For the Media

February 29, 2008

LITTLE ROCK - When you talk about Arkansas agriculture, most people immediately think of rice, soybeans, cotton, wheat or whatever they see growing in the fields. But they don’t see the forests for the trees.

Emerging Topics in Forestry seminar set for March 8

FORDYCE, Ark. - Some of the most important issues affecting the Arkansas forest industry will be addressed in the Emerging Topics in Forestry seminar Saturday, March 8 at in the courtroom of the Dallas County Courthouse at Fordyce.

Your guide to pruning

SEARCY, Ark. - Gardeners often have extreme reactions to the task of pruning; they either hesitate and rarely prune or they prune with carefree abandon, says Sherri Sanders, White County extension agent with the U of A Division of Agriculture.

LITTLE ROCK - When grasses start greening up in the spring, you might be tempted to turn your horse loose in the pasture to chow down on the new grass.

Guess what? An apple a day really will keep doctor away

MURFREESBORO, Ark. - Everyone knows an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Now, a recent study shows that an apple a day may keep Alzheimer’s at bay, according to Robbie McKinnon, Pike County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Weighing in on a common topic

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - "I need to get weighed-in" was the fellow’s phone request last July. At that point, I made a couple of miscues, which didn’t help the matter.

February 22, 2008

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Tiny mite poses new threat to Arkansas rice.

Garlic, onions, higher fertilizer prices plague Arkansas wheat farmers

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas' winter wheat growers are spending their spring wrangling with ryegrass, wild garlic, onions and higher fertilizer prices.

Spring temps make weed control tricky for Arkansas wheat farmers

LITTLE ROCK - Applying weed controls in the spring can be tricky, said Dr. Bob Scott, weed scientist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Protect yourself from home repair fraud

LITTLE ROCK - After a tornado, home improvement scam artists spring up in neighborhoods with promises to fix everything that's broken.

Dr. Carole R. Engle receives highest aquaculture award

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Dr. Carole R. Engle, director of the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), has received the 2008 National Aquaculture Association (NAA) Joseph P. McCraren Award for outstanding contributions in promoting the growth of aquaculture.

FAA honors extension professor

LONOKE, Ark. - Dr. Dennis Gardisser, professor and associate head of the Biological and Engineering Department for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, was honored for his contributions to aviation at a recent meeting of aviation enthusiasts.

Genomics research speeds up rice variety improvement

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - New tool at U of A speeds up rice variety improvement.

Probiotics: Live organisms as feed supplements to fight Salmonella

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Researchers use probiotics instead of antibiotics to treat poultry.

Arkansans top haymakers at national forage conference

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas growers walked away with the top three awards in the Bermuda Hay Division of the 2008 American Forage and Grassland Conference.

Skipping Meals is not a good idea

MURFREESBORO, Ark. - Skipping meals doesn't help weight loss or dieting, according to Robbie McKinnon, Pike County agent with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Life without a refrigerator could be a bacterial paradise

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Can you, or your household, make it without a refrigerator? Probably not - a refrigerator is convenient and plays an important role in keeping your foods safe to eat.

Principles of Leadership for the 21st Century

LITTLE ROCK - What can we do now to prepare out communities for the 21st century?

February 15, 2008

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansans seem to catch spring fever earlier and earlier each year, and for good reason. The Natural State affords gorgeous vistas of every type - mountains, valleys, rivers, streams, lakes, forests and fields. If you are experiencing symptoms such as prolonged gazing out of windows or shopping for thick socks and hiking boots, you may need to plan a hike to alleviate these warning signs and experience the plants and animals Arkansas has to offer.

Get in shape for spring backpacking trips

LITTLE ROCK - So you've assembled the essential gear for an Arkansas back-country backpacking trip. Well, you may consider a second look at the checklist.

Springtime strolls great chance to view flora, fauna

LITTLE ROCK - Springtime is a great time to view all sorts of flora and fauna along Arkansas' wooded trails. Though the weather may still be a bit chilly, this time of year is great for seeing things you might not ordinarily see.

Now is time to get yourself and your horse ready for spring jaunts

LITTLE ROCK - The flowers may not have started budding yet, but if you haven't started getting your mount ready for the spring, you're already late.

Extension service can provide help for disaster relief, recovery, rebuilding

LITTLE ROCK - Disaster relief, recovery and rebuilding aid is as close as local office of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Handle clothing with insulation fibers with caution; dispose of wind-blown insulation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansans salvaging clothing after the February 5 tornadoes should use care in handling anything that may contain insulation fibers, said Dr. Mary Warnock, director of the School of Human Environmental Sciences and professor of apparel studies at the University of Arkansas.

Arkansas 4-H'ers put heads, hands, hearts to work for tornado victims

ATKINS, Ark. - A week after images of the twister-wrecked Union Grove church disappeared from the national media, the ruins were still very real for members of the Krazy Kritters 4-H Club of nearby Pottsville.

Caution urged in heating with storm-damaged wood

LITTLE ROCK - Many Arkansans in north-central Arkansas are cleaning up their property after a tornado and probably wondering if they can use some of limbs and other debris for firewood.

After the storm: Saving damaged landscape trees

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansans cleaning up from the recent severe storms should take time to assess the damage to trees on their property.

Income tax deductions for storm-damaged timber

MONTICELLO, Ark. - A crucial question facing forest landowners after a disaster is how to recover losses to timber from a tax point of view.

Tree removal after a storm

LITTLE ROCK - After a tornado, cutting and removing trees is complicated by tangled trees, twisted limbs and other obstacles.

February 28 Crop Insurance Deadline for Arkansas Row Crop Farmers

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - February 28 is the deadline for Arkansas row crop producers to make all crop insurance decisions. They must decide whether or not they want crop insurance, which crops to insure, levels of coverage and which units to use for their operations.

February 28 NAP Sign-up and Pay Deadline

PINE BLUFF, Ark., - While row crop farmers are wrestling with crop insurance decisions, vegetable farmers, forage producers, Christmas tree farmers and aquaculture producers should be considering signing up for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Designed to protect producers of non-insurable crops, NAP also has a February 28 sign-up deadline.

Investors bullish on commodities for foreseeable future

LITTLE ROCK - Investors worldwide are bullish on commodities and for good reason. Continued strong global growth has created a global bull market for them, according to Dr. Bobby Coats, agricultural policy analyst with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Soybean rust forum to feature national, regional experts

BRINKLEY, Ark. - Soybean farmers will have an opportunity to learn what experts think Asian soybean rust could do this year and learn about tactics to manage the disease by attending the Soybean Rust Forum 2008 on March 4 at Brinkley.

February 8, 2008

Arkansas ranchers and poultry producers face huge problems

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas ranchers and poultry producers who lost animals from Tuesday's tornado in northcentral Arkansas were left Thursday with a huge problem - how to dispose of dead animals.

Dead, dying livestock part of unseen tornado damage - Agents advise producers to document dead animals, cleanup efforts

MORRILTON, Ark. - Livestock owners need to document their tornado losses and cleanup expenses in case funds become available to help them dispose of thousands of dead animals, Tommy Thompson, Conway County agent with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, said Thursday.

LITTLE ROCK - The deadly tornadoes that swept Arkansas on January 8-9 and again on February 5 show that any time of year is the right time to review severe weather safety precautions.

Love is a garden to be cultivated

LITTLE ROCK - Valentine's Day may be the traditional day that love is celebrated, but love really must be cultivated year ‘round. Candy, flowers, poetry and other romantic treats or gestures are thoughtful ways to observe a relationship in bloom but are not likely to do much for a relationship that's been neglected since the last gift-giving occasion.

Valentine's Day gift should say, 'I love you'

LITTLE ROCK - Shopping for the perfect Valentine's Day gift can be a challenge, but it should probably cause more of a mental strain than a financial one.

Gardening is Healthy theme for 17th annual Arkansas Flower and Garden Show

LITTLE ROCK - Groundhog Day tradition may have predicted another six weeks of wintry weather, but spring will come early to Arkansas this year. The 17th annual Arkansas Flower and Garden Show will be blooming with great ideas for the 2008 garden.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - "Don't try this at home," Andrew McKenzie warns about the 'BasisTrader' computer game he created to help teach grain merchandising at the University of Arkansas.

Craighead County farmer sets new contest yield record

BRINKLEY, Ark. - Mike Hook of Lake City (Craighead County) said a lot of irrigation, a high-yielding variety and the help of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service helped him take top honors in a yield contest recently at the Arkansas Soybean Association annual meeting in Brinkley.

You can be a successful houseplant caregiver during winter

LITTLE ROCK - Having the heat on during the winter is great for humans, but not so great for houseplants.

Jefferson County Lawn and Garden Seminar and Show set

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Horticultural experts on lawns, gardens and herbs will speak at the annual Jefferson County Lawn and Garden Seminar and Show Saturday, February 16 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.

Cold thoughts from a half-century old memory

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - The recent harsh winter weather and political season reminds me of a similar situation that occurred more than a half-century ago.

February 6, 2008

February 1, 2008

LITTLE ROCK - Soybean prices are soaring to record levels, and farmers are excited about the prospects for 2008. Unfortunately, a shortage of seed may dampen their enthusiasm.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas is the South's leading wine producer, thanks, in part, to the support of the U of A.

Don't put away snow and ice removal equipment yet, agent advises

DANVILLE, Ark. - Winter is a good time to stay inside and try to stay warm and cozy. Unfortunately, winter also brings with it snow and layers of slick ice to shovel and melt from our sidewalks and driveways, said Van Banks, Yell County agent with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Top speakers to speak at goat conference

CONWAY, Ark. - If you're interested in raising meat and dairy goats, you can learn how to raise them successfully by attending the 2008 Arkansas Goat Conference Saturday, February 16, at the Natural Resources Building in Conway.

Use common courtesy with cell phone

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - We've all seen it: in the check-out line at the grocery store, in meetings, in erratically driven cars and in restaurants. People with cell phones glued to their ears, jaws flapping away, completely oblivious to everyone around them.

Fad diets harmful to wallet and health

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Fad diets are nothing new. The first recorded fad diet was reported in 1820 - made popular by Lord Byron - was the vinegar and water diet. It was followed over the years by other crazy diets such as the tapeworm diet and the maple syrup diet.

Go green with your grocery shopping and save money

MARION, Ark. - Perhaps you haven't started recycling food-packaging containers, or you may have limited access to some of the "

greener"

 food products on the market, however, there are some things you can do to make your household more environment-friendly, says VeEtta Simmons, Crittenden County staff chair for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Kids can be good organizers

MURFREESBORO, Ark. - Kids from the same family are going to be different when it comes to organizational skills. One child may be a real neat freak while the other is on the other end of the spectrum.

Reverse cowboy math will never get you to the moon

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - A favorite among forage producers is, "

If you don't need the forage, don't fertilize!"

We All Have a Story to Tell - the Incredible Story of Colquitt, Georgia

Some stories are timeless, and this is one of them.