Agriculture & Timber

River Valley Relief denied effort to seek trial in license loss litigation, will appeal

The future of 75 jobs and an $8 million marijuana cultivation center in Fort Smith was the focus of continued legal filings in the Pulaski County Circuit Court, with attorneys…

Riceland Foods reports $1.2 billion in revenues

Riceland Foods reported more than $1.2 billion in revenue to its members, staff and guests in attendance at the cooperative’s annual membership meeting on Nov. 17 at the Grand Prairie…

Scientists continue research into best disposal of crop residue

Soil scientists spent nearly 18 years studying the impacts of field crop burning. The practice is utilized by grain farmers in the Arkansas Delta to clear fields of plant refuse,…

Riceland Foods, Nestlé Purina PetCare partner on sustainability practices

Riceland Foods, Inc. and Nestlé Purina PetCare announced Wednesday (Nov. 16) a new partnership to incentivize Riceland farmer-members to grow rice using sustainability practices starting in 2023. Purina will invest…

Tyson Foods reports fiscal year income up 6.2%, revenue up 13.2%

Tyson Foods’ fiscal fourth-quarter net income was down 60%, but the Springdale-based company ended fiscal 2022 with record revenue of $53.282 billion, up 13.2% from the prior year. Net income…

Tyson Foods expected to report lower quarterly income; CFO apologizes for being arrested

Tyson Foods is expected on Monday (Nov. 14) to report fourth-quarter net income of $577 million for the period ending Sept. 30. Estimated earnings per share of $1.60 would be…

UA Division of Agriculture gets grant to study poultry operation gas emissions

Most greenhouse gas emissions in commercial poultry operations are linked to feed production, and methods to reduce those emissions are the focus of a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to…

Rising dollar part of September decline in U.S. beef exports

Beef exports are up 4.6% through September, but global economic weakness and a rising U.S. dollar pushed exports lower 5.7% in September compared to a year ago, according to U.S….

Issue 4 supporters, opponents make last push for arguments

Opponents of Issue 4, which would legalize adult use cannabis for those over 21, made a final plea to Arkansas voters Monday (Nov. 7) at a state capitol press conference…

Marijuana cultivation license in jeopardy for River Valley Relief after court ruling

The future of the River Valley Relief (RVR) marijuana cultivation center in Fort Smith is uncertain following a Pulaski County Circuit Court ruling Thursday (Nov. 3) that said state officials…

Arkansas Farm Bureau promotes two

Evan Teague has been named vice president of Environmental Issues at Arkansas Farm Bureau, where he will focus on the intersection of agricultural and environmental issues. He previously served the…

USDA awards $1.4 million in Arkansas for crop insurance training

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently invested about $3.3 million in two new partnerships that will train and equip the next generation of crop insurance agents, adjusters and outreach educators…

Responsible Growth Arkansas touts $13 million raised, support from locals

Touting a well-financed campaign and support from Arkansas business owners and their employees, Responsible Growth Arkansas, the pro recreational marijuana group, said Tuesday (Nov. 1) it was serving the interest…

State business leaders join Governor in opposing recreational marijuana

Arkansas business leaders joined Gov. Asa Hutchinson Monday (Oct. 31) in calling for voters to oppose Issue 4, the general election ballot measure that would legalize adult use cannabis and…

George’s Inc. to sell Campos Foods

Springdale-based George’s Inc. announced Wednesday (Oct. 26) it is selling Campos Foods, a fully cooked meat processing plant in Caryville, Tenn., to Gold Creek Foods for an undisclosed amount. George’s…

Scientists developing drought and wet tolerant soybean varieties

Drought has been a major problem for Arkansas farmers this year, and if climate prediction models are correct it will be a major problem in the coming years and decades….

Wildfire risks statewide remain high despite rainfall

Many parts of the state received a soaking, prolonged rain Tuesday (Oct. 25), but state agriculture officials are still warning residents that many parts of the state are still under…

Poll: Opposition to recreational marijuana amendment grows, but slight majority still favor

Voter attitudes toward recreational marijuana have shifted significantly over the last month, according to a new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll. The survey, conducted on Oct. 17-18, 2022, collected…

Arkansas scientist receives nearly $1 million grant to study rice blast disease

Many scientists think that rice blast, a fungus that damages rice plants, is the biggest threat to rice crops worldwide. First identified in California in 1996, the fungus causes damage…

Arkansas River commercial tonnage up 19.5% in September, up 4.5% year-to-date

Commercial tonnage shipped on the Arkansas River in the first nine months of 2022 is up 4.5%, with September tonnage up 18.5% and outbound tonnage up 54.3%, according to figures…