News - February 2015

USDA extends Farm Bill deadline to March 31

LONOKE, Ark. – Farmers now have until March 31 to update yield history and base acres under the 2014 Farm Bill, a deadline extension announced Monday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

China’s cotton cache, appetite for sorghum helps shift U.S. acres

JONESBORO, Ark. – China’s cotton cache and its appetite for grain sorghum may have a heavy hand in Arkansas’ disappearing cotton acres. 

Barnyardgrass workshop planned for March 9 in Stuttgart

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Barnyardgrass may be rice-grower enemy No. 1, but it’s also problematic for other Mid-South crops. What’s in the future for this weed is among the topics in a March 9 workshop at the Grand Prairie Center in Stuttgart. 

Trends in ag, environmental law on April 17 conference agenda

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A panel discussion on how changes in environmental and agriculture law will affect how our food is grown and the products that wind up in consumer shopping carts is on the agenda for the second Mid-South Agricultural and Environment set for April 17.

Getting the most out of spring alfalfa cutting

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Coming out of winter, alfalfa isn’t at its most vigorous and hay producers need to take a little extra care in that first spring cutting, said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Water summit on animal production planned for April 1 in Bentonville  

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Water Summit, a conference on managing drinking water for animal production, is set for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 1 at Northwest Arkansas Community College’s Shewmaker Business Development Center in Bentonville. 

Pest scouting among keys in record rice verification yield in Chicot Co.

LAKE VILLAGE, Ark. – A 60-acre rice verification program field, grown fungicide- and insecticide- free due to thorough scouting, has produced record yields and record economic returns, researchers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture reported.

As first Farm Bill deadline arrives, growers have additional opportunities

LONOKE – As two major Farm Bill deadlines approach, Arkansas growers are trying to balance long-term forecasting with sort-term survival. 

Arkansas releases thornless primocane-fruiting blackberry suitable for storage, shipping to commercial markets

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The second thornless primocane-fruiting blackberry released by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is the first of its kind to yield shipping-quality fruit suitable for commercial markets, said John R. Clark, director of the fruit breeding program.

Why pay when you can file taxes for free?

LITTLE ROCK – For those who need help with filing taxes, there are options to have those1040s file for free, said Laura Connerly, assistant professor for family and consumer economics with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

Alfalfa’s first cutting not far off; time to think about fertilization

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Alfalfa loves potassium and phosphorus and growers will soon need to apply both to keep that legume stand going, said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

When it’s cold, think about managing weeds in warm-season pastures

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Bermudagrass’s dormant period is the time to take care of weed control in those warm-season pastures, said Dirk Philipp, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Now is a critical time for spring calving cows

LITTLE ROCK – Less-than-normal rainfall means slower-growing fescue and some operations will be feeding hay longer this spring – a time when grass grazing is critical for spring-calving cows. 

NAP coverage deadline signup is Feb. 28 for most vegetable crops

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Feb. 28 is the deadline for producers of spring and summer seeded planted crops to sign up for the Noninsured Assistance Program, or NAP. 

Deadline for help with one-time opportunities under Farm Bill available from UAPB

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Farmers have three one-time opportunities coming up under the 2014 Farm Bill, said Henry English, head of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

Another decision-making deadline looms for farmers

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Farmers have yet another deadline. Row crop producers must make all crop insurance decisions for spring crops by Feb. 28. Growers have until then to decide if they want to purchase crop insurance, reinstate crop insurance, which crops they want to insure and their levels of coverage for the 2015 crop insurance year, said Henry English, director, Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Rural Life Conference Feb. 27 features 12 workshops

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The 59th annual Rural Life Conference, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, will feature 12 workshops. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the opening session at 8:45 a.m.

Feb. 24 4-H Day at the Capitol to introduce youth to lawmakers

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas youth will have the opportunity to meet their state legislators and gain a better understanding of how democracy works during the Feb. 24 “4-H Day at the Capitol.”

Extension hosting local forum to help communities identify water quality priorities

STAR CITY, Ark. — People who live, work, recreate or own property in the Bayou Bartholomew watershed are invited to participate in a March 3 forum on local water quality.

Arkansas Flower and Garden Show more than just plants 

LITTLE ROCK – The Feb. 20-22 Arkansas Flower and Garden Show is much more than just plants.

Baking and coating substitutes for frying food; Division of Agriculture licenses technology to intellectual property firm

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It looks, feels and tastes fried, but a baked coating developed by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture may one day allow consumers to enjoy their favorites without all the guilt, fat and calories. 

Arkansas Flower and Garden Show launches new website

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Flower and Garden Show has a new face at www.argardenshow.org.

Cooperative Extension Service, Farm Service Agency expand list of Farm Bill webinar, workshop offerings

LITTLE ROCK  -- As the deadline for growers to make important decisions regarding the 2014 Farm Bill approaches, the Cooperative Extension Service and the Farm Service Agency have further expanded the number of available workshops and webinars. Several critical and irrevocable decisions must be made by Feb. 27 and March 31.

As cattle numbers rise across U.S., prices expected to remain steady in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK  -- As overall cattle numbers across the country inched up by one percent in 2014, beef cattle numbers in Arkansas remained unchanged while dairy cattle numbers dropped significantly, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Jan. 1, 2015 Cattle Inventory.

Conference to discuss animal welfare, cattle handling

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ark. – Animal welfare, cattle handling, livestock facilities and their impact on beef cattle production will be the focus of the 2015 Little Red River Beef Cattle Conference on March 18 at the Stone County Fairgrounds in Mountain View. 

Division of Agriculture professor receives distinguished service award

LITTLE ROCK  -- A University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture professor was recently awarded a distinguished service award for achievements spanning a career in animal science spanning more than three decades.

Cooperative Extension Service to Offer Pesticide Application Clinics in February

LITTLE ROCK -- As the 2015 planting season approaches, Arkansas growers and professional pesticide applicators will have an early opportunity to brush up on new advances in pesticide technology.

Big Creek Research and Extension Team Releases 4^th Quarterly Report

LITTLE ROCK  -- The Big Creek Research and Extension Team has released its fourth quarterly report for 2014 on water and soil conditions near Big Creek, a major tributary to the Buffalo National River in Newton County.

 Big Creek Research & Extension Team launches website

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The team of scientists studying the potential impact of a hog farm on Big Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo River, has launched a website that includes research data, reports and news about their work. 

Barnyardgrass workshop planned for March 9 in Stuttgart

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- For rice growers in the Mid-South, barnyardgrass looms as big a threat as herbicide-resistant pigweed does for soy and cotton farmers and barnyardgrass will be front and center of a workshop set for March 9 in Stuttgart.  

 Arkansas Outdoor School has a camp for almost everyone

FERNDALE, Ark. – Love science and technology? Adventure sports and wilderness skills? How about art or crime scene investigation techniques? For all those topics and more there’s a summer day camp for you this year at the Arkansas Outdoor School. 

Marriage and taxes: When ‘I do’ becomes ‘we do’

LITTLE ROCK -- When it comes to filing taxes, married couples wonder whether “I do,” should become “we do.” 

Additional in-person demos added for key developer of 2014 Farm Bill Decision aid

LITTLE ROCK – Two more locations and times have been added to the schedule of in-person demonstrations of the web-based Farm Bill decision aid by one of its creators. 

 Not too early to sign up for equine, adventure, wildlife camps

New opportunities for last-minute Farm Bill cramming

LITTLE ROCK – A chronological listing of upcoming Farm Bill workshops and webinars presented by the Cooperative Extension Service and the Farm Service Agency. 

Wheat stripe rust confirmed in three Arkansas counties

LITTLE ROCK  -- Stripe rust, the most important disease for wheat growers in Arkansas, has been found in fields in Jefferson, Lincoln and Lee counties.