Hamilton Farms is one of several family commercial produce and tomato operations in southeast Arkansas. The Hamiltons were the 2019 Bradley County Farm Family of the Year. Steele Hamilton is continuing the family legacy with his father Donald. Though the winter storm in February delayed it a couple of weeks, the 2021 planting season is underway. Steele says they have a passion for growing a flavorful, quality product for customers who come from across the country for their vine-ripe tomatoes.
As winter turns to spring logging crews in south Arkansas are thinning tree stands on ground that’s dry enough for harvest. Like other commodities, timber prices are cyclical. Record low mortgage interest rates are driving a sharp increase in home building, creating a demand for pine timber and lumber. Grant Pace, chair of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Forestry Division provides this update on the state’s timber industry and what this economic climate means for private landowners.
Renee Threlfall is a grape and wine researcher for the University of Arkansas System Extension - UAEX. She helps lead the Arkansas Quality Wine program. AQW is presently conducting an online consumer survey about Arkansas wines and ag tourism visits to Arkansas wineries. Threlfall talks about the survey which runs online through April 1.
Dustin Cowell of Newton County testified at the State Capitol this morning in favor of reinstituting state meat inspection and funding for the program. We caught up with him to hear about the experience and we spoke to state Sen. Breanne Davis of District 16, a supporter of the measure.
Jerry Shannon of Mountain View raises cattle on the same Ozark Mountains farm where his father and grandfather also were ranchers. He hopes that his son and grandchildren will follow in his footsteps and carry on the Shannon family legacy of raising quality cattle on this beautiful Stone County property.
Mike Daniels is an extension soil and water conservation specialist with the University of Arkansas System Extension - UAEX. He recently was honored with the "Outstanding Conservationist Award" for his work in conservation agriculture from the Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference and the Judd Hill Foundation.
Jeremy and Magen Garner Allen’s JA Farms Feed Mill in Bismarck continues to expand with the addition of a pelletizing unit that offers clients a new feed additive for their livestock rations. The former laying hen producers now have a business that is shipping feed products to customers in Arkansas and across the country.
Delta Peanut in Jonesboro is a 100% farmer-owned company serving peanut farmers in Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel and northeast Louisiana. CEO Tommy Jumper shared its story.
We're wrapping up #VirtualFarmersWeek, a week of hearing what our members had to say about the issues they believe are most important to address during this legislative session, including a state meat Inspection program, broadband and securing funding for the future of Arkansas forestry.
