News - May 2017

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture issues disaster declaration for 23 counties in state

LITTLE ROCK – Twenty-three counties in Arkansas have been declared disaster areas by the U.S. Department of of Agriculture, making growers and other property owners in those counties eligible to apply for emergency loans through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

Dry land remains elusive for east Arkansas growers affected by flooding

LITTLE ROCK — East Arkansas growers hoping to take the next step toward coping with the 2017 growing season — assessing damage and the feasibility of replanting — will likely have another week’s wait ahead of them at the least, experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service said this week.

Public asked to collect ticks as part of study of insect-borne diseases 

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – It’s hard to avoid blood-sucking ticks when the weather gets warm, but the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture wants you to use that to your advantage as part of a statewide citizen-scientist study of ticks and the diseases they carry.

Cool overnight temperatures slowing bermudagrass growth

LITTLE ROCK – As the spring of 2017 continues to take its toll on various crops, primarily in the eastern portion of the state, cool nighttime temperatures in the northern portion of Arkansas have additionally slowed the growth of bermudagrass, a grazing forage grass for many cattle operations.

Keep up with weed control in horse pastures

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Most forage plants are not well suited for the grazing behavior of horses, said Dirk Philipp, forage researcher for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Benton, Grant county teams head national 4-H competition with remote-controlled submersibles

LITTLE ROCK – Seven youths from Grant and Benton counties will be representing Arkansas at the 2017 National SeaPerch Challenge in Atlanta on May 19-20, a competition that puts the emphasis on engineering as each team puts its remotely operated underwater vehicle through its paces.

MAINBAR: As floodwater heads to gulf, ag flood damage estimate widens to $175 million

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As floodwater from late April’s inundation spread southward through Arkansas, its destructive reach expanded to 977,800 acres of farmland and the dollar value of its damage has grown so far to about $175 million, according to an updated estimate released Tuesday by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

SIDEBAR: Key numbers from latest Div of Ag farm/flooding damage estimate

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Here are key numbers from Tuesday’s storm/flood damage estimate from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture:

Community development conference to focus on 21^st century economy

LITTLE ROCK – Communities that have a lot to offer both residents and visitors may be missing out on priceless opportunities when they decline to engage the outside world through the premier communications medium of the 21^st century: The Internet.

After the flood, read label before reapplying herbicide

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The excessive water in flooded farm fields presents challenges for effective weed control, said Bob Scott, extension weed scientist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Number of active cotton gins in Arkansas on the rise

JONESBORO, Ark. – While the number of cotton gins has broadly declined in Arkansas since 2000, the number of active gins increased by five in 2016 to 31, said Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Seed supplies, choices may prove tight when waters recede 

LITTLE ROCK – As the record flooding that struck northeast Arkansas less than two weeks ago has begun to crest and gradually recede in some affected areas, many growers and agricultural industry experts are waiting to learn what can be salvaged of the remaining planting season.

Replacing valuable papers after a disaster

LITTLE ROCK — When preparing for or recovering from a disaster, it’s important to know how to replace valuable papers.  Documents such as birth certificates, insurance policies, and health records may be lost or destroyed.  Prompt replacement prevents delays when the documents are needed. 

Emerald ash borer confirmed in Montgomery, Pike and Garland counties

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas State Plant Board has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees, in Montgomery, Pike and Garland counties.

Handling food safely after a flood

LITTLE ROCK – Flooding can threaten lives in many ways, even after rivers return to their banks as water can contaminate homes and food and water supplies with disease organisms, dirt and chemicals, said food safety experts with the Cooperative Extension Service.

Experience Arkansas Wines event set for May 18 in Bentonville 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Whether a wine enthusiast or a winemaker, you’ll want to have a set at Experience Arkansas Wines, a workshop and tasting reception on May 18 at Brightwater in Bentonville.

Perdue pledges expedited disaster declaration to help Ark farmers

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas farmers hit by flooding can expect an expedited disaster declaration, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said Sunday following a flyover of northeast Arkansas.

Watermelons get top billing at June 15 SWREC Horticulture Field Day in Hope

HOPE, Ark. – The town whose first claim to fame was its giant watermelons, is now host to research into better ways to grow one of summer’s favorite fruits; research that will be showcased at the June 15 Horticulture Field Day at the Southwest Research and Extension Center.

U of A System Division of Agriculture puts preliminary crop flood damage at $64.5 million

STUTTGART, Ark. – With flooding and other storm effects battering some 937,000 acres of Arkansas cropland, losses to farmers could hit $64.5 million, according to a preliminary estimate released Thursday by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

As floodwaters continue to rise, rice growers face replanting, with caveats

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas farmers who speedily planted rice in places where it hadn’t been for years, may suffer a double whammy both from losses due to flooding and the tight restrictions for replanting placed on them by the 2014 Farm Bill. 

NWArkansas assesses flood aftermath, recovery

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Heavy rain caused heavy floods in northwest Arkansas on April 29 in large part because there was no where else for all that water to go.

Flood of emotions: Coping with disaster-related feelings of loss, frustration, helplessness

LITTLE ROCK – Beyond the physical loss from a disaster, come the flood of emotions: Helplessness. Frustration. Grief. These are some of the emotions those affected by this week’s flooding may be experiencing.

Already flooded, Arkansas farmers awaiting impact of ‘big water’

CASH, Ark. – The view Monday morning through Bill Robertson’s windshield wasn’t good.

Flooding may turn accelerated Arkansas crop planting into replanting

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas row crop farmers who awoke Sunday to lakes where their newly planted fields had been will be enduring a nail-biting week to see how fast the water recedes, and how much new rain might fall Wednesday, all the while bracing for the avalanche of water heading toward the Gulf of Mexico from parts north.