News - September 2023

Extension’s ‘Veggie to Value’ Bootcamp focuses on creating value-added food products

Starting or expanding a food business can be daunting, with many barriers to entry. For Arkansans navigating this process, the Cooperative Extension Service’s Share Grounds program offered a Veggie to Value Food Entrepreneur Bootcamp, in which clients received assistance in food production, safety regulations and scaling up their recipes. 

Extension pathologist finds footing in Arkansas

STUTTGART, Ark. — Like many agricultural researchers working in Arkansas today, Camila Nicolli, extension plant pathologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, traveled a long and winding road to get here.

Keep lawns green in 2024 with proper fall preparation

LITTLE ROCK – Early freezes and long-term drought in 2022 had lasting effects on this year’s lawns. However, much of this heartache can be avoided in 2024 with proper fall preparation.

Foreign-owned acres of U.S. farmland may be underreported

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hampered by an antiquated paper-based and loophole-riddled reporting system, the number of foreign-owned acres of agricultural land in the United States may be undercounted, witnesses told the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

Barge freight rates rise as Mississippi River levels continue to sink

LITTLE ROCK — As the numbers on the Mississippi River gauge at Memphis, Tennessee, continue to sink, barge freight rates continue to rise.

Arkansas' unique law on foreign ownership of agricultural lands

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Nearly half of our nation’s states have laws that put some kind of limits on foreign ownership of agricultural land. Arkansas’ law, however, has aspects that no other state does, including an Office of Agricultural Intelligence established to investigate potential violations, according to Micah Brown, staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center.

Research underway for forest biochar, poultry waste

MONTICELLO, Ark. — In rural Arkansas, researchers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are exploring the potential of biochar to replace synthetic fertilizers in hay production — especially when combined with poultry litter.

Arkansas professor wins national award for cultural competency research, programs

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture professor has been recognized by a national organization for her research to measure advancement in intercultural relations, and her work to improve opportunities for those who have been historically excluded.

With cotton acres down, growers who expanded acreage may cash in

TILLAR, Ark. — While cotton acreage may have dropped off across the country and throughout much of Arkansas in 2023, some pockets of the state bet heavily on the fiber and may end up reaping the rewards.

Effects of government shutdown could ripple through agriculture to consumers

LITTLE ROCK — A  government shutdown could remove price and revenue safety nets for farmers and mean higher food prices for consumers, said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

SIDEBAR: Government shutdown could affect Fed’s decision-making

LITTLE ROCK — The Federal Reserve declined to increase interest rates this week, but any decision to change the interest rate in November may be nixed if the federal government shuts down, said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. By Mary Hightower.

Conference brings muscadine, bunch-grape researchers to Arkansas on Oct. 3-5

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Muscadine and bunch-grape growers and researchers have tended to move in their own circles. Until now. 

Study: 1 percent increase in unbroken rice could help feed millions more, boost producer profit

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A 1 percent increase in unbroken rice kernels after milling could mean millions more servings of this critical staple grain, increased food security around the globe and improved producer profitability, a study from two Arkansas researchers suggests.

Center of Excellence for Poultry Science plans international bird flu summit in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The International Avian Influenza Summit will bring hundreds of poultry industry professionals together for two days in October to address the global challenges of avian influenza.

Muenich: Agriculture offers engineers opportunities to improve sustainability

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Agriculture is a good field for an engineer looking to have an impact on environmental sustainability, says Becca Muenich, associate professor of engineering for the University of Arkansas System.

Trustees praise agreement between UA-Fayetteville, Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Members of the Board of Trustees on Friday praised an agreement between the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture as a milestone.

Sept. 29 Center for Food Animal Wellbeing symposium offers virtual and in-person attendance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Center for Food Animal Wellbeing will host its ninth annual symposium on Sept. 29 with a focus on sustainability and animal-human interactions.

New UAM forestry faculty member Yáñez seeks to develop research related to climate extremes

MONTICELLO, Ark. — Marco Yáñez, assistant professor of silviculture and forest ecology for the University of Arkansas at Monticello, has a keen interest in climate effects. 

Taking a closer look at headwater streams in light of climate change

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Up to 35 percent of headwater streams, which make up the vast majority of global river miles, are intermittent, yet the importance of these systems is not well understood due to the recurring wetting and drying cycles.

After a hot summer, Arkansas peanut growers may face a ‘split crop’

LITTLE ROCK — Peanuts, like most major row crops in Arkansas, are heading toward harvest at an aggressive clip. But after the high heat of the 2023 summer, growers will need to weigh the decision of when to fully harvest — early or late — carefully.

Justice focuses on the needs of beef cattle producers

LITTLE ROCK — About a year after Maggie Justice discovered a passion for animal science research as a sophomore at Clemson University, she found what would become her credo: “What does this mean for our producers?”

Pines drop their leaves in fall too

LITTLE ROCK — Sure, those deciduous trees get all the attention in the fall, with their red, yellow and orange foliage, but pine trees also have an autumn ritual.

Extension to offer two sessions on artificial insemination in cattle

HOPE, Ark. — Charles Looney, professor of cattle improvement for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and his staff will conduct a pair of two-day workshops in cattle artificial insemination. The workshops are scheduled for Oct. 12-13 and Nov. 9-10.

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station undergraduate externship cultivates new scientists

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Out-of-state honors student and undergraduate Evelyn Madrigal conducted her first research project this summer — an opportunity she might not have received as a student at her home university.

NSF Phase II grant supports research to address herbicide drift with eco-friendly additive

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — CelluDot LLC, a startup founded by engineering alumni, will be using a nearly $1 million National Science Foundation grant to optimize a nanotechnology product they developed as doctoral students to mitigate herbicide drift, all in collaboration with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Foreign ownership of farmland: NALC webinar to discuss laws enacted in 2023

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In 2023, more than half of the nation's states either proposed bills or enacted laws to restrict foreign ownership of farmland. Now, federal lawmakers are eyeing similar proposals, said Micah Brown, National Agricultural Law Center staff attorney.

Labor Day storms ‘pancake’ rice on eve of harvest

STUTTGART, Ark. — High winds and heavy rain from Labor Day storms that raked across the Arkansas Delta may dampen some of the enthusiasm for the 2023 rice harvest, said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Ford named recipient of Society of American Foresters’ Gifford Pinchot medal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Vic Ford, head of agriculture and natural resources for the Cooperative Extension Service in Arkansas, has been recognized by the Society of American Foresters with its highest honor, the Gifford Pinchot medal.

Arkansas rice harvest ahead of schedule, yield could approach 2021 record

LITTLE ROCK – Despite early challenges and mid-season hiccups, Arkansas rice harvest is ahead of schedule with a promising outlook that may see yield approach 2021’s record.

USDA grant supports study of melatonin use in cows grazing toxic fescue

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — An animal scientist at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station has shown that a common and inexpensive hormone additive may mitigate the ill effects on growth performance of calves born to cows grazed on endophyte-infected fescue pastures during gestation.

LABOR DAY: Fall foliage may fizzle

HOPE, Ark. — Thanks to a string of dry days with highs in the 100s, Arkansas’ fall foliage display may fizzle this year.

LABOR DAY: A-mazing autumn agritourism

PIGGOTT, Ark.  — One of the oldest agritourism attractions in Arkansas has used some of the newest technology to make a bit of fall family fun: a corn maze