UADA’s Culver to be inducted into Arkansas Ag Hall of Fame in March

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Chuck Culver, former interim head of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, is one of the six being inducted in March as part of Class XXXVII of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Culver, who joined the Division of Agriculture in 1990, spent much of his 30-plus-year career as its director of stakeholder relations, and during that time helped secure more than $600 million in funding for the division’s research and extension projects.

Chuck Culver is among those being inducted in the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2025. (U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture file photo)

In 2021, Culver was named by UA System President Donald Bobbitt to be interim head of the Division of Agriculture following the retirement of Mark Cochran. Culver served as interim until Deacue Fields was appointed to the post in July 2022.

“We are so pleased that Chuck has been chosen for induction in the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame,” said Fields. “His three decades of work has helped elevate the Division of Agriculture in its ability to serve Arkansans and Arkansas agriculture.”

Other Class XXXVII inductees include:

• Aubrey Blackmon of Houston, a founding member of Perry County Cattlemen’s Association in 1970 and recipient of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association lifetime service achievement award in 2012.

• Carl Brothers of Stuttgart, who spent 53 years with Riceland Foods, retiring as senior vice president and chief operating officer and whose leadership was instrumental in passage of the 1985 farm bill, also known as the Food Security Act of 1985.

• Mike Freeze of Little Rock, co-owner and operator of Keo Fish Farms — America’s largest producer of hybrid striped bass fry and fingerlings — who helped Arkansas become one of the top three states in aquaculture production.

• The late Jack Reaper of Albion, who was a prisoner of war in a German concentration camp before starting with a 24-acre farm in White County and growing it into a model farm that included poultry, cattle and row crops.

• Frank Wilson of Rison, who began planting pine trees with his dad more than 70 years ago and started Wilson Brothers Lumber Company in 1972, followed by several logging companies and other timber industry enterprises offering more than 100 jobs in rural Cleveland County.

Class XXXVII induction ceremonies are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. March 28 in the Wally Allen Ballroom at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Contact Cindra Jones at 501-228-1609 for ticket information or click here to purchase tickets online.

Since the hall of fame’s first class in 1987, a total of 192 men and women have been inducted for significant contributions to Arkansas’ largest industry and the economic impact of the industry.

“What an amazing group of farmers and those who help our farmers make agriculture Arkansas’ No. 1 business sector,” said Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame Chair Debbie Moreland of Roland. “Agriculture is such a critical cultural and economic part of Arkansas. It is what binds so much of our state together.”

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. 

Discovery Farms Conference set for Feb. 13-14 in Fayetteville

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The work of Arkansas Discovery Farms, the program that conducts agriculture research under real-world conditions on working farms, will be showcased during its Climate Smart Agriculture Conference on Feb. 13-14.

The conference will be held at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville.

Registration is available online and registering by Feb. 10 is appreciated for a meal headcount.

Lunch will be provided both days. There is no cost to register.

Arkansas Extension Irrigation Educator Mike Hamilton speaking at a  joint NRCS/Cooperative Extension Service training conducted at Robby Bevis farm in Lonoke County, Arkansas. Conservation efforts are a key part of the Discovery Farms program. Taken Aug. 2018. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

“If you have an interest in farming, agriculture, conservation, environmental research, carbon research, climate smart research, you should be there,” said Lee Riley, extension program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “If you love sustainable agriculture, what could be better than spending Valentine’s Day learning about Arkansas Discovery Farms' research projects?”

Arkansas Extension Irrigation Educator Mike Hamilton speaking at a joint NRCS/Cooperative Extension Service training conducted at Robby Bevis farm in Lonoke County, Arkansas. Taken Aug. 2018. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

This year’s conference features two keynoters, John Anderson, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, on Feb. 13, and Amanda Mathis, the Arkansas conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Riley said that the first day “is farmer and industry partner focused, highlighting some of our farmers' experience from the research we're conducting with them and audience participation discussion panels — including question and answer sessions — from our Discovery Farmers and industry partners.

“Day two is more research-focused, several of the research team and partners sharing what they are doing and their findings on several of their Climate Smart research projects,” he said.

The conference will also feature a student research poster content with awards held during lunch on the second day. The deadline for contestants to register is Feb. 7.

Additional details on presenters will be available at the conference webpage.

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. 

Extension’s Rowbotham humbled to be named to state influential list

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Each day, Jeanie Rowbotham puts her heart into Arkansas agriculture, as a farmer and as an agent for the Cooperative Extension Service, working with its 4-H youth development program.

She and her husband, Theron, own and operate Infinity Ranch in rural Johnson County. They have two children, Mae and Tate, and the family manages four commercial turkey houses contracted to Butterball as well as a commercial cow and calf operation.

Johnson County Extension Agent Jeanie Rowbotham has been named one of Arkansas' 250 most influential. (U of a System Division of Agriculture photo)

This month, Arkansas Business named Rowbotham among the 250 most influential people in the state.

“From the state’s top CEOs to the rising stars and the behind-the-scenes businesspeople, these selections are made by our editors and publishers based on the merit of being an influencer in business and community around the state of Arkansas,” Publisher Eric Olson said.

“It is an honor to be named one of the 250 most influential people in Arkansas!” Rowbotham said. “I can honestly say I am a little shocked and very humbled to be mentioned in this group among some truly inspirational leaders in our state.  

“It’s a beautiful thing when a career and passion come together,” she said. “I feel very blessed to be in the Arkansas Agricultural Industry in my personal and professional life.”

John Anderson, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, said “We are really proud of Jeanie and what she has accomplished in her career with extension. As a county agent, Jeanie works hard for the people of Johnson County, but she is clearly having a great impact far beyond the county’s borders.”

Sherry Beaty-Sullivan, extension’s Ozark District director who oversees 25 counties, including Rowbotham’s, said "It is no surprise that Jeanie is a top influencer. Look at the countless young people she has been able to influence over the years in the Johnson County 4-H program.”

“I am proud that others recognize her influence not only with young people but the entire agriculture community. We are very proud to have her as part of our team,” she said.

“It’s gratifying to see Jeanie Rowbotham counted among the state’s most influential people,” said Deacue Fields, head of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “It speaks to her dedication to agriculture and the big positive difference one person can make in her community. Congratulations to Jeanie on a well-deserved honor.”

Back in May, Rowbotham was named 2024 Arkansas Ag Woman of the Year by Arkansas Women in Agriculture, an organization dedicated to educating and supporting women in the field.

She has been an extension agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture since 2007. She came to the extension service with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business and management from Arkansas Tech University, and a Master of Science in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas.

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. 

News and Facts About Arkansas Agriculture

2024 Arkansas Ag Profile 

Everywhere you look, you're surrounded by agriculture. Even if there's not a farm for miles around, agriculture is deeply interwoven with your life. It's on your grocery store shelves. It's at the farmers market. It's the cotton in your jeans, the biofuel in your gas tank, or even the leather in your baseball mitt. 

Did you know?

• Arkansas has more than 41,000 farms.

• 57 percent of the state's land is forested

• Agriculture accounts for more than $20 billion in value added to the state's economy

Want to know more about ag in Arkansas?

Governor Sarah Sanders announces Arkansas Farm Tour

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced she will conduct a farm tour on October 14th and 15th, visiting farms and industries that directly support the state’s number one industry—agriculture—in the River Valley and the Delta. On the second day of the tour, the Governor will be joined by U.S. Senator John Boozman, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

“Arkansas’ farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters are on the front lines of ensuring our country can feed itself, fuel itself, and fight for itself, making it our state’s leading industry, but the challenges they face from rising costs, overregulation, and foreign adversaries are making it difficult. I want to hear directly from the agricultural community about how we can best support this vital industry,” said Governor Sanders.

“As the lead Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, I am committed to ensuring the next farm bill is shaped by Arkansas farmers and ranchers so they can continue to deliver a safe and abundant supply of food to the U.S. and beyond,” said Senator Boozman.

Media Advisory:

Members of the media wishing to attend must RSVP toyael.even@governor.arkansas.gov.

B-roll will be available after the event concludes at this link.

USDA Image

Monday, October 14th
Event: Sanders to visit Tyson River Valley Hatchery
When: 9:00 a.m.
Press: Closed
 
Event: Sanders to visit River Valley Tractor
When: 11:15 a.m. (Media should arrive by 11:00 a.m.)
Where: 702 Weir Rd, Russellville, AR 72802  
Press: Open

Event: Sanders to tour Flying C Ranch
When: 1:15 p.m. (Media should arrive by 1:00 p.m.)
Where: 730 Rocky Point Rd, Conway, AR 72032 
Press: Open

Tuesday, October 15th
Event: Sanders and Senator Boozman to visit Bayou Meto Irrigation Project
When: 9:00 a.m. (Media should arrive by 8:45 a.m.)
Where: 7990 Colonel Maynard Rd. Scott, AR 72142 
Press: Open

Event: Sanders and Senator Boozman to visit Grand Prairie Irrigation Project 
When: 11:00 a.m.
Press: Closed

Event: Sanders and Senator Boozman to tour Isbell Farms
When: 12:30 p.m. (Media should arrive by 12:15 p.m.)
Where: 732 Isbell Rd.  England, AR 72046 
Press: Open

Event: Sanders and Senator Boozman to hold a roundtable at Matt Miles’ farm shop
When: 3:30 p.m.
Press: Closed

Port strike would have impact on U.S. cotton, meat, poultry exports

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

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

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike Tuesday after it and the United States Maritime Alliance failed to reach a settlement by the  Sept. 30 deadline.

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen's Association have walked off the job, halting port operations on the East and Gulf Coasts. The strike may have impacts on cotton, meat and poultry exports. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image by Scott Stiles.).

The strike has shut down ports along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, key to the movement of U.S. cotton, meat and poultry exports. These commodities are important for Arkansas, which is No. 3 in the U.S. for broilers and cotton, No. 24 in cattle and calves, according to the 2024 Arkansas Agriculture Profile.

USDA said that “our analysis shows we should not expect significant changes to food prices or availability ... we do not expect shortages anytime in the near future for most items.”

USDA also said that bulk shipping of products such as grains would be unaffected by this strike. Bulk grain loading facilities typically operate with their own employees or with different labor unions.  

Cotton and shipping

“Cotton is entirely dependent on containerized shipment,” said Scott Stiles, an extension economics program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 20 percent of the U.S. cotton crop has been harvested. 

“Eleven-point-eight million bales of the 2024 crop are projected to be exported,” Stiles said. “I would conservatively estimate that 55 percent of the 11.8 million bales would be shipped out of ports affected by this strike.”

Stiles said that some shipments bound for Asia can be diverted to the West Coast. 

“The East Coast has largely handled cotton shipments to markets such as Turkey,” he said. “If the strike is prolonged like the last one in 1977 that lasted six weeks, will Turkey switch its cotton purchases to Brazil or West Africa?”  

U.S. export sales of cotton are already off to the slowest start since 2015, Stiles said, and any “interruption in the U.S. ability to export only makes this situation worse." 

Eight-six percent of U.S. cotton demand is attributed to exports. 

“Producers have watched market prices slide from 85 cents in February to 66 cents in August,” Stiles said. “Prices have recovered recently to the 73- to 74-cent area but have stalled as it became apparent that the port labor dispute would not be resolved by the Sept. 30 deadline."

December cotton futures closed 52 points lower today to settle at 73.09 cents per pound.

Meat and poultry

Should the strike be prolonged, consumers could be seeing changes.

“Approximately 20 percent of broilers are destined for export markets,” said Jada Thompson, poultry economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. With the volume of ocean-bound freight that runs through East Coast ports, the strike “could have very real consequences either in spoiled products, lost revenues, or additional, unexpected storage costs.”

James Mitchell, a livestock economist with the Division of Agriculture, said, “this could have a significant impact on beef and pork trade flows. Beef trade to Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras, for example, is affected, accounting for approximately 12 percent of beef exports through July 2024. The Caribbean makes up 4 percent of pork exports through July 2024.”

The strike "doesn’t impact all beef and pork exports uniformly.  We export a wide variety of products to many different places. And those products are all valued differently," he said. "The dollar impact will depend on which types of products are affected, the quantities, and the value of those specific export products.”

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. 

New department head Nalley puts land-grant mission integration high on priority list

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  — Lanier Nalley, the new head of the agricultural economics and agribusiness department, plans to continue to build on his predecessor’s foundation and work toward a fuller integration of land-grant research, extension and teaching. 

FULL APPOINTMENT — Lanier Nalley will take the reins of the Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness Department in October 2024. He had been serving as interim. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Nalley has served as interim department head since the beginning of 2024 and will begin his new position — without the interim title — on Oct. 7. Nalley succeeds John Anderson, the previous department head, who went on to become director of the Cooperative Extension Service in January.

“We saw him grow and develop as a leader. One of the things we noticed during his time as interim is how good of an advocate Lanier was for his faculty, even making significant personal sacrifices to benefit the whole unit,” said Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System and head of the Division of Agriculture. “He will be missed in the role he’s played. He’s a top researcher and educator and has extension experience. He really gets all three land-grant functions.”

No longer a stepping stone

“When I first came here, Arkansas seemed to be a place where professors came and then went to quote-unquote better schools,” Nalley said. “It’s been so nice to see a transformation where this is now a destination, not a stepping stone for academics. John Anderson really laid that foundation. I hope to carry that on.”

Nalley also said he was keen to continue serving stakeholders in all three of the land-grant missions: research, extension and teaching.

When he started with the Division of Agriculture as an assistant professor in 2008, Nalley had an extension appointment.

“I have a deep passion for extension,” he said. “I’m really excited not only to strengthen our outreach programs, but also to promote the extension work we do in our department.”

Nalley highlighted a desire to strengthen the links between research and extension work in the department.

“I want faculty to be thinking that regardless of what your research is, it can be extended in some facet, to a stakeholder in Arkansas.”

Another goal of Nalley’s is to further promote the work being done by the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence, of which Andrew McKenzie is associate director, Fryar Endowed Professor in Risk Management.

“McKenzie is phenomenal,” he said. “The work he does is not just regionally great, it’s nationally and internationally great.

“It will be high on my list of priorities to highlight his work and the work of the Fryar Center to make it more visible, not just to the stakeholders of Arkansas, but nationally,” Nalley said.

Nalley has earned a litany of honors for his work, including three John W. White Awards — a 2013 team award; 2021 Outstanding Teaching Award, 2023 Research Award plus earning the Jack G. Justus Award for Teaching Excellence in 2017. 

International reputation

“Lanier Nalley has built an international reputation as a production economist,” Anderson said.

“One of the most impressive things about Dr. Nalley’s research program is that he really demonstrates how a faculty member can have global impact while working on problems that are relevant to stakeholders in Arkansas,” Anderson said. “He has made tremendous contributions to the Arkansas rice industry, particularly on global rice demand issues and on the economic impacts of new technologies. Dr. Nalley has amply demonstrated that he understands and values the university’s land-grant mission, and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead the department to new heights.”

Jean-François Meullenet, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, said that “Lanier has a proven track record of producing high quality research and supporting student success. He has done an admirable job as interim department head, and I am excited to continue working with him to advance our research mission and support our stakeholders.”

Jeff Edwards, dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, said “I’ve had the opportunity to work with Lanier as an interim over the past year. He brings an even-keeled approach to leadership and is a strong advocate for the students, faculty, and staff in the department. Lanier has been a valuable member of our Bumpers College team for a while, and it is exciting to see him transition to this new role full time.”

Edwards said that from an undergraduate enrollment perspective, agricultural economics is one of the largest academic departments in Bumpers College.

“I am pleased that we have someone with Dr. Nalley’s experience and student-focused perspective to lead the department. It is a big job and I am confident that Lanier is up to the task,” Edwards said.

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

Extension welcomes new animal health and wellbeing specialist

LITTLE ROCK — From her first days working on a family farm, Kirsten Midkiff knew she wanted to find a life in agriculture.

“Livestock judging and working with animals has always been a big part of my life,” she said. “I came from a background where we had cattle as well as sheep, so the health aspect of it always played a huge role in what we did.”

Midkiff, a native of Fullerton, Louisiana and now the extension animal health and wellbeing specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, began learning the ropes of livestock production from her parents, who worked at a veterinarian clinic in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

NEW ARRIVAL — Kirsten Midkiff is a new animal health and wellbeing specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

“I learned a lot from them about animal health, management, and various aspects of production,” Midkiff said. Her and her parents’ involvement with multiple organizations — the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, 4-H and FFA — broadened her understanding of livestock agriculture’s impact at an early age.

Midkiff became increasingly involved in livestock judging as a youth. After completing high school in 2014, she pursued an associate’s degree at Clarendon College in Texas, where she was a member of their livestock judging team. In 2016, she transferred to Mississippi State University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in animal and dairy science in 2018.

Midkiff completed a master’s degree in agricultural science with a minor in agricultural economics at Mississippi State and served as assistant coach to MSU’s livestock judging team. Afterward, she relocated to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she completed her Ph.D. in beef cattle health, nutrition, and physiology. Between 2021 and 2024, she was routinely involved in research and extension activities, working under the guidance of Jeremy Powell and Elizabeth Kegley, both professors for the Division of Agriculture, and Michael Looper, animal science department head for the Division of Agriculture.

When the position of extension animal health and wellbeing specialist opened up, the opportunity couldn’t be ignored.

“I had several conversations with Dr. Powell, and he encouraged me to apply for it,” Midkiff said. “We agreed that it would be a good fit for the work I want to do and my goals for the future.

Midkiff said one of her primary goals is to revitalize several extension programs that have gone dormant in recent years, including a statewide 4-H veterinary science program.

“There have been several counties that are really involved with that,” she said. “I’m wanting to get it active on a state level, especially since we’re going to be getting a new vet school, possibly two, in the near future.

“I really want to make an effort to get more veterinary professionals back in the state,” she said. “I think that’s going to be one of my biggest pushes over the next few years — advocating for those students, advocating for our vet programs and for our existing veterinarians.”

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.

UA Cossatot Collegiate & Alumni FFA Attends Conference in Alaska

Students in the UA Cossatot agriculture program attended an FFA Alumni & Supporters Development conference in Alaska over the summer. Agriculture instructor and FFA Advisor, Kelli Harris, along with program assistant, Hadley Philamlee, traveled to Palmer, Alaska from June 20 - 24 with three students: April Klitz, Gynder Benson, and Hannah Jackson.

The conference provided information on topics such as agriculture program development, student retention, and offered an opportunity to network with other FFA alumni members from around the country. The group learned about production agriculture in Alaska, which is widely known for gigantic cabbages that can easily grow up to 50 pounds during the long daylight hours of the Alaskan growing season. They also toured a musk ox farm where they were able to see how these animals are managed for their hair, which is called qiviut, and how the fibers are used in textile production.

"This was an amazing experience for our students at UA Cossatot and we were all excited to learn more about agriculture beyond our region of the United States. Attending these conferences helps us expand our knowledge about agriculture and bring new ideas back to our college," says Kelli Harris.

The agriculture program is looking forward to planning more educational travel experiences for students this fall.

Pictured L to R: Hannah Jackson, Hadley Philamlee, April Klitz, Kelli Harris, Gynder Benson

The University of Arkansas Cossatot is a community college in Southwest Arkansas accredited by the

Can solar energy and ag coexist? August 21 webinar takes up ‘agrivoltaics’

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Does large-scale installation of solar panels on farms make the land unusable for other purposes?

Agrivoltaics, which is agricultural production under or around solar panels, will be discussed during the National Ag Law Center's webinar on Aug. 21, 2024. (U.S. Department of Energy photo by Merrill Smith)

“Solar energy development is increasing rapidly, which commonly involves large-scale solar projects on rural and agricultural lands that can take that land out of agricultural production,” Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, said. “Agrivoltaics offers the potential of keeping the land in production while also using it for solar.”

“Agrivoltaics,” as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy, is agricultural production under or adjacent to solar panels. This agricultural production can include crop production, livestock production or pollinator habitats.

In September 2021, the DOE released its Solar Futures Study, which looks at the role of solar in decarbonizing the U.S. electric grid. One finding from the study is that much land for ground-based solar development is needed to accomplish this: approximately 0.5 percent of contiguous U.S. surface area. The report notes that to meet this need, photovoltaic systems, or solar panels, could be installed on farming or grazing areas.

Key principles of agrivoltaics, including the impact of agrivoltaics on agricultural production, is the focus of the Aug. 21 NALC webinar, “Can Agriculture and Solar Co-Exist? Exploring the Promise and Challenge of Agrivoltaics.” The webinar will be presented by Peggy Kirk Hall, director of The Ohio State University Extension Agricultural and Resource Law Program, and Jesse Richardson, professor of law and lead land use attorney at West Virginia University College of Law.

The webinar begins at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern. Registration is free of charge and available online.

“We’ve seen initiatives and mandates across the country geared toward boosting renewable energy to meet energy demands,” Hall said. “Solar energy is often a part of those initiatives, which raises many concerns for producers and communities as well, such as cost, impact on agricultural production, loss of prime and unique soils, and community land use goals. The installation of large-scale solar panels can limit that land’s ability to be used for other agricultural needs, but it doesn’t necessarily have to.”

In 2023, the agrivoltaic market size was valued at $5.5 billion, according to Global Market Insights, and that number is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of almost 6 percent from 2024 to 2032.

Richardson said that he and Hall will explore agrivoltaics from a variety of angles, shedding light on its opportunities and challenges.

“As renewable energy is an increasingly popular topic at local, state and federal levels, these conversations will inevitably become more frequent,” Richardson said. “We aim to inform the discussion on agrivoltaics, looking at how things are now and possible impacts for the future.”

All webinars in the NALC Webinar Series are recorded and archived on the NALC website.

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture.

Armed to Farm programs help military veterans, establish connections

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Veterans and other beginning farmers face numerous challenges getting into agriculture. Much goes into the development and management of any kind of agricultural business: from planning the business entity, to liability considerations, to marketing and running the operation.

Rusty Rumley, senior staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center, is a frequent presenter at Armed to Farm events, which provide training to military veterans as they get started in agriculture. (U of A System Division of Agriculture image)

In the U.S., more than 289,000 farms have producers with military service, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. These farms account for more than 108 million acres of land throughout the country.

Veterans pursuing agriculture as a business may require training and want support as they get started in their new journey. A program from the National Center for Appropriate Technology fills that need: Armed to Farm.

Launched in 2013, Armed to Farm’s purpose is to provide training, resources and opportunities to military veterans as they get started in agriculture, connecting them to invaluable resources.

“Across the country, there are veterans who want to start a new business opportunity in farming,” Margo Hale, Armed to Farm program director, said. “Our program provides not only a solid foundation in the basic principles of operating a sustainable farming enterprise, but also a support system they can rely on throughout their farming journey. We want to see them succeed in reaching their goals.”

Armed to Farm training events are hosted frequently at locations across the U.S. At the events, veterans learn about farming and sustainable agriculture, develop goals for their business and connect with other veterans and farmers.

Rusty Rumley, a senior staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, is a frequent presenter at Armed to Farm events, having spoken at trainings nationwide over the past decade. He said there is a lot of ground to cover in these presentations, as getting started in agricultural business is no small feat.

“I talk about business entities, landowner liability, ag leasing and more with veterans at these events,” he said. “I always receive great questions, too. Helping these veterans learn about the process of starting an ag business and connecting them to other resources is something the NALC is very proud to be a part of.”

Rumley’s presentations utilize research materials published on the NALC website, which is regularly updated. Much of this research is stored in the NALC’s numerous “Reading Rooms.” The Reading Rooms cover a range of agricultural subjects, many of which Rumley has developed over the years. These include topics of interest to new farmers, such as business organizations, agritourism, and landowner liability. Information on topics such as these is crucial in helping veterans in their new endeavor.

“There’s so much to cover, it’s important we have resources available on our website to help those who need it, too,” he said.

Hale said that while the workshops conclude after a week, their impact lasts much longer.

“It’s amazing to see veterans from our program go on to build up and improve their agricultural businesses,” Hale said. “The connections they make during Armed to Farm workshops last well beyond the workshops themselves, too.”

Rumley will next speak at an Armed to Farm workshop in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Aug. 14-15.

A full list of upcoming Armed to Farm events can be found online.

Farm transition planning focus of upcoming conference

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The transition of farms from one generation to the next is vital to the success of U.S. agriculture, and an upcoming conference is designed for professionals invested in farm transition planning.

The Cultivating Connections Conference brings together professionals from across the country to discuss an important topic: the successful transition of farms from one generation to the next. The second annual conference is Aug. 5-6. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

The average age of U.S. farmers continues to increase. According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, the average producer is 58.1 years old, 0.6 years older than in the 2017 Census and 9.4 years older than the 1945 Census, the first to report an average age. Further, data from the 2022 Census also shows that over 60 percent of all producers are 55 years of age or older.

While creating a farm transition plan is an important aspect of ensuring a farm continues to the next generation, it can also be overlooked. The Cultivating Connections Conference provides a learning and discussion forum on farm transition plans.

The conference, which will be held Aug. 5-6 at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, brings together attorneys, accountants, appraisers, educators and other farm transition planners to connect and learn about strategies for successful transition plans.

“The Cultivating Connections Conference targets the professionals who enable a critical issue today: the successful transfer of agricultural operations from one generation to the next,” Peggy Hall, director of The Ohio State University Agricultural and Resource Law Program, said.

The conference is a joint effort, hosted by The OSU Agricultural and Resource Law Program and co-sponsored by the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University (CALT) and the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC). Speakers include attorneys, accountants, academics and appraisers. NALC Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Rumley is speaking at the event during a session on replenishing rural practice.

Registration for the conference, including in-person and virtual options, is available online until Aug. 2. Conference organizers have applied for Continuing Legal Education credits for Ohio and Iowa as well as IRS Continuing Education credits.

“One of the NALC’s strongest assets is its partners, and the Cultivating Connections Conference is a great development out of that partnership,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “It brings together a talented network of skilled professionals focused on a very important topic — helping families preserve their farms as well as the communities and industries that depend upon families’ success.”

Hall said the conference, which is in its second year, is an opportunity for farm transition planners to learn effective strategies for planning and network with other professionals who share the same goals. Following the inaugural conference in 2023, The OSU Agricultural and Resource Law Program, CALT and the NALC partnered to create the Association of Farm Transition Planners, a network whose mission is increasing the number of skilled professionals assisting farmers with succession and transition planning. The association connects conference participants to helpful resources throughout the year.

“This event aims to build strong relationships and foster a supportive community dedicated to preserving the legacy and sustainability of family farms for future generations,” Hall said.

Governor Sanders supports USDA disaster assistance for Arkansas agriculture

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today submitted a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in support of the request by the Arkansas USDA Farm Service Agency for a Secretarial Disaster Declaration and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP).  The letter is linked here.

“My dad was fond of saying that if a country can’t feed itself, fuel itself, or fight for itself, then it cannot survive. Agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry, contributing more than $20 billion to our economy each year and employing one in seven Arkansans. It is also an integral part of our way of life,” said Governor Sanders. “I am in full support of the recent request by the Arkansas USDA Farm Service Agency for a Secretarial Disaster Declaration and approval of the Emergency Forest Restoration Program.”

The letter is in response to several strong storms that passed through Arkansas in April and May of this year that negatively impacted Arkansas agricultural producers and forest landowners.  Multiple tornadoes from severe storms on May 25-26 caused significant forest damage in northern Arkansas.  The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division estimates that the storms impacted over 24,000 acres of forestland with an estimated loss of $18.4 million.  

Recent storms also caused negative impacts to the livestock and poultry industry through damage to pastureland, fences, and damaged or destroyed poultry houses.  Row crop and specialty crop producers in multiple counties have also experienced significant damage and loss to various crops including apples, grapes, berries, corn, soybeans, cotton, rice, and some grasses.  

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has worked in coordination with the Governor’s office to help the agriculture industry following the damaging storms, including providing more than 40 forestry personnel in cleanup efforts and storm evaluations in affected areas. This assistance has included debris removal and access to roadways and utilities, community assistance with planning for debris removal and tree replanting, and clearing trails and other damage at Hobbs State Park. 

Forest landowners seeking assistance with forest management decisions, individual damage assessments, and value of downed timber should contact a consulting forester.  The Arkansas Department of Agriculture may also be able to provide general education and direction to those impacted by the storms.  Additional information about the Arkansas Department of Agriculture can be found at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website. 

A compilation of available assistance can be found at helparkansas.com.  

Additional information about USDA Disaster Assistance Programs can be found at the  USDA website.  Further, under A.C.A. 26-51-314, payments from an agricultural disaster program to a cattle farmer or rancher are exempt from state income tax.

Seed funding incubates ideas to improve agriculture through engineering

By John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ingenuity in agriculture requires collaboration, and seed funds, to make an impact.

That’s the mindset behind Engineering Applications in Agriculture, an innovation accelerator created with funding from the University of Arkansas College of Engineering, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

APPLICATIONS — Cengiz Koparan, right, is one of 10 University of Arkansas System faculty members who was recently awarded $25,000 in the first Engineering Applications in Agriculture seed funding program. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Paden Johnson)

“This initiative was designed to foster collaboration and create opportunities for significant impact” said Sandra D. Eksioglu, associate dean for research in the College of Engineering. “The two criteria used for selecting proposals to fund through this program were intellectual merit and broader impacts.”

On July 1, five winning teams in the first Engineering Applications in Agriculture program were awarded $25,000 each to carry out their projects. Over the next year, they’ll conduct research to put their ideas into action.

Mary Savin, head of the horticulture department, said the overarching goal of the program is for researchers to develop new collaborations with colleagues from other colleges and to assist them in developing proof-of-concept outcomes that have “strong potential to secure future external funding.”

“When the teams later submit their work to the National Science Foundation, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they will be better positioned to make a compelling case and have a higher chance of receiving funding,” added Eksioglu, who is also professor of industrial engineering and Hefley Professor in Logistics and Entrepreneurship.

During the spring semester, Savin and Eksioglu organized two workshops to bring together faculty from both colleges, providing them with a platform to network, share research and form teams aimed at pursuing external funding. Next, they established the Engineering Applications in Agriculture program, an internal seed funding program, to support the newly formed teams.

The winning teams and projects for the first Engineering Applications in Agriculture program include the following faculty members, with principal investigators and their co-principal investigators, respectively:

• Wan Shou, assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department; and Ali Ubeyitogullari, assistant professor in the food science department, and the biological and agricultural engineering department. They will work to develop novel, multifunctional materials for food packaging to increase the shelf-life of foods.

• Ben Runkle, associate professor in the biological and agricultural engineering department; and Shannon Speir, assistant professor of water quality in the crop, soil and environmental sciences department. They will work on a project to evaluate the ecological consequences of “climate smart agriculture.”

• Thi Hoang Ngan, assistant professor of computer science and computer engineering in the electrical engineering and computer science department; and Cengiz Koparan, assistant professor of precision agriculture technology in the agricultural education, communications and technology department. They will work to develop computational models to translate satellite-view imagery to unmanned aerial vehicles to assess water quality.

• Fiona Goggin, professor in the entomology and plant pathology department; Khoa Luu, assistant professor and director of the Computer Vision and Image Understanding Lab in the electrical engineering and computer science department; and collaborator Rich Adams, assistant professor in the Center for Agricultural Data Analytics and the entomology and plant pathology department. They will work on an artificial intelligence enabled “multi-omics” approach to improve plant health and productivity.

• Wen Zhang, associate professor in the civil engineering department; and Young Min Kwon, microbiologist in the poultry science department, will work to improve early detection of emerging pathogens in poultry.

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

The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the largest engineering program in the state of Arkansas. Over the past 15 years, the college has experienced unprecedented growth. Undergraduate enrollment reached just over 3,300 in fall 2023, and total enrollment in the college is nearly 4,500 students. The College of Engineering offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in seven engineering departments: biological and agricultural, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical and computer science, industrial and mechanical. The college also offers distance learning and interdisciplinary programs, including data science. Faculty in the college conduct research in many key areas, including biomedical and healthcare, electronics, energy, healthcare logistics, materials science, nanotechnology, transportation and logistics. Emerging research areas include advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, data science, infrastructure, membranes and separation and water.

McCullough earns 2024 Bonnie Teater Community Development Lifetime Achievement Award

HOUSTON — The Southern Rural Development Center has bestowed its 2024 Bonnie Teater Community Development Lifetime Achievement Award on Arkansas’ Stacey McCullough.

McCullough is assistant vice president-extension and head of the community, professional and economic development section of the Cooperative Extension Service. The extension service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The Southern Rural Development Center has honored Stacey McCullough as the 2024 recipient of the Bonnie Teater Community Development Lifetime Achievement Award. McCullough currently serves as an assistant vice president for community, professional and economic development at University of Arkansas System-Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service and the drector of the Public Policy Center at UADA. She has over 20 years of experience working with community and economic development at the local, regional, institutional, and national levels. (Image courtesy Southern Rural Development Center)

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award. I can’t imagine a more fulfilling career than working alongside people and communities to achieve their goals and dreams,” McCullough said. “The relationships with my colleagues from the Southern Rural Development Center and across the Cooperative Extension System have allowed me to grow and contribute to society in so many ways.”

The award, named for a retired member of the Southern Rural Development Center staff, recognizes superior lifetime work by an individual who has made an important contribution to extension community development. It was presented at the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals conference, held June 17-20 in Houston.

“Stacey exhibits all the characteristics that this award was designed to recognize,” said Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System and head of its Division of Agriculture. “Her portfolio, including scholarship and community impact, demonstrates that she is highly deserving of this distinguished recognition.”

Fields noted, in particular, McCullough’s leadership.

“Whether working on projects, serving on committees, or spearheading the development of new programs and opportunities for communities, Stacey leads by example,” Fields said “She always puts her team first, stands beside her team, and encourages them to work hard. Her servant leadership inspires others to achieve greatness while making a lasting impact that matters.”

McCullough was nominated by Hunter Goodman, assistant professor-community, workforce, and economic development, for the extension service.

“Dr. McCullough embodies the land-grant mission to higher education and the unique calling of extension to impact the lives of people and communities through research and best practices along with community voice,” Goodman wrote in his nomination. Since 2005, McCullough has been a program associate, instructor, assistant professor, director, interim associate department head, and currently assistant vice-president.

McCullough earned a doctorate in public policy from the University of Arkansas in 2012. She has served as extension’s director of community, professional and economic development since May 2020 and was named assistant vice president in 2022.

“This is well-earned recognition for Dr. McCullough,” said John Anderson, head of the Cooperative Extension Service. “She has a long-standing reputation for quality, impactful work and for leadership among her peers in the field of community economic development. And she built that reputation while serving the needs of stakeholders right here in Arkansas. 

“We are grateful to Dr. McCullough for her work on behalf of our organization and our state, and we are thrilled to see her contributions recognized by her peers with this prestigious honor,” he said.

In addition to her service, McCullough has helped develop numerous initiatives that focus on economic development, ballot issue education, and racial understanding. She has also served in active roles within several regional and national leadership organizations such as the Joint Council of Extension Professionals, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, and the Southern Region Program Leaders’ Network. McCullough’s experience has benefited the state of Arkansas with more than $3.5 million in grants.

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. 

Study shows the more you know about GMOs, the more you accept them as safe

By John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The more that people know about gene editing, the more likely they are to feel it is safe to use in agriculture and medicine, according to a survey of more than 4,500 people across the United States.

While there is a technical difference between “gene editing” and “genetic modification,” also known as transgenics, people often lump the two biotechnologies together as genetic engineering. Gene editing does not introduce new biology to a genotype like gene modification.

PERCEPTIONS — Brandon McFadden, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, researched consumer perceptions of the use of gene editing in agriculture and medicine for a study that was published this year. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

Brandon McFadden, Tyson Endowed Chair in Food Policy Economics for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, was the lead author of a peer-reviewed study to find out more about the opinions of consumers in the United States on the safety of gene editing in agricultural and medical fields. The research, which analyzed surveys taken in 2021 and 2022, was published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology this year.

“People who have heard or read a lot about gene editing generally have a favorable opinion about using it for agricultural or medical purposes,” McFadden said. “So, people who are less familiar with gene editing are likelier to think it is unsafe.”

The study, McFadden noted, showed that people who are not as familiar with gene editing are more likely to think it is unsafe, and they require more evidence to change their minds. That evidence could come from either more studies or time without a negative outcome. The surveys showed that, on average, people with a negative opinion of gene editing’s safety need around 100 studies, or 20 years, to improve their opinion about the safety of gene editing.

However, McFadden noted that many people may never change their minds about the safety of gene editing. More than 10 percent of respondents stated that no amount of research or time without an adverse outcome would improve their opinion about the safety of gene editing for agriculture and medical products.

McFadden and his co-authors began the study at the University of Florida, and it was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture through its Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants program.

Co-authors included Kathryn A. Stofer and Kevin M. Folta with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and Joy N. Rumble, now with The Ohio State University.

Stofer, research associate professor in the agricultural education and communication department for UF/IFAS, said the results were enlightening on multiple levels and opens more avenues of research.

“The study sets us up to test explicit messages about the number of studies or years of research on this technology that might help alleviate concerns about safety and support the benefits,” Stofer said.

Folta, UF/IFAS professor in the horticultural sciences department, said better perceptions of gene editing are associated with awareness of biotechnology.

“That means scientists need to be engaging in conversations about the successes, like how sickle cell disease may be curable in the next few years,” Folta said. “We used to think that providing more evidence didn’t change opinions, but this work shows maybe we can change public perception if we effectively share the good things we can do with gene editing.”

Difference in gene editing and genetic modification

Gene editing is “the process of precisely changing or deleting a few ‘letters’ of DNA,” the researchers explained in the study. This is different from genetic modification, also known as transgenics, which introduces new biology to a genome.

Both gene editing and gene modification are used in agriculture to develop plant varieties that are more drought tolerant and disease resistant in less time than traditional breeding techniques. The study notes that a lack of proactive public dialogue surrounding the primary introduction of genetically modified organisms “did irreparable damage to the emerging scientific field of genetic engineering,” and that the continued expansion of gene editing in the agricultural and medical fields has led many to call for “broad public dialogue” about the technology.

Gene editing in the medical field is also known as “gene therapy” and aims to treat and cure disease or make the body better able to fight disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, gene therapy “holds promise as a treatment for a wide range of diseases, such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, hemophilia and AIDS.” Research cited in the McFadden study showed that public opinion on gene editing in the medical field was more supportive for therapeutic uses than aversion for non-disease uses that are cosmetic.

Public opinion varies

Data were collected during two time periods using surveys distributed online by Qualtrics to samples of U.S. adults. The Institutional Review Board at the University of Delaware approved both surveys. Collecting data from two samples allowed researchers to examine the stability of results across groups of respondents and time.

Recent research on public opinion toward the use of biotechnology in agriculture has focused on differences in opinions between the use of gene editing and genetic modification. McFadden noted that studies published in 2019 and 2020 concluded that the public generally supports gene editing in agriculture more than genetic modification. However, the objective of the new study was to explore U.S. public opinion about gene editing in the agricultural and medical fields. Another goal of the study was to provide more insight into the relationship between opinions about the safety of gene editing and the potential impact to improve opinions about safety.

Public acceptance seems to be associated with whether the gene editing is done for medical or agricultural purposes. The study noted that when participants in U.S. focus groups were asked what they thought about when hearing the words “gene editing,” the medical field was discussed more frequently and extensively than agriculture.

Researchers pointed out that in 2018 there was an announcement of gene-edited twins in China that increased public awareness of medical applications. Public aversion to the use of related biotechnology in agriculture has also been well-documented, McFadden added, despite support from the scientific community. For example, he pointed to a 2014 Pew Research survey of U.S. adults and researchers affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science estimating that 88 percent of its members agreed that genetically modified foods were safe to consume compared to only 37 percent of adults.

Results from the study indicate that people in the U.S. who are familiar with gene editing, or do not hold a negative opinion about safety, required less evidence to improve opinions about the safety of gene editing. On average, respondents in both samples were more familiar with gene editing in agriculture and more likely to have a positive opinion about its use in agriculture than for medical purposes.

“When we have a negative opinion about something, we should maybe ask ourselves what would cause us to change our minds,” McFadden said.

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

National Ag Law Center launches ‘Western Water’ Webinar Series with groundwater recharge presentation

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Streams, ponds and lakes may be what come to mind when considering natural water sources, but one water supply that plays a crucial role in agriculture is located out of sight: Groundwater.

David Cameron, partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP, will present the first webinar in the National Ag Law Center's "Western Water" Webinar Series on June 19. (Image courtesy David Cameron) 

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, groundwater is one of the nation’s most important natural resources, supplying about 37 percent of water that county and city water departments supply to households and businesses. It also provides drinking water to more than 90 percent of the rural population.

Because agriculture in the Western U.S. is often faced with challenges to water resources, groundwater levels become especially significant.

“Water is one of the most critical topics to monitor regarding Western agriculture,” Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, said. “Issues that impact water, including groundwater, impact all of agriculture. Out West, issues of drought, water quality, and more are not uncommon.”

“Groundwater recharge” — the movement of water from the surface to underground aquifers — is essential to resource sustainability. Drought, overuse and other factors can slow or stop that process. However, projects designed to foster effective groundwater recharge have been steadily emerging in the West. According to the California Department of Water Resources, groundwater recharge can be initiated “by diverting and conveying water to engineered infiltration ponds, spreading basins, flooding of agricultural lands, and injection wells.” These developments have legal consequences that extend far beyond the purchase of the property itself.

These legal considerations will be the focus of the NALC’s next webinar, “Groundwater Recharge: Legal and Strategic Considerations of Project Development,” presented by David Cameron, partner at California law firm Hanson Bridgett LLP. The presentation marks the first installment in the NALC’s “Western Water” Webinar Series, part of its long-term effort of expanding resources and partners to the Western U.S.

“Groundwater recharge, from a legal perspective, involves a complex interplay of regulatory frameworks, property rights, environmental considerations and financial constraints,” Cameron said. “This webinar will highlight many of these issues, including water right constraints, water quality concerns, storage considerations and competing stakeholder interests related to project development.”

The webinar will be held June 19 at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern. Registration is no cost and available online.

“This new series on ‘Western Water’ will feature invaluable speakers and insight into crucial topics for Western U.S. agriculture,” Pittman said. “David brings much expertise in water law. He’s a great presenter to kick off this new series, and groundwater recharge projects are an important topic to cover.”

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture.

Scientists push EPA to update meat packer wastewater discharge rules

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

A report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) alleges that water pollutants discharged from Tyson Foods’ processing plants “pose a risk to people and the environment and include large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus.”

According to the report, the agriculture industry is the largest consumer of freshwater and meat and poultry processors account for nearly one-third of that water consumption. Tyson Foods is the largest meat company in the country with 123 processing facilities and all that animal processing creates massive amounts of wastewater.

Researchers Omanjana Goswami and Stacy Woods published “Waste Deep” on April 30. While the report notes Tyson Foods is acting within the legal limits, Woods said the regulatory standards for wastewater discharged to surface waters and municipal sewage treatment plants have not been updated in 20 years.

Scientists push EPA to update meat packer wastewater discharge rules

Legal experts weigh in on the use of dicamba

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

One of the most controversial topics in the agriculture industry is the use of the herbicide dicamba. Many state and federal policies regarding dicamba have changed in recent years including a federal court decision in Arizona that questions the future use of over-the-top dicamba products. The three products targeted are XtendiMax, Engenia and Tavium.

“The Feb. 6 decision from the U.S. District Court of Arizona was another major development in the ongoing saga impacting producers’ methods for protecting their crops,” Brigit Rollins, staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center, said. “Pending a possible appeal, producers will not be able to rely on over-the-top dicamba as they may have in the past.”

A week after the court ruling, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice that it would still allow producers to use existing stocks of over-the-top dicamba during the upcoming growing season.

Legal experts weigh in on the use of dicamba

‘The Deal with Dicamba’ the focus of May 15 NALC webinar

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The rollercoaster of changing state and federal policies regarding dicamba has kept producers on their toes in recent years. Earlier this year, a federal court in Arizona called into question the future of over-the-top dicamba use for producers.

Brigit Rollins, staff attorney for the National Ag Law Center, will present a webinar on "The Deal with Dicamba" on May 15. (U of A System Division of Agriculture file photo)

“The Feb. 6 decision from the U.S. District Court of Arizona was another major development in the ongoing saga impacting producers’ methods for protecting their crops,” Brigit Rollins, staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center, said. “Pending a possible appeal, producers will not be able to rely on over-the-top dicamba as they may have in the past.”

On Feb. 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice stating that it would allow farmers and producers to use their remaining dicamba stocks.

“We’ve seen this in the past, where the EPA allows producers to use dicamba stock that was purchased prior to a ruling,” Rollins said. “The end date for sale and distribution of dicamba stocks, as well as the end date for use of existing stocks, varies from state to state, so it’s important that producers consult the EPA’s notice to ensure they are complying with the new policy.”

May 15 webinar

Rollins will discuss dicamba during the next National Agricultural Law Center webinar, which will be held on May 15. The webinar, titled, “The Deal with Dicamba: Overview of Recent Legal Developments,” will begin at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern. The event has no cost and registration is available online.

A recurring theme in the ongoing saga of dicamba lawsuits is environmental plaintiffs claiming the EPA has violated both the Endangered Species Act, or ESA, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, known as FIFRA.

“A large part of why we get these court decisions impacting access to products such as dicamba is due to the EPA’s approach to meeting its ESA responsibilities while carrying out actions under FIFRA,” Rollins said. “The EPA is in the process of developing its new policy for how it meets these responsibilities. Because of this, we are expecting future changes to how producers are able to use pesticide products.”

Rollins discusses the history of dicamba and policy in her article series “The Deal with Dicamba,” which is available online on the NALC website. She also reviewed the EPA’s new ESA-FIFRA policy in a previous NALC webinar, which is available to watch online.

“Brigit is an expert in pesticide developments and policy,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “She has created great NALC resources on this topical area, such as the NALC Endangered Species Act Manual, and has presented excellent webinars in the past.”

The NALC has had two prior “The Deal with Dicamba” webinars presented by Rollins. Recordings can be found online in the NALC’s Webinar Series archive.

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture.

About the National Agricultural Law Center

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, state and federal policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, 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.