Arkansas Farm Bureau Podcast

This week, we talk to rice agronomist Jarrod Hardke about the outlook for this year’s crop and what the current crisis means for farmers. We also talk to ag economist Scott Stiles about the impact of rains and the pandemic on agriculture and markets. Finally, we catch up with Andy Shaw of Cypress Valley Meat Company, to learn how they’re going about their work in the current environment, and farmer Tommy Tuckerman interviews the onwer of Zack's Flying Services.

This week, we talk to Fourth District Congressman Bruce Westerman about the impact of the corona virus on work at the U.S. Capitol, the importance of his Trillion Trees Act and other major issues for agriculture in the state. We also talk to an Oklahoma cattle broker about the impact of the virus crisis on beef cattle prices and to the Department Head of Animal Science at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville about how livestock at the university are being cared for during the school’s current shutdown. Finally, we chat about pesticide certification and training with a representative of the UA Division of Agriculture.

This week, we talk to representatives of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture about the recent Local Conversations event in McCrory, and we catch up with two recent inductees into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. We also speak to Keith Perkins, an agent with the Lonoke County Cooperative Extension Service, about the implications of recent wet weather for planting season.

This week, it's all about policy issues, as we recap the just-completed Arkansas Farm Bureau President's Advocacy & Leadership Tour to Washington, D.C. We talk to the members of the Farm Bureau team who lead the trip about what was accomplished and why it's important for Arkansas farmers and ranchers to have their voices heard on Capitol Hill.

This week, we talk to Tracy Dunbar, Chair of the UAPB Department of Agriculture, about the school’s recent Rural Life Conference and we sit down with Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Brandy Carroll to learn more about the Arkansas Abandoned Pesticide Program. We also get an update on the latest Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton & Arkansas Soil Health Alliance meeting.

This week, we talk to John Lewis, a senior forecaster with the National Weather Service, about the long-range weather outlook and we sit down with Cooperative Extension Service entomologists to talk about insect problems farmers could face this year. We also visit with Ralph Pinkerton of Garland County Farm Bureau and Melony Ritter of National Park College in Hot Springs to talk about the recent Arkansas Farm Bureau Candidate Forum hosted by the college.

This week, we talk to Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas about legal issues in agriculture and we learn about the importance of agricultural activism from speaker and logging industry veteran Bruce Vincent. We also hear from Ed Swaim, Executive Director of the Bayou-Meto Water Management District.

A Diversity in Agriculture conference has been set for Feb. 27-28 in an effort expand the awareness of the career and business opportunities that exist in agriculture. The conference will allow participants to explore opportunities through success stories and networking. It also is intended to foster an expansion of public and private partnerships within agriculture, Arkansas’ largest industry sector, accounting for more than $20 billion annually.

This week, we talk with members of Arkansas Farm Bureau commodity boards about the recent Winter Commodity Meeting in Little Rock and we learn what's going on with the Arkansas Forestry Association.

This week, we talk with experts on the outlook for rice in Arkansas in 2020 and the potential impact of the EPA’s final rule defining “Waters of the U.S.” We also get some helpful tips on preventing timber theft on farms, ranchers and other private property.

This week, we attended the 101st annual American Farm Bureau Convention in Austin, Texas. We sat down with two of the event’s workshop leaders to discuss the economics of farming and the science of gene editing for agriculture. We also talked to Arkansas Farm Bureau President Rich Hillman, who gave us his thoughts on the event and explained the importance of the policy development process that wrapped up on the final day of convention.

This week, we talk with soybean and trade experts about the latest news on trade negotiations and the road ahead in 2020. We also get the latest on the pork industry from Dr. David Newman, president of the National Pork Board and Arkansas State University animal science professor and learn about new urban agriculture classes being offered at the St. Joseph Center in North Little Rock.

This week, we talk to Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, as well as the new leader of the state Agriculture Department’s Feral Hog Eradication Program. We also talk to a waterfowl expert from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission about the problems snow geese are causing for some farmers.

This week, we talk to leaders of Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers about planning for the future and we sit down with Jim Carroll the Third of Brinkley, who was recently elected chair of the United Soybean Board of Directors. We also catch up on the latest news from the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee.

This week, we talk to this year’s Arkansas Farm Family of the Year winner and we have interviews with a “mobile veterinarian” and a farmer specializing in exotic animals. We also learn about a new survey project aiming to find out more about the local food system in central Arkansas.

This week's AgCast was recorded at the 85th annual Arkansas Farm Bureau Convention in Little Rock, and features a variety of interviews with experts, speakers and Farm Bureau leaders and members on the most important issues facing agriculture in the state.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson proclaimed Nov. 24-30 as Turkey Week in Arkansas during a special ceremony on the steps of the capitol Nov. 26. Members of the poultry industry were on hand for the ceremony and to recognize the importance of turkey and poultry production to the state in advance of Thanksgiving. We spoke with Marvin Childers, president of the Poultry Federation and Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture following the observance.

This week, we hear about the annual Thanksgiving Feast survey, which measures the cost of traditional Thanksgiving meal food items in Arkansas and around the country, and we get a complete update on this year’s cotton harvest from cotton agronomist Bill Robertson. We also hear from Col. Nate Todd, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, about the recent Vets4Ag Summit, and we learn about a recent Young Farmers and Ranchers trip to our nation’s capital to discuss issues critical to farmers and ranchers.

This week, we talk to members of our Arkansas Farm Bureau team about important issues such as high-speed broadband access in rural areas and opportunities for veterans in the agriculture industry. We also learn all about the 85th annual Arkansas Farm Bureau convention, which will be held in Little Rock next month.

The week, we talk to Ashley County farmer James Meeks about issues facing specialty crop farmers and we hear from Dustin Cowell of Newton County about conservation and stewardship of land and water in his area. We also learn about a new “Farmer Apprenticeship Program” launching in January through the University of Arkansas.