News

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Solar leasing on agenda for NALC, NASDA Foundation’s Mid-South conference

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By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — To install, or not to install, that is the question — and attendees of the 12th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference will have the chance to hear perspectives on solar lease agreements and solar development from two experts in their respective fields.

Renewable energy efforts such as solar panel installations have increased in recent years. The 12th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference will feature a session on solar leasing and development, discussing pointers and pitfalls for farmers, landowners, and developers to consider. (Image courtesy Stephen Boyd)

While renewable energy efforts such as solar panel installations have increased in recent years, there are many factors for farmers, landowners, and developers to consider before making the decision to work together on a long-term project.

At the Mid-South, Seth Hampton, member at Rose Law Firm, and Will Veve, land acquisition and development at DESRI, will discuss both sides of the transaction in the session, “Solar Leases and Development in the Mid-South: Pointers and Pitfalls.”

The conference will be held June 5-6 in Memphis, Tennessee, and is co-hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, or NASDA Foundation. It also features a livestream option. Registration, agenda and more is available at https://nationalaglawcenter.org/legaleducation/mid-south-2025.

Hampton has years of experience representing farmers, landowners and their lenders in negotiating solar lease and purchase options involving developments throughout the United States.

“Rental rates certainly make solar leases attractive, but there is much for landowners to consider when approached by developers about installing panels and related facilities on their land,” Hampton said. “Provisions concerning rental rates, land included within the leased premises, minimum rental/acreage requirements, crop damages, rights of third parties (such as easement and mineral interest owners, farm tenants and lenders), property tax increases, insurance obligations, early termination rights, decommissioning/restoration obligations and security, and more should all be considered before making a decision.”

Veve will bring insight regarding the developer’s perspective to the presentation, as DESRI develops, owns and operates U.S. renewable energy projects.

“Both developers and landowners have much to consider regarding coming to an agreement for the development of a project,” Veve said. “There is tremendous shared opportunity for both the landowner and developer. Having an open, collaborative process from the beginning is the most important aspect of this relationship to ensure both sides are successful.”

NALC Senior Staff Attorney Rusty Rumley says that NALC attorneys have heard an increased amount of inquiries regarding solar leasing in recent years.

“Solar leasing has been around for quite a while, but it garnered more attention in recent years due to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which incentivized the adoption of solar through various mechanisms, like tax credits,” Rumley said. “It’s a topic that landowners and developers should investigate carefully before coming to an agreement. This session at the Mid-South provides an opportunity to learn about what to consider from both the landowner and developer sides.”

Continuing legal education available

The Mid-South will be submitted for CLE accreditation in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Approval for CE will also be sought from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Those who register by May 13 are eligible for bonus CLE/CE during the online “Early Bird” on May 14.

About the National Agricultural Law Center 

Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.

The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.

For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.

About the NASDA Foundation

The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of the NASDA Foundation is to advance agriculture to shape a changing world.

For more information on the NASDA Foundation, visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation. The NASDA Foundation is also on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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Cooperative Extension Service offering series of poultry safety online seminars

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By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Cooperative Extension Service will offer a series of five online seminars focusing on multiple aspects of poultry safety and biosecurity. The seminars will cover topics including salmonella control, avian influenza and more. Participation is free.

POULTRY SAFETY — Several upcoming online seminars from the Cooperative Extension Service will provide free education on various aspects of poultry biosecurity. (Division of Agriculture image.)

Dustan Clark, extension veterinarian and Associate Director of the Center of Excellence for Poultry, said the series will feature guest speakers from various disciplines addressing different aspects of poultry production, including the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus.

“HPAI-positive flocks continue to be a problem, but the numbers appear to be steadily in decline,” Clark said. “One webinar will cover biosecurity principles that can be used to assist in preventing avian influenza and other poultry diseases as well.”

The series is designed to offer useful information for all producers, from industry experts to backyard hobbyists.

“All poultry growers, both commercial and hobby flock owners, are invited to attend any or all of the webinars,” Clark said.

The current schedule includes:

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

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Arkansas lawmakers approve $182.5 million state budget increase

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KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

The Arkansas General Assembly on Wednesday approved legislation to increase the state’s general revenue budget to $6.49 billion for fiscal year 2026, a nearly 3% increase from the previous year.

As is typical, state lawmakers approved the Revenue Stabilization Act on the final day of the legislative session through two identical bills — Senate Bill 637 and House Bill 2003.

The RSA is nearly identical to the budget Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed in November. The largest portion of the $182.5 million increase to the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is an additional $90 million for the state’s Educational Freedom Account program.

Arkansas lawmakers approve $182.5 million state budget increase

Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

Rep. Lane Jean, R-Magnolia, addresses the Arkansas House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

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Arkansas bans pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies in state

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KUAR | By Andrew DeMillo / The Associated Press, Kim Chandler / The Associated Press

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation Wednesday prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers from owning or operating pharmacies, becoming the first state to enact such a restriction.

The measure comes as other states are considering restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers, which run prescription drug coverage for big clients that include health insurers and employers that provide coverage.

Supporters of the restrictions have said pharmacy benefit managers are forcing independent pharmacies, especially in rural areas, out of business.

Arkansas bans pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies in state

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Bill regulating transgender Arkansans’ bathroom use heads to House despite public pushback

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KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas House will consider a bill denounced by advocates for transgender Arkansans on Wednesday, the final day of the 2025 legislative session.

Senate Bill 486 would allow Arkansans to sue for damages if they encounter someone in a bathroom, changing room, shelter or correctional facility who does not align with the “designated sex” of the restroom. The bill narrowly passed the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Tuesday after 15 people spoke against it and no member of the public spoke for it.

“The intention here is to make it so that trans people cannot exist in public,” said Maricella Garcia, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families’ race equity director. “If you cannot use the restroom, you cannot go out in public.”

Bill regulating transgender Arkansans’ bathroom use heads to House despite public pushback

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Family Council attorney Stephanie Nichols (left) and Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, present Senate Bill 486 to the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Monday, April 14, 2025.

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Lawmakers vote to fire all members of Arkansas State Library Board

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KUAR | By Daniel Breen

State lawmakers have voted to remove the entire Arkansas State Library Board.

Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 640 in a meeting Tuesday. The bill fires all seven members of the board, directing Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to appoint their replacements.

Conservative lawmakers and activists have called on the board to do more to protect library-goers from “sexually explicit” materials, though librarians say no such materials exist in libraries. A previous bill would have dissolved the library board and the Arkansas State Library entirely, moving their responsibilities to the Arkansas Department of Education.

Lawmakers vote to fire all members of Arkansas State Library Board

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named a new chair of the state Post-Prison Transfer Board (also known as the parole board) late Wednesday.

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Bills signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Wednesday, April 16th, 2025, the Governor signed into law: 

HCR1008 – To celebrate and commend Northwest Arkansas community college’s nationally leading and industry-transforming bicycle assembly and repair technician and trail technician programs. 

HCR1011 – To recognize Bentonville’s investment in cycling and its title as the mountain biking capital of the world. 

SB9 – An act to create the make Arkansas healthy again act; to prohibit a person or entity from manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale a food product for human consumption that contains certain substances; and for other purposes. 

SB576 – An act to amend the coverage of continuous glucose monitors within the Arkansas Medicaid program; and for other purposes. 

HB1150 – An act to prohibit a pharmacy benefits manager from obtaining certain pharmacy permits; and for other purposes. 

HB1171 – An act to modify the Medicaid provider-led organized care act; to authorize an abbreviated independent assessment for certain beneficiaries enrolled in a risk-based provider organization; and for other purposes. 

HB1320 – An act to amend the behavioral health and crisis intervention protocol act of 2017; to prohibit limits on utilization criteria under the behavioral health crisis intervention protocol act of 2017; to amend the definition of “healthcare provider” under the patient protection act of 1995; to modify the definition of “healthcare provider” as used under the any willing provider laws; to regulate crisis stabilization units and healthcare insurer; to prohibit certain prior authorizations for crisis stabilization units unless authorized by the insurance commissioner; and for other purposes. 

HB1333 – An act to mandate coverage for breastfeeding and lactation consultant services; and for other purposes. 

HB1424 – An act to mandate coverage for severe obesity treatments; and for other purposes. 

HB1440 – An act to amend the massage therapy act; to establish registration for massage therapy establishments; and for other purposes. 

HB1531 – An act to prohibit pharmaceutical manufacturers from restricting or limiting prescription medications to a limited distribution network of out-of-state pharmacies; and for other purposes. 

HB1543 – An act to amend the law concerning public assistance; to establish the workforce experience opportunities act of 2025; and for other purposes. 

HB1559 – An act to require the Department of Human Services to seek a waiver to the Arkansas Medicaid program for coverage for inpatient treatment services for substance use disorders; and for other purposes.

HB1602 – An act to amend the Arkansas pharmacy benefits manager licensure act; to establish the fees under the Arkansas pharmacy benefits manager licensure act; to require reporting of certain information by a pharmacy benefits manager under the Arkansas pharmacy benefits manager licensure act; and for other purposes.  

HB1619 – An act to set administration fees under the Arkansas Medicaid program for immunizations and monoclonal antibodies for respiratory syncytial virus disease; to provide civil immunity for administration of immunizations and monoclonal antibodies for respiratory syncytial virus disease; and for other purposes.

HB1622 – An act to amend the Medicaid fairness act; to modify the definition of “adverse decision” under the Medicaid fairness act; to provide for administrative reconsideration under the Medicaid fairness act; and for other purposes. 

HB1653 – An act to move licensing and regulation of psychiatric residential treatment facilities from the child welfare agency review board to the Department of Human Services; to set standards for the licensing and regulation of psychiatric residential treatment facilities; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. 

HB1677 – An act to authorize alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs to maintain emergency medication kits; and for other purposes. 

HB1700 – An act to amend the prior authorization transparency act; to clarify the process of an adverse determination notice under the prior authorization transparency act; and for other purposes. 

HB1712 – An act to establish the social work licensure compact in this state; and for other purposes. 

HB1751 – An act to amend the law concerning public assistance; to require an applicant for temporary assistance for needy families program benefits to engage in job search activities whole the application is still being processed; and for other purposes. 

HB1758 – An act to amend the law concerning hearing instrument dispensers; to amend the definition of “practice of dispensing hearing instruments”; and for other purposes. 

HB1782 – An act to prohibit over-the-counter diet pills from being sold, transferred, or otherwise furnished to a person who is under eighteen years of age; and for other purposes. 

HB1854 – An act to exempt a home caregiver from home caregiver training if he or she previously completed training; and for other purposes. 

SB303 – An act to allow a resident school district to permit a private school student to participate in an interscholastic activity at the resident school district under certain conditions; and for other purposes. 

SB467 – An act to modify the definition of “healthcare provider” regarding student athlete concussion education to include chiropractors or chiropractic physicians; and for other purposes. 

SB470 – An act concerning the administration of a statewide student assessment to a student in a virtual setting; to require an adult approved to oversee the administration of a statewide student assessment to certain students in a virtual setting to meet certain requirements; and for other purposes. 

SB515 – An act to amend the Arkansas history unit requirement in public elementary and secondary schools; to require that a unit dedicated to Arkansas veterans and their families by included within existing Arkansas history course content guidelines; and for other purposes.  

SB522 – An act to amend the law regarding the Arkansas school for mathematics, sciences, and the arts; to amend the law related to the tuition and fee paid by students enrolled in the online programs; and for other purposes. 

SB572 – An act to create the public school access and transparency act; to require public access to learning materials; and for other purposes. 

SB552 – An act to amend the Arkansas business corporation act of 1987; to amend the uniform limited liability company act; to clarify the definition of “principal office” used under the Arkansas business corporation act of 1987 and the uniform limited liability company act; and for other purposes. 

HB1771 – An act to amend the law concerning disclosures to policyholders; to require monthly reporting by insurers; and for other purposes. 

HB1820 – An act to regulate automatic renewal and continuous service offers; and for other purposes. 

SB371 – An act concerning missing children; to establish a standardized system to aid in the search of missing children who do not meet the criteria for activation of the Arkansas amber alert system; and for other purposes.

SB426 – An act to create the defense against criminal illegals act; to establish enhanced penalties for illegal aliens who commit serious felonies involving violence; to ensure that sheriff’s offices and the division of correction can participate in the warrant service officer program; to expand the state’s current ban on sanctuary cities to include counties and unincorporated areas; and for other purposes. 

SB497 – An act to amend the law regarding labor; to require the creation of a poster regarding veterans’ benefits and services; to require certain employers to display the poster; and for other purposes. 

HB1666  – An act to amend the law concerning the Arkansas self-funded cyber response program; and for other purposes. 

HB1803 – An act to amend the law concerning the placement of a monument on the state capitol grounds in recognition and honor of Maurice Lee “Footsie” Britt; and for other purposes. 

HB1887 – An act to amend the law concerning statewide child abduction response teams; and for other purposes.

SB302 – An act to create the criminal offense of gift card fraud; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. 

SB314 – An act to amend the law concerning sexual solicitation; to amend the penalties for the offense of sexual solicitation; and for other purposes. 

SB375 – An act to create the offense of capital rape; to amend a portion of Arkansas code which resulted from initiated act 3 of 1936; and for other purposes. 

SB427 – An act to amend promoting prostitution offenses; to enhance the penalties for promoting prostitution in the first, second, and third degree; to create the offense of promoting prostitution at a business; and for other purposes. 

SB428 – An act concerning a civil cause of action for victims of human trafficking; to provide a statute of limitation period of ten years for a victim of human trafficking; and for other purposes. 

SB429 – An act amending certain laws for the protecting of human trafficking victims; to provide that human trafficking victims have certain rights; to amend the comprehensive criminal record sealing act of 2013 to expand the sealing of criminal records of victims of human trafficking; to provide that a no-contact order is mandatory for human trafficking offense; and for other purposes. 

SB430 – An act to require mandatory restitution to be awarded to a victim of human trafficking; to amend the Arkansas crime victims reparations act; and for other purposes. 

SB442 – An act to amend the law concerning human trafficking; to provide for forfeiture of assets used to conduct human trafficking; to create the offense of harboring an endangered runaway child; to create the Arkansas human trafficking council support fund; to amend the fine payments for human trafficking offenses and prostitution offenses; and for other purposes.

SB446 – An act to amend the automatic license plate reader system act; to provide for the use of automatic license plate readers by private landowners, private leaseholder, and commercial businesses; and for other purposes. 

SB449 – An act to provide civil immunity for confiscation of alternative nicotine products, vapor products, e-liquid products, tobacco products, and cigarette papers from a minor at a school; and for other purposes.

SB485 – An act to reduce recidivism; to amend the law concerning the suspended imposition of a sentence, probation, parole, and post-release supervision; and for other purposes. 

SB553 – An act to amend the Arkansas municipal accounting law; to amend the duties of a municipal treasurer; to require training for an individual charged with duties under the Arkansas municipal accounting law; and for other purposes.

HB1336 – An act to amend the law concerning the administration and benefit plans of the state police retirement system; to amend the survivors’ benefit options under the state police retirement system; to amend the provisions concerning the tier two deferred retirement option plan under the state police retirement system; and for other purposes. 

HB1416 – An act to amend the law concerning fire departments; to allow a volunteer fire department servicing unincorporated areas of the county to levy dues; and for other purposes. 

HB1454 – An act to amend the laws concerning criminal history records checks for employees of service providers; to allow third-party employee evaluation services to perform criminal history records checks; to include independent contractors; and for other purposes. 

HB1476 – An act to amend the direct shipment of vinous liquor act; to establish a wine direct shipper license; and for other purposes. 

HB1589 – An act to amend the law concerning the financial operations of a county; to amend the law concerning the annual county financial report; and for other purposes. 

HB1615 – An act to amend the law concerning religious nondiscrimination; and for other purposes. 

HB1692 – An act to amend the law concerning polygraph examiners and voice stress analysis examiners; to amend the law concerning private investigators and private security agencies; and for other purposes.  

HB1729 – An act to amend the homestead exemption act; to provide that a homestead owned by a limited liability company is eligible for the homestead exemption in certain circumstances; and for other purposes. 

HB1749 – An act to adopt the uniform trust decanting act; and for other purposes. 

HB1752 – An act to exempt certain savings plans from the execution of a judgement; and for other purposes. 

HB1763 – An act to amend the human trafficking act of 2013; to create the offense of unlawful use of a communication device during the commission of a human trafficking offense; and for other purposes. 

HB1777 – An act to amend the law concerning the offense of sexually grooming a child; to include bribing or attempting to bribe a child in the offense of sexually grooming a child; and for other purposes.

HB1780 – An act to amend the law concerning the retention of property related to a felony investigation; and for other purposes. 

HB1799 – An act to amend the permissible methods of reporting under the child maltreatment act; and for other purposes. 

HB1808 – An act to amend the law concerning municipal fire departments; to create the bill of rights for firefighters; and for other purposes. 

HB1815 – An act to amend the state’s jurisdiction over federal lands; to retain juvenile justice jurisdiction by the state; and for other purposes. 

HB1824 – An act to amend the law concerning cruelty to animals; to create the dog and cat rescue act; Daisy’s law; to authorize law enforcement officers to secure a dog or cat in certain circumstances; and for other purposes. 

HB1830 – An act to amend the law concerning the attorney general; to amend the law concerning the procurement of contingency fee contracts by the attorney general; and for other purposes. 

HB1831 – An act to amend the law concerning the use of settlement funds by the attorney general; and for other purposes. 

HB1835 – An act concerning specialty court programs; to amend the law concerning record sealing upon completion of a specialty court program; to update and clarify the law concerning drug court, mental health court, veterans court and DWI/BWI specialty court programs; and for other purposes. 

HB1839 – An act to amend the procedures for the declaration of legal death of a missing person; and for other purposes. 

HB1872 –  An act to amend the law concerning the fees that may be collected by a county sheriff; to allow a county sheriff to collect fees for attempted service in certain circumstances; and for other purposes. 

HB1931 – An act to create the recidivism reduction system within the Department of Corrections; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. 

SB390 – An act to establish the state apprenticeship agency act; and for other purposes. 

SB408 – An act to provide an income tax exemption for certain payments by the United States department of agriculture; and for other purposes. 

SB460 – An act to modify the compliance advisory panel; to repeal the marketing recyclables program of the compliance advisory panel; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.

SB464  – An act to amend the laws concerning sales of raw milk; to allow sales of raw milk and raw milk products at locations other than the farm where raw milk or raw milk product is produced; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. 

SB492 – An act to amend the law concerning the relocation of utility facilities; to amend the law concerning the acquisition, condemnation, and disposition of real property by the state highway commission; to establish a process for the relocation of a utility facility located on a public right of way; and for other purposes. 

SB496 – An act to amend the law concerning permits for special cargoes; to amend the law concerning the issuance of a permit for special cargo transported by a farm machinery equipment hauler; and for other purposes. 

SB530 – An act to amend the Arkansas wood energy products and forest maintenance income tax credit; and for other purposes. 

SB540 – An act to amend the law concerning the suspension or revocation of a driver’s license for the inability to drive; to limit the suspension or revocation of a driver’s license or imposition or restrictions on a driver’s license of a person who has suffered a seizure; and for other purposes. 

SB550 – An act to amend the law concerning certain duties of the Arkansas livestock and poultry commission; to change the name of the Arkansas livestock and poultry commission to the Arkansas board of animal health; and for other purposes. 

SB562 – An act to amend the law concerning the office of internal audit; to repeal the requirement for an annual project review and efficiency study of the Arkansas department of transportation; and for other purposes. 

SB594 – An act to amend the law concerning exemptions for certificates of public convenience and necessity for new construction to supply a public service or to extend a public service; and for other purposes. 

HB1277 – An act to amend payments for corrective action regarding petroleum storage tanks; and for other purposes. 

HB1572  – An act to create a technical feasibility study on new nuclear energy generation; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. 

HB1582 – An act to amend the division of workforce services law; to require the state-maintained job board to match an individual with a job; to encourage an individual to apply for a job as part of his or her work search contracts; and for other purposes. 

HB1657  – An act to amend the Arkansas wood energy products and forest maintenance income tax credit; and for other purposes. 

HB1688 – An act to amend Arkansas law concerning the use of a dealer’s extra license plate; and for other purposes. 

HB1796 – An act to require the display of gender information on an Arkansas driver’s license or identification card; and for other purposes. 

HB1814 – An act to amend the law concerning municipal authority over utilities; to revise the definition of “public utility” under title 14, chapter 200; and for other purposes. 

HB1838 – An act to amend the law concerning probate actions; to amend the law concerning adoption and guardianship; and for other purposes. 

HB1851 – An act to amend the sales tax exemption for food, food ingredients, and prepared food sold in a public, common, high school, or college cafeteria or dining facility; and for other purposes. 

HB1891 – An act to amend the law concerning the requirements for filing as a candidate; to amend the la concerning the use of a prefix in filing as a candidate for a nonpartisan judicial office by an appointee to a nonpartisan judicial office; to allow a person filing as a candidate for the office of justice of the supreme court or judge of the court of appeals who is serving in that position as an appointee to use the title of that position as a prefix when filing as a candidate; and for other purposes. 

HB1896 – An act to create the junk fee eliminating act of 2025; abolish the information network of Arkansas; to transfer any remaining duties of the information network of Arkansas to the division of information systems; and for other purposes. 

SB494 – An act to amend the permits and annual privilege fees under the Arkansas tobacco products tax act of 1977; to reduce the number and types of permits issued by Arkansas tobacco control; to consolidate several permits into a single permit under the Arkansas tobacco products tax act of 1977; and for other purposes. 

SB495 – An act to amend definitions used under the Arkansas tobacco products tax act of 1977; to amend the definition of “invoice” and the definition of “invoice price” used under the Arkansas tobacco products tax act of 1977; and for other purposes. 

SB567 – An act to amend the multistate tax compact and the uniform division of income for tax purposes act; to amend and modernize the law concerning the apportionment of income derived from multistate operations; to change the method for sourcing of receipts for services and intangibles from cost of performance to market-based sourcing; and for other purposes. 

SB577– An act to amend the law concerning local sales and use taxes; to require the Department of Finance and Administration to notify local governments concerning sales and use taxes that are set to expire; and for other purposes. 

HB1265- An act to make an appropriation for personal services and operating expenses for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the fiscal year ending in June 30, 2026; and for other purposes.

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Governor reveals two vetoes on final day of session

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by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Wednesday (April 16) announced two vetoes — a bill veto and a line-item veto — her first two vetoes of the 95th General Assembly.

Her first announced veto was HB 1889, which was sponsored by Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, and Sen. Joshua Bryant, R-Rogers.

HB 1889 would amend the limitations on access to a medical marijuana dispensary or cultivation facility. It would also alter the existing law on medical marijuana prescription orders being delivered via a delivery vehicle or drive-thru window.

Governor reveals two vetoes on final day of session

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UAMS, Washington Regional Approved for Residency Programs in Neurology, Emergency Medicine in Northwest Arkansas

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FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Washington Regional Medical Center have received initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to establish a neurology residency program and an emergency medicine residency program in Northwest Arkansas through their joint graduate medical education program.

These are the first non-primary care residencies accredited in Northwest Arkansas. The programs can begin recruiting residents in the fall. The initial two neurology residents and the initial six emergency medicine residents will begin in July 2026. When full, the four-year neurology program will have a total of eight residents, and the three-year emergency medicine program will have a total of 18 residents.

“Northwest Arkansas is experiencing rapid population growth, increasing the demand for specialized medical care,” said Ryan Cork, MHSA, vice chancellor of the UAMS Northwest Region. “Despite this growth, the region faces a shortage of neurologists and emergency medicine physicians, leading to longer wait times and limited access for patients. Expanding the number of specialists in the area is essential to meet current health care needs, improve patient outcomes and support the overall health infrastructure of our thriving community.”

UAMS, Washington Regional Approved for Residency Programs in Neurology, Emergency Medicine in Northwest Arkansas

Jay Hinkle, M.D., (right) program director, and Margaret Tremwel, M.D., Ph.D., (left), associate program director, of the UAMS/WRMC Neurology Residency Program.

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Boozman, Hill Introduce Legislation to Grow Employee Ownership

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WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and Representative French Hill (R-AR-02) introduced the S. Corporation Additional Participation (S-CAP) Act, legislation to increase the maximum number of employees who can become shareholders in an S Corporation (S Corps) from 100 to 250.

“Congress has a duty to shape the tax code with pro-growth policies that spur job creation and capital investment. S Corps are an important element in that framework that also help empower employees with expanded economic opportunity through the enterprise they know and trust most,” said Boozman. “Congress has adjusted S Corps shareholder caps previously, and our bill is another simple but important tax code reform that will benefit millions of small businesses and the hardworking Americans who drive their success.”

“As a former community banker, I have a deep appreciation for the importance of S Corporations. They are an invaluable tool that helps workers and small businesses alike. That is why I am pleased to introduce the S-CAP Act, which will expand access to the benefits of S Corps,” said Hill. “By increasing equity participation for employees in private companies, S Corps have given more and more families the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. They improve employee retention, motivation, and productivity, and they increase the ability for companies to access capital through diverse sources. S Corps also empower Americans to climb the economic ladder and build generational wealth. This bill will build on the success of S Corps by increasing the number of shareholders they can have. It is a simple change that will have a dramatic positive impact on thousands, if not millions, of hardworking Americans.”

The S-CAP Act is endorsed by Nabholz Construction, the Subchapter S Bank Association, TransPecos Banks and the American Council of Engineering.

“In 1949, my grandfather, Bob Nabholz embarked on a journey to build a house for himself and his wife, setting in motion the start of a construction legacy that has thrived for more than 75 years. Today we have 16 offices in seven states and employ more than 1,700 professionals with an expected 2025 revenue of over $1.8 billion. In 1976, Bob saw the value in offering ownership to key employees and invited the first group of team members to become shareholders. He felt it was important to give employees an opportunity to shape the future of our company and have a personal stake in our long-term success. That tradition continues to this day. Employee ownership has been a cornerstone of our company’s success for nearly 50 years. We are very proud of our employee owners and the impact they have on our company and the communities we live in. The proposed increase in the S Corp shareholder cap will give us the ability to offer many more well-deserving employees the opportunity to become owners of Nabholz Construction. We are grateful to Senator Boozman and Congressman Hill for sponsoring this legislation which will help reward and retain top talent, ensuring the long-term growth and success of our company. We respectfully encourage Congress to pass this legislation,” said Nabholz Construction Corporation Chief Executive Officer Jake Nabholz. 

Background:

  • In the United States, S Corps are the most common corporate structure, created in 1958 to help shield family-owned businesses from the double taxation treatment imposed on C Corporations (“C Corps”).

  • When established, Congress limited the number of S Corps shareholders to 10.

  • Congress, in recognition of the power of S Corps to create jobs and grow the economy, has increased the number of permitted shareholders multiple times, with the most increase raising the cap to 100 in 2004.

  • While the 100 shareholder cap was appropriate over twenty years ago, evolving technology, enhanced global competition, and changing regulatory landscapes have made it such that U.S. small businesses need greater flexibility to grow and attract top talent. This is why it’s time for Congress to modernize the shareholder cap.

  • In Arkansas, there are 318,525 S Corp employees across the entire state and 38,533,460 nationwide.

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UAMS, CDC Find 3% of Arkansas 8-Year-Olds, 2.5% of 4-Year-Olds Diagnosed with Autism

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By Yavonda Chase

LITTLE ROCK — One in 34 (3.0%) of 8-year-old children in Arkansas were identified with autism spectrum disorder by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) Arkansas Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (AR ADDM) program in 2022, according to an analysis published April 15 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summaries.

This percentage is about the same as the average percentage identified (3.2%) in all 16 communities the CDC tracks, highlighting the variability across ADDM sites.

Findings from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network offer critical insights about the number of children with autism spectrum disorder, the characteristics of those children, and the age at which they are first evaluated and diagnosed.

UAMS, CDC Find 3% of Arkansas 8-Year-Olds, 2.5% of 4-Year-Olds Diagnosed with Autism

One in 34 (3.0%) of 8-year-old children in Arkansas were identified with autism spectrum disorder by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) Arkansas Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (AR ADDM) program in 2022.

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Attorney General Griffin, other AGs call for business roundtable to abandon DEI Initiative

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Griffin: ‘DEI Initiatives Are Contrary To The Core Purpose Of Publicly Traded Companies’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after he and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey co-led a letter urging the Business Roundtable, a national association of the nation’s top CEOs, to abandon the unlawful and misguided DEI initiative previously announced by Business Roundtable:

“This letter is consistent with what I and many other state attorneys general have been saying for a long time. DEI initiatives are contrary to the core purpose of publicly traded companies. Corporations are designed to foster economic growth, create jobs, and maximize shareholder returns. Corporate officers can’t accomplish those things and fulfill their fiduciary duties if they are focused on arbitrary goals that are at best ill-defined and at worst discriminatory and offensive to most Arkansans.”

“Many of the Business Roundtable’s member CEOs are coming to this realization on their own and abandoning these practices. It’s time that all Business Roundtable members drop this harmful initiative and commit to merit-based hiring and a focus on shareholders.”

The attorneys general of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and South Dakota signed the letter co-led by Missouri and Arkansas.

To read a copy of the letter, click here.

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Full-scale disaster drill tests LR airport's emergency preparedness

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KUAR | By Nathan Treece

A simulated disaster at Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport on Tuesday tested the effectiveness of emergency responders and administrators.

The scenario: a flock of ducks are sucked into an engine during takeoff, and the plane is forced to make an emergency landing – except, the landing gear doesn’t deploy, leading to a crash.

The airport’s public information officer Shane Carter says the simulation tests the coordination of multiple agencies.

Full-scale disaster drill tests LR airport's emergency preparedness

Nathan Treece/Little Rock Public Radio

Emergency responders test their skills during a simulated disaster at the Clinton National Airport in Little Rock on April 15, 2025.

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Bill requiring Ten Commandments display in Arkansas public buildings becomes law

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KUAR | By Daniel Breen

All public schools in Arkansas will be required to display a copy of the Ten Commandments under a new state law.

Senate Bill 433, now Act 573, requires a Ten Commandments display in all state and local government buildings, including in every public school and college classroom. The bill became law on Monday, five days after it received final legislative approval.

Speaking in a committee meeting earlier this month, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Alyssa Brown, R-Heber Springs, said it’s an effort to educate students on how the United States was founded and framed its Constitution.

Bill requiring Ten Commandments display in Arkansas public buildings becomes law

Wikimedia Commons

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Bill banning DEI in Arkansas local government sent to governor’s desk

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KUAR | By Ainsley Platt / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Legislation banning diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices at the local level passed the Arkansas House of Representatives Monday, sending the bill to the governor’s desk.

Senate Bill 520 is one of several bills targeting culture war issues that have been taken up during the 2025 legislative session. The bill, if it becomes law, would prohibit DEI “offices, officers, policies, or practices in local government.”

Under the proposed law, local governments would be prohibited from implementing hiring and employment policies that take into account diversity, equity and inclusion, DEI offices, or programs, policies, practices or applicant statements that promote DEI.

Bill banning DEI in Arkansas local government sent to governor’s desk

Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate

State Rep. Alyssa Brown speaks in favor of bill that would prohibit DEI in local government on April 14, 2025.

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Sanders submits waiver to ban soft drinks, unhealthy drinks, and candy from Food Stamps Program

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Flickr Image

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today submitted a waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcing her plan to ban soft drinks and candy from Arkansas’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also referred to as food stamps.
 
“President Trump and his administration have put a laser focus on solving America’s chronic disease epidemic and reforming our food stamp program is a great place to start,” said Governor Sanders. “Banning soft drinks and candy from food stamps will remove some of the least-healthy, most-processed foods from the program and encourage low-income Arkansans to eat better. Arkansas leads the nation in common-sense, conservative reforms and I was proud to work with Secretary Rollins to make this move and take a strong first step toward broader changes to our food stamp program.”
 
“Helping Arkansans improve their health is a top priority for our agency across all programs, and encouraging people to use their SNAP benefits for healthier foods is an important step that we believe will be truly beneficial to the people we serve. This reform will put more nutritious options on the tables of more than 100,000 households across Arkansas who receive SNAP benefits every month. We are eager to implement these changes, and appreciate Gov. Sanders’ leadership and USDA Secretary Rollins’ support as we work to better the health of our entire state,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam.
 
In addition to banning soft drinks and candy from food stamps, this waiver also requests the addition of rotisserie chicken – an affordable, healthy protein source – to the list of eligible SNAP benefits. The State plans to use the GS1 US food categorization system to implement these policy changes.
 
Food stamps are a $119 billion federal program designed to supplement the lowest-income Americans’ nutritional needs. However, about 23% of food stamp spending – $27 billion annually – now goes toward soft drinks, unhealthy snacks, candy, and desserts. One-third of Arkansans have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
 
Studies have consistently shown the link between the overconsumption of sugary, highly processed foods like soft drinks and candy and chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. One study from Stanford found that just banning sugary drinks from food stamps could prevent obesity in 141,000 kids and Type 2 diabetes in 240,000 adults.
 
The Sanders Administration is working across the board to eliminate food insecurity. Earlier this year, Governor Sanders signed SB59 into law, providing every student in Arkansas with free school breakfast. The legislation also repurposes Medical Marijuana tax revenue to ensure both Summer EBT and Arkansas’ free lunch and breakfast programs are fully funded into the future.
 
Governor Sanders previously announced Arkansas will continue its Summer EBT program this year after serving 260,000 last summer. The Governor previously signed legislation to provide free school lunches for students who previously qualified for reduced-price meals.
 
Sanders mailed Arkansas’ waiver to USDA today, opening up a 30-day public comment period in Arkansas. She previously announced her intent to pursue this waiver in December, 2024.
 
A copy of the waiver is here and a copy of the Governor’s letter accompanying the waiver is here.

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Extension to offer last produce safety grower training opportunity in May

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By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

CONWAY, Ark. — On May 15, the Cooperative Extension Service will offer its last produce safety grower training until a new funding opportunity is secured for the program. Sarah Bakker, extension food systems and food safety program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said attendance is critical for farmers’ success.

LAST CHANCE — Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers will have one last opportunity to attend a producer safety grower training hosted by the Cooperative Extension Service on May 15 in Conway, Arkansas. 

“This will be our last training session until we are able to secure a new funding opportunity or set up the program as fee-based,” said Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension associate professor of food systems and food safety specialist for the Division of Agriculture. "Currently, we charge $25 for the training, which covers food and beverages. However, without program support, we will likely need to charge several hundred dollars per attendee.”

The training will take place from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Faulkner County Extension office at 844 Faulkner Street in Conway, Arkansas. Participants must register by May 12 at uada.formstack.com/forms/psa_faulkner. The cost is $25 to attend, and attendance is limited to 20 participants.

For fresh produce farms, the Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA, Produce Safety rule sets mandatory federal standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce. Bakker said most produce farms are affected by this rule. Growers who attend the training will receive a certificate of completion, which satisfies the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Bakker said growers should secure their certification before the program is suspended, as Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers are still required to meet FSMA Produce Safety Rule standards.

“The 2011 FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act introduced regulations to protect public health by preventing food-safety incidents instead of reacting to them after they occur,” Bakker said. “This way, we can reduce financial risk to farmers and protect the public by ensuring a safe food supply.”

The training will cover new regulations for fruit and vegetable producers, including information about agricultural water, soil amendments, worker health and hygiene, wildlife management and more.

Program suspended due to funding cuts

"Through a partnership between the Division of Agriculture and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, this federally funded cooperative agreement has been vital in helping the state’s produce industry meet federal standards since 2017,” Perez said.

Perez said the produce safety team at the Division of Agriculture has trained approximately 500 local growers and industry service providers on the Produce Safety Rule’s Good Agricultural Practices and provided “valuable on-farm visits to assist growers in preparing for federal inspections.

“However, due to recent federal funding cuts, this essential outreach and training program will conclude on June 30,” Perez said. “With increasing food safety outbreaks across the country, the loss of this program marks a significant change for the state’s agricultural community.”

Perez will still be available to help growers with technical questions about produce safety. For more information on these changes or to seek additional support, contact Greg Alexander, produce safety program manager for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, at 501-225-1598, or Perez at 501-671-2228.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

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UAMS Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, Public Health Ranked Among Nation’s Top Graduate Schools

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By Chris Carmody

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Public Health rank among the top academic programs in U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of Best Graduate Schools for 2025.

In the rankings released today, the UAMS College of Medicine is recognized as a Tier 1 school for primary care education, placing it among the highest-performing institutions in the nation.

U.S. News & World Report evaluated dozens of medical and osteopathic schools and separated them into four tiers based on factors such as faculty resources and the academic achievements of entering students. It also considered the proportion of graduates practicing in primary care specialties, including family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, geriatrics, general practice and internal medicine pediatrics.

UAMS Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, Public Health Ranked Among Nation’s Top Graduate Schools

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences campus in Little Rock is shown in this aerial photo. Image by Bryan Clifton

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UADA tallies crop-related flood damage at ‘conservative’ $78.9 million

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By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture on Tuesday estimated crop-related flood damage in Arkansas to be a “conservative” $78.9 million; and agronomists and economists warn additional acres may be flooded as water moves downstream.  

The estimate said that of the 839,798 acres reported planted as of April 7, 31 percent was reported as flooded.

Map showing percentage of crop acres flooded in each county compared to acres planted as of April 7, 2025. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image)

Rice accounted for most of the flooded acreage at 46 percent; soybeans were next at 30 percent, followed closely by corn at 23 percent and winter wheat at 1 percent of the crop.

The assessment did not include peanuts and cotton, since those crops have later planting dates.

The analysis estimated the total replanting expenses from flooded acres for corn, rice and soybeans to be $42.04 million. The estimated replanting cost per commodity is:

  • Corn — $11.44 million

  • Rice — $20.91 million

  • Soybeans — $9.68 million.

Winter wheat damaged by flooding won’t be replanted, and with fertilizer and other inputs already invested in the crop, wheat growers will still face production losses and sunk cost of production. This places the loss for wheat at around $18 million, the analysis said.

The value of federal crop insurance indemnities — the amount insurance would pay back to farmers — is estimated at $18.69 million.

The Division of Agriculture released a fact sheet on Tuesday outlining these preliminary damage calculations. Agricultural economists and agronomists from the Division of Agriculture made their calculations based on observations from county Cooperative Extension Service agents.

“We recognize that this is likely a conservative estimate as we have not accounted for yield loss resulting from late planting, damage to farm structures such as grain bins, and unreported acreage that is flooded,” said Hunter Biram, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We note that these losses are one-third of the projected economic assistance to be received by Arkansas crop producers highlighting the significance of this flood event in the face of multi-year declines in net farm income and heightened market volatility.”

When calculating the total damage costs, planting expenses are estimated using operating costs from the 2025 University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture crop enterprise budgets, said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture. “Only cost items such as seed, fertilizer, herbicides, labor and diesel are incurred when replanting a crop, while the remaining operating expenses — including crop insurance, interest and cash rent — are only incurred in the initial planting.”

Pie chart showing the proportion of four commodities affected by flooding rains that fell in the first week of April. (U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture image)

Deacue Fields, head of the Division of Agriculture who is also an agricultural economist, said the damage assessment is critical to help obtain aid for affected farmers.

“We created this assessment to help our farmers and are sharing our findings with Gov. Sanders and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” he said, “Both are in a position to help the people of Arkansas agriculture through this very difficult time.

“We truly appreciate the speed at which our agents and faculty collected and processed this information under very difficult conditions,” Fields said.

The Division of Agriculture will conduct additional surveys to further refine the damage estimate.

Agriculture is the state’s largest industry, valued at more than $24 billion.

Pie chart showing acres impacted by flooding compared to acres planted as of April 7, 2025, and the total historical acres planted in Arkansas. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image)

From April 2-6, Arkansas and parts of the Mid-South endured a series of storms culminating in what the National Weather Service labeled “generational” flooding. With more than a foot of rain falling in some locations, moderate and major flooding occurred along the Cache, Black, White and Ouachita Rivers. Water levels along those rivers were not expected to decline significantly through April 18.

Along the lower White River, the National Weather Service posted flood warnings until further notice.

Last week, Craighead County rice farmer Joe Christian posted an aerial photo of his farm on X, which showed the vast scale of the flooding. In it, the white roof of a storage shed surrounded by acres of brown water, with a few trees and outlines of fields visible.  

Satellite analysis

Jason Davis, assistant professor remote sensing and pesticides application and extension specialist, was analyzing satellite imagery of the flooding to be paired and validated against ground observations made by extension agents.

“We’re one of the very few organizations that can do this,” Davis said. “With our direct connection to producers through both specialists and the county extension agents we are one of the very few organizations in the state that have the network to do this kind of validation with such a quick turnaround.”

For his analysis, Davis has downloaded imagery of 11 million acres in Arkansas’ Delta. The images are multispectral, so in addition to visible light, he has near-infrared images which can be used to “show very clearly where the water is.”

Using the visible and near-infrared images to create false color imagery, all water — “even the really turbid water that may look similar to soil in visible spectrum imagery, pops as fluorescent blue so it can be differentiated as flooded.”

Davis said he will also produce a “quantified map of where the water is pixel by pixel, so we can calculate the number of flooded acres by that. I use those two methods to calculate and validate where the water is.”

Davis said he overlays the satellite imagery with maps from the National Agricultural Statistics Service showing “where crop fields are and what commodity that field was planted in each year.”  While the NASS data is from 2024, agronomists and economists can use these numbers as a baseline to adjust estimates based on what was planted and crop rotations.

Rice

The problem plaguing all farmers right now is uncertainty as water drains southward.

“We are still so much in the middle of this insanity,” said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. In the next few days,  “there is ground where the water is coming off and ground that is just now going under.”

The rising water won’t be dramatic like the original flood event, but farmers “will just start to see water getting deeper every day,” he said.

In the Payneway community, “they started sandbagging it last Wednesday, expecting it to flood this coming Wednesday,” Hardke said Monday. “They’re having to read the tea leaves about when and how this is all going to play out.”

Complicating the predictions are the different rates at which the rivers — all tributaries of the Mississippi River — drain.

“There’s the expectation that when the Mississippi River crest gets to Helena, that they’re going to need to protect the Mississippi River levees. They’ll be turning off their pumps and that means a lot of the water we’re draining out of the St. Francis and other rivers is going to start to back up.”

As for a rice redo, “we know we have a ton of levy damage and impacts. Tearing down and rebuilding damaged levees — that’s a substantial investment of time and money,” Hardke said.

“There is actually a little bit of replant seed available — seed that was deliberately held back for that purpose,” Hardke said. “But it’s going to be hit or miss depending on the type of rice they need.”

Soybeans

Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said the high moisture levels left by the flooding are causing seedling diseases in stands that have emerged.

However, “we are still in the heart of the optimum planting window,” he said. “With less than 15 percent of the crop planted, there’s still time to maximize yield.”

Growers looking for seed to replant their soybeans may “not get the same variety you had, but you can still get the herbicide technology you’re looking for.

“The way I look at it is the best scenario is cotton and peanuts because nothing has been planted,” Ross said. “Second best is going to be soybeans, just because seed supply is really good.”

Ross cited the case of a grower in east central Arkansas who planted 2,700 acres of soybeans and 300 acres of corn.

“They’re going to have to replant the whole farm because of drowned soybeans and being hit pretty hard with seedling diseases,” Ross said. “But while it’s a bad situation, it could be worse. It’ll be a little more cost to recondition the beds, run the planter and then make an additional herbicide application, but they still have an opportunity to maximize their soybean yield.”

Corn

When it comes to corn, growers are also still within a good planting window, said Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist for the Division of Agriculture. He said there should be seed available for replanting, but “it’s probably not going to be the grower’s first choice. They might get their second, third or fourth choices.”

Kelley said the late planting date for full crop insurance is April 25 in southern Arkansas and May 1 for northeast Arkansas, so most people are going to be able to get back in the field and replant corn before yields start dropping from late planting.”

Some growers that had corn emerging and plan to replant will have an unusual task: killing the rain-damaged first stand before planting again, since the partial initial stand will act like a weed for the replanted corn.

“A lot of people are probably just going to use tillage to get rid of the first stand as many of the raised beds are eroded down that irrigation later in the season may not be as effective,” Kelley said.

Raised bed erosion is a real issue “Producers may have planted the seed 2 inches deep,” he said. However, when the heavy rains came, “those beds ‘melted down,’ so now that seed isn’t 2 inches deep and it’s not nearly deep enough for proper root development, which can lead to plants falling over and plant loss.

"The silver lining is that if this rain happened a month from now, it would have been even more devasting since now, at least, we have an opportunity to replant corn,” he said. 

Wheat

Kelley said, “Unfortunately for the wheat crop, we’ve got almost all the expenses in it already —seed, fertilizer, herbicides — so we’re basically waiting on harvest,” he said. 

“Wheat can handle some water for a couple days like other crops, but the quicker the water recedes, the better,” Kelley said. “If the wheat is heading or in the flowering stage and the flood water is deep enough to go over the heads that would most likely result in blank heads with no grain.”

Authors

The fact sheet was authored by Hunter Biram, extension agricultural economist; Ryan M. Loy, extension agricultural economist; Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist; Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist; and Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

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Attorney General Griffin leads multistate letter asking Congress to prohibit Pharmacy Benefit Managers from owning or operating pharmacies

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Griffin: ‘It Is Far Past Time That We Act To Restore The Balance Of Competition And Ensure That PBMs Only Play The Role They Were Always Meant To Play’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement after leading a bipartisan coalition of 39 states and territories in sending a letter to Congress asking it to prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies:

“PBMs are third-party administrators of prescription drug programs for health plans, and as such they heavily influence drug prices for pharmacies. Over the past few decades, PBMs have increasingly moved into the space of pharmacy ownership and operation. This has allowed them to set certain drug prices for pharmacies they control while setting less competitive prices for independent pharmacies and others outside their scope of influence.

Carolina Journal Image

“While this practice hurts small businesses, it ultimately hurts consumers by driving down competition. The letter that I led alongside the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Missouri, and Vermont urges Congress to take action and protect consumers by enacting a law prohibiting PBMs or their parent companies from owning or operating pharmacies.

“We have stood by for too long and watched PBMs’ influence encroach on consumers and small businesses. It is far past time that we act to restore the balance of competition and ensure that PBMs only play the role they were always meant to play.”

In addition to Griffin, the attorneys general of the following states and territories also signed on to the letter sent by Arkansas: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

To read the letter, click here.