Arkansas Farm Bureau Podcast

In this edition of Arkansas AgCast, Brandy Carroll, director of Commodity Activities and Market Information for Arkansas Farm Bureau, discusses upcoming sign-up dates and other critical information Arkansas cotton farmers will want to know.

In our latest Arkansas AgCast, Matt King, Arkansas Farm Bureau director of Public Affairs and Government Relations, discusses the organization’s response to the Trump administration's $12 billion emergency relief package plan for farmers and ranchers impacted by the ongoing trade battles with China and other countries. King says the aid comes at a time when U.S. producers are losing market share and suffering from years of depressed commodity prices.

The Bradley County 4-H Forestry Team has won the past two national forestry championships, but this year a team from Calhoun County will represent Arkansas and attempt to win the state’s third national title in a row. Jaret Rushing, staff chair for the county Cooperative Extension Service, is coaching the four-man team whose members all attend Hampton High School. In this edition of Arkansas AgCast, Rushing and 4-H team member Evan Beaver sat down to discuss what it would mean to bring home the championship trophy.

The U.S. began imposing tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese imports July 6 and China has announced it will retaliate with $34 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods, including key agricultural commodities, including soybeans. Other important American trading partners, including Mexico and Canada are also expected to respond with tariffs on U.S. products. In this edition of Arkansas AgCast Matt King, director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Arkansas Farm Bureau explains the impacts this trade battle is already having on agricultural commodities and American farmers and ranchers.

According to American Farm Bureau’s annual Summer Cookout Survey, the total average cost of 14 items included in the summer grilling survey was $55.07 or around $5.50 per person. That’s down 63 cents, or less than one percent from 2017. Learn more in this interview with Dr. John Newton, director of market intelligence for American Farm Bureau.

Harvest of the 2018 commercial tomato crop is underway in southeast Arkansas. In this edition of Arkansas AgCast, we catch up with John Gavin, staff chair of the Bradley County Cooperative Extension Service, to talk about this year's crop and why so many people eagerly anticipate their local, vine-ripened tomatoes each summer.

Kaylie Stone of Gurdon began showing goats at the age of 7 and has added lambs, hogs, rabbits and steers in the years since. Her drive and competitive spirit have led her to raise numerous grand and reserve champion animals through the years, making her a role model for young Arkansans in agriculture and beyond.

The Farm to Table movement is growing in restaurants across the state and Griffin Restaurant in El Dorado is on the leading edge of the effort to procure and offer local products from Arkansas farms and ranches. In this edition of Arkansas AgCast, Elizabeth Young, director of Farm and Sustainable Initiatives for the Murphy Arts District, where the Griffin is located, talks about why it's partnered with a number of Arkansas farms to offer its customers menu items featuring fresh, Arkansas grown food products.

The Danville School System is one several in Arkansas participating in the “Farm to School” program that connects farmers and ranchers with schools to provide fresh, locally grown produce for their food programs. In this interview for Arkansas AgCast, Marcia Tramel, Food Service Director for the Danville School District in Yell County, discusses how she is using local farm and ranch products as part of their school lunch program in an effort to offer students healthier, more nutritious food choices.

Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach spoke to Kevin Miller of Newsradio 102.9 KARN on Thursday, 5/24, to discuss attempts to pass a Farm Bill in Congress, the latest developments in trade and other issues affecting Arkansas farmers and ranchers.

Derek Helms, a dairy and row crop farm near Arkadelphia and president of Clark County Farm Bureau, discusses a variety of issues, from the importance of community outreach and the benefits of Farm Bureau membership to the state of the dairy industry, the importance of trade and a new Farm Bill to Arkansas farmers.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is rolling out a new program for Arkansas cattlemen. It’s called the “Natural State Preconditioned Calf Program – GoGreen.” In this edition of Arkansas AgCast Dr. Shane Gadberry, a professor of animal science with the Division of Agriculture, explains how this program will result in healthier calves, how cattlemen may participate and is a “win-win” for both the buyer and seller at the time of sale.

Member Service Representatives from county Farm Bureaus across Arkansas came together in Little Rock recently for their biennial conference. The event included a “Service Awards” recognition program honoring some of these "MSRs" for their years of service to the organization. In this edition of Arkansas AgCast, honoree Ann Davis of Fordyce reflects on her career and the important role MSRs play for Farm Bureau members.

Mark and Shay Morgan of Clarksville, chair of Arkansas Farm Bureau's state Young Farmer and Rancher Committee, addressed the 91st Arkansas FFA Convention in Hot Springs April 24. Hear their remarks in this edition of Arkansas AgCast.

The Arkansas FFA held its 91st convention at the Hot Springs Convention Center April 23-25. It was the final event for Brady Gentry as president and leader of the state officer team. In this edition of Arkansas Agcast, Brady shares how being president has prepared him for the future and how being involved in FFA helps young people become better citizens and adults.

Tom and Shannon Olson have been raising water buffalo on their Turkey Creek ranch near Texarkana for almost 30 years and they recently hosted a tour for students from Genoa Central High School. In this edition of Arkansas AgCast, Ken Moore visited with Tom Olson and Kimberly Leigh, FFA Advisor and Vo-Ag instructor at Genoa Central about this unique breed and what the students learned from the visit.

Karen Rowe, Arkansas County equine enthusiast and biologist with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, visited with our Keith Sutton about the hordes of buffalo gnats wreaking havoc with horses, livestock, poultry and wildlife in the Delta of eastern Arkansas.

Several hours of subfreezing temperatures the morning of April 8 damaged much of Joey Jamison’s peach crop and likely that of other peach and berry growers in Arkansas. It’s too early to know the full extent of losses, but Jamison says that, while much of his crop was lost, he believes save of his young peaches survived. Watch and listen to learn more.

After reaching critically low levels in the 1990s, water table levels in the Sparta Aquifer in south Arkansas are being recharged thanks to a countywide campaign undertaken by the Union County Water Conservation Board, the local Chamber of Commerce and other area organizations. In this edition of Arkansas AgCast, Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Ken Moore sat down with two of the key leaders of the campaign to save the aquifer to discuss their efforts and the results.

Brett Ausley is a young cattleman producing and marketing Wagyu beef on his family ranch in Hot Spring County. He got into Wagyu about five years ago and he’s selling it directly to consumers through social media and to local restaurants. In this edition of Arkansas Agcast, this entrepreneurial young rancher shares what led him to pursue this niche, premium market.