News - February 2017

Joy and sorrow when plants bloom early

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Wait … what month is this? The calendar may still say winter, but unseasonably warm temperatures have convinced many blooming plants that spring has arrived. Color is popping out all over the place.

America Saves Week represents culmination of fiscal emphasis from Cooperative Extension Service, national coalition

LITTLE ROCK — “America Saves,” the annual effort by the Cooperative Extension Service in conjunction with the Consumer Federation of America that begins Jan. 1 of each year, culminates this week with America Saves Week, in which interested Arkansans are encouraged to commit to themselves — and one another — to make good financial choices, including saving more money and paying off debt.

Festival to honor the work women did during WWI

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- From helping ease worldwide food shortages to outfitting the troops, Arkansas women helped the U.S. through the First World War in any way they could. The Inaugural Arkansas Women's History Month Festival: Remembering 1917 will showcase women’s service to the country during wartime.

Monroe County seeing initial success in efforts to promote a healthier community

CLARENDON, Ark. — The journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step, or so the saying goes. The journey is considerably easier, one might add, with willing travelers.

New variety grows good cotton and plenty of it

KEISER, Ark. — A new cotton variety from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers high yields and excellent fiber quality for Arkansas growers.

Cleaning planters, seeders necessary before warm season grazing season starts

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A shop vacuum and a few screwdrivers and wrenches can go a long way to ensuring smooth sailing during forage planting season, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor-animal science, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

2017 Arkansas Flower and Garden Show set to kick off this Friday

LITTLE ROCK — The 2017 Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, the state’s largest show dedicated to horticulture, landscaping and a wide variety of gardening aspects, will kick off at 10 a.m. this Friday at the Statehouse Convention Center, located in downtown Little Rock.

National champ forestry team triumphs at Hogskin Forestry contest

HAMPTON, Ark. – Amid record attendance, Hermitage High School, which won last year’s national 4-H Forestry championship, earned top honors in the 2017 Hogskin Forestry Contest.

Fulton County extension on long haul to confirm lime recommendations

FULTON COUNTY, Ark. — For more that 100 years, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service have brought the dual aspects of the “research and extension” concept together for the benefit of Arkansas producers, making science-based, unbiased recommendations for the selection of crop seed, fertilizer, pesticides and more.

Beekeeping classes coming to Fort Smith, starting March 20

LITTLE ROCK – If you’ve ever been drawn to the idea of raising bees for honey, now’s your chance to learn the basics of bee health, hive management and honey harvesting, from a master beekeeper.

Fertilize forages early to end hay feeding

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Applying fertilizer now to wheat, rye, ryegrass and fescue can jumpstart forage growth and bring hay feeding to an early end, said John Jennings, extension forage specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

March 7 Field Day to help strawberry growers keep pace with rising demands

HOPE, Ark. – Demand for strawberries in the U.S. has risen and fruit experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture want to help growers keep up.

Education, dedication, loyalty focus of 4-H Day at the Capitol

LITTLE ROCK — More than 400 4-H members from throughout Arkansas arrived at the State Capitol Building Thursday morning to hear from Governor Asa Hutchinson and other elected officials before touring the grounds, meeting with some of their respective legislators and attending readings of the 4-H Day resolutions in the House and Senate.

A little tax prep goes a long way

LITTLE ROCK -- Love it or hate it, the 2017 tax season is upon us. Whether anticipating a sizable return or dreading how much you might pay (or hoping to just break even), a little organization beforehand could be the difference between writing a bigger check and keeping a few extra dollars in your pocket.

Just the basics from the IRS tax form checklist

When getting your tax material together, here are the basics, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

How to stay safe and get the most out of dating in the 21st century

LITTLE ROCK -- With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, love and romance seem to be on everyone’s minds. The dating world has undergone some changes in recent years, as technology becomes increasingly more important in our every day lives.

Take anti-mosquito precautions during warm winter

LITTLE ROCK – If you find yourself doing a little more scratching this time of year, it could be that those pesky biting insects associated with warmer days are already sinking their proboscises into you.

So you’ve broken your New Year’s resolutions. Don’t worry: your fitness goals are still attainable

LITTLE ROCK -- A few weeks into the new year, and the signs of broken resolutions can be seen as the gym floor becomes slowly less crowded. If you’re one of the folks who started the year with best intentions, “getting fit” is a hard resolution, know that reaching fitness goals for 2017 is still attainable.

For Better or For Worse: Healthy habits for a healthy marriage

LITTLE ROCK -- A study released in November from the National Center for Marriage and Family Research showed the divorce rate in the U.S. is at a 40-year low. In 2015, the divorce rate was 16.9 divorces per 1,000 married women, down from 17.6 in 2015. Marriage, on the other hand, is at the highest rate since 2009. The news is encouraging, but may leave couples wondering, how do you ensure your marriage doesn’t become another statistic?

Winter feeding program proving a success for cattle producers

VAN BUREN COUNTY, Ark. — For years, Shane Gadberry, an associate professor of ruminant nutrition and animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has been working to help cattle producers in central Arkansas get the most “bang for their buck” when it comes to feeding their herds through the winter, and ending up with healthy cows in the spring.

Online tools help farmers make the tough decisions

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Farmers face a daunting mass of decisions each year as they plan for the coming growing season.

Financial infidelity: Not just cheatin’ hearts, but cheatin’ wallets too

LITTLE ROCK -- Infidelity isn’t just a matter for hearts. It can hit wallets too, said Laura Hendrix, a personal finance expert and assistant professor with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Lights, Camera, Action … Arkansas 4-H hits the stage

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- County 4-H programs all over the state hold many competitions throughout the year to let members demonstrate their skills. Two of these, in particular, give the kids an opportunity show off their artistic side and help them conquer stage fright.

Battling brothers in landscape challenge to kick off 2017 Arkansas Flower and Garden Show

LITTLE ROCK — A touch of good-natured sibling rivalry will be at the heart of the 2017 Arkansas Flower and Garden Show’s kick-off event, but what will really be on display is the fast-moving work of two of Central Arkansas’s best-known gardeners and landscapers.

Match longer grazing seasons with better hay at AFGC Winter Forage Conference on Feb. 23

CONWAY, Ark. — Improving hay quality to match longer grazing seasons will be the key topic at the Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Winter Forage Conference on Feb. 23 in Conway.

Lesleigh Beer named Student of the Year at USPOULTRY Foundation’s College Student Career Program

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Lesleigh Beer, a poultry science major has been named the Frank Perdue Scholarship Student of the Year during the USPOULTRY Foundation’s College Student Career program.

Make a difference: Make a donation to Arkansas 4-H Foundation during Arkansas Gives on April 6

LITTLE ROCK – For a 12-hour period on April 6, a few minutes of your time can make a lifetime of difference through the Arkansas 4-H Foundation.

More than 450 Arkansas youth now expected for 4-H Day at the Capitol

LITTLE ROCK — An incredible groundswell in attendance is expected for this year’s 4-H Day at the Capitol, taking place Thursday, Feb. 16.

Beekeeping classes coming to Morrilton on Feb. 13

LITTLE ROCK — Starting Feb. 13, you can learn something else at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, as it hosts a beekeeping short course presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Early weed control pays off

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Managing weeds to prevent them from competing with forage for water and nutrients is even more important at the time when about half of Arkansas is in drought. 

Hay sampling the right way

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Winter is hay-feeding time, but do you know the nutritive value of the hay going to your herd?

Feb. 7 rice, soybean, corn production meeting set for Stuttgart

STUTTGART, Ark. – The latest research in rice, corn and soybean production, plus a commodity outlook for 2017 are on the agenda for the Feb. 7 crop production meeting to be held at the Rice Research and Extension Center.

Aquatic weed control workshop set for Feb. 10 at Stuttgart

STUTTGART, Ark. – Where there’s water, there are probably aquatic weeds. Learn to manage water weeds on Feb. 10 at a daylong workshop to be held at the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart.

Reports finds rural Arkansas still feeling effects of Great Recession

LITTLE ROCK – The heavy footsteps of the Great Recession of 2007-2009 are still visible across rural Arkansas in the persistence of food insecurity, lack of medical facilities and personnel, and loss of jobs and household income, according to the 2017 “Rural Profile of Arkansas” published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Division of Ag, Ark Soybean Promotion Board re-up agreement, continue partnership

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has signed a new five-year agreement with the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, a partnership that will continue the research and extension work performed by division faculty to enhance the state’s soybean industry.  

Money does grow on trees

MONTICELLO, Ark. -- The thousands of acres of timberlands that cover the state of Arkansas are valued at $12.6 billion. Arkansas is also four times more dependent on its forestry industry than the entire United States. Those are just a few of the findings in the 2016 “Economic Contributions of Arkansas Forestry” booklet, published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Forest Resources Center in Monticello.