News - October 2021

USDA cattle report reflects declining feedlot inventories

LITTLE ROCK — For the fourth month in a row, cattle feedlot inventories across the United States fell below same-month figures from 2020, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Arkansas study shows soybeans yield 10.5 percent more with cover crop

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A three-year study conducted by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station shows that cover crops can improve yields in soybean fields. The study also answers a lingering question about wheat-double-crop systems.

Friends, colleagues remember Division of Agriculture entomologist Phil Tugwell for hard work, generosity, impact on Arkansas agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Phil Tugwell — “Tug” to his friends — was known as a hard worker who was generous with resources, knowledge, credit and … well, pretty much everything. Noel Philip Tugwell died Oct. 20 in Fayetteville.

Pittman: Foreign ownership of U.S. forestlands has wide-reaching implications

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Nearly half of the nation’s forested lands are foreign owned, which can have broad implications in multiple realms from policy to carbon markets, said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center.

New parboiling method saves water, improves nutrient content in rice

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Food scientists at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station have developed a new parboiling process that reduces water use up to 75 percent and improves nutrient content in rice.

Chaff lining, seed mills aid in fight against herbicide-resistant weeds

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is taking part in research to fight the battle against herbicide-resistant weeds.

USDA grant to further fund food safety education through Cooperative Extension Service, sister agencies

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service’s efforts to help ensure Arkansas consumers have access to the safest fruit and vegetable produce available will see continued funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Wet spring, dry summer in central Arkansas lead to strong finish for rice

LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. — Arkansas growers have seen a little — or a lot — of everything this year, including record low temperatures and snowfall in February and a record rainfall event in June. Nevertheless, many row crop farmers in the center of the state are enjoying a strong harvest season.

Nov. 6 workshop, webinar offer insight for starting a food business

LITTLE ROCK — Starting a business begins with a great idea, but turning that idea into a reality takes a lot more. That’s where the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Share Grounds program can help — from helping entrepreneurs scale up recipes to understanding food laws to providing a permitted kitchen space where food entrepreneurs can work.

Walker Park pedestrian safety enhanced by $21K in anti-obesity grant funding

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. — The Cooperative Extension Service recently partnered with volunteers from Nucor and Nucor-Yamato Steel and workers from Blytheville Parks and Recreation to make safety improvements and clean up Walker Park as part of a larger effort to encourage exercise and reduce obesity.

Pickings slim in this year’s giant pumpkin, watermelon contest

LITTLE ROCK — This year’s 4-H Biggest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contest entries were a little on the lighter side but still managed to survive a growing season beset with rain, flooding and even drought.

Beef and Forages Field Day set Oct. 29 at Southwest Research and Extension Center

HOPE, Ark. — Ways to improve cattle health and reproduction are features of a Beef and Forages Field Day at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope.

Management of native grasses doesn’t stop during winter

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For all things, there is a season. For a few things — managing native perennial warm season grasses, for example — there’s every season.

‘Closed canopy’ approach to pasture management a reliable defense against unpredictable weather

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — From record summer high temperatures to record winter lows and record 48-hour rain events in between, the unusual has increasingly become the norm in Arkansas’ weather.

2021 issue of Discovery Journal highlights undergraduate student research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Student scientists at the University of Arkansas saw their work featured in the 2021 edition of Discovery, the undergraduate research journal of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

New crop, soil, and environmental sciences head aims to engage with students, stakeholders in first year

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jeff Edwards plans to hit the ground running in his new role as head of the crop, soil, and environmental sciences department for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Arkansas Corn and Cotton Online Field Day set Oct. 28

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Corn and cotton are the topics for the next virtual field day presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Arkansas grows 10 edible, ornamental pumpkins as part of 11-state Squash Hunger Trial

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A plethora of pumpkins at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center is part of the 11-state Squash Hunger Trial.

Division of Agriculture, Bumpers College faculty net $500K grant for study of impacts of perennial forage systems

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Two Arkansas researchers will be gauging consumer sentiment as well as evaluating any health and economic benefits of meat products from livestock raised on perennial forage systems.

Greenhouse gas, cover crops research part of Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center’s 2021 virtual field tour

HARRISBURG, Ark. — A project to measure greenhouse gases and water use in furrow-irrigated rice, and the use of cover crops as a remediation tool in land leveling are just two of the presentations that are part of the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center virtual field tour opening Oct. 18.

Arkansas wines to shine at Nov. 4 tasting in Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK  — The reds, whites and rosé wines that earned silver and gold medals during the first Arkansas Quality Wine competition this year will be the subjects of an open-to-the-public wine tasting Nov. 4 in Little Rock. 

Little Rock’s Rusty Tractor Vineyards to host Arkansas grape growers conference Nov. 4

LITTLE ROCK — Using geographic information systems, improving vine quality, plus a public tasting of Arkansas wines, are on the agenda for the Nov. 4 Arkansas Association of Grape Growers conference to be hosted by Rusty Tractor Vineyards, 10 Rusty Tractor Lane, in Little Rock.

Soil and soybean scientists work to get a handle on ‘dead man’s fingers’

For the past two years, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers have worked in the lab and in the field to learn more about an emerging pathogen identified in 2014 as the prime culprit of soybean taproot decline — Xylaria necrophora.

Five things to know about cover crops in Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The proper use of cover crops can produce several benefits for production systems in Arkansas including improved soil health, increased nitrogen, and additional weed control options, according to research done by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

After a strong start to peanut harvest, rainfall taps brakes

LITTLE ROCK — In a year of stops and starts, the Arkansas peanut harvest is not immune.

Food science doctoral candidate earns $10,000 MISA Foundation scholarship

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tad Beekman, a University of Arkansas doctoral student in food science, is one of seven students nationally selected to receive a Meat Industry Suppliers Alliance Foundation scholarship for $10,000.

Students praise program in waterfowl, land management offered through UAM, Division of Agriculture, Five Oaks

HUMPHREY, Ark. — It’s “everything I could imagine and more!” That’s how Katherine Allen described her first months as a student in a unique graduate certificate program in waterfowl habitat and recreational management.

Benton County extension staff chair, former livestock specialist honored with Awards of Distinction

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  — Benton County Extension Staff Chair Johnny Gunsaulis and former University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture livestock specialist Paul Beck were among four honored with Awards of Distinction by the department of animal science at the University of Arkansas.

New guard llama settles in at Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new guard at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center is only 4 years old, but she stands over 6 feet tall and puts up with no drama. She is a llama.