News - July 2018

Statement from Dr. Jean-Francois Meullenet, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Warm, dry days taking a toll on rice; researchers working to breed heat resilience into grain

STUTTGART, Ark. – The heat of the day is tough on crops, but it’s the heat of the night that keeps Arkansas rice growers worried. By Sarah Cato.

Sara Gardner wins Governor’s Award; Maloch, Rutledge honored for 4-H support

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A young woman with her sights set on the governor’s mansion, the state attorney general and a state senator were all honored Wednesday at Arkansas 4-H’s biggest night – the Awards of Excellence banquet.

Rohwer Field Day: Unraveling the mysteries of taproot decline; use of ag drones

ROHWER, Ark. – Superb sleuthing among plant pathologists in three states helped track down the culprit whose symptoms included soybean seedling death, yellow leaves and lower yields.

Improved stink bug sampling technique could save rice growers money, energy

LONOKE, Ark. – As rice begins to head in Arkansas many producers are checking fields for rice stink bug, but their sampling technique could be costing them money.

Fierce storms strip leaves from soybeans, damage farm buildings

LITTLE ROCK – Chainsaws became the soundtrack this week as Arkansans cleaned up after storms Saturday unleashed a barrage of large hail, high winds and lightning that left behind downed trees, damaged homes, farms and businesses, and thousands without electricity.

Use caution, common sense when dealing with damaged trees

LITTLE ROCK – Managing downed, bent or damaged trees can be something of a perennial task in Arkansas, but in the wake of recent, wide-spread storms, experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are urging Arkansans to employ caution and good judgment when considering “problem” trees in their vicinity.

Growing bollworm populations could be a ‘budget buster’ for Arkansas cotton growers

LONOKE, Ark. – Worries over growing bollworm populations are amplified by possible resistance to dual gene technology.

State titles, Governor’s Award to be given at 4-H Arkansas State O-Rama

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— Hundreds of youths will descend upon the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus for one of the largest 4-H gatherings in the state.

Division of Agriculture to launch produce safety education campaign ahead of USDA, FDA inspections

LITTLE ROCK – Over the last decade, news of widespread, food-borne illnesses, often connected with bacteria such as E.coli, has become more increasingly common. In March of this year, an outbreak of E.coli, eventually traced back to a farm in Yuma, Arizona — the country’s lettuce production capital — sickened more than 200 people in dozens of states, and caused at least five deaths, including one Arkansan.

Virtual blackberry field day brings the farm to you

LITTLE ROCK— Commercial and blackberry growers: the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is bringing your fruit’s Aug. 15 field trip from Washington County’s Stay-N-Step Farm directly to your device.

Hot, dry weather leaves Arkansas rice producers with tough-to-fight weeds in fields

LITTLE ROCK – Rough weather conditions caused many Arkansas rice fields to be overrun with grassy weeds. 

Peach field day brings experts, growers together for sweet relief

CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — A crowd of about 75 peach experts and growers — both commercial and hobbyist — gathered last week for an in-depth exploration of challenges facing growers and breeders throughout the state. 

Severe storm damages turfgrass research, cancels field day

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A brief but violent storm that swept through Fayetteville Monday damaged research structures on the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center, resulting in the cancellation of a turfgrass research field day and likely loss of a year’s worth of data.

Researcher offers pointers on keeping pastures healthy in hot, dry summers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’ summer has come on hot and dry, presenting challenges for maintaining healthy pastures, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor of animal science and forage researcher for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Byrd Lake Natural Area Appreciation Day planned

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Residents from across Arkansas are invited to participate in the Byrd Lake Natural Area Appreciation Day. The event will take place from 9 a.m. until noon, July 21 at the Byrd Lake Natural Area, located at 43^rd St. in Pine Bluff. Partners in the event include Keep Arkansas Beautiful, the City of Pine Bluff, and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.

Three-peat? Calhoun Co. 4-H forestry team heads to West Virginia seeking third national title for Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK – The 2018 Arkansas 4-H champion forestry team is not skimping on training time in their effort to bring home for the national title for the third time in a row.

Recognizing symptoms of prussic acid, nitrates key to johnsongrass management

LITTLE ROCK — Forage management has always been the foundation of a successful livestock operations in Arkansas and elsewhere, and keeping a close eye on those forages in drought conditions is fundamental to that success.

Gov. Hutchinson to be keynote at national ag law/tech conference in Little Rock

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Gov. Asa Hutchinson will be the keynote speaker for the agricultural law and technology conference Aug. 15-16 that’s co-sponsored by the National Agricultural Law Center, National Association of Attorneys General and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

Planning, comparing vacation prices can give your overworked wallet a break

LITTLE ROCK – While vacations may be a necessity for mental and physical health, they can also be expensive. Laura Hendrix, Associate Professor of Personal Finance and Consumer Economics for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has some tips for taking that mental break without breaking the bank.

Updated DD50 program improves accessibility, accuracy for rice management

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Improvements and updates to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s DD50 rice management program provide more accurate reports and easier access, especially on mobile devices.

Cover crops, weeds, irrigation on agenda for Aug. 3 Arkansas rice field day

STUTTGART, Ark. – The Arkansas Rice Field Day is back Aug. 3 at the Rice Research and Extension Center and this year’s event features a pair of two-hour field tours that will cover the spectrum of production issues including breeding, irrigation, weed, disease and pest management, and fertility.

Entomologist returns home to battle Arkansas pests

LITTLE ROCK – After receiving a doctorate degree in entomology from Mississippi State University, Arkansan Ben Thrash is coming home to serve as the new extension field crop entomologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Growing drought squeezing Arkansas cattle producers

LITTLE ROCK – Drought has put its grip on nearly 80 percent of Arkansas and the state’s ranchers are having to make decisions to handle rapidly dwindling amounts of forage for their cattle.

All lined up: Row rice acreage more than doubles in 2018

STUTTGART, Ark. – In parts of Arkansas, the signature sweeping curves of rice field levees are being replaced by straight rows, a change that can provide significant cost savings for growers.

Refined treatment threshold in the works for fall armyworm in Arkansas rice

LONOKE, Ark. – Fall armyworms, a common pest of soybeans, pastures and lawns, has developed a taste for rice and extension entomologists are working on management methods to help producers.

LITTLE ROCK – An organization of volunteers whose feats include helping Arkansans recover following the great Mississippi River flood of 1927 and encouraging childhood vaccination statewide during the 1980s is looking forward to new generations of members who will keep its educational and service legacy alive.

Camp teaches youths about livestock and life skills

Arkansas ag economics professors receive prestigious national award

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association named two University of Arkansas agricultural economics and agribusiness professors Agricultural and Resource Economics Review Fellows because of their outstanding research and publications.

Sole searching: Turfgrass researchers seek least damaging golf shoes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After hours of patient mowing, fertilizing and irrigating, there are few things golf course superintendents hate more than seeing their pool-table-smooth greens shredded by spike-shod players.

SIDEBAR: Flamboyant shoes and demi-pliés: The rigors of turfgrass research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – So, how exactly do you simulate 30 rounds of golf on 128 turfgrass plots? With grad students.