Cooperative Extension Service's Grow Your Own Groceries series continues in 2024

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For people interested in learning to grow healthy, nutritious food at home, the Cooperative Extension Service’s Grow Your Own Groceries webinar series offers monthly Zoom presentations on Arkansas-friendly crops for gardeners of all skill levels.

GROW YOUR OWN IN 2024 — To kick off the new year, the first Grow Your Own Groceries presentation of 2024 will focus on setting up a drip irrigation system. Topics this year will also include potatoes, salad greens, blueberries and more. (Division of Agriculture graphic.) 

Krista Quinn, Faulkner County agriculture agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the Grow Your Own Groceries series is designed to connect Arkansans with extension agents’ knowledge about growing and preparing nutritious food.

“I think there are a lot of people who are interested in gardening but have very little experience,” Quinn said. “Often, they did not grow up in families that gardened, and they didn’t really know where to start. If they start looking for gardening advice on the internet or even in books, they quickly realize that a lot of that information often doesn’t work in Arkansas. With the Grow Your Own Groceries program, we are giving people information based on experience and research from right here in Arkansas, so participants have the best chance of being successful.”

The series is a collaboration between extension agriculture agents and family and consumer sciences agents. In each presentation, agriculture agents discuss how to grow a specific crop, with information on variety selection, growing methods, soil health and common pests or problems. Family and consumer sciences agents then share how to store the produce and demonstrate recipes.

“Increasing access to fresh, healthy food by teaching people how to grow it and how to use it in their cooking is one of the main goals of this program,” Quinn said. “Gardening and cooking go hand in hand, and the reward for gardening is getting to eat the food you grow. At times, home gardeners may have a bumper crop, and it’s nice if they know a variety of ways to use the crop and how to preserve it so it can be enjoyed later in the year.

“There may be crops that people don’t have a lot of experience cooking with, but after seeing how it can be used in different recipes, they may decide to try growing it,” she said.

In 2023, extension agents hosted 11 Grow Your Own Groceries presentations for more than 5,700 registrants. Topics included spring peas, pruning berries, sweet corn, cucumbers, fall gardening, hydroponics and more. Quinn said 962 people registered for the fall gardening presentation in August, the highest number of registrants in the program’s history.

“I get a lot of emails thanking us for doing the programs,” Quinn said. “People seem to really enjoy them, and they like the ease of watching at home. I’ve had several people say they were encouraged to try growing a new crop that they’d never grown before. Others have told me that they learned about mistakes they were making with certain crops and were looking forward to correcting those mistakes. One person said that after watching our program and implementing some of our recommendations, they had their best crop of onions ever.”

Quinn said it’s important for Grow Your Own Groceries to provide accessible information to participants of all skill levels.

“By focusing on individual crops or techniques in each program, we can provide a lot of quality information that is helpful to both beginners and more advanced gardeners,” Quinn said. “We’re also living in a time of change, with erratic weather patterns, invasive pests and new technologies available. Through this program, we’re able to keep people up to date on current challenges and opportunities we’re seeing in the state.”

The first Grow Your Own Groceries presentation of 2024 is scheduled for noon on Jan. 18, and the topic will be setting up a drip irrigation system. In 2024, Quinn said her team also plans to cover potatoes, salad greens, blueberries, aquaponics and more.

For more information about Grow Your Own Groceries, visit the program’s page on the Cooperative Extension Service website, or contact Krista Quinn at klquinn@uada.edu or 501-329-8344.

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. 

USDA grants $5.6 million for Arkansas food supply chain improvements

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is dedicating $5.6 million to help Arkansas farmers and food distributors access new markets.

$4.2 million of the funding from the USDA’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program will go toward a grant program for producers and distributors in the state.

Jenny Lester Moffit, the USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary, made the announcement at the Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock on Tuesday. She said the grants will help Arkansas farmers access new markets, and hopefully help improve the rate of food insecurity in the state.

USDA grants $5.6 million for Arkansas food supply chain improvements

Daniel Breen/Little Rock Public Radio

Jenny Lester Moffit, Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, speaks at the Arkansas Foodbank headquarters in Little Rock on Jan. 9, 2024.

Third proposed Arkansas government transparency amendment submitted to AG

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Proposed ballot language that would make government transparency a constitutional right in Arkansas still lacks clarity and is unfit for a statewide vote, Attorney General Tim Griffin wrote in a Monday opinion.

In response, the nonpartisan Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT) submitted another draft to Griffin’s office Monday evening.

ACT proposed a second iteration of the amendment Dec. 20 after Griffin rejected an earlier attempt. The group submitted four potential ballot titles:

• The Arkansas Government Transparency Amendment

• The Arkansas Government Openness Amendment

• The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment

• The Open Meetings and Open Records in State and Local Government Amendment

Third proposed Arkansas government transparency amendment submitted to AG

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin speaks alongside Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in this file photo.

National Weather Service - Little Rock Briefing

We are now looking ahead and focusing on two potentially impactful weather systems. The first is expected this Thursday and Friday (Jan 11-12). The second is expected early next week (Jan 14-15).  

The Thursday/Friday system will bring 1.5-2" of rain, chances for isolated storms, snow across western and northern portions of the state, and potential for wind gusts 40-45+ mph.  

Arctic air will slip into southern portions of the U.S. this weekend into early next week, bringing well below-average temperatures to Arkansas. Warning criteria snow amounts appear possible for Sunday and Monday. 

Boozman, Womack Welcome Army Chief of Staff to Fort Chaffee

Fort Smith, AR – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and Congressman Steve Womack (R-AR-03) welcomed Gen. Randy George, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, to Arkansas to highlight the training capabilities and capacity found at Fort Chaffee that significantly enhance the Army’s mission readiness.

“Arkansas has always been a proud supporter of our military. We know the critical role Fort Chaffee plays in our nation’s defense and we’re continuing to ensure it is one of the best places in the country for servicemembers to train. I’m pleased General George understands the need to maintain such a valuable asset and appreciated the opportunity to see its unique strengths on full display,” Boozman said. 

“Fort Chaffee is a top-tier training location with many unique capabilities that distinguish it as a premier Guard installation. It was an honor to show what Fort Chaffee has to offer to General George, who personally understands the important role Arkansas’s Third plays in our national security and strengthening our military forces,” Womack said.

“The Joint Maneuver Training Center at Fort Chaffee is a vital component to the readiness of the Total Army, and allows our National Guard units to focus on their warfighting mission. I am proud of the Arkansas National Guard and grateful for the continued support of the Arkansas community and delegation,” said Gen. George. 

Fort Chaffee recently earned Level 1 classification from the Department of Defense as one of five top National Guard training sites nationwide.

Boozman and Womack have been longtime advocates of investing in the training site, having successfully secured funding for improvements to Razorback Range, a new National Guard Readiness Center and a range expansion to enhance simulation exercises.

Senator Boozman, Congressman Womack and General George visited with Arkansas National Guard members at Fort Chaffee on Monday, January 8.

Cong. French Hill: Avoiding government shutdown ‘a very big challenge’

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

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, will be heading back to Washington D.C. this week as Congress reconvenes, but his working hours may be brief in less than a month.

There are two pending government shutdown deadlines looming – Jan. 19 and Feb. 2. Hill, who appeared on this week’s Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics programs, said only Congress would pick Groundhog Day for a potential shutdown, a brinksmanship move the public has seen play out repeatedly in the last decade.

“This is really frustrating to me. In 2023, there was so much wasted time. We had a debt ceiling deal between House Republicans led by then Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House and President Joe Biden that would’ve allowed us to get our appropriations work done in time. And we squandered that and then we made it worse by throwing Kevin McCarthy out of office,” Hill said of the early October vote to boot McCarthy as Speaker. House Republicans spent weeks trying to select a replacement.

Seven of 12 appropriations bills have cleared the House and are awaiting action in the Senate, where political dynamics differ from the House.

Cong. French Hill: Avoiding government shutdown ‘a very big challenge’

Drought, delay of Farm Bill lead agri headlines in 2023

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Drought, the federal Farm Bill, foreign ownership of agriculture land and the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) dominated agriculture headlines in Northeast Arkansas during the 2023 growing season.

For a second consecutive year, severe, extreme and exceptional drought afflicted many areas along the Mississippi River with more than 65 percent of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas having some form of drought in September.

Drought was a double-edged sword for Arkansas growers. On the plus side, drought helped suppress crop diseases and speed harvesting. On the downside, the water-starved Mississippi River dropped to its lowest level ever at Memphis on Oct. 17, to minus 12.04 feet. Recent rains along its length in early December prompted a forecast rise to more than 3 feet by Dec. 18, followed by another drop into the negative numbers.

Drought, delay of Farm Bill lead agri headlines in 2023

Randy Zook, CEO of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, expects tax cuts in the 2024 fiscal session

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

During 2024, the Arkansas Legislature will reconvene for the Fiscal Session, which takes place every two years, where appropriations are handled.

In an interview with Talk Business & Politics, Randy Zook, CEO of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, said that he expects there to be modest tax cuts implemented by lawmakers.

“There's a reason to be a little bit careful, it’s not just peddling to the metal, but we’re going to have to be careful. The state is still creating a surplus in the first half of this fiscal year,” he said.

Randy Zook, CEO of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, expects tax cuts in the 2024 fiscal session

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

Steps leading up to the Arkansas Senate chamber in the state Capitol.

Six selected for Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame

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

The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is slated to add six new members to its ranks this year.

Inductees include the late Dr. George Berger, who served as dean of the Arkansas State University College of Agriculture from 1971-1981 and founded the Eagle Seed business in his hometown of Weiner; Dr. Fred Bourland of Blytheville, a cotton breeder who created more than 100 improved cotton varieties adapted to Arkansas; Dr. Mark Cochran of Fayetteville, retired vice president of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture; the late Melvin Daniel of Hot Springs, a long-time ag education instructor and FFA advisor; Dr. Charles Looney, a nationally recognized cattle geneticist who serves as director of the UA Experiment Station in Hope; and Gary Sitzer of Weiner, a fourth-generation rice and soybean farmer who has been highly involved in research and policy work in support of Arkansas agriculture.

“What an amazing group of farmers and those who help our farmers make agriculture Arkansas’ No. 1 business sector,” said Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Chair Debbie Moreland of Roland. “Agriculture is such a critical cultural and economic part of Arkansas. It is what binds so much of our state together. These we will induct have made a national impact on rice, soybeans, cattle and cotton and have helped steer the academic and research efforts that underpin Arkansas agriculture.”

Class XXXVI induction ceremonies are set for 11:30 a.m. March 1 at the Grand Ballroom of the DoubleTree Hotel in Little Rock. Contact Cindra Jones at 501-228-1609 for ticket information.

Six selected for Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame

Arkansas Weather Briefing from the National Weather Service in Little Rock

There are two storm systems that will impact Arkansas this week. One system will be here today and Tuesday (January 8-9), with another system arriving from the west later Thursday and Friday (January 11-12).

The former system will be primarily a rainmaker, and there will be some rumbles of thunder in places. One to two inches of rain are in the forecast. Any severe weather will remain along the Gulf Coast. As colder air wraps around the departing storm, some light snow could occur over parts of northwest Arkansas (mainly the Boston and Ozark Mountains) on Tuesday. Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph will be common Monday and Tuesday. The higher terrain over northwest Arkansas could have gusts up to 50 mph. 

The latter system will be much like the former system; mostly rain is in the forecast. At this point, there is a potential for severe storms in southern Arkansas. Light snow will likely follow the system in northern sections of the state. There will be a lot of wind as well. 

By the weekend/early next week, Arctic air will surge into the region from the northwest. This will result in below to much below average temperatures. 

Once cold air is in place, it appears that wintry precipitation will become more likely early next week as storm systems continue arriving from the west/southwest.

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. 

Former AR Gov. Asa Hutchinson will be part of the Iowa Caucus

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

The Iowa Caucuses will take place next week. This year’s Iowa Caucus for the Republican primary will include former Republican Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson. Samantha Boyd, political reporter for KARK/Fox, said Arkansas will have a connection to the Iowa Caucus this election cycle.

“I’m definitely going to cover Gov. Hutchinson and see what all he has done in Iowa since he has been there for the last year,” she said. “Before he even announced he was running for president, he had already been there nine times.”

The caucuses are considered important for political campaigns because they are regarded as important indicators of a campaigns’ likely success, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Former AR Gov. Asa Hutchinson will be part of the Iowa Caucus

Danielle Kurztleben/NPR

The Iowa Democratic caucus in the city of Earlham, Madison County, Iowa.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

As the Preferential Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election draw near in Arkansas, it's crucial for every eligible citizen to recognize the power they hold within their vote. The upcoming election on March 5, 2024, serves as an opportunity for Arkansans to shape the future of their communities, the state, and the nation. The deadline to register to vote for this significant event is Monday, February 5.

Arkansas is home to 1,738,711 registered voters. Each of these individuals carries the potential to influence the trajectory of local and state policies. However, the unfortunate reality is that voter turnout during primary elections has not always reflected the significance of this responsibility.

In the 2022 Preferential Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election, Arkansas experienced a voter turnout of just 25.98%. The turnout in the 2020 Preferential Primary Election and Nonpartisan General Election was 28%. 

The first step in exercising your right to vote is ensuring that you are registered. The deadline for registration is fast approaching on Monday, February 5. Don't miss this chance to be part of the democratic process. 

To register in Arkansas you must fill out a paper Voter Registration Application.

You can pick up an application at the following locations:

• Your local county clerk.

• The Arkansas Secretary of State Elections Division: 1-800-482-1127.

• Local revenue or DMV office.

• Public library.

• Disability agency.

• Military recruitment office.

You can print a form to mail or request an application to be mailed to you at sos.arkansas.gov.

Once your local county clerk has processed your Voter Registration Application, he/she will send you a personalized voter registration card. This could take up to several weeks. You may also check your voter registration status online by visiting www.voterview.org

It's essential to recognize that the decisions made at the ballot box extend beyond partisan politics; they directly impact education, healthcare, infrastructure, and various other facets of our daily lives. The future of Arkansas is in the hands of its citizens, and voting is the most direct way to shape that future.

UA Cossatot OER Director Relinda Ruth chosen to represent the University of Arkansas System on U.S. / Canada OER Panel

OER Specialist Relinda Ruth

After reviewing the Driving OER Sustainability for Student Success (DOERS3) statement of purpose and agreeing with the goals of broad-based, accessible open educational resources (OER), the University of Arkansas System joined the group of 36 public higher education systems and statewide/provincewide organizations committed to supporting student success through OER. UA System President Donald Bobbitt recommended UA Cossatot’s Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist Relinda Ruth to represent the UA System in DOERS3.

“I am extremely honored that Dr. Bobbitt selected me to represent the UA System within a group committed to developing national and state innovation in OER research, policy, and quality, and I’m looking forward to representing the System in a collaborated effort to improve access, affordability, and achievement for millions of students.” Ruth said, “At UA Cossatot, our OER program has saved students $190,440 during the Fall 2023 semester. Since the implementation of our efforts to reduce or eliminate textbook and educational resource costs for our students in 2015, total savings now amount to $3,387,521.25. We anticipate the savings to top $3.5 million after the Spring 2024 semester.”

The Driving OER Sustainability for Student Success (DOERS3) Collaborative is a group of 36 public higher education systems and statewide/provincewide organizations committed to supporting student success by promoting free, customizable, open educational resources (OER). Launched in 2018, DOERS3 helps member organizations implement, scale, and sustain OER by advancing research and policy, sharing tools and learnings, and showing how OER can foster equity and student success. DOERS3 serves over 7.65 million students at 829 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada.

Westerman introduces Bipartisan Lakes Act to expand opportunities for outdoor recreation facilities

Bruce Westerman

Steve Womack

WASHINGTON - Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), and Steve Womack (R-AR-03), introduced H.R. 6906, the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act to expand opportunities to improve and develop outdoor recreation facilities at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) managed areas.

“Outdoor recreation is among one of the top economic drivers in the U.S., especially in states like Arkansas. Because of discrepancies in current federal law, managers of some of our favorite outdoor recreation sites have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to maintain and manage the sites. The LAKES Act will correct the discrepancies, cut out the burdensome federal red tape, and make it easier for the Corps to manage their sites for generations to enjoy for years to come,” Rep. Westerman said.

“Outdoor recreation is a fundamental part of life for folks in my district, and its popularity – and the demand for increased access – is growing nationwide. Local favorites for my constituents, like Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, provide all kinds of opportunities for outdoor fun. But local managers have to jump through countless hoops to keep these places safe and enjoyable,” said Rep. Huffman. “Our bill will guarantee the Army Corps can retain recreation fees at the sites they’re collected and it will open doors for management partnerships with tribes and local organizations so we can all care for the country’s treasured public spaces.”  

“Arkansas’ Third is home to world-class outdoor offerings, attracting tourists and residents alike to enjoy the immense beauty and participate in our endless recreational activities. However, under current federal law, local managers of recreation sites we all know and love, such as Beaver Lake and Table Rock Lake, must cut through endless bureaucratic red tape to maintain and operate these sites effectively,” said Rep. Womack. “The LAKES Act would rectify this by allowing the Army Corps to retain recreation fees collected onsite, keeping maintenance and operations decisions out of the hands of federal bureaucrats and into the hands of the local managers who know these sites best.”

Stakeholder support:

“Thank you to Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) for championing the introduction of The Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, President and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). “This legislation prioritizes the maintenance and upkeep of high-use recreation infrastructure and facilities enjoyed by millions of Americans. By providing the Army Corps of Engineers with the ability to reinvest recreation fees into the operations and maintenance of recreation access points, the LAKES Act helps support the outdoor recreation economy, which contributes more than $1 trillion to our country’s economy and represents a significant pastime for millions of Americans.”

Background:

• Under current law, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recreation facilities cannot retain recreation fee revenues collected onsite, an authority afforded to the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service.

• The Challenge Cost Sharing Cooperative Management Program was created for participating agencies to split operation and management expenses with outside groups. However, despite interest from private and nonprofit organizations, USACE is limited to partnering with non-federal public entities.

• The USACE is one of the nation’s largest federal outdoor recreation providers, managing nearly 257,000 facilities across 43 states.

• U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Boozman (R-AR), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Steve Daines (R-MT) are cosponsors of the Senate companion LAKES Act.

The LAKES Act would: 

• Allow USACE to retain 80% of recreation fees collected onsite for operation and management expenses at that location.

• Amend the Challenge Cost Sharing Cooperative Management Agreement authority to enable nonprofit entities to enter into cooperative agreements to operate and maintain recreation facilities under USACE jurisdiction.

• Keep resources and decision-making related to the operation and maintenance of recreation facilities under USACE jurisdiction in the hands of local managers rather than federal officials.

Click here to view the full bill text.

Click here to view a letter of support from over 25 organizations representing various sections of the U.S. outdoor recreation industry.

Issues:Transportation and Infrastructure

Governor Sanders Condemns Biden’s Department of Defense for Infringing on Service Members’ Freedom of Religion

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders sent the following letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin:

Dear President Biden and Secretary Austin,

As I expect you to be aware, on December 18, 2023, Colonel Dillon R. Patterson, Commander of the 188th Wing, announced his voluntary resignation from command of the 188th Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard.  Col. Patterson has served our country honorably for 22 years and earned numerous awards and decorations. With all Arkansans, I thank Col. Patterson for his dedicated service to our state and nation.

Unfortunately, Col. Patterson was forced to personally choose between either continuing his command or adhering to his sincerely held religious beliefs against abortion.  Because he adhered first to his faith instead of overtly political mandates, he voluntarily resigned his command.  I admire Col. Patterson for having the confidence of his convictions, but regret that our nation’s military will suffer the loss of a dedicated airman, leader, and guardsman as a commander. 

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that states may protect the lives of unborn children by appropriately regulating the practice of abortion.  Arkansas, like many other states, chose to do so—protecting unborn life by prohibiting abortions which are not medical necessities for the sake of the mother.

While half the country made the obvious determination that the killing of helpless, unborn children is contrary to the public interest, Secretary Austin declared that the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD” or “Defense Department”) would subvert the actions of states like Arkansas by using taxpayer dollars to fund the travel, meals, and lodging associated with out-of-state servicemember travel for procurement of an abortion procedure.  Maybe equally as egregious, the DoD now requires that commanding officers—regardless of any sincere and deeply held religious convictions to the contrary—are forced to approve such abortion leave.

Abortion is itself a barbaric practice.  But it is apparently not enough for this administration that abortion be available in some states and regulated in others.  Thus, the Defense Department must now apparently sacrifice lifelong personnel’s leadership in the name of military readiness—a laughable paradox if it were not so deeply offensive and damaging.

At a time when nearly every military branch has failed to meet recruiting thresholds, it is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible and shortsighted bureaucratic mandate.  As relevant here, nationally, the Air National Guard missed its most recent recruiting goals by a shocking 40%.

It is unjustifiable to sacrifice the leadership of a lifetime of service for abortion or any other overtly political issue.  Col. Patterson’s only fault was being a man of conviction led by senior Department of Defense leadership who had disregarded his service and abandoned his most fundamental constitutional rights in favor of more fashionable political and social experiments.  

Rescind this policy immediately.  


Sincerely,

Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Governor of Arkansas    

Finding a tasteful design for Arkansas' 'monument to the unborn' has been fraught

By Josie Lenora

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

An Arkansas bill allowing for a so-called monument to the unborn on Arkansas State Capitol grounds was signed into law last spring. The monument is intended to memorialize the abortions performed in the state during the nearly 50 years the procedure was legal under Roe v. Wade, but the law does not specify what an appropriate memorial would look like. And as Little Rock Public Radio's Josie Lenora reports, this has led to some debate and discomfort over what design to choose for such a public and political piece of art.

JOSIE LENORA: The memorial is supposed to celebrate the end of legal abortion in the state. Here's Senator Kim Hammer, a Republican lawmaker from the suburbs of Little Rock, giving his pitch for the monument to the Arkansas legislature back in March.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

KIM HAMMER: It is a monument that is recognizing the 236,243-plus babies that were never born as a result of Roe v. Wade.

Finding a tasteful design for Arkansas' 'monument to the unborn' has been fraught

Missouri chicken farmers sue Tyson Foods for breach of contract

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

A group of contract growers that supplied chickens to Tyson Foods’ slaughter and processing plant in Dexter, Mo., have sued the company claiming a breach of contract following a plant closure in October.

The suit was filed Dec. 22 with the Circuit Court of Stoddard County, located in southeast Missouri.

The farmers claim Tyson executives knew as early as November 2021 that the company planned to cease operations in Dexter but withheld that information from growers who said they incurred more debt and made additional investments in their farms without knowledge that their contracts would end.

The plaintiffs seek $25,000 each and additional relief for damages relating to their loss of income resulting from the closure.

Missouri chicken farmers sue Tyson Foods for breach of contract

Arkansas judge agrees with Board of Corrections, grants preliminary injunction

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A judge has sided with the Arkansas Board of Corrections in a lawsuit filed against Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Patricia James heard testimony Thursday from corrections officials about safety in state prisons. She also listened to legal debates over the constitutionality of the way the board is managed.

Last year, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed several criminal justice-related laws. These included the “Protect Act” which required violent criminals to serve more of their sentence, and Act 185 which gives the governor more oversight over prison management.

In her ruling Thursday, James sided with the Corrections Board, blocking Act 185 and parts of the Protect Act from going into effect until the lawsuit's resolution.

Arkansas judge agrees with Board of Corrections, grants preliminary injunction

The Pulaski County Courthouse in downtown Little Rock is seen in this file photo.

Cooperative Extension Service to offer four produce safety grower trainings in 2024

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For commercial growers, it’s critical to keep farms free of microbial contamination and reduce foodborne illness. To support Arkansas growers, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will offer four in-person and virtual produce safety trainings in 2024.

SAFE PRODUCE — To support Arkansas growers, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will offer four in-person and virtual produce safety trainings in 2024. The trainings will provide important information on worker health and hygiene, soil amendments, developing a farm food safety plan and more. (Division of Agriculture graphic.) 

The trainings will provide important information on worker health and hygiene, soil amendments, developing a farm food safety plan and more. Rip Weaver, extension program technician for food systems and food safety for the Division of Agriculture, said the Arkansas Produce Safety Team hopes to reach many growers throughout the state with these trainings.

“The Arkansas Produce Safety Team once again looks forward to offering a number of training opportunities for Arkansas produce growers on the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule in 2024,” Weaver said. “We aim to reach as many growers as possible by holding in-person and remote trainings throughout the year.”

Weaver said one of the in-person trainings will be in Monticello to serve the Eastern and Southeast Arkansas produce industry.

“This year, we will revisit Southeast Arkansas to conduct an in-person training at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus in late April,” Weaver said. “Our next in-person training will be at extension’s Little Rock State Office in September. Two remote trainings in February and May will allow those unable to travel to still participate in these trainings.”

2024 Produce Safety Grower Training schedule:

• Feb. 28-29: Remote Zoom training, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each day

• April 25: University of Arkansas at Monticello, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• May 29-30: Remote Zoom training, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. each day

• Sept. 26: Cooperative Extension Service Little Rock State Office, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension associate professor of food systems and food safety specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said the produce safety trainings are important opportunities for growers to brush up on updates and changes.

“Arkansas produce growers who have previously attended the training should consider completing a refresher every three years to learn about recent updates to the law, upcoming requirements for changes in practices, and to learn about updates to Good Agricultural Practices,” Perez said. “Many farms experienced employee turnover for their farm food safety officers and farm supervisors, and these new employees may need to receive a certification.”

Good Agricultural Practices, or GAP, are the basic environmental and operational conditions necessary to safely grow, harvest and pack fruits and vegetables.

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

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

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