Arkansas Farm Bureau Podcast

We hear about progress and obstacles to early planting in the state and get a new update on agriculture-focused initiatives at the state legislature.

On this week’s edition, we learn how the state’s berry and peach crops fared after the hard freeze and winter storm of late February and we get one more update from the state legislature, including the latest on relaunching a state meat inspection program.

On this week’s edition, we talk to Sammy Angel of Lake Village, new president of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association. We also talk to LaTeresa Watkins of Watkins Cattle Company in Boone County, and we get the latest update from the state legislature with Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Jeff Pitchford.

On this week’s edition, we hear from a cattle rancher who testified at the State Capitol in favor of a new state meat inspection program, we learn about a grant to improve Arkansas State University’s Meats Lab and we get to know a produce-growing family in Bradley County. We also get our weekly update from the state legislature with Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Jeff Pitchford.

On this week’s edition, we hear about the lingering impacts of recent winter weather on agriculture and we learn about the ongoing work of the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust. We also get our weekly update from the state legislature with Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Jeff Pitchford.

On this week’s edition, we hear from row-crop farmer Jim Carroll of Brinkley about the impacts of last week’s winter storm and the upcoming planting season. We also talk to Travis and Ashley Appel of Appel Farms in Elm Springs and get an update from the state legislature with Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Jeff Pitchford.

On this week’s edition, we hear from University of Arkansas Extension livestock veterinarian Heidi Ward about caring for animals in the freezing weather and we find out what the impact of this week’s winter weather has been on a major baitfish hatchery. We also learn about the nonprofit Seven Harvest Inc. and hear about the interesting life one central Arkansas cattlemen who can’t quite bring himself to retire from the job he loves.

On this week’s edition, we get an update on progress at the new Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Poinsett County, we hear from a poultry and cattle grower about preparing for freezing winter weather and we talk to a farmer and veteran about his specialty crop business. We also get our weekly update about what’s happening at the 2021 Legislative session.

This week, we visit Trent Dabbs on his rice, corn and soybean farm near Stuttgart to talk about commodity prices and the impact they may have on planting decisions this year. We also check in with Arkansas Farm Bureau's Autumn Wood during Farm Bureau Week to learn about the benefits of being a Farm Bureau member, and we get the latest update on what’s happening at the State Capitol.

This week, we pay a visit to Mary Bone’s property in north Pulaski County, where she and her husband are preparing to grow fruit and vegetables to sell locally. We also get an update on what’s happening at the State Capitol and how Arkansas Farm Bureau’s priority issues are faring during the legislative session, and Arkansas Farm Bureau’s John McMinn tells us about the USDA’s new forest management incentive program for farmers and landowners.

This week, we get to know Arkansas Farm Bureau’s new director of Commodity Activities and Economics, Jessica Richard. We also learn about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the equine industry in Arkansas and we talk to one of the first participants to complete the Farm Apprenticeship program through the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food at the University of Arkansas.

This week, we learn about the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee’s recent work and their participation in American Farm Bureau’s Virtual Annual Convention. We also talk to Arkansas State Representative DeAnn Vaught about a new state meat inspection bill she is championing and we learn about a very busy week for Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Public Affairs and Government Relations team.

This week, we hear about Arkansas Farm Bureau’s top policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session at the State Capitol and we learn about a new “micro dairy” operation started by an enterprising Searcy County teen.

This week, we wrap up our podcasting year with a look at why feed costs are rising and what it means for livestock growers and we hear from the chair of the Scott County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, which was recently honored as the state’s top women’s committee.

This week is all about award winners. First, we get reactions from the newly named Arkansas Farm Family of the Year for 2020, then we hear from poultry grower Kallem Hill, the recipient of this year’s Stanley E. Reed Leadership Award. We also talk to Larry Smith, president of Stone County Farm Bureau, which received the prestigious President’s Award from Arkansas Farm Bureau during this year’s virtual annual convention.

This week, we learn about caring for poultry and other livestock during bitter cold weather, We talk to Rich Hillman about wrapping up his first year as Arkansas Farm Bureau president and the challenge of overseeing the organization’s first virtual convention and business session. We also hear from Garland County Farm Bureau President Tommy Sorrells about his reaction to participating in the virtual event after it concluded.

This week, we learn about the development of the first Roundup-ready forage soybean from Eagle Seed and we talk to Pope County’s Sam Cecil, Arkansas’s representative at the U.S. Meat Export Federation. We also talk turkey with Poultry Federation head Marvin Childers.

This week, we talk about the results of this year’s Arkansas Farm Bureau survey of the cost of traditional Thanksgiving dinner items and we learn about how the pandemic has affected the logging and timber industry in Arkansas. We also get a lesson on the history of soybeans in the state, along with details of a new survey of forest landowners and tips on battling bugs that cause problems for livestock.

This week, we talk to a beef broker at the Oklahoma National Stockyards about the challenges cattle ranchers have faced in 2020 and what’s ahead. We also catch up with James Meeks of Triple M Farms, who tells us about how COVID-19 has affected his produce business and we learn about the recently upgraded Senter & Sons Cotton Gin in Osceola. We also talk to Terry Laster of Union County about the pandemic problems that have hit poultry growers.

This week, we catch up with Michael Sparks of the Arkansas Chapter of the Farmer Veterans Coalition to talk about the group’s upcoming Veteran’s Day celebration. We also talk to Monroe County’s Jim Carroll about wrapping up his term as chair of the United Soybean Board, and learn about Prestonrose Farm & Brewing Co. in the Arkansas River Valley, a destination craft brewery with locally grown food options. And, finally, we hear from Arkansas Farm Bureau state affairs director Jeff Pitchford about Tuesday’s election results.