Keith Stokes remembered as avid supporter of agriculture, for his willingness to serve others

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

DARDANELLE, Ark. — The first things you noticed about Keith Stokes were the kind eyes and smile that always shone below the broad brim of his cowboy hat.

And it was hard not to notice. Stokes seemed to be everywhere in Arkansas. He was at field days, groundbreakings and meetings of all sorts — any event where agriculture mattered. Stokes — a farmer, Razorback-mascot-keeper, and aide to Sen. Tom Cotton — passed away on Aug. 18. He was 59.

Keith Stokes, left, leaves a legacy of service to agriculture in Arkansas. Among the jobs closest to his heart was as the caretaker of the Razorback mascot, Tusk. Here, he stands with Kelly Robbins of Arkansas. Rice. The two were attending an event at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station headquarters in Fayetteville. Taken April 10, 2023. (U of A System Division of Agriculture file photo by Mary Hightower)

“With Keith, the thing that stuck with you was his willingness to serve any time you needed him,” said Deacue Fields, head of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “He was definitely someone you could depend on and he’d always follow through. And he was always willing to help and support the Division of Agriculture.”

Chuck Culver, director of external relations for the Division of Agriculture, remembered Stokes as a strong advocate not only for the agriculture industry, but also for its people.

“Keith made everyone feel like they were his best friend. He epitomized public service. And he especially loved being an ambassador for agriculture and the Razorbacks,” Culver said.

Cotton said that “our state, its farmers ranchers and foresters, and our Senate office had no better friend and champion than Keith Stokes.”

Sen. John Boozman said, “Cathy and I are heartbroken at the loss of Keith Stokes – Mr. Razorback, as I liked to call him. Humility, passion for agriculture, and dedication to serving U of A as the caretaker of Tusk all defined Keith's life and work, a true Arkansan. Our prayers are with all his loved ones.”

Services for Stokes were held Tuesday at the Dardanelle Community Center.

Read about how Stokes became the Tusk caretaker.

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 us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: Arkansas’ steel industry to bolster overall manufacturing sector

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The U.S. manufacturing sector has been soft in recent months, but Arkansas manufacturing job numbers are up more than 5% in the past two years. One sector advocate believes the job numbers would be higher if more people were in the workforce.

Manufacturing employment in Arkansas totaled 165,200 in July, up from 163,400 in July 2022 and above the 162,000 in the pre-pandemic July 2019. Manufacturing, once the state’s largest jobs sector, posted record employment of 247,600 in February 1995.

Among the three Arkansas metro areas with significant manufacturing activity, two have seen manufacturing job growth in the past five years. Manufacturing job numbers are up 6.3% in Northwest Arkansas during the past five years and up 9.3% in the Fort Smith metro. Manufacturing job numbers are down 6.5% in the Little Rock-North Little Rock metro in the past five years.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/state-of-the-state-mid-year-2023-arkansas-steel-industry-to-bolster-overall-manufacturing-sector/

New poultry extension specialist brings love of teaching to Arkansas

By Jessica Wesson
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Poultry science extension specialist Zac Williams is passionate about education, both in the poultry house and in the classroom.

POULTRY SCIENCE — Zac Williams, poultry science extension specialist and assistant professor, is a new faculty member with the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

“I enjoy teaching, whether that be through extension programming or in the classroom,” Williams said. “Being able to relay knowledge from the scientific community to producers and students makes me feel like I’m making a difference.”

Williams joined the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and poultry science department as an assistant professor in June. In his new role, Williams provides poultry education and outreach through the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, with a focus on connecting with the commercial poultry industry in Arkansas.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Zac Williams join the faculty in the Department of Poultry Science and Center of Excellence for Poultry Science,” said David Caldwell, poultry science department head and director of the Center for Excellence for Poultry Science. “Thus far in Zac’s career, he has worked closely with the commercial industry in Tennessee and Michigan. We fully expect that he will develop strong relationships with our industry stakeholders here in Arkansas.”

Williams also conducts research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and will teach through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The extension service and experiment station are the outreach and research arms of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The Division of Agriculture, with the Bumpers College, provides the traditional land grant triad of teaching, outreach and research.

“We look forward to working with Zac as he develops strong, industry-focused research, teaching and outreach programs here,” Caldwell said.

Focus on producers

Williams’ research program will focus on how producers respond to animal diseases coming from outside the United States. He wants to find ways to improve depopulation and composting in affected flocks. His research also includes investigating litter management practices for improved microbial community development and developing on-farm tools that can quickly identify bacterial species.

“I’m really excited about working with the team of faculty, staff and students in the poultry science department and the university and seeing where I can fit in and contribute,” Williams said. “I’m also excited about being so close to a large percentage of poultry production and the challenges and opportunities that will arise.”

Williams received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in poultry science from Mississippi State University. He earned a Ph.D. in poultry science from Auburn University.

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 us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

University of Arkansas’ $36M chip prototype facility to open in 2025

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

Construction has started on a first-of-its-kind semiconductor facility at the University of Arkansas, according to a Monday (Aug. 21) news release. The $36 million chip prototype fabrication facility is expected to be completed in January 2025.

UA and industry leaders and researchers broke ground Friday (Aug. 18) on the 18,660-square-foot Multi-User Silicon Carbide Research and Fabrication Facility, or MUSiC. It will be built at Arkansas Research and Technology Park in south Fayetteville. Designers are Tsoi Kobus and Wittenberg Delony & Davidson Architects. The general contractor is Whiting Turner.

MUSiC will allow the federal government – through national labs – businesses and universities to develop semiconductor prototypes with silicon carbide, a capability that’s currently unavailable. Silicon carbide is a semiconductor that can outperform basic silicon chips, and silicon carbide electronics can operate in extreme environments. At the new facility, chips can go from developmental research to prototyping, testing and fabrication.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/university-of-arkansas-36m-chip-prototype-facility-to-open-in-2025/

Alan Mantooth speaks at the groundbreaking of the Multi-User Silicon Carbide Research and Fabrication Facility.

U.S Rep. Bruce Westerman explains lithium development in south Arkansas

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Earlier this year, Exxonmobil acquired the rights for a lithium brine reservoir in south Arkansas. Lithium is a key component that is used in electric vehicle batteries.

In an interview with Arkansas PBS’ Arkansas Week, U.S Rep. Bruce Westerman, R- Hot Springs, said the southern region of Arkansas potentially has enough lithium to produce about 15% of the world’s lithium. Westerman said the lithium in south Arkansas could grow the economy in that region.

“Now that lithium is a valuable commodity investors are anxious to be able to extract the lithium to meet even more demand. There’s talks the value of lithium could be more than the value of all the oil and gas produced in South Arkansas,” he said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-08-20/u-s-rep-bruce-westerman-explains-lithium-development-in-south-arkansas

Arkansas PBS

In an interview with Arkansas PBS' Arkansas Week, U.S Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, sees lithium as a boom to the local economy. The congressman also shared concerns about the region having the resources needed to accommodate the potential boom to the region.

Asa Hutchinson qualifies for GOP Presidential debate stage

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

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday (Aug. 20) he has qualified for the first GOP Presidential debate.

His campaign disclosed that he had submitted nearly 42,000 unique donors to the Republican National Committee. A requirement for participation in the first GOP debate, to be held in Milwaukee on Wednesday (Aug. 23), was 40,000 donors.

“I am thankful to the tens of thousands of Americans who have contributed to my campaign and helped ensure my message of consistent, commonsense, conservative leadership is represented on the debate stage this Wednesday evening,” said Hutchinson. “I intend to continue speaking the truth when it comes to the responsibility that Donald Trump bears for the attacks on our democracy and justice system. I look forward to a substantive debate in Milwaukee.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/asa-hutchinson-qualifies-for-gop-presidential-debate-stage/

Arkansas law enforcement officers receive overdose reversal kits

KUAR | By Maggie Ryan

The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (AORP) has purchased 15,000 Naloxone kits for law enforcement officers across the state. First responders picked up kits of Naloxone, an opioid overdose medication also called Narcan, from a distribution center at the Arkansas National Guard's Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock Thursday.

The kits were purchased by the AORP using $675,000 of funds from nationwide legal settlements with opioid manufacturers. Arkansas Drug Director Tom Fisher became emotional as he gave a warning about the impact of opioid overdoses on the state.

“For those of you who want to know what the opioid crisis is doing to communities across the state of Arkansas, look no further than Little Rock,” Fisher said. “As of today, there were 27 overdose death investigations that were actively being worked, versus 35 homicide investigations. And at the rate we’re going, overdose deaths are as likely to overcome violent crime deaths by the end of the year.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-08-18/arkansas-law-enforcement-officers-receive-overdose-reversal-kits

Maggie Ryan/KUAR News

Arkansas Drug Director Tom Fisher speaks at the Naloxone distribution event at the Arkansas National Guard's Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock on Thursday.

Registration opens Aug. 28 for Walk Across Arkansas Fall 2023

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — As families resume their busy back to school schedules, it’s important to take time to exercise. Walk Across Arkansas, an eight-week, group-based exercise program from the Cooperative Extension Service, is designed to help Arkansans get moving and collaborate with peers.

GET MOVING, ARKANSAS — To help Arkansans get active, the Cooperative Extension Service's Walk Across Arkansas program asks participants to log their number of minutes spent being physically active each day. The free program is offered each spring and fall, and past participants list numerous benefits, including better sleep, lower stress levels and strengthened relationships with teammates. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

The free program is offered each spring and fall by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Participants record the total number of minutes spent being physically active each day — and any moderate to vigorous physical activity that boosts the heart rate counts — not just walking.

Teams can consist of one person to as many as 30 people. Participants can register and log exercise minutes at walk.uada.edu/walk/. Registration for the fall 2023 session opens Aug. 28, and the competition starts Sept. 11 and ends on Nov. 5.

Heather Wingo, extension health program associate for the Division of Agriculture, said the Walk Across Arkansas program is a great resource for Arkansans looking to improve their health.

“Walk Across Arkansas provides an endless list of benefits, such as improving physical activity goals, encouraging teamwork, improved strength and stamina, and lower stress levels,” Wingo said. “And it’s completely free, making it very accessible for all participants.”

Positive results

During the spring 2023 Walk Across Arkansas session, 409 participants on 82 teams from 43 counties logged 1,036,886 minutes. Wingo said many participants reported they had more energy, slept better, controlled stress, strengthened relationships, lost weight or inches, and improved their blood panels and blood pressure.

“Participants can start slow and gradually build up their exercise time over the course of eight weeks as they get stronger,” Wingo said. “If you need a little motivation to get going, having friends with similar goals can help you stay on track.”

Anyone can participate in Walk Across Arkansas. Division of Agriculture employees must use a personal email address, not their work email address, to register. Visit walk.uada.edu/walk/ to learn more and register or contact your local county extension agent.

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.

UAMS Commemorates Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990, prohibits discrimination in employment, transportation and many other areas of public life. Image by Getty Images

By Chris Carmody

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) held a week of events to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the law that prohibits discrimination in employment, transportation and many other areas of public life.

Andrew Aston talks about his work in patient transport and how the Americans with Disabilities Act has affected his life.

The week culminated in a virtual seminar in which UAMS employees shared their experiences of living and working with disabilities. Andrew Aston said he came to UAMS as a participant in Project SEARCH, an internship program for young adults with developmental disabilities. His performance in patient transport made such an impression that it led to a full-time job.

“If you’d asked 18-year-old me if I’d ever get a job here, I would’ve said, ‘No way,’ Aston said. “But UAMS does a tremendous job of helping and accepting people with disabilities.”

Aston said his co-workers have been very accommodating, particularly in the way they take into account that he’s a visual learner. He credited the Americans with Disabilities Act for fostering workplace environments where he and many others can feel comfortable.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/08/18/uams-commemorates-anniversary-of-americans-with-disabilities-act/

Cooperative Extension Service receives CDC High Obesity Program funding

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — In many rural Arkansas counties, access to healthy food, nutrition education and safe places for physical activity are limited, contributing to higher rates of obesity. To help improve these conditions, the Cooperative Extension Service has received a five-year, $4 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s High Obesity Program.

PLAY FOR ALL — As part of Cooperative Extension Service efforts to reduce rates of obesity in Arkansas, extension worked with the City of Forrest City and the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas to renovate Stuart Springs Park with accessible playground equipment, new signage, bike racks and walking tracks. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

The Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, is one of 16 land grant universities selected to receive funding to implement the CDC’s High Obesity Program. The program funds universities working with local cooperative extension services in mostly rural counties where 40 percent or more of adults have obesity.

Bryan Mader, extension assistant professor and health specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said this is the first round of funding in a five-year grant cycle. The High Obesity Program will be implemented in Bradley, Crittenden, Desha, Drew, Hempstead, Phillips, Monroe and St. Francis counties.

According to the CDC, obesity in the United States affects more than 100 million adults and 14 million children, accounting for approximately $173 billion in annual healthcare costs. In 2021, the adult obesity rate in Arkansas was 38.7 percent. That same year, 37.1 percent of Arkansas youth aged 10-17 qualified as overweight or obese, according to the CDC.

Mader said this funding will support programming that addresses food security, safe and accessible opportunities for physical activity, family healthy weight programs, breastfeeding and early childhood education. Extension will work closely with the selected communities to implement these important programs, Mader said.

“All of this work will be done in cooperation with community-based organizations as well as community members themselves,” he said. “That’s everyone from local government, healthcare clinics and hospitals — such as UAMS East in Phillips County — to organizations such as food pantries, food banks and early childcare education centers, as well as community members who will be participating in the programs that we put in place.”

Creating sustainable solutions

This is the third High Obesity Program grant to be awarded to the Cooperative Extension Service in Arkansas, the first having been awarded in 2014. Mader said the goal of the program is to not only achieve statistical improvements in health outcomes, but also create sustainable programs that will continue to improve quality of life in the selected counties.

“We’re hoping to create sustainability through collaboration, so that in the end, these communities have built capacity to support health promotion programs and make sure that they’re able to continue improving health outcomes, especially once grant funding ends,” Mader said. “We’re also looking to position extension as being a trusted partner in communities for delivering public health interventions and public health programming.”

During the previous grant cycle, the Cooperative Extension Service has made progress in addressing health disparities related to poor nutrition, physical inactivity and obesity.

“We do a lot of work through food pantries and food banks to increase access to food,” said Jessica Vincent, extension community and public health outreach specialist for the Division of Agriculture. “Part of that work involves expanding food pantries by providing the necessary items they need to bring in and distribute healthier food options, such as proper shelving, refrigeration and freezers.”

Vincent said extension established a mobile food pantry in Phillips County with the help of Phillips County Judge Clark Hall. Hall allows the use of a 30-foot cargo trailer owned by the county, which is otherwise used only during elections.

“We equipped that cargo trailer with shelving, refrigeration and a battery-operated generator,” Vincent said. “That trailer now goes through the very remote areas of Phillips County to serve residents who can’t get into the main Helena-West Helena area to get their food.”

In St. Francis County, extension assisted with the renovation of a local park and is currently renovating a second in partnership with the City of Forrest City and the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. This includes installing new, accessible playground equipment, signage, bike racks and walking tracks.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's generous award through the High Obesity Program will allow the Cooperative Extension Service to work alongside communities to reduce risk factors for chronic disease and ensure that healthier environments and options are available for all Arkansans,” Mader said.

For more information about extension health programs, visit the Cooperative Extension Service’s Health in Arkansas page.

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.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

The latest census figures show 17.8% of our state’s population is over the age of 65. Nationwide, the population ages 65 and over grew nearly five times faster than the total population over the 100 years from 1920 to 2020.

August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day. It’s an opportunity to show our appreciation for their dedication, accomplishments, and services they give throughout their lives.

The Arkansas General Assembly has worked to pass legislation to empower people to choose how they live as they age. This year, we passed laws to lower taxes, strengthen our rural hospitals, and increase awareness and services available to those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In the 2023 Regular Session, we also worked to eliminate the red tape for seniors still in the workforce. Act 73 creates a lifetime certificate of license for contractors who have reached the age of 65 and have been licensed as a contractor for at least 12 years.

Protecting our seniors involves safeguarding them from abuse and exploitation. We did that with Act 783. This created the Vulnerable Person Protection Act. It defines a vulnerable person as anyone over the age of 69 or an individual who is in an inpatient facility. It makes the abuse of a vulnerable person a Class B felony if it causes serious injury or death and a Class D felony for non-serious injuries.

In addition, we passed Act 70, Act 335, and Act 682. Act 70 requires home caregivers to have a specific number of hours in dementia training. Act 335 sets minimum training requirements for staff members who are employed by an assisted living facility that includes persons with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Act 682 creates the position of dementia services coordinator with the Department of Human Services.

National Senior Citizens Day serves as a call to action to ensure our seniors are treated with the respect and care they deserve. As we continue to find ways to improve their lives in the state, let us all take the time this week to increase our interaction with our elders. Their stories can inspire and their guidance can lead to a more thoughtful and compassionate society.

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: U.S., Arkansas economies to be pressured but won’t falter

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Just a few months ago, it was considered a surprise if the U.S. economy did not enter into a recession, even if shallow. The more widely held belief now is similar to that of economist John Shelnutt who says the U.S. economy shows “no sign of faltering.”

Shelnutt, director of economic analysis and tax research at the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, told Talk Business & Politics that real U.S. GDP growth will remain resilient even “under the accumulated weight of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.”

Goldman Sachs on July 19 lowered its closely watched recession odds from 25% to 20% but said economic growth may slow in the near term.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/state-of-the-state-mid-year-2023-u-s-arkansas-economies-to-be-pressured-but-wont-falter/

Income Tax School offers in-person, virtual training for advanced income tax preparation

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For Arkansans interested in advanced income tax preparation, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will offer five in-person and virtual Income Tax School training courses later this year.

TAX PREP — At the Cooperative Extension Service's Income Tax School, Arkansans will learn advanced income tax preparation from two experts. Five in-person and virtual training courses will be held later this year. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

The Income Tax School is offered through the Community, Professional and Economic Development unit of the Cooperative Extension Service. Each of the two-day courses will provide information about the latest tax code updates and insight into what taxpayers can expect for the 2024 tax season.

“As one of only a few tax school options in Arkansas, we offer high-quality, affordable federal tax education that fits your schedule,” said Kim Magee, director of the Income Tax School for the extension service. “We provide the information you want and continuing professional education you need every year.”

In-person training will be offered in four Arkansas cities:

Jonesboro: Nov. 13-14 at the Arkansas State University Delta Center for Economic Development, 319 University Loop

Fayetteville: Nov. 16-17 at the Don Tyson Center, 1371 W. Altheimer Drive

Hope: Nov. 27-28 at Hempstead Hall, 2500 S. Main Street

Little Rock: Nov. 29-30 at Cooperative Extension Service State Office, 2301 S. University Avenue

A virtual option will be offered via Zoom Dec. 6-7.

The cost of the course is $270 for those who register before Aug. 25, or $310 after the priority registration deadline. Registration is available at uada.formstack.com/forms/tax. Classes run 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. A certificate of attendance will be awarded after class is dismissed on the second day.

Curtis Davis, a certified public accountant with more than two decades of tax experience, and Bill Laird, a retired Internal Revenue Service agent, will be instructors at the schools. The course will offer a general review of current tax regulations and updates on changes in existing tax laws.

The Income Tax School is approved by the IRS as a continuing education provider. Participants can earn 16 hours of continuing professional education credit, including two hours of ethics.

For more information, contact Kim Magee at 501-671-2081 or kmagee@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 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.

Why does Arkansas reject so many absentee ballots?

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Arkansas election officials reject more absentee ballots than all but one other state.

State-reported data show about 1,100 of the 15,000 total mail-in ballots received in 2022 were thrown out.

KUAR spoke with Arkansas Times Managing Editor Benji Hardy about his story looking at some of the potential reasons for Arkansas’ high rejection rate.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-08-16/why-does-arkansas-reject-so-many-absentee-ballots

John Minchillo/AP

A voter fills out a ballot at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati.

Arkansas agriculture agents want to hear how you use extension farm, livestock, garden resources

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

How do you use extension's garden, forage and livestock resources? Use this QR code to gain access to the survey. 

LITTLE ROCK — Extension agriculture agents from all 75 Arkansas counties want to know how their constituents use the livestock, forage and gardening resources of the Cooperative Extension Service, and have opened a survey for feedback.

The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Its aim is to share research-based knowledge about a wide range of topics including farming, gardening and raising livestock.

“We’ve opened an online survey with questions about how people find out about and use specific resources of ours,” said Brad Runsick, the Baxter County extension staff chair who initiated the survey.

The survey doesn’t address row or field crops.

“Our mission each year, in planning our work, is to provide a relevant service to the people we serve,” Runsick said. “I and my fellow agents truly want to plan our work for the coming year based on feedback from the people we are helping now and hope to help in the future.”

Please take the survey.

The nine-question survey should take only a few minutes to complete. The survey will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 15.

Some of the resources offered by the Cooperative Extension Service include publications on gardening, soil testing and other diagnostic services, as well as production meetings where farmers and ranchers can hear about relevant recommendations and be face-to-face with land grant experts.

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 us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: In education, Arkansas is in a state of change

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Now that Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ LEARNS Act has become the law in Arkansas, public and private schools are in a state of change.

The wide-ranging 145-page law, which went into effect Aug. 1, increases minimum public school teacher salaries from $36,000 to $50,000, makes it easier for schools to fire underperforming teachers, and requires third-graders to read at grade level or potentially face being retained one year. Many of the law’s provisions remain to be determined though the rules process.

Perhaps its most contentious aspect is its creation of “education freedom accounts” that give families access to public school funds for private and homeschooling expenses. For the 2023-24 school year, that amount equals roughly $6,600, and it will increase each year as state funding for schools increases.

Rains likely to hurt Arkansas’ rice crop

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Recent perpetual rains may have a significant impact on Arkansas rice as the crop inches closer to harvest. Northeast Arkansas farmers have been checking their fields for losses after storms late last week and this weekend dumped more than 6 inches of rain in places.

Coming into the week, the National Agricultural Statistics Service listed Arkansas’ rice crop at 10% mature, well ahead of the five-year average of 5%. Rice was 74% headed compared with the five-year average of 65%.

Jackson, Independence, Izard, Searcy and Stone counties were among the hardest hit by the storms, according to the National Weather Service.On social media, farmers reported between 4-8 inches in Independence County and 5-6 inches in Poinsett County.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/rains-likely-to-hurt-arkansas-rice-crop/

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: Banks reacting to the Fed

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Three high-profile bank failures earlier this year have not spread to the state. Meanwhile, banks are having to respond to rapidly rising interest rates. Overall, the state of banks in Arkansas is “stable but reacting.”

The U.S. banking system got a scare earlier this year when Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, Signature Bank in New York, and First Republic Bank in San Francisco failed. So far, the fallout has not spread.

“We just did not see any of that turmoil that happened with those large institutions,” said State Bank Commissioner Susannah Marshall. “We did not see that here in Arkansas.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/state-of-the-state-mid-year-2023-banks-reacting-to-the-fed/

Gov. Sanders appoints Lewis to head Parks, Heritage and Tourism, Marshall to lead Securities Department

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

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Friday (Aug. 11) that Shea Lewis will serve as Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and Director of State Parks. Lewis has been serving as interim secretary since June when Mike Mills resigned.

“Shea’s record of strong leadership promoting Arkansas state parks and outdoor recreation uniquely qualifies him to be Secretary of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. I look forward to continuing to work with him to grow Arkansas tourism, elevate our 52 beautiful state parks, and make the Natural State the best place not only to visit, but live, work and raise a family,” Sanders said.

“It is an honor to lead this department and the amazing group of professionals that are entrusted with some of our great state’s historical, cultural and natural resources. Combining the efforts of Parks, Heritage and Tourism with the support and vision of Governor Sanders, the possibilities are endless,” said Lewis.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/gov-sanders-appoints-lewis-to-head-parks-heritage-and-tourism-marshall-to-lead-securities-department/

New State Treasurer wants to serve office’s customers better

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Don’t look for new Treasurer of State Larry Walther to make big changes to the office he’s been appointed. He doesn’t believe in messing up a good thing and he also wants to learn more about who the office serves before looking for ways to tweak improvements.

“I want to know who our customers are,” he said on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics and Capitol View. “I’m thinking about how I can improve the Treasury. It’s a well-run machine right now. You don’t want to tweak things that are already going well.”

Walther said he didn’t think he would serve four more years at his previous state post, Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration – the agency he had run for nearly nine years. He informed Gov. Sarah Sanders, who would be making the appointment to fill the State Treasurer’s position after the untimely death of Mark Lowery, and let her know he’d be willing to serve as Treasurer.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/new-state-treasurer-wants-to-serve-offices-customers-better/