For the Media

March 28, 2008

Flooding is the price for farming along the river, farmer says

NEWPORT, Ark. - More rain in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday has farmers in Independence and Jackson counties are casting a worried eye to the sky more than a week after storms caused Arkansas’ rivers to overflow the banks and flood farm fields.

Patience, support, restorative activities help disaster victims cope with long-term stress

LITTLE ROCK - The widespread flooding in Arkansas has also brought long-term stress for many.

Corn farmers anxious to get back into fields

LITTLE ROCK - Recent rains and flooding have many Arkansas farmers cooling their heels. They would like to be preparing their land for planting corn, but weather-related problems have delayed tillage operations.

Community conference showcases connections to global economy

LITTLE ROCK - People who attend the annual Breakthrough Solutions Conference on May 1 at Little Rock will hear lessons about community development in the global economy and learn how Arkansas communities and businesses are taking advantage of opportunities in this new era.

Save money any way you can

MURFREESBORO, Ark. - Saving money can be difficult for many people.

Pedal with safety: Cycles considered vehicle operators, too

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The first car accident ever recorded in the United States was in New York City in 1896 when a car collided with a bicyclist. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), more than 51,000 bike riders have died in traffic crashes since 1932. 

Peanuts pack big nutritional punch in little shell

LITTLE ROCK - Peanuts have long been a mainstay of our diets and whether enjoyed as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at school or as the traditional baseball game snack, peanuts pack a big nutritional punch, says Carla Haley, Miller County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

The rudiments of billy goat nutrition

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - When the St. Francis River overflowed its banks in 1957, as it did every few years, the rising backwater shut us off from the rest of the county for two days. Our older brothers broke the monotony and entertained their siblings by paddling the johnboat around the house while we watched from the porch.

March 27, 2008

LITTLE ROCK - Floodwaters may be making potentially deadly deliveries to Arkansas cattle: disease-causing spores and parasites.

March 24, 2008

LITTLE ROCK - Farmers along the Arkansas River, its tributaries and other rivers on the eastern side of the state are waiting nervously for the floodwater covering their wheat to drain away.

March 21, 2008

LITTLE ROCK - The ups and downs of late winter and spring-like weather have made things difficult for Arkansas beef cattle producers.

National Agriculture Day in Arkansas will celebrate agriculture's importance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Once upon a time, farmers didn't have college educations. But times have changed.

Holy moley! Small critters pose big problems for homeowners

LITTLE ROCK – For some gardeners, moles can make a mountain out of a ... mole hill.

Horsemanship is a partnership between human and horse

LITTLE ROCK - Training your horse takes plenty of patience - for the trainer and the horse, says Steve Jones, extension associate professor/equine specialist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
 

DANVILLE, Ark. - The approach of spring means gardeners need to get their beds ready, but the fickle weather of March means they should proceed with caution, says Van E. Banks, Yell County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

How to use herbicides on your lawn

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. - Prevention is the best method of controlling weeds in a lawn, according to Mark Keaton, Baxter County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

March 18, 2008

CONWAY - C. Michael French, associate director-programs for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service, was honored Friday for his educational achievements with induction into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame.

March 14, 2008

Starting this week, there's a new addition to the navigation bar on the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service homepage: For the media.

Glyphosate-resistant Johnsongrass found in Crittenden County field

LONOKE, Ark. - Glyphosate-resistant Johnsongrass has been confirmed in a Crittenden County field, said Dr. Bob Scott, a University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Extension crop, soil and environmental science specialist, adding that so far, it’s the only known population in Arkansas.

Mountain lions menace declining in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK - When humans try to manipulate Mother Nature, the reality is she will make strange neighbors of us all, including the mountain lion.

Handle Easter eggs with care, extension agent advises

It's The Law: Keep Those Pesticide Records!

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - As the planting season gets under way, farmers are reminded of the importance of keeping good records on their usage of all pesticides, but especially restricted use pesticides, and the penalties for failure to do.

Soybean weed control program begins at burn-down

LONOKE, Ark. - Starting with a good weed burn-down program in soybeans is often the most important decision a farmer will make for the whole year, according to Dr. Bob Scott, extension weed scientist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Congressman John Boozman to appear at APAC Seminar

HARRISON, Ark. - Business operators in north Arkansas can learn how tap into the challenging, but lucrative, government marketplace by attending the Arkansas Procurement Seminar at Harrison March 21.

Fair to break down cultural barriers

MORRILTON, Ark. - Conway County 4-H'ers are hosting a culture fair to break down barriers between cultures in the county. The fair is Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Morrilton.

Liming your lawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - If you want a healthy, high-quality, attractive lawn, you must make sure that your soil has the proper pH.

Never too late to learn efficient habits

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - I seem to receive more questions from mom and pop livestock producers about holding on this year. Obviously, their concern is driven by higher input costs, which have caused significant changes in many farm management practices.

March 7, 2008

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - "Just a bunch of briars, but some sophisticated ones at that," John R. Clark likes to say about the blackberry varieties developed in the breeding program he directs for the University of Arkansas System's Division of Agriculture.

Economist sees big movement in economy; global strengthening after 2011

LITTLE ROCK - The global economy will see strengthening after 2011 as America enters what could be "an amazingly dynamic economic period, a period unlike any ever experienced in world history," says Dr. Bobby Coats, an extension agricultural policy analyst with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Identity Theft: Could it happen to you?

LITTLE ROCK - Consumer surveys, contests, mailboxes and trash cans are all suspects when it comes to leaking personal information to identity thieves, says Carla Haley, Miller County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Seed Viability - How Good Are Your Seeds?

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - A simple test can save gardeners and farmers valuable replanting time and money, says Dr. Obadiah Njue, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Cooperative Extension Program horticulture specialist. With the gardening season under way, Dr. Njue recommends testing the viability of seeds whether they are leftover ones stored from last season, new ones purchased from a nearby seed store or those ordered from a seed catalog.

Select the right plant for your landscape, agent advises

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Before you get spring fever and go on a planting spree in the garden, be sure to match the right plants to the right location, says Jimmy Driggers, Garland County extension staff chair with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
 

Saving for a better financial future

LITTLE ROCK - A wealthier future and material rewards can begin with a commitment – a commitment to making your money work harder. That money can then go towards whatever goal you set such as a new home, a new car or early retirement.

Chew on this: Gum may have health benefits

STAR CITY, Ark. - Chewing gum has an image problem: it sticks to soles, fossilizes under tables and is almost always seen in the mouths of the cinema’s hoodlums and floozies.

New dairy farming method to be discussed March 13 meeting

BEE BRANCH, Ark. – Arkansas dairy, beef and cattle producers can learn a money-saving method of raising stock through a method developed in New Zealand, at the Central Arkansas Dairy Meeting, set for Thursday, March 13 in Bee Branch.

Top speakers to talk at NW Arkansas Goat Conference on March 29

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Organic goat production and goat showmanship are among the items on the agenda of the Northwest Arkansas Goat Conference set for Saturday, March 29, at the Washington County Fairgrounds off exit 66 from I-540 at Fayetteville.

The market value of 'used hay' escalates

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – I always got a kick when hearing the "Used Cow Dealer" advertisement. The animal by-product company no longer operates in the area, but their ad served to put a more pleasant twist on what was previously called "the dead wagon."