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Peanut production has become more common in Arkansas. With a little help from Tommy Jumper and his vertically integrated business model at Delta Peanut LLC, cotton farmers in Lee and St. Francis counties have been adding peanuts to their rotation and harvesting better-than-expected yields. Jumper talked to us about his business and how he believes that the state will become a “major player” in the U.S. peanut industry when Arkansas’ first shelling facility begins operation near Jonesboro next year.

This week, we talk to Natural Resource Commission Executive Director Bruce Holland about the work of the state’s Levee Task Force and we hear from Tommy Jumper, chief executive officer of Delta Peanut LLC, who discusses the latest on the peanut industry in Arkansas. We also visit with participants in this year’s livestock shows at the Arkansas State Fair.

Jeff Edwards has been farming in the Sherrill-Pastoria community near Pine Bluff for most of his life. Like others in the Arkansas River valley, he lost cropland to the historic flooding earlier this year. He and his family have weathered challenges like this before, though, and Jeff plans to continue farming until, “the Lord calls him home.” Watch to learn more.

Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia has one of only two collegiate rodeo teams in the state. The Muleriders rodeo team has a proud history dating to the 1980s and recruits student-athletes from across the country. Coach Rusty Hayes was a member of the school's original team and has coached a number of national champion riders. The team will host their annual rodeo Oct. 31-Nov. 2, so we paid a visit to hear from members of this year's squad.

Arkansas Farm Bureau was once again one of the major sponsors of the Junior Livestock Auction at the Arkansas State Fair. During the premium livestock sale, we caught up with some of the young participants from around the state, who talked about the work involved in raising champion animals and their personal experience at this year’s Fair.

On this week’s edition, we have an interview with Jackson County farmer Tommy Young about a successful effort to address road challenges that were hindering farmers transporting crops and equipment in his area. We also talk to an executive of Cotton Incorporated about a recent industry visit to Arkansas and we discuss Farm-to-School Month in the state.

Farmers in eastern Arkansas like Caleb Jones are working hard bringing in this year’s cotton crop. Caleb took time to visit with us about his family’s multi-generational farm in St. Francis County and his concerns about this year's prices.

Cotton Incorporated and other industry representatives from across the country made what has become an annual visit to Lee County recently to learn about cotton production and the ginning process from local farmers and observe the fall harvest. We spoke to some of the attendees and to Marianna farmer Trent Felton about the visit and what they hope it accomplishes.

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