Agriculture & Timber

Soybean bushels and harvest at record pace

Dry weather led to record low water levels on the Mississippi River, but another side impact in the Arkansas Delta has been a stealthy harvest. As of Oct. 29, the…

Avian influenza found on Arkansas poultry farm

Avian influenza has infiltrated at least one farm in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Testing has confirmed a case on a poultry farm in Madison County. Following…

Lake City’s Steve Cobb named Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year

Lake City native Steve Cobb has been selected as the overall winner of the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2023. Cobb Farms is a partnership…

Arkansas Farm Bureau hires Jay Robbins for national government affairs role

Jay Robbins has been hired as director of national affairs at Arkansas Farm Bureau. He will lobby the state’s Congressional delegation on behalf of ArFB members and assist in executing…

Temperature drop could increase bird flu chances for poultry producers

A dramatic drop in temperatures across Arkansas may intensify the fall migration of wildfowl and poultry flock owners will need to redouble their biosecurity efforts to stave off potential infections…

Arkansas medical marijuana sales top $211 million through September

The demand for medical marijuana is not abating. Arkansas’ medical marijuana sales in the first nine months of 2023 totaled $211.3 million, up 3.1% compared with the same period in…

Jeff Edwards selected as next UA Bumpers College dean

The University of Arkansas has selected faculty member Jeff Edwards as the next dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The UA shared details about…

A-State researchers get $1.7 million to study best farming practices

Arkansas row crop farmers have made significant progress since the 1990s expanding their adoption of best management practices to improve soil and water conservation. Two researchers from Arkansas State University…

John Anderson picked to lead Cooperative Extension Service

The University of Arkansas Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service will have a new director when the New Year begins. John Anderson will assume his new role as senior associate vice president-extension…

General Mills and Walmart partner on regenerative agri initiative

Walmart Inc. and General Mills recently announced a collaboration on a sustainability initiative that aims to support farmers in their supply chains with soil improvement, water quality and carbon sequestration….

State’s business hall of fame announces class of 2024

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Board announced Thursday (Oct. 19) the 2024 class of inductees for…

Chinese-owned Syngenta ordered to sell its ag land in Arkansas

Syngenta, a company owned by the Chinese government, will be forced to sell 160 acres of agricultural land it owns in Craighead County, Gov. Sarah Sanders said Tuesday (Oct. 17)….

Tyson Foods and Dutch supplier Protix to establish US insect ingredients factory

Springdale-based Tyson Foods plans to buy a minority stake in Protix, a Dutch company specializing in insect ingredients, in order to produce more sustainable protein. According to a Tyson Foods…

Drone use expanding in Arkansas agriculture industry

Satellite images and those captured by drones are aiding farmers in new ways. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is adapting to ensure that it will be able to…

Walmart to build $350 million milk plant in Georgia

Walmart is betting big on another milk plant it plans to build in Georgia. The Valdosta operation will be the second such facility the retail giant owns following a similar…

Farmland owned by foreigners may be significantly underreported

Chinese investors have been interested in farmland near several U.S. military bases and many in the federal government think a better system of tracking farmland owned by foreigners needs to…

Sen. Boozman said new Farm Bill to pass around end of year

The $1.5 trillion Farm Bill expired on Oct. 1, but U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., believes that a new bill will be passed by the end of the year or…

Arkansas wildland firefighters to battle Mississippi wildfires

Gov. Sarah Sanders authorized Tuesday (Oct. 10) a crew of 10 wildland firefighters from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division to assist the State of Mississippi with their ongoing…

Arkansas net farm income drops by $1 billion in 2023

Net farm income has dropped dramatically in Arkansas in 2023. The Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center projects that net farm income in Arkansas is down about $1 billion…

International avian influenza summit to be held in Arkansas

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. The summit aims to…