News - October 2015

Strawberry initiative energizes industry; accomplishments summarized in e-book

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Strawberry production in the U.S. is getting a significant boost thanks to two years of work by agricultural research and extension personnel who teamed up with growers across the nation to explore new ways to invigorate the industry.

 With the Rains Come Worm Warning for Sheep and Goat Producers

 PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Recent rains provided much needed moisture to parched Arkansas pastures, and they now may experience a little growth. But, the wet weather also creates conditions favorable for internal parasites to infect animals on pasture, said Dr. David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

Extension pesticide expert visits, advises farmers in Senegal

Ples Spradley spent most of September in the West African country as a volunteer for Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program, which began in 1991 and is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Spradley took on the task of assessing the current state of pesticide safety practices being used in Senegal, and making recommendations based on those findings. 

 Windham receives development award

 LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Community Development Society presented one of its highest awards last week to Tony Windham, the University of Arkansas System’s Associate Vice President for Agriculture-Extension and Director of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

New beekeeping classes scheduled for Springdale, Magnolia and Monticello

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansans interested in beekeeping will have an additional opportunity to learn everything they need to know to begin safely and successfully keeping honey bees during a series of weekly classes offered at multiple locations throughout the state.

Extension Service offering series of workshops to help backyard poultry owners fend off avian flu

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  -- With the return of migratory birds to Arkansas, comes the threat of a resurgence in avian influenza among the state’s poultry flocks. Learn to fend off the flu through workshops being offered in November by the Cooperative Extension Service. 

 October is 4-H Month: Celebrating life, laughter and learning

LITTLE ROCK -- Talk to any one of its more than 140,000 Arkansas members and you’ll learn that 4-H is more than just a club meeting or an after-school activity.

Massive outbreak of webworms creates unsightly mess in trees

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Some winged ghosts of this Halloween season may return to haunt Arkansas’ air next spring. 

Food security vital for national interests, world markets

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Observing that the challenge of feeding the world will require major efforts in coming years, U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas told a policy forum Oct. 12 that the University of Arkansas students at the event would share the burden of working on those issues.

Grape growers gather Nov. 6 for state conference

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ vineyard owners and managers will hear updates on pest and disease management for their crop on Nov. 6 at the Arkansas Grape Growers annual conference and trade show. 

Incoming Gulf moisture may lower fire risk; rain possible Saturday

LITTLE ROCK – The grass is crunchy and crowded with dried leaves. The wind is blowing and the relative humidity is somewhere south of 30 percent. This is wildfire weather. 

What is fire weather? NWS forecaster explains

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  – As drought intensifies in Arkansas and the wildfire danger increases, the phrases “fire weather watch” and “red flag warning” have become frequent parts of the weekend’s forecast. 

 Sweet potatoes: proper curing improves quality, shelf life

 PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Sweet potatoes are not very sweet when initially harvested, Shaun Francis, extension horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said. Farmers should cure their sweet potato crop for a period of time to ensure the correct taste and a longer shelf life. 

 Vertical gardening good for aesthetics, energy savings, water quality

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Rather than hunching over a garden bed, imagine perusing all your favorite plants at eye level. Creative gardeners don’t necessarily need a lot of outdoor horizontal space, said Lee Anderson, Jefferson County Extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

 Nov. 5 AFGC Fall Conference: Feral hogs, water capacity, near-year-round grazing

 LITTLE ROCK – As drought intensifies once again in Arkansas, hanging on to water is a pressing issue, and one that will be addressed Nov. 5 at the Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council’s Fall Forage Conference. 

Happy ending to 7-year story provides a new beginning for Polk Co. 4-H

MENA, Ark. – For Polk County’s 4-H supporters, a happy ending has provided a new beginning. 

Nov. 6 workshop at Batesville to address feral hog problems

LITTLE ROCK – Feral hogs are smart, omnivorous and highly adaptable, three characteristics that underlie their successful expansion into northern Arkansas, said Becky McPeake, professor and extension wildlife specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Field day for women helps landowners manage feral hogs

LITTLE ROCK –Crop destruction, pasture damage and wildlife losses are all part of the legacy being left by feral hogs in Arkansas and across the southeastern United States. It’s vital landowners know how to identify and trap feral hogs to reduce and eliminate property damage.

Ark Forest Resources Center researcher tracking mallards, mercury 

MONTICELLO, Ark. -- On a freezing February morning just after the end of duck season, Douglas Osborne and a handful of students are standing in the icy water of a duck hole, catching mallards and attaching uniquely numbered leg bands.   

Arkansas Master Gardeners observe 27^th birthday with weeklong celebration 

LITTLE ROCK – This year marks the 27^th birthday of the Arkansas Master Gardeners program, which counts more than 3,000 volunteers in 70 counties statewide. To celebrate, these master gardeners will work on projects and hold classes in horticulture as part of Celebrate Master Gardener Week Oct. 11-17, 2015.

Extension, utility experts urge caution, planning during post-harvest burns

LITTLE ROCK — As rice harvest draws to a close in Arkansas, many growers will be burning some or all of their rice fields to clear residue and prepare for next year. As producers plan their controlled burns, utility companies are hoping they’ll take into account nearby power lines, transformers and other equipment in order to avoid damaging important infrastructure.

Upcoming field day to focus on forage & pasture conditions for beef

MONTICELLO, Ark. — Producers throughout the state are invited to the Oct. 22 Beef/Forage Field Day in Monticello. The event will be held at the Southeast Research and Extension Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

At 20th Anniversary Celebration, $1.3 million Tyson Foods Gift Presented to Innovate Poultry Facilities in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Tyson Foods Inc. has awarded a $1.3 million gift to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture aimed at further innovating and updating the Division’s poultry Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville. The announcement came Tuesday as the Division of Agriculture celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, housed in a building named for Tyson Foods founder John Tyson. Governor Asa Hutchinson was the keynote speaker at the event.  

Bourland named to Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame

KEISER, Ark. – Fred Bourland, a cotton breeder for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will be inducted by Cotton Incorporated into the 2015 class of the Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame. Bourland, director of the division’s Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser, will be honored with four other inductees in December. 

 Gov. Hutchinson declares October Farm to School month

 LITTLE ROCK -- A program that teams local farms with nearby schools to provide fresh produce for students and income for farmers is being recognized with Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s proclamation of October as Arkansas Farm to School Month.  

Autumn means it's time for soil sampling

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Before farmers and ranchers plant annual forages for the winter, it’s a good idea to spend part of autumn checking their soil’s fertility. Their situations may call for incorporating lime and fertilizer, so soil sampling should be done to find out.

Deadline approaching to register for free continuing education for Arkansas media and Conservation Districts

LITTLE ROCK — Reporters can meet sources for future water quality stories and brush up on their understanding of water pollution at an Oct. 15 workshop hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in Jonesboro.  

Experienced instructors, credits, convenient locations part of 2015 local tax schools

LITTLE ROCK – Experienced instructors, continuing education credits and convenient locations are all part of the package of tax schools being offered by the institution that reaches more Arkansans than any other segment of higher education. 

Nov. 13 deadline for producer grants

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Farmers and ranchers who have always wanted to try something new or innovative but did not have the money to do so now have an opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA) through the Southern SARE’s Producer Grants Program. 

 Late summer, early fall dry spell problematic for winter forages

LITTLE ROCK -- A dry spell that’s turned parts of Arkansas from flood to drought is giving just-planted winter forages a slow start, which may mean livestock growers will have to feed more hay this winter, said Tom Troxel, associate head-Animal Science, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.