Rick Bransford’s family has been growing cotton and other crops in Lonoke County since the mid-1850s. He has continued that tradition for the past 40 years. He recently took a break from picking his cotton crop to provide an update on how he’s dealt with weather delays and other challenges this year.
Soybean and corn futures get a boost, but hog futures run out of steam. Plus, information on CFAP 2 for dairy production and strength in cattle futures.
Chad Russell has been farming near Marianna since the mid-90s and grows cotton, corn and soybeans. Last year he joined other local farmers and added peanuts to his cotton rotation. For the third year in a row, persistent rainfall is slowing harvest, but as Russell says they will get the crops out and he expects good yields.
John "Bubba" Sink farms rice, soybeans, corn and wheat in Jackson County. He took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to tell us how the fall harvest is going so far.
Ritter Agribusiness of Marked Tree was established in 1886 and continues to diversify its farming operations. In 2018, the company ventured into specialty crops by purchasing Gillam Farms in Judsonia, which was known primarily for its blackberry varieties. Ritter Farms now grows blueberries, strawberries and muscadines and is expanding its blackberry acreage for local sales and shipment across the country.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its latest Crop Production report recently. Brandy Rennicke Carroll, ArFB Director of Commodity Activities and Market Information, gave us an update on what it said about corn and soybeans, plus the latest supply and demand estimates for those commodities.
This week, we talk National Honey Month with Jeremy Bemis of Bemis Honey Bee Farm. We get the latest on cotton from agronomist Bill Robertson and we hear about the challenges facing agritourism businesses in Arkansas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
September is Rice Month and the harvest is well underway in Arkansas, the nation’s leading rice producing state. C.J. Parker began harvesting his 4,000 acres this week on his farm near Carlisle. Though he’s had some weather-related delays he still expects to have a good yield.
This week, we talk to Sen. John Boozman after one of his recent farm visits this week, and we hear from Cooperative Extension Service expert Julia Fryer on produce safety issues after Hurricane Laura. We also catch up with the Benton County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee's Brenda Patton about the challenges her group has faced during COVID-19.
