This week, we visit the state livestock show in Little Rock and we learn about the production and use of mass timber in Arkansas. We also talk to about the farming life with Steve Morgan of Johnson County and growing organic with Shawn Peebles of Augusta.
Dr. Phil Tappe is retiring at the end of the year following 30 years at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, the past 11 years as Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Ken Moore spoke with him about his accomplishments and the growth of the College during his tenure.
American-made cotton apparel and products are making a comeback thanks to the entrepreneurship of University of Arkansas graduate Michael Waters. The Memphis native established his business, Stately Cotton, several years ago and is using Arkansas grown cotton for his shirts and other fiber products. His goal is to provide jobs for American textile workers and domestic use for one of the state's key commodities.
This week, we visit with Lee County’s Nathan Reed, who gives us an update on this year’s cotton crop. We also learn about the critical issues on the ballot this Nov. 3 and why they matter for rural Arkansas and we check in with Terry and Robin Fisher, who were 2020 finalists for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association Regional Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award.
Matt Miles is a cotton, corn, rice and soybean farmer from McGehee in Desha County. He’s even trying his hand on a few acres of peanuts. Like many other farmers in southeast Arkansas he’s had to deal with the effects of repeated tropical weather systems during harvest. He provided this update as he was waiting for conditions to dry enough for him to complete his cotton harvest.
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.
Les Miller is a firefighter with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Forestry Division and was crew boss of the 20-member "Razorback" team that just returned from Oregon where they assisted in fighting one of the many wildfires there. Miller says the fire they experienced was unlike anything he has ever seen, and that he and his crew members train to be ready when the call comes to help protect lives, homes and property in other states.
This week, we hear from the leader of the firefighting team from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division that recently returned from helping to fight the destructive West Coast blazes. We also learn about the Arkansas Food Conservancy’s work in Northwest Arkansas, get an update on this year’s peanut crop and hear from a farmer working to bring in his harvest before more rain arrives this weekend.
