While other farmers are closing their produce stands for the season, Judith and Tim Allen of SalScilla Farms in Mayflower are beginning year-round operation with a new open-air farm stand and cafe. Judith joined us to share more information about their grand opening.
2020 has been a year of ups and downs for White County farmer Brad Peacock. Excessive rainfall made it difficult to plant and harvest some of his crops, but being honored as the county and region’s Farm Family of the Year was a rewarding highlight.
The Ponca blackberry is the latest variety developed by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Fruit Research Station near Clarksville. Coming on the heels of other successful varieties developed there like Ouachita and Caddo, Ponca is a thornless, sweet variety that should prove successful with farmers and consumers. UA Distinguished Professor John Clark describes this new blackberry.
Buster Passmore
11-Years Old | Straight-A Student | Grower of Huge Pumpkins
ArFB’s Jenny Higgs recently visited Buster at home in Bono to get his secrets for growing prize-winning giant pumpkins. Buster's Garden has produced gourds big enough to win the UAEX Giant Pumpkin Contest two years in a row, beating the competition by more than 100 pounds each year.
For more pumpkin and gardening tips from Buster, visit his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/groups/BustersGarden.
In 2015, Bill and Donna Jackson moved from their home and careers in the city to a beautiful farm in Lawrence County. In the years since, they’ve turned the Jackson Farm into one of northeast Arkansas’ premier agritourism destinations, a place where families can learn about agriculture while creating fun memories that will last a lifetime.
Cody Hopkins is CEO and a founding farmer of the Grassroots Co-op. It includes small farmers in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky and Oregon, raising free-ranging poultry and grass-fed pork and beef for sale online at grassrootscoop.com.
The Arkansas State Livestock Show Sale of Champions was held Oct. 23. In the face of Covid-19 the concerted effort was approved by the Department of Health and allowed the hard-working young people involved in the show to reap the benefits of their year-long efforts and success. Hear from some of the grand champions about what it meant to them to participate in the auction.
Rick Bransford’s family has been growing cotton and other crops in Lonoke County since the mid-1850s. He has continued that tradition for the past 40 years. He recently took a break from picking his cotton crop to provide an update on how he’s dealt with weather delays and other challenges this year.
Dr. Phil Tappe is retiring at the end of the year following 30 years at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, the past 11 years as Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Ken Moore spoke with him about his accomplishments and the growth of the College during his tenure.
