This week, we're joined by Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Chief Economist Travis Justice for a deep look at the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the agricultural economy in Arkansas. We also have a discussion with Dr. Victor Ford, vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, about the long-term impacts of the outbreak on production agriculture.

Arkansas Farm Bureau state leaders and policy specialists met via tele-conference Tuesday with livestock producers to inform them about the U.S. CARES Act Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, known as CFAP. Only producers directly affected by the coronavirus who lost 5% or more raising cattle, swine or lambs are eligible for this program. Cow-calf cattle operations are the dominant livestock production in Arkansas.

Dr. Chelsea Bland Smith operates Broken L Veterinary Services, a mobile clinic, out of her homebase in Nashville, Ark. She is licensed in Arkansas and Oklahoma and works on livestock and pets on farms and homes in both states. Follow along as she takes us through an average day of a mobile vet.

Check out our latest videos and interviews with Arkansas farmers, leaders and agriculture industry experts.

This week, we talk to poultry grower and Arkansas Farm Bureau Board Secretary/Treasurer Dan Wright about challenges for the poultry industry caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. We also talk to Jamie Anderson of I.F. Anderson Farms, the nation’s largest producer of baitfish, about what a recent increase in recreational fishing has meant for his operation. Finally, we speak to Arkansas Farm Bureau Public Affairs & Government Relations Director Matt King about the latest on the CARES Act and the creation of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

Futures updates, supply/demand report news, plant closure impacts and more.

This week, we talk cotton crop news with Bill Robertson, cotton agronomist with the University of Arkansas, and we learn more about the poultry industry’s COVID-19 problems from Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Bruce Tencleve. We also hear about a major food drive being led by the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council.

Michael Whatley was trained to drive heavy equipment in the National Guard. That skill helped land him a job hauling rice for Craighead County farmer and ArFB board member Joe Christian, thanks to the new Farm Corps initiative led by Congressman Rick Crawford, in partnership with the National Guard and Arkansas Farm Bureau.

This week, we go in-depth on some critical issues facing agriculture in the wake of Covid-19. We talk with David Newman, president of the National Pork Board and Arkansas State University animal science professor, about troubles facing the pork industry, and we hear from the University of Arkansas National Ag Law Center Director Harrison Pittman about the President’s recent executive order designed to keep meat packing plants operating. We also hear from Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Travis Justice about the ongoing supply chain and processing issues hitting livestock and poultry growers.

The latest information on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, cattle market challenges, soybean and rice futures and more.