Meet Chris and Brooklyn Heiser of Lamar (Johnson Co.), they are finalists for the Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Ag Award. The Heisers have a commercial and registered cattle herd of SimAngus and angus cattle. Off the farm, Chris manages Wilkins Farms and Brooklyn manages Sweet Treats Sandwich and Pie Shop. Learn more about the couple, their growing farm and their desire to give back to their community and agriculture.

Meet the McCartys! Dayton and Lauren McCarty of Mountain View (Stone Co.) are finalists for the Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award. The McCartys have six broiler houses, a registered black angus herd and produce commercial hay. Learn more about the couple, their growing farm and their children in our new video.

Storms brought destructive winds across several parts of the state. Clay Parker’s Farm in Carlisle saw wind gusts up to 90 mph damaging corn crops, grain bins, and other structures.

Wind and hail hammered farms last weekend across Arkansas. Some specialty crops in the southeast corner of the state could be a complete loss. Royal C Farms in Ashley County was one of the harder hit, and its damage compounded when power lines fell in fields.

On this week's AgCast episode, we share how Arkansas farmers can lend their voice to an important river project, we share news of a new State Forester and share the announcement of a new EVP at ArFB. All that and much more, check it out now.

An F-2 tornado tore up farms early Sunday from Subiaco to Lamar. Cattle/poultry farmer Tom Strobel likely lost two chicken houses and says he hasn't experienced more destruction in 60-plus years. Producers like Strobel lose income when they can't house chickens but by working with legislators on the next farm bill, Arkansas Farm Bureau aims to help them recover quickly.

Multiple storms over the past two weeks brought needed rain to Arkansas farms, but some included heavy winds and crop damaging hail. Some fear a total loss, especially in extreme Northeast Arkansas. Extension experts say only time will tell.

On this week's AgCast episode, we talk about the new EPA biotech rule for gene-edited plants, an update on Arkansas's planting progress and crop conditions, the weather effect of El Niño and a Mississippi River mega-study. You don't want to miss this episode. Listen now!

Hear from Ronnie Ritter to learn more about the Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry program and the support they receive from the Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation.

Elderberry is one of the more commonly used medicinal plants in the world, often taken as a supplement to treat cold and flu symptoms. Matt Gal, who works at the UA Fruit Research Station in Clarksville, and his wife, Summer, are starting an elderberry farm in Oark (30 minutes north of Clarksville). They plan to market syrup, teas and salves made with elderberries and other herbs grown on their farm. Arkansas Farm Bureau members have a longstanding policy to support new horticultural growers like the Gal family and we're excited to see this new development in our industry.