Agriculture & Timber

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…

Tyson Foods cuts 250 jobs in North Carolina, chicken inventories rise

Tyson Foods is again shrinking the size of its poultry business by cutting 250 jobs in a Wilkesboro, N.C., plant that makes cooked chicken products. Springdale-based Tyson reduced the second…

Mississippi River levels continue to drop; barge rates continue to rise

Weeks of little to no rain are compounding barge problems on the Mississippi River, and the drought-like conditions that have dried up the river’s tributary system throughout the upper and…

Clay County bucks national and state cotton growing trends in 2023

Cotton acreage dropped across the country this growing season and throughout much of Arkansas, there are some farmers in the state that decided to grow it anyway. They may now…

Federal government shutdown would hurt farmers and consumers

A government shutdown is only a few days away and there could be myriad unintended consequences, and some that will impact farmers and consumers, according to Ryan Loy, extension economist…

Researchers test nanotechnology concept against herbicide ‘drift’

One of the most controversial issues in Arkansas agriculture is the use of the herbicide dicamba. It is one of the few herbicides that is still effective against pigweed, a…

Tyson Foods selects insider to head up its prepared foods business

Melanie Boulden has been named group president of the prepared foods business at Tyson Foods in addition to her duties as chief growth officer at the company, which she began…

Arkansas rice industry donates 240,000 pounds to Arkansas Foodbank

The Arkansas rice industry donated 240,000 pounds of rice to the Arkansas Foodbank in honor of National Rice Month on Wednesday (Sept. 20). The donation from ten mills will provide…

Over $217 million allocated for Arkansas water and wastewater projects

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Commission on Wednesday (Sept. 20) approved $217,767,302 in financial assistance for 16 water and wastewater projects serving more than 622,472 Arkansans. The projects…

Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame seeks nominations

The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is seeking nominations from the public for its next class. The nomination deadline is Nov. 1. The Agriculture Hall of Fame recognizes Arkansans who…

Public invited to meet 3 candidates considered for UA’s Bumpers College dean

The University of Arkansas announced three candidates Wednesday (Sept. 20) being considered for the next dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Michael Evans, Michael…

Arkansas peanut farmers may have ‘split crop’ harvest

It’s been 13 years since peanuts were reintroduced as a row crop in the Arkansas Delta, and the harvest window for the legumes is rapidly approaching. Harvesting peanuts in Arkansas…

Low Mississippi River levels impacting ag commodity prices as harvest progresses

For the second year in a row, the Mississippi River is at record low levels as harvest in the Delta looms. The river levels have and will impact the movement…

New approach helps expedite detection of costly plant viruses

Plant viruses in the agriculture sector cause billions of dollars in losses each year. Farmers may now have a new tool in tracking these diseases. Scientists with the Arkansas Clean…

Arkansas needs a Farm Bill

I always look forward to this time of year when harvest is in full swing. We see the American farmers’ hard work, entrepreneurism and innovation paying off as bushels and bales leave…

Glendinning to resign as Tyson Foods prepared foods president

Less than a year into his role as president of prepared foods at Tyson Foods, Stewart Glendinning is resigning effective Sept. 14. The departure was made public Thursday (Sept. 7)…

Rice harvest well ahead of average; record yields possible

Arkansas rice farmers are well ahead of the average harvest schedule for the state and record yields are possible this season. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural…

Arkansas to lead National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship expansion

The Supply Side: Boomer generation concedes spending power to young consumers

2nd cohort of new lithium accelerator shows innovations in Bentonville

Weekly wages up 4.2% in Arkansas, Benton County leads with 13.4% wage gain