News - August 2020

Cooperative Extension Service offers free virtual estate planning workshops

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service will offer a virtual three-part workshop series covering the basics of trusts, transfer of property, wills and other estate planning tools.

Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center helps businesses access federal government marketplace

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses through government contracts are invited to join a free webinar with government marketplace experts on Sept. 16.

Laura’s wicked winds twist soybeans, flatten rice, scatter cotton bolls

UNDATED – After a gray day of gusts and heavy rain that steamrolled crops, Tropical Storm Laura seemed to save her worst for after sunset, with the nighttime hours punctuated by tornado warnings from Desha County north to Clay County.  

Farm training, apprenticeship programs helps new and aspiring farmers put local foods on local plates

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Those whose hands yearn for the dirt can learn to farm with their heads and hands in two Center for Arkansas Farms and Food programs.

Hurricane Laura may affect early Arkansas harvest efforts

LITTLE ROCK — High winds and heavy rainfall from what forecasters expect will be a major hurricane — Hurricane Laura — will likely sweep through most of Arkansas by Friday, just as harvest nears for several major crops across the state.

July cattle placements hit highest level since 2011

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Cattle feedlots are beginning to fill again, according to the August Cattle on Feed Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Income Tax School offers training in current tax regulations, changes in tax law

LITTLE ROCK —  Registration is open for the Cooperative Extension Service’s Income Tax School, which is designed to help tax preparers get ready for the 2021 tax season.

Division of Agriculture holds online corn field day Sept. 3

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will present the latest in Arkansas corn research during an online corn field day Sept. 3. It will be the second of four commodity events held online to provide Arkansas growers safe, two-way interaction with division researchers and extension specialists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As pandemic continues, Arkansans look increasingly toward farmers’ markets and local vendors for food

LITTLE ROCK — Customer demand for local food, particularly that supplied through local vendors, farmers and farmers’ markets, has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, local experts said this week.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program deadline extended to Sept. 11

JONESBORO, Ark. — Farmers have more time to apply for aid under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program after the U.S. Department of Agriculture extended the deadline to Sept. 11.

Meat processing regains ground after COVID disruptions, prices dipping

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As the nation’s meat processing regains ground stolen by COVID-19 disruptions, prices for beef, chicken and pork are retreating, according to an analysis from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Arkansas Master Gardener application period open until Oct. 1

LITTLE ROCK — If working from home and staring at the yard has ignited that need to learn more about gardening, now is the time to apply for the Arkansas Master Gardener program, the state’s largest horticulture volunteer and education organization.

Division of Agriculture releases inaugural compendium of corn, grain sorghum studies

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has released its first compendium of studies focusing on corn and grain sorghum. The report, which gathers studies spanning two to three years and completed in 2019, is intended for growers, consultants and other agricultural industry professionals.

Researchers study major components of antibiotic-restricted poultry production

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As poultry companies move away from using antibiotic growth promoters in chickens, scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are joining an international research coalition to find new ways to keep the poultry industry sustainable.

Global Burden of Crop Loss Initiative selects plant pathology graduate student

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sherif Sharfadine, a University of Arkansas graduate student who works in a Division of Agriculture plant pathology lab, has been selected to participate in the Global Burden of Crop Loss Initiative.

Four Arkansas counties added to VSV alert, movement restrictions after virus detected in Missouri, Oklahoma

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has issued movement restrictions for horses in four Arkansas counties in reaction to the detection of the vesicular stomatitis virus, commonly referred to as VSV, in southern Missouri and eastern Oklahoma.

Service sector leads job gains as economy continues to grapple with COVID-19

LITTLE ROCK — A rise in service-sector jobs is helping make a dent in the COVID-19 unemployment rate, but gains may be undercut as states re-shutter businesses, according to an economic analysis released Monday by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Researchers receive NSF funding to build a smarter insect trap

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ashley Dowling, professor of entomology for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and Khoa Luu, assistant professor of computer science and computer engineering at the University of Arkansas, are trying to build a better insect trap.

Researchers aim to outsmart waterborne pathogens in hydroponic systems

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Hydroponic production of leafy green vegetables is trending upward in the U.S. But the closed, recirculating water systems face some as yet little understood problems with food and plant pathogens, said Ryan Dickson, assistant professor of horticulture for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Back to School: Mask up to protect your child and others

LITTLE ROCK — Parents of children heading to school later this month likely have a new addition to their back-to-school supply lists: face masks.

Hops virtual field tour on tap for Aug. 20

LITTLE ROCK — Horticulture experts with the Cooperative Extension Service will host a Hops Virtual Field Tour on Aug. 20 for growers and brewers interested in learning about hops production and using locally grown hops in brewing.

Arkansas celebrates National Farmers Market Week

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ farmers markets play a vital role – from providing access to nutritious food and supporting sustainability to stimulating local economies and revitalizing rural communities. That’s something worth celebrating.

Masks can’t hide the laughter, enthusiasm during COVID time summer camp

LITTLE ROCK —  Under blue skies and in blistering temperatures youngsters squealed about the slippery fish they just caught, while others in their bright orange life jackets, steered silver canoes around Lake Laverne. The Arkansas Outdoor School Adventure Day looked like any summer day camp.

 Except for the masks and social distancing and all the sanitizer.

Gibson explains why soap works against viruses in U of A ‘Short Talks’

Cooperative Extension Service uses county connections to aid UAMS with COVID-19 testing outreach

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is partnering with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service to bring a mobile testing unit to rural communities to provide COVID-19 testing.