High tunnels, Arkansas Diamonds featured at 2024 Horticulture Field Day

By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOPE, Ark. — Last week 97 growers, gardeners and horticulture enthusiasts headed to Hope, Arkansas to hear about fruit, vegetable and ornamental research being conducted at the Southwest Research and Extension Center.

MITEY DAMAGING — Division of Agriculture's Aaron Cato talks increased mite pressure in high tunnel grown blackberries at the 2024 Horticulture Field Day. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

The 2024 Horticulture Field Day featured extension specialists, educators and county agents with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. They covered topics including pest management, produce washing, nutrition and more.

“We enjoyed being able to show off the hard work being done on our station,” said Daniel Rivera, director of the Southwest Research and Extension Center. “We have a lot of young faculty conducting research here and I’m glad we were able to highlight them to our local stakeholders.”

Managing melonworm in pumpkins

Aaron Cato, extension horticulture integrated pest management specialist for the Division of Agriculture, gave an overview of recent research targeting key pests of pumpkins and tomatoes in Arkansas. Recent data from Cato’s pumpkin trials suggest there may be cultural control options for melonworms, a major pest in Arkansas pumpkins.

“We trialed eight varieties of pumpkins that are derived from four different species of cucurbits,” Cato said. “We found that all varieties derived from Cucurbita pepo, including all of the jack-o-lanterns we grow, are highly attractive to melonworm. Some pumpkin varieties from Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima, including varieties like Jarrahdale and Fairytale, did not attract melonworm.”

Cato said with this data, growers can tailor melonworm management to fit their operation, potentially decreasing the number of pesticide applications needed.

“This tells us that not all pumpkins need to be controlled the same when considering melonworm,” Cato said. “We are currently working on cultural controls and thresholds for using insecticides in susceptible jack-o-lantern varieties.”

Cato said the goal of this project is to create a framework for growing damage-free pumpkins in Arkansas.

Insect management in tomatoes

Cato and his team have been trialing insecticide efficacy in tomatoes at the SWREC for four years and have found that many go-to products for tomato producers may not be as effective as once thought.

“We’ve found a number of common insecticides that we use now don’t control tomato fruitworm very well, including pyretheroids like Warrior,” Cato said. “However, newer products like Coragen and Proclaim have been established as standards for fruitworm control in Arkansas tomato production.”

For other common tomato pests, good news may be on the horizon with a new product potentially hitting the shelves within the next few years.

“One issue growers commonly face is how to control a combination of pests including tomato fruitworm, stinkbugs and spider mites, which are common at the same time in South Arkansas,” Cato said. “We have been trialing an unregistered pesticide, Plinazolin, for three years and it has shown great efficacy controlling all three of these pests. This level of control in one product across all three of these pests is something we’ve never had before.”

Cato said he is hopeful the product will hit the market for tomatoes in the next one to two years.

High tunnel production

Taunya Ernst, high tunnel and urban agriculture educator for the Division of Agriculture, gave an overview of pros and cons of high tunnel production in the southeast and Mid-South.

“One of the biggest advantages we get from using high tunnels is season extension,” Ernst said. “We can go to market earlier and stay longer, extending farm revenue periods.”

High tunnels also offer protection from adverse weather and allow growers to produce high quality produce with greater predictability. One major disadvantage, however, is increased pest and disease pressure.

“While the environment inside the high tunnel can promote faster plant growth, it also favors rapid reproduction of many insect pests,” Ernst said. “And while we may see a decrease in diseases spread by splashing water, the more humid environment in the tunnel will be more favorable for other common diseases like botrytis.”

However, Ernst said by implementing effective management strategies like ventilation and crop rotation, disease pressure in a high tunnel can be lessened. Ernst has outlined these management strategies, as well as more information on high tunnel production, on the Cooperative Extension Service website.

Arkansas Diamonds

Extension ornamental specialist Anthony Bowden gave attendees a tour of in trials for the Arkansas Diamond Program. This program is a partnership of the Arkansas Green Industry Association, the Division of Agriculture, local growers and independent garden centers designed to identify and promote plants that grow well in Arkansas’ climate. Bowden noted some changes to the program for 2025.

“Edible plants, such as peppers, have historically not been included in the Arkansas Diamond Program and that’s going to change in 2025,” Bowden said. “Also beginning next year, we are transitioning from a one-year trialing period to a two-year period to better gauge how these plants perform in the state long term.”

The Arkansas Green Industry Association lists all current Arkansas Diamond plants and participating nurseries on their website.

Mention of brand names does not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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.

Pre-weaned calf deworming study showed improved weight-gain, added value

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A recent Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station study showed deworming calves about two months before weaning improved weight gain and added value for producers.

PRE-WEANED TREATMENT — Calves in a study at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope showed more advancement when dewormed before being weaned. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

Daniel Rivera, associate professor of animal science, said the weight gain translated to adding about $13 of value per head of cattle 21 days after weaning. With roughly 400,000 calves in Arkansas at 400 pounds or less, deworming before weaning could result in an additional $5.12 million to Arkansas beef cattle producers.

“Parasite burden can have a negative effect on performance,” Rivera said. “This can lead to reduced weight gain and other effects that are more difficult to measure, like immune response and vaccine efficacy. Some of these losses might be visible to producers, who will either sell their cattle at weaning or after a preconditioning program.”

A preconditioning program is a period, typically a minimum of 45 days, used to build the health status of a weaned calf before sale.

Rivera said most cattle ranchers usually do not handle their animals until they wean them. However, he had read studies that suggested pre-weaning management can have extended effects.

“I just wanted to see what the effect was, and we saw that small effect early on, but the fact that it carried through, even 56 days later, showed that some of these things that we do prior to weaning can have an impact later one,” Rivera said. “This, surprisingly, was one of them.”

The added labor for deworming pre-weaned calves, Rivera said, could be a full-day job for cow-calf producers in Arkansas and the cost of labor would need to be considered by the producer to determine if the process is right for them.

The calves dewormed before weaning averaged 4.5 pounds heavier than the control group that did not receive a dewormer before being weaned. That translated to $10.25 in value added per head at weaning time and $12.80 per head 21 days after weaning. The values are based on the Dec. 11, 2023, Arkansas Department of Agriculture market report for a 500-pound calf at $2.51 per pound. Calves have increased in value since then, with the late February-early March 2024 market report offering $3.04 per pound for 500-pound calves.

Finding answers

The study was conducted near Hope at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Southwest Research and Extension Center. Rivera is director of the facility and conducts research for the Division of Agriculture’s research arm, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

For the study, Rivera's team randomly assigned calves to one of two groups. The calves in one group received a deworming treatment 60 days before the set date in October when they would be weaned. The other group was the control and did not receive deworming treatment before weaning. For the experiment, all calves were weighed and then either given a dewormer or not based on their assigned group. At weaning time, all the calves in the study were dewormed and vaccinated, including those already dewormed before being weaned.

Researchers took blood samples from the calves on their second round of vaccinations three weeks after weaning. The pre-weaned dewormed calves still had a 5.5-pound weight advantage over those that did not get a deworming treatment before being weaned.

A follow-up study will take place this summer at the center. Rivera’s team is analyzing the blood samples from the calves to see if pre-weaned, dewormed calves have different antibody levels than the control group. Antibodies are proteins the immune system produces to protect the body from illness.

“One of the things that happens when you have a parasitic infection is that the body starts to fight that infection and sometimes resources aren't available to mount other immune responses,” Rivera said. “One of our lines of thinking is that if we have this worm load on these calves, that may have a negative impact on their antibody production.”

Merck donated the dewormer used in the study. Use of a product name does not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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

Cattle buying, steak sampling coming to the 2024 Beef and Forage Field Day in Hope

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Researchers and extension specialists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will present on future forage programs, hay verification and winter feed options at the Beef and Forage Field Day next month.

BEEF AND FORAGE — The 2024 Beef and Forage Field Day will take place on April 5 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope. Research updates, cattle buying tips and vaccine management are all on the agenda. (Division of Agriculture photo).

The event is scheduled to take place on April 5 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope. Those interested in registering or learning more about the event can contact the center at 870-777-9702. There is no cost to register.

Alongside the research and extension updates, Daniel Rivera, associate professor of animal science and the center’s director, will be introducing Jonathan Kubesch, a new assistant professor and forage specialist who starts with the Division of Agriculture on April 1. Experts from outside the Division of Agriculture will also discuss cattle markets and outlooks and the proper management of vaccines for cattle health.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to compare steak samples from cattle that were finished at the station against steak bought from a grocery store. This was made possible as part of an Arkansas Beef Council grant, Rivera said.

“I am excited to showcase the projects we have done at the station, as well as having a local order buyer discuss discounts and premiums and have that visual example for the producers,” he said.

A cattle order buyer purchases cattle at livestock auctions, usually on behalf of another party, like a stocker operator, feedlot or meat processing company.

“Hopefully producers can come away with insight on what type of cattle they should be producing,” Rivera said.

Rivera thanked the Ouachita district extension ag agents for working with him to put the event together.

Speakers and topics:

• Kubesch will discuss his upcoming forage programs with the Division of Agriculture.

• Michelle Johnson, a graduate research assistant in the department of animal science, will share updates on her beef finishing study.

• Les Walz, agriculture and forages educator, will discuss the hay verification program.

• Maggie Justice, assistant professor and beef cattle specialist, will discuss winter feed options.

• Jake Cartwright, director of commodity activities and economics for beef, equine and dairy, for AR Farm Bureau.

• Ken Blue, senior food animal technical consultant at Elanco, and Harold Newcomb, technical services veterinarian at Merck Animal Health, will host a veterinarian roundtable to discuss vaccines and methods to improve calf health.

• Lanny Ford, owner of F&F Cattle, will discuss the good and bad traits he looks for when purchasing cattle.

The schedule is as follows:

• 9:00-9:30 — Registration

• 9:30-9:45 — Future forage programs with Kubesch

• 9:45-10:00 — Beef finishing study with Johnson

• 10:00-10:30 — Hay verification program with Walz

• 10:30-11:00 — Winter feed options with Justice

• 11:00-11:30 — Cattle Market Outlook with Cartwright

• 11:30-12:30 — Veterinarian roundtable on vaccines and methods to improve calf health with Blue and Newcomb

• 1:00 — Premiums and discounts in purchasing feeder/stocker cattle with Lanny Ford, F&F Cattle

Lunch will be served from 12:30-1:00 p.m.

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

Hope Baking Co. to expand, add 266 new jobs

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

Hope Baking Co. is investing more than $37 million to expand its food manufacturing facility in Hope. The expansion is expected to create 266 new jobs over two years.

“Hope Baking Company is excited to be reinvigorating the operation of the bakery and equipment located in Hope, Arkansas and looks forward to steady expansion of its employment count,” said Dan Serra, owner of Hope Baking Co.

Hope Baking Company is a division of East Baking Company, which acquired Southern Bakeries in March 2023. Since the acquisition, the company has expanded the facility adding a new production line.

Hope Baking Co. to expand, add 266 new jobs

Extension hosts meeting for Southwest Arkansas watermelon growers

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOPE, Ark. — Specialists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will discuss topics geared toward small-acreage watermelon producers at a growers meeting from 5-8 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Hempstead County Extension Office, 1800 E. Third St. in Hope.  

WATERMELONS — The Hempstead County Extension Office in Hope, Arkansas, will host a Watermelon Growers meeting on Feb. 20. (Division of Agriculture graphic) 

“This meeting will benefit current producers as well as those interested in getting started with watermelons,” said Kim Rowe, Hempstead County extension agricultural agent.

Topics and speakers include:

• Planting and Production — Amanda McWhirt, extension commercial horticulture specialist

• Disease and Insect Management — Aaron Cato, extension horticulture integrated pest management specialist

• Weed Control — Hannah Wright Smith, extension horticulture weed specialist

• Nuisance Wildlife Control —Becky McPeake, extension wildlife specialist

Arkansas ranks 14th nationally for production of watermelons with 1,822 acres of watermelons harvested annually, according to the most recent Census of Agriculture. The melons can be grown in all parts of Arkansas, but the City of Hope in Hempstead County claims to be home of the world’s largest watermelons and celebrates the summertime treat annually with the Hope Watermelon Festival.

Attendees will have opportunities for a question-and-answer with specialists and networking with other producers. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required.  

To register, call the Hempstead County Extension office at (870) 777-5771 or email Kim Rowe at krowe@uada.edu.

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

Hempstead Extension celebrates new home in Hope

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOPE, Ark. — The Hempstead County Cooperative Extension Service has moved to a new site that offers a more modern space where Hempstead County residents can access resources and services related to agriculture, 4-H, family and consumer sciences and community and economic development. 

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC — Officials with Hempstead County Extension, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Chamber of Commerce and local officials celebrate Hempstead County Extension's new home at 1800 E. Third St, in Hope on Nov. 16, 2023. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

In November, the Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce County, Hempstead County Judge Jerry Crane, Hope City Council Director Mark Ross, extension staff and community residents gathered for a ribbon cutting and tour of the new site at 1800 E. Third St. 

Extension personnel previously worked in the basement of the Hempstead County courthouse. When the county relocated courthouse operations in 2022 to a former bank building, there wasn’t enough room for Cooperative Extension Service staff. The county later purchased a building from Arkansas Farm Bureau to house extension personnel. The staff moved operations to the new site on June 12. 

“It has been a long process as we made this transition, but we are all excited to be here and have space to offer our programs,” Hempstead County Extension Staff Chair Terrie James said.

“We are able to have pesticide applicator trainings here and host meetings for our 4-H clubs, Extension Homemakers Council and Master Gardeners.” Hempstead County has four 4-H clubs and five EHC groups, she said. 

“We talk about changes from where we were to where we are going,” said Victor L. Ford, associate vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The extension service is always changing. We get basic research and work on the applied research to get information to the people. This new location is going to facilitate that mission not only for agricultural producers but also to families and our children. This is a monumental day, and I look forward to the good things that will happen here.” 

The new site offers some perks from the courthouse basement location — including WiFi, street-level access and a parking lot just for extension visitors, for starters. Inside, staff have private office space instead of cubicles, access to a reception area, classroom, kitchen and meeting and storage space.

The Hempstead County Extension staff includes two administrative assistants and three agents who specialize in agriculture, family and consumer sciences and 4-H. There’s also a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program office on site. 

The Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has offices in every county in Arkansas, but facilities vary from county to county.

“We appreciate the support from the County Judge Jerry Crane and the Quorum Court for relocating us to a new facility,” said Carla Due, director of extension’s Ouachita District, which includes Hempstead County. “We’re grateful for the ongoing support for county extension programs there that allow staff to continue serving the clientele of Hempstead County.”

To learn about Hempstead County Extension programs and services, visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/hempstead/. 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: aaes.uada.edu. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

Dropping temps, additional moisture, longer nights help fall foliage outlook

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOPE, Ark. — The arrival of more fall-like temperatures and the season’s longer nights are expected to encourage an improved autumn color display, says Vic Ford, head of agriculture and natural resources for the Cooperative Extension Service.

In northern Arkansas, lows are forecast to sneak into the 40s this week. In northeast, central and southern Arkansas, lows are expected to sink into the 50s and 60s.

SEEING RED — Cooler temperatures and longer days will help encourage fall color. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

“The cooler temperatures will help two processes needed for fall color to happen,” Ford said. “First, it will accelerate abscission layer formation. This layer cuts off nutrient flow to the leaf and is where the leaf will eventually break from the tree, but more immediately, it keeps excess sugars in the leaf, promoting non-green pigment production in the leaf.”

The cooler temperatures “also quicken chlorophyll degradation, allowing the leaves’ natural red and gold pigments to show,” he said.

“The recent rains may also help intensify color,” Ford said.

The Climate Prediction Center says it’s likely Arkansas will see below-normal temperatures through Oct. 22.

The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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

Extension to offer two sessions on artificial insemination in cattle

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

HOPE, Ark. — Charles Looney, professor of cattle improvement for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and his staff will conduct a pair of two-day workshops in cattle artificial insemination. The workshops are scheduled for Oct. 12-13 and Nov. 9-10.

FALL WORKSHOPS — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host workshops in cattle artificial insemination on Oct. 12-13 and Nov. 9-10, 2023. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

Each workshop will cover basic reproductive anatomy and physiology, estrous synchronization and semen handling, as well as pregnancy determination methods and reproductive health. Participants will also receive training in artificial insemination on live cattle.

“Participants will have three sessions over the two-day course to practice on live cattle to learn the procedure entirely,” Looney said. “This workshop is one of the best opportunities to learn more about beef cattle reproduction.”

The courses will both be held at the Southwest Research and Extension Center, located at 362 Hwy. 174 N., Hope, Arkansas. The registration fee for each workshop is $450, which includes lunch. Payments must be made prior to the workshops. Registration fees are non-refundable and will not be accepted on-site. Fees are all due by Oct. 9 for the October session and by Nov. 6 for the November session. 

To register, visit https://uada.formstack.com/forms/beef_cattle_ai.

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

LABOR DAY: Fall foliage may fizzle

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

HOPE, Ark. — Thanks to a string of dry days with highs in the 100s, Arkansas’ fall foliage display may fizzle this year.

“It’s going to be a pretty bad fall across the state,” said Vic Ford, a forester who is head of agriculture and natural resources for the Cooperative Extension Service. “A lot of trees are already turning brown.

Drought is likely to put a damper on fall foliage color in 2023, says Vic Ford, forester and administrator at the Cooperative Extension Service. (U of A System Division of Agriuculture photo by Mary Hightower)

“There’s a lot of drought stress going around,” he said. When drought hits, one of the tree’s survival mechanisms is to cut sap flow to its leaves, preventing moisture from evaporating from the leaves, which leads to browning and early leaf fall.

“Leaf color change of the type we like to see in fall is driven by day length and temperature,” Ford said. “The shorter day encourages the green chlorophyll to break down, revealing the yellows and reds. Cooler temperatures allow the non-green colors in the leaf to develop more fully.”

The Drought Center map for Arkansas showed areas of abnormal dryness in eastern Arkansas along the Missouri border, some patches in southwest Arkansas, but a broad swath of dryness north of the Arkansas River extending from the Mississippi River as far west as Faulkner and Pulaski counties. Five counties have areas of severe drought including all of Lee County, and parts of St. Francis, Woodruff, Monroe and Phillips counties.

The dryness was also prompting counties to impose burn bans across the state as the wildfire danger increased across most of the state.

“In areas where there might be more moisture, you may get some color, such as on northern slopes,” he said.

If the dry spell is upended, the chances for color might improve slightly.

“Any moisture in the next couple of weeks could produce color in places that are marginal,” Ford said.

Speaking from Hope, he said that “elms are just turning totally brown and the privet has wilted completely.”

La Niña gives way to El Niño
While cooler temperatures were in the forecast, the National Weather Service at Little Rock was not expecting abundant rain.

“Looking ahead, La Niña has faded, with a transition to a moderate to strong El Niño in the coming months,” the weather service said. “As we head through the remainder of summer/early fall long-term data is showing largely below normal precipitation across Arkansas.

“In addition to a lack of thunderstorms, there could be extreme heat at times,” the weather service said. “Given the scenario, and if there is no rain by way of a tropical system, drought is a growing concern in the short term. We will continue monitoring the situation.”

The Cooperative Extension Service is the land grant outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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

Pests, weeds, variety trials focus of Horticulture Field Day in Hope

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

HOPE, Ark. — More than 130 people braved the heat Wednesday at the 2023 Horticulture Field Day to hear from experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture on issues facing Arkansas specialty crop growers.

Crowd of field day participants listens to researcher's presentation.

FIELD DAY — The 2023 Horticulture Field Day featured talks on a variety of subjects, including pest and weed control. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

The Southwest Research and Extension Center hosted the annual event with information on growing blackberries, watermelons, peaches, pumpkins and ornamental trees. People from 27 counties in Arkansas and two counties in Texas attended.

Management tactics to combat pests were a dominant theme across the field trials, including research that seeks pumpkin varieties with natural tolerance or resistance to the dreaded melonworm that damaged a significant portion of the state’s pumpkin crop in 2020-2021. Melonworm, Diaphania hyalinata, is a tropical moth species that migrates to Arkansas each year from coastal regions from August to October.

Aaron Cato, extension horticulture integrated pest management specialist, said the pumpkin trial includes nine varieties from four different cucurbit species planted in mid-June and again after July 1. The experiment, supported by a Specialty Block Grant administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, will also help establish an action threshold for the pest and investigate other sustainable management tactics.

Matt Bertucci, assistant professor of horticulture, is testing more than a dozen varieties of seedless watermelons from five seed companies to determine growth quality in Arkansas. The study, also supported by a Specialty Block Grant, includes varieties like Exceed, Onza, El Capitan, Crackerjack and Blackjack. Bertucci included several varieties of seeded cantaloupe in the study to help determine the number of days to ripen in Arkansas.

Bertucci said he hopes his study can provide Arkansas growers with growth and management information more specific to Arkansas. He added that most major seed companies evaluate their varieties in states with larger horticultural industries, like Florida. “But what if some of these varieties that do well in Florida come up short in Arkansas?”

Bertucci's melon study seeks information like fruit count, fruit size, sweetness level and ripening date.

To help manage annual grass and small-seeded broadleaf weeds in watermelon fields, Bertucci said Dual Magnum, a trade name for S-metolachlor, now has a five-year, 24(c) pre-emergent herbicide registration with the Arkansas State Plant Board for use in watermelon fields. He also remarked on the new registration of Optogen (bicyclopyrone) as a “clean-up” material in the row middles. Bertucci said that Optogen was federally registered for use in watermelons late last year.

Bertucci recommended specialty crop growers inspect the Division of Agriculture’s MP44 publication for more information on herbicides registered in Arkansas.

Theresa Mitzler, a Miller County Master Gardener, said she has attended the Horticulture Field Day since 2017 to learn from researchers and extension specialists.

Roderick Greene of Camden also attended to support his operations at Titan Farm, where he grows sweet potatoes and cut flowers.

“It was worth the heat,” Greene said. Temperatures swelled into the high 90s with high humidity by noon.

Other Division of Agriculture faculty who presented sessions at the field day included:

Anthony Bowden, assistant professor of horticulture and ornamental extension specialist, gave a presentation on grafting Japanese maples and Eastern Redbuds.

Wendell Hutchens, assistant professor of turfgrass science, provided guidance for dealing with Large Patch, Spring Dead Spot and Gray Leaf Spot.

Amanda McWhirt, horticulture extension specialist, described how to use a rotating cross-arm trellis system to grow blackberries.

Hannah Wright-Smith, extension weed specialist, provided steps to take when reestablishing an abandoned peach orchard, and updates on turfgrass herbicide trials.

Daniel Rivera, director of the Southwest Research and Extension Center, thanked the guests for their attendance and commended his staff for their diligence in preparing the grounds for the researchers’ studies.

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

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

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOPE, Ark. — For producers interested in improving their cattle through artificial insemination, the Cooperative Extension Service is offering a two-day training course on June 8-9.

UTILIZING AI TECHNOLOGY — For producers interested in improving their cattle through artificial insemination, the Cooperative Extension Service is offering a two-day training course on June 8-9. The workshop will include presentations on nutrition, herd health and record keeping, basic reproductive anatomy and physiology, pregnancy determination methods and more. (Division of Agriculture flyer.)

Charles Looney, extension professor of cattle improvement for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will lead the workshop. The training runs from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on June 8 and 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on June 9 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center, located at 362 Hwy 174 North in Hope, Arkansas. Registration is $450, which includes lunch on both days. Participants must register by June 5 at uada.formstack.com/beef_cattle_ai.

“The goal of the workshop is to introduce participants to the practice of thawing, loading and inseminating cows with frozen semen from genetically superior bulls,” Looney said. “We have live cows to practice with, and each participant will have the opportunity to learn the art of the procedure.”

The workshop will also include presentations on nutrition, herd health and record keeping, basic reproductive anatomy and physiology, pregnancy determination methods and more. Looney said the training provides important information about the benefits of AI technology for cattle producers.

“Artificial insemination is one of the most underutilized technologies in beef cattle,” Looney said. “Only about 10 percent of overall producers utilize this technology. Beef cattle producers who raise purebred cattle use this more than commercial breeders, mainly because of the labor and improved facilities that are necessary for AI technology to be successful.”

Looney said cattle producers can also benefit from adopting estrous synchronization technology, which involves manipulating females’ estrous cycle so they can be bred earlier, “thus producing higher weaning weight calves when they are older.” By then using AI technology to breed cattle with high genetic merit bulls, Looney said producers can “utilize the best bulls available at reasonable prices.”

Sponsors for the workshop include Premier Select Sires, CattleMax, Nashville Animal Hospital 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 Twitter 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 Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Tyson Foods to build $70 million hatchery in Hope

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

On the heels of Tyson Foods’ announcement to close its processing plant in Van Buren, Ark., with the elimination of almost 1,000 jobs, the Springdale-based meat giant reports a new $70 million hatchery it will build in Hope that will be completed in late 2024.

The new 131,000-square-foot hatchery will replace the existing facility and triple capacity, contributing to operational efficiencies at the company’s nearby poultry processing complexes in Hope and Nashville, Ark.

“We continually strive to unlock the next level of excellence in quality and service to our customers,” said Donnie King, CEO of Tyson Foods. “This investment is another way to demonstrate our long-term commitment to our home state of Arkansas and the Hope and Nashville communities.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/tyson-foods-to-build-70-million-hatchery-in-hope/

Westerman tours Southwest Research and Extension Center during agriculture tour

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture

HOPE, Ark. — From the global economy and supply chain to the global climate and regional weather patterns, perhaps no industry is as affected by external forces as agriculture. For better or worse, that makes farming a primary concern of political representatives at every level — especially in a state dominated by agriculture.

ON THE FARM — Vice President for Agriculture Deacue Fields, left, and Rep. Bruce Westerman listen to a description of ongoing research from Aaron Cato, integrated pest management specialist for the Division of Agriculture, during Westerman's recent visit to the Southwest Research and Extension Center. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

U.S. Congressman Bruce Westerman, who represents Arkansas’ fourth district, visited the Southwest Research and Extension Center last week. Westerman said he typically takes time during each Congressional recess to meet with farmers, agricultural researchers and other industry professionals throughout Arkansas.

“We do have the farm bill coming up next year,” he said. “Tours like this give me a chance to get input from farmers and other people who will be impacted by that bill.”

Daniel Rivera, associate professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and director of the research center, said he was glad to have the opportunity to show off the SWREC’s cattle and grazing facilities, demonstrating how the research is key to the success of many Arkansas producers.

“We’re talking about some of the things we’re doing to navigate the drought,” Rivera said. “We’ve implemented a management program where we’ve been able to fertilize grasses in August and take advantage of some of those timely rains. That allowed us to get some grass growing and stockpile it.”

Rivera spoke about how various systems, such as the “300 Days of Grazing” concept, work to both ensure adequate feed for cattle and help to naturally clear biomass from fields, making it easier and less input-intensive to plant cold season grasses.

“There’s really no way to move forward other than with tighter management,” he said. “What we’re trying to show is that if you adhere to these principals, we can take advantage of that grass, without having to feed any hay.”

The center, part of the Division of Agriculture’s network of research stations across the state, focuses on several areas in addition to forage and grazing, including horticulture propagation and pest management. It also houses the state’s nematode laboratory, which analyzes soil samples for pests.

Amanda Greer, nematode lab supervisor, told Westerman about the lab’s importance to agricultural exports.

“We get samples of pine shavings from loads that go to China, for example,” Greer said. “We look to make sure there aren’t pests in the samples, and report back. That way, they can be issued a permit.”

Greer said the lab analyzes samples from growers throughout the state, as well as the Arkansas Plant Board and other states’ respective plant boards.

A native of Hot Springs, Westerman was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. Among other assignments, he serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources. Before his election to national office, he served two terms in the Arkansas General Assembly.

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

Oct. 28 field day to address drought’s effect on cattle, forages and more

HOPE, Ark. — While several weeks of relatively cool, wet weather may have distanced the memory of this summer’s drought conditions across much of the country, experienced cattle and forage producers know there’s no guarantee tough times won’t return.

UPCOMING — This year’s Beef & Forages Field Day, scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope, will address drought impacts on the cattle market, nutritional considerations in forage and more. (DIvision of Agriculture flier.)

Though the rain has eased the dry conditions, nearly two-thirds of Arkansas still had some form of drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s Sept. 15 update.

This year’s Beef & Forages Field Day, scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope, will address drought impacts on the cattle market, nutritional considerations in forage and more. The center is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s research arm, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m., with lunch provided. There’s no cost to attend, but registration is required. To register, visit https://bit.ly/SWREC_Cattle_Field_Day_2022 or call 870-777-9702 no later than Oct. 25.

Daniel Rivera, associate professor and SWREC director, said attendees will “have the opportunity to tour facilities and pastures to hear ways to reduce hay waste and how to utilize annual forage plantings to extend grazing as you see these management strategies in practice.”

Speakers include James Mitchell, livestock economist for the Division of Agriculture; Shane Gadberry, cattle nutritionist and director of the agricultural experiment station’s Livestock and Forestry Station at Batesville and more. Additional topics include minimizing hay waste, an overview of the research topics at SWREC and a tour of the pastures and facilities.

The Southwest Research and Extension Center is located at 362 Highway 174 North in Hope.

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

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Arkansans know that no summer barbecue is complete without fresh watermelon. Our state may not be the largest producer of watermelon, but Arkansas communities lay claim to being the home of the world’s largest and the world’s sweetest. 

The month of July is known as National Watermelon Month. July is typically the largest shipping month of the year, with over 15 states harvesting simultaneously. 

The United States currently ranks 7th in the worldwide production of watermelon. Over 1,200 varieties of watermelon are grown across 96 countries worldwide. But the impact the crop has on communities here in Arkansas has been a cause for celebration for decades.  

In Arkansas, we have more than 200 farms harvesting more than 1,500 acres of watermelons. Crops are valued at more than $5 million. 

The city of Hope annually celebrates its claim as the home of the world’s largest watermelons with a yearly watermelon festival. The event first originated in 1926 and has been ongoing, though not continuous, since 1977. 

And since 1980, the residents of Cave City have been coming together to celebrate the "World's Sweetest Watermelons" and reconnect with family and friends. Now, in its 40th year, the watermelon festival is the largest festival in the region. 

Researchers are now finding out that watermelons are even more nutritious than previously known. The USDA's Agricultural Research Service recently identified over 1,500 small molecules of diverse chemical characters in the fruit, known as phytochemicals. They concluded that eating watermelon is an excellent way to increase your intake of antioxidants, non-protein amino acids, and lycopene. This means that every time you eat watermelon, you’ll be improving the health of your cells, organs, and nervous system. 

In addition to farmer’s markets and fruit stands across the state, you can find Arkansas watermelons and any Arkansas grown produce at supermarkets by looking for the “Arkansas Grown” label. The “Arkansas Grown” logo is a registered trademark of the Department filed with the Arkansas Secretary of State. It may appear in black and white or black and green versions.

 We’ve posted more information, including recipes and expert tips on finding the perfect watermelon, on our website www.arkansashouse.org.

Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Wood Pellet Industry on Fire in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK – A company that produces wood pellets for grilling has announced it will open a plant in Hope this year, and today I’d like to talk about the wood-pellet industry in Arkansas and what it means for this state.

Wood pellets are manufactured from sawdust, shavings, and other sweepings from sawmill floors as well as from timber that is too small or otherwise not suitable for milling. Initially, the pellets were used for heating and producing energy, but some companies, such as Fiber Energy Products in Mountain View, produce food-grade pellets for grilling.

Wood pellets are a sustainable fuel and produce fewer carbons, which makes the pellets a clean source of energy; and the temperature of a pellet fire is easier to control than a log fire.

The pellets resemble rabbit food. The manufacturing process begins with hammermilling, which pulverizes the wood scraps, which are then dried, hammermilled again, and then pressed into molds to form the pellets.

Highland Pellets, a company in Pine Bluff, began producing wood pellets in December 2016. Brian Reed, manager for fiber procurement, said Highland ships its pellets to the United Kingdom, which has required all its coal-fired power plants to convert to cleaner, sustainable fuels.  

Fiber Energy, which produces pellets for the outdoor grill, sells pellets made from hickory, apple, cherry, mesquite, oak, and pecan.

On Wednesday, the family owned Dansons company announced it will open a plant to produce food-grade wood pellets in Hope. Dan Thiessen founded Dansons with his sons in 1999 to convert sawmill waste into animal bedding and wood-pellet fuel. The company also builds pellet-burning barbecue pits, which it will distribute from its plant in Hope. Dansons will produce pellets made from cherry, maple, white oak, elm, sweet gum, sassafras, and mesquite.

Dansons estimates that over the next three years, it will create fifty to one hundred jobs in Hope, which has a population of 10,000 and an unemployment rate of about 4.6 percent.

At least two other Arkansas companies produce wood pellets – Fiber Resource in Pine Bluff and Biomass in Monticello.

The wood-pellet industry is a perfect fit for Arkansas. It’s another tool for managing our forests. It reduces sawmill waste by creating another product from the scraps. It creates another market that allows landowners to sell small diameter trees that generally aren’t valuable. The pellet plants need wood. Arkansas has wood. The plants need employees. Arkansas offers a solid workforce. The top reason it’s a good fit, perhaps, is that pelleters are producing wood pellets for grilling, and we Arkansans love our barbecue.

BBQ Wood Pellet Mill to Open in Hope, 50-100 New Jobs Forthcoming

by Roby Brock

Credit Stock.Adobe.com

Dansons USA said Wednesday (Feb. 10) it will open “the country’s largest barbecue wood pellet mill and distribution center” in Hope, Ark. The facility is expected to create 50-100 new jobs over the next three years, according to the company.

The facility, which is approximately 335,000 square feet and sits on 143 acres, will initially start with three pelleters and a 100,000-ton capacity, but has the infrastructure for eventual expansion to 300,000 tons and nine pelleters. The site will also serve as a distribution center for wood pellets as well as wood pellet barbecue grills, according to Dansons.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/02/bbq-wood-pellet-mill-to-open-in-hope-50-100-new-jobs-forthcoming/

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Provides COVID-19 Update from Hope Tuesday (10.13.20) 130PM

Governor Asa Hutchinson provides an update to media from Hope on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, live at 1:30 p.m. regarding Arkansas’s COVID-19 response. Click on Play button above.

During his weekly COVID-19 response briefing yesterday, Governor Asa Hutchinson extended the health emergency he first initiated in March for another 60 days. He said the extension is necessary to allow school children to have the option to learn from home, for small businesses to have a measure of liability immunity, for businesses to accept e-signatures on legal documents and for operations of telemedicine to continue to get reimbursements from Medicare.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/governor-extends-covid-19-health-emergency-december