Arkansas Discovery Farms hosts rice production tour in NE Arkansas on July 20
“Greater efficiency is becoming an increasingly important consideration in agricultural sustainability and profitability, especially in light of rising inflation and potential supply-chain issues with inputs.” — Mike Daniels
July 11, 2022
By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts
- Water, soil sustainability research on the agenda
- RSVP by July 15
- Agenda may change depending on weather
(520 words)
(Newsrooms: With images at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzXGU1 )
JONESBORO, Ark. — A rice production field day on July 20 to be co-hosted by the Arkansas Discovery Farm Program and Anheuser-Busch will highlight water and nutrient efficiency, carbon sequestration and include tours of the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center, Pratt Farms and Busch Agricultural Resources.
The field tour will be 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and begin at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center located on Arkansas Highway 1 in southern Poinsett County; GPS (35°39'25.7"N 90°42'36.5"W). Lunch will be provided and there will be buses to move participants among the sites. There is no cost to attend but an RSVP by July 15 to aussery@uada.edu is appreciated for a lunch count.
"We are excited about co-hosting this field day with Anheuser Busch to focus attention on continuous improvement to increase profitability in rice production through more efficient use of soil and water resources in real-world situations," said Mike Daniels, director of the Discovery Farms program and an extension specialist in water quality. “Greater efficiency is becoming an increasingly important consideration in agricultural sustainability and profitability, especially in light of rising inflation and potential supply-chain issues with inputs.”
The research is being funded in part by a grant from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation which supports the Arkansas Discovery Farm Program’s network of working farms that document the impact of conservation on water quality and soil health to serve as learning hubs for the industry.
“Please join us for a Discovery Farm roadshow showcasing innovative and efficient farming practices from multiple inlet rice irrigation. to cover cropping,” said Bill Jones, agronomist for Anheuser-Busch. “It is my goal to share the great work the Discovery Farm system is doing to researching to allow local growers, agronomists and industry members to make more informed decisions.”
Jones said the company’s commitment to soil health practices is directly related to
its 2025 sustainability goals and “ambition to be net zero by 2040 and educating all
stakeholders in the region is critical to succeeding at scale.”
The agenda is below and may change depending on weather conditions:
- 8:30 a.m. — Welcome
- Anheuser-Busch commitment to sustainability — Bill Jones, agronomist, Anheuser-Busch
- Division of Agriculture Rice Research and Education — Deacue Fields, UA System vice president-agriculture
- Welcome and overview, Tim Burcham, NERREC director
- 9:15 a.m. — Travel into NERREC fields
- 9:30 a.m. — Nutrient Use Efficiency in Rice — Trent Roberts, associate professor-soil fertility
and soil testing, Division of Agriculture
- Soil Health — Steve Green, professor-soil and water conservation, Arkansas State University
- Carbon sequestration / storage — Kris Brye, professor of applied soil physics and pedology, Division of Agriculture
- Brief overview of rice study at NERREC — Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist, Division of Agriculture
- 10:45 a.m. — Travel to Anheuser-Busch, Jonesboro
- 11:15 a.m. — Lunch and speakers
- Farmer’s role in research — Tony Bradley, Anheuser-Busch
- Arkansas Discovery Farm program — Mike Daniels, Discovery Farm director, Division of Agriculture
- 1 p.m. — Row rice farming at Pratt Farm
- Rice rice — Farmer’s perspective — Joe Pratt, Anheuser-Busch
- Row rice tips – Jarrod Hardke, extension agronomist, Division of Agriculture
- Water use efficiency in rice — farmer’s perspective — James Compton
- Water use efficiency in rice — Mike Hamilton, extension irrigation educator, Division of Agriculture
- 1:40 p.m. —Load buses back to NERREC
- Closing Statements — Bill Jones/Mike Daniels/Tim Burcham
Find more information about the Arkansas Discovery Farm program.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada,edu