Womack to host U.S. Military Service Academy Day event on Saturday

On Saturday, April 20, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) will host a U.S. Military Service Academy Day event for high school students from the Third District. Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from the U.S. Military Service Academies, alumni, and current cadets to learn more about the application, nomination, selection, and appointment processes. Information about the Arkansas National Guard and scholarships available through local Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs will also be provided.

Invited organizations include:

Photo by Clay Banks

• U.S. Military Academy

• U.S. Naval Academy

• U.S. Air Force Academy

• U.S. Coast Guard Academy

• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

• Arkansas National Guard

• Arkansas Tech University Army (ROTC)

• University of Arkansas Army and Air Force (ROTC)

• University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Army (ROTC)

Saturday, April 20, 2024

1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. CT

Fayetteville High School (Cafeteria), 994 W Martin Luther King Blvd, Fayetteville, AR 72701

This event is open to the public and media. Additional information on the U.S. Military Service Academy nomination process can be found here.

UA Pulaski Tech nursing program awarded $5.73 million DOL grant

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

The University of Arkansas–Pulaski Technical College will receive a $5,736,624 award from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand its nursing education program. The grant was secured in cooperation with the Arkansas Community Colleges Association and New Growth, a grant writing company.

The grant will provide funds for additional nursing faculty, student success coaches, grant administrators, and institutional research staff.

“This award recognizes the role community colleges play in addressing the need for skilled medical professionals to work in hospitals, clinics, and home health capacities across the state,” said UA-PTC Chancellor Summer DeProw. “As our nursing program benefits significantly, so will the graduates who will enjoy the financial security these jobs create. And of course, when healthcare in Arkansas improves, we all benefit.”

UA Pulaski Tech nursing program awarded $5.73 million DOL grant

Severe Weather Briefing Monday night into Tuesday for Arkansas

• After a quiet but breezy/warm weekend, a powerful storm system in the central Plains will drag a cold front toward Arkansas late Monday into late Tuesday night.

• Ahead of the front, scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected from portions of Iowa and Nebraska to northern Texas Monday/Monday night. The focus for possible severe weather will shift eastward into Arkansas on Tuesday.

• Damaging straight-line winds appear the primary thunderstorm hazard across Arkansas, although large hail and a tornado or two will be possible with any supercells that manage to develop ahead of the main line of thunderstorms.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

The 2024 Fiscal Session is now underway.

The House and Senate convened for a Joint Session on Wednesday to hear an address from Governor Sanders.

The Governor told members she would sign a budget that funds critical services for Arkansans while slowing the growth of government. 

The Governor’s proposed budget calls for a 1.76% spending increase. The proposed increases prioritize education. Additional funding is also proposed for public safety and human services. 

On the second day of the session, the House passed HB1003, the General Appropriation Act for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. 

The House also passed HB1001 which allows for session expenses. There is no increase in either appropriation. 

Fiscal sessions are limited to only the consideration of appropriations unless 2/3 of both the House and Senate vote in favor of a resolution substantially describing a bill for introduction.  

The Governor is also requesting the legislature to approve a temporary pay plan for state employees which would authorize a one-time 3% increase and raise the minimum pay to $15/hr by July 1.

A resolution requesting the introduction of that legislation has been filed and assigned to the House Rules Committee. 

Several resolutions requesting the introduction of legislation regarding digital asset mining have also been assigned to the House Rules Committee.

We will continue to update you throughout the Fiscal Session. 

You can find the daily agendas for committees and House floor proceedings as well as links to the live-stream of meetings at arkansashouse.org.

NIH Awards UAMS Researchers $2.27 Million to Study Estrogen’s Role in Preventing Bone Loss

By David Robinson

LITTLE ROCK — Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will use a $2.27 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to answer key questions about the cellular mechanisms used by estrogen to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.

The five-year NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) R01 grant is led by co-principal investigators Maria Schuller Almeida, Ph.D., and Ha-Neui (Hans) Kim, Ph.D. Almeida is a professor in the College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, as well as the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Kim is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Aging and estrogen deficiency are major causes of osteoporosis and lead to a higher risk for bone fractures particularly in women.

NIH Awards UAMS Researchers $2.27 Million to Study Estrogen’s Role in Preventing Bone Loss

UAMS’ Maria Schuller Almeida, Ph.D. (left), and Ha-Neui (Hans) Kim, Ph.D., will use new funding from the National Institutes of Health to answer key questions about estrogen’s important role in preventing bone loss.

Severe Weather Briefing from the National Weather Service

• An unsettled weather pattern will continue today/tonight. Showers and scattered thunderstorms remain in the forecast, and areas of heavy rain are expected.

• The forecast calls for an additional half inch to more than two inches of rain across Arkansas. Spotty flash flooding is possible, and some minor river flooding is likely to occur or is ongoing.

• While the primary concern will be heavy rain, there could be isolated severe storms across southern Arkansas. More significant severe weather is likely farther south along the Gulf Coast (from Louisiana into Mississippi and Alabama).

USDA-grant supported FRST Project releases new fertilizer prediction tool

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new fertilizer recommendation tool, developed nationally in collaboration with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, could save farmers millions of dollars annually while reducing excess nutrient losses to the environment.

DECISION AID — Farmers have a new fertilizer decision aid available called FRST (Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool) following years of development by a national coalition of soil scientists. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

Funding for the FRST Project has been provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Natural Resources Conservation Service, including Conservation Innovation Grants. Additional support comes from the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture and OCP North America, a phosphate-based fertilizer company.

FRST (Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool) is a decision aid that provides an unbiased, science-based interpretation of soil test phosphorus and potassium values for crop fertilization, according to Nathan Slaton, a leader on the FRST Project and associate vice president for agriculture and assistant director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

The tool also augments the interpretation of different fertilizer recommendations across state lines, which was one of the issues that prompted the project. Slaton said phosphorus and potassium are the primary nutrients from routine soil testing that are used to predict the need for crop fertilization.

A team of over 100 soil science and agronomic professionals from nearly 50 universities, four USDA divisions, several nonprofit organizations and one private-sector partner worked for six years to develop the free, web-based tool. Division of Agriculture scientists participating in the project include Slaton, Gerson Drescher, assistant professor of soil fertility, and Bronc Finch, assistant professor and state extension specialist for soil fertility.

“We are extremely excited about the launch of the decision support tool,” Drescher said. “FRST was developed in response to the pressing need to harmonize soil testing across state boundaries. It represents an improvement in our ability to evaluate soil test correlation.”

Deanna Osmond, soil science researcher at North Carolina State University, is also one of the FRST Project leaders.

“Until now, soil fertility faculty in each state worked independently,” Osmond said. “But for farmers who work across state lines, it’s difficult to compare or assimilate multi-state guidelines. Our goal is to improve the accuracy of nutrient recommendations through independent, scientifically developed nutrient management best practices that farmers can believe in and adopt.”

Slaton explained that the FRST Project has accomplished two important objectives to advance phosphorus and potassium management for crop production. The first was developing a national database to archive soil test correlation and calibration research, ensuring the preservation of research information that supports crop fertilization recommendations as scientists retire. The second objective was to provide a tool that anyone can use to review the research results relevant to their crop, soils and geographic area to check their soil-test-based fertilizer recommendations.

The FRST Project was hosted in a neutral space (USDA) with common access, Drescher noted, “to foster collaboration and innovation in soil fertility research and pave the way for future advancements in nutrient management.”

Greg Buol of North Carolina State University provided database and programming support.

“The design of FRST has always been focused on the end user being able to easily use the tool and understand the results,” Buol said.

Current capabilities and plans

Currently, the FRST provides critical phosphorus and potassium soil test values, which indicate where there is no expected yield increase from phosphorus or potassium fertilizer application. In the next phase, the FRST will provide research-based phosphorus and potassium rate response information to assist farmers in selecting the minimum fertilizer rate expected to produce maximal crop yield.

The current version (FRST v1.0) includes data from nearly 2,500 phosphorus and potassium trials for 21 major agricultural crops, with the majority being corn and soybean.

The FRST includes a map of the United States that shows the location of phosphorus and potassium trials represented in the database and can be used to identify where the need for additional research data is greatest.

The database was constructed from current and historical research data, including trials from 40 states and Puerto Rico. The team has plans to expand the tool to other crops, cropping systems and nutrients such as sulfur.

Key features of FRST

Data-driven by utilizing a dynamic database of soil test correlation data constantly updated to improve testing confidence.

• Crop-specific information with a database that currently covers 21 major commodity crops.

• Geographically diverse with published and unpublished trial data from 40 states and Puerto Rico.

• Unbiased information with blended data that removes political and institutional bias in soil test interpretation.

• Scientifically sound data that represents a minimum dataset to provide reliable outcomes.

"We believe that FRST will not only benefit farmers by improving farm economics and conservation practices but also contribute to global sustainability," Finch said.

For more information about FRST, visit https://soiltestfrst.org and click “Tool” at the top of the screen.

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.

CDC confirms bird flu in one person; poultry, ruminant experts warn of avian influenza outbreak

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Monday a human case in Texas of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as H5N1 bird flu.

MAMMALS BEWARE — On March 20, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported HPAI in a juvenile goat, marking the first case of the virus in a domestic ruminant in the United States. As of March 29, USDA has confirmed HPAI in dairy cattle herds in Texas, Kansas and Michigan. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

According to a release from the CDC, the “person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering.”

The confirmation does not change the CDC’s overall human health risk assessment for HPAI, which is currently considered low, according to the report.

The news comes on the heels of recent reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture detailing the spread of HPAI not only in poultry flocks, but also in cattle and small ruminants as well. Between March 7 and March 20, the virus was confirmed in flocks in six states, including a commercial facility in South Dakota affecting more than 31,000 birds. The rest of the flocks affected, however, numbered between 10 and 280 birds.

On March 20, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported HPAI in a juvenile goat, marking the first case of the virus in a domestic ruminant in the United States. As of March 29, USDA has confirmed HPAI in dairy cattle herds in Texas, Kansas and Michigan.

Dan Quadros, small ruminant specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the USDA had detected more than 200 cases of HPAI in wild mammals.

“Now, with these cases of livestock infected in multiple states, producers are very concerned because this is a rapidly evolving situation,” he said.

“Although apparently wild migratory birds are believed to be the source of infection, the possibility of HPAI transmission between cattle cannot be discarded,” Quadros said. “We need to raise awareness about HPAI to prevent it from happening in Arkansas. We are encouraging producers to minimize the movement of cattle, sheep and goats.”

Quadros shared the following guidance from the University of Minnesota Extension:

• Do not allow poultry and livestock species access to ponds, wetlands and other stagnant water sources frequented by wild waterfowl, such as ducks, geese or swans.

• Watch poultry and livestock for signs of illness, including reduced appetite, fever, inability to stand, depression, nasal discharge, diarrhea, coughing and change in behavior. 

• Consider housing poultry separately from other livestock species and minimize poultry access to pasture areas that are grazed by other livestock species.

• Do not allow poultry, waterfowl and wildlife to share water sources and feedstuffs with other livestock species.

• Unfortunately, current influenza vaccines used in horses are not effective against HPAI; always consult your veterinarian before administering vaccinations.

• Many cattle are vaccinated against Parainfluenza-3, a virus that can cause respiratory issues. Parainfluenza viruses are in a different family from influenza viruses and the PI-3 vaccine does not provide protection against influenza.

“We recommend that producers and consumers only drink pasteurized milk, consume dairy products made with pasteurized milk and cook meat to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses, like influenza,” Quadros said. Safe temperatures include 145 °F for steaks, chops and roast; 160 °F for ground meat and 165 °F for poultry.

Producers experiencing any unexplained deaths in animals should consult a veterinarian or contact the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

The Division of Agriculture has biosecurity resources for flock owners.

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.

Governor Sarah Sanders announces board and commission appointees

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the following appointments: 

Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University 

Gary Sewell, El Dorado, to the Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University. Term expires January 14, 2029. Replaces Erica Woods. 

Graduate Medical Education Residency Expansion Board 

Andy Davis, Roland, to the Graduate Medical Education Residency Expansion Board. Term expires February 13, 2027. New Position. 

Amanda Deel, Jonesboro, to the Graduate Medical Education Residency Expansion Board. Term expires February 13, 2027. New Position. 

Arkansas Economic Development Council 

R. Vance Lawson, Wynne, to the Arkansas Economic Development Council. Term expires January 14, 2028. Reappointment. 

Chris Gosnell, Magnolia, to the Arkansas Economic Development Council. Term expires January 14, 2028. Reappointment. 

Arkansas Educational Television Commission 

Gary Newton, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Educational Television Commission. Term expires March 23, 2030. Previously vacant position. 

Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf 

Jerry Belew, Sherwood, to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf. Term expires January 14, 2028. Replaces Samuel Atcherson. 

Philip Powell, Little Rock, to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf. Term expires January 14, 2025. Previously vacant position. 

Cary Smith, Maumelle, to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf. Term expires January 14, 2029. Replaces Philip Garner. 

Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission 

Jerel Saeler, Fordyce, to the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission. Term expires January 14, 2031. Replaces Duane Neal. 

Michael Johnson, Russellville, to the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission. Term expires January 14, 2030. Replaces Rick Whitten. 

State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries and Burial Services 

Billy Curl, Blytheville, to the State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries and Burial Services. Term expires July 1, 2028. Reappointment. 

James Smithson, Springdale, to the State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries and Burial Services. Term expires July 1, 2028. Reappointment. 

Keith Hollowell, Sherwood, to the State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries and Burial Services. Term expires July 1, 2026. Replaces Stephanie Neipling. 

Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board 

Gerald Black, Malvern, to the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board. Term expires August 1, 2027. Replaces Rusty McMillon. 

Randee Reid, Amity, to the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board. Term expires August 1, 2027. Replaces Darrell Allen. 

Hannah Towell, Jonesboro, to the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board. Term expires August 1, 2027. Replaces Rachel Rush. 

Arkansas State Council for the Interstate Commission for Adult Supervision 

Sheriff David West, Wynne, to the Arkansas State Council for the Interstate Commission for Adult Supervision. To serve at the will of the Governor. New Position. 

Cortney Kennedy, Conway, to the Arkansas State Council for the Interstate Commission for Adult Supervision. To serve at the will of the Governor. Replaces Susan Bradshaw. 

Marty Sullivan, Little Rock to the Arkansas State Council for the Interstate Commission for Adult Supervision. To serve at the will of the Governor. Previously vacant position. 

Arkansas Council for Military Children 

Jessica Saum, Sherwood, to the Arkansas Council for Military Children. Term expires August 1, 2026. Previously vacant position. 

Legislative Recidivism Task Force 

Dan Shue, Fort Smith, to the Legislative Recidivism Task Force. Term expires December 31, 2024. Replaces Nathan Smith.

Womack Hosts CDC Director Cohen in Arkansas’ Third District

Rogers, AR—April 9, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) hosted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy Cohen to Northwest Arkansas on Monday, April 8, to visit various partner organizations in the area, share the importance of strong investments in community health, and see the partnership between the CDC and local health care in action.

Congressman Womack said, “I was honored to welcome Dr. Cohen to Northwest Arkansas to showcase the excellence happening in our corner of the Natural State. As a senior appropriator, I see how federal investments through CDC grants foster economic growth, promote health, and enhance quality of life. I’m grateful Dr. Cohen had the opportunity to witness the incredible work of our local health providers in action.”

Dr. Cohen said, “CDC’s mission is to protect health and improve lives, and that requires a team. My visit to Northwest Arkansas highlighted partnerships across education, health care, local government, and private industry that can help us protect health. We need the resources and authorities to continue to sustain and build our team across the country and abroad, and I thank Representative Womack for his work here in Northwest Arkansas and in Congress to work with us to make that possible.”

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen toured the Bentonville Head Start and Early Head Start facility and engaged with UAMS Northwest and NWA Head Start staff involved in the implementation of REACH grant funding, which supported child nutrition initiatives, vaccine clinics, physical activity training, and breastfeeding rooms at Bentonville Head Start.

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen were welcomed by Bentonville Schools’ staff and students and toured the Ignite Professional Studies facility. Following the tour, they engaged with 100 junior and senior students participating in the Ignite Professional Studies Program.

At Community Clinic NWA, Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen led a roundtable discussion on how CDC funding has been utilized in Northwest Arkansas by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and partner organizations. Rep. Womack, Dr. Cohen, Community Clinic CEO Judd Semingson, and Division Director of Community Programs (UAMS Northwest) Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., M.B.A. provided opening remarks. Healthcare organizations and members of Our Healthy Alliance also participated in the roundtable discussion.

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen also visited members of the Walmart Health team and toured the Walmart Emergency Operations Center and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

CDC’s funded work in Arkansas’ Third District:

• CDC’s REACH grant program provided funding to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for the 2023-2028 program cycle to continue implementing evidence-based strategies to improve health, prevent chronic disease, and reduce health disparities among priority populations.

  • Partnerships funded through this program were previously used to reach Marshallese and Hispanic communities with health and vaccination information.

  • This program also supports work in education and early childhood programs to promote healthy environments, healthy eating, physical activity, and health education to prevent obesity and chronic disease.

• Arkansas Maternal and Perinatal Quality Outcomes Quality Review Committee—Perinatal Quality Collaboratives provide the infrastructure that supports quality improvement efforts addressing obstetric and newborn care and outcomes in a state or region. CDC currently funds 36 state PQCs, including Arkansas.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, were in Northwest Arkansas on Monday (April 8) to visit with regional health care officials.

(Talk Business & Politics) CDC director visits Northwest Arkansas, meets with local health leaders

Arkansas net farm income decline projected to continue in 2024

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ 2024 net farm income is expected to fall $0.5 billion from 2023 levels, according to a report Tuesday from the Rural & Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center.

WIN SOME, LOSE SOME — Arkansas’ 2024 net farm income is expected to fall $0.5 billion from 2023 levels, according to a report Tuesday from the Rural & Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center. (Chart courtesy University of Missouri.)

The “Spring 2024 Arkansas Farm Income Report” has two Arkansas authors, Hunter Biram and Ryan Loy, both extension economists for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Additional authors are John Kruse, of World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services, LLC; and TaylorAnn Washburn of the University of Missouri.

The report said that the state’s projected 15 percent drop in net farm income is smaller than the forecasted 25.5 percent decrease in U.S. net farm income for 2024.

“After record-setting farm income in 2022, Arkansas saw a backpedal in 2023 that is projected to extend into 2024 with another $0.5 billion decline in net farm income,” the report said.

“The No. 1 thing driving the drop of income is lower prices for crops across the board,” Biram said, thanks to abundant harvests of soybeans and corn in Brazil and United States in 2023.

“We have a lot of stocks on hand across most commodities right now which is driving a lot of that drop in crop receipts," he said.

The report said crop receipts are estimated to decline by $0.5 billion as many crop and livestock prices are projected to move lower in 2024.

Biram said the model used in this analysis “is expecting one or two cuts in the interest rate this year, resulting in lower interest expense. Fuel and fertilizer expenses are expected to fall too.”

However, “lower crop expenses and lower crop prices kind of cancel each other out.”

Pumped by emergency payments

Extension economist Hunter Biram was among the authors of the April 2, 2024, farm income report. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

“What made 2022 farm income relatively high was all the government payments from emergency relief programs,” Biram said. 

PLC, or Price Loss Coverage, is trigged when marketing year average price of a covered commodity is less than the respective effective reference price.

Biram said that while the data for the analysis is projecting long grain rice to fall below the $14 reference price, “one strong caveat is that this model is stochastic which means is that there are many difference prices that are projected and an average is taken across those prices.

"While there is a low chance of the long grain reference prices falling below $14 per hundredweight, there’s a much higher chance that the average price will be above the reference price and not trigger PLC payments," he said.

Biram is also expecting there to be little chance for ARC –- Agriculture risk program –- payments. 

On the plus side, the report said that “production expenses are projected to offer some relief with a nearly $0.6 billion decline as feed and fertilizer move lower. Although net farm income has declined from record levels, estimated 2024 levels are still higher compared to 2021.”

Livestock sector

Livestock receipts are expected to decline $0.4 billion in 2024 on lower prices for broilers, turkeys and eggs.

Cattle and calves receipts are expected to decline only slightly in 2024, as higher prices help offset lower supplies. Continued projected higher prices in 2025 and 2026 will drive cash receipts higher.

Partnership

The Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri was launched in March 2022. RaFF is closely aligned with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri. The center works in partnership with other states to provide objective policy analysis and inform decision-makers on issues affecting farm and rural finances. The center produces farm income projections for states and regions that are consistent with each other. Cooperation with participating states brings local expertise to enhance model design and estimates.

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.

Boozman, Manchin, Budd Lead Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Gold Star Spouses

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ted Budd’s (R-NC) bipartisan resolution to designate today, April 5, 2024, as Gold Star Wives Day. The resolution honors the sacrifices made by the spouses and families of fallen members of the United States Armed Forces. 

“The loved ones of our fallen servicemembers experience a sense of loss and grief that few will ever know. We must always commemorate their sacrifice while also honoring the incredible courage and resilience it demands of the spouses, children and parents left behind. This resolution helps extend to these Gold Star families the eternal gratitude they are owed by those of us who enjoy the freedoms so many American heroes have given their lives to protect,” said Boozman. 

“We will never be able to repay our brave servicemen and women and their families who have paid the ultimate price to protect our beloved country. West Virginians and Americans are forever grateful to these heroic patriots, and I’m proud to lead this bipartisan resolution to designate April 5, 2024 as Gold Star Wives Day to honor their dedication and sacrifice. Gayle and I extend our deepest condolences and profound gratitude to every Gold Star family and spouse,” said Manchin. 

“We are forever indebted to all those who lay down their lives to protect and defend us. We often forget the sacrifice that military families also bear. That’s why I’m proud to help pass a bipartisan resolution honoring Gold Star spouses. I would like to extend the gratitude and condolences of all North Carolinians to the spouses of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Budd said.

On April 5, 1945, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt convened the first meeting of the Gold Star Wives of America, a congressionally-chartered nonprofit to acknowledge the incredible sacrifices of the families of those who died in service during World War II. 

Boozman has also introduced bipartisan legislation that would adjust monthly benefits for family members and survivors of veterans who lost their lives in service to our country. The Caring for Survivors Act of 2023 will bring parity to payments for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) recipients, which currently lag behind other federal program payments by nearly 12 percent. The bill is supported by Gold Star Wives of America. 

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

Eclipse leaves trail of wonder, excitement in path through Arkansas

KUAR | By Daniel Breen, Josie Lenora, Maggie Ryan, Nathan Treece

Thousands gazed with wonder at Monday's total solar eclipse, which cut a 117-mile-wide path of totality across Arkansas.

The city of Little Rock's official event featured a free concert playing the entirety of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” at the First Security Amphitheater downtown. Photographer Jordan Mozley made the trip from Atlanta.

He says seeing the 2017 solar eclipse made him want to document the celestial event.

"They say this one's special... they say the next one won't be for another 300 years, for this magnitude of the eclipse. So I figured, I've got to photograph this one," Mozley said.

Eclipse leaves trail of wonder, excitement in path through Arkansas

ArDOT awards nearly $15M for new EV charging stations

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) will provide $14.91 million to build 19 electric vehicle charging stations along Arkansas highways and interstates.

The money comes from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In February 2022, the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy released plans to use nearly $5 billion made available by the law to build a national electric vehicle charging network by 2030. Arkansas will receive up to $54.12 million over five years for its network.

The federal infrastructure law established the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program to help states build a network of 500,000 charging stations along alternative fuel corridors, primarily interstates. According to Arkansas’ charging infrastructure plan, it would need to build 15 charging stations to meet the minimum requirements for the NEVI program. It requires a public station every 50 miles along alternative fuel corridors. Arkansas has five existing charging stations that meet the NEVI program requirements and 34 stations that were identified as upgradable to meet the requirements.

ArDOT awards nearly $15M for new EV charging stations

ICYMI: Westerman expresses concerns on EPA IRIS program & risk assessment of formaldehyde

WASHINGTON - Last week, Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) sent a letter to leadership at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) expressing concern on the EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System Program (IRIS) program and how its risk assessment of formaldehyde could negatively impact important sectors of the economy and the environment.

In part, Westerman wrote:
“I urge each of you to work together to fully examine the impacts that this IRIS assessment and forthcoming EPA actions might have on several issues under the purview of each of your agencies before the EPA finalizes this risk assessment. Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, Section 9 of TSCA, EPA’s IRIS process, and Executive Order 12866 all contain specific requirements for interagency coordination. My concern is that this is not currently happening. In December, the EPA announced its search for candidates to assist in the peer review of the formaldehyde risk assessment and signaled that it “intends to defer to the draft 2022” IRIS assessment for forthcoming regulatory activities under TSCA and FIFRA. This assessment fails to live up to the interagency review process that is paramount to making decisions that protect the environment and public health. I urge you all to address these issues before the EPA moves forward with the IRIS risk assessment of formaldehyde.”

BACKGROUND:

• In Fall 2023, Congressman Westerman visited Bakelite Synthetics in Crossett, Arkansas, where he heard concerns from stakeholders on the EPA’s lack of consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (NWS) on its IRIS assessment of formaldehyde.

• The EPA’s IRIS Program is located within the EPA’s Office of Research and Development; this program develops risk assessments for certain chemicals.

• While the EPA plays an important role in protecting public health and the environment, the IRIS program has long been the subject of scrutiny and has been seen as lacking transparency. The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued reports in 2020 and 2022 citing concerns with delays in the process and the need for greater transparency.

• The IRIS assessment for formaldehyde is currently under development at EPA; this assessment could potentially be used to inform regulatory activities under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), among others. Regulations under these statutes can have numerous impacts across industries.

• In recent years, Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly raised concerns about this assessment, specifically that an unworkable or unachievable standard would negatively impact multiple sectors of the economy and the environment.

• Congressman Westerman’s letter echoes these concerns, encouraging the EPA, the NMFS, and the FWS to work together in evaluating and developing this IRIS assessment.

• Given formaldehyde’s prevalence across sectors of the economy—with Arkansas home to multiple facilities that produce this chemical—the process to develop this risk assessment needs to utilize the best available science and ensure that all agencies with an interest in the issue are consulted.

Click here to read the full letter. 

Arkansas State Broadband Office receives fed approval for digital plan

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

The Arkansas State Broadband Office has received approval for its Digital Skills and Opportunity Plan from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

In 2022, the NTIA awarded the State Broadband Office $843,673 to develop its Digital Skills and Opportunity Plan. This funding was awarded as part of the Digital Equity Planning Grant Program – one of three broadband grant programs created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

“Expanding broadband infrastructure in Arkansas is critical to ensuring the success of our residents in the new digital economy,” said Glen Howie, director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office.

Arkansas State Broadband Office receives fed approval for digital plan

State officials take steps to avoid spread of avian influenza in dairy cattle

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy herds in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, and New Mexico.

Symptoms of the virus in dairy cattle include decreased lactation, low appetite, and thickening of milk.

To date, there have been no reported cases of HPAI in livestock within Arkansas, the state’s Department of Agriculture has reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that a dairy farm worker tested positive for HPAI in Texas on April 1.

State officials take steps to avoid spread of avian influenza in dairy cattle

Cotton, Sullivan, Colleagues to Austin: NATO is Not a Charity

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and 20 of their Senate Republican colleagues, today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin requesting an update on how the Department of Defense evaluates U.S. activities as they relate to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members’ defense expenditures, in compliance with the requirement in the FY24 NDAA.

Co-signing the letter were Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri).

In part, the senators wrote:

“NATO is not a charity; it’s a military alliance. All NATO members must bear a meaningful share of the burdens of collective defense.”

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

April 4, 2024

The Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III
Secretary of Defense?
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1000

Dear Mr. Secretary,

We write to you inquiring how the Department of Defense is implementing Section 1250 of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This provision of law requires you to consider whether a NATO partner “has achieved defense spending of not less than 2 percent of its gross domestic product” when weighing decisions related to U.S. military basing, training, and exercises within the alliance.

We are committed to the historic NATO alliance and are encouraged that NATO countries collectively increased defense spending by 11% in 2023. However, a total of only 11 out of 32 NATO countries presently meet their defense spending commitments under the 2014 Wales and 2023 Vilnius Summit Declarations. According to optimistic estimates, 18 NATO nations are expected to meet their defense spending commitments this year. This means that barely half of NATO members will meet the deadline to increase defense spending to a minimum of two percent of gross domestic product—a deadline that was self-imposed and agreed to by unanimous consent.

Many wealthy NATO members have chronically shortchanged their own militaries and relied on other members of the alliance, particularly the United States, to make the investments necessary to achieve collective defense. The United States cannot be expected to satisfy its financial obligation if other NATO members are unwilling or unable to do the same. Our government must hold these allies accountable and Section 1250 of the FY24 NDAA is an important step in that direction.

NATO is not a charity; it’s a military alliance. All NATO members must bear a meaningful share of the burdens of collective defense.

We therefore request an update no later than April 25 on how the Department of Defense evaluates U.S. activities as they relate to NATO members’ defense expenditures, in compliance with the requirement in the FY24 NDAA.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

 Sincerely,

UAMS Jones Eye Institute Advises Eye Protection for April Eclipse

By Benjamin Waldrum

Proper eye protection is highly important when viewing an eclipse, said experts at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute.

On April 8, the continental United States will be treated to a total eclipse of the sun. This amazing phenomenon will be the first total eclipse to cross Arkansas since 1918. The path of totality, where the sun is completely covered by the moon, will last a little over two minutes in Little Rock and up to twice as long in the southwestern corner of the state.

“This amazing phenomenon is worth seeing, but you need proper eye protection to see it safely,” said Katie Brown, O.D., an optometrist with the Jones Eye Institute.

UAMS Jones Eye Institute Advises Eye Protection for April Eclipse

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.