News - December 2020

Dec. 23, 2020

YEAREND: Busy 2020 in the forest industry; oh, and there's a pandemic, too!

MONTICELLO, Ark. — Even if you leave out the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was a busy one for Timber related news, both good and bad.

Dec. 23, 2020

Extension Homemakers provide blankets for UAMS patients

LITTLE ROCK — Normally, Santa visits patients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences this time of year to personally deliver blankets donated by Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council clubs and other volunteers throughout the state. Santa could not visit due to the social distancing requirements, but Extension Homemakers still provided plenty of blankets for people spending the holidays in the hospital.

Impact of 2020 elections on agricultural law & policy to be focus of Jan. 13 webinar

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The results of the 2020 elections have led to changes that could be historically significant for U.S. agriculture. To give some clarity on what these changes could mean, the National Agricultural Law Center is hosting a free webinar analyzing agricultural law and policy in light of the 2020 election results.

YEAREND: Meat sector rebounded from COVID in 2020, but feed costs, consumer demand to determine sector’s 2021 course

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The nation’s meat-producing sector showed its resilience in pandemic-ridden 2020, but the industry outlook for 2021 will depend on several factors, including feed costs and consumer demand.

YEAREND: After a tough 2020, contract prices promise a brighter 2021 for Arkansas corn, sorghum growers

LITTLE ROCK — As with many of the state’s commodities, Arkansas corn, wheat and other feed grains took 2020 on the chin.

YEAREND: Against all odds, Arkansas soybeans enjoy steady year

LITTLE ROCK — If there’s one thing Arkansas soybean growers can say when no one else can, it might be this: 2020 has been a pretty good year. Despite an overly wet spring, delayed planting, and a slow-rolling harvest, the crop saw subtle increases in both acreage and average yield, bringing the state’s total production up from about 127.9 million bushels in 2019 to about 139 million in 2020. 

YEAREND: Slow start, strong finish for Arkansas peanuts

PARAGOULD, Ark.  — Despite a plant-then-replant start, the 2020 Arkansas peanut growing season ended with a smoother harvest than in previous years thanks to weather and a couple of new buying points, Andy Vangilder, an extension educator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said.

YEAREND: Amid difficult weather and an ongoing pandemic, most Arkansas crops fare surprisingly well in 2020

LITTLE ROCK — 2020 has been an extraordinary year, by almost any measure. And although the past 12 months have been filled with many challenges and setbacks, some sectors of the economy — including many Arkansas row crops — saw better outcomes than anyone could have predicted.

YEAREND: Rain eclipses record potential for cotton, yet 2020 ends with in market recovery

JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas’ cotton crop got off to a slow, cool and wet start, endured a pandemic and the remains of two hurricanes, hinted at record yields and inexplicably ended the season with prices hitting a high note.

YEAREND: Despite slow start and prolonged finish, Arkansas rice enjoys strong 2020

LITTLE ROCK — For Arkansas rice growers, the year proved to carry burdens both familiar and novel. Throughout the late winter and early spring, wet weather across much of the Southern Plains prevented almost all early planting in Arkansas rice. As March rolled into April, the COVID-19 pandemic began complicating agricultural practices both on and off the farm.

YEAREND: Consumer confidence in COVID management key for economy in 2021

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Consumer confidence in COVID-19 management measures will be a key factor for the U.S. economy in 2021, John Anderson, economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said.

‘Virtual Field Trip’ series to expand soil and water health conservation outreach efforts in 2021

LITTLE ROCK — Outreach educators with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will continue an online video series focused on sustainable agriculture in 2021. The “Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture” series, which produced its initial episode in November 2020, will expand into a five-part series in the new year.

Same content, different address: Arkansas Crops blog moves

LITTLE ROCK — Since 2011, the Arkansas Row Crops blog has provided just-in-time production information to the state’s farmers. Starting Jan. 6, the blog will have a new web address, but will continue to provide the research-based content from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Arkansas extension veterinarian working to improve animal welfare

GREELEY, Colo. — Efforts to improve animal welfare evolve continually, and an Arkansas extension veterinarian is working to ensure new research findings reach the people and places it can help the most.

Researchers receive $499,936 grant to investigate molecular signals that initiate plant defenses against nematodes, soilborne diseases

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Plants come with pretty good security alert systems against pests and maladies. But entomologist Fiona Goggin wants to give them an upgrade to mount faster, more robust defenses against diseases and nematodes that attack them through the soil.

HOLIDAYS: There's no place like home for the holidays

LITTLE ROCK — Many of us had hoped the pandemic would be under control by the fall and winter holidays so we could see family and friends in a normal-ish way. Unfortunately, that’s simply not the case. All recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Arkansas Department of Health have been clear: Just stay home.

C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center offers holiday meals

LITTLE ROCK —  “Holiday Helpings,” the meal preparation service offered through the C. A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center, is back this month to help simplify holiday preparations.

Employment continues to recover, but at steadily decreasing rate

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — November employment figures fell short of seasonal expectations expressed before a Dec. 4 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to an analysis from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The employment numbers, usually buoyed by anticipated holiday retail sales, grew only mildly from those in October.

Extension Service honors excellence, innovation among peers

LITTLE ROCK — Faculty and staff at the Cooperative Extension Service found innovative ways to reach Arkansans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that has dominated much of 2020 —  from creating virtual learning opportunities to social media outreach to technology use.

As temperatures drop, keep livestock fed and dry

LITTLE ROCK — While winter temperatures can certainly make things uncomfortable for the humans involved, livestock experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture say that as long as they’re well-fed and dry, cattle, horses and other livestock should be just fine.

‘Take half, leave half’: How to avoid overgrazing pastureland

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Anyone who’s driven the highways of the western half of Arkansas has seen it: overgrazed pastures, nearly denuded and almost bare of plant ground cover, save for some tall, brush-like weeds in one corner of the pasture or another.

Register now as winter county production meetings move online in January, February

LITTLE ROCK — Registration links are now available for the 2021 winter county production meetings.

Shop Local Guide offers small businesses ideas for engaging consumers

LITTLE ROCK — With the 2020 holiday shopping season in full swing, consumers have many choices about where to spend their dollars. Small businesses are hoping consumers will buy locally.

Trio of food science students place first or second in rice and cereals research contests

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas graduate students Annagret Jannasch and Rebecca Bruce, who are conducting rice research in Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, recently finished first and second in a video contest. Ana Gonzalez won first place in a presentation category.

AmeriCorps volunteers close out 2020 at Arkansas 4-H Center

LITTLE ROCK — The C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center has been getting extra care and attention in recent weeks thanks to the work of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps members.

UA-Monticello, Division of Agriculture form research partnership, certificate program with Five Oaks

MONTICELLO, Ark. — The University of Arkansas at Monticello, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Five Oaks Ag Research and Education Center on Wednesday announced a partnership for forestry and wildlife research and a graduate certificate program in conservation, property and land management.