A number of issues during the past several years have compounded farm stress, and Farm Bureau has been working to address this critical issue. Rebecca Simon with the Cooperative Extension Service joined us to share some everyday ways farmers can cope when things aren't going as planned.
Construction on a new poultry education center at Southern Arkansas University is nearing completion. The facility will add "hands on" poultry education to the growing agriculture program at Southern Arkansas University. Dr. Jeff Miller, chairman of the SAU Agriculture Department, explains why poultry education is needed to train future professionals for this important industry in Arkansas.
Rip Weaver, program assistant with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, spoke with us about ways the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed state agencies into the digital age, with in-person meetings, trainings, farm tours and other activities taking a back seat to virtual get-togethers.
We talked to Dr. Karen Ballard, professor of program evaluation for the Cooperative Extension Service’s Community, Professional & Economic Development Department, and Dr. Julie Robinson, associate professor in the Community, Professional & Economic Development Department, about their work on virtual teaching and professional meetings and how use of this technology is expanding during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kallem Hill grows broiler chickens for Wayne Farms in Perry. He has 18 poultry houses and, like other growers in the state, has suffered extended “out times” and other issues from the Covid-19 pandemic. In this update, Hill explains how Payment Protection Program assistance allowed him to pay his employees and says that things are slowly getting back to normal.
In this Video AgCast, UA Food Science Research Specialist Renee Threlfall talks about grapes in Arkansas and the new, grant-funded Arkansas Quality Wine Program.
Friday, Aug. 21, was the third and final session of the 2020 Arkansas Farm Bureau President's Leadership Council, and the focus was on public affairs and government relations. ArFB's Jennifer Craig provides a recap and talks to two participants, Lindsey Holtzclaw and Kisia Weeks, to get their thoughts on the session.
Terry Kruse of McCrory is the 2020 Arkansas Catfish Farmer of the Year. He has been growing "U.S. Farm Raised Catfish" at Cain Fish Farm for more than 30 years. He spoke to us about receiving the honor and opportunity to promote this important sector of agriculture.
Sara Gardner is a University of Arkansas junior double-majoring in agriculture economics and international economics. In this Agcast Video Extra, she discusses being named to the National 4-H Council's Alumni Advisory Board, her passion for Arkansas agriculture and work with Arkansas veterans.
Dr. Chelsea Bland Smith, DVM with Broken L Veterinary Services, PLLC, spoke with Gregg Patterson about the recent outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitus Virus (VSV) that’s primarily affecting horses in the state now.
