Agriculture & Timber

BLS: Year-over-year inflation up 3.5% in March

Prices of goods and services were higher than expected in March with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.4% for the month and 3.5% higher year over year, according to…

Forestry Division allocates $303,904 in fire suppression kits

The Rural Fire Protection Program (RFP), managed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division, is awarding 87 wildland fire suppression kits to rural fire departments across 46 counties in…

State officials take steps to avoid spread of avian influenza in dairy cattle

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy herds in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, and New Mexico….

Lyon College vet, dental schools still on track for ’25 start; Location close to finalized

Dr. Melissa Taverner, president of Lyon College in Batesville, said the timeline is still intact for a Little Rock campus for a dental and veterinarian school to receive its first…

Net farm incomes projected to drop in 2024

Net farm incomes in Arkansas are projected to drop by $500 million in 2024, according to an analysis from the Rural & Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center. The “Spring 2024…

Forbes: Arkansas’ richest families see wealth grow

Jim Walton, 75, and his family, which includes sons Tom and Steuart, ranked No. 18 on the Forbes Billionaire List for 2024 at $78.4 billion. Walton is the youngest son…

Department of Agriculture launches ‘Arkansas Agritourism’ website

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has added Arkansas Agritourism to the multi-platform website that includes the Arkansas Grown and Arkansas Farm to School websites. This collaboration connects consumers to local…

Arkansas Rice scholarship application period open

High school juniors graduating in 2025 are eligible to apply for and win up to $17,500 in scholarship funding towards higher education. Arkansas Rice’s “Rice Reps” is a five-month program…

Pastureland owners advised to consider fertilizer recommendations

Arkansas has more than 4.5 million acres of pastureland and another 1.5 million hay land acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For those who own or rent those…

FTC: Giant retailers, suppliers, wholesalers use pandemic to boost profits

A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report finds that large food and beverage retailers posted income gains during the height of the pandemic and continue to do so, calling into question…

Record number of peanuts could be harvested in Arkansas this year

About 14 years ago, farmers in the Arkansas Delta began planting peanuts. Producers had grown the legume in years past, but it had been decades since the crop had been…

More than $42 million in loans for water projects approved

The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission has approved more than $42 million in financial assistance for six water and wastewater projects serving more than 22,000 Arkansans. The funds are a mix…

Annual Farmers Market Promotion Program set to begin

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has partnered with the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas for the 9th annual Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program. This program, which is administered by the…

Tyson Foods closing Iowa pork plant; company also settles wage-fixing lawsuit

Tyson Foods is closing a pork plant in Perry, Iowa. The Springdale-based meat giant is eliminating 1,200 jobs, with the closure slated for June 28. The plant slaughters about 9,000…

Tyson Foods issues $1.5 billion in senior debt

Springdale-based Tyson Foods issued $1.5 billion in new debt with $600 million of senior notes due 2029 and $900 million in longer-term debt due 2034. Tyson said it will use…

Walmart to invest $350 million in milk processing plant in Texas

Walmart announced Thursday (March 7) plans to build and operate a milk processing plant in Robinson, Texas, a small community south of Waco. The $350 million facility will employ about…

Tyson Foods’ investment arm opens application for next Demo Day

Tyson Ventures, the investment arm of Springdale-based Tyson Foods, is gearing up for its third annual Demo Day on July 17. This year’s event will focus on supply chain technology…

Corn acres in Arkansas projected to decline; 2023 a tough year for milled rice

Corn acres are expected to decline in 2024 and rice milling yields during 2023 were down and that could continue this year, according to agriculture experts at the 2024 Arkansas…

Wildfire danger surges across state

Parts of the state are under moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and the lack of rain has led to elevated wildfire risks statewide….

Wayne Sanderson Farms to invest $43 million in new Danville feed mill

Oakwood, Ga.-based Wayne Sanderson Farms announced Tuesday (Feb. 27) it is building a $43 million feed mill at the company’s processing plant in Danville, Ark., with completion expected in April…