News - April 2022

New Arkansas 4-H Foundation board members ‘bleed some green’

LITTLE ROCK — Three former Arkansas 4-H members have joined the Arkansas 4-H Foundation Board of Directors.

Periodic rainfall, saturated soils lead to planting delays

LITTLE ROCK — After a rainy April, spring planting in Arkansas is off to a slow start, with three of the state’s major crops lagging far behind their typical progress. Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it could be May 1 before some areas of the state are dry enough to resume planting — or even later, with additional rainfall in the forecast.

Shipman to talk Farm Bill, other inside-the-Beltway issues at Mid-South Ag and Environmental Law Conference

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As one of the most seasoned agricultural policy veterans on Capitol Hill, Hunt Shipman is all too familiar with what is at stake in 2023 for Mid-South agriculture and beyond.

Fellows chosen for first F²OCUS Future of Food undergraduate summer program

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The first fellows of the Future of Food: Opportunities and Careers for Undergraduate Students (F ²OCUS) Fellowship Program were recently chosen by program directors to participate in a 10-week summer program with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Arkansas animals, nature captured by 4-H photographers in photo contest

LITTLE ROCK — At first glance, 10-year-old Arabella Edrington’s photo appears as a splash of water on a wood plank. A closer look reveals contrasting textures and tones that draw the viewer into a landscape within the water, where light and shadow showcase towering bare tree branches against the sky.

The Honorable Stephen Vaden to deliver keynote address at 9th annual Mid-South Conference

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Judge Stephen Vaden will return as the keynote speaker for the National Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. Known for his straight-shooting and humorous talks, Vaden will discuss the court and its impact on the agricultural industry and offer a few highlights from his time as general counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well.

Tax refund offers chance to build wealth

 LITTLE ROCK — Now that the 2021 tax filing deadline has come and gone, many consumers are eagerly awaiting their tax refunds and perhaps planning how to use them. While there’s endless spending possibilities, the best choice may be not to spend at all.

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station names Kristen Gibson director of Center for Food Safety

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station has appointed Kristen Gibson, associate professor of food safety and microbiology, director of the Center for Food Safety.

Arkansas food scientist lands USDA-NIFA grant to investigate low-moisture food processing safety

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Helping keep dry foods safe for consumption is the goal of an Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher who was recently awarded a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Insitute of Food and Agriculture.

Earth Day, every day

Sustainability for our communities and natural resources is the cornerstone of our extension and research work at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. While we have dozens of sustainability efforts at work, here's a sampling of the ways in which our faculty and staff help agriculture maintain the quality of our water, soil and other aspects of everyday life.

Master Gardener plant sales offer choice picks for garden aficionados

LITTLE ROCK — More than 30 plant sales are taking place across Arkansas this month and throughout May.  The proceeds go back into Master Gardener beautification projects and educational outreach; some clubs also provide scholarships to students pursuing plant-related studies.

Montgomery County Quilt Trail grand opening offers scenic beauty, local history

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ark. — Throughout the state, Arkansas Quilt Trails offer pockets of color and storytelling. Lovers of history and the scenic beauty of the Ouachita Mountains will have an opportunity to explore both at the grand opening of the Montgomery County Quilt Trail on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Former EPA assistant administrator to discuss dicamba, Enlist Duo at Ag & Environmental Law Conference

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Alexandra Dunn is all too familiar with dicamba’s reputation as a weed killer and divisiveness surrounding its use.

Center for Arkansas for Arkansas Farms and Food teaching sustainable farming methods

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — On an early spring morning, a verdant field is flail mowed at the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food. The vegetation growing there is a winter cover crop mix that has blanketed the earth throughout the cold winter months. 

Will more states consider restricting foreign ownership of U.S. farmland?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As foreign ownership of U.S. farmland increases, will more states consider restrictions on such purchases? Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, will lay out the trends at the Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference on June 10.

Bobbitt to Recommend Dr. Deacue Fields as VP of Agriculture for UA System

LITTLE ROCK — University of Arkansas System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt announced today that he will recommend Deacue Fields, Ph.D., currently dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, as the next vice president for agriculture for the UA System.

Giving back: Lonoke County extension agent donates flying time and blood plasma to people in need

LONOKE, Ark. — For Lonoke County staff chair Keith Perkins, serving the community goes beyond his work for the Cooperative Extension Service. As a pilot, Perkins donates flights to transport people in need of medical care at no cost, and he advocates for everyone to get involved in giving back.

Study identifies cattle forages for wooded settings to establish productive 'silvopastures'

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new study has identified two types of grass that grow well in wooded settings as forage for small beef producers in Arkansas looking to integrate forestry on grazing land, a practice known as "silvopasture."

Hettiarachchy, renowned food chemist, retires after nearly 30 years of research, teaching, service

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Navam Hettiarachchy has an inborn passion for food chemistry research and teaching. Now, she is retiring after nearly 30 years with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the University of Arkansas’ Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

May 11 event to provide matchmaking for buyers, minority- and women-owned businesses

LITTLE ROCK — New customers are the lifeblood of any business. A May 11 matchmaking event at Heifer International headquarters will provide minority- and women-owned businesses a chance to meet potential clients.

New jasmine-type aromatic rice line released by Arkansas Rice Breeding Program as demand heats up

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new jasmine-type aromatic rice called ARoma 22 has been released by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station amid rising U.S. demand for aromatic rice.

Northwest Arkansas Beef Production Field Day set for April 28

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will hold a Beef Production Field Day April 28 at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Savoy Research Complex.

Arkansas 4-H teams design, build, pilot submersible robots in SeaPerch Challenge

BRYANT, Ark. — As an important tool of space exploration and deep-sea research, robotics is a vital field in the future of science. Forty teams put their robotics knowledge to the test at the 2022 Arkansas SeaPerch Challenge on April 11 at the Center at Bishop Park in Bryant, Arkansas.

Kingwood Forestry Services invests $30K for UAM grad student fellowship

MONTICELLO, Ark. — Kingwood Forestry Services is again giving back to the University of Arkansas at Monticello, establishing a $30,000 endowment to help University of Arkansas at Monticello graduate students with their forestry studies.

Poultry Chain project provides youth with lessons in husbandry, flock management, biosecurity

LONOKE, Ark. — County, district and state fairs are months away, but preparations for poultry contests started April 13 with the distribution of more than 25,000 baby chicks to youth across Arkansas.

A berry nice opportunity: Jackson County extension to gauge consumer preferences for strawberry varieties

NEWPORT, Ark. — Have a favorite strawberry variety? That’s what the Jackson County Extension Office wants to know through a six-variety consumer preference survey it’s conducting this spring.

Cooperative Extension Service launches ‘Sharing Stories’ opportunity for communities

LITTLE ROCK — For communities throughout the state, sharing stories of success, impact or solutions with others can help improve the quality of life for all Arkansans. The Cooperative Extension Service’s Community, Professional and Economic Development department has launched a new Sharing Stories – Strengthening AR Communities opportunity, which prompts members of Arkansas communities to submit their stories to be shared on social media, online, and in the unit’s newsletter.

Extension offers farmer-led watershed management training

LITTLE ROCK — When it comes to protecting the state’s waterways, Arkansas farmers are uniquely qualified to lead efforts in water quality management. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is offering a new leadership training program for farmers, farm advisers and crop consultants to learn more about how they can lead stewardship efforts.

Northwest Arkansas farmers market program helps growers expand sales opportunities

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new program will help northwest Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers to develop shelf-stable food products and business plans to expand sales opportunities at farmers markets.

Experiential learning at UAM: Fire management

MONTICELLO, Ark. — A year after becoming the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s first Forester for the Future Scholarship winner, Shylee Head has shown that she can take the heat.

How Arkansas communities can begin preparing for the 2024 Great North American solar eclipse

LITTLE ROCK — Witnessing a total solar eclipse can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and on April 8, 2024, when the path of a total eclipse will touch 53 of Arkansas’ 75 counties, many in-state organizations are preparing to use the opportunity for tourism, marketing and education.

Arkansas 4-H preparing for eclipse educational outreach

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas 4-H is planning a special STEM education program around the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse whose path will cross the state.

Formula for an eclipse: Right place, right time

LITTLE ROCK — For a solar eclipse to occur, the moon must be in the right place at the right time — between the sun and the Earth.

Beef Quality Assurance workshops scheduled through May

LITTLE ROCK — Ranchers across Arkansas will be able to obtain Beef Quality Assurance certification or re-certification at one of five upcoming workshops scheduled for Fayetteville, Batesville, Malvern, Magnolia and Mena.

‘Lazy’ mower approach can help pollinators

LITTLE ROCK — Procrastination in the spring and a little less mowing in the summer may be virtues when it comes to helping pollinators, researchers have found.

Five-day tour offers college ag students a bird’s eye view of state’s top industry

LITTLE ROCK — College students studying agriculture have many potential career paths into the state’s largest industry. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture hopes to spotlight some of the agriculture industry’s resources and job opportunities during a five-day tour for college juniors and seniors.

Are urea fertilizer additives worth the cost for forages?

LITTLE ROCK — The record high costs of fertilizer are prompting hay and forage growers to look at all their options, including whether to use urea or ammonium nitrate and whether a urea additive will help.

Pasture-weaned calves put weight back on faster, study shows

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Recent Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station research shows that ranchers may be able to mitigage stress in weaned calves and improve the bottom line. 

Extension offers course in beekeeping basics

LITTLE ROCK – Beekeeping basics, one of the Cooperative Extension Service’s most requested courses, is being offered in-person this spring. The three-part course teaches beginning beekeepers everything they need to know to get started with honey bees.

Arkansas 4-H offers 2 camps to introduce youngsters to overnight camping — with parent or guardian

FERNDALE, Ark. — The Arkansas 4-H program is offering three-day camps meant to introduce children as young as 5 to the joys of camping — along with their parent or guardian.

Cooperative Extension Service to re-launch workforce training in English and Spanish

LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service is re-launching a workforce training initiative, known as “CREATE LIFT.” The program, which focuses on customer service, essential skills, hospitality, local tourism and marketing and branding, will now be available in both English and Spanish.

2022 Beginner Farmer course recordings available online until Oct. 31, series returns in January

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Center for Arkansas Farms and Foods' 2022 Beginner Farmer Classes are available online through Oct. 31.

Nitrous oxide study points to tailwater recovery irrigation to cut greenhouse gases 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — One way to cut greenhouse gas emissions in rice cultivation could be as simple recycling irrigation water.