News - October 2014

Plant of the Week: Carolina buckthorn Rhamnus caroliniana

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- One of the things that attract me to plants is that they are so multifaceted. From every angle you get a different perspective. The relatively inconspicuous Arkansas native shrub known as Carolina buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana) is, on the surface not all that interesting, but by digging a little deeper I found a connection to an Elbert Little, Jr. who was born in Fort Smith in 1907.

4-H members spend Saturday in an ‘Amazing Race’ toward civic learning

MOUNT IDA, Ark. -- Part competition, part mystery and all fun. That’s how 15 youths aged 9-13 spent a Saturday learning citizenship and leadership during the Montgomery County 4-H Amazing Race. 

Prevent pregnancy toxemia in sheep and goats with nutritional management

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Although kidding and lambing season does not usually occur until spring, winter is the time to prevent pregnancy toxemia in your herd or flock, said David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

300 Days of Grazing field day set for Nov. 18 at SWREC

HOPE, Ark. – Livestock producers can learn to shave dollars off expensive winter feeding during the 300 Days of Grazing field day Nov. 18 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center’s cow and calf area near Perrytown. 

Div of Ag faculty to speak at cover crops conference

JONESBORO, Ark. – Three faculty from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are among the speakers who will deliver presentations at the Southern Agricultural Cover Crops Conference. The conference will be held Oct. 28 and 29 at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center in Jonesboro.

Nov. 21 is EQIP cutoff date for funding of 2015 projects

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Arkansas farmers and landowners have until Nov. 21, to sign up for financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, known as EQIP, for the 2015 year, said Henry English, head of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

SARE grant deadline Nov. 17; Opportunity for ranchers, farmers to experiment

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Ranchers and farmers who want to experiment with a new project or idea to become more productive or profitable have an avenue to do so, said David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Plant of the Week: Planting Trees

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- I love all plants but if I had to choose a favorite group it would probably be trees.  

Study: 4-H members more likely to succeed as adults

LITTLE ROCK -- More than 130,000 youth in Arkansas are more likely to have better grades, be active in civic life and pursue higher levels of education, thanks to the 4-H youth development program, said Laura Connerly, assistant professor-University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

4-H teaches critical thinking skills

LITTLE ROCK -- The first phrase of the 4-H pledge is about clearer thinking. 4-H, the nation’s largest youth development program delivers on that promise, said Laura Connerly, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

FSA, Division of Ag offer dozen-plus Farm Bill workshops for crop producers

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas crop producers will have more than a dozen opportunities to get up to speed on the 2014 Farm Bill and its anticipated effects on their operation in the more than one dozen workshops planned in Oct. and Nov. across Arkansas.

Nov. 13 Dumas crop insurance workshop cancelled

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A Nov. 13 training session in Dumas on crop insurance has been cancelled because of speakers’ schedule conflicts. The meeting was one of three set for that week to help farmers handle risk management in view of new provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill.

Hunting or camping this fall? Don’t pack firewood

LITTLE ROCK -- With cooler temperatures and colorful forests beckoning, many people are taking to Arkansas’ woodlands to hunt, fish or go camping. The one thing they should take with them is this message -- don’t bring firewood.

Emerald Ash Borer confirmed in another species: fringe trees

LITTLE ROCK  – The white fringe tree, a plant that lights up the spring landscape with white clusters of flowers, has been confirmed as a host for the emerald ash borer in Ohio.  

Calving cows will need more nutrients than regrowing pastures alone can provide

LITTLE ROCK -- Cooler weather and a resurgence in rain will be sparking regrowth in fescue pastures, but ranchers with fall calving cows may need more than grass to maintain good body condition for cows, said Tom Troxel, associate head-Animal Science, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.   

Temple Grandin headlines Four States Cattle Conference in December

TEXARKANA, Ark. – Temple Grandin, an animal scientist whose life story was profiled in an HBO movie, will be the featured speaker at the Four States Cattle Conference Dec. 10 at the Four States Fairgrounds in Texarkana.

Plant of the Week: Carex phyllocephala; Sparkler Sedge, Palm Sedge 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Too often gardeners get hung up on flowers and focus all their attention on plants that bloom. Foliage color and texture are equally important in garden making and oftentimes lead to more interesting and easier to maintain displays. Sparkler Palm Sedge (Carex phyllocephala ‘Sparkler’) is one such plant that more gardeners should know. 

Forest Management Tour at Batesville Station postponed until 2015

LITTLE ROCK – The Forest Management Tour scheduled for Oct. 22 at the Batesville Station has been postponed until Spring 2015.

Storms kill one in SW Arkansas, high winds damage buildings in NW Arkansas

HUNTSVILLE, Ark. -- It wasn't an alarm clock that woke Darrin Henderson up on Monday, but the shriek of high winds and a storm’s deep rumble. A strong line of storms scythed across Arkansas leaving one person dead and twisting trees and uprooting buildings. Little River County officials confirmed one death near Ashdown, and a team from the National Weather Service office in Shreveport, Louisiana, was en route to survey the area. 

Storm-damaged cotton acre estimates rise to 24K, 3K in soybeans

LITTLE ROCK – When the skies finally cleared, northeast Arkansas cotton and soybean growers walking their fields found themselves staring at a far more grim picture of storm damage. 

Small business, farm issues part of Extension-sponsored tax schools

LITTLE ROCK – How will the Affordable Care Act affect your taxes this year? Do you know the best way to file when you've got rural and agricultural investments? Will tax code changes affect you as a small business owner?

Not Too Soon To Prepare for Colder and Wetter Winter than Usual

PINE BLUFF, Ark. –Most Arkansas livestock producers have had a banner year. Rainfall was slightly above average, forage growth was good, and hay supplies strong. But, there is a cloud behind this silver lining, said David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Plant of the Week - Papaya

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --The papayas in the vegetable garden have grown really fast and, though they might not ripen before frost, have a number of fruit as long as my hand clinging to the stout trunk. 

4-H, military to host camp for children of fallen soldiers 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Youths ages 11 to 17 who have lost family members during military service will be part of a special “Hearts of Our Heroes Camp” Saturday and Sunday presented by Arkansas 4-H and Survivor Outreach Services, an agency of the U.S. Army.  

Morning storms shred cotton, up to 10,000 acres may be damaged

BLACK OAK, Ark. – Violent storms with curtains of golf ball-sized hail scoured up to 10,000 acres of promising cotton on Tuesday, just days away from harvest, said Bill Robertson, extension cotton agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Trio of November workshops focus on risk management under the 2014 Farm Bill

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The 2014 Farm Bill brings big changes in the way Southern farmers handle risk management and training sessions in Jonesboro, Forrest City and Dumas are planned to help producers adapt successfully.

Receive more than $3K in federal funds? Get to know SAM

LITTLE ROCK -- Individuals, farms, businesses, government agencies, non-profits or private concerns that receive more than $3,000 in any type of federal money need to know SAM, or the System for Award Management.

Proper disposal of dead livestock is producer’s responsibility

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – As one producer said, “At some point, livestock become dead stock.” David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, reminds producers to be prepared to properly dispose of animals that die on their farms. Disposing of carcasses in locations where they might contaminate surface water or wells is illegal in Arkansas.

Plant of the Week - Dragoneye Pine

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- How big will it get? This question was asked a few days ago when I unloaded a small specimen of Pinus densiflora ‘Oculus draconis’, the Dragoneye pine.

Early leaf spot found on peanuts in research plot

NEWPORT, Ark. -- Early leaf spot, a disease that can cut peanut yields by 50 percent has been confirmed in Arkansas, Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said on Wednesday.

U of A Extension Service honored for 2.8 million hours volunteer service

LITTLE ROCK – After years as runner up for the number of volunteer hours in a year, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service claimed the top spot, honored by Gov. Mike Beebe for the more than 2.8 million volunteer hours donated to the people Arkansas. 

Another Arkansas yield record falls, this time in winter wheat

JONESBORO, Ark. -- For the second year straight, Arkansas’ winter wheat farmers have set a state average yield record, getting 63 bushels per acre in 2014, one bushel per acre above the previous record, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.