News - February 2020

Nearly 30 years strong, Arkansas Flower and Garden Show powered by hundreds of Master Gardeners, Cooperative Extension expertise

LITTLE ROCK — The state’s largest horticultural and landscaping show, the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, opened its doors at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds this morning (Feb. 28). Hosting more than 100 vendors, displays and informational booths, the annual three-day show requires an immense amount labor to set up, tear down and run.

FAMACHA workshop series to help small ruminant producers identify, treat parasites

LITTLE ROCK — An upcoming series of workshops from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service will help small ruminant producers identify a common parasite in sheep, goats and other animals, and determine the best course of treatment in a variety of circumstances.

SeaPerch Challenge teaches youth STEM skills

LITTLE ROCK — Youth from across Arkansas will showcase their STEM skills at the 2020 Arkansas SeaPerch Challenge, an underwater robotics competition where youth put their engineering, problem solving, teamwork and technical skills to the test.

March Cooperative Extension workshops to focus on beef, forage

ASHDOWN, Ark. — Ranchers, cattle producers and other agricultural industry professionals will have the opportunity to brush up on their cattle and forage knowledge at two upcoming workshops from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.

Now’s the time: check on bermudagrass pastures before the weeds make their springtime debut

LITTLE ROCK — For Arkansans managing pastures, these last remaining weeks of winter are an important time to scout warm-season pastures for weed encroachment and pasture health in general.

Research on soybean vein necrosis virus leads to unexpected discovery

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sometimes, unexpected discoveries in the course of scientific investigation open new avenues of research.

Registration for spring edition of Walk Across Arkansas opens March 2

LITTLE ROCK — If your New Year’s fitness resolve has waned, you might need a new challenge to get back on track. Walk Across Arkansas can help.

Volunteers bid adieu to invasive species at weekend ‘privet pull’

LITTLE ROCK — Despite morning temperatures in the mid 30s, volunteers arrived Feb. 16 at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service, armed with gloves and shears ready to do battle. Their opponent: Chinese privet.

Wary of another wet winter, Arkansas rice growers keep an eye out for a dry window

MORRILTON, Ark. — When it comes to deciding between planting rice, soybean or other crops in 2020, it’s not just a question of markets and futures contracts. For many growers, it’s a question of when the ground will be dry enough to work.

Division of Agriculture’s commercially released rice varieties offer growers more options

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has licensed two commercially released rice varieties to an Arkansas seed company that will market them to growers in time for the 2021 growing season.

Save the date: Lonoke County Master Gardeners host ‘From the Ground Up’ expo April 18

CABOT, Ark. — It may be winter, but the Lonoke County Master Gardeners are thinking ahead to spring, laying plans for “From the Ground Up,” a gardening expo and plant sale, scheduled for April 18 in Cabot.

Rural economic development program surveying retail and tourism employees

LITTLE ROCK — A pilot program focusing on rural economic development in six rural Arkansas counties is surveying employees to learn more about job training and experiences that can bolster businesses in the retail, tourism, entertainment and accommodations industries.

Field days calendar available; season kicks off Feb. 27

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s 2020 field day series will kick off Feb. 27 with a pruning workshop at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Fruit Research Station in Clarksville, Arkansas.

Irrigation, water management schools planned for February, March

STUTTGART, Ark. — Arkansas crop producers who want to get better control of their water use during the 2020 growing season will have several opportunities through a series of irrigation and water management schools.

2020 elections, ag bankruptcy on agenda for 7^th annual Mid-South Ag/Environmental Law Conference

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Expected changes after the 2020 elections, agricultural bankruptcy and the latest on federal crop insurance and farm programs are among the timely topics to be discussed at the seventh annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference this June.

What’s in a Name? Webinar will discuss labeling laws for 'fake meat'

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As alternative proteins gain popularity, the controversy of what to call them has turned legal.

When wet weather dominates pastureland, overseeding is key to recovery

LITTLE ROCK — The fall of 2019 and the ongoing winter have been particularly wet, with some unfortunate, negative effects on pastures throughout Arkansas. Wet soil is more susceptible to a host of “ills” that show up later in the season, many of which boil down to soil compaction.

Three-county workshop teaches pecan production basics

LITTLE ROCK –  Pecans, native to Arkansas, are one of the most desired tree nuts in the world. Those interested in learning the basics of pecan production can attend a March 12 pecan production meeting hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

U of A System Division of Agriculture, Clinton School students seek solutions to rural infrastructure concerns

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service has teamed up with students from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service to identify infrastructure challenges and strategies for addressing them.