U.S. cattle inventory reached a 75-year low in 2025, skyrocketing prices at sale barns and grocers. Cattlemen are unsure how to handle herds with unprecedented values and asking how long this will last. University of Arkansas Ag Economist Dr. James Mitchell and state ranchers offer insights.
Removing log jams from Northeast Arkansas’s diminutive Cache River may temporarily benefit farmers, but long-term flood prevention remains paramount. Veteran crop grower Joe Christian and U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford are urging cooperative efforts between county, state and federal agencies to halt high-water destruction.
On this episode, we look at how the U.S.–Iran conflict is already affecting agricultural markets, from fuel and fertilizer costs to grain prices. We also have the latest on USDA’s Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, a new effort to bring Arkansas-grown rice into school cafeterias and the latest farmer sentiment data on the ag economy.
Close to 40,000 sheep roam Arkansas but only three herds of registered St. Croix. Dragonfly Ranch in Cave City raves about its parasite-resistant flock with Caribbean origins and flavorful fare.
When Harrison ninth grader Brynlee King set out to research farmers in Boone County, she quickly discovered there wasn’t much information available. That realization led her and classmate Ty Willmott to launch the Homegrown Stories Project.
Now the project includes a team that focuses on creating children’s books about local farmers to help the next generation understand where their food comes from.
The Arkansas Beef Leadership Event at the Four States Fairgrounds in Texarkana is an annual competition where exhibitors compete in cattle judging, public speaking and more. Hear from students who competed in various events at ABLE.
Hurricane Katrina and Ivory-billed Woodpecker research slowed funding and work, but the White and Arkansas Rivers will soon irrigate farms in the state. Final construction begins March 2 on Phase 1 of the Bayou Meto project championed by U.S. Senator John Boozman.
This week on Arkansas AgCast, we break down USDA’s new $1 billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program and what it means for Arkansas growers. We also discuss the House Agriculture Committee’s new farm bill draft as markup begins and EPA’s decision to reinstate over-the-top dicamba use for the 2026 growing season.
Plus, we provide an update on the decades-long Illinois River Watershed lawsuit and what recent settlements could mean for poultry producers in northwest Arkansas. Get the details on these key policy and regulatory updates affecting agriculture across the state.
He paces pastures like a dad in the newborn waiting room. Row crop farmer Austin Thrash turned into an around-the-clock cattleman this winter at River Valley Farms in Mayflower. See how 107 calves born in 60 days to first-time moms keep a young rancher awake.
