For the second year in a row, the average cost of the classic Thanksgiving meal reflected a modest decrease, according to Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 35th annual survey of items included in the holiday feast. This year’s meal will cost $57.14 for a family of 10, down 61 cents from last year’s average of $57.75.
In only 3 years Taylor Farms in Benton County has produced state winning full blood buck and doe Boer goats. In this two-part series we are catching up with Samuel, Lauren and Lexi of Taylor Farms on how they raise and show their award-winning goats. Join Jenny Higgs, for part 1, as she interviews Samuel Dewitt on how he preps his goats for show. Stick around and get a sneak peek to part 2!
Zach Hammack has a cow-calf, beef cattle operation near Hampton in Calhoun County. He sells his packaged beef products directly from his farm and is also the vo-ag instructor at Hampton High School. He provided this update on how Covid-19 and the weather have affected his operation this year.
This week, we talk to an Oklahoma National Stockyards beef broker about the challenges cattle ranchers have faced in 2020 and what’s ahead next year. We also catch up with James Meeks of Triple M Farms, who tells us about how COVID-19 has affected his produce business and we learn about the recently upgraded Senter & Sons Cotton Gin in Osceola. We also talk to Terry Laster of Union County about the pandemic problems that have hit poultry growers.
Jim Carroll III of Brinkley will conclude his year as chair of the United Soybean Board next month. It's been a challenging year dealing with Covid-19 and the weather delayed his ability to plant and harvest his crops. He took time recently during his soybean harvest to update us on what it's been like to chair USB during the pandemic and what he's learned from the experience.
Like most other crop farmers, rain and cold, wet weather has delayed harvest for David Sites of Jefferson County. He provided this update from his farm near Altheimer recently where he’s hoping sunshine and wind will dry his fields and allow him to complete harvesting his soybeans this week.
This week, we catch up with Michael Sparks of the Arkansas Chapter of the Farmer Veterans Coalition to talk about the group’s upcoming Veteran’s Day celebration. We also talk to Monroe County’s Jim Carroll about wrapping up his term as chair of the United Soybean Board, and learn about Prestonrose Farm & Brewing Co. in the Arkansas River Valley, a destination craft brewery with locally grown food options. And, finally, we hear from Arkansas Farm Bureau state affairs director Jeff Pitchford about Tuesday’s election results.
While other farmers are closing their produce stands for the season, Judith and Tim Allen of SalScilla Farms in Mayflower are beginning year-round operation with a new open-air farm stand and cafe. Judith joined us to share more information about their grand opening.
2020 has been a year of ups and downs for White County farmer Brad Peacock. Excessive rainfall made it difficult to plant and harvest some of his crops, but being honored as the county and region’s Farm Family of the Year was a rewarding highlight.
