News - September 2017

A dry September makes for fast harvest, thirsty fields in northeastern counties

RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ark. – One of the driest Septembers on record has been both a boon to grain farmers muscling their way through harvest and a burden to producers hoping to sock away forages for cattle herds, especially in the northeastern counties of Arkansas.

Movie about GMOs and food separates hype from science

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A movie aiming to set the record straight about GMOs and food will be shown at the University of Arkansas Oct. 18.

Beef and forage field day to focus on pests, shade trees, feed and heifers

MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will hold a beef and forage field day on Oct. 24 at the Southeast Research and Extension Center, located at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Statement from the Division of Agriculture about this morning’s accident involving an employee

High school students head to the farm for annual environmental and agricultural sustainability field trip

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Seeds. Soil. Soybeans. Drones?

Income Tax School helps tax preparers prepare for tax season

LITTLE ROCK— As we move closer to the holidays, we also move closer to the start of the new year—and the start of tax season.

Clark, Carson two native highlights for 2018 Arkansas Flower and Garden Show speaker line-up at new location

LITTLE ROCK – Two of the best-known names in Arkansas gardening will be featured speakers at the 2018 Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, taking place at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds, March 2-4.

National 4-H dairy conference becomes a family tradition for Griffins of Bentonville

Siloam Springs, Ark.— The old adage, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” holds true for father-daughter duo Jim and Julie Griffin.

Statement from the Division of Agriculture

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s rebuttal to key points made in Monsanto’s petition to the Arkansas State Plant Board.

The variable oakleaf caterpillar returns: noisy, messy but harmless

LITTLE ROCK – As scourges go, the return of the variable oakleaf caterpillar is pretty mild. But they do have a way of getting your attention.

Environmental and agricultural sustainability field trip scheduled for Sept. 26

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas high school students will have an opportunity to learn about invasive plants, erosion control, water quality monitoring and more during an upcoming field trip to the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus.

In the hurricanes’ wake: Fuel, nitrogen prices, lumber, board demand move upward

JONESBORO, Ark. – The damage and disruption caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have long effects, rippling into slowed exports, higher fertilizer and diesel prices and a likely rise in demand for Arkansas forest products, said economists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Zombies are real, and closer than you think

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tonight, as you watch “The Walking Dead,” consider the possibility that zombies are real and may be in your yard right now.

APAC to hold workshops to help Arkansas businesses with government contracting

LITTLE ROCK -- Last fiscal year alone, the U.S. federal government issued more than $346 billion in government contracts. More than $900 million of those contracts were with Arkansas businesses.

Arkansas property tax info available online

LITTLE ROCK – As a taxpayer, it’s only natural to want to know how that money is spent. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers up-to-date information on the property tax, including revenue, assessments and rates, all available online.

Statement from Dr. Mark Cochran, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, in response to U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford:

We are grateful to Congressman Crawford for his strong words of support for the research done by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and its scientists ...

Public Policy Center receives several national awards

LITTLE ROCK — A well-educated voter is critical to democracy and ballot issue education efforts by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Public Policy Center have been recognized at the state and national level.

Pollinator plots in pastures enhance biodiversity, ecosystems services

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fruit and vegetable farms, gardens and other agricultural sectors rely on pollinators to ensure abundant production, but wild pollinator populations are in decline, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor of animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Bracketed by distant hurricanes, Arkansas growers push on through harvest

LITTLE ROCK – For growers in a landlocked state, Arkansas farmers are having to deal with the effects of a surprising number of weather events mostly taking place in the Atlantic Ocean.

Statement from Dr. Mark Cochran, Vice President-Agriculture for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, on Monsanto’s petition to the Arkansas State Plant Board

First, and most importantly, we stand by the integrity of our scientists and their science, including Dr. Jason Norsworthy, our internationally recognized researcher and his work, and all our weed scientists, as well as other public weed scientists on record in other states.

Harvey-related rains hit Arkansas soybeans hard, rice less so

LITTLE ROCK – While Arkansans were spared the worst of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Harvey, many growers in the eastern portion of the state are nevertheless dealing with the storm’s impacts.

LeadAR: Changing the inside, so you can change what’s outside

LITTLE ROCK – Learning to make positive change outside begins with changes inside – the premise behind LeadAR, a two-year program that has given scores of Arkansans the confidence and skills to make lasting improvements to their communities. 

Fall fun attractions yield economic benefits for farms and counties

LONOKE, Ark. – It seems like fun in one of its simplest forms: you make turn after turn trying to navigate the winding path of the corn maze.

Annual nonpoint source pollution stakeholder meeting scheduled for Sept. 27-28

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission will co-host an annual nonpoint source pollution stakeholder and project overview meeting, scheduled for Sept. 27-28.

Making school mornings easier

LITTLE ROCK -- Thousands of Arkansas K-12 students have traded in sandals and swimsuits for textbooks and pencils, but even after a couple of weeks, making the transition from vacation to school day may still seem a little rough.  

Harvey’s wind, rain leave large footprints in Delta rice, corn, soybeans

NEWPORT, Ark. — The tropical depression that was Hurricane Harvey left footprints on Arkansas, flattening acres of harvest-ready rice and corn and perhaps setting the stage for a mosquito boom.

Good hay is hard to make, but easy to lose with poor storage technique

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It takes work to make quality hay, but it doesn’t take much to lose it through poor storage techniques, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor-Animal Science, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Mistakes you might be making in the kitchen

LITTLE ROCK-- We all fall victim to it from time to time: taking the easy way out when it comes to everyday household chores. While you may save some time cutting corners, the consequences could be big, especially when it comes to the kitchen where it’s easy for foodborne illnesses to spread.

Division of Ag receives $2.45 million USDA grant for spinach research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded a $2.45 million research grant to University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture scientists working to develop disease resistance in spinach.