News - September 2026

Surviving the Downturn: Ag economists team up to show how we got here, and what the future holds

LITTLE ROCK — As agriculture faces its darkest period since the 1980s, a team of economists from across the Southeast documented their answers to “how did we get here?” and “how do we recover?” into a sweeping publication titled “Surviving the Farm Economy Downturn: 2026 Update.” 

USDA files notice of appeal in SNAP waiver case

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture filed a notice of appeal after a federal judge struck down waivers in five states that excluded purchases of candy, soda and other items from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP.

UADA hires first extension culinary nutrition, hospitality and tourism instructor 

LITTLE ROCK — Quadarius Whitson, who joined the Cooperative Extension Service as a culinary nutrition and food safety program associate in 2024, has taken on a new role as extension’s first culinary nutrition, hospitality and tourism instructor.

Sept. 4, 2026

Extension beef cattle reproduction workshop offers demos, hands-on learning for cattle producers

LITTLE ROCK — Beef cattle producers can get insights into breeding, pregnancy diagnosis and animal selection at a beef cattle reproduction workshop on Sept. 25 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center, located at 362 Hwy 174 North in Hope, Arkansas.

AI helps Arkansas researchers target bacteria behind premature beef browning

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — One of the beef industry's most costly challenges is invisible to the human eye but costs billions of dollars each year.

Global cotton mill use hits highest levels since 2017/18 marketing year

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As the price of the raw materials for synthetic fibers rises, global cotton mill usage has hit its highest levels since the 2017/18 marketing year, said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Heat spurs Arkansas cotton closer to harvest as diesel soars

NEWPORT, Ark. — Dry weather is keeping the combines rolling in Arkansas corn, rice and soybeans, and the high heat is driving cotton toward the beginning of its harvest.

Modern hatchery innovations take center stage at animal wellbeing symposium

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Leading poultry industry experts will gather this fall at the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing's 12^th annual symposium, “Hatching the Future: Innovation in the Modern Hatchery,” to explore innovations shaping modern poultry hatcheries.

‘Can my 2-year-old drive a tractor or combine?’ Federal law has a surprising answer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Youngsters have worked on family farms for generations, but federal labor law is very specific about when and in what jobs minors under 16 can work, said Audry Thompson, staff attorney at the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law.

New farm program rules, tax changes take center stage in Sept. 16 NALC webinar

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The National Agricultural Law Center will host a webinar on Sept. 16 examining significant changes to federal farm programs and agricultural taxation resulting from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.