Like most other crop farmers, rain and cold, wet weather has delayed harvest for David Sites of Jefferson County. He provided this update from his farm near Altheimer recently where he’s hoping sunshine and wind will dry his fields and allow him to complete harvesting his soybeans this week.
This week, we catch up with Michael Sparks of the Arkansas Chapter of the Farmer Veterans Coalition to talk about the group’s upcoming Veteran’s Day celebration. We also talk to Monroe County’s Jim Carroll about wrapping up his term as chair of the United Soybean Board, and learn about Prestonrose Farm & Brewing Co. in the Arkansas River Valley, a destination craft brewery with locally grown food options. And, finally, we hear from Arkansas Farm Bureau state affairs director Jeff Pitchford about Tuesday’s election results.
While other farmers are closing their produce stands for the season, Judith and Tim Allen of SalScilla Farms in Mayflower are beginning year-round operation with a new open-air farm stand and cafe. Judith joined us to share more information about their grand opening.
2020 has been a year of ups and downs for White County farmer Brad Peacock. Excessive rainfall made it difficult to plant and harvest some of his crops, but being honored as the county and region’s Farm Family of the Year was a rewarding highlight.
Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Committee, Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and the Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation announced they have donated $50,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas to help offset projected shortfalls as a result of COVID-19. This new donation is in addition to a $50,000 donation from the Foundation and Women’s Leadership Committee in May.
The Ponca blackberry is the latest variety developed by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Fruit Research Station near Clarksville. Coming on the heels of other successful varieties developed there like Ouachita and Caddo, Ponca is a thornless, sweet variety that should prove successful with farmers and consumers. UA Distinguished Professor John Clark describes this new blackberry.
Buster Passmore
11-Years Old | Straight-A Student | Grower of Huge Pumpkins
ArFB’s Jenny Higgs recently visited Buster at home in Bono to get his secrets for growing prize-winning giant pumpkins. Buster's Garden has produced gourds big enough to win the UAEX Giant Pumpkin Contest two years in a row, beating the competition by more than 100 pounds each year.
For more pumpkin and gardening tips from Buster, visit his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/groups/BustersGarden.
This week, we wrap up Farm to School Month in Arkansas with a discussion about outstanding school gardens and we hear from Daniel Keisler about his custom beef and pork business, Circle K Angus Farms. We also talk to 82-year-old farmer Ellis Bell of Forrest City, who founded a local non-profit for promoting science-based agriculture education, and catch up with Rick Bransford of Lonoke County about this year’s cotton crop.
In 2015, Bill and Donna Jackson moved from their home and careers in the city to a beautiful farm in Lawrence County. In the years since, they’ve turned the Jackson Farm into one of northeast Arkansas’ premier agritourism destinations, a place where families can learn about agriculture while creating fun memories that will last a lifetime.
The Arkansas Farm Bureau announced today a commitment of $300,000 to the FFA and 4-H over the next five years to support the development of new facilities and the growth of these youth leadership programs. Each organization will receive a total of $150,000.
