving water quality and quantity and nutrient management.

Division of Agriculture part of grant-funded effort to bridge small farms, regional food supply chains through data-driven agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The National Science Foundation has awarded a grant of nearly three-quarters of a million dollars to the University of Arkansas’ Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research. The institute, referred to as I³R, is a cross-disciplinary team of consultants, startup companies and university researchers, including those with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Applications now open for 2023 F²OCUS: Future of Food undergrad summer program

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Opening the realms of possibility in food science is the goal behind the Future of Food: Opportunities and Careers for Undergraduate Students (F²OCUS) Fellowship Program. 

Division of Ag faculty making connections with university in Mexico

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mike Looper and Daniel Rivera recently presented to a collegiate cattlemen's group through an informational webinar in November that connected students and faculty between the U of A and Universidad Autonoma de Neuvo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. 

YEAREND: War, weather drive 2022 ag rollercoaster

LITTLE ROCK — Markets seeking stability after a year of COVID found new turbulence in 2022 as war erupted in the Ukraine and Mid-South farmers found themselves on a weather rollercoaster ride. 

SIDEBAR: Look at forecast price rises from 2022 to 2023

LITTLE ROCK — Here is a quick look at forecast price increases in farm-related expenses as they appear in the enterprise budgets developed for the 2023 growing season by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture for farmers

YEAREND: Arkansas pushes corn through drought, rakes in more winter wheat despite rains 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — High temperatures, drought and elevated input costs drove Arkansas corn and grain sorghum production down in 2022, while heavy rains hampered winter wheat. 

YEAREND: Avian influenza, inflation drive up poultry prices; faculty additions allow for more specialized research

FAYETTEVILLE Ark. — The worst outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States disrupted production and led to increased poultry prices in 2022. 

YEAREND: Cotton sees historically strong and volatile prices for 2022

JONESBORO, Ark. — Cotton prices were red hot in 2022, but 2023 may see a cooling trend, not only in the markets, but also acres.

YEAREND: Dry summer lowers disease pressure, speeds harvest for Arkansas peanut growers

LONOKE, Ark. —The droughty summer of 2022 made harvest both easier and more challenging for Arkansas’ peanut farmers.

YEAREND: Arkansas soybean farmers face potassium 'hidden hunger,' herbicide resistance amid input cost increase in 2022

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Despite a bountiful crop of soybeans this year, Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said potassium deficiency in Arkansas’ most valuable row crop is becoming more prevalent in the state.

YEAREND: High input costs, weather extremes challenged rice growers in 2022

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jarrod Hardke has a word for the 2022 rice season — erratic.

YEAREND: Drought accelerates liquidation of herds in 2022

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — “The theme of 2022 was drought and all the implications that had for Arkansas beef producers,” said James Mitchell, assistant professor and extension agricultural economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Fields urges federal support for land grant work in testimony before Senate Ag Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Land grant universities in the United States are struggling with crumbling infrastructure and declining federal support while China increases its funding for public agricultural research, according to testimony Tuesday at a Farm Bill hearing held by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

Water rights, foreign land ownership, pesticides among topics for May 4-5 Western Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Water rights. Foreign land ownership. Pesticides. The Farm Bill. Each of these issues and more will be on the agenda for the National Agricultural Law Center’s inaugural Western Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference set for May 4-5 in Reno, Nevada. 

Arkansas Discovery Farms hosts Collaborative Conservation Conference Feb. 15-16

LITTLE ROCK — Farmers will be sharing their water and soil stewardship experiences during the Discovery Farms: Collaborative Conservation Conference set for Feb. 15-16 at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center.

Arkansas Ag Experiment Station scientist wins Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mike Richardson, an Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station horticulture professor, was recently presented the Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award by the University of Arkansas Graduate School and International Education.

Vines Center among Top 3 in Unique Venues Planner’s Choice Awards

FERNDALE, Ark. — The C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center has been named a top three finisher in its category in the annual Unique Venues Planner’s Choice Awards.

Agents', specialists' transformative efforts recognized at Cooperative Extension conference

LITTLE ROCK — Faculty and staff at the Cooperative Extension Service tackled tough issues affecting Arkansans this year, including providing immunization education and vaccine clinics in the Arkansas Delta, finding advanced technology to better control feral hogs statewide and repurposing neglected property into a learning center that serves Poinsett County residents.

Share Grounds commercial kitchen facility reopens in Cleveland County

RISON, Ark. — For local farmers and hopeful food entrepreneurs, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Share Grounds program provides an opportunity to start and grow food businesses by using existing facilities at several county fairgrounds in the state. On Dec. 1, community members, local leaders and potential clients gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Cleveland County Share Grounds commercial kitchen in Rison.

Arkansas farmers, consultants asked to take part in survey about precision agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Researchers wanting to know how Arkansas farmers, consultants and other professionals use precision agriculture have launched a survey to find the answers.

Research suggests melatonin improves growth performance of calves born to cows that grazed toxic fescue during gestation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — An animal scientist at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station has shown that a common and inexpensive hormone additive may mitigate the ill effects on growth performance of calves born to cows grazed on endophyte-infected pastures during gestation.

2023 county winter production meeting schedule kicks off Jan. 10

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service has two dozen dates posted for the 2023 winter county winter production meetings that begin in January.

LeadAR leadership program accepting applications

LITTLE ROCK — LeadAR, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s leadership program, is accepting applications for its next class of leaders. For Arkansans who are passionate about the futures of their communities, LeadAR provides an in-depth learning experience covering important economic and social issues impacting the state.