At least 15 are dead after tornadoes rip through parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas

KUAR | By Joe Hernandez

Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms ripped through parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas late Saturday evening and Sunday morning, leaving at least 15 people dead and causing widespread damage.

Around midday Sunday, some rescue crews in those states were still searching for missing people and digging out from the rubble, while residents in other states such as Kentucky and Tennessee were facing severe weather from the eastward-moving storms.

More than 400,000 residents throughout the region had lost power as of Sunday afternoon, according to the website poweroutage.us.

At least 15 are dead after tornadoes rip through parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas

Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council hosts spring conference May 17 at Jonesboro

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

2024 Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council spring conference flyer. 

LITTLE ROCK — The May 17 Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Conference at Jonesboro will offer livestock producers updates on forage improvement research and learn about the use of drones in agriculture.

The conference will be held at the Judd Hill Farmers Market Building, 3350 Aggie Road in Jonesboro. The event opens with registration at 8:30 a.m. and adjourns at 4 p.m. Cost to attend is $35 per person or $15 for students and is payable by cash, check or card at the door. To register or for additional information, contact Linda McCargo, 501-671-2171 or lmccargo@uada.edu.

Indoor presentations and a pasture walk to view current research and demonstration plots will be part of the event.

The spring Arkansas Grassland and Forage Council conference will focus on strengthening a producer's forage game. (U of A System Division of Agriculture file photo by Rachel Bearden).

The spring Arkansas Grassland and Forage Council conference will focus on strengthening a producer's forage game. (U of A System Division of Agriculture file photo by Rachel Bearden).

Jonathan Kubesch, extension forage specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said attendees will hear about forage improvement opportunities.

“When we say that we're strengthening your forage program we come at it both for the folks in north Arkansas as well South Arkansas, using the same principles and applying them to whether you’ve got a cool-season forage base or a warm-season forage base,” he said. “We’re not selling prescriptions we're selling principles.”

Presenters for the event are:

• Jeremy Huff, grazing land specialist for Natural Resources Conservation Service.

• Bud Kennedy, associate dean of Arkansas State’s College of Agriculture and professor of animal science.

• Kenny Simon, extension instructor-forages for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

• Bronc Finch, extension soil fertility specialist, Division of Agriculture.

• Christine Nieman, Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

• Chris Grimes, Craighead County extension agent for the Division of Agriculture.

• Jonathan Kubesch, extension forage specialist for the Division of Agriculture.

• Danny Griffin, Van Buren County extension staff chair for the Division of Agriculture.

• Jeff Dickens, Dickens Ag Drone LLC and Rantizo.

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 2024 Future Ag Leaders program now open

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Registration for the 2024 Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour is now open for college undergraduate juniors and seniors.

LEADING THE WAY — Julie Robinson, associate professor-community, professional and economic development for the Division of Agriculture, developed the Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

This year’s tour, from May 13-17, will give participants an overview of the agriculture industry in Arkansas, plus an opportunity to make key connections with future employers or collaborators.

The program is open to undergraduate juniors and seniors enrolled in colleges of agriculture or pursuing agriculture-related majors within the state of Arkansas can register for one of 50 spots. There is no cost to participate. A full schedule of stops and sponsors will be released later this spring. Participants can register online.

The program was developed by Julie Robinson, associate professor-community, professional and economic development, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Registration is now open for the Future Ag Leaders tour. (U of A System Division of Agriculture graphic).

“We wanted a program to help develop the next generation of leaders in Arkansas agriculture,” Robinson said. “During this week, our Future Ag Leaders will travel the state to see the various flavors of agriculture in Arkansas, better understand related regulations and policies, as well as meet the people who might become employers or collaborators their efforts to advance the industry.”

For more information, visit the Cooperative Extension Service’s Arkansas Future Ag Leaders page, or contact Julie Robinson at jrobinson@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.