This week, we visit with Lee County’s Nathan Reed, who gives us an update on this year’s cotton crop. We also learn about the critical issues on the ballot this Nov. 3 and why they matter for rural Arkansas and we check in with Terry and Robin Fisher, who were 2020 finalists for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association Regional Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award.
Matt Miles is a cotton, corn, rice and soybean farmer from McGehee in Desha County. He’s even trying his hand on a few acres of peanuts. Like many other farmers in southeast Arkansas he’s had to deal with the effects of repeated tropical weather systems during harvest. He provided this update as he was waiting for conditions to dry enough for him to complete his cotton harvest.
Jason Braziel is a vo-ag instructor at Mountain Pine High School in Garland County. But, he also has a cow-calf and hay operation in the Sunshine community. Like other ranchers, he has been baling hay and tending to his cattle when the weather allows. He provided this update from his farm last week during a recent dry spell.
Les Miller is a firefighter with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Forestry Division and was crew boss of the 20-member "Razorback" team that just returned from Oregon where they assisted in fighting one of the many wildfires there. Miller says the fire they experienced was unlike anything he has ever seen, and that he and his crew members train to be ready when the call comes to help protect lives, homes and property in other states.
This week, we hear from the leader of the firefighting team from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division that recently returned from helping to fight the destructive West Coast blazes. We also learn about the Arkansas Food Conservancy’s work in Northwest Arkansas, get an update on this year’s peanut crop and hear from a farmer working to bring in his harvest before more rain arrives this weekend.
2020 has been a challenging year for the Peebles Farm agritourism operation near Augusta in Woodruff County, but as Molly Gaskin tells us, they've found ways to accommodate guests despite the pandemic and encourage people to come visit with their families.
Arkansas Farm Bureau officials say that the strong response to a new $5 million grant program for expanding and upgrading Arkansas meat processing facilities highlights the need for reviving a state meat inspection program. Last month, the General Assembly allocated funds from the federal CARES Act to create the grant program, which generated 45 applications requesting more than $30 million in funds.
Producers of corn & soy beans can now apply for a second wave of assistance through the USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Brandy Carroll, ArFB's Director of Commodity Activities & Market Information joined us to share important information about this program.
Dustin raises beef at his Cowbell Farm in Newton County. He's the Young Farmers & Ranchers state chairman. He switched from a traditional sale barn, cow-calf operation to a custom beef operation that draws local customers to his Facebook page. He discussed his new approach and support for reestablishing a state meat inspection program to encourage the establishment of more meat processing facilities that cater to custom meat producers.
