JA Farms Feed in Bismarck is expanding. Owner Jeremy Allen tells us about adding a pellet mill to his growing operation and installing a robotic stacking unit to make handling orders faster and more efficient. Allen says he hopes to have the pellet mill operational by the end of the year.
For a number of reasons, peanuts are one of the more attractive crops for Arkansas delta farmers right now and Delta Peanut is completing construction on the state's first peanut shelling facility in Jonesboro. We spoke to Andy Vangilder, peanut specialist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, about this year's crop and why production is increasing in Arkansas.
Jim Carroll of Brinkley is midway through his year as chair of the United Soybean Board. The board had an important meeting this week to fund priority projects and discuss marketing and export of their many products. In this Agcast Video Extra, Carroll spoke with Ken Moore about the importance of the meeting what it’s been like to serve as chair of this national commodity group.
Keith Sutton talks to ArFB's Chief Economist Travis Justice and Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations about the recent meat shortages in grocery stores and efforts to expand local meat inspections so growers can more efficiently sell their products directly to local consumers.
The Helena Harbor is an important component of economic development in Phillips County. Located a short distance south of Memphis on the Mississippi River the Port Authority there is undergoing a significant expansion. We spoke to John Edwards, manager of Helena Harbor in Phillips County, who explained the expansion project, the port's importance and long-range plans for future growth.
Following a delay of almost two months from its traditional opening date, the Little Rock Farmers Market welcomed the public to a smaller version of the popular weekend destination at the Little Rock River Market. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the market will be limited to fresh produce vendors and safety protocols must be followed by visitors.
Dr. Jeyam Subbiah heads the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Food Science Department and is also lead investigator for the UA Agricultural Experiment Station's portion of a USDA 5-year research project. The collaborative effort involves nine universities studying food safety in low moisture foods such as nuts, dried foods and cereals. In this Agcast Video Extra he explained the need for the $9.8 million project with ArFB's Ken Moore.
Michael Sparks, president of the Arkansas chapter of Farmer Veteran Coalition, owns Honeycomb Ridge Farm near Searcy. He joined us with his son Conner to talk about that organization and their family farming operation, including the bees they raise in an apiary near Scott.
On June 23rd, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service hosted a “virtual field trip” focused on the Jeff and Marsha Marley poultry and beef farm in Elkins, part of the Arkansas Discovery Farm Program.
Farmers and ranchers around the state check in with updates on their crops and businesses and how weather and the pandemic have impacted their summer so far.
