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. 

Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge: A new decade of students using their bean

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For a decade, the Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge has been planting seeds for students contemplating a future in research.

The idea behind the program was simple: Pique the interest of students from grades 6-12  to consider a science fair project involving soybeans, and by extension, agriculture.

Alyssa Butler, was a 17-year-old senior at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Arkansas, in 2021, when she won both her regional-level competition in the Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge. She is now pursuing a degree in agriculture, inspired by the competition. (Courtesy photo)

Karen Ballard, a now-retired extension professor who conceived the program, gained the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board as a partner to help fund the outreach work of the Soybean Science Challenge.

“Many students, even those in cities near farming areas, have never thought of research in agriculture as a career,” said Julie Robinson, professor-community, professional and economic development for the Cooperative Extension Service. Robinson has administered the program for five years. “The humble soybean is more than just livestock feed. It’s the basis for biofuels. Its fibers are used in making fabrics and foam for seat cushions. Its oils replace petroleum bases in paints, candles and inks. Soybean meal can be used in making adhesives. 

“Over the decade, we’ve seen our student researchers put their own creativity and brainpower into creating plastics, computer climate models or evaluating the effects of radiation on soybean growth,” she said.

While the program offers cash prizes as an incentive, “even more importantly we’ve seen the program work. Many of the participants who have had their enthusiasm stoked by the Soybean Science Challenge have gone on to continue their research in college,” Robinson said.

Confidence and comfort zones

The challenge has been a career-builder for Alyssa Butler, who won five times at the regional and state levels. She is an undergraduate student working as an extension program associate in plant pathology.

 “The Soybean Science Challenge was the first time I ever pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and did any form of public speaking,” Butler said. “I was terrified and self-critical, but after knowing I did good enough to make it to state, I had more confidence in myself than ever.

"When I competed at the state level and won first place at Soybean Science Challenge, I was so proud of myself and all my research,” she said. “For me, it wasn't just about winning or the prize that came with it, it was about the fact that weeks of hard work, stepping out of my comfort zone, and pushing myself paid off.”

Butler said when she worked on her first experiment, looking at Southern root-knot nematode resistance, she gained a deeper appreciation for plant pathology and knew she wanted to continue research in that field.

“It is one of the best opportunities that high school has to offer,” she said.

Keith Harris, extension ag education program associate who coordinates the challenge, said he finds gratification in seeing the program fulfill its mission by “students showing an interest in research, specifically agricultural research, and them seeing agriculture as an industry with career options.”

The next decade

A decade later, “we are still focused on engaging student researchers through regional and state science fairs,” Robinson said.

The program has done some growing of its own over the decade.

“We have expanded the program to include teacher in-service, Grow Your Own Protein, and a variety of classroom curriculum available for free,” Robinson said.

The Grow Your Own Protein program provides edamame seeds for schools, community groups. 4-H clubs and others to grow edible soybeans in their own gardens. There’s also a “soybean store,” where those interested in taking part in the Soybean Science Challenge as a student researcher, can request a variety of soybean seeds, including conventional soybeans, soybeans tolerant to Roundup and tofu soybeans.

2023 winners

Last year, 15 students were named 2023 Soybean Scholars after their projects won the Soybean Science Challenge at district and state science fairs.

First-place went to Bennet Chen, 14, a freshman at Little Rock Central High, for his project, “Forecasting the future; a predictive modeling approach to deciphering climate change's impact on county level soybean yields.” Chen won the 2024 Soybean Science Challenge First Place Award at the State Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on March 30, and the Senior Division SSC Award at Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at UA-Little Rock on March 1. 

How it works

The 2025 Soybean Science Challenge is now open for entries.

Students interested in participating are required to complete six online course modules before submitting their science project to their district science fair, the state science fair or the Arkansas FFA Agriscience Fair.

Each project submitted is assessed by judges from the Soybean Science Challenge. The project must focus on soybeans to qualify. Winners of the Soybean Science Challenge special award win a cash prize. The winning students’ teachers also win a cash prize if their student wins at a regional science fair.

“The Soybean Science Challenge allows us to engage young people and demonstrate the vast opportunities within the agricultural industry,” said Brad Doyle, Poinsett County soybean producer and chairman of Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. “Their fresh perspectives, skills and innovative ideas are vital to the growth and sustainability of our industry.”

For additional information on the soybean science challenge, visit the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board website at www. themiraclebean.com.

To learn more about the program, see its 10th anniversary video.

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. 

Cooperative Extension Service to host Veterans' Business Summit

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — Military veterans seeking to land contracts with the state or federal government for their businesses are invited to attend the 2024 Veterans' Business Summit on Nov. 7. The event, which is free to attend, will be held at the Cooperative Extension Service state headquarters at 2301 S. University Ave. in Little Rock.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. with an introduction by Melanie Berman, director of the Arkansas APEX Accelerator program for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The APEX Accelerators program, formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, plays a critical role in the Department of Defense’s efforts to identify and help a wide range of businesses enter and participate in the defense supply chain. The program provides the education and training to ensure that all businesses can participate in the federal, state and local government contract process.

Tim Hicks, procurement counselor for the Division of Agriculture, said the event will appeal to many entrepreneurs hoping to expand their sales base.

CALL TO SERVE — Military veterans seeking to land contracts with the state or federal government for their small businesses are invited to attend the 2024 Veterans' Business Summit on Nov. 7. The event, which is free to attend, will be held at the Cooperative Extension Service state headquarters in Little Rock. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

“The summit focuses on veteran-owned businesses, but we invite all businesses to join us,” Hicks said. “This will be a great time to network and collaborate with many resource partners.”

Berman’s welcome will be followed by the presentation of colors by the Cabot High School JROTC. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Kendall Penn, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, will deliver the keynote address.

The event’s featured speaker will be Ruby Crenshaw Lawrence, chief of the Office of Small Business Programs & Industry Engagements for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. She will discuss the government’s stance on Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence, and associated concerns.

Nearly two dozen organizations will be participating in the event, with representatives taking part in discussion panels and available for networking throughout the day. Participating organizations include:

• 19th Contracting Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base

• Arkansas Division of Emergency

• Arkansas Economic Development Commission

• Arkansas National Guard Purchasing Office

• Forge Institute

• Arkansas Small Business Technology Development Center

• SCORE Business Mentorship

• The Conductor / Startup Junkie Foundation

• U.S. Small Business Administration – Arkansas District

• Arkansas Women's Business Center

• City of Little Rock

• Clinton National Airport

• Communities Unlimited

• Disabled American Veterans

• State of Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs

• State of Arkansas, Office of State Procurement

• US Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District

• US Department of Veterans Affairs

• Veterans Business Outreach Center

The summit will conclude before noon. Online registration is required.

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.

Oct. 16 conference offers insight on rural economic development

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — An upcoming conference, co-hosted by the Cooperative Extension Service, will offer participants the chance to learn how to access state, federal and private funding resources for rural development projects.

FIND THE SOURCE — "Investing in Rural Prosperity: A Forum on Blending and Braiding Federal and Private Funds" is a project of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Alliance. The event is free to the public and can be attended in-person or virtually. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

"Investing in Rural Prosperity: A Forum on Blending and Braiding Federal and Private Funds" is a project of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Alliance. The event is free to the public and can be attended in-person or virtually. The in-person event will take place at the Cooperative Extension Service’s state headquarters, located at 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock.

The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Brandon L. Mathews, economic development program associate for the Division of Agriculture, said attendees can expect to hear directly from representatives of several state and federal agencies involved in rural development programs.

“We’ll also get to hear from several communities across Arkansas that are leveraging these resources and others to really promote economic development in their communities,” Mathews said. “We’re really focusing on non-metropolitan areas of the state — not just Little Rock or Northwest Arkansas.”

The deadline for registration is Oct. 10, and registration is available online. Individuals who plan to attend virtually must also email communitydevelopment@stls.frb.org in order to obtain the Zoom link.

The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will provide lunch for attendees. A complete event agenda is available online.

Mathews said the conference is intended for rural chambers of commerce, economic developers and other community-based organizations and individuals.

“But really, any kind of economic workforce practitioners or leaders,” he said. “Anyone who’s really trying to do that work in their community. This is taking a hard-to-reach group of assets and services and trying to bring them to a broader audience across the state.”

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’s participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation, or approval by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity.

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 4-H to celebrate National 4-H Week

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Since its inception more than 120 years ago, the 4-H youth development organization has prepared participants to be engaged, healthy and productive citizens. From Oct. 7-12 Arkansas 4-H members, leaders and volunteers will celebrate the program during National 4-H Week.  

CELEBRATE 4-H — From Oct. 7-12, Arkansas 4-H will join programs throughout the nation to celebrate National 4-H Week. The 2024 theme is "Beyond Ready," and Arkansas 4-H clubs are encouraged to share their stories of success and impact through the program's Instagram and Facebook pages. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

Arkansas 4-H is the largest youth organization in the state, with 7,800 members and more than 600 4-H clubs. Nationally, the program has more than 6 million members. The 2024 theme of National 4-H Week is “Beyond Ready,” which focuses on how the organization is “building a ready generation in a world of change.”

Debbie Nistler, extension assistant vice president for 4-H and youth for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said Arkansas 4-H is excited to celebrate with programs nationwide.

“4-H has been growing strong, amazing young people for more than 123 years,” Nistler said. “We are excited to continue the tradition in every county across Arkansas. National 4-H Week is a great time to highlight 4-H and the way our program impacts our members.”

To celebrate during the week, Arkansas 4-H’s Facebook and Instagram pages will highlight different program elements, including 4-H mentors, stories of 4-H alumni who’ve used their 4-H skills to achieve workplace success, and local 4-H leaders in their communities.

Breanna Wade, extension program associate for 4-H and youth development for the Division of Agriculture, said she encourages 4-H agents, members and supporters to tag Arkansas 4-H in their social media posts using #BeyondReady and #AR4H.

“By sharing their stories during National 4-H Week, our Arkansas 4-H’ers can contribute to the conversation about how this program has helped them dream bigger and achieve more,” Nistler said.

To learn more about Arkansas 4-H, its programs and scholarship opportunities, visit the organization’s website at 4h.uada.edu or follow along on social media.

4-H is a youth development program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Division of Agriculture. The program teaches participants life skills through the “learn by doing” model. Program participants gain knowledge through non-formal, science-based, experiential education activities.

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. 

Early days of rice, corn harvests near record pace

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — The first few phone calls an agronomist receives during harvest tend to say a lot about how the fall will go. For Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, the news has been overwhelmingly good this year.

AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE — Both corn and rice harvests in Arkansas are moving at a near-record pace. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

“The frequent refrain in the phone calls I’ve been getting for the past couple of weeks is ‘You won’t believe what this rice cut!,’ and relatively little of the ‘Hey, there’s something wrong with this rice,’” Hardke said. “You can gauge the tone of the harvest pretty quickly.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that 23 percent of Arkansas’ rice crop had already been harvested, dwarfing the five-year average of 4 percent typically harvested so early in the season.

Hardke said this pace hasn’t been seen since 2010.

“At this point, we’re going as fast as we can go,” he said.

Accounting for about half the rice produced in the United States, Arkansas growers this year planted more than 1.4 million acres of the crop. Hardke said growers’ efforts at early planting have put Arkansas in a good position for an early harvest with good yields.

The earliest harvest efforts occurred on the last day of July, with more producers gradually moving into their fields in early August. With few exceptions, the state has avoided the heat and moisture of 2023 that led to the repeated rewetting and drying cycles blamed for widespread low milling yields.

Hardke said that while overall grain yields seem high, he remained cautious regarding the state’s ultimate milling yields for 2024.

“One of the odd things about milling yield — even in a high milling yield year, where things turn out well, some of the early plantings can have a lower milling yield,” he said. “A quarter of the way through harvest, there’s still a long way to go. The story’s hardly written.”

Arkansas corn is also experiencing a rapid harvest, with 30 percent of the state’s 500,000 acres already harvested as of Aug. 25, according to USDA. The five-year average for this point in the season is 12 percent.

Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said that like rice, early planting in the spring set Arkansas growers up to capitalize on good growing conditions throughout the summer.

“Early planting doesn’t necessarily mean an early harvest, but by the last week of April, we were 81 percent planted, versus the five-year average, which was 64 percent,” Kelley said.

“The month of May was nearly the warmest we’ve had — at or near a record,” he said. “That really sped things along. All along, I’ve felt like we were 10 days ahead of what a normal growth stage would be.”

Early spring rain events in the southern half of the state did impede early corn planting for some growers, Kelley said. Later rain events, however, precluded growers from needing to irrigate the crop as much as they often do throughout a growing season.

He said that corn, even among Arkansas’ most notable row crops, is especially temperature-driven in its development. The high heat of August, along with relatively few major rain events during the summer, helped the crop sprint toward the finish line.

“We’re at a point where a lot of growers are waiting for the corn to dry down a bit more, so they can harvest it and take it directly to the grain terminal,” Kelley said. “The only limiting factor for a lot of growers is if they’ve also got rice or soybeans to harvest.

“Harvest is going very smooth without any weather delays so far and like rice, yields overall are really good this year,” he said.

A looming obstacle that growers in Arkansas and elsewhere will still likely have to contend with is the low levels on the Mississippi River. Below a certain point, the river becomes impassable for the barges carrying grain to the Gulf of Mexico for export. Producers are then faced with the predicament of selling their grain with a discounted basis, cutting into an already narrow profit margin.

As of Aug. 29, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported the river’s level at minus 4.3 feet, with continued drop in levels forecast. In October 2023, the river fell to a record minus 11.5 feet.

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 staff recognized for community, economic development achievements

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — The National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals has recognized University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture extension program associates for achievements in community and economic development.

TEAMWORK — Brandon L. Mathews, extension program associate for economic development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, received the 2024 Southern Regional Winner team award for Education Materials from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals. Left to right: Hunter Goodman, extension assistant professor for Community, Professional and Economic Development, Brandon L. Mathews, extension program associate for economic development for the Division of Agriculture, and Michelle Eley, NACDEP board president. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

The association awarded members of the division’s Community, Professional and Economic Development department with the 2024 Southern Regional Winner team award for Education Materials.

The department is part of the Cooperative Extension Service. Brandon L. Mathews, extension program associate for economic development for the Division of Agriculture, and former program associate Kamelle Gomez received the award.

The award recognized Mathews and Gomez’s collaboration on the Arkansas Business Navigator Project and its accompanying podcast. The project, which is an initiative of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, seeks to help small business owners and entrepreneurs access capital and other financial resources.

“I’m incredibly grateful to be recognized for the work we accomplished through the Arkansas Business Navigator Project and podcast,” Mathews said. “Being able to use my passion for storytelling in ways that support entrepreneurs and small business owners is something special.”

The National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals also recognized the Division of Agriculture for its Extension Health Ambassadors program, which is a partnership between CPED and the extension Family and Consumer Sciences unit. The Extension Health Ambassadors team was the runner-up for the association’s Cross-Team Award, which identifies “excellence in extension work that combines or integrates community resources and economic development activities with work in other program areas.”

The Extension Health Ambassadors program is funded by a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Rural Health and Safety Education grant. The program uses an asset-based community development model, an approach that focuses on utilizing a community’s existing strengths to meet their own needs. Extension team members recruit volunteers in Mississippi, Phillips, Pope, Clark, Hempstead and Hot Spring counties and train them in the fundamentals of public health promotion and education. These volunteers then lead community health programming in their own counties, helping to extend the impact of extension health programming in rural communities.

“This strong collaborative partnership between Family and Consumer Sciences and Community, Professional and Economic Development staff demonstrates Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service’s commitment to community engagement at the local level,” said Bryan Mader, extension assistant professor of health and co-project director for the Extension Health Ambassadors program. “This ground-up approach works to assist communities in identifying and prioritizing needs using assets and resources available within and among the community and its residents.

“These approaches bridge the gap between diverse populations and improved health, and they also build capacity and human capital toward health promotion and the identification of strategies for reducing chronic disease,” Mader said.

For more information about the Community, Professional and Economic Development unit, visit their Arkansas Business and Communities webpage. To learn more about the Family and Consumer Sciences unit, visit the extension Life Skills and Wellness Resources 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. 

Registration for fall’s Walk Across Arkansas to open Aug. 26

LITTLE ROCK — The registration date for the Cooperative Extension Service’s biannual health initiative, Walk Across Arkansas, is fast approaching. Individual Arkansans are encouraged to form teams in their respective workplaces, neighborhoods or other communities and join the effort on Aug. 26.

START YOUR ENGINES — Registration for the fall iteration of Walk Across Arkansas will soon be open. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

Heather Wingo, family and consumer sciences program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the Cooperative Extension Service has been using Walk Across Arkansas to promote health and active lifestyle changes in the state for about 20 years.

“The program’s main goal is to increase physical activity,” Wingo said. “We’re working to help Arkansans overcome the state’s high obesity rates and combat chronic disease throughout individuals’ lifespans.”

During the eight-week session, individuals will log their daily total number of minutes of physical activity — which isn’t limited to walking. Running, gardening, playing or coaching a team sport — it all counts.

“A lot of Arkansans live close to parks or trails,” Wingo said. “It’s great when we see those being put to good use.”

During the spring 2024 Walk Across Arkansas, 65 teams — 346 participants — logged more than 986,000 minutes of activity over eight weeks.

The registration window for the fall session is Aug. 26 – Sept. 8. The eight-week session begins Sept. 9 and will conclude Nov. 3. To register, visit https://walk.uada.edu/walk/.

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.

La Ñina boosts the Panama Canal; Houthi threat drives up shipping costs through the Suez

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — While La Ñina is helping ease the traffic knots at the Panama Canal, repeated attacks by Houthis — some fatal — have driven shippers to find alternatives to the Suez Canal, said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

More than a quarter of the soybeans grown in the U.S. are exported through the Panama Canal, says Ryan Loy, extension economist. (U of A System Division of Agricultre photo)

The Panama Canal is a key route for global trade, including for Arkansas commodities such as soybeans and corn. In March, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said that traffic through the Panama Canal had dropped 49 percent since 2021 and 42 percent in the Suez Canal during the same period.

“About 26 percent of U.S. soybeans and 17 percent of U.S. corn is transported via the Panama Canal,” Loy said. “And this is important to us, especially in Arkansas, because a lot of our grain goes down the Mississippi River to the Port of New Orleans.”

Arkansas’s export soybeans and corn go through the Panama Canal to get to Asia, Loy noted.

Long-term drought across Central America was strangling the Panama Canal. While the passage connects two oceans, the water used to raise and lower ships between the coasts comes from Gatun Lake, a fresh water body. Each ship transit requires 52 million gallons of water. The lake fell to its lowest levels in five years last June, hitting 79.5 feet.

“It was a very dire situation,” Loy said. The alternative to the canal would mean sailing around Cape Horn at the bottom of South America, costly in fuel and fraught with dangerous weather.

Lower lake levels meant shallower water in the locks. The Panama Canal Authority ended up restricting the number of ships making transits. Ships that could make the trip had to carry less cargo to prevent their hulls from hitting bottom.

However, the return of La Ñina has meant replenishing rain for the lake and the canal authority has not only increased the number of ships allowed through, but also allowed heavier ships that sit more deeply in the water.

As of July 11, the canal authority was “increasing the number to 33 ships a day. Then on July 22, they’re going to allow 34 ships a day and on Aug. 5, they will open up one more spot for the Neopanamax ships.”

“Neopanamax” refers to the largest ships than can pass through the canal’s newest locks, which opened in 2016. These vessels can be up to 1,202 feet long, 168 feet wide and have a draft of 50 feet. Draft is the distance between the ship’s waterline and its lowest point.

“This is very close to what they used to do —  38 ships a day — so we’re getting close to normal,” Loy said.  “Just for comparison, in November 2023, they were at 24 ships a day, so you can see how much we’ve kind of improved since then.”

Should drought return the canal to its restricted state and if China’s soybean crop is poor, “that leaves Brazil an opportunity,” he said.

Brazil is a key rival to the U.S. for soybean trade and doesn’t rely on the Panama Canal.

“Brazil can come in and say, we don’t need the Panama Canal. We can transport our grain via rail and trucks to the Pacific. They have a lot of it and it’s much cheaper,” Loy said. “So those are the kind of implications of what could happen if the drought comes back.”

Suez Canal

The Suez Canal is a critical route, carrying an estimated 12-15 percent of global trade.

The Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8 satellite acquired these images of the Suez Canal’s mid-section, showing the canal after expansion was completed in 2016. (Image courtesy NASA).

Since starting in November 2023, Houthi attacks in the Suez Canal have become fiercer, resulting in the deaths of four crewmembers from attacks on two ships, the MV True Confidence and the Tutor.

MarineTraffic.com, which tracks global shipping, reported a 79.6 percent reduction in dry bulk carriers — whose shipments include grain — passing through the Suez, just 24 ships in June, compared to 118 in June 2023. The amount of cargo passing through the canal in May was 44.9 million tons, down from 142.9 million tons in May 2023.

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said many shippers were opting to avoid the canal and the Houthis, including British Petroleum, Evergreen, CMA CGM, Hapag Loyd and Maersk.

Maersk resumed its use of the canal in June, since taking the the Cape of Good Hope route around the tip of South Africa added an estimated $1 million in fuel costs and one to two weeks in additional transit time, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. Rounding the cape is still perilous, with one ship running aground and another losing cargo, according to Bloomberg.

The Suez Canal’s decreased traffic meant the port authority’s yearly revenues were nearly halved, from $648 million last year to $337 million, Loy said.

“The areas surrounding this are also impacted, too, because people's jobs, people's livelihoods depend on traffic through the Suez Canal,” he said, and “that’s tough for that region.”

Houthis are only attacking ships affiliated with the U.S., Israel and their allies, affecting insurance premiums for the carriers.

“The total premium for U.S.-based cargo is 1.7 percent of total freight on board,” Loy said. “Because they’re not attacking Chinese ships, the Chinese premium is just 0.2 percent of the value of total freight on board.”

Where does this leave consumers?

“I'm surprised that we haven't seen much increase in items at the grocery store, even vehicles, or whatever it may be, anything besides grain, that are separate from our inflation issues,” Loy said. “The expected big ripple effect is having a little bit less of an impact than most people thought.”

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 Instagra.m.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. 

Invasive tick found in Boone County cattle, July 11 webinar to address concerns

By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK – A tick found in a Boone County cattle herd has been confirmed as the invasive Asian longhorned tick, known for carrying a parasite that can be deadly to cattle.

TICKING UP – Asian longhorned tick populations are increasing in Arkansas.

The Asian longhorned tick, also known as bush, cattle or scrub tick, was first found in Arkansas in 2018 on a dog in Benton County. The tick can kill its host by swarming the animal but can also transmit a protozoan parasite called Theileria orientalis. One Theileria genotype, Ikdea, can impact cattle by attacking blood cells.

Since its arrival in Arkansas, the Asian longhorned tick has been confirmed in Benton, Independence and Washington counties with Boone County added last month.

Three researchers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are collecting ticks as part of a broad surveillance project. They include extension entomologist Kelly Loftin; veterinarian and animal science professor Jeremy Powell; and assistant professor of entomology Emily McDermott. The team aims to evaluate the prevalence of Asian longhorned ticks in Arkansas, determine whether Theileria orientalis is present in the tick population and evaluate host preference.

“Surveillance efforts in 2024 began in April and we’ve seen a significant increase in the Asian longhorned tick population from both on-animal and environmental tick collections,” Loftin said. “In our 2023 collection efforts we found eight to 10 ticks at our site in Batesville and this year we found over 200. That site in Batesville has the most dramatic increase I’ve seen.”

In addition to the spread of the tick, more confirmed cases of Theileria orientalis have recently been confirmed in Arkansas cattle with Boone and Searcy counties reporting cases.

“Arkansas producers should be aware of the risk of Theileria infection in their cattle herd, but not alarmed,” said Maggie Justice, beef cattle extension specialist for the Division of Agriculture. “Understanding how the disease spreads and the best methods of prevention are important in helping herds, so it’s important producers utilize resources and knowledge available through their veterinarians and local county extension agents.”

Justice said cattle that are infected may look like those that have been impacted by anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease common in Arkansas. She added that signs of sickness can make the animal appear weak and “off” with an abnormal attitude, not eating and decreasing gains.

The Division of Agriculture, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association are partnering to host a webinar to discuss how to look for the Asian longhorned tick, signs of Theileria orientalis infection, prevention methods and more.

The webinar will be at 6 p.m. on July 11 and is free to attend. Those interested can register 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.

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. 

Roofe elected Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics board speaker

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

CHICAGO — Nina Roofe has been elected to serve a one-year term as speaker of the house of delegates for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Roofe, assistant vice president for Family and Consumer Sciences for the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, began her term on June 1 and will serve until May 31, 2025. She just completed a one-year term as speaker-elect.

“It has been an honor serving as speaker-elect this past year,” she said. “I look forward to leading the house of delegates this year. I work with the best of the best when it comes to movers and shakers in the world of dietetics and nutrition. Together we can achieve great results.”

Nina Roofe, of Conway, Arkansas, will serve as the speaker of the house of delegates for a national nutrition and dietetics organization. She is head of Family and Consumer Sciences for the Cooperative Exension Service. (U of A System Division of Agriuclture photo)

Roofe said she and the other board members listen to, identify, and respond to critical issues facing the profession of nutrition and dietetics.

“Currently we are engaged with two issues. In one, we are mobilizing educators, professionals, and industry experts across the nation to ascertain how to best use artificial intelligence in classrooms and worksites, and to solve challenges ethically and innovatively,” she said.

“For the second issue, we are studying the issue of student enrollment in dietetics and nutrition programs at all levels nationwide to determine how much of the decline is due to the shift in demographics versus other factors like the mandatory master’s degree, pay scale, or perceived respect by others on the healthcare team,” Roofe said.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Board of Directors for 2024-2025 are: 

• Carl Barnes, MS, RDN, LDN, Director-at-Large (Rockville, Maryland)
  Barnes is the executive director of The Wholesome Village Inc., in Germantown, Maryland, and the president of United Nutrition Group LLC and Chow Solutions LLC, both in Kensington, Maryland.

• Don Bradley, MD, MHS, CL, Public Member (Durham, North Carolina)
  Bradley is a consulting professor at Duke University School of Medicine and core faculty member at the Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy. He retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in 2014 after serving as senior vice president for health care and chief medical officer.

• Deanne Brandstetter, MBA, RDN, CDN, FAND, President-elect (Naples, Florida)
  Brandstetter is vice president of nutrition and wellness at Compass Group North America, a global food service company, author of numerous scientific journal articles and book chapters, and a speaker to professional and consumer groups.

• Harlivleen "Livleen" Gill, MBA, RDN, LDN, FAND, President (Bethesda, Maryland)
  Gill is president and CEO of Apostle Group LLC, a consulting company that provides innovative solutions to clients in health care, food and nutrition. She is also the CEO of The Wholesome Village Inc., a non-profit centered on equitable access to healthful foods.

• Amanda Goldman, MS, RD, LD, FAND, Treasurer (Lexington, Kentucky)
  Goldman is the system vice president of Food and Nutrition Services at CommonSpirit Health, where she leads the overall food service and clinical nutrition operations for their national program.

• Leslene Gordon, PhD, RDN, LDN, Director-at-Large (Lutz, Florida)
  Gordon retired in 2023 as the Hillsborough County community health director for the Florida Department of Health, where she had worked since 2005. She is an affiliate assistant professor at the University of South Florida's College of Public Health.

• RoseAnna Holliday, PhD, MPH, RDN, LD, FAND, Speaker-elect (Twin Falls, Idaho)
  Holliday is an assistant professor and former chair of the department of health sciences human services at the College of Southern Idaho.

• Suzanne Jiménez, MS, RDN, LND, Director-at-Large (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)
  Jiménez is a public health dietitian and currently works at Head Start/Early Head Start Quintana Baptist Church, providing nutrition-related services and education to program participants, families and staff.

• Sherri Jones, MS, MBA, RDN, LDN, FAND, House of Delegates Director (Wexford, Pennsylvania)
  Jones was a clinical nutrition manager for 13 years before transitioning into quality improvement in 2012 and earning her Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality national certification in 2020. She was formerly the quality manager at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside.

• Young Hee Kim, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC, FAND, House of Delegates Director (Windsor Locks, Connecticut)
  Kim most recently worked as a clinical nutrition manager from 2012 to 2023 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

• Marcy Kyle, RDN, LD, FAND, Foundation Chair (Rockport, Maine)
  Kyle provides nutrition counseling via telehealth for the diabetes management and nutrition programs at Eastport Health Care (EHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center in rural Maine, and nutrition education for Penobscot Bay YMCA and EHC distance Diabetes Prevention Programs.

• Ainsley Malone, MS, RDN, LD, FAND, Past Speaker (New Albany, Ohio)
  Malone is a clinical practice specialist with the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

• Patty Riskind, MBA, Public Member (Chicago)
  Riskind is a healthcare technology leader and most recently served as the chief executive officer and is now the board chair of Orbita.

• Christina Rollins, MBA, MS, RD, LD, FAND, Treasurer-elect (Rochester, Illinois)
  Rollins is the owner of Rollins Nutrition, LLC. She is also the finance administrator in the Department of Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

• Nina Roofe, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, Speaker (Conway, Arkansas)
  Roofe is the assistant vice president for Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in Little Rock, Ark.

• Tracy Wilczek, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, House of Delegates Director (Boston)
  Wilczek is a regional wellness director with FLIK Hospitality in Boston.

• Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND, Past President (Tampa, Florida)
  Wright is an associate professor and the director of nutrition programs at the University of South Florida's College of Public Health.

• Krista Yoder, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND, Past Treasurer (Miami Beach, Florida)
  Yoder is the chief operating officer of Eat Ahara®.

• Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, Chief Executive Officer (Chicago)
  Harris has oversight of all entities under the Academy's umbrella and is also the chief executive officer of the Academy's Foundation.

Representing more than 112,000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

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

Extension to offer two-day remote produce safety training May 29-30

PRODUCE SAFETY — For fruit and vegetable growers, ensuring their farms are free of microbial contamination and reducing the risk of foodborne illness is key to the success of their operation. The Cooperative Extension Service will offer a two-day remote training with information about best practices, worker health and hygiene, and more. (Division of Agriculture graphic.) 

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — To help Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers across the state learn practices to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will offer a remote, two-day produce safety training workshop via Zoom from May 29-30.

The training will provide attendees with important information on best practices, worker health, hygiene and training, soil amendments and more.

Registration is $25 per person for Arkansas residents and $100 per person for out-of-state residents. The deadline to register is May 22, and there are 20 seats available in the training. Participants must have access to Zoom software, a web camera, microphone and stable internet access. Register at uaex.uada.edu/producesafety.

Rip Weaver, extension program technician for local, regional and safe foods for the Division of Agriculture, said his team looks forward to hosting the remote training.

“We know this is a busy time for Arkansas growers,” Weaver said. “We hope that by splitting the training into two half-days, attendees will still have a good portion of their days to tend to their responsibilities on their farms and food businesses.”

Participant attendance and engagement will be monitored during the training. Participants are only eligible for PSA/AFDO Certificate of Course Completion if they are present for all modules of the course.

“This program is targeted to commercial produce growers, but small or beginning farms can learn valuable information for building their operations,” said Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension associate professor of food systems and food safety specialist for the Division of Agriculture. “Farmers who have previously attended this training should plan to attend a training about every three years to stay up to date on the latest regulatory information.”

The training, developed by the Produce Safety Alliance and presented by the Cooperative Extension Service’s Arkansas Produce Safety Team, teaches growers about regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. FSMA is the first federally regulated standard for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding fresh produce.

For more information, contact Rip Weaver at rweaver@uada.edu or 501-671-2388.

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. 

Alligators a steady presence in Arkansas

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas is known as the “natural state” for a reason, and the abundant wildlife is a major contributor to the reputation. Lions and tigers, not so much. Bears — sure, here and there. But for residents across the state’s southern tier of counties, alligators make more than the occasional appearance.

KNOW YOUR ZONE — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has established fize management zones in Arkansas, three of which alllow permitted hunts in September each year. (Graphic courtesy AGFC.)

In Miller County, for example, spotting the occasional reptile is just part of life. Jen Caraway, Miller County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said they’re not uncommon in areas where waterways are essential to agricultural operations.

“There’s not much you can do if you encounter one, other than stay clear and call it in,” Caraway said.

Decades ago, American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in the United States were hunted nearly to extinction. In 1973, they were identified in the Endangered Species Act, but were ultimately removed from the list in 1987 once their population numbers rebounded.

Becky McPeake, extension wildlife biologist for the Division of Agriculture, said alligators have managed to thrive throughout much of the south in the intervening years.

“We’ve had great success reintroducing them to Arkansas,” McPeake said. The state lies at the northern edge of the animal’s natural range, she said, with most of the northern half of Arkansas being simply too cool an environment for alligators to survive.

Sometimes, McPeake said, alligators are just part of the neighborhood, including one known specimen that nests near a site of frequent field research.

“Whenever we go out there to do any kind of research or environmental survey, the first thing we do is locate it," she said. "Once we know where it is, we can avoid it.

“Honestly, they prefer to avoid people,” McPeake said. “It’s when they become used to being around people that they become dangerous. Some people want to feed them for some strange reason. Please don’t. It can have terrible consequences for both people and pets.”

McPeake said that if a person spots an alligator, they should stay at least 60 feet away from it, whether it’s on land or in a body of water. She said that one way to help livestock avoid crossing paths with alligators is to make sure they have their own secure sources of drinking water.

“We recommend that producers maintain water tanks for their livestock, rather than letting the livestock drink from ponds,” she said.

In November 2023, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, introduced a new nuisance wildlife hotline. The number, 833-345-0315, is intended to respond to reports of wildlife that may pose a threat to people, livestock or property. The number is monitored 24 hours a day.

The commission has published annual Alligator Management Reports since 2007 and has records of alligator nuisance reports dating back to 2000. In that year, the commission reported 11 nuisance reports across the state’s five alligator management zones. The number has varied year to year, peaking in 2009 with 108 complaints across all three zones. In 2023, the commission reported 57 alligator nuisance complaints.

Among the five alligator management zones, alligator sport hunting is only allowed in the three southern-most zones (Zone 4 includes about a dozen counties in the northeastern corner of the state; Zone 5 includes most of the counties covering the northwestern third of the state).

Alligator hunting on public lands is limited to Alligator Management Zone 1, the southwest corner of the state, and Zone 3, the southeast corner of the state. These permits are drawn, so some luck is involved. Alligator hunting on private land is allowed in any of the three zones, including Alligator Management Zone 2, which encompasses more than 16 counties in central and south-central Arkansas. Private Land Alligator Permits can be purchased outright.

The hunting dates for either permit include two four-day periods in mid-September. In 2023, Arkansas hunters set a record for alligator harvest, bagging 202 alligators on public and private lands.

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.

‘Cicadapolcalypse Now’ as emergence begins in Arkansas

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Maybe you haven’t seen them, with their dark green hard-shell bodies and large red eyes, but you may be hearing the trademark buzzsaw sound of the cicada.

The insects have made headlines for months because of the emergence of two broods — an occurrence two centuries in the making — is expected to bring astronomical numbers of these insects above ground. The group of cicadas known as Brood XIX emerge every 13 years. This is also the year for Brood XIII, to emerge after 17 years underground.

“Over the next few months, people in the South will witness the emergence of the largest brood of periodical cicadas in the country, spanning parts of 16 states,” said Jon Zawislak, extension urban entomologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“The insect army poised to invade are still nymphs, in the very last stage of their development,” he said “After feeding on fluids from tree roots for 13 years, slowly growing and molting underground, they will make their debut by crawling up and out of the soil when it warms to about 64 degrees Fahrenheit and is softened by rains.”

The two broods are only likely to overlap geographically in southern Illinois. The last time this occurred was 221 years ago, coinciding with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.  

Jon Zawislak. (U of A System Division of Agriuclture file photo)

Some of the insects are making their presence known. According to iNaturalist.org, app users have reported cicadas north of the Ozarks, in the Ouachita Mountains, around and east of Jonesboro and scattered in southern Arkansas around Crossett, Warren and Camden.

The adult cicadas pose no threat to people, pets or livestock. They don’t sting and don’t bite.

“Mature adults don’t feed and don’t even have functional mouthparts with which to bite,” Zawislak said. “Having spent the last 13 years doing little more than eat, they emerge with the single-minded goal of making more cicadas.”

The buzzing is the male’s way of attracting a female. After mating, the female cicada saws a shallow crevice into a tree branch, where she deposits up to 20 eggs.  She will repeat this process, producing up to 600 eggs over three to four weeks.  

After about six weeks, the eggs hatch and the nymphs drop to the ground and land unhurt because of their small size.

“They quickly burrow into the soil and will tap into plant and tree roots to feed on the xylem almost right away,” Zawislak said. “They will continue to feed like this, sometimes moving to new food sources as they slowly mature. These nymphs will grow and molt four times over the next 13 years, when it’s time for the next generation to emerge.” 

See Zawislak’s piece online. Learn more about insects in general by signing up for the pest management newsletter.

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.

Cooperative Extension Service warehouse specialist awarded Quilt of Valor

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Never Forgotten in Arkansas, a group of Saline County quilters with the Quilts of Valor Foundation, recently awarded a Quilt of Valor to Johnny Woodley, warehouse specialist for the Cooperative Extension Service, to honor his decades of military service to Arkansas and the United States.

HAND-STITCHED GRATITUDE — Two members of the Never Forgotten in Arkansas Quilts of Valor group wrap Johnny Woodley's quilt around him. Throughout his 34 years in the Arkansas National Guard, Woodley has deployed to Kosovo, Germany and twice to Iraq, and he currently holds the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters with the Arkansas National Guard. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

The ceremony took place May 3 during a Technology and Textiles training at the Cooperative Extension Service State Office in Little Rock. Extension agents, program assistants and family and consumer sciences teachers gathered to learn about using STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — in textiles projects. One service-learning project included constructing a quilt block that will be used in a future Quilt of Valor.

The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Woodley has worked for the extension for 27 years as a warehouse specialist, part of the facilities management team, at the state office. He joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1990 as a private first class and currently holds the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters with the Arkansas National Guard. During his service, Woodley has deployed to Kosovo, Germany and twice to Iraq.

Throughout his military career, Woodley has earned numerous awards and decorations, including the National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Arkansas Federal Service Ribbon and the Arkansas National Guard Service Ribbon with four diamonds.

Kris Boulton, Saline County extension staff chair for the Division of Agriculture, thanked Woodley for his service.

“One of the things that’s most touching about Chief Johnny Woodley is he is the most sincere person, and he has the most humble presence,” Boulton said. “He has a huge amount of respect when he’s in the Guard, but here at extension, you would never know that he is Chief Woodley. He is one of the most sweet and tender people I know. He has served our country well, and I truly appreciate that.”

John Anderson, senior associate vice president of extension for the Division of Agriculture, spoke from personal experience about the meaningfulness of Woodley’s Army service.

“As an 18-year-old man myself, a long time ago, I enlisted in the Army Reserve to pay for school,” Anderson said. “When I was asked to speak today, I was very enthusiastic about it. Having at least a tiny bit of service myself, learning about Johnny’s service really meant a lot to me because I can see the significance of what this man has accomplished and what his service has been.”

Anderson said that as Chief Warrant Officer 3, Woodley has a unique set of technical and tactical skills.

“Chiefs are respected up and down the rank structure, not just for the rank on their uniform but for what they know and what they can do,” Anderson said. “I guarantee you, everyone in his unit up to his commanding officer is going to have a great deal of respect for Chief Woodley. He has our respect, not just because of his rank, but because of what he knows, and how he has served selflessly for a long time.”

Handmade and heartfelt gratitude

Karen Mitchell, group leader for the Never Forgotten in Arkansas Quilts of Valor group in Saline County, said the Quilts of Valor Foundation seeks to “cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”

“Since its founding in 2003, Quilts of Valor Foundation has awarded over 382,000 quilts to veterans of military action, conflicts and wars, including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Beirut, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan,” Mitchell said. “Each quilt is formed by loving hands joining bits of fabric together, one piece at a time.

“This quilt brings to you a three-part message from our hearts: first, we honor you for leaving all you hold dear to stand in harm’s way in a time of crisis, protecting us from the efforts of war,” she said. “Next, our quilters know that freedom is not free. The cost of our freedom is the dedication of lives of men and women like you. This quilt is meant to offer you comfort and to remind you that although family and friends cannot always be there, you are forever in our thoughts and hearts.”

The American Heritage Girls, a Christian-based scouting group from Saline County, served as the Color Guard for the ceremony. Rhiannon Dixon, Scarlett Dixon, Naomi Orme, Emma Orme and Brianna Moore presented the flag and led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.

After receiving his Quilt of Valor, Woodley shared his appreciation for the honor, thanking his wife Telina Woodley for “wearing two hats when I’m gone, because when I’m deployed, my family is deployed.”

“I also want to thank the Cooperative Extension Service and the Division of Agriculture, because this organization has supported my career to where I am,” Woodley said. “I am a humble person, but I am a server, and that’s what I did. It feels good to be able to serve and be recognized.

“This Quilt of Valor means a great deal because they put in the time, the hours into stitching this quilt,” he said. “I feel honored to be among other veterans who’ve received these.”

For more information about the Quilts of Valor Foundation, visit qovf.org.  

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. 

Fact sheet offers risk analysis for poultry contract growers

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Last year’s closure of chicken processing plants in North Little Rock and Van Buren sparked a few questions in economist Jada Thompson’s mind.

“One of the questions was about what kind of risk was associated with lending and the risks involved for new producers,” said Thompson, an assistant professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture who specializes in the economics of poultry. 

The poultry industry is vertically integrated, which means poultry companies contract with growers and supply those growers with birds and feed. The growers supply the rest, including barns, electricity, water and labor. The industry is a big deal in Arkansas, which produced 7.35 billion pounds of broilers in 2022, ranking it third in the U.S. broiler production. The critical step between farm and consumer is the processing plant.

The recent closure of two Arkansas processing plants sparked a few questions in poultry economist Jada Thompson's mind. (U of A Sytem Division of Agriuclture file photo).

Thompson said that risk is part of any enterprise and in the case of the plant closures, growers had to figure out what to do with the houses they have to raise birds. Some growers had their contracts switched to a nearby plant with the same integrators, while others’ contracts were bought out and had scramble to find places to contract to process their poultry to ensure continued cash flow.

“In the unfortunate circumstances there isn’t another plant or integrator within a drivable distance, and assuming no alternative use of poultry growing complexes, the growers have no incoming revenues to pay debt obligations,” she said.

All of this led Thompson to invite grad student Kylie Roseler, to analyze the risks. Shelby Rider, a program associate brought Geographic Information System skills and fellow assistant professor Ryan Loy who brought his farm business management knowledge.

The result of this collaboration is the fact sheet Location, Location, Location: Mapping the Risks for Arkansas Broiler Production, which evaluates the risks for poultry producers and lenders by quantifying low, average, medium or high-risk areas. Among the factors the authors identified in determining risk level was the local cost of electricity, the location of feed mills, tax liabilities and the proximity of processing plants.

For example, their research showed that low-risk areas typically have more than four processing plants in their radius and in the lowest 50 percent for electric rates, whereas high-risk zones typically have only one processing plant and typically are in the top 50 percent of electric rates.

Using these factors, the team developed a map showing areas of highest risk, being in Jefferson County, which has only one integrator, and lowest risk, in northwest Arkansas, where there is a high concentration of integrators.

And while “this map may reinforce the idea of increased processing plant concentration in the poultry industry, where financial risks are lower. However, poultry is a living industry susceptible to biological hazards such as Avian Influenza, Newcastle, or Marek’s disease. These diseases spread rapidly when houses are in close proximity.”

The fact sheet concludes that “having high risk doesn’t mean that a location isn’t a worthy investment, just that there are obstacles a grower could face. Overall, this risk map aims to provide information so that informed decisions can be made.”

Meant for producers and lenders
“This fact sheet is going to be extremely helpful to chicken farmers,” Loy said. “If you're looking to get into the industry, you can use this fact sheet and say, ‘here are the riskiest areas of production in terms of the cost of electricity and the number of processors that are within some reasonable distance of you. You can look at the fact sheet and say, where are the least risky areas to poultry farm?

“On the lending side, the less risky you are, the more attractive you are to a lender,” he said. “A lender can see the location, evaluate the risk and that can come into play when it comes to securing credit.”

Takeaways
Roesler, who graduates May 2025 with a joint degree from the University of Arkansas and Ghent University in agricultural economics and rural development, said she became involved by “shifting from a scientific perspective of agriculture to the economic side.

“During my undergraduate studies in poultry science, I started to understand the growing importance of food security,” Roesler said. “However, through internships working on a farm and in a lab, I found my niche skills and how I can contribute to improving food security is through economic means.”

She said the most surprising thing about this project was “how the interests of individual producers might not align with the overall stability of the industry.”

As noted in the conclusion, “the consolidation of the industry is advantageous for a farmer’s contract security but poses a biosecurity risk,” Roesler said. “This observation was particularly significant for me, given that my thesis examines these disease risks in the context of international trade.”

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.

Cooperative Extension Service to host artificial insemination training course for cattle producers

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOPE, Ark. — Artificial insemination is a powerful tool that cattle producers can use to improve efficiency and profitability in their herds.

CATTLE — Dr. Charles Looney, a leading expert in cattle genetics, leads workshops in artificial insemination. UADA photo

Charles Looney, extension professor of cattle improvement for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, is recognized internationally for his expertise in cattle genetics and reproductive technologies. On June 13-14, Looney will offer a hands-on training course to teach cattle producers how to use the technology.

The workshop will be offered at the Southwest Research and Extension Center, located at 362 Hwy 174 North in Hope, Arkansas. Topics to be covered include:

• Basic reproductive anatomy and physiology

• Estrous synchronization

• Semen handling

• Pregnancy determination methods

• Reproductive health

• Training in artificial insemination on live cattle

Looney also will provide information on nutrition, herd health and record keeping, basic reproductive anatomy and physiology, pregnancy determination methods and more.

The workshop will run 8 a.m.-5 p.m. the first day and 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on the second day. Registration is $450 and includes lunch. The registration deadline is June 11, and participants can register at https://uada.formstack.com/forms/beef_cattle_ai_2024

Workshop sponsors include Premier Select Sires, CattleMax, Nashville Animal Hospital, Zinpro and Purina. For more information, contact Charles Looney at clooney@uada.edu or 870-777-9702.

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.

Groce, West honored by University of Central Arkansas

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

CONWAY, Ark. — Mary Beth Groce and Joy West took two very different paths to wind up as award-winning family and consumer science agents for the Cooperative Extension Service.

West of Jackson County and Groce, the Faulkner County extension staff chair, were honored by the University of Central Arkansas as distinguished alumni. West earned the Distinguished Alumni Award for graduates of the Nutrition and Family Science Department, while Groce was recognized with the department’s Young Achiever Award in a ceremony on March 5.

From left, Joy West, Jackson County extension agent, Nina Roofe, head of FCS for the Cooperative Extension Service, and Mary Beth Groce, Faulkner County extension staff chair. Taken March 5, 2024. (UCA image)

Family and Consumer Sciences, formerly known as home economics, covers a broad range of topics including personal finance, health, family living and nutrition. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture conducts outreach for this discipline in all 75 counties of Arkansas through the Cooperative Extension Service.

Mary Beth Groce
Groce was recognized with the Young Achiever Award, which is presented to alumni within 15 years of graduation who demonstrate emerging leadership and professional achievements in FCS. After graduation, Mary Beth was hired by the Cooperative Extension Service and will celebrate her 10 years with the Cooperative Extension Service in September.

"I am incredibly excited for Mary Beth and her achievements,” said Sherry Beaty-Sullivan, Ozark District director for the Cooperative Extension Service. “What an honor to be named Young Achiever of the Year from UCA's Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences! We are proud of her and all of her accomplishments as an agent and young professional.”

Kevin Lawson, a long-time co-worker and Faulkner County extension agent, praised Groce for her mentoring skills and continued partnership with UCA.

“She has been interning students from UCA for several years and we have gone on to hire those interns as agents,” Lawson said. “I am super proud of how hard she works and her partnership with UCA has been beneficial to UCA and to extension.  She has given so much knowledge to FCS majors at UCA and her impact will always be with these young FCS professionals.”

Working for the Cooperative Extension Service was almost a foregone conclusion for Groce who graduated in 2104 with a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science.

“I grew up in 4-H from a Cloverbud through an Ambassador, and was always involved with extension, but it wasn't until I had Mrs. Judy Riley as a teacher at UCA that I considered it as a career,” Groce said. “Mrs. Riley asked what I wanted to do with my degree, and I told her that I wanted to help people in the most practical ways possible. 

“She naturally started the conversation about becoming an extension agent, and almost 10 years later with my master’s degree and as a staff chair, I think she was right,” Groce said.

Riley was Delta District director for the Cooperative Extension Service and is an adjunct instructor at UCA. She continues to be involved as a member of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation Board of Directors.

Joy West
UCA’s Distinguished Alumni Award is for graduates of the Nutrition and Family Science Department who demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and leadership in family and consumer science professions.

West graduated from UCA with bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1990, something that almost didn’t happen.

“Just four years before, the UCA board had thought to dismiss the department thinking it was no longer needed,” West said. “My father, James Griffith, was the superintendent of South Side, Bee Branch and spoke at the hearing with other school superintendents to request the program stay. 

“Dr. Mary Harlan, department chair, told me he said, ‘I have a sad little girl at home right now’,” West said. “I’m not sure his argument swayed the board, but the department stayed and actually grew much larger during my time at UCA.”   

West’s extension career almost didn’t happen either.

“When I graduated, I had no intention of working for extension,” she said, adding that she had planned to teach high school family and consumer sciences for my entire career. “But life changes your intent sometimes.”

West took a break from teaching to focus on her children but couldn’t find a school where she wanted to teach. A suggestion from one of her sisters  steered West toward extension.

“After accepting the position in Yell County I learned this type of education was quite gratifying,” West said. “I was attracted to the continual change and freedom to choose programs that were of interest to the many different groups I could serve. 

“Although I miss the school atmosphere and influence you can have on the lives of so many students, having 4-H responsibilities gives me back a sense of this,” she said. “I plan to stay with extension and continue using the knowledge I was gratefully given while at UCA.”

Carla Due, Ouachita District director for the Cooperative Extension Service and a former family and consumer science agent, said West is an exceptional agent who serves in leadership roles in her professional organization both in Arkansas and on a national level.

“Joy is innovative in addressing the clientele’s needs,” Due said. “We are happy to have her in Jackson County.”

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.