News - March 2020

Cattle industry feels effects of COVID-19 pandemic

LITTLE ROCK — COVID-19 is causing uncertainty throughout the agriculture industry, and cattle producers are feeling the strain as unprecedented unemployment and consumer uncertainty have rattled the financial markets.

SIDEBAR: During downturn, effective forage planning critical for cattle operations

LITTLE ROCK — Amid the uncertainty, producers can also weather the financial storms by effectively planning and managing their forages.

Free soybean seeds available to school, community gardens to grow-your-own protein

LITTLE ROCK — For gardeners looking for an easy-to-grow addition to their gardens, soybeans are a natural powerhouse: they’re easy to grow, they nourish the soil, and they provide a complete protein.

With practically no early planting, COVID-19 impacts on rice, if any, remain to be seen

LITTLE ROCK — Finally, some rice is in the ground. Barely.

Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said Thursday that a handful of growers began water-seeding rice, a technique that typically accounts for about 5 percent of all rice acreage in the state.

April 1 webinar to review proposed changes to Agriculture and the National Environmental Policy Act

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In January, the Council on Environmental Quality sought regulatory overhaul for the National Environmental Policy Act, the first significant change to the act since it was passed in 1970.

Arkansas 4-H Center turns surplus into meals for the homeless

LITTLE ROCK — Spring has typically been one of the busiest times of the year for the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center — until this year. Amid growing concern about the COVID-19 pandemic, groups quickly cancelled conferences, retreats and meetings, leaving the center with an abundance of food ordered to feed guests who never came.

Regulations keep take-out food safe from COVID-19, but precautions still important during purchase; hand-washing essential even for those in isolation at home

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Food safety regulations protect take-out and delivered food from COVID-19, but precautions remain important when interacting with food service personnel, said a University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture researcher.

Cooperative Extension Service seeks to establish statewide water quality database

LITTLE ROCK — The acidity, alkalinity and hardness of water used in spray applications can have a significant impact on the herbicide being used and researchers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are asking the help of growers in establishing a water hardness and pH database for the state.

Plant Health Clinic goes exclusively digital during covid-19 precautions

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Plant Health Clinic will accept only digital samples while the division observes social distancing precautions to avoid COVID-19 exposure.

Arkansas, nation celebrates National Ag Week, National Ag Day

LITTLE ROCK — While the people of agriculture are keenly aware of their industry’s role to both global economy and social stability, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted consumers to realize they shouldn’t take their food and fiber supplies for granted.

4 animal science faculty present research, extension programs at state, regional conferences, meetings

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Four University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture scientists presented at the 2020 joint meeting of the American Society of Animal Science Midwest Section/American Dairy Science Association Midwest Branch, and other meetings throughout February and early March.

Division of Agriculture events being canceled, postponed or moved online

LITTLE ROCK – Following guidelines to stem the spread of COVID-19, the Cooperative Extension Service is canceling, postponing or moving some events online over the next eight weeks.

State Master Gardener Conference postponed

LITTLE ROCK —  Citing concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, as well as the high number of flu cases reported in the state over the past few months, administrators with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture announced Friday that they are postponing the 2020 Master Gardener Conference, originally scheduled for May 14-16 in Jonesboro.

Master Gardeners find digital landscape for spring plant sales

MALVERN, Ark. — The Hot Spring County Master Gardeners have a new venue for their annual Blooms and Bounty plant sale. They’re going online.

Strawberries: Test for nutrients in spring to get a good crop in summer

LITTLE ROCK —There’s a sure way to know if strawberry plants are getting enough nitrogen and other nutrients to produce a good crop, and that’s by testing the leaves and stems.

Poultry Chain Project rethinks ways of picking up chicks

LITTLE ROCK — The current coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancelations of thousands of meetings and events, but when you've got 25,000 baby chickens to distribute to 66 counties, it's not so easy.

Kids and the pandemic: What to do, what to expect

LITTLE ROCK — As the COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncertainty and chaos to our lives, Brittney Schrick is recommending honesty, understanding and patience for parents as a way to help children cope with an unprecedented situation.

March 26 webinar examines impacts of COVID-19 on cattle industry

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association are hosting a webinar at 7 p.m. on March 26, called “Impacts of COVID-19 on the Cattle Industry.” 

As public activity across state slows to a crawl, Cooperative Extension Service remains active in its mission

LITTLE ROCK — Even as many private businesses and public spaces close their doors in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, staff and faculty with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are using alternate means to assist Arkansans from all walks of life.

April 3 bull soundness clinic, April 21 field day at Batesville station postponed

BATESVILLE, Ark.  — The April 3 bull soundness clinic and the April 21 “Focus on Heifers” field day are being postponed as a precaution to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

March 17 statement from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture on COVID-19

Division of Agriculture makes pesticide applicator training, certification available online

LITTLE ROCK — Statewide training and certification for private pesticide applicators from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is now available online to help keep farmers on schedule as the planting season approaches.

Public Policy Center building database of local issue elections to identify community trends

LITTLE ROCK — The Public Policy Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has launched a project to compile and analyze 20 years of historic data related to local ballot issues.

Statement from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture on Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19

Concerns over COVID-19 prompt event postponements, cancellations

LITTLE ROCK — Concerns over movement of the COVID-19 virus has prompted postponement or cancelation of events related to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Coleman Creek cleanup, part of citywide, nationwide effort, postponed

LITTLE ROCK – A cleanup effort at Coleman Creek, originally scheduled to be part of Keep America Beautiful and the Keep Little Rock Beautiful events, has been postponed.

Arkansas researchers investigate effectiveness of microorganism monitoring tools

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations emphasize effective monitoring for pathogens in food processing facilities, but lack standardization for environmental monitoring programs across the country, said Kristen Gibson, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture food scientist.

Philipp: Healthy pastures translate into happy horses

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Healthy pastures mean happier horses, said Dirk Philipp, associate professor-animal science, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Division of Agriculture’s Rohwer Station director honored with RCAS Distinguished Service Award

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Research Center Administrators Society has bestowed its 2020 Distinguished Service Awards to research center directors in Arkansas and North Carolina.

C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center recognized for sustainability efforts

LITTLE ROCK — The Little Rock Sustainability Commission has named the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center one of its five 2020 Sustain the Rock award winners. The commission said it recognized winners for promoting “an approach to business and daily living that balances environmental responsibility, economic prosperity, and community equity.”

Madison, Grant County 4-H teams advance to international SeaPerch Challenge

BRYANT, Ark. — After weeks of testing the remotely operated craft they assembled from PVC pipe, pool noodles, wire and tiny motors, members of 43 youth teams took turns at the edge of the municipal pool here competing for a spot in the international SeaPerch Challenge.

LeadAR co-founder, verification innovator among 6 inducted into Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame

LITTLE ROCK — Two longtime extension employees of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture were inducted March 6 into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame and recognized for their contributions to the state’s largest industry.

March 19 virtual field trip to address surface water irrigation issues

The pluses and minuses of building and maintaining a reservoir, implementing various on-farm water conservation practices, and the impacts of the Bayou Meto and Grand Prairie water projects are among the topics to be addressed during a Soil and Water Conservation Virtual Field Trip scheduled for March 19 at 10 a.m.

April 21 Batesville station field day puts the focus on heifers

BATESVILLE, Ark. — The April 21 field day at the Livestock and Forestry Research Station near Batesville is putting the focus on heifers.

Liability: How ag landowners can protect themselves

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – City dwellers looking for recreational opportunities away from the city will sometimes find themselves on farmland, leaving landowners with increased exposure to liability, say legal experts.

Upcoming beef workshop rescheduled for evening of March 16

ASHDOWN, Ark. — An upcoming beef production workshop from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service has been rescheduled for the evening of March 16.

Division wheat research, breeding aimed at head scab resistance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas scientists are part of a national, multi-institutional research collaboration to combat Fusarium head blight, a serious agricultural disease, also known as scab, that affects wheat and barley crops all across the U.S.

In Arkansas, new service enlists texting to aid crop production

LONOKE, Ark. — Your phone could become your best tool for managing weeds, soil fertility and crops.

Local Conversations event connects producers with buyers

McCRORY, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture will host its first Local Conversations of the year on Thursday, March 5, to help connect Arkansas farmers and producers with the buying community. 

Adisseo endows professorship for U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Adisseo, a France-based company and a world leader in animal nutrition, has endowed a professorship and funded three poultry science research projects for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.