The Oxford Handbook of Agricultural History, edited by Jeannie Whayne of the U of A Department of History, was recently published. Whayne says that agricultural history has enjoyed a rebirth in recent years, in part because of the way the agricultural enterprise promotes economic and cultural connections in an era that has become ever more globally focused. more

Entries are being accepted for the annual Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest, sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Applicants may be any school, early childhood education facility, or alternative learning environment that had a school garden during the 2023-2024 school year or is planning to start a garden in the 2024-2025 school year. more

LITTLE ROCK — There’s good news for Arkansans looking forward to strawberry season: There’s no more waiting. This year’s strawberries arrived one to two weeks earlier this month, with the season expected to peak in late April or early May. more

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it is now accepting applications from agricultural producers for enrollment in a special Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) sign-up. more

The Boone County Cattlemen’s Association held its March meeting on the 14th at the John Paul Hammerschmidt Center of North Arkansas College. The meeting was called to order by President John Muncy, who then led the Pledge of Allegiance. Dale Crunkelton led the prayer. There were 45 members and guests in attendance. They enjoyed a meal of brisket, cole slaw, ranch beans, potato salad, bread, assorted cookies, soft drinks, and water. The meeting was sponsored by WT Equipment in Berryville. more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy herds in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, and New Mexico. Symptoms of the virus in dairy cattle include decreased lactation, low appetite, and thickening of milk. To date, there have been no reported cases of HPAI in livestock within Arkansas. more

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2024 Arkansas Century Farm Program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. The program is voluntary and there is no cost to apply. more

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward participated in a USDA Agricultural Trade Mission to the Republic of Korea from March 24-28, 2024. Secretary Ward joined USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, as well as North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture, Doug Goehring, Indiana Director of Agriculture, Don Lamb, and California Secretary of Agriculture, Karen Ross. Also participating were 48 different agricultural businesses and farm organizations. more

LITTLE ROCK — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Monday a human case in Texas of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as H5N1 bird flu. more

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ 2024 net farm income is expected to fall $0.5 billion from 2023 levels, according to a report Tuesday from the Rural & Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center. more

MOUNTAIN HOME — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is advising landowners adjacent to public lands around Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes that contract maintenance crews will be conducting boundary line maintenance along a 115-mile section of government boundary at Bull Shoals Lake and a 60-mile section at Norfork Lake. more

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is pleased to partner with the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas for the ninth annual Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program. This program, which is administered by the Department and funded by the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas, helps build awareness for farmers markets and their vendors. This program provides funding assistance for the state’s farmers markets to serve their communities as consumer interest in locally grown and made products continues to increase. more

Marion County Sheriff Gregg Alexander released a statement on Wednesday addressing concerns about hybrid-wolves in the community. Rumors have been circulating that as many as forty wolf-hybrids had been let loose, but the number of wolf-hybrids who were unaccounted for at press time was only six. The sheriff's complete statement is as follows: more

LITTLE ROCK — More farmers seem to be adopting cover crops and no-till, according to data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture, which was released in February 2024. more

The Boone County Leadership Institute and the Youth Leadership Academy  recently held their agriculture session. These leadership programs provide numerous opportunities for young people to connect with the local businesses from all sectors, learning more about the local business community. more

LITTLE ROCK — In compliance with Executive Order 23-27 signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) is updating the Arkansas Water Plan and developing the state’s first-ever statewide flood plan. more

Central Ozarks Farmers and Artisans Market, with sponsorship from Quality Feed, is hosting a seed swap. more

FAYETTEVILLE — If you own a small business, farm, or share beneficial ownership of an entity, you are likely subject to a new reporting requirement in 2024. The Corporate Transparency Act is directed at small businesses or entities who have beneficial owners, and failure to comply with reporting may result in criminal fines and penalties. more

PINE BLUFF — Applications are now being accepted for AgDiscovery, a residential career and science exploration program for teens, Dr. Christopher C. Mathis Jr., AgDiscovery program director, said. more

Dave Pratt, an authority on sustainable agriculture and profitable ranching, has been named the 2024 King Visiting Scholar by the Department of Animal Science in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. more