After a year of virtual meetings and events, Arkansas Farm Bureau leaders finally got together again in Host Springs this month. The annual Officers & Leaders Conference featured speakers, workshops, awards for outstanding Young Farmers & Ranchers and more. Watch the Day 1 and Day 2 General Sessions here.

The global market for mushrooms is close to forty billion dollars annually and it's expected to grow significantly in the next few years. So perhaps it's not surprising that some enterprising farmers have started growing many different varieties right here in Arkansas. A few years ago, Fat Top Farm in Farmington jumped into the business without much expertise. Since then, they've learned which kinds grow well and which kinds sell well, all while maximizing output with a relatively small operation. Now they're growing their business almost as fast as their mushrooms.

On July 7, Congressman Bruce Westerman visited with farmers in Drew County to discuss the June flooding impacts with local farmers. Rep. Westerman talked about potential federal government assistance and a timeline for getting aid back to Arkansas.

Arkansas farmers harvested 75,000 acres of winter wheat last year. Faulkner County farmer Chris Schaefers talks about the crop and how the 2021 harvest is progressing so far.

For almost a century, Ogden Ranch cattle have been grazing in the Boston Mountains of Washington County. They are well-known for their angus beef and the family now operates a community meat market right on the farm. However, in recent years they've gained national notoriety for something they started just for kicks. The ranch is quickly becoming prime breeding ground for some big-time bucking bulls.

Blackberry season is in full swing and just like most Arkansas grown crops it's been a difficult year. Despite the challenges, the University of Arkansas's Fruit Research Station continues to innovate. Since its inception, researchers at the Clarksville farm have developed varieties that are now grown and eaten all over the world.

Providing locally grown food is the goal of many Food Banks and Food Pantries. In Springdale, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank has created a Teaching Garden to educate would-be gardeners and then deliver the healthy harvest to those in need. With the help of community volunteers, it's been a success. However, they'd like to provide even more fresh produce with the help of Arkansas farmers.

The University of Arkansas cooperative extension service developed a preliminary Southeastern Arkansas flooding report outlining impacted acreage and economic impact of the natural disaster. We talked with Dr. Vic Ford and Dr. John Anderson to discuss insights from the report and some mitigation strategies for growers looking to recover this growing season. The university estimates more than 600,000 acres impacted and a price tag of nearly $250 million (and counting) as the state continues to identify impacts.

At Rose Bud Dairy in White County, workers are making and storing haylage that will provide highly nutritious forage for the facility's 1,800 dairy cows. Farmer Kenneth May explains the process, from the field to the feed trough.

Soil heath is a priority in agriculture. We wanted to highlight several of the practices that farmers and ranchers in the state are utilizing to create healthier soil.