Arkansas corn growers are grinning. They planted a state record 890,000 acres and projections are at 180 bushels per acre (up from 173 last year). Planting more and harvesting higher yields makes a farmer happy.
In this episode of Rows and Ranches, Terry Smith talks to us about the various growth stages of corn. From seed to setting yield to full stands, watch and learn about how corn grows and develops.
The Natural State is known as the birthplace of the largest food retailer in the world and the home of the Arkansas Razorbacks, but it is also known for the diverse landscapes and climates found in each region of the state. It’s this diversity, in fact, that allows Arkansas to produce a wide range of crops and is a major reason why agriculture is the state’s top industry.
This week, we hear about the 2021 corn crop and get an update on grain markets. We also learn the ins and outs of cover crops and talk about the value and importance of Arkansas Farm Bureau membership.
This week, we learn about the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff’s Small Farm Program and a new effort to get a better map of broadband and cell coverage in Arkansas. We also visit a Monroe County farm to get an update on this year’s corn crop.
Corn harvest has begun in Arkansas, so we visited Jacob Appleberry's A & A Farms in Tillar to get some footage of the work. See what's happening and learn more about what it takes to bring in the corn crop each year.
A grant from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture is helping fund cutting-edge biotechnology research on corn at Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Dr. Elizabeth Hood, distinguished professor of agriculture at A-State, joined us to discuss the research team’s work, which could ultimately lead to corn strains that produce proteins important for more environmentally sound industrial applications.
