News - May 2020

Coronavirus relief funds now available to cotton growers

LITTLE ROCK — Cotton growers who have been financially affected by the global drop in demand and market prices are now eligible for relief funding through the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

‘Farm to Freezer’: upcoming webinar to address basics for beef producers marketing directly to consumers

LITTLE ROCK — Locally sourced beef is gaining popularity in Arkansas. As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic leaves grocery shelves — especially the refrigerated sections — occasionally bare, a growing number of consumers have expressed interest in purchasing their animal protein directly from producers.

Global market prices for rice recede from peak, but some remain above pre-pandemic levels

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As several rice-exporting countries around the world begin to ease COVID-related export and other trade restrictions, global prices have become more competitive, falling from their peak earlier in May, according to an economic impact report from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Requirements for U.S. meat slaughter and processing outlined in June 3 webinar

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — To help individuals navigate the complexity of the requirements for slaughter and processing facilities, the National Agricultural Law Center is hosting a free webinar to discuss the agencies with authority over the slaughter and processing of meat and poultry, differences between state and federal oversight, proposed federal legislation that may change processing requirements and additional challenges facing small meat processors.

When (and where) skies are clear, Arkansas soybean planting sprints toward the finish line

HELENA, Ark. — Recently, overall soybean planting progress in Arkansas has begun catching up to the five-year average, leaping from 34 percent of 2.9 million planned acres as of May 10 to 47 percent as of May 17.

Research aims to prove childhood health benefits of blueberry extracts

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — An interdisciplinary team of Arkansas scientists wants to make sure kids eat more fruit, even if they have to be sneaky about it. Don’t worry — the parents will be in on the caper.

Pandemic effects showing in price spreads in meat supply chain

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The meat sector is feeling an accordion effect. Squeezed by panic buying and supply chain disruptions, record gaps are forming between pricing at the farm and wholesale levels, according to an analysis done by John Anderson, economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Virtual Vet Science Camp gives youth a peek into the profession

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas 4-H Veterinary Science Camp is going virtual this summer, offering a free half-day online camp for youth ages 11-19 to learn about animal science and the veterinary science profession.

Farmers’ markets across state getting back to business

LITTLE ROCK — It’s farmers’ market season in Arkansas, although this year’s markets are anything but business as usual. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, market managers and vendors have had to rethink their operations to stay in business and consider whether they should open at all this season.

With shift in rains, Arkansas rice growers close in on total acreage

LONOKE, Ark. — As anyone who’s ever seen their working conditions boiled down to a single pair of digits can tell you, big numbers don’t always tell the whole story.

Multimedia program supports diet, exercise, nutrition during COVID-19 isolation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The time of coronavirus is no time to ignore diet and exercise. A multimedia program from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is designed to help people focus on health and nutrition during COVID-19 isolation.

Extension Service offers free webinar on creating small food businesses

LITTLE ROCK — A successful food business starts with a great idea, but turning an idea into a profitable product requires much more. The Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has numerous resources for entrepreneurs — from access to certified kitchens for manufacturing to help with business planning and recipe scaling.

Free webinar teaches do-it-yourself rain gardening basics

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host a free webinar on rain gardening and green infrastructure on May 29, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Participation is free, but registration is required. 

2019 marked steady increase in Arkansas cotton acreage with record yield, as state ginning capacity climbed

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas cotton gins may still be a long way from the heyday of the year 2000, when 86 gins across the state processed the fiber of 1.2 million cotton acres, but as both acreage and production increased in 2019 for the fourth consecutive year, growers did at least have one additional facility to help move their products to market.

Ag mediation can solve problems for farmers, agribusinesses

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The National Agricultural Law Center will host a webinar discussing agricultural mediation May 20 at noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT. The webinar is free to attend and will provide an overview of agricultural mediation, its benefits, what to expect from a mediator and much more.

Protein substitutes in feed can help reduce carbon footprint of swine production

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Animal scientists at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have demonstrated that replacing crude proteins in hog diets with feed grade amino acids can reduce the carbon footprint of swine production.

Cooperative Extension Service helps Washington, Benton county residents to ‘Know the Flow — from Streets to Creeks’

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Washington and Benton county residents availing themselves of some outdoor exercise on the Razorback Regional Greenway may have noticed a series of blue whiskers and stickers crossing the trail. The markers show the path of the waterways that flow through the area, often right underneath pedestrians’ feet.

Meat processing rebounds, prices continue to move higher

LITTLE ROCK — Beef and pork processing rebounded last week after dropping sharply, while wholesale beef prices continued rocketing to new record highs, according to an analysis done by John Anderson, economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Plant pathology’s Tzanetakis earns faculty award from U of A students

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ioannis Tzanetakis, University of Arkansas professor of plant pathology, is one of 12 recipients of Outstanding Faculty Member Awards for 2019-20.

New handbook offers research, recommendations for furrow-irrigated rice production

LITTLE ROCK — A new handbook from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture provides rice growers with the latest research and recommendations for furrow-irrigated rice.

Cooperative Extension Service tapped to participate in 2020 gypsy moth trapping program

LITTLE ROCK — For more than three decades, entomologists and agricultural experts in the United States have kept a watchful eye on European gypsy moths, a migratory pest with a reputation for devastating forests.

Come on down: Mid-South Ag/Environmental Law Conference puts a spin on ethics lecture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A Mississippi attorney is breathing some fresh air into a critical topic whose rules and regulations can often be tedious.

Local foods webinar to address how farmers’ markets are faring amid COVID-19

LITTLE ROCK — Farmers’ markets play a key role in ensuring Arkansans have access to healthy food options. But farmers’ markets, too, have felt the strain of the pandemic.

Eagle-eyed homeowners on lookout for honeybee-killing Asian giant hornets

LITTLE ROCK — Dozens of Arkansans have been on the lookout for Asian giant “murder hornets” after seeing numerous media reports about the invasive species in the United States.

Video explains management for potassium deficiency in soybeans

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Potassium is the most important yield-limiting nutrient in soybeans, and the plants can suffer a deficiency of it at multiple stages of growth. A new video from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture explains how growers can be certain their crops are well nourished. 

7^th Annual Mid-South Ag/Environmental Conference moves online; will benefit new law fellowship

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference will look a little different in 2020 for two reasons: it’s moving online in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, and conference proceeds will benefit a new fellowship for law students.

Division of Agriculture scientist takes bird’s eye view of soybean genetics

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — High throughput genetic analysis is a tool that allows researchers to analyze a lot of DNA data in a short period of time. The work is commonly done in a lab with scientific instruments.

National Ag Law Center opens online resource library on COVID-19 issues

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The COVID-19 pandemic’s dramatic effects on the economy and the subsequent regulatory reactions have hit the agriculture industry hard, making difficult to navigate issues such as agricultural labor, contracts and direct marketing, increasingly confusing.

Consumer spending amid COVID-19 pandemic takes a steep drop

LITTLE ROCK  — In the 61 years since the Personal Consumption Expenditures report has been issued by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, there has never been a drop as precipitous as the 7.3 percent decline between February and March of this year

Global pandemic causing market drops for corn, cotton; soybeans stable while rice excels

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed demand in the energy and textiles sectors, prompting sharp declines in cotton and corn markets, according to a report from economists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Cooperative Extension Service works to ensure research-based COVID-19 info isn’t lost in translation

LITTLE ROCK  — The Cooperative Extension Service wants to ensure credible, research-based information about the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t get lost in translation. The extension service, the public outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has launched a site with Spanish-language information, www.uaex.uada.edu/COVID-Recursos.

1 de Mayo de 2020

El Servicio de Extensión Cooperativa trabaja para garantizar que la información COVID-19 basada en la investigación no se pierda en la traducción

LITTLE ROCK — El Servicio de Extensión Cooperativa quiere garantizar que la información creíble y basada en la investigación sobre la pandemia COVID-19, no se pierda en la traducción. El servicio de extensión, la rama de divulgación pública de la División de Agricultura del Sistema de la Universidad de Arkansas, ha lanzado un sitio con información en español, www.uaex.uada.edu/COVID-Recursos.