News - December 2017

Dicamba, flooding top list of most impactful ag stories of 2017

LITTLE ROCK – 2017 presented another tumultuous year for agriculture in Arkansas, from record flooding to pitched battles over the use of one of the most popular herbicides in the farming industry. Despite wild swings in precipitation from summer into fall, the state also saw a record soybean yield, and both red banded stink bugs and fall armyworms made their presence known throughout Arkansas.

62nd Tri-State Soybean Forum set for Jan. 5 in Louisiana

OAK GROVE, La. — The 62nd annual Tri-State Soybean Forum will be held Jan. 5 at the Thomas Jason Lingo Community Center in Oak Grove, La.

Three January dates set for new produce safety rule training sessions

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers will have three opportunities in January to attend training to comply with the new produce safety rule under Food Safety Modernization Act.

4-H Foundation kicks off 20 for 2020 development campaign

FERNDALE, Ark. – The Arkansas 4-H Foundation, a non-profit that supports the educational programs of 4-H, is kicking off a major development campaign called 20 for 2020.

YEAREND: Grain prices take huge bite out of sorghum, wheat acreage in 2017, corn fares well

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas grain producers found themselves dealing with fickle market forces in 2017, as grain sorghum and wheat acreage dropped sharply in the state, chiefly due to low commodity prices, while corn acreage and yields hit their fourth-highest totals.

YEAREND: Arkansas cotton harvest breaks records despite rocky start

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Despite a rocky start, the Arkansas cotton harvest appears poised for a record outcome.

New Year’s Resolutions: Managing diabetes

LITTLE ROCK – Successfully navigating the caloric challenges of the end-of-the-year holidays is tough for everyone, but can be especially difficult for those with diabetes.

YEAREND: 2017’s wet and dry rollercoaster leaves Arkansas forages in rough shape, but state’s cattle herds look strong

LITTLE ROCK – Like many of the state’s commodities, Arkansas forages were hit hard by the whims of 2017’s weather cycles. The extraordinarily wet summer, followed by one of the driest autumns in the state’s history, have made for a one-two punch that may put Arkansas cattle producers in need of supplemental feed and nutrition for their lots by late winter. 

YEAREND: Arkansas soybeans set to break state yield records

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The 2017 Arkansas soybean harvest will break state yield records if the USDA’s November forecast holds up, said Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

YEAREND: ‘Mixed bag’ growing season finishes with 4^th highest rice yield in Arkansas

STUTTGART, Ark. – A growing season of drought, flood and do-overs may still result in the fourth highest state average yield on record for Arkansas’ rice growers, the nation’s top producer of that commodity.

New Year’s Resolutions: Losing Weight

LITTLE ROCK -- We love Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, but as yummy as the pumpkin pie may be, we could all do without the expanding waistlines.

Cooperative Extension Service recognizes excellence among its own

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service recognized the efforts and excellence of employees at both the state and county levels last week during the service’s Annual Faculty and Staff Conference.

Meullenet named interim head of Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark – Jean-François Meullenet has been named interim director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, effective Dec. 11.

Ricke describes new food safety paradigm during research conference in Korea

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Advanced genetic sequencing techniques are imparting better understanding of the bacterial communities residing in animal gastro-intestinal tracts, said Steven Ricke, director of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Center for Food Safety.

Drought cutting into forage; stresses fledgling winter wheat crop

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas’ drought-ridden fall could turn into three seasons of trouble for livestock and forage producers; as winter wheat growers hope for another decent rain to keep their crop developing.

Complete beekeeping short course offered in January

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Complete Beekeeping Short Course, offered in January by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will teach everything needed to know how to keep bees safely and successfully.

Turfgrass shortcourse set for Jan. 4-5 at new Tyson Center

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Turfgrass identification, pests and best mowing practices are among the topics on the agenda for the Jan. 4-5, 2018, Turfgrass Shortcourse being held at the new Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1371 W. Altheimer Dr. in Fayetteville.

Clarence Watson, Arkansas ag experiment station head, to retire Dec. 31

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Clarence Watson, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, on Thursday announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31.

Enjoy the taste of the holidays without the weight gain

LITTLE ROCK— Christmas conjures up images of beautifully decorated trees, presents, houses covered in lights, sugar plums, cookies, candies and meals with friends and family. Americans typically gain one to two pounds over the holidays.

Cigarette butt ballot bins reduce litter, educate public

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Don’t cast away that cigarette butt. Cast a vote instead.

Arkansas MarketMaker Team takes second place at Farm Credit Innovation Awards

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas MarketMaker Team, with its Strategic Partnerships Promoting Arkansas Agriculture project, was first runner-up in the 2017 Farm Credit Innovation Awards, given at the 19^th annual National Value Added Agriculture Conference.

Arkansas communities recognized in fight to prevent, reduce obesity at coalition’s 10-year celebration

LITTLE ROCK – It’s an uphill battle to prevent and reduce obesity in Arkansas, one of the nation’s most afflicted state, but communities in each of Arkansas’ 75 counties are fighting it every day.