Key developer of 2014 Farm Bill Decision aid to hold demos in Arkansas on Feb 5-6

LITTLE ROCK – A co-developer of a web-based aid to help farmers to make the critical one-time decisions demanded by the 2014 Farm Bill will be in Arkansas demonstrating the program on Feb. 5 in Stuttgart and Feb. 6 in Jonesboro. 

Expanded Farm Bill workshop, webinar series allows farmers to ‘cram’ before deadlines

LITTLE ROCK  -- Farmers are racing the clock to learn as much as they can about the 2014 Farm Bill in order to make critical decisions to meet one-time and irrevocable deadlines on Feb. 27 and March 31.

Farmers can ‘cram’ Farm Bill know-how in expanded webinar, workshop series

LITTLE ROCK – A chronological listing of upcoming Farm Bill workshops and webinars:

2015 North American Raspberry & Blackberry Conference to be held in Fayetteville

LITTLE ROCK  -- Berry industry pros from around the country will be touring several University of Arkansas System horticultural research facilities this winter, as the 2015 North American Raspberry & Blackberry Conference convenes in Fayetteville Feb. 24-27.

Top studs help raise money for 4-H horse programs through stallion service auction

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Great looks. Rippling muscles. Flowing locks. Outstanding work ethic. It’s everything you could want in the father of your next … performance horse.

With children come responsibilities as well as deductions, credits

LITTLE ROCK  -- When children arrive, so do parental responsibilities  -- and tax deductions.

Americans favor direct deposit, auto fund transfer for saving

LITTLE ROCK – When it comes to saving money, America Saves pledge takers favor direct deposit or automatic electronic fund transfers, according to a Consumer Federation of America survey. 

Cooperative Extension Service to host annual Farmers’ Market Conference in February

LITTLE ROCK  -- The Cooperative Extension Service will work in partnership with the Arkansas Farmers’ Market Association to host its annual conference Friday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension Service headquarters in Little Rock. 

Extension garden guru Janet Carson headlines 27^th annual Home & Garden Show

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Extension garden guru Janet Carson and Julie Donnelly, an Arkansas tomato grower and advocate, are the keynote speakers for the 27^th annual Home & Garden Show & Seminar.  

Farm business planning makes estate planning easier

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Most farmers want to leave their farms to their families to enjoy for generations to come, but without a plan this may not happen, said David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

James E. Tillman Sr. and Dr. Ann M. Bartuska to speak at Rural Life Conference

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – James E. Tillman Sr., regional conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will deliver the S.A. Haley Memorial Lecture at the 59th annual Rural Life Conference, Friday, Feb. 27, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.

Arkansas Irrigation Expo set for Feb. 25 at Stuttgart

LITTLE ROCK – Making the most of available water — one of farming’s most precious resources — will be the focus of the upcoming Arkansas Irrigation Expo, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Grand Prairie Center in Stuttgart.

 Feb. 11 is sign-up day for EBT grant for farmers markets

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas farmers’ market managers and farmers using direct marketing retail methods have an opportunity to apply for a grant to purchase point-of-sale equipment Wednesday, Feb. 11. The equipment makes it possible to expand client bases by accepting electronic benefit transfer cards, or EBTs.

Webinars, workshops available to aid growers in Farm Bill decisions

LITTLE ROCK  -- The Cooperative Extension Service and Farm Service Agency is offering expert assistance to Arkansas growers preparing to make major Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage decisions related to the 2014 Farm Bill.

Extension’s Walkingstick named to USDA Forest Resource Coordinating Committee

LITTLE ROCK  -- Tamara Walkingstick, associate director of the Arkansas Forest Resource Center and associate professor of Forestry for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Resource Coordinating Committee.

Small steps can add up to wealth building

LITTLE ROCK -- Each year, nearly half of Americans develop New Year’s resolutions to improve different aspects of their lives. According to a study by the University of Scranton, spending less and saving more money ranked No. 3 on the list right after losing weight and getting organized. 

New crop budgets provide additional planning options for growers, lenders

LITTLE ROCK — One of the most useful planning tools that Arkansas growers have come to depend on has been updated for the upcoming planting season. 

2015 AgDiscovery set for June 13-26 at UAPB; Application deadline March 6

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Unless they grew up on a farm, many teenagers never consider a career in agriculture, but some U.S. Department of Agriculture employees hope that will change.

Walk Across Arkansas: Statewide fitness challenge kicks off Feb. 16 

LITTLE ROCK – Walk Across Arkansas, one of the largest public fitness initiatives in the state, begins its spring 2015 efforts on Feb. 16. 

Resolve to achieve this year’s resolutions with manageable strategies

LITTLE ROCK – The New Year has just dawned, and that new gym membership has only been used two, maybe three times. With January’s short days and long, cold nights, it can be hard to maintain resolutions made Dec. 31. Making and keeping resolutions, however, doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing pursuit. 

Arkansas releases high-protein soybean aimed at feed market

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new high-yield, high-protein conventional soybean variety from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture makes an ideal choice for the animal feed market.

Get engaged in a water quality discussion for the Upper Saline River 

LITTLE ROCK -- Community members still have time to RSVP for a forum on water quality in the Upper Saline River area.

Six Arkansas crops set state yield records

LITTLE ROCK  -- Arkansas growers set or tied state records for yields in six crops in 2014, exceeding the national average in per-acre yield in four categories.

Lower bids lead to sharp decline in wheat plantings

LITTLE ROCK  -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture released key figures Monday showing Arkansas wheat plantings for the 2015 crop dropping off 16 percent from 2014.

January 9, 2015

Conducting a New Year’s financial checkup

LITTLE ROCK -- How fit are your finances? Laura Connerly, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said that now is a good time to check your financial health.

January 9, 2015

U.S. Department of Agriculture seeking input on feral swine in Arkansas

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – In February Arkansas small farmers and ranchers should expect to receive a questionnaire in the mail from the National Agriculture Statistics Service seeking their opinions on feral swine in Arkansas, said David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

January 8, 2015 

Six Farm Bill webinars scheduled during January

LITTLE ROCK – The first in a series of Farm Bill webinars that will extend through March, each covering a different facet of law and its effects on farming in Arkansas, have been scheduled through the month of January.

Corn, sorghum, soybean producer conferences set for Jan. 6, 8

LITTLE ROCK – The just-approved Enlist^TM and Roundup Ready Xtend^TM weed control systems are part of the agenda for the Corn, Grain Sorghum and Soybean Producer Conferences set for Jan. 6 at Jonesboro and Jan. 8 in Dumas. 

Upstream Art 2015: Feb. 5 application deadline

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Upstream Art, the program that transforms hardworking storm drains into colorful water quality education hot spots, is taking applications for its 2015 edition, with the application deadline being Feb. 5.