Back to the basics soil fertility training March 11 in Marianna

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Whether you’re new to soil science or been at it for years, there’s never a bad time to review the basics, and that’s what the March 11 soil fertility training workshop at Marianna is all about.

The workshop will be facilitated by Trent Roberts, professor of soil fertility, soil testing, and Bronc Finch, assistant professor and extension soil fertility specialist, and Chandler Arel, extension crop, soils and environmental sciences, all of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The March 11 soil workshop will include a tour of the state's soil test lab (U of A System Division of Agriculture file photo).

The event will be held at the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station, 3121 Highway 1 South, Marianna, and opens with on-site check-in at 8 a.m.

Lunch will be provided to participants who register by March 4. Participants may register online.

“This is the first soil fertility workshop that we have hosted in several years,” Roberts said. “We are going to get back to basics and cover some introductory topics so that we can build on them going forward.”

Finch called the workshop “an opportunity to refresh or gain new knowledge about some of the basics principles of soil fertility.” 

“We hope that this workshop will lay the groundwork for future educational activities,” Roberts said.

The event will include sessions on:

• Plant essential nutrients.

• Soil basics.

• Soil and water conservation.

• Soil testing philosophy/interpretation.

Additionally, the workshop will include a tour of the Division of Agriculture’s Soil Testing and Research Lab, located at the cotton station. Since it opened in 1976, the lab has tested an estimated 5.7 million soil samples. In 2023 alone, the lab tested a record 220,032 soil samples.

The workshop is being presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, the Arkansas Plant Food Association and the Arkansas Soil Testing Board.

For more information on personal finance, visit uaex.uada.edu/money. To learn more about extension programs, 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.uark.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 welcomes new soil fertility specialist

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Bronc Finch, the newest soil fertility specialist to join the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service, said he is excited to work with colleagues and county agents to help growers in the state.

WELCOME TO EXTENSION — Bronc Finch is the newest soil fertility specialist to join the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service. Bronc received his Ph.D. in Soil Science from Oklahoma State University and said he looks forward to helping county agents improve forage and pasture production (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

“I look forward to the opportunity to work with other specialists and county agents in addressing soil fertility management for Arkansas producers and those in the surrounding region,” Finch said.

Mike Daniels, Extension Associate Department Head for Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences, said Finch “brings a wealth of expertise and practical experience in soil fertility, especially with regard to forages, which is and has been an increasing need across the state.”

Finch said his program will primarily focus on “addressing the soil fertility management interests of forage and pasture producers through extension demonstrations and applied research.”

“I also aim to evaluate and provide education about fertility management strategies that will sustain and improve forage and pasture production,” Finch said.

In 2015, Finch received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education from West Texas A&M University, where he later received his Master of Science in Agriculture in 2019. He received his Ph.D. in Soil Science in 2021 from Oklahoma State University, with an emphasis in soil nutrient management.

Daniels said a “large portion” of Finch’s work at Oklahoma State University focused on “forage nutrient management and forage cover cropping in winter wheat grazing systems” in the state.

“However, during his graduate studies, Bronc managed trials in various cropping systems, which he feels has built a strong background that will be effective in assisting producers in Arkansas and surrounding states,” Daniels said.

Finch began his new extension role on Nov. 28. He can be reached at bfinch@uada.edu. For more information about extension crops, soils and environmental sciences resources, visit the Arkansas Environment and Natural Resources website.

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.

Farmers encouraged to use potash ‘tool’ amid rising fertilizer prices

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Fertilizer prices have edged slightly downward in recent months, but remain a worrisome aspect of the 2022 growing season for farmers. In addition to supply chain issues relating to the pandemic, China has said it will cut fertilizer exports, which will cause prices to soar higher.

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station officials caution growers to choose their cuts carefully and are now offering a toolkit to help make those decisions easier and more cost effective.

“Fertilizer prices soared in 2021 and more than doubled in the last 12 to 18 months,” said Trent Roberts, associate professor of soil fertility and testing for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/05/farmers-encouraged-to-use-potash-tool-amid-rising-fertilizer-prices/

Trent Roberts, associate professor of soil fertility and testing for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.