This week, we talk cotton crop news with Bill Robertson, cotton agronomist with the University of Arkansas, and we learn more about the poultry industry’s COVID-19 problems from Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Bruce Tencleve. We also hear about a major food drive being led by the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council.
James and Ashton Dixon of Magnolia are new members of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. James is a fifth-generation poultry farmer and a lcoal firefighter, while Ashton is completing a nursing degree. Learn all about this unique couple's story in our latest video.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson proclaimed Nov. 24-30 as Turkey Week in Arkansas during a special ceremony on the steps of the capitol Nov. 26. Members of the poultry industry were on hand for the ceremony and to recognize the importance of turkey and poultry production to the state in advance of Thanksgiving. We spoke with Marvin Childers, president of the Poultry Federation and Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture following the observance.
For the second year in a row the average cost of the traditional Thanksgiving meal reflected a modest increase, according to Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 34th annual survey of food items typically included in the holiday feast. This year’s meal will cost $57.75 for a family of 10, up $4.82 from last year’s average of $52.93, but still a relative bargain at less than six dollars per person.
We visited with members of the Grass Roots Farmers' Cooperative, a group of small-scale family Arkansas farmers raising chickens, turkeys, cattle and pigs. Learn more about their unique operation.
Thanksgiving is upon us. And that means turkeys. Wild turkey was the bird of choice for the Pilgrim’s first Thanksgiving feast shared with the local indians. Butterball is the choice of Logan County poultry grower Brian Weisenfels. Listen as he tells about raising turkeys in this edition of Arkansas Ag Cast.
O’Neil Wooten and his family are poultry farmers growing broiler chickens on their farm in Strong, Arkansas in Union County. Watch and learn their story of resilience in a difficult business that they happen to love.
Meet Nathan and Nicole Hill, swine, poultry and cattle producers near the community of Newhope on the Pike and Howard County line. Nathan left a job as a high school football and baseball coach, while Nicole left a nursing career in Texas to move back home to Arkansas and start their farm. Together, Nicole and Nathan – a member of this year’s President’s Leadership Council – are raising their four children to appreciate the farming way of life.
Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia has seen a steady growth trend in recent years, thanks in part to its Agriculture Department, which is attracting more and more students from across the state and region. Watch and learn more from the department's director, Dr. Jeffry Miller, and second-year student Brady Gentry.
For the third year in a row, it will cost consumers in Arkansas and across the country a little less to prepare the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Hear why in our new podcast about the American Farm Bureau's 32nd annual survey of Thanksgiving meal costs.
