This week, we talk to rice agronomist Jarrod Hardke about the outlook for this year’s crop and what the current crisis means for farmers. We also talk to ag economist Scott Stiles about the impact of rains and the pandemic on agriculture and markets. Finally, we catch up with Andy Shaw of Cypress Valley Meat Company, to learn how they’re going about their work in the current environment, and farmer Tommy Young interviews
Late last week, the Department of Homeland Security designated food and agriculture one of 16 critical sectors in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, and said that workers in those industries should stay on the job. Arkansas Farm Bureau and a consortium of agriculture industry groups have come together to thank Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for his response to the COVID-19 crisis so far and request that he designate agriculture as essential at the state level.
Since the coronavirus crisis response kicked into high gear this week, we've been getting reports from Arkansas farmers and ranchers in their fields and workshops, telling us that they're continuing their work to provide the food, fiber and shelter the country and world need. 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.
This week, we talk to Fourth District Congressman Bruce Westerman about the impact of the corona virus on work at the Capitol, the importance of his Trillion Trees Act and other major issues for agriculture in the state. We also talk to an Oklahoma cattle broker about the impact of the virus crisis on beef cattle prices and to the Department Head of Animal Science at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville about how livestock at the university are being cared for during the school’s current shutdown.
Today, Arkansas Farm Bureau leaders and policy experts held a conference call with the entire Arkansas Congressional delegation to discuss issues and concerns with accessing foreign labor through the H-2A program during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This is a recap of that discussion.
The Abandoned Pesticide Collection Program was established in 1999 and began in earnest in 2005. Since then, thousands of pounds of unused pesticides have been collected from farmers through special collection events held twice a year. Recently, Lonoke County Fairgrounds hosted one of these events, and farmers dropped off more than 100,000 pounds of unused chemicals. Watch and learn more from Susie Nichols, who oversees the program for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
The Arkansas Farm Bureau has instituted a work-from-home policy amidst the concern about the spread of novel coronavirus, which has led local governments and businesses to adjust how they conduct business. This policy will continue through March 30. During this period of remote work, ArFB employees will be accessible and responsive to members and stakeholders, by phone and email, as they would normally.
Agricultural technology is advancing so fast, farmers sometimes need outside help to make the best use of these advancements and be as efficient as possible. Watch Brent Lassiter of Newport explain how the team at his business, ProAg Services, provides local producers with a means to manage all aspects of their crop production.
This week, we talk to representatives of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture about the recent Local Conversations event in McCrory, and we catch up with two new inductees into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. We also speak to Keith Perkins, an agent with the Lonoke County Cooperative Extension Service, about the implications of recent wet weather for planting season.
