News - May 2021

While cicadas grab headlines east of the Mississippi, activity in Arkansas remains low

LITTLE ROCK — To see, hear or read the national news, one could be forgiven for thinking cicadas were the new national pastime, or possibly an invading force. And yet, it is nearly all quiet, here on the Arkansas front. Emily McDermott, assistant professor of entomology and plant pathology for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it will likely remain that way for another few years.

Fact sheet details steps to find weapons in fight against COVID in food production areas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In the era of COVID-19, it may be time to get to know “List N” from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Walk Across Arkansas teams rack up 1.3 million minutes of exercise

LITTLE ROCK — More than 200 teams with nearly 800 members racked up 1.35 million minutes of exercise during the eight weeks of the spring edition of Walk Across Arkansas

Solar proving a good investment for poultry farms

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Use of solar energy, net metering and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have shown significant benefits for a Cleveland County poultry grower, said Yi Liang, associate professor-biological and agricultural engineering.

SIDEBAR: Keys to solar: Net metering, meter aggregation, financial incentives

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A combination of policy and financial incentives have opened the door to solar for agriculture operations in Arkansas.

Klingaman takes his keyboard on the road; expands his weekly column

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Each week, for nearly a quarter of a century, retired extension horticulture specialist Gerald Klingaman has poured his horticultural expertise into his keyboard, writing a column that has become a staple of newspapers statewide, as well as having developed a keen following.

Food scientist tackles food safety in the lab, field and classroom

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jennifer Acuff is making a three-tiered effort to ensure food gets from the farm to the kitchen without contamination. Acuff joined the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center to open satellite office in Newport

NEWPORT, Ark. — The Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center will soon have an additional home in the northeastern area of the state.

Mid-South Conference: Join us for continuing education focused on ethics in agricultural law

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Paul Keith, current president of the Arkansas Bar Association and partner at Gibson and Keith in Monticello, Arkansas, will discuss ethics in agricultural law at the eighth annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center on June 10-11, 2021.

CREATE BRIDGES video series helps businesses gain online visibility

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is working to help retail and tourism businesses financially recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food science doctoral students earn Feeding Tomorrow scholarships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Three graduate students in food science at the U of A have received 2021 scholarships through Feeding Tomorrow: The Foundation of the Institute of Food Technologists.

Arkansas 4-H youth share in $30,000+ in scholarships

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas 4-H youth will head to college this fall with a little less financial strain thanks to 4-H college scholarships.

HOLIDAY: Grilling safety starts with clean hands, work surfaces

PERRYVILLE, Ark. — Memorial Day is one of the two biggest grilling days of the year and before you fall completely under the spell of smoke and sizzle, it pays to remember that the principles of food safety still apply when cooking moves outdoors.

June 9 blackberry tour offers insights into harvesting, breeding, trellis techniques

LITTLE ROCK — The June 9 Summer Blackberry Tour at the Fruit Research Station near Clarksville will provide growers with insights into trellis techniques, mechanized harvesting and breeding efforts for a fruit that’s growing in popularity among consumers.

Mid-South Conference: Hear perspective from a former USDA general counsel on trade, ag

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sign up for a unique opportunity to hear the reflections of a sitting judge on his time as USDA general counsel.

Mid-South Conference: Proposed changes in ag tax, estate planning

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As the saying goes, there’s nothing more sure than death and taxes. Planning for both is essential to transfer a farm business to a successor, and understanding their impact is necessary to make a successful plan. 

Mid-South Conference: Understanding emerging carbon markets, ag impacts

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Phrases such as “carbon markets,” “carbon banking” or “carbon smart agriculture and forestry” may not be familiar, but they are being used to describe a means of addressing climate change that has the potential to significantly impact agriculture.   

Cellulosic nanomaterial may help solve problem of herbicide drift

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Up to 70 million pounds of herbicides are lost to the environment each year in the United States, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates. Joseph Batta-Mpouma and Gurshagan Kandhola found a tiny solution to that big problem.

Consumers likely to feel impacts of I-40 bridge closure

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Disruptions in truck and barge traffic with the closure of the Interstate-40 bridge over the Mississippi River will likely translate into higher costs for consumers.

‘Could’ve been much worse’ as north winds prove an ally to Arkansas farmers racing rains

CONWAY, Ark. — May’s dark parade of rain has provided frustration aplenty for Arkansas farmers trying to get a crop in the ground, however, “this past week could’ve been much worse,” said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

May’s rains deliver a haymaker for haymaking

MALVERN, Ark. — Arkansas’ livestock producers are moving cattle to higher ground as an unsettled weather pattern threatens to bring up to six inches of rain to parts of western Arkansas.

May a key time for pastures as grasses make warm-season transition

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ hay and forage producers will have to wait until the mud dries to perform some key actions to get their warm-season grasses going.

Farmers plagued by spring rains ponder short-season cotton tactics

JONESBORO, Ark. — Too many wet days have compressed the planting window for cotton growers into a series of short and irregular days in the field, with farmers looking at ways to manage short-season cotton.”

April jobs report falls short of expectation, but jobs rise in leisure/hospitality sector

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Leisure and hospitality saw gains in jobs in April, however, the overall jobs performance in the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “Employment Situation” didn’t live up to pre-report expectations.

Win some, lose some, but active Arkansas gins see net gain of one, NASS says

JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas gained one more cotton gin, raising the number of active gins to 30 in 2020, compared to 29 in 2019, according to numbers from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Consumer price index rises, but one month’s data not enough to foretell an ‘inflationary spiral’

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The consumer price index rose 0.8 percent between March and April, the highest single-month increase since June 2009, as well as its highest year-over-year increase — 4.2 percent — since September 2008. 

Cole to present ‘From COVID to Trade Wars: Effect on Farm Lending,’ at 8^th annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With more than 29 years of experience in the Farm Credit System, Greg Cole, president and CEO of AgHeritage Farm Credit Services will discuss the impact of COVID-19 and trade wars on agricultural lending at the eighth annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center on June 10.

Join us virtually: Mid-South Ag/Environmental Law Conference to offer unique perspective on USDA farm program eligibility

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Attorney Mark Daniel Maloney will help farmers recognize situations that may jeopardize eligibility for farm program payments during the eighth annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference June 10-11.

Division of Agriculture communications staff score big at annual APW contest

LITTLE ROCK — Communications and public policy professionals from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture earned 18 awards Saturday during the annual Arkansas Press Women communications contest.

Agricultural Experiment Station recognizes 4 faculty, staff for early career performance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station has named four faculty and staff the inaugural recipients of the Early Career Recognition of Professional Excellence (RoPE) Awards.

Do it for the ‘gram (and other social media): Share your Experience Arkansas Agriculture moments

LITTLE ROCK — Picture this: 20 minutes into your U-pick orchard visit you spot it — the perfect Arkansas summer peach and an adorable farm dog. A couple of clicks later and your peach, the pooch and your smiling face are all over Instagram.

Upcoming webinar: Benefits of rain gardens extend beyond the back yard

LITTLE ROCK — Many homeowners and backyard gardeners are finding that do-it-yourself rain gardens are the perfect addition to their yards because they are not only attractive but also good for the environment.

Carlisle senior takes both Soybean Science Challenge championship and FFA Agriscience Award

LITTLE ROCK — Alyssa Butler, a 17-year-old senior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Arkansas, successfully defended her title as Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge state champion.

Arkansas peaches, muscadines hardest hit in 2021’s second historic freeze event

LITTLE ROCK — In the overnight hours of April 20, temperatures fell into the 20s across about half the state, triggering the second historic freeze event in 2021. While many horticulture producers were able to prepare by covering berries and other bush plants, peach and muscadine growers weren’t able to muster such defenses.

Arkansas pets, places inspire 4-H photographers

This year’s state winners, announced May 1, were selected from county winners from 42 participating counties. More than 400 photos were submitted at the county level, with the county winners advancing to the state competition. Photos depicted Arkansas scenes or subjects.