Attorney General Griffin Honors Arkansas’s Top Law Enforcement Officers of 2024

Griffin: ‘The men and women we’ve recognized today have shown outstanding courage and commitment to their communities in the past year’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today honored law enforcement officers from across Arkansas at the 2024 Officer of the Year Awards luncheon. At the conclusion of the event, Griffin issued the following statement:

“Each year we honor the service, sacrifice, and dedication of Arkansas’s law enforcement with the Officer of the Year Awards. The men and women we’ve recognized today have shown outstanding courage and commitment to their communities in the past year. As we celebrate the ways they have gone above and beyond to keep Arkansans safe, we honor not just these few, but all law enforcement officers.

“This year’s state Officer of the Year is Chief Deputy John Cutrell of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. During the mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce on June 21, 2024, Chief Deputy Cutrell was near the scene when calls began to come in. Chief Deputy Cutrell immediately jumped into action to assist law enforcement, paramedics, and victims. While on scene, he aided a paramedic by driving the ambulance to the hospital while the paramedic was treating a severely injured victim. Chief Deputy Cutrell then helped the paramedic transport the victim to their room so the medical staff could provide further medical treatment. Afterward, Chief Deputy Cutrell immediately returned to the Mad Butcher grocery store and began preserving the crime scene.

“The victim Chief Deputy Cutrell assisted that day is alive because of the chief deputy’s actions. In a situation of chaos and violence, Chief Deputy Cutrell demonstrated strength, compassion, and courage. He was among many heroes in Fordyce that day, and his actions are representative of the best of law enforcement in our state.

“As the top law enforcement officer in the state, I am committed to supporting and working with Arkansas’s law enforcement community to ensure they can continue to protect and serve our citizens at the highest levels of excellence and professionalism.”

Honorees are officers from each of the state’s counties, five regional winners, two recipients of the Dwayne Yarbrough Distinguished Service Award, four valor tributes (officers who died in the line of duty) and one statewide Officer of the Year. This year’s honorees are:

Statewide Officer of the Year: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office

Northeast Region: Corporal Marcus Simpson, Arkansas State Police

Southeast Region: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office

Southwest Region: Deputy Joshua Butterworth, Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Central Region: Trooper Austin Duncan, Arkansas State Police

Northwest Region: Deputy Tyler Himes, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office

Valor Tributes:
Officer Michael “Cain” Maxheimer, Shannon Hills Police Department
Deputy Justin Smith, Stone County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Tommy Foster, Jr., Conway County Detention Center
Corporal Raymond Kuuchi, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services

Dwayne Yarbrough Distinguished Service Awards:
Corporal Lonnie Stone, Flippin Police Department
Sergeant Justin Wagner, Polk County Sheriff’s Office

County Officers of the Year:
Arkansas County: Deputy Patrick Johnson, Arkansas County Sheriff’s Office

Ashley County: School Resource Officer Robert Black, Crossett Police Department

Baxter County: Agent Bobby Hicks, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction

Benton County: Corporal Joshua Fritz, Siloam Springs Police Department

Boone County: Deputy Tyler Nichols, Boone County Sheriff’s Office

Bradley County: Trooper First Class TreVaughn Moore, Arkansas State Police

Calhoun County: Chief Deputy John Cutrell, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office

Carroll County: Officer Zachary Gray, Berryville Police Department

Chicot County: Trooper David Menotti, Jr., Arkansas State Police

Clark County: Lieutenant Dean Palmer, Arkansas Police Department

Clay County: Trooper Christian Underwood, Arkansas State Police

Cleburne County: Assistant Area Manager SRT Marcus “Levi” Lovin, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction

Cleveland County: K-9 Officer Austin Powell and K-9 Annie, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Columbia County: Trooper Justin Cherry, Arkansas State Police

Conway County: Assistant Chief Trent Anderson, Morrilton Police Department

Craighead County: Special Agent Heath Gurley, Arkansas State Police

Crawford County: Deputy Tyler Himes, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office

Crittenden County: Trooper Dairren Evans, Trooper Dylan Evans, Corporal Billy Martin, Arkansas State Police

Cross County: Trooper First Class Kristopher McCrea, Arkansas State Police

Dallas County: Trooper First Class Jimmy Plyler, Jr., Arkansas State Police

Desha County: Deputy Alan Hernandez, Desha County Sheriff’s Office

Drew County: Sergeant Chris Austin and K-9 Aiko, Drew County Sheriff’s Office

Faulkner County: Officer Darnell Flowers, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Community Correction

Franklin County: Trooper Dalton Lewis, Arkansas State Police

Fulton County: Sergeant Justin Nowlin, Arkansas State Police

Garland County: Trooper Justin Parker, Arkansas State Police

Grant County: School Resource Officer Saundra McCool, Sheridan Police Department

Greene County: Corporal Stephen Pace, Paragould Police Department

Hempstead County: Trooper First Class Trevor Dew, Arkansas State Police

Hot Spring County: Corporal Anna Eubanks, Malvern Police Department

Howard County: Investigator Tim Bowlin, Dierks Police Department

Independence County: Deputy Sherman Rucker, Sergeant Zachary Spohr, Independence County Sheriff’s Office

Izard County: Lieutenant Robert Cross, Arkansas Department of Corrections – Division of Correction

Jackson County: Corporal Marcus Simpson, Arkansas State Police

Jefferson County: Trooper James Harrell, Arkansas State Police

Johnson County: Corporal James Harmon, Lamar Police Department

Lafayette County: Assistant Chief Daniel Simmons, Lewisville Police Department

Lawrence County: Deputy Jason Fraser, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office

Lee County: Special Agent James Collins, Arkansas State Police

Lincoln County: Investigator Larry Gailey, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office

Little River County: Trooper First Class Ian Nelson, Arkansas State Police

Logan County: Corporal Jed Bolyard, Arkansas State Police

Lonoke County: Trooper Ana Escamilla, Arkansas State Police

Madison County: Game Warden Caleb McClanahan, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Marion County: Deputy Brett Castle, Lieutenant Silas Gibson, Sergeant Mark Lee, Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Miller County: Sergeant Kyle Caudle, Sergeant Matt Warner, Texarkana Police Department

Mississippi County: Sergeant Jared Camp, Manila Police Department

Monroe County: Trooper Gavin Taylor, Arkansas State Police

Montgomery County: Sergeant Emily McCaghren, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Nevada County: Sergeant Jeremy Hendrix, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office

Newton County: Chief Deputy Mike Blocker, Newton County Sheriff’s Office

Ouachita County: Chief Nathan Greeley, Bearden Police Department

Perry County: Investigator Todd Bonds, Perryville Police Department

Phillips County: Trooper Dairren Evans, Arkansas State Police

Pike County: Sergeant Shaun Furr, Pike County Sheriff’s Office

Poinsett County: Lieutenant Jay-Ryan Woods, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office

Polk County: Deputy Josh Butterworth, Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Pope County: Corporal Kevin Hobby, Russellville Police Department

Prairie County: Trooper Rand Lace, Arkansas State Police

Pulaski County: Special Agent Travis May, Arkansas State Police

Randolph County: School Resource Officer Felipe Baiza, Maynard School District

St. Francis County: Trooper Blake Irvin, Arkansas State Police

Saline County: Trooper First Class Austin Duncan, Arkansas State Police

Scott County: Trooper Justin Shackleford, Arkansas State Police

Sebastian County: Trooper Tucker Phelps, Arkansas State Police

Sevier County: Patrolman Rene Ramirez, De Queen Police Department

Sharp County: Senior Corporal Roger Tate, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Stone County: Special Agent Drew Widner, Arkansas State Police

Van Buren County: Special Agent Kevin Brown, Arkansas State Police

Washington County: Special Agent Heath Gurley, Arkansas State Police

White County: Corporal John Long, White County Sheriff’s Office

Woodruff County: Constable Johnnie J. Hodge, McCrory Township

Yell County: Officer Jesse Keeling, Officer Anthony Ochoa, Danville Police Department

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About Attorney General Tim Griffin

Tim Griffin was sworn in as the 57th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 10, 2023, having previously served as the state’s 20th Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2023. From 2011-2015, Griffin served as the 24th representative of Arkansas’s Second Congressional District, where he served on the House Committee on Ways and Means, House Armed Services Committee, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Ethics and House Committee on the Judiciary while also serving as a Deputy Whip for the Majority.

Griffin has served as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps for more than 28 years and currently holds the rank of colonel. In 2005, Griffin was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq.

He is currently serving as the Commander of the 2d Legal Operations Detachment in New Orleans, Louisiana. His previous assignments include serving as the Commander of the 134th Legal Operations Detachment at Fort Liberty (née Bragg), North Carolina, and as a Senior Legislative Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at the Pentagon. Griffin earned a master’s degree in strategic studies as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Griffin also served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs for President George W. Bush; Special Assistant to Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arkansas; Senior Investigative Counsel, Government Reform and Oversight Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; and Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel David M. Barrett, In re: HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros.

Griffin is a graduate of Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway, and Tulane Law School in New Orleans. He attended graduate school at Oxford University. He is admitted to practice law in Arkansas (active) and Louisiana (inactive). Griffin lives in Little Rock with his wife, Elizabeth, a Camden native, and their three children.

Arkansas net farm income projected to decrease for second straight year

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ net farm income is projected to decline for the second straight year, a fall cushioned slightly by lower input costs, the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center said in its latest report.   

The center, working with agricultural economists from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said in its “Fall 2024 Arkansas Farm Income Outlook” that Arkansas’ 2024 net farm income is expected to drop by 10 percent from 2023 levels and reach $2.96 billion.   

Net farm income report for Arkansas, October 2024. (Image by RAFF)

 Arkansas' net farm income is expected to see a $1.06 billion drop from its 2022 record-high levels. The report also compares the projected 10 percent reduction in state net farm income to the projected 6.2 percent decline in the U.S. net farm income projected by Mizzou’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute. 

“Fertilizer and pesticides and fuel oils are going to decline by 9 percent year over year,” said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture. “These markets are finally stabilizing. They're coming off these market shocks from COVID, the supply chain issues, the trucker strikes in Canada, and the Ukraine war is kind of baked into the market now.”  

The report said total production expenses are estimated to decline 5 percent in 2024, as fertilizer, feed and fuel expenses retreat. An additional 5 percent decrease in production expenses is forecasted for 2025. 

Unfortunately, “the decrease in fertilizer, pesticides, fuel oils, and feed expenses are offset by the increase in purchased livestock expenses, which amount to a rise of $1.34 billion in 2025,” Loy said.

Cash receipts 

Farm cash receipts represent the total revenue a farm receives from the sale of its agricultural products, government program payments, and private insurance payments.  

The report said that in 2024, total cash receipts for Arkansas would decline by 2 percent or $317 million. Livestock receipts increased 5 percent, or $361 million, while crop receipts tumbled 10 percent, or $580 million. 

Ironically, 2024’s near-record yields are contributing to lower commodity prices. 

Hunter Biram, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture, said that Arkansas had  

Nearly a million and a half acres of rice which is the highest since 2020. Yield is near the record set in 2021 at 7,600 pounds per acre.  

“The price is the lowest that we've seen since 2021 when it came in right under $14 a hundredweight,” he said. 

Corn, which has had the fewest number of Arkansas acres since 2015, is forecast to have a near-record high yield. However, “the price for corn is the lowest that we’ve seen in five years.” 

Cotton was in the same boat.  

“The acreage is the highest that we've had since 2011,” Biram said. “We've got a lot of cotton acres out there, despite having the lowest price since 2020 and it’s at a near-record yield.” 

Arkansas’s 3 million acres of soybeans are projected to have a record yield of 55 bushels an acre, Biram said. “The price for soybeans is the lowest that we've seen since 2019, which is similar to corn.” 

Livestock and poultry 

However, the low prices that bedevil row crop growers is helping the cattle and poultry industry, which relies on crushed soybean and corn for feed.  

Higher egg, broiler, and cattle prices support 5 percent higher total livestock receipts in 2024, the report said, adding that poultry receipts are projected to increase by $287 million, while cattle and hog receipts are also projected higher, by $97 million.   

Loy noted that “feed prices declining this year pretty significantly – 18 percent. 

“Cattle prices are up 6 percent year over year. Most of the uptick over the last few years is due to the severe drought in the western U.S., which led ranchers to reduce herds,” he said. However, with cheaper feed, cattle prices are “expected to decline again in 2025.” 

Government assistance

The report also shows the proportion of government assistance has shifted from primarily market-based programs such as Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage — known as ARC and PLC, to supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance across this same period.

The Fall 2024 Farm Income Outlook is co-published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and RaFF at the University of Missouri, which provides objective policy analysis and informs decision makers on issues affecting farm and rural finances. The center collaborates with a number of states to develop farm income projections with local expertise.  

“RaFF’s Farm Income Outlook for calendar years 2024 and 2025 is intended to inform policymakers, industry analysts, and agricultural practitioners about the expected profitability of the local agricultural sector and its main drivers. RaFF’s state-level projections complement and add granularity to national projections by the USDA and FAPRI-MU, providing valuable insights on local agricultural trends,” said RaFF Director Alejandro Plastina.   

The full report and data tables are online.  

 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.  

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax revenue sets new record in June

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ 2% tourism tax revenue between January and June was $13.513 million, up 6.1% compared with the $12.74 million in the same period of 2023. Revenue in each of the first six months of 2024 set a new record, with those gains compared to record numbers in 2023.

A record for monthly 2% collections was set in June with $2.839 million.

Of the top five counties in terms of 2% tax collections, only Pulaski County posted a decline (down 2.87%), with Washington County posting the largest percentage increase at 15.08%.

The tourism tax revenue in 2023 was $25.446 million, up 5.8% compared with the $24.049 million in 2023. Revenue in each month of 2023 set a new record, with those gains compared to record numbers in 2023.

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax revenue sets new record in June

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin welcomes more than 1,600 to Cybersecurity Summit featuring federal CISA Director

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement at the opening of his Cybersecurity Summit at the Statehouse Convention Center in cooperation with the FORGE Institute and featuring the Director of the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Jen Easterly:

“You don’t have to look far to understand why cybersecurity matters. Look on the front page of today’s newspaper about China hacking three American telecom companies. Today, so much of our life is connected to each other: government, individuals, businesses, for example. I don’t think anyone can question the need for cybersecurity now.

“There are a lot of people out there who want to do you harm. Some are individuals that aren’t that smart and will get caught quickly. Some of them are highly sophisticated entities—such as criminal cartels—that want to do you harm. Some of them are aggressive nation-state actors, including China, Russia and Iran. If you have a home computer and a printer, and it’s connected to the Internet, you need to be cyber-secure. If you’re a big company or a small company, you need to be cyber-secure.

“When it comes to cybersecurity, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Success on this front requires a collective defense built on cooperation and collaboration.”

In addition to the opening chat between Griffin and Easterly about the role of CISA and tools being provided to Arkansas, speakers on the first day of the two-day summit included Congressman French Hill (AR-02), member of the House Intelligence Committee; Senator Tom Cotton (AR), member of the Senate Intelligence Committee; and Lee Watson, founder of the FORGE Institute. Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) will be the opening speaker on the second day of the summit on October 8.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin at 2024 Cybersecurity Summit in Little Rock, AR

Arkansas Food Hall of Fame winners announced

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The winners have been announced for the 2024 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame in five different categories. They were named at the induction ceremony on Monday (Sept. 30), hosted by the Division of Arkansas Heritage.

This year’s winners include:

Gone But Not Forgotten
● Juanita’s (Pulaski County)

Food-Themed Event
● Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry (Yell County)

Proprietor of the Year
● Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie (Benton County)

Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
● The Faded Rose (Pulaski County)
● Herman’s Ribhouse (Washington County)
● Doe’s Eat Place (Pulaski County)

People’s Choice
● Beech Street Bistro (Ashley County)

Arkansas Food Hall of Fame winners announced

Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

The deadline to register to vote for the November General Election is fast approaching.  If you are not already registered, you have until Monday, October 7 to turn in your registration form. The General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election will be held on November 5. 

Early voting begins on October 21. Polls for early voting will be open between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday. Early voting ends at 5:00 pm on the Monday prior to the election.  

Voting is a cornerstone of democracy, a fundamental right that empowers citizens to influence the direction of their government and society. It gives Arkansans a voice in the decision-making processes that affect their daily lives. When Arkansans participate in elections, they express their opinions on critical issues, ensuring that their values and priorities are represented. 

Submitting your voter application at a state agency, in a voter registration drive, or through the U.S. Postal Service does NOT guarantee your registration. You should follow up on the status of your registration just as you would on any other personal business matter. Before considering yourself a registered voter, you must receive an acknowledgment of your registration from the county clerk. Feel free to call your county clerk and inquire about the status of your application. You may also check your voter registration status online by visiting www.voterview.org. 

Voter registration applications may be found at sos.arkansas.gov. If you are registering to vote by mail you must provide either your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number on your Arkansas Voter Registration Application, or check the box in #9 on the application to indicate that you do not possess either a driver’s license or Social Security number.

We encourage you to verify your registration and make plans now to cast your ballot.

Bruce Westerman and colleagues introduce resolution recognizing October 2024 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month

Today, Congressional Dyslexia Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced a resolution recognizing October 2024 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month.

Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the companion resolution in the U.S. Senate.

“Although millions of students face the social stigmas and learning challenges related to dyslexia every day, dyslexia rarely receives the proper attention it deserves. This important resolution recognizing October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month is an important step in ensuring educators and parents are aware of the prevalence of dyslexia and empowered to get their students the learning resources they need,” said Congressional Dyslexia Caucus Co-Chair Westerman.  “I am proud to support this resolution once again, and I thank Senator Cassidy and my fellow Dyslexia Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Brownley, for making this a bicameral and bipartisan issue.”

“I began my career in public service to ensure that all children, including individuals with dyslexia like my daughter, have the resources and positive learning environments to live up to their full potential," said Congressional Dyslexia Caucus Co-Chair Brownley. “In recognizing October as Dyslexia Awareness Month, we are bringing much needed attention to the challenges people with dyslexia face and, more importantly, reaffirming our commitment to providing them with the support they need to thrive. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus, I look forward to continuing to work with Congressman Westerman and my colleagues to raise awareness and help those with dyslexia to succeed.” 

“Dyslexia impacts one in five Americans. With an early diagnosis by the end of kindergarten or beginning of the first grade, these students won’t be left behind and can reach their full potential,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This National Dyslexia Awareness Month, we raise dyslexia awareness and continue to our work to ensure these bright children have the resources to achieve their dreams.”    

“Dyslexia impacts individuals in West Virginia and all across our country, which is why it is so important that we recognize the substantial challenges it poses to students and adults. I’m proud to join my colleagues once again to introduce this resolution, which will help us raise awareness around the need for early screening, diagnosis, and evidence-based solutions,” said Senator Capito. 

"Identifying dyslexia in early childhood is crucial to ensuring students in Maine and across the country are being properly prepared for a lifetime of reading and learning,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan resolution seeks to raise awareness of the problems associated with a lack of dyslexia testing for American students which has left countless unidentified dyslexic students to struggle silently in their education.” s in Maine and across the country are being properly prepared for a lifetime of reading and learning,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan resolution seeks to raise awareness of the problems associated with a lack of dyslexia testing for American students which has left countless unidentified dyslexic students to struggle silently in their education.” 

Read the full text of the resolution here

Arkansas Water Plan Update Moves Forward After First Phase Completion

Cossatot River (Robert Thigpen-Flickr)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark — The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has completed the first phase of the Arkansas Water Plan (AWP) update as directed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Executive Order 23-27. Completion of Phase I marks a significant milestone in the preparation and development of a comprehensive program for the orderly development and management of the state’s water and related land resources that will benefit all Arkansans.  
 
“Every Arkansan deserves access to safe, reliable drinking water. My administration’s ongoing review and update of our Arkansas Water Plan is key to that goal,” said Governor Sanders. “Completion of Phase I of our plan review is an important milestone and I look forward to moving on quickly to Phase II while we continue making needed investments statewide.”
 
“Governor Sanders has been the most proactive Governor in the country in addressing water issues,” said Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “From signing Executive Order 23-27 that initiated an update to the Arkansas Water Plan, to initiating a statewide levee inventory and analysis to prepare for and mitigate future flooding events, to addressing critical groundwater issues for our state’s agriculture industry and administering over $2.5 billion in water development projects in all 75 counties across the state.  There is no Governor that has devoted more time and effort to address water issues and ensure that Arkansas is set up for success for many years to come.” 
 
Phase I required a comprehensive review of the existing Arkansas Water Plan to determine areas of significant change to be reevaluated or updated. Completion of Phase I included a total of seven stakeholder meetings that were held across the state from March to May 2024. Additionally, citizens were encouraged to provide feedback through a stakeholder survey. The Department used this data to better understand the state’s current water needs and to develop the goals for the Arkansas Water Plan update. 
 
Completion of Phase I identified the following six goals for the Arkansas Water Plan Update:

• Provide drinking water that supports public health and well-being.

• Provide water that supports environmental and economic benefits to the state and supports interstate agreements.

• Use the best available science, data, tools, practices, and technologies to support water resource planning and management for current and future needs.

• Maintain and improve water supply, wastewater, stormwater, and flood control infrastructure and plan for future infrastructure needs.

• Maintain, protect, and improve water quality to support designated uses of waterbodies.

• Reduce the impacts of future flooding events on people, property, infrastructure, industry, agriculture, and the environment.

 The update to the Arkansas Water Plan is being completed in two phases. Phase II is scheduled to begin before the end of the 2024 calendar year.

UAMS Achieves Fundraising Milestone with $40.8 Million Received in Fiscal Year 2024

By Andrew Vogler

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) reported the second highest fundraising year, raising more than $40.8 million through gifts and philanthropic grants in the 2024 fiscal year. It is only the second time in UAMS’s history that fundraising has exceeded $40 million. In total, 4,711 donations were received in the fiscal year.

“In light of challenging economic times, this is a remarkable achievement that displays an abundance of generosity in Arkansas and beyond,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “This is also an amazing effort by our dedicated fundraising team who have overcome many challenges to secure critical funds that support UAMS’ programs throughout the state.”

The Division of Institutional Advancement integrates donor and alumni relations with fundraising to secure resources and support for the UAMS Foundation Fund for the benefit of the UAMS mission.

UAMS Achieves Fundraising Milestone with $40.8 Million Received in Fiscal Year 2024

From left, Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, and John Erck at the 2024 Society of the Double Helix reception celebrating philanthropy at UAMS. Image by Evan Lewis

UAMS MASH Program Introduces High School Students to Health Care Careers

By Philip Allison

First held in 1988, MASH is a two-week program held at UAMS Regional Campuses and community hospitals across Arkansas. A similar program, condensed into a single week known as miniMASH, is also offered. Participants must be entering the 11th or 12th grades and have at least a 2.5 grade point average. In a related program, students who will be entering eighth, ninth or 10th grade are eligible for a one-week intensive Community Health Applied in Medical Public Service (CHAMPS) program.

This year, 27 different sessions were held in 23 cities around the state. The program is free for students, thanks to a partnership with Arkansas Farm Bureau. In 2023, Arkansas Farm Bureau pledged a gift of $500,000 over five years to create the Farm Bureau Fund for Excellence, which will support health career recruitment efforts.

The MASH program offers a variety of hands-on activities and in-person experiences, such as:

• Tour of the UAMS mobile unit

• Suturing

• Casting

• Blood typing

• Porcine heart dissection

• Respiratory therapy

• Mock trauma simulation

• Sonography

• Genetic counseling

UAMS MASH Program Introduces High School Students to Health Care Careers

Arkansas 4-H members put chops to the test at state barbecue contest

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

ROGERS, Ark. — Fifteen Arkansas 4-H members from 13 counties brought the heat at the 4-H State Barbecue Cook-Off, with first-place winners in chicken and turkey barbecue advancing to the national competition in Louisville, Kentucky, this fall.

BRING THE HEAT — Arkansas 4-H members tested their grilling skills at the Arkansas 4-H State Barbecue Cook-Off, held June 21-22 in Rogers at the 64th Annual Poultry Festival. Sarah Lamb, 18, was the first-place chicken barbecue winner, and Laney Slate, 18, was the first-place turkey barbecue winner. (Lamb pictured front row, right middle; Slate pictured front row, left middle. Division of Agriculture photo.) 

The contest was held June 21-22 in Rogers at the 64th Annual Poultry Festival, hosted by The Poultry Federation. Sarah Lamb, 18, was the first-place chicken barbecue winner, and Laney Slate, 18, was the first-place turkey barbecue winner. Lamb and Slate will advance to compete at the national contest, which will be held at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, from Nov. 20-21.

Andrew Bolton, extension instructor of poultry science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the contest teaches participants important life skills.

“Food prep and food safety being first and foremost, from good sanitation practices to being conscious of the correct temperature that different meats need to reach to be safely cooked,” Bolton said. “This contest also pushes these youth to do research into the poultry industry, as well as some healthy living aspects as to why proteins like chicken and turkey are important.

Bolton said participants have also gained confidence in “their own abilities to get a grill lit, food prepped and then cooked all on their own.”

“They’ve learned how to be great critical thinkers in how they have developed their own sauces, marinades and rubs,” Bolton said. “I have also seen their creativity flourish when designing posters as part of their presentations on their choice of meat.”

Lamb has been a member of Arkansas 4-H in Howard County since she was five years old, competing in her county and district barbecue contests for the past four years. This year, she qualified for the state contest for the first time. Lamb attributes this success to changing up her seasoning blend, which remains a secret.

“I practice two times a month, and when I practice at home, I use a lot of different seasonings to figure out which ones I like,” Lamb said.

Slate has been a member of the Dayton 4-H Club in Sebastian County for nine years and began competing in the 4-H barbecue contest at the county level when she was nine years old. In 2021, she won first place in chicken barbecue at the state contest and advanced to the national level, where she placed fourth. Because she made it to the national competition with chicken barbecue, she wasn’t allowed to compete in the same category again, so she switched to turkey burgers for the 2024 competition.

“This year I had to practice a lot more, because the cooking process for turkey burgers versus a whole chicken is very different,” Slate said. “It’s almost two hours to cook a chicken, versus 30-45 minutes for the burgers. I had to learn that it’s okay for it to not take forever.

“With the burgers, you have to put in the ingredients to flavor it and patty it yourself, so finding the right consistency was difficult at first,” Slate said. “But once I got that down, I felt like it was fine.”

Practice and preparation

Lamb’s father taught her how to cook on a charcoal grill when she was 10 years old. When she learned the state contest would feature charcoal grills, she was relieved.

“It does take a lot of patience,” she said. “I’m the only one in my family who can do it.”

For her technique, Lamb said it’s important not to fuss over the chicken.

“I’ve learned to shut the lid and not look at my chicken for about 20 minutes, then look and see where the temperature falls,” she said. “To make it juicier, you barely touch it.”

Slate said that for her turkey burgers, breadcrumbs were key.

“You have to be careful because if you add too many, it dries them out and they fall apart when you cook them,” Slate said. “Finding the right ratio of breadcrumbs to the meat was the tricky part.”

Slate said she hopes to place within the top five at the national competition. She plans to work on her speech presentation, a significant percentage of contestants’ scores, in the meantime.

Slate said her favorite part of participating in the barbecue contest has been making new friends.

“I’ve met a lot of people who the only thing we have in common is cooking in that contest,” Slate said. “Some people I met in 2021, back at the national event, I still talk to them to this day. So, I’ve just enjoyed the friendships and people you meet along the way.”

Lamb said her 4-H record book — where 4-H members log all projects, contests, activities, events and skill development — has focused on food and nutrition, which she plans to pursue as a career.

“I’m going to culinary school a year from now because I would love to have my own bakery,” Lamb said. “It’ll be a bakery and a café, where I could serve food and sweets.”

For her fellow 4-H members interested in testing and improving their own barbecue skills, Lamb said she advises not to fear the grill.

“Don’t be intimidated by the grill, because it’s just a grill,” she said. “And if something happens, you’ll always have somebody to help you. When you get to know it, it’s more fun, because you can do anything on a grill.”

Slate said it’s also important for competitors to be able to adjust to circumstances out of their control.

“Being able to think quick on my feet has been important,” Slate said. “Since we cook outside, I’ve had to cook in the rain, the sleet and the snow. At the national level, it started sleeting and snowing on us, and then after we got done cooking, the sun came out. So, you never really know, and you just have to be prepared.”

The Arkansas 4-H youth development program is operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the Division of Agriculture. To learn more about Arkansas 4-H, visit 4h.uada.edu.

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. 

Arkansas Master Gardeners of the Year announced at 2024 state conference

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — The Arkansas Master Gardeners — a group of volunteers committed to beautifying communities throughout the state — celebrated achievements and recognized award winners at its state conference.  

GATHERING OF GARDENERS — Arkansas Master Gardeners from around the state gathered to celebrate their achievements and recognize awardees at the Arkansas Master Gardener Conference, held in Hot Springs May 30-June 1. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

The conference, held in Hot Springs May 30-June 1, included education sessions, local garden tours, a garden market, speakers and more.

"We are proud of all of our award recipients and their accomplishments this year," said Randy Forst, extension consumer horticulture educator and Master Gardener coordinator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. "Arkansas Master Gardeners truly make a difference in their communities, and it's important for us to recognize their hard work and the impacts they've made all over the state."

The awards were divided by club size, with smaller clubs having 50 or fewer members and larger clubs having 51 or more.

2024 Master Gardener Award Winners

• Rookie of the Year (50- members): Sally Sullivan Cooke, Mississippi County

• Rookie of the Year (51+ members): Diann Arington, Garland County

• Mimi Cox Mentors of the Year (50- members): Anita Williams, Lonoke County

• Mimi Cox Mentors of the Year (51+ members): Patsy Louk, Washington County

• Agent of the Year (50- members): Darrin Henderson, Madison County

• Agent of the Year (51+ members): Sherri Sanders, White County

• Agent of the Year (51+ members): Timothy Wallace, Jefferson County

• Individual Friend of the Year (50- members): Mark Tenison, Prairie County

• Individual Friend of the Year (51+ members): Mike Carter, Pulaski County

• Individual Friend of the Year (51+ members): Gilbert Alvis, Washington County

• Business Friend of the Year (50- members): Terri Taylor, owner of the Cozy Nook Studio & Gallery in Lonoke County

• Business Friend of the Year (51+ members): Larry and David Freyaldenhoven, owners of Freyaldenhoven Greenhouse in Faulkner County

• Newsletter of the Year (50- members): “Growing in Madison County,” Madison County

• Newsletter of the Year (51+ members): “Garden Thyme,” Washington County

• Excellence in Education (50- members): Manila Elementary School Garden, Mississippi County

• Excellence in Education (51+ members): Detention Center Learning Greenhouse, Garland County

• Project of the Year (50- members): Plant Sales Events, Madison County

• Project of the Year (50+ members): Pioneer Village, White County

2024 Janet B. Carson Scholarship Awards: $2,000 each

The annual scholarships are named in honor of Carson, author and retired extension horticulture specialist. They are awarded to students who plan to attend a college or university in Arkansas and study plant-science related field.

• Arkansas County: Carter Hearn, plant and soil science major at Arkansas State University

• Saline County: Ian Price, agriculture, plant science major at Arkansas State University – Beebe

• Pope County: Taryn McGee, agriculture, business horticulture major at Arkansas Tech University

• Greene County: Shaylee Smith, plant and soil science major at Arkansas State University

Master Gardeners of the Year

Angela Ryland from Lonoke County was named Master Gardener of the Year for small programs, and Don Casteel from Benton County was named Master Gardener of the Year for large programs.

Ryland first became a Master Gardener in St. Francis County in 2006, where she was active for seven years. She moved to a community without a Master Gardener program, then joined the Lonoke County program in 2021. In 2023, Ryland completed more than 600 project hours and 95 educational hours, totaling more than $21,000 in volunteer service.

An active leader in her program, Ryland stepped up when her county’s Master Gardener president, vice president, secretary, Facebook page co-editor, and newsletter editor all resigned within two weeks of each other. She currently serves as vice president, project chair for the Lonoke County Extension Office and project chair for the City of Cabot welcome signs, along with several other positions.

“Angela maintains gardens where three to five students join her for planting and harvesting,” Ryland’s nominators wrote. “One of the student’s mothers says her son has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and this garden work is therapy for him. Parents are grateful that Angela gives of her time to educate the youth and parents on gardening.”

Ryland works as principal broker for her private real estate firm.

Casteel, Master Gardener of the Year for large programs, joined the Benton County Master Gardeners in 2019. Soon after, he enrolled in the University of Arkansas and earned a master’s of science in agriculture and extension education, graduating in 2021.

In 2023, Casteel completed more than 700 combined volunteer and education hours. Casteel’s nominators describe him as both a team player and a leader who looks for opportunities to step up.

“When the state cancelled the spring training class in 2023 after it had been advertised for several months, Don didn’t want to disappoint the people who had already applied,” Casteel’s nominators wrote. “He spent hundreds of hours setting up a 40-hour class in Benton County that met all state requirements.  Not only did he field inquiries from candidates who wanted to take the class, he found and scheduled instructors, gathered materials, coordinated classroom space, invited hospitality to feed the trainees and even taught a few classes himself.”

As a result of that spring training and Casteel’s continued recruitment efforts, the Benton County Master Gardeners had a record-breaking year, with 66 new members joining in 2023.

Friend to Master Gardeners, friend to University of Arkansas System

One Master Gardener received special recognition from Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt, president of the University of Arkansas System. Mike Carter, superintendent of the Pulaski County Cammack Fruit Demonstration Garden, is one of two winners of the 2023 Individual Friend of the Year award for large programs.

Cammack Garden is situated on 40 acres on the grounds of Bobbitt’s private residential home.

“The Master Gardeners have always been extremely kind to share their skills and talents with us at the UA System Cammack Campus, and we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship over the years that I’m grateful to be a part of,” said Bobbitt, who lives on the property with his wife, Susan. “Mike Carter faces a daunting task in managing the Cammack Campus due to its size and the diversity of foliage on the campus. With the help of the Master Gardeners and his positive, hard-working and kind demeanor, he consistently gets the job done. We’re lucky to have Mike and our relationship with the Master Gardeners, and we’re proud that the friendship is being recognized.”

The garden, first developed in 1998, includes fruit varieties developed by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It is maintained by 16 Pulaski County Master Gardeners who meet twice monthly under Carter’s leadership.

“Mike has been a huge supporter of the garden project for 23 years and has demonstrated his vision of the property for educational and cultural purposes,” Carter’s nominators wrote. “He has been a total contributor to the Cammack Project and the surrounding neighborhood, where visitors are always welcomed during the business hours of the administration.”

Carter holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Harding University and is an Arkansas Certified Nurseryman.

To learn more about the Arkansas Master Gardener program, visit uaex.uada.edu/Master-Gardeners, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

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. 

Families, UAMS NICU Staff Celebrate at Annual Reunion

By Kev' Moye

Smiles, laughter, hugs, handshakes, pizza, cupcakes, finger paint and cell phone photos were in abundance during the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) 2024 Reunion, held at the Little Rock Zoo.

The annual event gives NICU team members, the children they cared for, and their families a chance to reflect and mingle in a festive, celebratory setting.

“The reunion is a big deal for us because we like to see our families again,” said Sara Peeples, M.D., medical director of the unit. “Some of our babies stay in NICU for over 100 days. It’s wonderful for us to see the kids when they’re getting bigger, older and doing well. It’s a reminder of how our hard work is making a difference. It’s also great for families to come back and see the staff. The nurses and respiratory therapists that take care of our babies almost become a second family for our parents. Some of them keep in touch with one another even after they leave NICU. So, it is like a family reunion.”

Families, UAMS NICU Staff Celebrate at Annual Reunion

Sara Peeples, M.D., medical director of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) NICU Unit, jokes with one of the children attending the 2024 UAMS NICU Reunion at the Little Rock Zoo.

Boozman honored by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

WASHINGTON – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) honored U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) with its 2024 Leadership in Government Award in recognition of his advocacy for policies to improve the services and benefits veterans and their families have earned.

“I’m proud to work with IAVA to ensure we fulfill the promises made to the men and women who served in uniform. We’ve been able to accomplish landmark improvements for women veterans and toxic-exposed veterans thanks to the dedicated support of IAVA members. I appreciate this honor and look forward to continuing our collaboration to make meaningful improvements in the lives of these unsung heroes,” Boozman said.

“Senator John Boozman has been a leader on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans as he has answered our calls for action over and over again,” said IAVA CEO Allison Jaslow. “When IAVA put rocket fuel into the conversation about the need to address issues facing women veterans when we launched our She Who Borne the Battle campaign in 2017, Senator Boozman stepped up. He helped deliver a big win for women veterans after working hand in hand with us to craft the Deborah Sampson Act, which is now law, and a huge win for all veterans who’ve experienced toxic exposure thanks to his leadership that contributed to passage of the PACT Act. It’s an honor to recognize Senator Boozman’s efforts on behalf of my generation of veterans, and IAVA’s more than 425,000 members, with our 2024 Leadership in Government award.”

 As a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding, Boozman has been a leader in delivering additional resources to support the needs of veterans and their families. 

The senator has championed a number of significant improvements that were signed into law in recent years to enhance or expand veterans benefits including transformational legislation expanding VA health care to toxic-exposed veterans of all eras and strengthening VA care and services for women veterans.

Senator Boozman received IAVA’s 2024 Leadership in Government Award from IAVA CEO Allison Jaslow.

Division of Arkansas Heritage announces 2024 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame finalists

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The finalists have been announced for the 2024 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

The finalists include:

Top Dog Catering (Lonoke County)
Bennett’s Seafood (Garland County)
The Purple Banana (Benton County)
BubbaLu’s (Garland County)
Beech Street Bistro (Ashley County)
Anderson’s (White County)
Juanita’s (Pulaski County)
Polar Freeze (Lawrence County)
Arkansas Pie Festival (Sharp County)
Mayhaw Festival (Union County)
Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry (Yell County)
Slovak Oyster Supper (Arkansas County)
Soup Sunday (Pulaski County)
Crissy’s Pub Style (Saline County)
Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie (Benton County)
Loca Luna and Red Door (Pulaski County)
Woods Place (Ouachita County)
Doe’s Eat Place (Pulaski County)
Big Banjo Pizza Parlor (Jefferson County)
The Faded Rose (Pulaski County)
Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets (Lonoke County)
Herman’s Ribhouse (Washington County)
Daisy Queen (Searcy County)
The Dixie Pig (Mississippi County)
Ray’s (Drew County)
Old South Restaurant (Pope County)
Dairyette (Montgomery County)
Hugo’s (Washington County)
Taliano’s Italian Restaurant (Sebastian County)
Brave New Restaurant (Pulaski County)
K Hall & Sons (Pulaski County)

Award finalists were announced at an event Monday (May 13) hosted by the Division of Arkansas Heritage. Ryall was accompanied by Shea Lewis, secretary for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, and members of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Committee.

Division of Arkansas Heritage announces 2024 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame finalists

The Supply Side: Online grocery sales expected to reach $204.61B in 2024

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

According to market research firm eMarketer, U.S. digital grocery sales will grow 11.5% to reach $204.61 billion this year. And there’s still room for growth, as digital grocery will represent just 13% of total grocery retail sales in 2024.

The eMarketer data indicated that the share of online grocery sales peaked at 18.7% of sales in 2022 amid the pandemic. Grocery e-commerce sales totaled $183.56 billion last year and comprised 15% of total sales.

Separate reports from Mercatus/Brick Meets Click indicate that during the first quarter of 2024, online grocery sales totaled $24.4 billion, down 3.55% from $25.3 billion a year ago. The March report indicated online grocery sales were flat to a year ago, but February sales were down 8% year over year, while January sales were up 1.8%.

The Supply Side: Online grocery sales expected to reach $204.61B in 2024

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame announces 8th class of inductees

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame (AWHOF) has released the names of its eighth class of inductees — seven women and one organization – that have made significant contributions to the state and their respective fields and stand as positive examples for women everywhere.

The inductees, who will be honored at a special ceremony on Thursday, August 22nd, at the Statehouse Convention Center-Wally Allen Ballroom in Little Rock, are:

Contemporary:
JoAnne Bush – JoAnne H. Bush began her public service career 51 years ago as City Clerk of her hometown, Lake Village, Arkansas. In 1991, she was sworn in as the city’s first woman mayor and began her service in that capacity to the city, Chicot County, Southeast Arkansas, and to the whole the state. She served as Mayor of Lake Village for 28 years and is one of three of the longest serving female mayors in the state of Arkansas. Her combined 46 years of public service also ranks her as one of the longest serving municipal officials in the state. Since retiring as Mayor, she continues her service and commitment to strengthening local government by serving as an Arkansas Municipal League (AML) Field Representative, covering several Delta counties and roughly 60 municipalities. In this formal role, she continues to mentor other elected officials/community leaders and ensure that the success she experienced is something others can also experience, realizing that the success of any one person contributes to the success of our state’s vitality.

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame announces 8th class of inductees

Arkansas net farm income decline projected to continue in 2024

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.

WIN SOME, LOSE SOME — 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. (Chart courtesy University of Missouri.)

The “Spring 2024 Arkansas Farm Income Report” has two Arkansas authors, Hunter Biram and Ryan Loy, both extension economists for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Additional authors are John Kruse, of World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services, LLC; and TaylorAnn Washburn of the University of Missouri.

The report said that the state’s projected 15 percent drop in net farm income is smaller than the forecasted 25.5 percent decrease in U.S. net farm income for 2024.

“After record-setting farm income in 2022, Arkansas saw a backpedal in 2023 that is projected to extend into 2024 with another $0.5 billion decline in net farm income,” the report said.

“The No. 1 thing driving the drop of income is lower prices for crops across the board,” Biram said, thanks to abundant harvests of soybeans and corn in Brazil and United States in 2023.

“We have a lot of stocks on hand across most commodities right now which is driving a lot of that drop in crop receipts," he said.

The report said crop receipts are estimated to decline by $0.5 billion as many crop and livestock prices are projected to move lower in 2024.

Biram said the model used in this analysis “is expecting one or two cuts in the interest rate this year, resulting in lower interest expense. Fuel and fertilizer expenses are expected to fall too.”

However, “lower crop expenses and lower crop prices kind of cancel each other out.”

Pumped by emergency payments

Extension economist Hunter Biram was among the authors of the April 2, 2024, farm income report. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

“What made 2022 farm income relatively high was all the government payments from emergency relief programs,” Biram said. 

PLC, or Price Loss Coverage, is trigged when marketing year average price of a covered commodity is less than the respective effective reference price.

Biram said that while the data for the analysis is projecting long grain rice to fall below the $14 reference price, “one strong caveat is that this model is stochastic which means is that there are many difference prices that are projected and an average is taken across those prices.

"While there is a low chance of the long grain reference prices falling below $14 per hundredweight, there’s a much higher chance that the average price will be above the reference price and not trigger PLC payments," he said.

Biram is also expecting there to be little chance for ARC –- Agriculture risk program –- payments. 

On the plus side, the report said that “production expenses are projected to offer some relief with a nearly $0.6 billion decline as feed and fertilizer move lower. Although net farm income has declined from record levels, estimated 2024 levels are still higher compared to 2021.”

Livestock sector

Livestock receipts are expected to decline $0.4 billion in 2024 on lower prices for broilers, turkeys and eggs.

Cattle and calves receipts are expected to decline only slightly in 2024, as higher prices help offset lower supplies. Continued projected higher prices in 2025 and 2026 will drive cash receipts higher.

Partnership

The Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri was launched in March 2022. RaFF is closely aligned with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri. The center works in partnership with other states to provide objective policy analysis and inform decision-makers on issues affecting farm and rural finances. The center produces farm income projections for states and regions that are consistent with each other. Cooperation with participating states brings local expertise to enhance model design and estimates.

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.

Keep Arkansas Beautiful launches 2024 Great American Cleanup

KUAR | By Nathan Treece, Seth Hooker

Keep Arkansas Beautiful is looking to eclipse its record-breaking 2023 year by collecting even more litter during the 2024 Great American Cleanup.

In 2023, volunteers from each of Arkansas’ 75 counties collected over 630 tons of litter from across the state. Robyn Taylor, Volunteer Program Manager at Keep Arkansas Beautiful, says she is working to keep that energy going forward, but that litter prevention is key to keeping the state clean.

“Our goal is to get it clean and keep it clean,” Taylor said. “Hopefully, each year our volunteers will go up, but the amount of litter they pick up will go down.”

Keep Arkansas Beautiful launches 2024 Great American Cleanup

Nathan Treece/Little Rock Public Radio

Keep Arkansas Beautiful is seeking volunteers for the annual Great American Cleanup, running through the end of May.

Report: Signs of recovery emerge in freight industry

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

The freight industry is cautiously optimistic this year following a challenging 2023, according to a new report. Still, some industry metrics are signaling the beginnings of a recovery amid a lingering freight recession.

FreightWaves and Trimble recently released the Q1 2024 Carrier Rate Report that highlighted existing market conditions and expectations for the year.

“This new phase is characterized by a market gradually regaining its footing, underscored by positive developments in rate dynamics and broader economic factors,” the report shows. “A critical development in the current landscape is the closing gap between dry van truckload spot and contract rates, to a level of balance not observed since the last holiday season. This trend confirms the progress made toward supply and demand equilibrium.”

Report: Signs of recovery emerge in freight industry