Hurricane Katrina and Ivory-billed Woodpecker research slowed funding and work, but the White and Arkansas Rivers will soon irrigate farms in the state. Final construction begins March 2 on Phase 1 of the Bayou Meto project championed by U.S. Senator John Boozman.
This week on Arkansas AgCast, we break down USDA’s new $1 billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program and what it means for Arkansas growers. We also discuss the House Agriculture Committee’s new farm bill draft as markup begins and EPA’s decision to reinstate over-the-top dicamba use for the 2026 growing season.
Plus, we provide an update on the decades-long Illinois River Watershed lawsuit and what recent settlements could mean for poultry producers in northwest Arkansas. Get the details on these key policy and regulatory updates affecting agriculture across the state.
He paces pastures like a dad in the newborn waiting room. Row crop farmer Austin Thrash turned into an around-the-clock cattleman this winter at River Valley Farms in Mayflower. See how 107 calves born in 60 days to first-time moms keep a young rancher awake.
Founded in 2007, Apple Seeds Teaching Farm is spearheading efforts to educate students about where their food comes from. Partnering with over 70 schools statewide, Apple Seeds provides hands-on learning that teaches children how to grow, prepare and cook their own food.
This week on the Arkansas AgCast, we’re covering the EPA’s latest actions aimed at reducing downtime from DEF system failures, we look at why beef prices are likely to stay high as the U.S. cattle herd remains tight and share the latest on Texas and USDA’s efforts to keep the New World screwworm out of the United States.
We also trace some of your favorite Super Bowl snacks back to the farms and ranches that make them possible.
Snow, sleet and ice have blanketed much of the state. While many can stay warm indoors, farmers and ranchers continue working through these conditions to care for their land and livestock. Enjoy the sights and sounds of farmers at work breaking ice, feeding animals and checking on livestock.
From cattle to strawberries, the rush is on to protect agriculture this weekend from forecasted wintry precipitation and freezing temperatures. Hear from Jill Evans and Rex Barnhill on work being done at their operations.
Appreciation for agriculture moved a Northwest Arkansas couple from Rogers (pop. 70,000) to rural Subiaco (pop. 572) in the River Valley. Natalie and Colton Horn hope to make their farm big in hair sheep production.
This week on the Arkansas AgCast, we cover highlights from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 107th Annual Convention, where delegates set policy priorities focused on labor, animal health, and risk management.
We also break down the first WASDE report of 2026, which showed larger-than-expected corn and soybean supplies and pressured grain markets. Finally, we take a forward look at farm technology trends for 2026, from drones and robotics to data-driven software tools, and how farmers are using innovation to manage costs, labor and efficiency moving forward.
