What’s next in a post-dicamba world? NALC’s 11th Annual Mid-South to address the issue

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — What’s next for users and makers of crop protection products in a post-dicamba, pro-Endangered Species Act environment? That’s among the questions to be answered at the 11th Annual Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference on June 6-7, 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee.

The National Agricultural Law Center's 11th Annual Mid-South Conference will feature a session on crop protection products, presented by EPA's Rod Snyder and NALC's Brigit Rollins. (Image courtesy Rod Snyder)

Rod Snyder, senior advisor for agriculture to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator, and Brigit Rollins, staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, will be addressing the issue as co-presenters for “Tomorrow’s Harvest:  An Overview of the Regulatory and Litigation Landscape for Crop Protection Products.”

Rollins said recent litigation has spurred significant changes in pesticide regulation, including vacating the registration for widely used herbicides and shifts in EPA enforcement philosophy.

“Over the last few years, we've seen dicamba become unavailable for use more than once as the direct result of lawsuits and subsequent court decisions,” she said. “Going forward, we're expecting to see additional restrictions on pesticide use as EPA works to come into better compliance with the Endangered Species Act.”

One outcome of the EPA’s shift toward a closer alignment with ESA will likely mean increased use restrictions for applicators.

“With changes to pesticide labels coming in rapidly, and sometimes unexpectedly for producers, staying informed is critical,” Rollins said.

About the Mid-South

The 2024 Mid-South conference will be held at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The annual “Beer & BBQ” networking dinner will be held on the evening June 6 at The Rendezvous ahead of the main conference program on June 7.

“The Mid-South is an important event for the NALC and our stakeholders,” Harrison Pittman, director of the NALC, said. “The Mid-South region of the country is uniquely impacted by numerous agricultural issues, both long-standing and emerging. Our goal with the Mid-South is always to bring top-notch presenter talent and information, and we are again accomplishing that in our 11th year.”

The Mid-South also features an “Early Bird” online program on Tuesday, May 14. Rollins is presenting at the “Early Bird” as well, providing an ag and food law update alongside NALC Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Rumley. Their “Early Bird” session will cover topics like Prop 12, waters of the U.S. and the Farm Bill. Conference attendees who register for the Mid-South by Monday, May 13 can view the online “Early Bird.”

Full session titles and speakers for the main conference program include:

• Estate Planning & The Farm: Top Tips and Practice Pointers — Connie Haden, Founder & Partner at The Law Firm of Haden & Colbert

• Fourth Amendment and Agriculture: Warrantless Access to Ag & Private Rural Lands — Robert Frommer, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice and Joshua Windham, Attorney and Elfie Gallun Fellow in Freedom and the Constitution, Institute for Justice

• Tomorrow’s Harvest:  An Overview of the Regulatory and Litigation Landscape for Crop Protection Products — Rod Snyder, senior adviser for agriculture to the EPA Administrator and Brigit Rollins, staff attorney, National Agricultural Law Center

• USDA National Appeals Division 101: What You and Your Farm Client Need to Know — Danielle Lake, deputy regional director, USDA National Appeals Division

• Artificial Intelligence in Law Practice: Navigating the Ethical Landscape — Ellen Murphy, professor of practice, Wake Forest University School of Law

• 2024 and Beyond: Ag Tax Update and the Corporate Transparency Act — Kristine Tidgren, director, Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation, Dolezal Adjunct Associate Professor, Agricultural Education, Iowa State University

Continuing education available

The Mid-South will be submitted for CLE accreditation in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Approval for CE will also be sought from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

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.

For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture.

Clinton Presidential Center presents conversation with Hillary Clinton, first female Archivist of the United States

KUAR | By Seth Hooker

On Thursday, March 14, the Clinton Presidential Center presented a conversation between Dr. Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States and Former Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Shogan leads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) which preserves some of the nation’s most historic documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The talk was held in honor of Women’s History Month.

Clinton began by acknowledging Shogan as the first woman to serve as Archivist of the United States. When asked why she thought it was important for women to be in the rooms where big decisions happen, Shogan said the key reason was “agenda setting.”

Clinton Presidential Center presents conversation with Hillary Clinton, first female Archivist of the United States

Clinton Center/YouTube

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks with Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan in an event hosted by the Clinton Presidential Center on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Boozman, Cotton, Hyde-Smith Hail Victory for U.S. Catfish Producers as Commerce Dept. Reverses Decision Favoring Imports from Vietnam

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) joined Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in claiming victory for U.S. farm-raised catfish producers and processors following the U.S. Department of Commerce’s announcement reversing a preliminary decision that would have greatly reduced anti-dumping duties on imported catfish from companies controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The Commerce Department backpedaled after Boozman, Cotton, Hyde-Smith and their colleagues as well as stakeholders raised concerns that the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry would be devastated if it didn’t reverse the preliminary decision pertaining to the administrative review of the anti-dumping duty order on U.S imports of Certain Frozen Fish Fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 

“Catfish producers in Arkansas and their neighbors are committed to providing the fresh, nutritious and quality supply that ends up on tables around our country, but their ability to continue doing so would have been devastated if this decision had been finalized. They deserve a level playing field, and I’m pleased we have helped keep them from being undercut by an inferior and heavily subsidized product,” Boozman, who serves as ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said. 

“This reversal is a welcome decision, and I’m proud to have worked with Senator Hyde-Smith, Senator Boozman, and our Republican colleagues to protect Arkansas’s catfish farmers and consumers across the country,” Cotton said. 

“The Commerce Department actually heeded our warnings and the rescission of this review is a clear victory for the U.S. catfish industry, which is so important to Mississippi and other rural states. It’s also a victory for American consumers, who will not be put at risk from tainted imported catfish,” Hyde-Smith said. 

A Federal Register notice published on Thursday indicated the Biden administration is abandoning its preliminary decision, which would have reduced the non-market economy anti-dumping duty from $2.39/kg to $0.14/kg for all producers controlled by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 

In January, Boozman, Cotton and Hyde-Smith led a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that requested her agency abandon plans to significantly reduce the duties on Vietnamese catfish imports, arguing it would also set a precedent for the approximately 250 non-market economy proceedings involving communist governments. The letter was also signed by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Katie Britt (R-AL).

Arkansas ranks as the third-largest catfish-producing state. Boozman and Cotton have championed the industry’s interests on multiple occasions, including previously leading a bicameral coalition that secured approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $42 million of catfish products by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs, including charitable institutions.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

This week, the Arkansas Legislative Council and the council subcommittees convened at the Capitol.

The council approved the permanent payment rules for Educational Freedom Accounts. Educational Freedom Accounts may be used by eligible families to cover private school tuition, fees, uniforms, and some other required expenses. First-time kindergarteners, students enrolled in “D” or “F” rated schools, students with a disability, current or former foster care students, students experiencing homelessness, or students whose parents are active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement or first responders will be eligible to use the accounts in the 2024-2025 school year. All public school students will be eligible in the 2025-2026 school year.

The council also approved an emergency rule from the Department of Finance and Administration that requires Arkansans to list their gender on their driver’s license.  The rule states the gender must match what is listed on the person’s birth certificate, passport, or identification document from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The ALC Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee continued its study on possession and open-carry laws concerning firearms this week. The subcommittee will begin hearing recommendations regarding these laws at its next meeting on Monday, March 25. The meetings are open to the public. You can find the agenda and a link to sign up to comment atwww.arkleg.state.ar.us.

The latest revenue report presented to the council shows gross general revenues have decreased by $113 million or 2% below what was collected last year. Meanwhile, unemployment in the state remains steady at 3.7% in Arkansas for the third consecutive month.

As a reminder, the legislature will convene for a Fiscal Session on April 10. We will continue to update you on the latest developments from the Capitol.

Arkansas lawmakers ban gender-neutral ID’s

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A policy ending gender-neutral driver's licenses and state IDs in Arkansas has officially gone into effect. The Arkansas Legislative Council on Friday voted to approve the rule change put forward by the state Department of Finance and Administration.

Driver's licenses and state IDs list a person's sex. Previously, Arkansans could put an “X” in this section instead of a “M” or “F” as in male or female. The policy stops the gender-neutral option, which only 516 Arkansans have opted for. It also bars people from changing the “M” or “F” without documentation, something allowed for the past 14 years.

The approval was made along with a package of other rule changes approved by the committee. Democratic lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to remove the policy change from the package of rules they were to vote on.

Arkansas lawmakers ban gender-neutral ID’s

Chris Hickey/Little Rock Public Radio

The policy change doing away with gender-neutral driver's licenses and IDs went into effect after the Arkansas Legislative Council adjourned Friday.

Speaker Recommends Prunes for Good Bone Health During National Nutrition Month

By Ben Boulden

March 15, 2024 | Long recommended as an aid to digestion, prunes are a good source of different nutrients important for maintaining bone density in postmenopausal women and perhaps contributing to good bone health in all adults, according to Shirin Hooshmand, Ph.D., RD.

Hooshmand is a professor of nutrition at San Diego State University in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Services. Her primary research interests include investigating nutritional factors that impact the aging process and developing interventions to improve physiological changes associated with aging.

 The presentation was part of the UAMS Department of Dietetics and Nutrition Seminar series, which presents the seminars online each month. Hooshmand was invited to speak for this month’s seminar, and March is National Nutrition Month.

Speaker Recommends Prunes for Good Bone Health During National Nutrition Month

Shirin Hooshmand, Ph.D., R.D.

Supporters of education amendment say signature gathering strong, cost estimates forthcoming

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

For AR Kids, a ballot question committee supporting changes to Arkansas education policy, says their kick-off for signature gathering is off to a great start.

Appearing on this week’s Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics TV program, leaders of the group said they are confident they will meet the threshold of more than 90,000 signatures to get the “Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024” on the November ballot.

“We had our kickoff last week at the [state] Capitol and even though it’s early on – it’s only been two weeks – we are blaring. I mean, it is crazy how many signatures we have,” said April Reisma, President of the Arkansas Education Association and Vice-president of the For AR Kids coalition.

Supporters of education amendment say signature gathering strong, cost estimates forthcoming

Animal science recognizes alum; team supporters

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —  Three individuals and one family are being honored by the animal science department at the University of Arkansas for their support of department efforts or achievements as alumni.

Tom Edrington, Jim Turner and Don Hubbell, former director of the Livestock and Forestry Research Station near Batesville, are each being honored as Graduates of Distinction.

HONOREES — Tom Edrington, Don Hubbell and Jim Turner are being honored as Graduates of Distinction by the animal science department.

The Walker Family of Prairie Grove is also being recognized as a Friend of Animal Science for its support of the ranch horse and livestock judging teams.

“Looking at their careers and their industry involvement, we believe Tom, Don and Jim really represent the highest qualities we want to see in graduates from the animal science program,” said Mike Looper head of the animal science department for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “It’s an honor to recognize them as our Graduates of Distinction.

“The Walkers have been an incredible example and inspiration for their dedication and support of our competitive teams, which do so much to teach our students much-needed skills,” Looper said.

This year’s class will be honored April 25 during the department’s annual awards and scholarship banquet. The honorees receive a crystal award and their images and biographies will be included on a plaque that hangs in the department.  

Don Hubbell

Hubbell received his bachelor of science degree in animal science from the University of Arkansas. He accepted a position and worked as a research assistant with Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Livestock and Forestry Research Station near Batesville. From September 1982 to May of 2004. Hubbell held various positions at the station, managing the research for the dairy, stocker and beef cow units. Hubbell was named resident director in charge of the station in May 2004, a position he held before retiring in 2022.

Hubbell worked on many forage, health and nutrition projects with beef and dairy cattle, collaborating with principal investigators in both Bumpers College and the Division of Agriculture. Hubbell collaborated with many principal investigators, or PIs, - faculty, extension and industry, in and out of state. His name appears on more than 100 refereed articles, abstracts and publications as principal investigator or co-PI. Hubbell was a member of the Research Center Administrator’s Society for 17 years, serving as Awards Committee chairman for 10 years. He was appointed to the National Cattleman’s Beef Promotion Board in 2023, serves on the Executive Board for Arkansas Cattleman’s Association and as an ex-officio member of the Arkansas Beef Council.

Tom Edrington

Edrington earned a master of science in animal science from the University of Arkansas under Jack Perkins. He is currently in his seventh year with Diamond V, where he serves as director of beef research and tech services. Before his time at Diamond V, Tom spent 16 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. There, he developed an internationally recognized research program in pre-harvest food safety research, focused on but not limited to, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in beef and dairy cattle. 

Edrington’s research has been funded through numerous grants and has more than 50 senior-authored and 100 junior-authored publications in refereed journals. He received his bachelor of science in animal science and Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition and toxicology from New Mexico State University.

Jim Turner

Turner earned his Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition in 2003 from the University of Arkansas after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas State University. In 2004 he became an extension livestock specialist for North Carolina State University.  During his time at NCSU, Turner oversaw the State Beef Quality Assurance program which has had an impact on him throughout his career, striving to improve beef sustainability. In August of 2011 he began his career at Hubbard Feeds as a beef nutritionist serving the eastern United States. In January 2016 Turner accepted a position as technical service manager with Chr. Hansen, a Danish bioscience company where he worked extensively with research, product development and conveying the use of probiotics throughout the cattle feeding industry. Turner was instrumental in the launch of new products targeted at the non-fed cattle market. In January 2021 he began as director of SulutionsN working with a full portfolio of nutraceuticals. 

He is responsible for the research, development, and sales management of SulutionsN. Throughout his career, Turner has delivered numerous presentations at producer and professional meetings. 

The Walker Family

Members of the Walker family are strong advocates of agriculture and construction. In 1974, Larry and Be-Ann started Walker Masonry and Sons, Inc. and grew the company into a thriving commercial masonry business. Larry and Be-Ann started Willow Springs Ranch in 1980, where they began with dairy and beef cattle as well. In 1985 they changed to beef cattle exclusively. Now, Larry and Be-Ann continue their beef cattle operation and have included quarter horses into their operation. Larry and Be-Ann are proud supporters of the University of Arkansas Ranch Horse Team.

The Walker Family has been recognized as Friend of the Department for Ranch Horse and Livestock Judging teams. (Image courtesy the Walker Family).

Larry and B-Ann’s son Eric and his wife Linsay, now own and operate Walker Masonry and Sons, as well as the Willow Springs Cattle Company and The Grand at Willow Springs. Eric and Linsay continually support the livestock judging team and work with the University on their non-profit organization, the Arkansas Youth Expo. Eric’s passion for education and agriculture have only grown since his service as the Arkansas FFA state president in 1992-93.

Eric and Linsay’s three children are eager to follow in their parents and grandparents’ footsteps of construction and agriculture and continue the legacy of the Walker family. Mason owns Supreme Show Goats and works for Walker Masonry. Whitney and her husband Kamden own Urban Livestock, their sheep operation, and Whitney works for The Grand at Willow Springs and helps organize the Arkansas Youth Expo. Catelyn is heavily involved in the reining cow horse industry.

Mention of product or company names does not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

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.

Arkansas congressional delegation approve of bill that would force sale of Tik Tok

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Last week, the Arkansas congressional delegation voted in support of a bill that passed the House that would force Tik Tok, a Chinese company, to sell to an American company, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

In a press release, U.S Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, said he voted for the bill because of concerns he has related to how the data collected from the app is being handled.

“There is no separation between national security and the state when it comes to the CCP. TikTok is using CCP dominated technology that is being leveraged to gather massive amounts of data on American citizens, posing a major national security risk. We must protect Americans from the growing threat of the CCP by requiring the sale of TikTok to an American company. Whether TikTok remains on the phones of Americans or not is now up to TikTok’s owner, Chinese headquartered ByteDance,” Hill said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which would protect central Arkansans and Americans from national security risks posed by applications owned by our foreign adversaries. 

“This is not about targeting TikTok – my vote today was about protecting central Arkansans and Americans from surveillance and manipulation by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). There is no separation between national security and the state when it comes to the CCP. TikTok is using CCP dominated technology that is being leveraged to gather massive amounts of data on American citizens, posing a major national security risk. We must protect Americans from the growing threat of the CCP by requiring the sale of TikTok to an American company. Whether TikTok remains on the phones of Americans or not is now up to TikTok’s owner, Chinese headquartered ByteDance.” 

Further Background:

 H.R. 7521 - Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act: This bill prohibits applications controlled by foreign adversaries of the United States from being distributed, maintained or updated by online app stores and allows the President to require divestment of an application’s foreign adversary-controlled company ownership or face prohibition on app stores and access to web hosting services in the United States. 

For more details on this bill, please visit HERE.

Arkansas officials provide update on safety precautions that will be taken during the solar eclipse

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Next month, Arkansas is expected to receive 300,000 to 1 million visitors in the state. The first weekend of April will be when the state will be under a solar eclipse, which is expected to bring tourists to the state.

In an interview with Arkansas PBS, Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said ARDOT is preparing for the increased traffic that will result from the eclipse.

“We’ll have supplies for everybody that might end up in some kind of a traffic delay situation, like gasoline, water, food and medical supplies,” she said. “We have these all terrain small vehicles that we can get in and we use these during winter weather and other times, when the traffic is in a delay situation.”

Arkansas officials provide update on safety precautions that will be taken during the solar eclipse

A-State’s Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing receives $10 million

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

A $10 million Congressional appropriation, led by U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., will advance plans for the Arkansas State University Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing to support the largest steel producing region in the country.

A-State will use the funding to invest in high-tech equipment for a multi-million dollar facility that will advance the rapidly growing steel industry in the Arkansas Delta and throughout Northeast Arkansas. The region is the nation’s leader in steel production, with more than 20 steel-related companies employing some 3,600 workers and another $3 billion in facilities under construction creating another 900 jobs.

The university anticipates close partnerships with steel manufacturers for research, process improvements, testing of advanced materials and steel manufacturing while training a growing, professional workforce for the industry and region.

A-State’s Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing receives $10 million

Arkansas producers may be approaching ‘peak peanut’

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas may never be the No. 1 peanut-producing state in the nation, with our limited purchase on the Delta and Georgia being the legume juggernaut that it is — but the state’s growers have certainly made the most of their potential.

ADVICE FOR THE NEW YEAR — Tom Barber, extension weed specialist and interim vice president of agriculture and natural resources for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, discusses the future of weed control in peanuts during the Northeast Delta Peanut Production Meeting in Jonesboro, Arkansas. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

In 2023, Arkansas peanut growers set a state record for average yield with 5,800 lbs. per acre, across more than 35,000 acres. With another 5,000 acres or so, the state would’ve likely seen a new record for overall peanut production as well.

Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said he could easily exceed 40,000 acres of peanuts in 2024, setting the stage for record production.

“That’s about as much sandy soil as we have in Arkansas that isn’t already planting cotton,” Faske said. On March 12, Faske, who has served as the Division of Agriculture’s acting peanut agronomist for most of the past decade, was part of an expert panel addressing growers in Jonesboro for the Northeast Delta Peanut Production Meeting. About 50 growers and consultants from the area attended.

“If we get to 50,000 acres at some point, it will be because peanut prices are extraordinarily high,” Faske said.

Mike Hamilton, extension irrigation instructor for the Division of Agriculture, told attendees that researchers are zeroing in on the most efficient way to irrigate Arkansas peanuts.

“Historically, the biggest peanut states have center-pivot irrigation,” Hamilton said. “In Arkansas, we’re 90 percent furrow irrigated. Sometimes we have issues with wetting that soil bed, and getting it soaked through, which is something you don’t have to worry about with center pivots.”

As with most crops, proper irrigation is a tightrope, strung between the needs of the plant and the whims of Mother Nature, including rainfall patterns and pathogens such as Southern blight.

In 2023, Southern blight — a fungal disease Arkansas peanut growers must deal with to some degree every year — made a surprise appearance in early August, about three weeks earlier than in previous years, due to high amounts of rainfall in the area.

“It just came unseasonably early,” Faske said.

Tom Barber, extension weed specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said that Palmer amaranth, commonly known as pigweed, was the most pressing weed problem for peanut growers.

“In the area of the state where we grow the most peanuts, our pigweed populations are resistant to at least five herbicide modes of action,” Barber said. “That pretty much takes our peanut herbicides out of the game.”

Barber, who was named interim associate vice president of agriculture and natural resources for the Division of Agriculture in February, said the key to successfully controlling pigweed and other weeds in peanuts was the timely, overlapping application of residual herbicides.

“The biggest thing with peanuts is that when they come out of the ground, it’s a slow start,” Barber said. “It takes them a while to get going and to canopy. So there’s a long period of time when we can possibly have pigweed clusters. So, we use residual herbicides to prevent those clusters from coming up.”

Barber said that the long-term key to controlling pigweed, whether in peanuts or any other crop in the region, will come down to cultural practices such as crop rotation and the use of cover crops between one year’s harvest and the next planting.

“From a weed-control standpoint, talking about crop, yield and profitability — most crops are the same: We have a weed-free period at the beginning of the year,” Barber said. “That’s the critical period for weed control in all our crops.”

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

Former Arkansas State defensive back arrested on murder charges

KUAR | By Nathan Treece

A former Arkansas State University football player is accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend in Tennessee.

Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested 27-year-old Blaise Taylor in Utah on Thursday, after being indicted by a Nashville grand jury. Taylor is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the poisoning deaths of Jade Benning and her five-month-old fetus, which Taylor allegedly fathered.

Benning died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in March of last year on her 25th birthday. Taylor had called 911 saying he believed Benning was having an allergic reaction.

Boozman, Thune, Crapo Lead Colleagues in Demanding Biden Administration Increase Agricultural Exports

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, along with Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, led 18 of their colleagues in urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to increase U.S. agricultural exports and improve the competitiveness of U.S. products abroad.  

“We expect trade to fluctuate in response to macroeconomic factors and market conditions,” wrote the senators. “However, the current sharp decline in U.S. agricultural exports is directly attributable to and exacerbated by an unambitious U.S. trade strategy that is failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. While the Biden administration continually refuses to pursue traditional free trade agreements, China, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and others continue to ink trade pacts that diminish American export opportunities and global economic influence.”

The letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds, (R-SD), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

 Full letter here and below:

Dear Ambassador Tai and Secretary Vilsack: 

We write to express deep concern with the continued erosion of critical markets for U.S. agricultural exports. For decades, the United States steadily increased market access for U.S. food and agricultural products. We accomplished this feat through negotiations of actual free trade agreements, removal of technical barriers to trade, and holding our trading partners accountable to their commitments, all of which have helped strengthen the agriculture economy at home and developed important strategic relationships abroad. Yet, in the last fiscal year (FY) alone, U.S. agricultural exports declined by more than $17 billion, and recent forecasts show a further decline by more than $8 billion in FY 2024. As a result, the U.S. agricultural trade deficit is projected to reach a record $30.5 billion in FY 2024. This decline is unsustainable, and we urge the Biden administration to immediately take action to improve the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural products abroad and reverse this trend.

We expect trade to fluctuate in response to macroeconomic factors and market conditions. However, the current sharp decline in U.S. agricultural exports is directly attributable to and exacerbated by an unambitious U.S. trade strategy that is failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. While the Biden administration continually refuses to pursue traditional free trade agreements, China, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and others continue to ink trade pacts that diminish American export opportunities and global economic influence.

International trade is critical to the continued success of U.S. agriculture. For the 2023 marketing year, nearly 70 million acres of major crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat were planted to meet the demands of our foreign customers. Additionally, more than 95 percent of U.S. cotton produced, nearly 80 percent of almonds produced, and more than 70 percent of nonfat milk powder produced were destined for the export market in 2023. And in a typical year, half of U.S.-produced rice and 20 percent of U.S.-produced potatoes are exported. Diminishing access to foreign agricultural markets for U.S. industries creates significant economic headwinds and jeopardizes the livelihoods of more than one million American workers, farmers, and ranchers, as well as millions more U.S. jobs throughout the export supply chain. 

With our concerns in mind, please respond to the following questions within 14 days of your receipt of this letter. 

• What specific actions does the Biden administration plan to take to increase U.S. agricultural exports in 2024?

• Does the Biden administration intend to pursue new or improved free trade agreements with any countries to obtain new market access for agricultural products in 2024?

We further ask the Biden administration to take steps to analyze and consider the relationship between U.S. competitiveness and market share in foreign agricultural markets with negotiated tariffs, tariff rate quotas, and other market access provisions. 

A continued decline in U.S. agricultural exports is avoidable and unacceptable. The Biden administration must take immediate action to ensure this does not become a long-term trend. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. 

Construction on $25.2 million A-State Windgate Art Innovation Center set to begin

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Construction will begin on the $25.2 million Windgate Art and Innovation Center at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro following approval by the ASU System Board of Trustees on Thursday (March 14) at its regular quarterly meeting on the ASU-Newport campus.

The new, 38,887-square-foot Windgate Center will house spaces to support learning and creative activities for the Department of Art + Design, as well as the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Funding includes $22 million in private support from the Windgate Foundation and $3.2 million in institutional reserves. Construction is projected to be finished sometime in 2027.

System Interim President Robin Myers thanked U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., for helping to secure a $10 million federal appropriation to advance development of the A-State Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing. A-State will use the funding to invest in high-tech equipment for a multimillion-dollar facility that will support Northeast Arkansas’ position as the largest steel producing region in the country.

Construction on $25.2 million A-State Windgate Art Innovation Center set to begin

Michael Luna, M.D., Nationally Recognized Leader in Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Joins UAMS

By Linda Satter

Michael Luna, M.D.

LITTLE ROCK — Board-certified and triple-fellowship-trained cardiologist Michael Luna, M.D., has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, as a professor.

Luna came to UAMS from the Dallas VA Medical Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he was an associate professor of cardiology.

“We were very fortunate to attract Dr. Luna from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,” said J. Paul Mounsey, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAMS Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. “He is a nationally recognized leader in structural heart disease, both in adults and children, and will be dividing his time between UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Under his expert guidance, we anticipate early access to cutting-edge, catheter-based technologies for our patients, and we are confident that we will see a major expansion of the structural heart disease service.”

Michael Luna, M.D., Nationally Recognized Leader in Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Joins UAMS

Arkansas to begin identifying areas lacking broadband internet access

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Federal officials are asking for Arkansas residents’ help identifying which parts of the state still lack access to high-speed internet.

Arkansas is receiving more than $1 billion from the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program, administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Evan Feinman, director of the BEAD program, says the state first needs to identify which areas are currently lacking access.

“Every single home and business is on a map the [Federal Communications Commission] publishes. And the FCC’s map shows whether those homes and businesses have broadband service, or don’t. The problem is, that map’s not always accurate,” he said. “What we’re doing… is offering folks the opportunity to challenge that map and make sure their home or business is properly categorized.”

Arkansas to begin identifying areas lacking broadband internet access

Ted S. Warren/AP

Carl Roath, left, a worker with the Mason County (Wash.) Public Utility District, pulls fiber optic cable off of a spool, as he works with a team to install broadband internet service to homes in a rural area surrounding Lake Christine near Belfair, Wash., on Aug. 4, 2021.

NWA 18th fastest growing U.S. metro; Benton County leads state’s growth

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

Northwest Arkansas, or the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro, remained the fastest-growing metro in the state in 2023. Benton County was the state’s fastest-growing county.

On Thursday (March 14), the U.S. Census Bureau released metro area and county population estimates as of July 1, 2023.

Alison Wright, data center division head of the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI), said the metro estimates were expected with the continued growth in Northwest Arkansas. The metro was the 18th fastest-growing in the United States. Its population rose by 2.3% to 590,337 in 2023 from 576,967 in 2022. The growth rate rank was up from 24th in the previous year. Northwest Arkansas had the 32nd largest population gain in the nation at 13,370. The rank was down from 30th in the previous year.

NWA 18th fastest growing U.S. metro; Benton County leads state’s growth

Annual Farmers Market Promotion Program set to begin

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

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has partnered with the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas for the 9th annual Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program. This program, which is administered by the department and funded by the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas, helps build awareness for farmers markets and their vendors.

It provides funding assistance for the state’s farmers markets to serve their communities as consumer interest in locally grown and made products continues to increase.

The Farmers Market Promotion Program may fund the following promotional items to build community and regional awareness for a specific farmers market. The program provides signage listing names, seasons, times of operation, and location details. Local, traditional advertising is utilized along with social media campaigns.

Annual Farmers Market Promotion Program set to begin

Chairman of CIA Subcommittee, Rep. Crawford, comments on passage of TikTok Bill

Washington — Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

“The extent to which the Chinese government and the Chinese Community Party (CCP) will go to expand its malign influence within the United States is a grave threat that I’m tracking closely as chairman of the Intel Committee’s CIA Subcommittee.

“From storing Americans’ biometrics when they use TikTok filters, to accessing financial data and location information, and more, the amount of personal data the CCP has on Americans is alarming, and it is a national security threat. What’s more, allowing a Chinese owned app to maliciously operate within our borders is a gateway for foreign espionage and malicious impacts that can be weaponized at a moment’s notice.

“It is the duty of Congress to ensure that Americans are protected by the appropriate regulatory laws against foreign adversaries, like the CCP. Americans go to great lengths to protect themselves from identity theft and to protect their personal information. By ensuring that TikTok cannot be owned by any company affiliated with the CCP, H.R. 7521 will protect the sensitive data and facial biometrics that the CCP is currently collecting.”