LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 2024 Ag Innovation Challenge, a competition for state startup businesses developing innovative solutions for farmers, ranchers and rural communities, will accept applications through Nov. 8. Farm Bureau partners with the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas to sponsor the annual statewide contest. more

RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech University will utilize federal funds in the amount of $730,000 to provide equipment for the forthcoming Farm Credit Agriculture Building on the ATU campus in Russellville. more

Landowners and community members interested in improving the management of nutrients on their land and providing benefits to water quality are invited to attend a workshop on Nutrient Management on Tuesday, October 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The workshop will be held at The Gathering Barn at Diamond R Ranch, located at 11153 Erbie Cutoff Rd in Harrison, Arkansas. more

JONESBORO — The US Department of Agriculture said Tuesday that consumers shouldn’t expect food shortages in the near term because of the port strike; however, economists say a long strike could prompt changes on grocery shelves and at the checkout. more

WASHINGTON, D.C. ­—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced an investment of $1.7 billion for purchase of locally and regionally produced foods and domestically produced foods for emergency food assistance. These investments, made possible by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will help American producers by ensuring they have the certainty of access to local and regional markets as well as the financial benefits that come with selling directly to institutions. With these purchases, USDA is at the same time ensuring schools, child care facilities and emergency food providers have access to healthy foods. more

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $466.5 million to strengthen global food security through its two premier international development programs, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 annual meeting. more

The Boone County Cattlemen’s Association met on Thursday, September 5, 2024.  This meeting was sponsored by CS Bank in Harrison.  BCCA President John Muncy opened the meeting and led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Gerald King offered a blessing.  We were served a meal of brisket, roasted potatoes, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, cornbread, bread, tea, and water. more

HARRISBURG — Increasing funding for land-grant work in Arkansas agriculture may take some persuasion, considering how few legislators have ties to agriculture or understand the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s impact in every Arkansas county. more

FAYETTEVILLE — Muscadines may be the folksy American of the grape world, but they have many qualities like disease resistance and unique flavors that are desired in the more popular Vitis vinifera (bunch grapes) species. more

JASPER — Senator Bryan King, (R) District 28, chairman of the Senate Children and Youth Committee, brought a panel of legislators to Newton County on Monday, Sept. 9, to hear constituents' concerns about the areas' streams and rivers. more

LITTLE ROCK — The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas are urging farmers to exercise caution and follow all safety measures before burning harvest field debris, brush piles, fence rows or other fires of similar nature. more

Lisa Widner, of the Boone County Conservation District (BCCD), spoke to the Harrison City Council during their Thursday evening committees meeting this week. The topic of discussion was the poisonous plant known as hemlock — which has become a problem in our area. more

RUSSELLVILLE — A project by the Arkansas Tech University Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) student organization is bringing a vegetable garden to an unexpected location: a reception area inside ATU's Dean Hall. more

Fast Facts more

FAYETTEVILLE—A unique chicken breed is helping researchers better understand vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that affects 1-2 percent of the world’s population. more

FAYETTEVILLE — While surges in colds, flu and even COVID may come and go, agricultural producers are always on the lookout for avian influenza — and not just in poultry flocks. In 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected not only in birds, but cattle, swine and humans as well. more

The Boone County Cattlemen’s Association held its August meeting on the 8 at the John Paul Hammerschmidt Center on the campus of North Arkansas College. The meeting was sponsored by Powell Feed & Milling in Harrison. BCCA President John Muncy opened the meeting and welcomed members and guests. He then recognized August birthdays and anniversaries. Muncy led in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Dale Crunkleton offered a blessing for the meal. We were served a meal of beef brisket, roll, cowboy beans, fried okra, cookies, and water. more

FAYETTEVILLE — With U.S. organic food sales topping $63 billion last year, the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food wants to help Arkansas farmers grab a larger share of that market. more

RUSSELLVILLE—Arkansas Tech University marked the beginning of a new construction project that will support its oldest academic program when it broke ground on the Farm Credit Agriculture Building at the ATU Farm on Thursday, Aug. 15. more