News - August 2015

Stink bugs, other pests appearing in large numbers in late-planted crops

PINE TREE, Ark. — Experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are forecasting unusually dense insect and pest populations in crops across the state this year, due primarily to widespread flooding in the spring and early summer and subsequently late-season planting.

Food processing business startups explored at workshops

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – How to start a food processing business will be explained during workshops in three Arkansas cities in October. The sessions are being presented by the Arkansas Food Innovation Center, which assists entrepreneurs with processing value-added food products. 

UAPB Agriculture Field Day Set for September 17

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Agriculture Field Day will be Thursday, Sept. 17, at the UAPB Agriculture Research Station on Oliver Road, off University Drive. 

Prepare for Sheep or Goat Breeding Season in September

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – September is the time to prepare for sheep or goat breeding season, said Dr. David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Several steps can help insure the most successful breeding season ever. 

New rule offers home buyers three days to review the fine print

LITTLE ROCK – People taking out mortgages to buy a home are now entitled to three days to review the forms before signing anything. The provisions commonly called as the Know Before You Owe rule went into effect Aug. 1. 

Tips available for coping with the finances of home disasters

LITTLE ROCK – A new guide book is available to help people recover financially from disasters and mitigate potential damages. 

Starting early can ease college cost burden

LITTLE ROCK – The cost of a college education can be daunting to parents who are looking for ways to finance the expense. 

Look to protein breakfasts to make a dent in child obesity

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – People are told repeatedly to eat breakfast, the most important meal of the day. But to make a difference against child obesity, not just any breakfast will do. A protein-based meal makes it more likely that kids – especially overweight ones – will burn more calories than those who eat a carbohydrate-based breakfast. 

Greening of Arkansas grants provide funding to grow community spaces

LITTLE ROCK – Community spaces like gardens, parks and nature areas provide invaluable quality of life for adults, children, and businesses – even pets. The Arkansas Flower and Garden Show is investing in these areas by providing community beautification grants through the Greening of Arkansas program. 

Ark cotton looks good, but still a lot of bears in the woods before harvest

NEWPORT, Ark. -- Despite a slow, rainy start to the planting season, Arkansas’ small cotton crop is looking good, but there are “still a lot of bears out in the woods,” said Bill Robertson, extension cotton agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Ark Forest Resources Center debuts news state timber price report

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Forest Resources Center is debuting a newly redesigned Arkansas Timber Price report, now available online. 

String of high overnight temps likely to affect rice grain quality

STUTTGART — High nighttime temperatures during recent summer months will likely affect the quality of harvested rice in the southern portion of the state, according to University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture experts.

Reminder: Extension offering continuing education for Arkansas media and Conservation Districts

LITTLE ROCK — Reporters working in watersheds impaired by nonpoint source pollution have an opportunity to brush up on their understanding of environmental science at three upcoming water quality seminars hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Simultaneously, Conservation District employees will have the chance to learn how to better communicate their stories to the media. The side-by-side workshops will take place in September and October in Little Rock, Monticello and Jonesboro. 

Learn trapping, surveillance at feral hog workshops set for Aug. 27, Sept. 19

LITTLE ROCK – Ruined lawns, fox holes wallowed into pastures and devoured farm crops are just part of the estimated $1.5 billion in annual damage and control costs linked to feral hogs nationwide. 

Molecular technology advances southern pea breeding

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Merging genetic tools into conventional breeding methods may cut years, and dollars, off the lengthy and expensive process of breeding improved southern pea varieties, according to researchers at a University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture field day.

Fall armyworms marching across pastures, lawns, soybeans

CONWAY, Ark. – Fall armyworms are on the march again, making lawns and pastures seem to disappear overnight.

 Poultry Health Lab director named Poultry Science Association Fellow

 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Billy M. Hargis, veterinarian and director of the Poultry Health Lab for the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has been named a Fellow of the Poultry Science Association. Hargis was recognized at the PSA annual meeting held recently in Louisville. 

Benton County shooters take home top honors from 4-H competition

LITTLE ROCK — A team of Benton County shooters took home top honors during the state’s annual 4-H shooting competition July 9-11 in Little Rock.

Jacksonville woman takes home 1^st place and people’s choice awards for rice centerpiece arrangement

STUTTGART — The big winner of this year’s Rice Centerpiece Arrangement Contest at the 2015 Arkansas Rice Expo not only took home the award for 1^st place, but the people’s choice award as well.

Rice ball earns top honors in expo recipe contest

STUTTGART — A panel of three local celebrity judges chose a Lincoln County woman’s rice recipe as their top winner from 10 finalists competing in the 2015 Arkansas Rice Expo rice recipe contest last week.

It’s almost time to start planting for fall grazing

LITTLE ROCK – When it’s 100 degrees outside, winter may seem ages away, but planning for fall grazing and winter forage needs to start long before the mercury drops. 

Stockpiling in August paves the way for fall, winter grazing

LITTLE ROCK – Poor weather conditions have taken a toll on the quality of the state’s hay crop for the second consecutive year, so livestock producers should consider stockpiling bermudagrass or fescue pastures as an alternative for fall and winter grazing. August is the time to get started. 

Div of Ag researchers developing nitrogen recommendations for Arkansas corn

ROHWER, Ark. –There’s an odd tool that’s appearing in maturing corn plots around Arkansas: what looks like a pair of red bolt cutters coupled together, with the cutting heads precisely 8 inches apart.   

What we did this summer: learning real-world scientific research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – While faculty scientists were exploring the impact of high tunnels for agricultural production this summer, Bailey Smith and Kenneth Buck were in the lab and field learning both research and horticulture contributing to the fundamental understanding of how tunnels affect crops.   

Going long on berry season with high tunnels

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Blackberry, blueberry and raspberry farmers can potentially reduce their risk for crop loss and enhance their opportunity for cash flow by planting “under cover.” They can extend their growing season by raising their berries in high tunnels – and in some cases, tunnels within tunnels.

 KUAF, Extension explore water resources’ impact

 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A few minutes on public radio each weekday this month are being devoted to glimpses at the ways that northwest Arkansas uses its water resources. KUAF 91.3 FM is partnering with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service to present a segment on the air each weekday highlighting different water-related topics and their impact on the region.

NASS projects record yields for Ark corn, cotton, soybeans, sorghum

JONESBORO, Ark. – Just as combines begin to scratch the surface of the 2015 harvest, the National Agricultural Statistics Service on Wednesday projected record high yields for Arkansas soybeans, sorghum, corn and cotton.

Discussion opportunity for L'Anguille water quality concerns, priorities

Aug. 12 field day highlights southern pea breeding program

KIBLER, Ark. — Their names are canon in Southern cooking: Black Eyed, Pink Eye, Purple Hull, Cream and Crowder. 

Hutchinson:  In rice to Cuba and other export markets, Arkansas needs to be No. 1

STUTTGART, Ark. – Arkansas, already No. 1 in U.S. rice production, needs to be No. 1 when it comes to rice exported to other markets, Gov. Asa Hutchinson told a crowd some 500 packed into the Grand Prairie Center for the Arkansas Rice Expo. 

PPO herbicide-resistant pigweed confirmed in four Arkansas counties

LONOKE, Ark. — Weed experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are warning soybean growers to prepare for a challenging season ahead as one of the area’s most popular herbicides meets with increasing resistance from a pervasive weed. By Ryan McGeeney. 744 words.

New app offers soybean farmers advice through smart phones

LITTLE ROCK — University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture researchers have introduced new technology that puts knowledge right at the fingertips of soybean farmers. By Lisa Lakey. 299 words.

 Events show off versatility of Arkansas tomatoes from appetizer to dessert

LITTLE ROCK – Tomatoes, those favorite fruits-called-vegetables of the Arkansas garden, showed off their culinary versatility with a little star treatment this summer.  By KD Reep. 607 words.

All-star lineup to put palates to work at the Rice Expo Rice Recipe Contest

LITTLE ROCK – This year’s Arkansas Rice Expo has an all-star lineup of judges who will put their palates to the test for the Rice Recipe Contest. 

Extension offering continuing education for Arkansas media and Conservation Districts

LITTLE ROCK — Reporters working in watersheds impaired by nonpoint source pollution have an opportunity to brush up on their understanding of environmental science at three upcoming water quality seminars hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Div of Ag, UAM, Ark Forest Resources Center scientists part of statewide Center for Advanced Surface Engineering

MONTICELLO, Ark. -- Forestry researchers and agricultural engineers will be working together at the nano- and micro- levels as part of the new statewide Center for Advanced Surface Engineering, or CASE.