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.
In 2018, the University of Arkansas at Monticello upgraded its forestry and agriculture programs by combining them and creating the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. And more changes are on the horizon. In this edition of Arkansas Agcast, Dr. Phil Tappe, dean of the college and director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center explains how UAM has become the only university in the state with an accredited forestry program and why it is working hard to become the destination for students seeking to enter the timber and forest resources industry.
Listen as Joe Fox, Arkansas’s State Forester, and Seward Hamilton, a training specialist for the U.S. Forest Service, talk about the annual Wildands Fire Academy to train wildlands firefighters. The Arkansas Forestry Commission and U.S. Forest Service team up each year with other state and federal agencies to host this multi-state effort to provide continuing education and training to wildlands firefighters.
Do you know how important the timber industry is to Arkansas? Forests cover 19 million acres, or about 56 percent of the state, and contain 11.8 billion trees. Learn more in our new Rows & Ranches series on timber in the Natural State. In this introduction, you'll hear about reforestation and the planting process from Tony Cummings of Arkansas Forestry Management Service.
Prescribed burning is process often used in agriculture, so Randy Brents, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission prescribed fire manager, took us out to observe a burn implemented on woodlands in Prairie County. He explained the process and shared some key information private landowners should know.
For Harold and Bobbie McAlpine, growing and selling Christmas trees is more than an occupation. It's a way to share the spirit of the holidays and bring joy to Arkansas families. Learn the story of McAlpine Christmas Tree Farm in Bismarck.
The town of Gurdon sits near the heart of timber country in southwest Arkansas, and there's a growing need for logging industry labor in the area. That's why Gurdon Public Schools invested in two timber harvesting simulators to help train students for future jobs in the forestry business.
In Clark County and across southwest Arkansas, the need for certified trained loggers is about to increase with construction of the announced Sun Bio pulp plant near Arkadelphia. With this in mind the local school system, along with three partner groups, invested more than $100,000 to purchase a Forestry Equipment Training Simulator Trailer. In this edition of Arkansas Agcast, Superintendent Allen Blackwell and Vo-Ag instructor Justin Rowland discuss how the simulators will train students in how to harvest timber, then load logs onto trucks for delivery to local mills, certifying them for potential careers in the logging industry.
A team of students from Calhoun County will soon attempt to win Arkansas’s third National 4-H Forestry Invitational championship in a row. Jaret Rushing, staff chair for the county Cooperative Extension Service and team coach, talks about how practice will be key to bringing home the championship.
