More than 20 years since its inception, construction on the final phases of the White River Irrigation District surface water project is about to begin. State officials gathered recently to announce that construction of canals to deliver water from the river to area farms has been funded, signaling completion of the project within the next two to three years.

On this week’s edition, we talk Arkansas weather with KATV meteorologist Todd Yakoubian and we learn about the next stage of construction on the Grand Prairie Irrigation District.

Dr. Andrew Sharpley has had a major impact on agriculture in Arkansas. Sharpley, who retired recently as a Distinguished Professor in the department of crop, soil and environmental sciences for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, is known for his work helping establish the Arkansas Discovery Farm Program and his focus on agricultural conservation practices. Sharpley took some time to reflect on his lengthy career and his work with Arkansas farmers and ranchers.

Bobby and Karen Bradford own BoBrook Farms LLC and River Bottom Winery in the Roland community west of Little Rock. They were named the 2020 Pulaski County Farm Family of the Year. BoBrook Farms is an agritourism operation and the Bradfords enjoy inviting the public to the farm to enjoy the comfortable setting, the pumpkin patch and hayrides they have in the fall and learn about agriculture and life on a farm. This is their story.

Arkansas Farm Bureau announced that Jason Brown, APR, and Steve Powell have joined its public relations team, bringing together more than 40 years of professional communications experience.

Chuck Tucker, Senior Vice President of Organization and Administration with the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, is retiring May 31 following a distinguished 36-year career with the organization.

Read the latest edition of the Farm Bureau Press

On this week’s edition, we sit down for a chat with the recently retired crop, soil and environmental expert Dr. Andrew Sharpley about his distinguished academic career and his experience working on the Discovery Farms Program and with Arkansas farmers. We also dig a little deeper into Arkansas Discovery Farms with University of Arkansas scientist Mike Daniels

At Final Drive Genetics in Paragould, Jordan and Katie Leatherman have taken their lifelong passions for breeding show pigs and started a successful business that provides top-quality animals for youth exhibitors.

For the first episode of our new Taste Arkansas video series, we traveled to Barnhill Orchards in Lonoke County to talk to siblings Rex and Ekko Barnhill about growing strawberries and their relationships with local restaurants. Then, we followed a Barnhill berry shipment to Trio's Restaurant, where owner Capi Peck showed us how she uses them to make her famous Arkansas Strawberry Shortcake.