News - September 2015

Lessons from the water, soil and elsewhere at agri sustainability tour

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Several faculty and staff members demonstrated on-the-scene lessons in environmental and agricultural sustainability Sept. 29 for about 200 high school students who participated in a tour of UA System Division of Agriculture research activities at its Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center north of the campus. The Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences sponsored the annual tour.  

Hay growers, homeowners dealing with persistent fall armyworms

FORT SMITH, Ark. – Fall armyworms, with their voracious appetite for grass, are giving commercial hay growers and homeowners a rough time this year, county extension agents for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture said. 

Another good year for fall webworms

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Those creepy worm-filled web tents on trees across Arkansas aren’t early Halloween decorations but fall webworms.

 Virtual field trip by the numbers

LITTLE ROCK -- More than 2,000 students were registered to be part of the interactive virtual field trip offered Tuesday by the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

Turning 20: The Center of Excellence for Poultry Science 

The Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, a University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture center located on the university's Fayetteville campus, is turning 20! The day-long event will capture the past, present and future of the Center for Excellence as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

As emerald ash borer continues to spread in state, researchers begin to identify critical emergence window

MONTICELLO, Ark. — For more than a year, researchers have been grappling with the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive species of beetle that has migrated through the Midwest and southern United States since it was first detected in Michigan in 2002, spreading to at least 25 states.

 Controlled burn course emphasizes the need for planning, safety

 CAMP ROBINSON, Ark. — When it comes to fighting fire with fire, you’d better know what you’re doing. For participants at this week’s Prescribed Fire Training Course at Camp Robinson, that lesson can’t be emphasized enough. About 40 participants, representing state and federal agencies as well as the forest products industry, are taking part in the weeklong “short course,” that teaches how to both plan and execute controlled burning as an essential tool in the management of natural resources, said Tamara Walkingstick, associate director of the Arkansas Forest Resource Center and extension forestry specialist. 

Sept 29: NASA ag-in-space project manager to join virtual field trip 

LITTLE ROCK -- Agriculture on the International Space Station is a step toward getting humans to Mars, and on Sept. 29, the manager for “Veggie,” NASA’s orbital farming project, will be joining an interactive virtual field tour offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Lionel Barton, prominent poultry specialist, dies at 78

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Thomas Lionel Barton, 78, emeritus professor of poultry science at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, died Sept. 19, 2015, at his home in Fayetteville. He was known throughout the Arkansas poultry industry for his 28 years of service as a poultry specialist for the Cooperative Extension Service.

Get SMART to plan financial goals together

LITTLE ROCK – Whether considering a dream vacation or a comfortable retirement, financial goal setting is key to turning desires into reality, said Laura Connerly, assistant professor for family and consumer economics with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Beware of Payday Lending Scams in Arkansas 

LITTLE ROCK — Although high-interest loans are illegal in Arkansas, “payday loans,” payday lenders and payday collection scams still target Arkansas consumers.

Executive Function and Future Financial Success for Your Child 

LITTLE ROCK — Childhood is an intense time for cognitive development, and research indicates a link between executive function and financial well-being. One of the most important areas of neurological growth is executive function.  

Division of Agriculture faculty noted by National Academy of Inventors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Twelve faculty members at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have been honored for their acceptance as members of the National Academy of Inventors. The faculty members were recognized at a luncheon on Sept. 21.

Conventional, high-protein, high-yield bean makes debut in Desha County

BACK GATE, Ark. — A new variety of conventional, high-protein, high-yield soybeans, developed by researchers at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, is now thriving in real-world conditions in southeast Arkansas. 

 4-H youth dig archaeology in southeast Arkansas

 LITTLE ROCK – It takes new eyes to see the life ancient civilizations experienced. Especially in Arkansas, a state rich with artifacts from prehistory to Native Americans to pioneers, farmers and homesteaders, archaeology is rarely recognized by young Arkansans as a viable career and hobby. 

 Desha County soybean grower breaks 100 bushels for third year in a row 

 MCGEHEE, Ark. — Desha County producer Matt Miles has broken the 100-bushel-per-acre barrier for the third year in a row, despite a departure from the atypical weather conditions that helped him and four other Arkansans pass the yield milestone during the last two growing seasons. 

Boozman, Mercier part of Oct. 12 event highlighting role of policymaking as a key to global food security

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Feeding a growing universal population with the challenges of climate extremes and expanding urbanization requires agricultural policies to ensure food security around the world. Several political and food industry leaders will be at the University of Arkansas on Monday, Oct. 12, to speak on current issues regarding global food security.

 2015 weather leaves verification results ‘all over the board’

LITTLE ROCK — At about 540,000 acres and more than $400 million in value, corn may be the third-largest crop in Arkansas — but it’s also one of the most weather-dependent, and in 2015, the whims of nature are making it hard to tell how harvest is likely to pan out. By Ryan McGeeney. 680 words. 

Extension offering continuing education for Arkansas media and Conservation Districts

LITTLE ROCK — Reporters working in watersheds impaired by nonpoint source pollution have an opportunity in October to brush up on their understanding of environmental science at two water quality seminars hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. By Kristin Higgins. 373 words.

36 reasons Arkansas landowners need to study the Endangered Species Act

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A rare freshwater mollusk that lives in the Illinois River is one of 36 reasons Arkansas landowners need to study what’s covered under the federal Endangered Species Act, according an attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center. 

Sept 29: Arkansas high school science virtual field trip on ‘food for the future’

LITTLE ROCK -- A pair of plant pathology professors will be giving a lesson in the science behind genetically modified plants and the world’s future food supply during a virtual field trip being broadcast from the University of Arkansas campus. 

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service efforts to encourage physical activity and healthy eating choices among at-risk youth and their families has received a $55,000 boost from the Walmart Foundation. 

Study: Obesity related to food deserts can be offset with proper interventions

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Living in a food desert doesn’t automatically translate into childhood obesity, but there is evidence linking the two, a new study by University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture researchers has found. 

Fall is time to plant annual legumes into dormant warm-season grasses

FAYYETTEVILLE, Ark. – While the bermudagrass is away, the cool-season species will play. Many producers in the Arkansas and the southeastern U.S. have bermudagrass pastures that experience slow growth when night temperatures fall substantially, making it an ideal time to plant winter cover crops such as annual legumes. 

Fall greens may be an alternative for small farmers

PINE BLUFF, Ark – Fall greens – mustard, turnips and collards –  can be a profitable alternative for small farmers once they identify markets and have dependable labor available, said Dr. Henry English, director, Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

September is time to cut cost of winter feeding

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Winter feed bills are one of the largest expenses of a livestock operation, but winter feed costs can be reduced with some action now, said Dr. David Fernandez, Cooperative Extension Program livestock specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

EQIP matching funds available for deep tillage

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Many farmers do some kind of deep tillage periodically especially in the fall, said Dr. English, head of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Farmers should consider using conservation EQIP matching funds to partially finance their deep tillage operations, he advises. 

Nov. 5 AFGC Fall Conference: ‘Making your farm work harder so you don’t have to’

LITTLE ROCK – No farm runs itself, but the experts at the Nov. 5 Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council’s Fall Forage Conference can help make the farm work harder. 

Arkansas Flower and Garden Show Celebrates 25 Years Feb. 26-28, 2016

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Flower and Garden Show celebrates its silver anniversary at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock from Feb. 26-28, 2016. To add some particular sparkle to the show’s “Silver Celebrations” theme will be speakers Jane Gulley and Jon Zawislak. 

Animal welfare standards for fish targeted in webinar

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Fish farming’s adherence to animal welfare standards – in both land and marine environments – is coming under increased scrutiny. An online webinar will examine the issues and areas of concern for aquaculture producers. 

After three decades with extension, Chaney tapped to provide expertise state-wide

FAULKNER COUNTY, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is adding a new echelon of expertise in an effort to bolster the effectiveness of Cooperative Extension Service agents throughout the state. 

Conference to address cyber threats to food system; new ways to fight produce contamination

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – New ways to fight food contamination after harvest and developing means to deal with cyber threats to food data are among the issues on the agenda for the Sept. 8-10 Arkansas Association for Food Protection educational conference.