The Farm Bureau Insurance companies announced Thursday a $500,000 gift to the six foodbanks that cover the state of Arkansas, anchored by the Arkansas Foodbank, which represents 33 counties in Central Arkansas.
Severe thunderstorms with winds of more than 80 mph knocked down trees and power lines Sunday night in the eastern part of the state, causing widespread damage and power outages and leading to another delay in planting for delta farmers. Learn more from Arkansas County Farm Bureau agency manager Chuck Wallace and farmer and ArFB board member Terry Dabbs of Stuttgart.
This week, we talk to Dr. Amanda Perez, a professor and Food Safety Specialist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture about how produce and specialty crop farmers are adjusting their businesses during the COVID-19 crisis, and we catch up with UA Division of Agriculture Wheat and Feed Grains agronomist Jason Kelley to discuss how rainfall has delayed this year’s corn crop planting and the impact Covid-19 concerns are having on crop farmers. And we also hear from John Gavin, staff chair of the Bradley County Cooperative Extension Service about tomato production in southeast Arkansas.
The second half of our extended interview with John Anderson, chair of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas Bumpers College, who explains the challenges facing the livestock market during this coronavirus crisis, as well as the impact of labor challenges and other key issues in agriculture.
As we move deeper into a rainy spring planting season, farmers and ranchers and agriculture industry leaders around the state continue their work to put food on tables and shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also continue to provide us with reports and updates from their fields, workshops and offices about their efforts, highlighting the fact that agriculture is essential during these difficult times
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.
