We're wrapping up #VirtualFarmersWeek, a week of hearing what our members had to say about the issues they believe are most important to address during this legislative session, including a state meat Inspection program, broadband and securing funding for the future of Arkansas forestry.
Michael Lee of Flying C Ranch in Faulkner County, tells us about speaking to the Arkansas House Ag Committee in favor of HB1315, a bill to create a new state meat inspection program. The bill passed out of committee this afternoon and will now head to the House floor.
This week, we learn about the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee’s recent work and their participation in American Farm Bureau’s Virtual Annual Convention. We also talk to Arkansas State Representative DeAnn Vaught about a new state meat inspection bill she is championing and we learn about a very busy week for Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Public Affairs and Government Relations team.
This year's American Farm Bureau Annual Convention wraps up today with a virtual Business Session. Arkansas Farm Bureau voting delegates joined in from the Arkansas Farm Bureau headquarters in Little Rock and worked along with Farm Bureau leaders from across the country to finalize the organization's policies for 2021. Hear what some of our delegates had to say about the process.
The United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement went into effect July 1. Matt King, director of National Affairs for Arkansas Farm Bureau's Public Affairs and Governmental Relations department explains why this is important for agriculture and why it's step up from the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Mark Lambert, director of Commodity Activities and Economics at Arkansas Farm Bureau, joined AgCast to discuss recent changes to the federal Paycheck Protection Program and Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which can provide vital financial assistance to Arkansas farmers and ranchers impacted by the pandemic.
Michael Whatley was trained to drive heavy equipment in the National Guard. That skill helped land him a job hauling rice for Craighead County farmer and ArFB board member Joe Christian, thanks to the new Farm Corps initiative led by Congressman Rick Crawford, in partnership with the National Guard and Arkansas Farm Bureau.
We've compiled a list of key updates and links related to agriculture and the COVID-19 crisis, from policy analysis and explanations to reference materials for government programs and farming and ranching stories.
As the COVID-19 pandemic response continues, so does the work of farmers and ranchers to keep food on shelves and tables around the state, country and world. We've been getting reports from Arkansas farmers and ranchers in their fields and workshops, telling us about their work, and highlighting the fact that all of agriculture is essential during these troubled times, including businesses that provide services and support to farmers. Take a look at a collection of these reports from around the state and find out what they're doing and the challenges they're facing.
