News - July 2022

Back to school: Habits adopted during pandemic can help reduce spread of more common viruses as well

LITTLE ROCK — For as long as there’s been a public school system in the United States, the return to class after summer vacation inevitably brings with it three unpleasantries: The cough, the sniffle and the sneeze.

Back to school: How families can manage busy extracurricular schedules by communicating and setting limits

LITTLE ROCK — For many families, the start of the school year means a return to hectic extracurricular schedules. Brittney Schrick, extension assistant professor and family life specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said setting limits for the number of activities children can be involved in and maintaining a family calendar are key to easing the stress of busyness.

Back to school: How to help kids cope with back-to-school anxiety

LITTLE ROCK — As families prepare for the start of the school year in August, many kids may struggle with anxiety about returning to the classroom. Brittney Schrick, extension assistant professor and family life specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it’s important for parents to be patient with their children, help them process “big feelings,” and get a head start on establishing routines.

Soybean board, Division of Ag renew soybean fellowship agreement

NEWPORT, Ark. — The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have renewed an agreement to provide fellowships to master’s and Ph.D. students pursuing agriculture-related studies.

New FCIC rules give direct marketers more flexibility on crop insurance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Farmers and ranchers who sell their bounty at roadside stands and farmers markets could find it easier to obtain crop insurance or file a claim with recent updates to the Federal Crop Insurance Program's Common Crop Insurance Policy.

UAM hosts pilot camp for underserved students to encourage STEM interest

MONTICELLO, Ark. — To show that math has real-world applications, Michael Blazier posed a problem to a group of high school students: "How do you calculate the amount of usable wood that can be extracted from a forest?"

DROUGHT PACKAGE

Growers need forecast precipitation to be a ‘slow, soaking rain’

TRUMANN, Ark. — Arkansas’ thirsty farm fields and emptying reservoirs may get some relief this weekend, with hopes that the forecast rainfall is gentle rather than furious, said Mike Hamilton, extension irrigation educator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Washington County teens wins Arkansas 4-H Governor’s Award

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  — Janna Morse’s service to others took root in Washington County more than a decade ago and has since expanded far beyond Arkansas’ borders. On Wednesday, the West Fork teen received the 2022 Arkansas 4-H Governor’s Award, the highest honor an Arkansas 4-H member can receive.

Carbon key to supporting microbes essential to healthy, productive soil

HARRISBURG, Ark. — Elements such as nitrogen and potassium can aid plant growth, but carbon is a key ingredient for healthy soils that can better support crops and help farmers manage a dwindling resource: water. 

‘Sustainable sensory science’ method offers panelists safe, realistic conditions

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Sensory Science Center presented a new sensory testing method at the annual Institute of Food Technologist’s FIRST (Food Improved by Research, Science and Technology) event in Chicago on July 12.

Land surveying program at UAM offers hybrid learning

MONTICELLO, Ark. —  If you own property, are constructing a building, or simply wanting to know about whether your house is built in a flood zone, you’ve most likely used a land surveyor.

Plant genetics a focus of new Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station statistician

Arkansas 4-H Foundation to host Dinner at the Vines event to benefit 4-H

LITTLE ROCK — The C.A. Vines Center and the Arkansas 4-H Foundation will host the second annual Dinner at the Vines event Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center — complete with garden party, lakeside dinner, silent and live auctions and entertainment.

DROUGHT PACKAGE 

Drought pressing U.S. cattle inventory numbers to lowest levels since 2015

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The United States’ cattle inventory has shrunk to its lowest numbers since 2015 thanks to the drought sprawling across the western half of the country.

Certified arborist training, exam prep to be offered Aug. 25 in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Urban Forestry Council will offer an in-person training for anyone interested in becoming a certified arborist or getting advanced training in arboriculture on Aug. 25 in Fayetteville.

DROUGHT PACKAGE 

Henry: Next 30 days critical for irrigators, crops and equipment

STUTTGART, Ark. — If there’s one message Chris Henry has for Arkansas row crop farmers during the drought, it’s “don’t get in a hurry.”

Machine learning vs weeds: Aug. 23 field day at Keiser to feature new tech to help farmers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As weeds become more adept at evading control, researchers in Arkansas and elsewhere are testing whether machine learning can improve weed management and save farmers money.

DROUGHT PACKAGE 

As drought lingers, trees require smarter approaches for watering

LITTLE ROCK — With Arkansas’ prolonged drought taking a toll on trees across the state, now is the time for homeowners to lend some extra attention to their trees that may be in distress. 

Saline County 4-H club designs 3D-printed bird eggs for county fair exhibit

SALINE COUNTY, Ark. — The 4-H model of “learn by doing” encourages youth to acquire new skills through hands-on activities. The Salem Superstars 4-H club in Saline County is practicing this by combining technology and wildlife curriculum to create 3D-printed bird eggs, teaching participants about the innovative printing method and the Natural State’s bird population.

Arkansas economists' International Rice Baseline Report contributes to U.S. Farm Bill research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Behind the scenes of the Super Bowl of United States agricultural policy — the Farm Bill — agricultural economists with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribute comprehensive information on the global rice market called the International Rice Baseline Report.

Arkansas 4-H State O-Rama returns to University of Arkansas campus

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For Arkansas 4-Hers, all roads lead to State O-Rama. Hundreds of youth, county staff and volunteers will flood the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus from July 26-29 for the event, which features state-level competitions, workshops, tours and socials. This is the first in-person State O-Rama since 2019.

Income Tax School offers in-person, virtual options for advanced income tax preparation

LITTLE ROCK — Professional tax preparers and anyone interested in advanced income tax preparation can learn about the latest tax code updates and what’s in store for the 2023 tax season in virtual and in-person trainings offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

‘Surviving drought’ topic of Division of Agriculture webinar for cattle producers

LITTLE ROCK — Experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host a free webinar July 20 to offer guidance to Arkansas cattle producers struggling with drought.

Straight line wind storm affects Midwest corn, soybean acreage; effects on market remain to be seen

LITTLE ROCK — It took just hours for a derecho to wreak crop and property damage in at least four Midwestern states, but it may be weeks before its impacts on the corn and soybean markets are known.

DROUGHT PACKAGE 

Drought prompting Arkansas ranchers to sell cattle

LITTLE ROCK — As triple-digit temperatures and weeks without rain suck the life out of pastures and hay meadows, Arkansas’ cattle producers are having to sell part or all of their herds.

DROUGHT PACKAGE

Cotton market conundrum: Prices collapse as drought prompts dryland growers to abandon acres

JONESBORO, Ark. — U.S. cotton growers pressed by drought are expected to abandon almost a third of planted acres against a backdrop of collapsing prices that are causing a bit of head scratching, Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said on Wednesday.

DROUGHT PACKAGE

Robertson on drought: ‘Could get real ugly before it is over’

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ cotton may look decent now but continued high temperatures could really hit farmers in the pocketbook, Bill Robertson, extension cotton agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said on Tuesday.

DROUGHT PACKAGE

Drought forcing Arkansas farmers to make hard choices between crops

LITTLE ROCK — As fiercely hot, dry weather continues, Arkansas farmers are having to make hard choices between their crops.

DROUGHT PACKAGE

Soil for Water Project looks at effects of overgrazing

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Making the most of a pasture, especially when threatened with drought conditions, calls for careful management.

Arkansas Discovery Farms hosts rice production tour in NE Arkansas on July 20

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.

Rice Field Day returns live and in-person Aug. 5 in Stuttgart

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In-person field day tours return to the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart on Aug. 5 for the first time in three years with informational programs on a variety of subjects.

Cotton field day returns to Judd Hill Foundation Farm with new focus

TRUMANN, Ark. — After more than a decade away, agronomists and researchers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture brought the annual cotton field day back to the Judd Hill Foundation farm, with a new focus: sustainability.

Arkansas-grown berries used in Arkansas blackberry beer pilot project

LITTLE ROCK — For blackberry lovers, the sweet, tart fruit is the star of many summer dishes. One Arkansas blackberry producer, Ritter Farms, is teaming up with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Arkansas Brewer’s Guild and Stone’s Throw Brewing to create a flavorful batch of blackberry beer, made with berries bred through the UA System blackberry breeding program and grown in Arkansas. Blackberry – and beer – fans can sample the results at a tasting on Friday, July 22.

Division of Agriculture staff come up winners in APW, NFPW contests

LITTLE ROCK — Seven current or former staffers from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture earned 35 awards in the 2022 state and national competitions held by the National Federation of Press Women and its Arkansas affiliate.

Arkansas fruit breeder awarded by American Pomological Society for outreach, service

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The American Pomological Society has bestowed one of its top honors to an Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station fruit breeder and researcher.

Microgreen vulnerability to pathogens characterized by researchers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Microgreens, though tiny, are packed with nutrients and flavor. Their use in salads has grown, but researchers have not yet focused on their susceptibility to foodborne disease outbreaks — common in the salad green industry. 

Division of Agriculture to offer in-person produce safety training in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For produce growers, it’s critical to keep farms free of microbial contamination and reduce foodborne illness outbreaks. To support these efforts, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will offer a one-day, in-person produce safety training workshop for fruit and vegetable growers, providing important information on best practices, risk management and regulatory requirements.

Hammerhead sightings on the rise; experts say not to worry

LITTLE ROCK — Yes, they’re weird. They’re invasive. And if you go about it the wrong way, your efforts to rid your lawn of them will only multiply your woes. But the hammerhead worm  isn’t here to hurt you.

How to safely avoid encountering Arkansas’ alligators

LITTLE ROCK — While enjoying the Natural State’s many bodies of water this summer, swimmers and boaters need to avoid hazardous wildlife. This includes American alligators, which are present in southern and central Arkansas. Becky McPeake, extension wildlife specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said understanding alligators is key to avoiding negative encounters.

Bollworm numbers up compared to 2021; farmers urged to scout

KEISER, Ark. — If there was one phrase to sum up farming in Arkansas at the start of summer, it would be “keep scouting.”

Planted acreage for all major Arkansas crops falls from March forecast

LITTLE ROCK — Planted acreage for all major commodity crops fell from growers’ stated planting intentions in March, according to a report issued Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.