Dec. 18, 2020
Same content, different address: Arkansas Crops blog moves
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- Arkansas Row Crops blog marks 10th year
- New blog address is: https://arkansascrops.uada.edu/
(360 words)
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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.
The blog’s new address will be https://arkansascrops.uada.edu/.
“The blog was developed to change with the times and technology,” Tom Barber, extension weed scientist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said. “The blog enabled each extension faculty to upload timely production recommendations and other info when it would be most useful.”
Barber said blogging not only benefited Arkansas and Mid-South crop producers, but those all over the world.
“We basically went from local information transfer to international with one click on the blog,” he said. “It was interesting to see the international hits that we got the first couple years.”
Barber said that “having an easy internet site to remember, plus content that included a digital warehouse of extension publications made the blog a huge success.”
A debt to Owen Taylor
The Arkansas Crops blog, along with those of surrounding states got their start through a platform built by Owen Taylor, editor and owner of Agfax, a highly successful online agriculture news outlet. Taylor, along with his wife and business partner, Debra Ferguson, were killed in car accident Dec. 9.
News of their deaths “hit me hard,” Barber said. “Without Owen Taylor’s help the blog would not exist. He was crucial in the development of the initial blog sites at Mississippi State University as well as ours.
“Owen told us how to set it up to make it accessible so he could pull the stories easily and share them as well,” Barber said. “He was critical in both development and our brand recognition.
“Owen and his wife Debra will be greatly missed in the ag community,” Barber said. “To discuss the blog ‘s success without including his name and recognizing his efforts would be a travesty.”
To learn about extension and research programs in Arkansas, visit https://uada.edu/
Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk, @uaex_edu or @ArkAgResearch.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Chief Communications Officer
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
mhightower@uada.edu
501-671-2006