Arkansas Farm Bureau President Dan Wright, a poultry producer from Waldron, delivered a message of resilience and determination to members Wednesday during the organization’s 91st annual state convention.
Poultry growers in the Illinois River Watershed in Arkansas and Oklahoma could lose their contracts with Tyson Foods due to a decade-long lawsuit between poultry companies and the state of Oklahoma. Lawmakers and growers from both states met in Fayetteville to discuss the likely impact on poultry producers and the communities that depend on them.
Jared and Cathren Smith grew up on farm operations and wanted to share that lifestyle with their children. After they married, they started their own cow-calf operation and expanded into poultry in 2019. Today, the Smiths run eight broiler houses and a growing herd of cattle alongside their two children.
More than a hundred poultry farmers from Arkansas and Oklahoma, as well as state legislators from both states, met Monday morning in Fayetteville to discuss the recent decision by Tyson Foods to end contracts for poultry growers who live in the Illinois River watershed.
When politics outweigh sound science, farm families often pay the price. We stand with poultry growers in the Illinois River watershed in calling for common sense and balance between agriculture and environmental regulation.
Carrying on a century-long tradition in Drew County, Chuck and Carolyn Hoover are committed to leaving their land better than they found it. They raise cattle on more than 900 acres and operate a logging business, and consider themselves blessed to work so closely with their family.
Rare, docile and cute like pandas, Belted Galloway cattle also sport striking coats resembling the bamboo-eating bears from China. Dragon Fly Ranch in Cave City owns one of only a few herds in Arkansas. The breed is slow to grow, but owner Nick Norris doesn’t mind the wait due to its many qualities.
A new Arkansas AgCast episode is live. Get the latest on USDA disaster relief, Thanksgiving cost in Arkansas, changes to federal water regulations and animal health warnings impacting our state’s producers. Watch or listen to this week’s episode of the Arkansas AgCast for all the details.
The Mitchell brothers are fourth-generation farmers in Prairie and Lonoke counties, and this year marked their 11th harvest together. For them, sharing a way of life with their families and protecting the family’s legacy is important.
