Agriculture & Timber

Rice, beer and conservation

When German brewers such as Adolphus Busch immigrated to the United States they faced a unique problem. Many of the hearty, protein-filled barleys grown in their new country were difficult…

Five inducted in Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame

The five newest inductees into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame were added in a March 3rd ceremony at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. A total of 180…

USDA to send $250 million in aid to rice farmers, Sen. Boozman recognized for efforts

Rice acres and yields were down across the board during the 2022 growing season. Farmers had to battle wild weather fluctuations, disease and skyrocketing input costs. But federal aid is on…

Farm bills seek to steer younger Arkansans into agriculture

Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, and Rep. Denise Garner, D-Fayetteville, have introduced a bill aimed at addressing the challenges young farmers face entering the profession. According to House Bill 1003, an…

Tyson Foods seeks ‘upcycling’ startups for July demo event

Tyson Ventures is seeking applications for startups to take part in a July 11 investor demo day. Tyson Ventures is looking for startups that offer “upcycling” technology, which provides for…

Feral swine still causing significant damage to timberlands in Arkansas

Feral swine causes more than $1.5 billion in damage to agriculture fields around the country each year. In Arkansas, it is estimated that the damage is about $19 million annually….

Commercial produce production workshop slated for Jonesboro

For commercial produce growers, keeping produce free of microbial contamination and reducing foodborne illness is critical to the health and success of their business. To support these efforts, the University…

Newport receives $2.5 million, property in medical marijuana dispute

The Newport Economic Development Commission (NEDC) was awarded $2.518 million through mediation related to two separate lawsuits filed after the relocation of a medical marijuana cultivator previously located in Newport….

Beef cattle inventories drop to lowest levels in more than half century

Beef cattle inventories across the United States are at their lowest level in more than six decades, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Rising demand will mean long-term…

UA Division of Agriculture launches Leadership Book Review series

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture has kicked off a Leadership Book Review Series, which summarizes key themes and takeaways from a new book each month – all…

Canadian food ingredients company to establish U.S. office in Rogers

Pacific Ridge Corp. (PacRidge), a vertically integrated Canadian company focusing on regenerative farming using sonic milling and seed cleaning, is establishing a U.S. office in Northwest Arkansas. The privately owned startup…

High input prices, drought, disease cause Arkansas cattle farmers to struggle

Cattle farmer John Kunkel spent much of his professional career as a buyer for Walmart. He decided in 2014 to return to his childhood home in Evening Shade, a small…

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station receives $1 million grant for poultry study

The COVID-19 pandemic strained many poultry processing plants as employees became ill and some even died. The result was volatile production and supply chain disruptions for more than a year….

New York firm, Governor open south Arkansas sawmill, 50 jobs expected

Officials with Astara Capital Partners, Gov. Sarah Sanders, and other state and local leaders marked the opening of the Camden Timbers sawmill Friday (Feb. 10) in Camden. Camden Timbers will…

Domain Capital Group acquires timberland in Arkansas, other states

Domain Capital Group, LLC, a comprehensive private investment management services firm, and its subsidiary, Domain Timber Advisors, LLC, announced Thursday (Feb. 9) the acquisition of nearly 22,000 acres of timberland…

Tyson officials talk legacy, financial future at company’s 60th annual meeting

Tyson Foods shareholders met in downtown Springdale Thursday morning (Feb. 9) to approve a short business agenda, defeat an outside shareholder proposal and elect a slate of 13 directors to…

Tyson Foods’ first fiscal quarter net income down more than 70%

Tyson Foods posted a net income of $316 million, or 88 cents a share, for the first fiscal quarter that ended Dec. 31. That was down more than 70% from…

Hay production drops to its lowest level in 11 years

Fertilizer prices and drought last year decimated hay production in the United States. The country had its biggest decline in 11 years with stocks at their lowest level since data…

Greenway, state grant helping Lonoke students train for John Deere technician jobs

A $1.5 million investment by the Greenway Equipment Co., a John Deere-affiliated dealership, and a $1.2 million grant from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development will prepare Lonoke High School…

Chinese hog growth, rain in South America cause soybean price surge

Arkansas’ largest crop has been getting a little more valuable as 2023 begins. Soybean prices have trended upward this year due to rising export projections according to the U.S. Department…

Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: Charter school progress, and ‘Serious Fiber’ in downtown Fort Smith

Harps, NationsBenefits partner to expand access to benefits card

Walmart leaders note company history, push AI adoption

ArcBest raises its guidance for the second quarter