Arkansas Farm Bureau Podcast

Subfreezing temperatures the past two weeks may actually be a blessing to Arkansas soybean producers and some other growers. The cold weather has helped reduce the troublesome redbanded stink bug population in the state. In this conversation, Dr. Gus Lorenz, University of Arkansas Extension entomologist, says that while mild winters the past couple of years has allowed the stink bug to thrive in the, that shouldn’t be the case in 2018.

Michelle Miller, a popular blogger and speaker known as the "Farm Babe," spoke at the 99th Annual American Farm Bureau Convention in Nashville. We caught up to her after her presentation for a discussion about some common food myths, farmers reaching out to consumers and more.

The U.S. cattle industry is producing more beef than at any time in history and demand for it continues to expand domestically and around the world. In this conversation, Dr. Darrell Peel, a livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, discusses the current state of the industry and what cattlemen may expect entering the new year.

We sat down with Lauren Waldrip Ward, executive director of the Arkansas Rice Federation, to discuss the rise of "riced" vegetable products and the problematic way these products are being marketed to consumers.

Earlier this year only around 125,000 acres of wheat was harvested – out of a 200,000-acre crop, one of the smallest on record. And this fall continuing low prices led growers to plant only around 200,000 acres. On top of that, much of Arkansas is experiencing drought-like conditions that began in September. In this conversation, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist Jason Kelley discusses how the lack of rainfall is affecting this year’s crop.

Arkansas has been experiencing drought conditions since September, especially in the southwest part of the state. In fact, the month of November was the driest on record for many counties. This having an impact on some farm and ranch operations, limiting the amount of pasture available to ranchers for grazing their herds. John Jennings, a forage specialist for the Cooperative Extension Service, explains the impact an extended winter drought will have on livestock operations.

Luke and Deedee Alston of Polk County, owners of Holly Springs Homestead near Mena, were named the 2017 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year. After receiving the award, they took time to share what the honor means to them and how they will use this platform to educate visitors to the homestead about why agriculture is so important to Arkansas.

Arkansas Farm Bureau Convention keynote speaker Haydn Shaw, an expert on generational differences, provides details on how generational differences can be addressed within organizations like Farm Bureau and offers tips on tackling specific issues that arise on farms and ranches and in other businesses.

Magen Allen of Bismarck is a member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau State Women’s Committee and participated in the 2017 American Farm Bureau Women's Communication Boot Camp. The Boot Camp is an intensive training opportunity female Farm Bureau members interested in building skills needed to communicate about agriculture and for Farm Bureau. In this conversation she discusses her experience and why it’s important for more women to learn how to become better advocates for agriculture.

Food remains affordable and, for the third year in a row, it will cost consumers in Arkansas and across the country a little less to prepare the traditional Thanksgiving meal. In this conversation, John Newton, Director of Market Intelligence for the American Farm Bureau Federation, discusses the results of the Farm Bureau's 32nd annual Thanksgiving dinner price survey and explains the reasons for the drop in price again this year.

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization with volunteer leaders from 76 county Farm Bureaus across the state determining policy that guides it. Resolutions are submitted by each county Farm Bureau that are discussed and approved for consideration by voting delegates at the organization’s annual business session. Jeff Pitchford, director of State Affairs for Arkansas Farm Bureau, explains the importance of the resolutions process and why it is the reason Farm Bureau is so respected at the State Capitol and in Washington. Jeff Pitchford Director State Affairs Arkansas Farm Bureau

In the conversation Michael Klein of the USA Rice Federation updates the situation concerning rice trade with China and why protecting the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada is so important.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello has a vibrant and successful Collegiate Farm Bureau Chapter that is allowing agriculture majors to learn more about Farm Bureau and develop leadership skills that will serve well them after graduation. Dr. Bob Stark is professor of agriculture economics and faculty advisor to the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter. They assisted at the Arkansas Farm Bureau booth at the State Fair and in this conversation Dr. Stark says participating in Collegiate Farm Bureau is an invaluable experience for his students. He also discusses their research in and the popularity of heirloom tomatoes.

The Arkansas State Fair Livestock Show ends with the annual Junior Livestock Auction or "Premium Sale." Thousands of young people and their families have taken up residence at the fairgrounds in Little Rock for a week or more to show their animals in hopes of winning a ribbon and possibly earning the opportunity to participate in the sale. In this conversation, Sherman Lites, State Fair Livestock Administrator, says preparing to have their animals judged at the Fair is an important learning experience for Arkansas youth.

The first Veterans 4 Ag Summit will be held Friday, Oct. 6 on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Arkansas is home to more than 200,000 military veterans, many of whom may be finding it hard to re-enter civilian life and begin a new career. In this conversation, Jason Smedley, assistant director of local affairs and rural development for Arkansas Farm Bureau and a veteran himself, discusses the focus of the summit and how it can connect veterans with farmers and ranchers and others who can answer their questions about starting their own farming operation.

The mission of the Delta School in Wilson, Arkansas is to nourish every child’s strengths so each child is able to form healthy relationships, discover meaningful work, and make unique contributions to the world. The school’s state-of-the-art garden classroom allows all levels of learners to participate in the school garden initiative. It teaches students essential life skills and supports academic learning through hands-on classes in an organic garden. In this conversation, Kerry Sullivan, Director of the Lower School and Technology and Taylor Starkey, an instructor at the school who grew up in the Arkansas Delta, discuss how what the students learn in the garden classroom is integrated into other disciplines to teach them how to care for the environment, grow vegetables and plants and then use these skills to prepare them for life.

Agricultural losses inflicted by Hurricane Harvey are extensive. Gene Hall, director of the communications division of Texas Farm Bureau discusses the agricultural impacts of perhaps the most destructive storm in the state’s history.

The Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto surface water irrigation projects are on hold, waiting for additional funding in order to deliver water from the White and Arkansas rivers to farmers. In this conversation, two project leaders – Dennis Carman and Tom Fortner – discuss the challenges with the projects and how they're hoping a public-private partnership will provide needed funding to complete them.

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture weed scientists Jason Norsworthy, Tom Barber and Bob Scott have conducted field trials to determine the volatility of dicamba-based products Eugenia and XtendiMax on soybeans. Damage from dicamba drift to soybeans and other crops has been extensive in northeast Arkansas and the researchers conducted a field tour to present their findings at the Research and Extension Center in Keiser. In this conversation Norsworthy discusses the results of his trial and why drift has become such a serious issue in Mississippi and Crittenden counties.

Governor Asa Hutchinson proclaimed August 6-12 Farmers Market Week in Arkansas. More than 100 farmers markets in almost every county play an important economic role in local and regional food systems and have become weekly destinations for consumers and families throughout the spring and summer. In this conversation, Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward discusses the important role farmers markets play in local communities.