News - January 2016

Riparian buffers a crucial part of winter maintenance

FAYETTEVILLE ­— For the average Arkansas landowner, winter is a time for maintenance and upkeep in preparation for the upcoming growing season, so it’s a good time to check on riparian buffers, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor-forages with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Link between quakes, oil and gas activities topic of webinar

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Earthquakes across the central and eastern U.S. in recent years have prompted focus on the oil and gas industry’s activities in those areas. The legal issues associated with induced seismicity – earthquake activity resulting from human or artificial development – and its impact on landowners will be the topic of a webinar from 11 a.m. to noon Central time Feb. 17 sponsored by the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Market outlook, cattle health top agenda at March 17 Little Red River cattle conference

DAMASCUS, Ark. – Market outlook, fly control, reproductive technologies and preventing common cattle diseases will be the focus of the 2016 Little Red River Beef Cattle Conference on March 17 at the Pruitt’s Mid-State Stockyards in Damascus.

Model trains provide a whistle-stop attraction at upcoming flower and garden show

LITTLE ROCK — Men, women and children of all ages are invited to watch the timeless magic of elaborate model trains at the 25^th annual Arkansas Garden and Flower Show.

Circuit Court denies EPA effort to vacate Enlist Duo label; ’16 growing season likely unaffected as growers wait on China trade approval 

LITTLE ROCK — A federal court’s decision to deny a petition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to vacate registration for a new herbicide technology in corn and soybeans could prove a boon to Arkansas growers — but not for a while, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture experts said Wednesday.

Dicamba resistance in pigweed selected in research greenhouse, not in the field

NEWPORT, Ark. – University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture researchers have selected for dicamba-resistant pigweed, documenting how genetic resistance develops and how the industry must work to protect the few remaining weed-fighting options.

‘Rock in the Garden’ showcases local flavor at AFGS

LITTLE ROCK ­— Live music, local food vendors, cooking demos and a garden walkabout are on the menu for ‘Rock in the Garden’, an event benefiting the Arkansas Flower & Garden Show and the Dunbar Community Garden Project.

Researchers on long push for cover crops

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Researchers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have been spreading the gospel of cover crops for more than three years now — and they aren’t about to give up anytime soon.

Mineral leases, your family and your estate What’s next?

SEARCY, Ark.  – The energy industry’s boom-bust cycle means Arkansans with mineral leases need to know their options and answers to the question: “what now?”

Latest quarterly report from Big Creek Research and Extension Team now online

LITTLE ROCK – The Big Creek Research and Extension Team filed its latest report Friday, Jan. 15, monitoring conditions in Big Creek, a Buffalo National River tributary in Newton County. The fourth quarterly report details conditions at the creek in the area near C&H Hog Farms, a large-scale swine concentrated feeding area near Mount Judea.

 Online auction provides access to stallion services

LITTLE ROCK – A three-week online stallion service auction featuring top-flight performance horses began Thursday, Jan. 14. Proceeds from the second annual event will benefit the Arkansas 4-H horse program and the University of Arkansas horse judging team in the equine program. 

Growers utilize grain bins to gain better position in market  

LONOKE, Ark. — As the winter sun came rose over the eastern horizon Wednesday morning, the edge of Mitchell Farm Partnership along Highway 31 was filled with the raspy sound of thousands of bushels’ worth of corn flowing into a series of truck beds, headed for chicken houses throughout the state.

Campus to corporate: Division of Agriculture nurtures growth of Novozymes subsidiary Pacific Vet Group-USA

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A research and tech transfer project that started out as “an academic lemonade stand,” is now part of company with global reach whose royalties help boost education and research within the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Rise of ‘foodies,’ local food movement gives birth to farming newbies

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The rise of foodies and the local food movement have helped give birth to a new generation of farming newbies hungry to learn to win customers and how to grow the best crops they can, say Benton County extension agents with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  

Arkansas crop production down for most 2015 commodities

LITTLE ROCK — Overall production numbers for most Arkansas crops fell in 2015 compared to the previous year’s record yields, and wet weather was the prime suspect, said Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Growers, agronomists regroup for fresh planting season after a confusing 2015

LONOKE, Ark. — After a year of unpredictable weather patterns and steadily depressed commodity prices, extension agronomists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture gathered at the Lonoke County Cooperative Extension office to help prepare growers for a fresh start in 2016.

 Senator Bumpers remembered as agricultural icon

LITTLE ROCK – As hundreds gathered Sunday to celebrate the life of Sen.  Dale Bumpers, agricultural leaders in Arkansas are remembering his monumental contributions to the state’s top industry and his passion for serving the state’s agriculture community. 

Arkansas Extension honors employees for excellence

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture honored members of the state’s Cooperative Extension Service during its annual faculty conference in late December 2015.

Mark Your Calendar! Rural Life Conference Set for March 4

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The 60^th Rural Life Conference will be Friday, March 4, at the Isaac S. Hathaway-John M. Howard Fine Arts Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the opening session at 8:45 a.m. The conference theme is “Sustainable, Healthy and Profitable Rural Development.” 

NAP Changes in 2016 for 2015 Crop Year

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Important changes to the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) made by the Agriculture Act of 2014 for the 2015 crop year took effect the first of the year.

Flooding forces change of venue for Jan. 11 crop production meeting

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Flooding has prompted a change of venue for the Jan. 11 rice and soybean production meeting in Jefferson County.