LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Farm Bureau (ArFB) is excited to announce the Arkansas Farm Trail (AFT), launching March 15. AFT allows farmers to share stories, connect with consumers and increase visibility for ArFB members who produce direct-to-consumer products. This first-of-its-kind Arkansas program will connect consumers with local agriculture and teach about the state's agricultural industry. more

LITTLE ROCK — Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year have until April 15, 2025, to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide vital income support to eligible farmers who experience substantial declines in crop prices or revenues for the 2025 crop year. In Arkansas, producers have completed 19,649 contracts to date, representing 71.2% of the more than 27,612 expected contracts.     more

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas 4-H teams from across the state gathered at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the 2025 SeaPerch Challenge, remotely navigating submersible robots through obstacle and mission courses. more

PINE BLUFF —The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Small Farm Program was recently awarded a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), according to Dr. Henry English, head of the UAPB program. The program, which provides direct assistance to beginning farmers, will be offered for the next three years by UAPB and the East Arkansas Enterprise Community (EAEC) in northeast Arkansas. more

FAYETTEVILLE — Fewer and more expensive eggs in 2024 put estimated $1.41 billion burden on consumers in 2024, according to study by a trio of researchers examining the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza — HPAI — on the economy. more

FAYETTEVILLE — Attendees of the third annual Western Water, Agricultural, and Environmental Law Conference will have the opportunity to hear perspectives on water, agriculture, and food policy issues from top Western state leadership. more

LITTLE ROCK — An escalating tariff battle between the United States and several of its largest trading partners may affect U.S. growers in Arkansas and elsewhere. more

The Marion County Master Gardeners met Saturday, March 1 for their regular business meeting. more

LITTLE ROCK — For Arkansas Master Gardeners, it’s important to support the next generation of leaders in plant science. As part of this effort, the program funds the Janet B. Carson High School Senior Scholarship, which is now accepting applications from Arkansas students. more

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Arkansas Century Farm Program until June 30, 2025. This program honors Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years, recognizing their contributions to the state’s agricultural heritage. more

LITTLE ROCK — With the national beef cow herd at its lowest level since the 1960s, an upcoming lunch and learn session will focus on herd rebuilding strategies and current cattle markets. more

FAYETTEVILLE — The same substance that paints the sky with the Northern Lights also appears to enhance plant growth and insect defense, according to a new study. more

OMAHA, Neb. — Egg producers blame the bird flu outbreak for driving prices to record highs, but critics believe giant companies are taking advantage of their market dominance to profit handsomely at the expense of budget-conscious egg buyers. more

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Beef Council is accepting grant proposals for beef research and promotion projects. Research proposals must be submitted by April 25, 2025 and promotion proposals must be submitted by April 30, 2025. more

PINE BLUFF — Mid to late winter is a quiet time for ponds in Arkansas. Low temperatures keep warmwater fish species lethargic and feeding less often. Something else that slows down during winter are fish immune defenses, leaving them at higher risk of infection and mortality, Scott Jones, small impoundment Extension specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said. more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Arkansas Game Warden Brady Smith earned the National Wild Turkey Federation’s national Wildlife Officer of the Year Award last Friday at the NWTF’s national convention awards banquet. To top it off, he accomplished this feat, a lifetime achievement for most, in only his second year as an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission game warden. more

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A global animal health company — Zoetis, announced on Friday, Feb. 14, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) issued the company a conditional license for its Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus. The vaccine is labelled for use in chickens. The conditional license was granted on the demonstration of safety, purity, and reasonable expectation of efficacy based on serology data. more

FAYETTEVILLE — Understanding where farm animals are raised is crucial for managing their environmental impacts and developing technological solutions, but gaps in data often make it challenging to get the full picture. more