On this episode of Arkansas AgCast, we break down the Trump administration’s proposed USDA budget for fiscal year 2026, which includes significant funding cuts across conservation, nutrition and rural development programs. We also highlight a bipartisan effort led by Rep. Rick Crawford to freeze wages for H-2A guest workers, citing concerns over rising costs for American farmers. Arkansas specialty crop producers should tune in for details on a newly opened grant opportunity. Plus, we have new research from the University of Arkansas showing that large-scale solar projects currently occupy just 0.2% of the state’s farmland, though more installations are on the horizon.

The Ag Youth Leadership Summit is a camp for high school students hosted at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, where students learn more about agriculture in the state, develop leadership skills and discover careers in agriculture available to them after graduation.

Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School teacher Jill Herrin credits agriculture for helping increase science scores by 39 points. Herrin’s hands-on projects, like egg incubation and hydroponics, keyed student improvements. Watch to learn about why she’s the 2025 Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

An Idaho couple moved to Florida before finding paradise 4 miles south of Missouri in Oak Grove, Ark. Their 3,500-mile faith journey required cerebral calculations and courage but led to full-time work with 1,000 cows on 3,000 rolling acres. Watch the intriguing TB Cattle at Flat Hat Ranch story.

After a very wet spring, preliminary estimates from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture indicate nearly $79 million in crop-related flood damage in Arkansas. Of the more than 800,000 acres planted in early April, 31% was reported as flooded. Rice accounted for 46% of those flooded acres. Extension rice agronomist Jarrod Hardke explains we are at a critical point in the planting season as the success of this year’s crop hangs in the balance. For more details on exact numbers visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2025/april/04-15-2025-ark-flood-damage-crops.aspx.

Ten acres of almost-ripe berries were destroyed in 10 minutes Sunday at Dozier’s Sta-N-Step Farm in Northwest Arkansas. Devastated owner Les Dozier looks ahead after losing his blueberries, blackberries and raspberries to hail and high winds.

This week’s #FarmTrailFriday heads to Baxter County. Hannah and Cody Walker of Henderson operate County Line Beef, LLC, a direct-to-consumer operation that allows the Walkers to connect with their community. To learn more visit: arfarmtrail.com.

ArFB’s team of economists recently released an Ag Insider outlining the budget reconciliation process currently underway in Congress. The goal of this process is to address the outdated risk management tools in the current farm bill while Congress works to draft new legislation. Hear how this process could provide relief to farmers now, and why one farmer says this could be his last year on the farm without some sort of help. See the full Ag Insider here: https://tr.ee/ijOgnX.

On this episode of the Arkansas AgCast, we break down Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ new “Farmers First” policy agenda aimed at revitalizing small family farms. We also look at how wet weather is disrupting Arkansas’ rice planting season and what it means for crop insurance. Plus, we unpack President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” that just passed the House, covering tax cuts, farm program reforms, and controversial changes to SNAP. And finally, we clarify some buzz around Arkansas’ farm income outlook, which is trending up, but not for the reasons you might think.

Roughly 6,500 feral hogs were removed from Arkansas lands in 2024. However, they continue to be a problem for farmers. Since the creation of the Arkansas Feral Hog Eradication Task Force in 2017, partners continue to work on reducing the feral hog population. For more information on support and available resources visit https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-services/feral-hog/.