News - March 2024

Arkansas planned acreage falls slightly overall; corn and wheat see deepest cuts

LITTLE ROCK — While overall intended crop acreage fell just 2.5 percent in Arkansas in 2024 to about 7 million acres, some crops saw significant shifts in acreage, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Thursday.

UAM forestry program expands recruitment efforts with summer camp, grant funding

MONTICELLO, Ark. — The forestry program at University of Arkansas at Monticello is recruiting to expand the forestry workforce, powered in part by federal grant funding.

‘Grow Your Farm’ short course coming up in May

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food will hold a short course on small-scale farming May 3-4.

Former Rohwer station director Larry Earnest passes away at 62

MONTICELLO, Ark. — Growing up on a farm in Lincoln County, Larry Earnest’s love of agriculture was firmly rooted in the soil of southeastern Arkansas. 

Researchers look to rice for 'clean label' ingredients

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Naturally occurring polyphenols and proteins from pigmented waxy rice may help starch ingredients improve texture without any chemical modification -- a change some consumers may welcome, said Ya-Jane Wang, professor of carbohydrate chemistry.

Ag, water and environmental law experts convene at University of Nevada, Reno

RENO, Nev. — Pressing issues face the American West regarding the future of agriculture and the management of land, water and other natural resources. The National Agricultural Law Center is convening the 2nd Annual Western Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference on June 13-14 on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, with a speaker lineup of experts geared to provide analysis and insights into some of these challenges and the laws and policy affecting them.

Rice malt shows potential to play a bigger role in beer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Rice is showing potential to play a more prominent role in beer brewing, and it helps that Arkansas produces a lot of it.

The perennial puzzle: Deciding whether to fertilize your pasture in the spring

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For many producers in Arkansas, fertilization in the spring isn’t so much a tradition as it is a necessity, along with crop rotation and soil testing. For pasture managers, however, the decision of whether to fertilize a grazing area depends on several factors that can change from year to year.

Cattle buying, steak sampling coming to the 2024 Beef and Forage Field Day in Hope

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Researchers and extension specialists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will present on future forage programs, hay verification and winter feed options at the Beef and Forage Field Day next month.

CelluDot wins statewide innovation award

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A startup founded at the University of Arkansas that seeks to mitigate herbicide drift won the Innovation Pacesetter award at the 36th annual Arkansas Business of the Year Awards.

A long-term strategy for avoiding muddy pastures

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The past winter in Arkansas has been cold and wet, with cycles of freezing and thawing that have often resulted in muddy pastures and access roads for many producers. This can put a strain on both livestock and equipment.

What's next in a post-dicamba world? NALC's 11th Annual Mid-South to address the issue

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — What’s next for users and makers of crop protection products in a post-dicamba, pro-Endangered Species Act environment? That’s among the questions to be answered at the 11^th Annual Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference on June 6-7, 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Animal science recognizes alum; team supporters

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —  Three individuals and one family are being honored by the animal science department at the University of Arkansas for their support of department efforts or achievements as alumni.

Arkansas producers may be approaching ‘peak peanut’

JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas may never be the No. 1 peanut-producing state in the nation, with our limited purchase on the Delta and Georgia being the legume juggernaut that it is — but the state’s growers have certainly made the most of their potential.

New instructors cultivate poultry youth programs

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences are taking steps to further connect the state’s youth with the thriving Arkansas poultry industry.

Free webinar highlights non-traditional career paths for those with law degrees

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The courtroom isn’t the only place law graduates can practice. The National Agricultural Law Center and American Agricultural Law Association are hosting a webinar highlighting possibilities for students interested in ag and food law.

Experimenting with CO2 sensors for grain bin quality control

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sinking Mississippi River levels in recent years have caused grain shipping disruptions, prompting farmers to pursue on-farm grain bins to preserve quality and market potential.

Atungulu presented 2024 Andersons Cereals and Oilseeds Award of Excellence

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Griffiths Atungulu, director of the Arkansas Rice Processing Program, was recently honored for his contributions to science with the 2024 Andersons Cereal and Oilseeds Award of Excellence.

Census of Ag shows increased spending on cover crops, more no-till acres

LITTLE ROCK — More farmers seem to be adopting cover crops and no-till, according to data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture.

Author visits Little Rock to discuss ‘The Secret History of Home Economics’

LITTLE ROCK — As with so many things in life, the history of homemaking in this country is not as simple as it seems. Danielle Dreilinger, a North Carolina-based journalist, has put years of research into illuminating that complex history.

Arkansas 4-H and Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas host 2024 SeaPerch Challenge; Hope Bragg and family remembered  

LITTLE ROCK — A record number of students participated in the 2024 Arkansas SeaPerch Challenge, held March 1 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The underwater robotics competition welcomed teams from 12 Arkansas counties and one Mississippi county to put their submersible robots to the test. 

Yuan Fang takes food-safety fight to cellular level

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Even with all of our sanitization technology, we shouldn’t underestimate foodborne pathogens, says food microbiologist Yuan Fang.

Alabama district court determines Corporate Transparency Act is unconstitutional

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Following a federal district court’s ruling that the Corporate Transparency Act is unconstitutional, questions remain over whether millions of business entities will be required to file with the federal government.

Poultry nutritionist joins Arkansas poultry science faculty

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Poultry science nutritionist Benjamin Parsons plans to bring his passion to the poultry science department and Center of Excellence for Poultry Science through research.

Commodity, production prices are sinking, but not at the same rate

LITTLE ROCK — Farmers looking ahead to the 2024 growing season are worried about being squeezed by sinking commodity prices, said Ryan Loy.

Tall Fescue Renovation Workshop set for March 21 at Batesville research station

LITTLE ROCK — The March 21 Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue Renovation Workshop at Batesville will help ranchers find ways to manage one of the costliest health problems in the industry: fescue toxicosis in cattle.

Find Arkansas livestock, forage conferences workshops in online calendar

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture now has an online calendar of conferences and workshops to help Arkansas’ cattle ranchers improve their herds, pastures and outcomes with information from research-based sources.

New Census of Ag points out differences in risk protection

LITTLE ROCK — Data in the new Census of Agriculture has pointed out some significant differences in risk management programs for farmers, said Hunter Biram, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Global trade disrupted as weather, war pinch Panama, Suez canals

LITTLE ROCK — The Panama and Suez canals typically bear the weight of global commerce, but now carry the heavier burdens of weather and war. 

Restoration volunteers remove 526 pounds of trash from Buffalo National River watershed site

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Even the country’s first National River can find itself the unfortunate victim of illegal dumping, especially as it winds its way through some of the most scenic areas of Arkansas.