In only 3 years Taylor Farms in Benton County has produced state winning full blood buck and doe Boer goats. In this two-part series we are catching up with Samuel, Lauren and Lexi of Taylor Farms on how they raise and show their award-winning goats. Join Jenny Higgs, for part 1, as she interviews Samuel Dewitt on how he preps his goats for show. Stick around and get a sneak peek to part 2!
The Arkansas State Livestock Show Sale of Champions was held Oct. 23. In the face of Covid-19 the concerted effort was approved by the Department of Health and allowed the hard-working young people involved in the show to reap the benefits of their year-long efforts and success. Hear from some of the grand champions about what it meant to them to participate in the auction.
Jason Braziel is a vo-ag instructor at Mountain Pine High School in Garland County. But, he also has a cow-calf and hay operation in the Sunshine community. Like other ranchers, he has been baling hay and tending to his cattle when the weather allows. He provided this update from his farm last week during a recent dry spell.
Arkansas Farm Bureau officials say that the strong response to a new $5 million grant program for expanding and upgrading Arkansas meat processing facilities highlights the need for reviving a state meat inspection program. Last month, the General Assembly allocated funds from the federal CARES Act to create the grant program, which generated 45 applications requesting more than $30 million in funds.
Dustin raises beef at his Cowbell Farm in Newton County. He's the Young Farmers & Ranchers state chairman. He switched from a traditional sale barn, cow-calf operation to a custom beef operation that draws local customers to his Facebook page. He discussed his new approach and support for reestablishing a state meat inspection program to encourage the establishment of more meat processing facilities that cater to custom meat producers.
This week, we hear from Brittany Carwell of B&D Genetics in Cross County about the business’s major new move into the European market. We also get an update on the 2020 pecan crop from Chas Davis of Davis Pecan in Little River County and we spend a morning Hicks Family Farms near Cabot, as they work to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines in preparing their annual pumpkin patch and corn maze for visitors.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led county fair associations to cancel carnivals, rodeos and pageants, but many are holding junior livestock shows on a reduced scale. Following the Health Department protocols, Saline County held a one-day livestock show Sept. 12 in Benton. Watch to see how the county adapted to the safety protocols in order to hold the show and allow young people to be rewarded for raising their animals.
Donette Spann has been named administrator of the Arkansas Beef Council, the farmer-funded promotion agency that oversees and administers the Beef Checkoff Program in Arkansas. She replaces the recently the recently retired Travis Justice.
This week, weather takes center stage. We hear from a National Weather Service Senior Forecaster John Lewis, Ag Extension Rice Agronomist Jarrod Hardke and Sevier County livestock and poultry grower Bruce Jackson about how excessive winds and rainfall from Hurricane Laura could impact Arkansas agriculture. We also get some tips and information for Arkansas small meat and poultry processors interested in the state’s new $5 million grant program for expanding processing capacity.
