Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, we've been reaching out to experts to tell us more about how different segments of agriculture have been dealing with challenges caused by the crisis. Recently, we spoke to a state legislator, an FFA advisor and educator, a professor and expert on specialty crops and the executive vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association. We also received an update on the recently completed legislative fiscal session from ArFB's Jeff Pitchford.
Amanda McWhirt, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Extension fruit and vegetable specialist and professor, talks about damages to specialty crops from weather and other challenges facing growers.
The spring planting season continues, despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, storms and extreme cold snaps. Arkansas farmers and ranchers and agriculture industry leaders continue their work to provide us with reports and updates from their fields, workshops and offices. Here's a selection of recent videos.
The Farm Bureau Insurance companies announced Thursday a $500,000 gift to the six foodbanks that cover the state of Arkansas, anchored by the Arkansas Foodbank, which represents 33 counties in Central Arkansas. “Farm Bureau’s founding mission is to support the families that put food on our tables,” said Rich Hillman, Carlisle rice farmer and president of Arkansas Farm Bureau. “Providing relief to our communities in a time of need is a core value of the Farm Bureau. Offering a helping hand to our friends at the Arkansas Foodbank and their partners who provide similar services throughout Arkansas is critical at this time.”
Severe thunderstorms with winds of more than 80 mph knocked down trees and power lines Sunday night in the eastern part of the state, causing widespread damage and power outages and leading to another delay in planting for delta farmers. Learn more from Arkansas County Farm Bureau agency manager Chuck Wallace and farmer and ArFB board member Terry Dabbs of Stuttgart.
As we move deeper into a rainy spring planting season, farmers and ranchers and agriculture industry leaders around the state continue their work to put food on tables and shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also continue to provide us with reports and updates from their fields, workshops and offices about their efforts, highlighting the fact that agriculture is essential during these difficult times
As the COVID-19 pandemic response continues, so does the work of farmers and ranchers to keep food on shelves and tables around the state, country and world. We've been getting reports from Arkansas farmers and ranchers in their fields and workshops, telling us about their work, and highlighting the fact that all of agriculture is essential during these troubled times, including businesses that provide services and support to farmers. Take a look at a collection of these reports from around the state and find out what they're doing and the challenges they're facing.
Since the coronavirus crisis response kicked into high gear this week, we've been getting reports from Arkansas farmers and ranchers in their fields and workshops, telling us that they're continuing their work to provide the food, fiber and shelter the country and world need. Take a look at a collection of these reports from around the state and find out what they're doing and the challenges they're facing.
The Abandoned Pesticide Collection Program was established in 1999 and began in earnest in 2005. Since then, thousands of pounds of unused pesticides have been collected from farmers through special collection events held twice a year. Recently, Lonoke County Fairgrounds hosted one of these events, and farmers dropped off more than 100,000 pounds of unused chemicals. Watch and learn more from Susie Nichols, who oversees the program for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
Agricultural technology is advancing so fast, farmers sometimes need outside help to make the best use of these advancements and be as efficient as possible. Watch Brent Lassiter of Newport explain how the team at his business, ProAg Services, provides local producers with a means to manage all aspects of their crop production.
