With large facilities and state-of-the-art technology, large-animal vet clinics can efficiently and effectively provide the services Arkansas cattle ranchers need to raise healthy livestock. With a limited number of large-animal vets offering on-farm visits, ranchers are thinking differently about animal care and hitting the road with their animals to visit these specialized facilities. Learn more from one clinic operator and a cattleman using his services.
The latest news on the fallout from this week's release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) August crop production report.
Many people don’t know it, but at the Arkansas Agriculture Department, a team of specialized law enforcement officers is working day and night throughout the state to investigate agricultural crimes such as wildfire arson, timber theft, livestock theft, agricultural and forestry equipment theft and vandalism.
President Donald Trump recently authorized a second round of Market Facilitation Program payments to farmers and ranchers to offset economic losses due to the ongoing trade dispute with China and loss of that important market. In this edition of Arkansas Agcast, Matt King, Director of National Affairs for Arkansas Farm Bureau, encourages producers to sign up for the payments before the deadline in December and explains why exporting our agricultural products is necessary to maintain a viable ag economy.
Shinsuke J. Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan to the United States, joined Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach on a visit to the farm of Robby Bevis near Scott in Lonoke County. The ambassador was visiting Arkansas from the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. to discuss possible agricultural trade expansion.
The August Congressional recess has begun and Congressman Rick Crawford kicked off his annual farm tour by joining Lonoke farmers and ranchers for a roundtable discussion of issues affecting the 2019 farm economy. In this edition of Arkansas Agcast, Crawford shares his thoughts on the tariff war with China, how African Swine Fever is impacting China's need for U.S. soybeans and why Arkansas farmers may need to “diversify their ag portfolio."
James Meeks is a fifth-generation farmer who has become known across Arkansas and region for his tomato, watermelon and "u-pick" produce operation near Hamburg in Ashley County. He and his business partner have overcome regulatory and workforce challenges and built their Triple M Farms into a key tomato provider for Walmart, Subway restaurants and a number of roadside vendors. He spoke to us about his love of growing tomatoes, industry challenges and the uncertain future of the business.
By Memorial Day weekend, only half of Arkansas’ cotton acreage for 2019 had been planted, but as cotton extension agronomist Bill Robertson tells us, figures obtained by the Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program show planted cotton acres now exceed 580,000. That means this is the fourth year of increased cotton acreage and the highest planted acreage since 2012. Learn more in this edition of Arkansas AgCast.
