Future of Eureka Springs tourism agency, funding on the November ballot

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

Eureka Springs, one of Arkansas’ tourism hot spots, faces the possibility of losing more than $2 million a year in hospitality tax revenue that is used to promote the city, manage city tourism assets and support tourism events.

In 2023, the tax generated $2.05 million, down 1.4% compared with 2022 revenue.

A group of citizens unhappy with the Eureka Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC) have managed to place an item on the November general election ballot to remove the city’s 3% hospitality tax on prepared food and on lodging. It only took 148 signatures in a town of around 2,500 to get the item on the ballot.

Mike Maloney, tourism director of the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission, understands why some would like to see the tax and the commission go away. He readily admits that the commission has a troubled past, including a revolving door of leadership, a lack of transparency and questionable actions related to event promotion.

Future of Eureka Springs tourism agency, funding on the November ballot

Eureka Springs Tourism - Talk Business and Politics

Decorative corn stalks bearing tar spot fungus reported in Arkansas

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — A fungal disease that has caused yield losses in corn has recently been found in Arkansas — on decorative corn stalks, said Terry Spurlock, extension plant pathologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

FOUND — Tar spot is visible on a stalk of corn that was included in a Halloween decor item purchased in Arkansas. (Image courtesy Jason Kelley.)

Tar spot, a disease caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis, was first reported in the United States in Indiana and Illinois in 2015. Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist for the Division of Agriculture, said the disease has previously been noted in Canada and the Midwestern United States for several years but has so far only been confirmed in one southern state, Georgia.

While tar spot is known to be active in more than a dozen states, it has yet to be confirmed in commercial corn fields in Arkansas.

Origins and impact

Spurlock said that he and extension corn agronomist Jason Kelley visited multiple chain stores in central Arkansas, noting the fungus on corn included in fall decorations at multiple locations. Extension agents in several areas of the state have also reported the signs of the fungus on decorative items in retail stores.

Spurlock said some of the plants appeared to have originated at a farm in Illinois. The origins of the others are unclear and “depending on the store, they say either ‘product of the U.S.A.’ or ‘product of Canada.’

“There have also been reports of corn with tar spot being sold as fall decor in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama,” he said, noting that each of those states produce significant amounts of corn.

Kelley said it is a “big unknown whether this disease will be found in an Arkansas corn field in the coming years. 

“Since the fungus has been brought into the state on decorative corn stalks, the chances of finding this disease on corn in coming years has definitely gone up,” Kelley said. “Can the disease be managed with foliar fungicides? Likely, but needs to be carefully managed and would likely add to production costs.”

Arkansas had 620,000 acres of corn in 2024. According to the Arkansas Agriculture Profile, the state’s corn crop was valued at $865 million.

Appearance

“The fungus produces circular lesions that are hard, black, raised spots that resemble flecks of tar,” Faske said. “However, the spots caused by the tar spot fungus do not rub off.

MAINLY MIDWESTERN — Tar spot in corn has been confirmed in more than a dozen Midwestern states. It was first identified in the United States in 2015. (Image courtesy USDA).

“Yield losses by the disease can be significant in areas where the fungus overwinters — Canada and the Midwest — when conditions favor disease development,” he said. “The fungus overwinters in corn debris and serves as the inoculum — the starting point for disease development in the subsequent cropping season.”

Spurlock said it was difficult to forecast the risks to commercial corn production unless the disease is confirmed in an active field.

“We do not know how important tar spot will be in future Arkansas corn crops,” Spurlock said. “However, to have disease, we need a susceptible host corn plant, a pathogen and an environment suitable for the pathogen to infect the host plant and reproduce.”

Faske said the disease could threaten farmers with increased management costs and reduced corn acreage. Because Arkansas’ climate differs significantly from the Midwestern states where tar spot is currently thriving, it’s unknown how well it might persist here, he said.

What to do

Spurlock said that individuals who have purchased corn that may carry the fungus should enclose the items in garbage bags and take them to the nearest Cooperative Extension Service office for proper disposal, to prevent the fungus from spreading. To find your local extension office, consult extension’s online directory.

“If that isn’t possible, then enclose it in a garbage bag and place it in a dumpster, preferably one away from production fields,” he said.

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.

Education Department releases provisional cut scores on new test

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Two-thirds of Arkansas students in grades 3-10 scored below “proficient” in English language arts on the state’s new ATLAS end-of-year exam, according to a system of cut scores that Arkansas Department of Education officials recommended to the State Board of Education in a workshop Wednesday (Oct. 9).

The State Board will vote on approving the cut scores Oct. 10. If that happens, the department will further compute the data at individual, student, school and state levels, Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva said in a briefing with reporters prior to the workshop.

The Department of Education has been developing the new Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System (ATLAS) for the past year and a half. It replaces the ACT Aspire.

Education Department releases provisional cut scores on new test

Extension to host ARegenerate Conference on regenerative agriculture

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FORT SMITH, Ark. — For Arkansas farmers and producers interested in learning more about regenerative farming methods, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host the inaugural ARegenerate Conference Nov. 8-9 at the Expo Center at Kay Rogers Park in Fort Smith.

REGENERATIVE FARMING — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host the inaugural ARegenerative Conference Nov. 8-9 at the Expo Center at Kay Rogers Park in Fort Smith. The conference will feature a variety of information sessions about the principles of regenerative farming. (Division of Agriculture graphic.) 

The conference will feature a variety of speakers leading sessions on the principles of regenerative farming. Attendees will learn about building soil health, water conservation and climate change mitigation on farms and ranches. Topics will also include cover cropping, intensive rotational grazing, native forages and more.

The conference will take place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. There is also a pre-conference farm tour in Hackett, Arkansas, from 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on Nov. 7. Tickets are $75 and include breakfast for two days and lunch on the second day. Register at uada.formstack.com/forms/aregenerate.

Amanda Spradlin, Sebastian County extension horticulture agent, said the conference is the first of its kind hosted by the Division of Agriculture.

“The conference will encompass the regenerative agriculture methodology for crop and livestock producers,” Spradlin said. “I have received a lot of interest from University of Arkansas extension, out-of-state universities, private businesses, government organizations and non-profits.”

Spradlin said regenerative agriculture incorporates crucial methods of improving water conservation, soil health and ecosystem resilience to climate change.

“Regenerative agriculture differs from conventional methods because it encourages diversity and discourages soil disturbances like tillage, synthetic chemical sprays and fertilizers, continuous grazing and monoculture systems with little to no crop rotation,” Spradlin said. “Those practices compromise the soil microbiome and are associated with soil degradation over time.”

Another benefit of regenerative agriculture is that it emphasizes low input — such as water, fertilizer and fuel — helping farmers and producers increase their profit margins. Spradlin said that although access to capital is a significant stressor for farmers who want to improve their operations, more funding is becoming increasingly available.

“The good news is that the Natural Resources Conservation Service has excellent programs, such as the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, to make the transition easier,” Spradlin said. “Our regional NRCS office is full of wonderful, helpful people who are receiving more funding for these programs every year.”

Changing methods in a changing world

In the era of climate change, regenerative farming offers methods that help mitigate the effects and adapt to farmers’ changing needs.

“Climate change, an effect of rising global average temperatures, will increasingly become an issue for farmers in the coming years,” Spradlin said. “Extreme weather events and increased pest and disease pressure make it difficult for farmers to make ends meet, as it increases their chances of losing crops, forages and livestock.

“The United Nations has estimated only 60 harvests left before arable soils are depleted,” she said. “This will exacerbate global food insecurity. One of the significant benefits of regenerative agriculture — specifically intensive rotational grazing — is that it builds organic soil matter. For every one percent increase in organic matter, you can expect an increase of about 20,000 gallons of water per acre that soils can hold. This increases forage drought resilience.”

Spradlin said she is seeking more vendor and speaker applicants for the conference. Applicants whose research or experience aligns with regenerative methods should submit an abstract or brief overview of their topic to Spradlin. The deadline to apply as a speaker is Oct. 28. To sign up to be a vendor or inquire about speaking, contact Spradlin at aspradlin@uada.edu.

“This conference is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn and network with experienced professionals, including those from the University of Arkansas,” Spradlin said. “I hope to inspire people all over Arkansas to change our relationship with the land we love.

“Whether you are a livestock producer, crop grower, homesteader, gardener, researcher, student or a lifelong learner, I want you to be there,” she said. “I hope this is the first of many conferences to come.”

For more information, contact Spradlin at aspradlin@uada.edu or 479-484-7737.

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. 

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Westerman faces Democratic attorney challenger

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

In Arkansas’ 4th Congressional District, Republican incumbent Rep. Bruce Westerman is running again to maintain control of the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Westerman’s Democratic challenger is Risie Howard. Little Rock Public Radio emailed her and the state Democratic Party several times about an interview, and was sent a list of the same questions asked of Westerman. We received no response.

Howard is set to be at the Arkansas PBS debate with Westerman on October 10.

Howard is a lawyer in Pine Bluff, and is listed as being employed by the Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Her website says she is a former science teacher and that she knows a lot about naval law, but she doesn't seem to have much of a campaign or online presence.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Westerman faces Democratic attorney challenger

Challenger Risie Howard / U.S. Congressman Bruce Westerman

CD3 debate: Israel, abortion and immigration take center stage

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, said the United States shouldn’t tell Israel how to defend itself following the attacks on it by Hamas last Oct. 7. His Democratic challenger, Caitlin Draper, called for the United States to lead in creating a cease fire. Libertarian Bobby Wilson said the solutions would have to come from the region itself.

The three discussed that and other issues in a debate sponsored by Arkansas PBS on Tuesday (Oct. 8) that will be broadcast Oct. 9 and is available now on Arkansas PBS’ YouTube channel.

Womack said the initial attacks on Israel were imaginable and that the United States should not tell it how to respond.

CD3 debate: Israel, abortion and immigration take center stage

Marius Nagalo, Ph.D., First at UAMS to Receive NIH New Innovator Award

By Marty Trieschmann

LITTLE ROCK — A researcher at the Winthrop P Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Marius Nagalo, Ph.D., has received the prestigious New Innovator Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Granted directly from the NIH Director’s Office “this award supports early career investigators of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the NIH mission,” according to the NIH.

Nagalo is the first UAMS researcher to receive the New Innovator Award from the NIH, joining an elite group of previous award recipients from Stanford University, Harvard, Cornell, MIT, Penn, Duke, Yale, and the Cleveland Clinic.

Marius Nagalo, Ph.D., First at UAMS to Receive NIH New Innovator Award

Marius Nagalo, Ph.D., (left) is the first UAMS researcher to receive the prestigious New Innovator Award from the National Institutes of Health. Image by Evan Lewis

Bird flu’s growing impact calls for urgent action at international summit

By Jenifer Fouch
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to infect more than just birds, scientists and industry professionals want to prevent it from infecting more species and continuing to impact animal and human health, the environment and the economy.

CLUCKING UP SOLUTIONS — Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, the chairman of the summit leads opening remarks at the 2024 Internaional Avian Influenza Summit. (U of A System Division of Ag photo)

The four-day International Avian Influenza and One Health Emerging Issues Summit hosted by the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science had a total of 1,270 registered participants from 51 countries, in-person and virtually, to share and learn more about HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, and other diseases impacting animals and humans.

Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, the chairman of the summit and retired research professor for the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, says there are other threats to animal and human health in addition to the bird flu.

"The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has naturally been able to adapt to species that it never infected before. If it fully adapts to humans, COVID-19 will look like a small cold compared to what this virus could cause," Tellez-Isaias said, comparing its threat to the Spanish flu in 1918. "So, that's why we wanted to have this summit, to create awareness for people worldwide."

Tellez-Isaias said participants at the summit will produce a document with guidelines and recommendations for national and international health authorities, based on group discussions and expert presentations, to help guide future efforts in combating highly pathogenic avian influenza and other emerging health threats.

The Center of Excellence for Poultry Science is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The center performs the three land grant missions of teaching — carried out through Bumpers College — and research and extension through the Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

After a successful inaugural event in 2023, Tellez-Isaias said, organizers expanded the scope in the second year to include other emerging issues affecting cattle, swine, bees, humans and more as part of the One Health concept, which emphasizes that animal, human and environmental health are all interconnected.

"The first two days, we focused on highly pathogenic avian influenza, but not only in poultry. We extended it to wild and commercial animals, including dairy," Tellez-Isaias said. "And we discussed avian influenza and other diseases, including exotic diseases like the African swine fever, which is already in our backyard in the Dominican Republic. It's something we are keeping an eye on."

Urgency of collaboration

Tellez-Isaias says it's urgent to focus on these diseases globally, as bird flu has spread to different species in all continents including  Antarctica.

"These diseases know no borders," he said.

Members of industry, governmental and regulatory agencies, and scientists from around the world presented their work at the summit. Tellez-Isaias said their findings could improve animal health overall and potentially contribute to minimizing the impacts of bird flu and other viruses.

From the Division of Agriculture, Sami Dridi, professor of poultry science, talked about poultry production sustainability, specifically heat stress challenges and potential mechanism-based strategies. Dridi's research includes working with chickens bred to conserve water while maintaining growth under heat stress. He found that water efficiency is improving with each new generation and has the potential to expand with application to other poultry operations, such as turkeys and ducks.

Tomi Obe, assistant professor with the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and the poultry science department, presented research on pre- and post-harvest strategies for salmonella control in poultry production. She discussed different methods to consider at feed mills, farms and the processors. Obe is also part of the Arkansas Center for Food Safety within the food science department.

PROTECTING POULTRY — Jada Thompson, assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, gave an overview of how highly pathogenic avian influenza affected egg prices and resulted in other economic impacts. (U of A System Division of Ag photo)

Jada Thompson, assistant professor in the agricultural economics and agribusiness department, talked about the economic impacts of highly pathogenic avian influenza, including how the disease impacts producers and consumers.  

Bill Potter, associate professor and extension poultry specialist with the Division of Agriculture, discussed One Health strategies to optimize poultry intestinal integrity and pre-harvest food safety. He discussed proposed regulations around salmonella and shared research showing the efficacy of implementing vaccines in poultry.

Adnan Alrubaye, assistant professor of poultry science, talked about management practices to mitigate lameness in broiler chickens caused by specific bacteria.

Those attending the summit included both international and local researchers, veterinarians and private sector professionals.  

Amanda Bray, a poultry science alumna and co-owner of Northwest Arkansas Veterinary Services in Springdale, said staying informed on industry trends domestically and internationally helps her learn what services to offer.

"Our primary focus is the poultry and dairy industries,” Bray said. “And [bird flu] is a very big problem. So, the more knowledge I have, the better I know how to support others in the industry and what tests we need to develop and offer."

United front for global health

Liliana Monroy is founder and CEO of Natural Animal Health, a company providing gut health products to producers. Monroy said she has garnered a long-trusting relationship with researchers with the Division of Agriculture, and that “collaboration is vital” to fight highly pathogenic avian influenza.

"If you want to be successful, you have to go to the people who know more,” Monroy said. “And you need to work very closely with professors and researchers. We cannot work in silos. Since we come from different backgrounds, we need to unite efforts with doctors, environmental entities, leaders in the private sector, and so on, to stop what's going on."

Monroy, who also presented during the conference, says biosecurity protocols, although crucial to preventing the spread of bird flu, have also created many roadblocks for businesses and producers.

The International Avian Influenza Summit was hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science. The American College of Poultry Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association approved the conference for continuing education credits with 23 and 26 CE credits respectively and the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization with 12 CE credits. The event was held at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville, Sept. 30 through Oct. 3.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

Democrat challenges incumbent in Northwest Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District

KUAR | By Matthew Moore

For decades, beginning in 1874, Arkansas was a one-party state. And that party was the Democratic party. Governor, state assembly, land commissioner, U.S. Senate… nearly every elected official in the state was a Democrat.

“There’s one exception in the state of Arkansas, beginning in the 1960s.”

That’s John C. Davis, the executive director of the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History and the author of From Blue to Red: the rise of the GOP in Arkansas.

Democrat challenges incumbent in Northwest Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District

U.S. Congressman Steve Womack/Challenger Caitlin Draper

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax revenue sets new record in June

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ 2% tourism tax revenue between January and June was $13.513 million, up 6.1% compared with the $12.74 million in the same period of 2023. Revenue in each of the first six months of 2024 set a new record, with those gains compared to record numbers in 2023.

A record for monthly 2% collections was set in June with $2.839 million.

Of the top five counties in terms of 2% tax collections, only Pulaski County posted a decline (down 2.87%), with Washington County posting the largest percentage increase at 15.08%.

The tourism tax revenue in 2023 was $25.446 million, up 5.8% compared with the $24.049 million in 2023. Revenue in each month of 2023 set a new record, with those gains compared to record numbers in 2023.

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax revenue sets new record in June

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin welcomes more than 1,600 to Cybersecurity Summit featuring federal CISA Director

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement at the opening of his Cybersecurity Summit at the Statehouse Convention Center in cooperation with the FORGE Institute and featuring the Director of the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Jen Easterly:

“You don’t have to look far to understand why cybersecurity matters. Look on the front page of today’s newspaper about China hacking three American telecom companies. Today, so much of our life is connected to each other: government, individuals, businesses, for example. I don’t think anyone can question the need for cybersecurity now.

“There are a lot of people out there who want to do you harm. Some are individuals that aren’t that smart and will get caught quickly. Some of them are highly sophisticated entities—such as criminal cartels—that want to do you harm. Some of them are aggressive nation-state actors, including China, Russia and Iran. If you have a home computer and a printer, and it’s connected to the Internet, you need to be cyber-secure. If you’re a big company or a small company, you need to be cyber-secure.

“When it comes to cybersecurity, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Success on this front requires a collective defense built on cooperation and collaboration.”

In addition to the opening chat between Griffin and Easterly about the role of CISA and tools being provided to Arkansas, speakers on the first day of the two-day summit included Congressman French Hill (AR-02), member of the House Intelligence Committee; Senator Tom Cotton (AR), member of the Senate Intelligence Committee; and Lee Watson, founder of the FORGE Institute. Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) will be the opening speaker on the second day of the summit on October 8.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin at 2024 Cybersecurity Summit in Little Rock, AR

Two candidates challenge Crawford in 1st Congressional District

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District has a unique group of candidates vying to represent east Arkansas in Congress.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Rick Crawford is running against a Democrat and a Libertarian. Little Rock Public Radio was in talks with Crawford’s office for weeks to do an interview that ultimately never materialized. The station sent him the same list of questions we asked the other two candidates.

Crawford has been in his job since 2011. He is a Tea Party conservative, who believes in smaller government, minimal spending and stronger borders. He also serves as chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

His two opponents are Rodney Govens, the Democrat, and Steve Parsons, the Libertarian.

Two candidates challenge Crawford in 1st Congressional District

Incumbent Republican Congressman Rick Crawford (left), Libertarian Steve Parsons (middle), Democrat Rodney Govens (right).

U.S. Senator Tom Cotton to Werfel: Partisan Voter Registration Drives Violate Federal Law

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote a letter to the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner, Danny Werfel urging an investigation into the Voter Participation Center’s alleged partisan activities. This charity is targeting likely Democrat voters while excluding likely Republican voters through its voter-registration ads on social media. The IRS prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from conducting partisan voter-education or voter-registration activities.

In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

Wikimedia Image

“According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Voter Participation Center is targeting likely Democrat voters and excluding likely Republican voters through its voter-registration ads on social media. The Voter Participation Center has instructed Facebook to exclude users from seeing ads if they expressed interest in ‘John Wayne,’ ‘Redneck Mud Club,’ ‘Daytona 500,’ ‘Duck Dynasty,’ and other topics associated with conservatives. On the other hand, the group instructed Facebook to target users interested in ‘hot yoga,’ ‘Charli XCX’ (who is closely associated with Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign), ‘Pitchfork Media,’ and other topics that tend to interest progressives.”

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

October 3, 2024

The Honorable Danny Werfel

Commissioner

Internal Revenue Service

1111 Constitution Avenue, Northwest

Washington, DC 20224

Dear Commissioner Werfel,

I write regarding a tax-exempt charity that may be violating federal law. The Voter Participation Center is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that reportedly engages in partisan voter-registration drives.

The IRS prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from conducting partisan voter-education or voter -registration activities. The IRS states that a 501(c)(3) organization may only conduct voter-registration drives “if they are conducted in a neutral, non-partisan manner.” It further warns that a private foundation is subject to a tax if it uses funds for partisan voter-registration drives.

According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Voter Participation Center is targeting likely Democrat voters and excluding likely Republican voters through its voter-registration ads on social media. The Voter Participation Center has instructed Facebook to exclude users from seeing ads if they expressed interest in “John Wayne,” “Redneck Mud Club,” “Daytona 500,” “Duck Dynasty,” and other topics associated with conservatives. On the other hand, the group instructed Facebook to target users interested in “hot yoga,” “Charli XCX” (who is closely associated with Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign), “Pitchfork Media,” and other topics that tend to interest progressives.

The Voter Participation Center has spent over a million dollars on this ad drive. It has also paid over $50 million to Democrat micro-targeting firms. According to 26 U.S. Code § 4945(d)(2), these partisan expenditures must be taxed.

The IRS should immediately open an investigation into this organization.

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton

U.S. Senator 

Keo Fish Farms to build $1.5 million solar array

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Keo Fish Farms will spend $1.5 million to build an 856-kilowatt solar array at its Lonoke County facility. It will save the farm $110,726 during its first year and is projected to save up to $4.1 million during the next three decades, according to the owners.

The company partnered with Delta Solar to build the array.

Keo Fish Farms co-owner Mike Freeze was skeptical about building the array. He thought it would cost too much and have a negative impact on land use. But his son-in-law and company General Manager Seth Summerside convinced him that the benefits outweighed the potential costs.

Keo Fish Farms to build $1.5 million solar array

CD2 debate: Hill, Jones oppose nationwide abortion ban

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Republican U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, and his Democratic opponent, retired Army Col. Marcus Jones, both expressed opposition to a nationwide abortion ban in their 2nd Congressional debate Monday (Oct. 7) on Arkansas PBS.

Hill said the U.S. Supreme Court has sent the issue back to the states.

“I would never vote for a nationwide ban for abortion,” he said. “I don’t know that there’s any support on either side of the aisle in significant ways for that proposal.”

Hill said his views on abortion have always provided for exceptions in cases of rape, incest and when the woman’s life is in danger. He said he has voted against allowing late-term abortions nationally.

CD2 debate: Hill, Jones oppose nationwide abortion ban

Second District debate. Photo courtesy of Arkansas PBS.

Retired Army colonel faces Republican incumbent in Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District race

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The race to represent Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District is the contest between the current congressman and the former Army officer, the incumbent and the hopeful.

Democrat Col. Marcus Jones and incumbent Republican Congressman French Hill are vying for a seat representing Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. The two will face off in a debate held by Arkansas PBS Monday.

On one hand, Rep. French Hill has been serving Arkansas from Washington, D.C. since 2015.

Retired Army colonel faces Republican incumbent in Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District race

Courtesy Photo

Republican Congressman French Hill (left) is competing against Democratic candidate Marcus Jones (right).

Carrot surplus spurs BBQ sauce for Chef Rios at Arkansas Food Innovation Center

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A sweet-and-smokey barbecue sauce designed around surplus carrots is the newest product rolling out from the Expanding Farmers’ Opportunities in Northwest Arkansas program.

FARM TO FORK — Chef Rafael Rios of Yeyo’s El Alma De Mexico in Rogers developed Rios Family Farms Carrott BBQ Sauce with students at Brightwater, A Center for the Study of Food at Northwest Arkansas Community College as part of a USDA-grant program called Expanding Farmers' Opportunities in Northwest Arkansas. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Paden Johnson)

Rafael Rios, chef at his family’s Yeyo’s El Alma De Mexico in Rogers, is also a small-scale farmer offering a farm-to-table menu with ingredients from the Rios Family Farm in Rogers. Carrots from his farm, and surplus carrots grown in the region, make up the base of this vegan, fall-inspired barbecue sauce produced at the Arkansas Food Innovation Center.

“What I like about the recipe is that it has a robust flavor but just hints of beautiful fall aromas from spices like star anise,” Rios said. “It’s a versatile sauce, that can be used for braising and marinating. I give a lot of credit to the students at Brightwater for this recipe.”

Expanding Farmers’ Opportunities in Northwest Arkansas is a partnership of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture; Brightwater, A Center for the Study of Food at the Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville; and the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. The Arkansas Food Innovation Center is a part of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture.

The program, now in its fourth year with support from a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, is designed to help cut down on food waste and create value-added products for farmers. In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30 – 40 percent of the food supply, according to the USDA. 

Before beginning the project with Rios, project team members took a survey of area farmers to determine their surplus produce. Carrots were one of the answers, so students at Brightwater were given the challenge to develop carrot-based recipes. Out of eight recipes, the top three were chosen by a panel and judged by Rios, who then guided further development of the sauce.

The project resulted in 500, 16-ounce jars of Rios Family Farms Carrot BBQ Sauce that will be for sale at Rogers and Bentonville farmers markets and Yeyo's El Alma De Mexico, inside the 8th Street Market in Bentonville.

“Chef Rios and his team had great vision guiding the creation of this Carrot BBQ Sauce so that the product aligned with the mission of their farm-to-fork businesses, and we look forward to future product production at the Arkansas Food Innovation Center,” said Renee Threlfall, associate professor of food science for the experiment station.

Chef Steven Jenkins, department chair at Brightwater, said some of the runners-up from the culinary students in their carrot recipe contest included carrot butters, a glazed carrot bruschetta spread, Carrots al Pastor, an Ozark Romesco, and a carrot harissa sauce.

Jenkins noted that the Brightwater culinary students have recipe contests featuring local produce to sharpen their culinary knowledge and ability to see novel uses of the local produce. A tasting event held for each contest at Brightwater for students, staff and the public for objective feedback. If the taste test results are close, they present the top recipe options to the grower for the final choice.

FINAL PRODUCT — The Arkansas Food Innovation Center packaged 500 Rios Family Farms Carrott BBQ Sauce jars.  (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Paden Johnson)

“When we presented the top recipes to Chef Rios, he immediately focused on the barbecue sauce because he felt that there was a need in his own operations and in the community for the product,” Jenkins said. “The students were very creative in their flavor profiles and used the sweetness of the carrots to complement smoky flavors or spiciness in the dish.”

A distinctive characteristic of the sauce, Rios said, is that it can make non-meat items taste like meat due to the subtle smokey flavor and aromas. In all, 500 pounds of carrots and 100 pounds of onions were smoked with applewood prior to being mashed and mixed with spices in the cooking process. Since carrots are not acidic, apple cider vinegar was used in the recipe to provide shelf stability and flavor.

Expanding farmers’ opportunities

While northwest Arkansas has several farmers markets, Threlfall said growers face limitations due to unpredictable weather on market days, short shelf life of produce and challenges in selling imperfect produce also known as “seconds” or “culls.” A three-year USDA grant worth $616,452 was awarded in 2021, with a one-year extension granted last month. The project is funded by the USDA’s Farmers Market Promotion Program through the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s Local Agriculture Market Program.

The aim of this project, Threlfall added, was to increase farm income, reduce produce waste and encourage greater utilization of the existing food system infrastructure.

“For this project, we have successfully worked with Arkansas produce growers to create six value-added products from surplus produce, with three more products in development,” Threlfall said. “Not only do the growers sell their product, but they also get a portfolio that includes the product recipe, a food safety plan for processing and a customized marketing plan developed by professors at the Walton College of Business.”

Rogelio Garcia Contreras, teaching assistant professor at the Walton College, said supporting farmers in selling their surplus goods is “crucial” for “long-term sustainable agricultural practices and community resilience.”

“By transforming excess produce into products like salsas, pickles, spreads or other dishes, farmers enhance their income while reducing food waste,” Garcia Contreras said. “Most of these value-added products are unique, artisanal and seasonal, and because they are sold at farmers markets or at the farms themselves, they offer a unique opportunity to foster a closer connection between consumers and producers, promoting community and generating awareness of seasonal and regional foods.”

Garcia Contreras noted the program has also helped bring an entrepreneurial approach to the challenge of surplus in the region and fostered innovation between students and farmers.

“We have designed marketing and commercialization strategies customized for each of the products developed as part of this initiative,” Garcia Contreras said. “Value-added products often require more labor, attention to detail, and a compelling story, and all these qualities can be found in the collaboration we have put together for the successful implementation of this grant.”

Garcia Contreras, Jenkins and Ruben Morawicki, former associate professor of food science for the experiment station, collaborated to design the program. Jeyam Subbiah, professor and former head of the food science department, and John Swenson, manager of the experiment station’s Arkansas Food Innovation Center, also lent their expertise to the program, Threlfall said.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

UA report: Arkansas waterways support more than 40,000 jobs

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The five navigable waterways in or connected to Arkansas are responsible for more than 40,000 jobs in the state and generate an estimated $5.5 billion in revenue for the state economy, according to a new report pushed by the Arkansas Waterways Commission.

The “Regional Economic Impact Study of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS),” was published for the commission in June 2024 by Heather Nachtmann with the Marine Transportation Research and Education Center (MarTREC) at the University of Arkansas.

Arkansas’ five navigable waterways are the portion of the Mississippi River that is the state’s eastern border, the Arkansas River, and the Ouachita, Red, and White Rivers, according to the commission. Of those, the Arkansas River provides a bulk of the economic impact to the state.

UA report: Arkansas waterways support more than 40,000 jobs

NALC webinar will review liability challenges for equine, agritourism business owners

By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With the fall season comes visits to pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes and petting zoos – but for owners of these attractions, risk and liability come along with visitors.

The National Ag Law Center's Oct. 16 webinar will discuss managing risk and liability in equine and agritourism operations. (Division of Agriculture photo)

“Agritourism is a huge industry, and continues to grow,” Rusty Rumley, senior staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, said. “It can diversify a farm’s income, but there is risk and liability associated with it for business owners.”

The 2022 Census of Agriculture showed a rise in the income generated from agritourism and recreational services, jumping from $949 million in 2017 to almost $1.26 billion in 2022.

With a growing industry comes the potential for liability, whether due to injuries or illnesses experienced by patrons.

“States around the country have implemented specific statutes that outline the responsibilities and liabilities for business owners who are involved in agritourism and equine-related activities,” Rumley said. “It’s important that owners are aware of these statutes and the limitations inherent in them as well. However, further risk mitigation tools such as liability insurance and proper planning are also needed to limit potential risk.”

Equine Activity & Agritourism Statutes: Strategies for Risk Management, the next webinar hosted by the NALC, will focus on states’ statutes and the strategies business owners can take to mitigate risk. The webinar will be presented by Rumley and Tim Potter, equine and animal scientist with a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, and owner of Potter Consulting, LLC.

“The NALC hears about unique legal situations involving equine and agritourism frequently,” Rumley said. “These businesses have a lot to offer for both the owners and the community, but there are key risks involved that must be accounted for before opening their doors to the general public.”

The webinar is available at no cost. Registration is available online at the NALC website.

During the presentation, Rumley and Potter will also provide real-life examples of risks associated with the equine and agritourism operations as well as practical solutions to address these concerns.

“It’s a fascinating area of agricultural law,” Potter said. “While the fruits of business owners’ labor is visible, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes to ensure these practices are safe from potential risk and liability.”

Rumley said Potter’s years of experience with horses will be a huge benefit to webinar attendees curious about equine liability.

“Dr. Potter has owned horses his entire life and has consulted with many over the years on these animals, ranging from topics on health issues, to behavior, safety issues and more,” Rumley said. “He’s an excellent addition to our webinar series.”

Agritourism survey opportunity

The University of Vermont, in partnership with the NALC, is hosting an online survey to understand how many U.S. agricultural operations welcome visitors for education, research, direct sales, hospitality and entertainment. Those who have a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business open to visitors are encouraged to participate in the brief survey.

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.

If you are involved in agriculture, the NALC wants to hear from you. Take the NALC’s brief stakeholder survey online to help inform how the center serves the nation’s ag community.

Electric cooperatives begin $93 million project to expand gas plant

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

Little Rock-based generation and transmission cooperative Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC) has started a $93 million project to add 100 megawatts of generation capacity to its natural gas-fired Thomas B. Fitzhugh Generation Station near Ozark.

The expansion is part of AECC’s strategy to address wholesale generation needs. AECC is the wholesale power provider for the state’s 17 electric distribution cooperatives and part of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

Construction at the existing 170-megawatt plant started in late September, and it’s expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. The project includes adding two natural gas generating units to bring the total generation capacity to 270 megawatts. The new units can also operate on fuel oil.

Electric cooperatives begin $93 million project to expand gas plant

The natural gas-fired Thomas B. Fitzhugh Generation Station near Ozark is undergoing a $93 million expansion.