Arkansas recently hosted a Tri-State Soybean Forum in Dumas for more than 150 soybean producers and consultants. Following two difficult production years, growers were informed about new seed varieties and herbicide technologies that will be available this year. Farmers are hopeful prices and weather will be better in 2020.

This week, we talk to leaders of Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers about planning for the future and we sit down with Jim Carroll the Third of Brinkley, who was recently elected chair of the United Soybean Board of Directors. We also catch up on the latest news from the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee.

Learn about all the key issues that will shape Arkansas agriculture in 2020, from the state level to national policy and international trade.

This week, we talk to this year’s Arkansas Farm Family of the Year winner and we have interviews with a “mobile veterinarian” and a farmer specializing in exotic animals. We also learn about a new survey project aiming to find out more about the local food system in central Arkansas.

We visited Vandiver’s Newcastle Farms near Forrest City, where owner Kevin Vandiver told us how he got his start growing Christmas trees and why he wants his customers to have a special experience that becomes a family tradition.

John McMinn has been hired as the director of Commodity Activities and Economics at Arkansas Farm Bureau, where he will be responsible for economic analysis and commodity-specific programs and activities surrounding for Aquaculture, Forestry and Specialty Crops.

Rice production estimates cut, soybean and hog futures trend lower and more dairy industry trouble.

This week, we hear about the annual Thanksgiving Feast survey, which measures the cost of traditional Thanksgiving meal, and we get a complete update on this year’s cotton harvest from cotton agronomist Bill Robertson. We also hear from Col. Nate Todd, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, about the recent Vets4Ag Summit, and we learn about a recent Young Farmers and Ranchers trip to our nation’s capital to discuss issues critical to farmers and ranchers.

For the second year in a row the average cost of the traditional Thanksgiving meal reflected a modest increase, according to Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 34th annual survey of food items typically included in the holiday feast. This year’s meal will cost $57.75 for a family of 10, up $4.82 from last year’s average of $52.93, but still a relative bargain at less than six dollars per person.

This week, we talk to members of our Arkansas Farm Bureau team about important issues such as high-speed broadband access in rural areas and opportunities for veterans in the agriculture industry. We also learn all about the 85th annual Arkansas Farm Bureau convention, which will be held in Little Rock next month.