Proclamation on Arkansas State Parks Centennial Year

WHEREAS:    One hundred years ago, Governor Thomas Chipman McRae signed into law an act authorizing the acceptance of land for parks and state reservations in Arkansas; and

WHEREAS:    Through the passion, pursuit, and founding vision of Dr. T.W. Hardison, House Bill 873 passed without a dissenting vote and was signed into law as Act 276 of 1923, serving as the foundation by which the entirety of the Arkansas State Park system was established; and

WHEREAS:    Initial land was acquired for the creation of Petit Jean State Park on September 10, 1923, making it the first state park established in Arkansas; and

WHEREAS:    The passion and pursuit of Dr. T.W. Hardison and the state park idea, culminating in the 1920s, is a legacy that we appreciate and enjoy today, 100 years later; and 

WHEREAS:    The Arkansas State Parks Commission was created in 1927 to select and acquire areas of natural and scenic beauty and promote recreational enjoyment for the people of the state and the attraction of visitors; and

WHEREAS:    The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression, began work in 1933 to construct Arkansas’ first state parks at Petit Jean, Mount Nebo, Crowley’s Ridge, Devil’s Den, Lake Catherine, and the future Buffalo National River; and

WHEREAS:    During his term, Governor Dale Bumpers invested more in Arkansas State Parks than ever before, doubling the number of state parks, an unprecedented, visionary investment in preservation, conservation and recreation; and

WHEREAS:    With the support of Governor Mike Huckabee, in 1996, voters approved an amendment to the state’s constitution for the collection of a one-eighth of one percent sales tax to support Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Heritage, and Keep Arkansas Beautiful, thus confirming the importance of wildlife conservation, state parks, and heritage resources to the citizens of Arkansas; and

WHEREAS:    With 52 state parks, 55,000 acres, and parks in 49 counties, Arkansas State Parks has grown into a representative sample of Arkansas scenic beauty, rich history and treasured culture; and

WHEREAS:    Each state park is a significant part of the fabric of Arkansas, and the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism is charged with an important role in interpreting, maintaining and protecting some of the most cherished natural, historical, and cultural resources found in Arkansas; and

WHEREAS:    The State Parks of Arkansas have impacted and enhanced the quality of life of Arkansans and served guests from around the world; and

WHEREAS:    Collectively the Arkansas State Park system is one of the state’s largest tourism and economic drivers, adding over $1 billion each year to the state’s economy and having last year welcomed over 8 million guests into Arkansas parks and museums;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, I, SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim the year 2023, as 
 

“ARKANSAS STATE PARKS CENTENNIAL YEAR”

And urge the citizens of the state to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed the 1st day of March, in the year of our Lord 2023.

Sanders Appoints Jeff Long as Director of Arkansas Crime Information Center

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will appoint Jeff Long to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center. 
 
“Today, I am proud to be appointing Jeff Long to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center,” Sanders said. “His impressive, extensive public service career with 36 years in the military and 31 years in law enforcement will be a tremendous asset in working with our top-notch team at the Department of Public Safety to keep our state safe and secure with reliable, up-to-date crime data.”
 
“I am humbled by the Governor’s confidence in me to lead the Arkansas Crime Information Center,” Long said. “I have dedicated my career to protecting Arkansans and Americans from harm, fully equipping me to serve the people of Arkansas in this capacity and support law enforcement agencies with timely, accurate information. Both Governor Sanders’ and Colonel Mike Hagar’s strong, tough on crime leadership is exactly what our state needs to reduce violent crime, and I look forward to working together as we empower all Arkansans with a safer, stronger state.”
 
Jeff Long Bio:
 
Jeff Long began his public service by joining the Arkansas National Guard in 1982 while still a junior in high school. He later transferred to the Army Reserves, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. During his service, he served in various leadership roles. He was a Platoon Sergeant for a HAZ MAT response and served on the Quick Reactionary Force Team in Bagdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
 
After deployment, he served as Regional Area Manager for the 4th Battalion of the 95th Division instructor group. His mission assignment was teaching Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) advanced and senior leadership courses at U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Sergeant Major Long retired from the Army Reserves in 2019 after 36 years of service. 
 
Director Long started his law enforcement career in 1992 with the Russellville Police Department. While there, he served as a training instructor, field training officer, and a member of the SWAT team. 
 
Director Long joined the ranks of the Arkansas State Police in 1997 with his first assignment in Highway Patrol, Troop A. He later became a member of the Honor Guard and transferred to the Executive Protection Division. While he was with the Executive Protection Division he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served as Assistant Detail Commander.    
 
Director Long’s public service career includes 36 years in the military and 31 years in law enforcement. He is a graduate of the U.S Army Sergeants Majors Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, School of Law Enforcement and Supervision. 
 
Director Long is a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville. He has been married to his wife, Cindy, for 33 years. The couple have beautiful twin daughters.

As rainfall patterns become more extreme, pasture managers will need to become increasingly proactive

By the U of A System Division of Agriculture 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Average temperatures in Arkansas have risen about 0.5 degrees over the past two decades, according to the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies. One result of this has been more extreme patterns of rainfall and drought. Dirk Philipp, associate professor of forage agronomy for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said these changes in rainfall patterns typically have a variety of effects — particularly on agriculture.

DELUGED — Heavy rainfall can take a toll on pastures not equipped to manage runoff. (Image courtesy Dirk Philipp.)

Based on current climate and weather patterns, Philipp said, these weather extremes may include increased rainfall intensity and extended periods of both higher and lower rain frequency, leading to flooding and drought, respectively — and these changes in rainfall patterns typically have a variety of effects.

“For example, increased intensity means the rain has a higher impact on soil, which equates to higher erosion potential,” he said. “There’s a higher potential for runoff and dislodging soil particles.”

Philipp said changes in rainfall patterns may also lead to decreased rainwater infiltration rates, meaning the soil itself will retain less moisture and aquifers will be slower to recharge. And because evaporation rates are high in the southeastern United States, droughty periods will be relatively more severe for plants in that region than in higher latitudes where incoming solar rays are less powerful.

“Changing rainfall patterns also have biological effects,” Philipp said. “Planting times are affected, because fields may be wetter or drier than in the past during the usual planting times.”

All of this will put stress on existing forage stands and will have implications for establishing new stands as well, Philipp said. To make pastures more resilient in the long term, he has several key suggestions.

“Buffer strips in strategic locations go a long way in capturing runoff and helping to infiltrate it into the soil,” he said. “Extended riparian areas will also achieve that. Buffers around 50-100 feet wide can be grazed, as well.”

Philipp said pasture managers should be conscious of the topography of their land, and should consider reforesting areas that were likely covered in woodlands before farming.

“This doesn’t have to cover a lot of area, but if you can set aside a few acres, that will go a long way of keeping as much rainfall on your land as possible,” he said.

Strategic choices
Philipp said producers should be strategic with their choice of forages, making their lands more resilient and lowering their economic risks.

“For example, native perennial warm season grasses are drought resistant,” he said. “Plant them in areas that may get more affected by drought. Eastern gamagrass works well for wetter areas and is readily grazed by cattle. Placing cool season perennial forages, such as fescue or orchardgrass, alongside riparian zones will provide forage for spring and fall while decelerating runoff.”

Riparian zones are where land and lakes or streams meet.

Finally, Philipp said that whatever choices producers make initially, it’s important to remain flexible and realize they will need to further adapt over time. This can mean keeping more residual forage after a grazing event, avoiding prolonged stocking in late winter on cool season pastures and more.

“Calculate your forage needs for summer grazing, and plan long-term for planting more areas in warm season annual and perennial forages,” 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 Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Poultry science grad students earn awards for research presentations at international meeting

By Jessica Wesson
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Poultry vaccine research using a technique similar to allergy testing in humans and a project to discern the digestibility of phosphorus from meat and bone have earned two student scientists recognition at the International Poultry Scientific Forum.

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE — Chrysta Beck holds her Certificate of Excellence award at the International Poultry Scientific Forum in Atlanta. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

Chrysta Beck and Jay Hampton, poultry science graduate students in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, were honored for sharing their research during the annual meeting Jan. 30-Feb. 1 in Atlanta.

Beck presented her research on the immune responses of chickens to Salmonella vaccine injections and received the Certificate of Excellence in the “Physiology, Endocrinology and Reproduction: Layers, Breeders” category by the Southern Poultry Science Society. Hampton’s mineral digestibility research presentation was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student Research Presentation in the “Metabolism and Nutrition Category.”

Fighting Salmonella

“Poultry products are major contributors to human salmonellosis cases, and effective management of Salmonella during pre- and post-harvest is necessary to reduce human foodborne illness,” Beck said.

With a decline in the use of antibiotics in broilers, Salmonella vaccination programs are increasingly important, she said. According to a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, the use of antibiotics in broilers decreased from 90 percent in 2013 to zero percent in 2021.

While vaccination programs are largely successful, some may contribute to liver damage in poultry.

“Insight into the physiological responses to these vaccinations are necessary to improve the development and optimization of safe Salmonella vaccines that can enhance bird performance and quality of life,” Beck said.

To assess those responses, Beck injected dead Salmonella bacteria into skin tissues that produce feathers. This allowed her to determine local immune responses over time for a single animal.

“This method is similar to allergy skin tests and patch tests that are used in human medicine,” she said.

Her current study was conducted using Light-brown Leghorn pullet chickens and her next study will look at inflammatory responses to a commercial Salmonella vaccination in the liver, spleen and cecal tonsils, as well as the gut bacteria of White Leghorns.

While earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Mississippi State University, Beck worked in a microbiology lab that studied the application of probiotics in broiler hatching eggs. She learned that bacteria-based vaccinations could shape the performance of a chick, which intrigued her.

“Because of this I wanted to be more competent in understanding the complexities of the avian immune system and how it connected to bird well-being and performance,” Beck said.

Gisela Erf, professor of poultry science, supervised Beck’s work. Erf conducts research for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture through its research arm, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

“I reached out to Dr. Erf, and she graciously welcomed me into her lab to grow in this field of research.”

Phosphorous Digestibility

OUTSTANDING RESEARCH — Jay Hampton, center, holds his award for Outstanding Graduate Student Research on phosphorus digestibility. Also pictured are Kyle Teague, left, and Benjamin Parsons.

Hampton’s research gauges how well poultry can digest the important mineral phosphorus.

“Traditionally, phosphorus is supplied in broiler diets through inorganic rock phosphates; however, recent publications estimate that these sources are dwindling,” Hampton said. “To this end, there is a need to establish phosphorus digestibility values from meat and bone meals as literature on these sources are limited — especially sourced from U.S. producers.”

The factors driving digestibility are unknown, and Hampton’s goal is to find the relationships between meat and bones and their characteristics.

Accurate values are important to poultry nutritionists “so phosphorus is adequately supplied as it is important for bird performance, health and maintaining animal welfare standards,” Hampton said.

“Meat and bone meals provide adequate levels of phosphorus and can be obtained from U.S. producers.”

Hampton’s research was supervised by Sam Rochell, associate professor of poultry nutrition at Auburn University and former assistant professor of poultry nutrition for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Michael Kidd, professor of poultry nutrition for the University of Arkansas System, also assisted with the research.

“I would like to thank Dr. Rochell for all the help and guidance during graduate school,” Hampton said. “I also cannot say thank you enough to my fellow lab mates and Dr. Mike Kidd’s lab for helping collect samples during a hectic time. My current research will hopefully provide more insight into meat and bone meal digestibility values, and I am excited to present at future conferences.”

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

Senate sends LEARNS Act to governor, bill signing planned for Wednesday

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

The Arkansas Senate passed Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS Act Tuesday (March 7), paving the way for her to sign the bill in a Capitol Rotunda ceremony at noon on Wednesday.

Following passage of the bill, Sanders’ office released a statement.

“Today’s final passage of the biggest, boldest, most conservative education reforms in America makes Arkansas a blueprint for the country. Arkansas LEARNS will raise teacher pay, empower parents, and give our students the skills to succeed in life. These changes can’t come soon enough,” she said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/senate-sends-learns-act-to-governor-bill-signing-planned-for-wednesday/

Quarterly natural gas consumption falls to lowest level in 5 years

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

U.S. natural gas consumption is expected to be lower in the first quarter than in any of the same periods since 2018, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). First-quarter average consumption of about 99 billion cubic feet per day is the least for any first quarter since 2018.

The EIA released Tuesday (March 7) the March Short-Term Energy Outlook that shows January and February were likely to be among the warmest on record in data going back to 1895, and this contributed to lower heating demand, resulting in lower consumption. This will lead to lower prices and more natural gas in storage.

EIA expects 2023 wholesale prices of natural gas to be half of the 2022 average. Inventories are projected to be 23% more than the five-year average at the end of the first quarter.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/quarterly-natural-gas-consumption-falls-to-lowest-level-in-5-years/

Winners announced in 2023 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame

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

On Monday (March 6), the winners of the 2023 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame were announced at a ceremony at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock.

The Department of Arkansas Heritage launched the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame program in 2016 to recognize Arkansas’ legendary restaurants, proprietors and food-themed events across the state.

This year’s winners included:

Arkansas Food Hall of Fame
Kream Kastle of Blytheville
The Bulldog Restaurant of Bald Knob
Ozark Cafe of Jasper

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/winners-announced-in-2023-arkansas-food-hall-of-fame/

Strawberry shortcake from The Bulldog in Bald Knob. (photo: Arkansas Tourism)

Arkansas Senate passes amended net metering after companion bill stalls on House floor

KUAR | By Wesley Brown / Arkansas Advocate

A thrice-amended bill that opponents say would upend the state’s burgeoning solar industry easily passed the Arkansas Senate on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 295, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Beebe), passed on a vote of 24-9 and was immediately sent to the House, where a twin bill awaits on the lower chamber’s floor that will likely face further revisions.

In speaking for SB 295 at the Senate well, Dismang told fellow senators that is not his intent to kill the state’s flourishing rooftop solar industry only three years after the Legislature passed the Solar Access Act of 2019. That law, largely negotiated and authored by former Public Service Commission (PSC) chair Ted Thomas, put the state’s existing 1:1 net metering policy in place.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-08/arkansas-senate-passes-amended-net-metering-after-companion-bill-stalls-on-house-floor

Julie McCarthy/NPR

Solar panels are seen on the roof of the Indian Habitat Center, a conference and office complex in the central part of Delhi.

Abortion ban exception fails in Arkansas House committee

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

An effort to roll back Arkansas’ near-total ban on abortion failed in the state legislature Tuesday.

Lawmakers on the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee rejected House Bill 1301, which would allow for abortions in cases of fetal abnormalities incompatible with life.

The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Nicole Clowney of Fayetteville, said it would help minimize the trauma felt by women who, under current Arkansas law, must carry a fetus to term despite any diagnoses during pregnancy.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-07/abortion-ban-exception-fails-in-arkansas-house-committee

Arkansas Legislature

(From L to R) Rep. Nicole Clowney, D-Fayetteville, presents HB1301 to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee alongside genetic counselor Shannon Barringer and OB-GYN Dr. Luann Racher.

Arkansas lawmakers send sweeping education bill to governor’s desk

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will sign her signature education package into law Wednesday, two weeks after the bill was filed.

The Arkansas Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, on Tuesday.

“I’m ready to sign it into law tomorrow and end the failed status quo that has governed our education system for far too long,” Sanders said in a statement. “Every kid should have access to a quality education and a path to a good paying job and better life right here in Arkansas.”

The LEARNS Act makes sweeping changes to the state’s education system by addressing a variety of topics, including teacher pay, school safety, career readiness, literacy, a new voucher program and “indoctrination.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-08/arkansas-lawmakers-send-sweeping-education-bill-to-governors-desk

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Breanne Davis (R-Russellville), gives a thumbs-up after the Senate passes SB 294 on Feb. 23, as Sen. Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock) looks on.

UAMS Selected for Schwartz Center’s Inaugural Healing Healthcare Initiative

LITTLE ROCK — The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare selected the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as one of only six health organizations across the United States to participate in the center’s inaugural Healing Healthcare Initiative (HHI).

UAMS began its relationship with The Schwartz Center by offering Schwartz Rounds sessions in 2019. These are now held virtually, and UAMS has partnered with Schwartz to additional support services for clinical employees.

By Kate Franks

The Schwartz Center, a national nonprofit dedicated to putting compassion at the heart of health care, developed this initiative to guide organizational leaders in reimagining how their workplace can better support the mental health and well-being of health workers, allowing them to focus on delivering equitable and compassionate patient care.

“The past three years have been incredibly difficult ones for health care professionals around the world, and UAMS is no exception,” said Michelle W. Krause, M.D., MPH, senior vice chancellor for UAMS Health and chief executive officer for UAMS Medical Center at UAMS. “We partnered with the Schwartz Center to begin Schwartz Rounds at UAMS Medical Center in June 2019. More than 150 employees typically participate in these sessions to talk in an open, supportive environment about different emotionally challenging aspects of health care.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/03/08/uams-selected-for-schwartz-centers-inaugural-healing-healthcare-initiative/

The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare selected UAMS as one of only six health organizations across the United States to participate in the center’s inaugural Healing Healthcare Initiative (HHI).

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

In the 8th week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed SB294. This bill creates the LEARNS Act and outlines several educational reforms. 

SB294 raises the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 a year and raises current teacher salaries by $2,000. 

It requires that students be reading at a 3rd-grade level before advancing to the 4th grade. It also calls for 120 reading coaches to be deployed statewide and supplemental educational services for students struggling to read. 

The bill creates the Education Freedom Account. In a three-year phased-in approach, the account would offer universal school choice to all parents by the 2025-2026 school year. 

It also offers high school students the option of a career-ready diploma and requires high school students to complete 75 hours of community service before graduation. 

This bill now goes back to the Senate to concur in a House amendment. 

The House also passed HB1458. This bill creates the Vincent Parks Law. Vincent Parks was a Jonesboro police officer who died last summer during law enforcement training. HB1458 would require instructors to complete training on the recognition and management of certain health conditions and establish procedures in the event a cadet or officer has symptoms of cardiac arrest while receiving training. 

On Wednesday, the House passed HB1486. This bill amends the law concerning distracted driving. It states if a distracted driver causes an accident that results in serious physical injury or death of another person, the driver upon conviction is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and could face a fine of up to $2,500 and imprisonment for up to one year. 

The House also passed HB1365 and SB265. 

HB1365 classifies the theft of a catalytic converter as a Class C felony. It states a person commits unauthorized possession of a catalytic converter if the person knowingly possesses a catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle and is not permanently marked. 

SB265 allows a hospital pharmacy to dispense up to a 31-day supply of medication to emergency room patients or patients who are being discharged from the hospital. Currently, hospitals can dispense a 2-day supply.

Arkansas tax revenue surplus tops $250 million; collections up 8.3% in February report

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

Arkansas consumers continue to spend in the face of persistent inflation. The state’s sales tax revenue in the first eight months of the fiscal year is up 9.3%, with February sales tax revenue up 13.1%. Overall tax revenue in February was up 8.3%.

Another month, another similar growth story with Arkansas’ tax revenue. Total revenue in the February report was $807 million, up 3.2% compared to what was a healthy February 2021, and up 9.6% above the budget forecast.

In the February revenue report posted Thursday (March 2) by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) reported that “collections were above forecast in all major collection categories.” It’s a phrase that has become common with the DFA revenue reports.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/arkansas-tax-revenue-surplus-tops-250-million-collections-up-8-3-in-february-report/

Gov. Sanders appoints Kevin Crass to UA board to replace Charles Gibson

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Thursday (March 2) appointed Little Rock attorney Kevin Crass to a 10-year term on the University of Arkansas System board of trustees.

He replaces board chairman C.C. “Cliff” Gibson III of Monticello. His term expires this year.

Crass is a senior partner in the litigation practice group at Friday, Eldredge & Clark. He was also executive director of the governor’s transition team following her election this past November.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/gov-sanders-appoints-kevin-crass-to-ua-board-to-replace-charles-gibson/

Arkansas’ natural gas severance tax revenue on pace to set a new record

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ natural gas severance tax revenue is on track in fiscal year 2023 to set a new record and top $100 million if trends continue in the next four months. The gain comes in the face of industry criticism that President Joe Biden’s energy policies would curtail production.

Through the first eight months of the fiscal year (July 2022-February 2023), the natural gas severance tax has generated $61.556 million, or an average of $8.46 million a month. The average is well ahead of the $6.552 million in fiscal year 2015, when collections set a record of $78.634 million.

Fiscal 2023 is part of a two-year trend in which revenues have recovered from a dramatic decline that began in fiscal year 2016 when revenue was $31.858 million, well below the 2015 record. Revenues reached a recent low of just $14.067 million 2020.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/arkansas-natural-gas-severance-tax-revenue-on-pace-to-set-a-new-record/

Senate panel moves signature threshold bill forward for citizen initiatives

by Ronak Patel (rspatel.personal@gmail.com)

The Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee approved House Bill 1419 on Thursday (March 2) that would require petitioners to get signatures from 50 counties, instead of 15 counties, to get a citizen-led issue on the ballot.

According to the state’s Constitution, voter signatures from at least 15 counties are needed as part of the process to get an issue on the ballot.

Sen. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, a sponsor of the bill, said HB1419 would benefit smaller counties.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/senate-panel-moves-signature-threshold-bill-forward-for-citizen-initiatives/

Arkansas House votes to advance LEARNS bill after debate cut short

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

After hours of debate in committee, Rep. Keith Brooks, R-Little Rock, presented the Arkansas LEARNS bill for passage to his fellow House members on Thursday.

LEARNS is the name given to a 144-page omnibus education package championed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Supporters and detractors of the bill spoke until Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, ended debate prematurely.

During his bill presentation, Brooks hit upon familiar talking points like Arkansas’ low national rankings for education and literacy. Brooks said the bill was student-centric.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-03/arkansas-house-votes-to-advance-learns-bill-after-debate-cut-short

Arkansas House/Arkansas House

The Arkansas House of Representatives has voted to advance the omnibus education package known as the LEARNS Act.

UAM college rodeo athlete ropes acting job

By Lon Tegels
College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Arkansas Forest Resources Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

MONTICELLO, Ark. — The trophies and first-place belt buckles mark Morgan Harrington as a fierce competitor, but one win she didn’t see coming was beating out 22,000 other hopefuls for a role in “Heart of a Champion,” a movie about barrel racing released last month.

Harrington is a fifth-year college rodeo competitor and biochemistry grad student at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. While she’s known to be nice in real life, the 23-year-old Harrington plays the 14-year-old “mean girl” character of Madison Farnsworth.

Morgan Harrington, a fifth-year rodeo athlete at UA-Monticello, landed a new gig as an actress in a movie centered on barrel racing. (Image courtesy UAM)

"Heart of a Champion" is a heartwarming family film that tells the story of 14-year-old Charlie, who is going through a difficult time in her life. Charlie is coping with her parents' divorce, starting at a new school, and experiencing typical teenage growing pains. However, her life changes when she finds a lost horse that she decides to care for and train to run in a state barrel-racing competition. At the state competition, Harrington’s character rides against Charlie.

"It was so fun to play the mean girl," Harrington said.

Reluctant star

A friend of Harrington’s saw a casting call for the part and sent the information to Harrington’s mother.

"It really just fell into my lap,” Harrington said, adding that her mother encouraged her to audition. Harrington thought, “'I'm not going to get that. They only want girls from Texas. I'm not going to get it.

“I auditioned on the very last day,” she said. Her initial audition was sent in on a self-made video from her phone. “A couple of days later, I did my callback. They called me after that, and they were like, 'Hey, we picked you. By the way, we picked you out of 22,000 girls.” 

Lifelong love of horses

Harrington's love for horses started at a young age. She grew up on a 400-acre farm in Perry County, Arkansas, near Casa, population 109. Her mother, also a rodeo competitor, brought her to the barn at two days old. One night, when one of the horses was struggling with giving birth, the family spent the night giving the horse a helping hand. From that moment on, Harrington has been around farm animals.

Harrington's love for horses and rodeos continued into her high school and collegiate years. She is wrapping up a successful rodeo career at UAM. Harrington’s specialties are barrel racing, break-away roping and team roping, experiences that helped with her role.

Filming took place in March and April 2022, just as she was getting ready for spring collegiate rodeo competitions.

Harrington has more big achievements ahead. She has been accepted to medical school at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine at Fort Smith. She starts classes in July.

However, “I am really pursuing the acting. I got professional headshots; they gave me a demo reel; I recently accepted the lead role in another movie where I play an undercover cop,” Harrington said.

You can see Harrington compete in Monticello at the Weevil Stampede Rodeo, April 6,7, and 8. 

You can see her acting now; “Heart of a Champion” in select theaters and can also be seen on  Amazon Prime, YouTube movies, or Apple TV.

High-tech cameras focused on chicken breast defect detection

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Some research for poultry processing automation is more than meets the eye.

HIGH-TECH VIEW — Graduate assistant Chaitanya Kumar Reddy Pallerla investigates the use of hyperspectral imaging to detect a defect in chicken meat. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)

A multidisciplinary team of scientists at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station are testing to see if hyperspectral images can be used to detect a chicken breast defect known as “woody breast” that costs the poultry industry millions of dollars annually and decreases customer satisfaction.

Dongyi Wang, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, explains that hyperspectral imaging is a non-invasive sensing technique that combines a near-infrared sensor with a high-definition color camera to capture physical and chemical information.

“The current evaluation procedure is time-consuming and needs a sample tested through cumbersome laboratory tests,” Wang said.

Woody breast detection with a hyperspectral camera system would take just a few seconds with a computer instead of grading by hand.

“Woody breast detection by hand can be labor intensive,” said Casey Owens, the Novus International Professor of Poultry Science at the experiment station. “If hyperspectral imaging can be used in a poultry processing plant, that labor force could be diverted to another area.”

POULTRY PROFESSOR — Casey Owens is the Novus International Professor of Poultry Science at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)

Owens said woody breast affects up to about 20 percent of chicken breast meat. Although it can be diverted for further processing, the loss in premium as a whole-muscle product accounts for a yield loss worth about $200 million annually in the United States, Wang said.

“Woody breast is still a safe product. It just can have a crunchy texture in some cases that is not appealing to customers, but it can be diverted for further processing into products like chicken nuggets, sausage, or chicken patties where the defect is not as noticeable,” Owens said.

Woody breast meat is harder to the touch because it has less water-holding capacity and less protein content, so the meat doesn’t retain marination as well as meat without the defect.

The woodiness is more common in larger birds of 8-9 pounds versus a 6-7-pound bird. Owens said one theory is that the fast-growing birds may be producing muscle faster than the blood vessels can support them, leading to muscle fiber damage and therefore increased collagen deposits. 

Chaitanya Kumar Reddy Pallerla, a food science graduate student working on the project, said each image with a hyperspectral camera takes up about 1 gigabyte of data. The photo is processed by a computer and correlated with a texture map indicating hardness levels in the fillet created with Owens’ previous research. Once calibrated, the system would rely on the images alone to detect woody breast.

“What we’re trying to do is collect the spectral data, intensities that were reflected, and correlate them with texture properties,” Pallerla said. “These are rated with a texture analyzer initially, and if we find a correlation between this spectral information and the texture properties later, we do not need a texture analyzer. So, we can use this correlation and directly interpret the texture properties from the spectral properties.”

Although protein content, water holding capacity and texture properties are considered the best markers for woody breast detection, Pallerla said most researchers have not focused on those properties because of the level of irregularities in the sections of a chicken breast.

Wang said the hyperspectral camera, so far, has detected woody breast meat with about 84 percent accuracy. The goal is to accommodate high-speed sorting on a conveyor belt, or handheld portable devices, he added.

TECH TALK — Dongyi Wang, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, researches the use of robotics and machine learning in agriculture. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)

Pallerla said the research will help fine tune their current texture analysis map and decrease the variance in detection.

Wang and Owens conduct research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Owens also teaches classes through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. Wang teaches classes through the University of Arkansas’ College of Engineering, and has a split research appointment between the biological and agricultural engineering department and the food science department. Pallerla holds a teaching assistant position in the biological and agricultural engineering department.

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.

Farming opportunity seekers network with farmers March 9 in Fayetteville

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — People seeking experience on a working farm will have a chance to meet with farmers at a Center for Arkansas Farms and Food networking event on March 9.

FARM OPPS — Farm School students work the land at the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food in Fayetteville. A networking event will be held March 9 at Ozark Natural Foods. (U of A System Division of Ag photo)

The Farm Opportunities Mixer will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that Thursday at Ozark Natural Foods Co-Op’s Taproom, 380 N. College Ave., in Fayetteville.

Heather Friedrich, assistant director for the center, said one major constraint to a small farm’s operations and expansion is labor. The event is intended to bring together farmers who are looking for farm workers and anyone interested in farm employment or experience opportunities, she added.

Complimentary food and drinks will be provided by Ozark Natural Foods.

On March 12, the center will also offer an in-person class on winter maintenance as part of Growers School programming. The class is $10 and will be held at 1005 Meade St. at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville.

Registration for the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food events can be done at NWAFarming.org.

The center’s Beginning Farmer classes are available online to the public for $10 each. They last about two hours. Recordings of the classes are available for those who register at BeginningFarmer.org.

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.