This week, we talk to John Crangle, FFA advisor and vo-ag instructor at Bismarck High School in Hot Spring County, about adapting to at-home, online instruction and Jay and Valorie Lee of JV Farms near Bismarck about the adjustments their making to their direct-to-consumer sales operation. We also catch up with Randy Arnold, a strawberry grower near Alma who's facing uncertainty with his u-pick and farm-to-school operations. Finally, we have part one of a special interview with John Anderson, chair of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas, who explains the challenges facing the livestock market during this crisis.
We profile Jim Carroll of Brinkley, the first Arkansan to serve as chair of the United Soybean Board, and we look at pest problems that farmers may face this spring and summer. We also have a wrap-up of the Arkansas Farm Bureau President's Leadership & Advocacy Tour of Washington, D.C. and columns on policy and ag law.
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.
This week, we talk to rice agronomist Jarrod Hardke about the outlook for this year’s crop and what the current crisis means for farmers. We also talk to ag economist Scott Stiles about the impact of rains and the pandemic on agriculture and markets. Finally, we catch up with Andy Shaw of Cypress Valley Meat Company, to learn how they’re going about their work in the current environment, and farmer Tommy Young interviews
Late last week, the Department of Homeland Security designated food and agriculture one of 16 critical sectors in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, and said that workers in those industries should stay on the job. Arkansas Farm Bureau and a consortium of agriculture industry groups have come together to thank Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for his response to the COVID-19 crisis so far and request that he designate agriculture as essential at the state level.
Since the coronavirus crisis response kicked into high gear this week, we've been getting reports from Arkansas farmers and ranchers in their fields and workshops, telling us that they're continuing their work to provide the food, fiber and shelter the country and world need. 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.
This week, we talk to Fourth District Congressman Bruce Westerman about the impact of the corona virus on work at the Capitol, the importance of his Trillion Trees Act and other major issues for agriculture in the state. We also talk to an Oklahoma cattle broker about the impact of the virus crisis on beef cattle prices and to the Department Head of Animal Science at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville about how livestock at the university are being cared for during the school’s current shutdown.
Today, Arkansas Farm Bureau leaders and policy experts held a conference call with the entire Arkansas Congressional delegation to discuss issues and concerns with accessing foreign labor through the H-2A program during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This is a recap of that discussion.
The Abandoned Pesticide Collection Program was established in 1999 and began in earnest in 2005. Since then, thousands of pounds of unused pesticides have been collected from farmers through special collection events held twice a year. Recently, Lonoke County Fairgrounds hosted one of these events, and farmers dropped off more than 100,000 pounds of unused chemicals. Watch and learn more from Susie Nichols, who oversees the program for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
