It’s either a groundbreaking idea for enterprising farmers or Jacob Feather is just going nuts. The 32-year-old’s soybeans are surrounded this year by 2,000 pecan trees on his farm in Griffithville.

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service along with the Kore University of Enna, Italy, has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish an agriculture partnership between the universities. The MOU, which began with the help of the Little Rock Sister City Commission, allows opportunities for collaborative projects in agriculture research and exchange of agricultural goods.

To recognize teachers who integrate agricultural concepts into their curriculum, Arkansas Farm Bureau awards the Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Stephanie Benton, a teacher at Harrison Middle School in Boone County, was named the 2024 award recipient. Benton’s work in the classroom has helped students to understand various agricultural concepts and put them into perspective.

After a fast start many farmers in Northeast Arkansas were slowed by waterlogged fields in the later part of planting season. Brian Alumbaugh of McCrory navigated the consistent rains better than some but expects it will cause many crops across the delta to be delayed or produce lesser yields.

The use of drones in agriculture is changing the way farmers operate. At Southern Drone Ops in Jonesboro, Jonathan Cottingham is using innovative drone technology to provide farmers with safer, more efficient options for crop dusting and planting on their farms.

As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, Cassie Davis of Prairie Grove sat down with us to share her experiences to help others overcome the challenges they may be facing. Cassie and her husband Scott own Davis Riverview Farms that, up until 2023, was a dairy farm. After nearly a decade of struggling with the dairy and a series of personal hardships, the couple decided it was time to sell the dairy herd. The Davis family continues to run beef cattle and grow hay on their farm.

The House Ag Committee passed its version of the Farm Bill just after midnight last Friday, but despite the late-night action the legislation has a long road ahead. Plus, Arkansas experienced one of the biggest tornado outbreaks in history over Memorial Day weekend, with farmers and rural communities bearing the brunt of the impacts. We share the latest data on the storms. We also share leadership news from Riceland Foods, a look at the U.S. ag trade deficit and a lot more on the latest episode of the Arkansas AgCast.

Tye and Danielle Rudolph are dealing with damage to their farm from the Madison County tornado. Even though the damage is significant, the Rudolphs say they are grateful to be alive and still have their home.

A nasty 25-pound bird can cost cattlemen thousands of dollars in seconds. See how Arkansas farmers are negating some of the damage done by black vultures with an assist from Arkansas Farm Bureau.

Finding mental health resources while farming can be difficult. Togetherall is a safe, clinically moderated peer-to-peer community where members are there to listen, support and give members’ mental wellbeing a boost. Through an anonymous profile, users can access a global network of peers, backed by the safeguarding of licensed clinicians overseeing the community around-the-clock. Access to the platform is available free to members of a farm family aged 16 and older. To learn more, visit https://www.farmfoundation.org/resources/farm-family-wellness-alliance/.