News - July 2015

BACK TO SCHOOL: Back to a healthy sleep routine

LITTLE ROCK - As the lazy days of summer slowly come to a close, children turn in swimsuits and swimming pools for uniforms and backpacks. And for most kids, back to school also means back to bed for those who have left behind routine for long summer nights. 

BACK TO SCHOOL: Breakfast - the most important meal of the day made easy

LITTLE ROCK - Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That’s what the experts have always said, but for parents it can be the most challenging time of the day. Make it a rushed school morning, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster and a hungry child. 

BACK TO SCHOOL: Lunchbox 101 - Good food and happy kids

LITTLE ROCK - A well-packed lunch is key to overcoming the mid-day lull and ensuring your child has the energy to power through the rest of the school day. Add in busy mornings, a picky eater and a short lunchtime, it becomes yet another school year challenge. But packing the daily lunchbox doesn’t mean you have to fall back on yet another peanut butter and jelly sandwich and chips. 

BACK TO SCHOOL: Shopping smart

LITTLE ROCK --Backpacks, school supplies, new shoes, uniforms or the latest outfits. Back to school shopping can take a huge bite out of your monthly budget. Laura Connerly, assistant professor and extension personal finance educator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture recommends using smart shopping strategies to cut costs and reduce the burden.

School fresh fruit, vegetable program cuts childhood obesity rates, study finds

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In a state with some of the highest childhood obesity rates in the nation, a new study shows that a program bringing fresh fruits and vegetables into Arkansas schools not only lowers obesity rates, it can also save hundreds of dollars per child each year to prevent obesity. 

Rice Expo field tours cover varieties, weed control, flood tolerant soybeans

STUTTGART, Ark. – Herbicide resistant barnyardgrass, flood-tolerant soybeans and an update on rice varieties released last year are among the field tour stops, part of the Aug. 7 Arkansas Rice Expo. 

Arkansas’ Looper elected president of American Society of Animal Science

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  --Michael Looper, head of the Animal Science Department for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will serve as president of the America Society of Animal Science through 2016. 

Weaning, stress and a chance to make a difference for sheep, goats 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Midsummer is often a time of change for small lambs, kids and their producers. Lambs and kids born in the spring are about to be weaned, an often noisy and stressful time for them and their producers, said Dr. David Fernandez, livestock specialist with the Cooperative Extension Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Benton County’s Lockhart named 4-H Governor’s Award winner

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The 2015 4-H Governor’s Award winner has shown he can not only overcome adversity, but also help others through their own difficult times.

Lake Conway-Point Remove Watershed forum set for Aug. 3

LITTLE ROCK — The Lake Conway-Point Remove Watershed water quality forum is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3. The forum runs from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton cafeteria, 1537 University Blvd., in Morrilton. 

First week of August declared “National Farmers Market Week”

LITTLE ROCK — Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, has declared August 2-8, 2015, "National Farmers Market Week." This year marks the 16th annual celebration that honors the important role farmers’ markets play in local economies. 

Rice, milo, soybeans on agenda for July 30 Crops Field Day at Rohwer 

MONTICELLO, Ark. -- Chloride issues in soybeans, sugarcane aphids in sorghum and disease control in rice are among the topics for the July 30 Crops Field Day at Rohwer. 

 Top 10 finalists for Rice Expo Recipe contest named 

LONOKE, Ark. -- Rice is one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen and the 10 finalist recipes show how the grain can go from breakfast to dessert.  

Heat stress can take toll on cattle herd

LITTLE ROCK -- The heat and humidity of an Arkansas summer can take its toll on cattle and increase management tasks for ranchers, said Tom Troxel, associate head-Animal Science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Field day features advances in peach breeding technology

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Developing genetic tools may cut years, and dollars, off the lengthy and expensive process of breeding new peach varieties, according to researchers at a peach field day July 16. 

Technology, public perceptions to be addressed at Aug. 6 animal wellbeing symposium

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The impact of continuing challenges in animal welfare and changes in public perception and technology will be addressed Aug. 6 by speakers at the 5th Annual Symposium on Current Issues and Advances in Food Animal Wellbeing. The event is sponsored by the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing, a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Sugarcane aphids expand in Arkansas; confirmed in 21 counties 

MONTICELLO, Ark. – Sugarcane aphids are being found through most of the Arkansas Delta, surrounding Prairie County and extending to 21 counties statewide. 

Troxel named fellow in American Society of Animal Science 

 LITTLE ROCK -- Tom Troxel, associate head-Animal Science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has been named a Fellow in extension of the American Society of Animal Science. 

Arkansas 4-H Shooting Sports teams bring home top places at Nationals

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – The first trip by an Arkansas state team to the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships resulted in six top 10 placements - including three first-place finishes – and some head-scratching from surprised competitors. 

‘American Ninja’ contestant to bring ‘right attitude’ message to 4-H State O-Rama

LITTLE ROCK -- Hoan Do, a competitor on “American Ninja” “and corporate trainer, will be bringing practical strategies for success in and out of school when delivers the keynote Thursday afternoon at the Arkansas 4-H State O-Rama.

Research essential for Arkansas to remain competitive in agriculture

CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — Continuing agricultural research is essential if Arkansas is to remain competitive globally, state Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward told lawmakers this week.  

Financial security in retirement: Can you pass the test? 

LITTLE ROCK -- George Foreman, first famous as a world heavyweight championship boxer, then as a kitchen appliance guru, once said, “The question isn't at what age I want to retire, it's at what income.” 

Happy couples can and do talk about money

LITTLE ROCK – Money may not buy happiness, but couples who talk about money at least once a week are more likely to describe their relationship as “extremely happy,” said Laura Connerly, assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Gov. Hutchinson, Cuba, cooking demos on program for Aug. 7 Arkansas Rice Expo

STUTTGART, Ark. – Gov. Asa Hutchinson will deliver the keynote at this year’s Arkansas Rice Expo, set for Friday, Aug. 7, in Stuttgart. 

Sugarcane aphids expand in Arkansas; confirmed in 12 counties

MONTICELLO, Ark. – Sugarcane aphids are rapidly expanding in Arkansas, quadrupling the number of counties in which they’ve been confirmed just two weeks earlier.  

Webinar series to focus on drone use in agriculture

LITTLE ROCK – A webinar series that begins July 15, produced through the eXtension Learning Network, may show that the future of unmanned aerial systems could just touch down in agriculture.  

Welding competition to debut at 4-H-O-Rama in July

LITTLE ROCK — Fourteen Arkansas youths will compete in the inaugural welding competition at this year’s 4-H-O-Rama, taking place July 21-24.

 Renk named to Technology Commercialization Office post

 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Bryan Renk has begun duties at the Technology Commercialization Office of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture as the associate director for commercialization. He is responsible for various aspects of assessing technology, patenting, licensing and marketing. The office helps Division of Agriculture faculty and research scientists to identify, protect and commercialize intellectual property developed from their research.

Poultry experts urge caution during fair season

LITTLE ROCK — Poultry and biosecurity experts are warning small flock owners in Arkansas and throughout the region to exercise caution at county fairs and elsewhere this season.

Researcher at animal wellbeing symposium to discuss cattle handing in feedlots

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The results of studies on handling cattle in feedlots will be presented Aug. 6 by Ruth Woiwode at the 5^th Annual Symposium on Current Issues and Advances in Food Animal Wellbeing. Woiwode is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and a former student of Temple Grandin, a nationally prominent researcher at Colorado State University on the best methods for handling cattle in processing facilities.

Emerald ash borer confirmed in three more counties

LITTLE ROCK– The Arkansas State Plant Board has added three more counties to the list of confirmed emerald ash borer sites, said Tamara Walkingstick, associate director-Arkansas Forest Resources Center. 

Slow-moving system dumps road-eroding rains in SW; buries soybeans in SE Arkansas

McGEHEE, Ark. -- Slow-moving rain clouds dumped double-digit amounts on southern Arkansas over the July Fourth weekend, eroding roads in southwest Arkansas and burying young soybeans in the southeastern corner. 

August the time to stockpiling bermudagrass

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- August is the time to begin stockpiling bermudagrass for fall-to-early-winter grazing, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor of Animal Science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Neighbor’s drone overhead? It’s never open season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The proliferation of remotely controlled aerial vehicles, or drones, on the market has been accompanied by a rise in the number of questions about what uses are legal. 

Summer jobs for youth have benefits beyond the paycheck

LITTLE ROCK -- Summer jobs for young adults have benefits far beyond the paycheck, said Laura Connerly, assistant professor and family financial expert for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Sun safety for summer fun

LITTLE ROCK — With summer now in full swing, the lakes and parks are filled with boaters, swimmers, hikers and those just out enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. However, those warm rays can bring more than a season’s summer glow. 

Rising Mississippi will likely flood thousands of farmland acres in eastern Arkansas

MARION, Ark. — As cattle ranchers and other growers continue to struggle with the fallout from weeks of flooding in central and southwest Arkansas, row crop farmers along the state’s eastern border brace for likely flooding and crop loss as the Mississippi River continues to swell toward flood stage this week.