Turfgrass foundation presents award of excellence to researcher for graduate-level work

By Brittaney Mann
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation presented its 2023 Musser Award of Excellence to horticulture researcher Wendell Hutchens for his graduate-level contributions to the turfgrass industry.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE — The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation presented its prestigious award to Wendell Hutchens, assistant professor of turfgrass science. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)

“I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive such a prestigious award,” said Hutchens, assistant professor of turfgrass science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Receiving the Musser Award of Excellence is and always will be a major highlight of my career.”

The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Award of Excellence is given to outstanding Ph.D. candidates who, in the final phase of their graduate studies, demonstrate overall excellence throughout their doctoral program in turfgrass research, according to the organization’s website. 

The criteria for selecting award recipients include graduate work, academic record, dissertation, publications, leadership and extracurricular activities.

Hutchens conducts applied research on turfgrass diseases for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture. Hutchens also conducts outreach work through the division’s Cooperative Extension Service and has a teaching appointment in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

His current research plans include incorporating technology such as drones and GPS-guided autonomous sprayers into turfgrass pest management, expanding on work he did for his doctoral thesis research at Virginia Tech University.

“I am beyond thankful to every single person who helped me along the way –– I have been so blessed in my career to be surrounded by such supportive and encouraging people,” Hutchens said. “This award is also a tip of the cap to them.”

He also works closely in research and teaching with Mike Richardson, professor of horticulture, who expressed joy that Hutchens is a faculty member in the department. 

“We are so excited to have Wendell on our faculty, and this award just confirms that we now have one of the top young turf scientists in the nation at the University of Arkansas System,” Richardson said. “Wendell is already making a big impact in our program and around the state, and I look forward to watching him grow as a national and international scholar.”

The standards are rigorous for the doctoral candidates who seek the award, Musser International Turfgrass Foundation president, Frank Dobie, said in a press announcement of the award.

“We strive to select the one candidate that we feel is the best of the best and, this year, that was Dr. Hutchens,” Dobie said.

Hutchens received his bachelor’s degree in turfgrass management in 2015 and a plant pathology master’s degree in 2018, both from North Carolina State University. He received his doctorate in plant pathology from Virginia Tech University in 2022.

“Being in the turfgrass industry has been an absolute joy,” Hutchens said. “This industry is made up of some of the most genuine and kind people I have ever met, and it has afforded me opportunities like the Musser Award of Excellence. For that, I am grateful to be a part of it.”

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Cattle improvement professor receives award for his contributions

By Brittaney Mann
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Reproductive technologies are some of the most powerful means for genetic improvement in cattle, but tools like artificial insemination are not widely used. Charles Richard Looney, professor of genetic improvement in cattle for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, wants to improve the industry through research and outreach on reproductive technologies.

CATTLE EDUCATION — Charles Looney, center, holds the Producer Education Award from the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association. Also pictured are Mike Looper, left, head of the department of animal science with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and Phillip DeSalvo, president of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association. (Photo courtesy Arkansas Cattlemen's Association)

Looney, cattle improvement extension specialist and researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, received the Producer Education Award from the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association in late July for his contributions to the furtherment of cattle producer education in Arkansas.

His Work

Looney and other researchers focused on improving the genetics of beef cattle, promote artificial insemination as the most straightforward method. This technology has been around since the 1950s but is used by less than 5 percent of producers in the country, Looney said.

“It is by far the most powerful technology of bringing in new genetics,” Looney said. “So, some of the bulls you can obtain frozen semen from have values of more than $100,000. Typical farmers couldn’t afford to pay for that type of bull, but they could use those genetics from artificial insemination.”

Incorporating genes that correlate to higher quality cattle are one of the desired outcomes of artificial insemination, Looney said as an example.

Alongside his research on artificial insemination are his more recent projects of estrous synchronization, a process that syncs cows’ reproductive cycles and can allow for the artificial insemination of many cows at once.

Looney and his team have been testing the process for three years at the Savoy Research Complex near Fayetteville, the Livestock and Forestry Research Station in Batesville, and the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope. They administer veterinary approved pharmaceuticals that affect the cows’ estrous cycles and then artificially inseminate the cows with conventional or sexed semen.

Through these efforts, the researchers have been able achieve more than 50 to 60 percent success on the first day of the 60-day breeding season. If cows become pregnant early on, they calve sooner and wean with heavier calves. Calves are sold by weight, so it leads to a higher profit if they wean heavier, Looney said.

The high rates of pregnancy are also important because it can take about $600-$800 per year to take care of a cow, Looney said. That includes forage fertilizer, insurance on the land, feed, and more.

“If that cow doesn’t have a calf, and you don’t know it until after the time of calving, you spent all that money for nothing,” Looney said. 

Through his extension work, Looney also demonstrates how to use an ultrasound to determine pregnancy in cattle. He said when many farmers see the developing calves, they are motivated to plan ahead and use better management practices. Blood tests that work similarly to a human pregnancy test are other tools Looney demonstrates to determine pregnancy in the cattle.

Though Looney wants many people to adopt his practices, he is aware that it is not feasible for some cattle producers in Arkansas.

The process of estrous synchronization takes multiple handlers and facilities. But overall, the procedures lead to sustainable practices for the cattle producers. And to Looney, that means being a good steward of the land while also being able to remain in the business, have a legacy and be profitable in the present.

Looney said profit for cattle producers is the top priority of his research program, noting how tough the cattle business is.

His Award

The Producer Education Award is presented yearly to highlight and show appreciation to the people leading the Arkansas cattle industry forward. Cody Burkham, the executive vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, said he appreciates Looney’s impact on Arkansas cattle producers.

“Dr. Looney’s knowledge and expertise in cattle genetics have impacted Arkansas cattle producers exponentially,” Burkham said. “We are grateful to have someone of his caliber working to better producers’ operations and cattle in our state.”

Mike Looper, department head of animal science for the Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, said he is always appreciative when the outstanding faculty in animal science get recognized for their efforts to support animal agriculture. 

“Dr. Looney thoroughly enjoys working with producers with an eye toward increasing reproductive efficiency in our state beef herd,” Looper said. “Congratulations to Dr. Charles Looney. Well deserved!”

An Arkansas native, Looney worked in the bovine transfer industry in Texas for 30 years before returning to work for the Division of Agriculture in 2018.

“My number one job every morning when I get up is trying to figure out how to help these guys and gals do better in their cattle breeding programs and their overall lives,” Looney said.

“I’m just real humbled to be able to serve the people of Arkansas.”

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

UA Cossatot Receives Harvest Regional Bank’s 2022 Outstanding Partner in Education Award

UA Cossatot was selected as Harvest Regional Food Bank’s 2022 Outstanding Partner in Education at this year’s Hunger Action Luncheon held on September 27, 2022, in Texarkana, TX. Erika Buenrrostro and Alisa Cooke with UA Cossatot attended the luncheon and accepted the award.

Harvest Regional Food Bank recognized UA Cossatot and the work the college’s Center for Student Success’s food pantry has done to help combat hunger on all four campuses.

“Joining during an unprecedented global pandemic and jumping right in to provide food assistance to students in not one but four of our counties is no small task! This is why we will be honoring our partnership with UA Cossatot and our other award recipients,” said Callie Buckley, Harvest Regional Food Bank Impact Coordinator.

“We are super excited to receive the “Harvest Regional Bank’s 2022 Outstanding Partner in Education Award” recognition presented by Harvest Foods. Food insecurity is an issue in every community but also impacts college campuses nationwide. While food and housing costs continue to increase, we wanted to create a safe place on campus where students could receive weekly food voucher cards and bags, allowing them to focus more on academics. The Center for Student Success takes pride in its services and feels honored to be

chosen as the recipient of this award. Opening the Center in 2017 has been one of our most significant accomplishments on campus,” said Erika Buenrrostro, Director of Student Success and Enrichment.

For more information, contact Erika Buenrrostro at 870-584-1133 or ebuenrrosto@cccua.edu.

For 8th Year, UAMS Receives National Recognition for Providing High-Quality Stroke Care

By Linda Satter

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received the American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement Award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

In addition to receiving the GoldPlus award for the eighth consecutive year, UAMS also received Honor Roll Elite recognition in the Target: Stroke category for the second consecutive year. The latter honor is reserved for hospitals that attained silver or gold achievement status and administered crucial medication to stroke patients within an hour of their arrival, at least 85% of the time.

“We are thrilled to be recognized yet again for our continued commitment to providing excellent stroke care to Arkansans,” said Marzella Backus, MNSc, RN, director of the UAMS Stroke program.

https://news.uams.edu/2022/06/28/for-8th-year-uams-receives-national-recognition-for-providing-high-quality-stroke-care/

UAMS stroke program again recognized nationally