Arkansas Farm Bureau Podcast

#Plant24 in Arkansas is wrapping up quickly and we’re still moving at a historic pace, but how does the crop quality look? Has it been impacted by storms? We answer that on this episode. Plus, you may be shocked at the increase of soybean seed prices in the last 20 years, and we’ll tell you why the new vet school dean at A-State has experience that may be music to farmers’ ears. All that and more on the latest episode of the Arkansas AgCast.

In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to produce a Deep Dive episode dedicated to the impact of mental health challenges on the farm while sharing resources available to help anyone who may be struggling. We invited Brandon Wolfe, clinical therapist and cattle rancher, to join the podcast to talk about the unique issues farmers face. Brandon gives us a step-by-step look at the process of finding help to fit your needs. In true AgCast style, we have some fun along the way, and you know we covered the subject of food, too. Give this special episode a listen or share it with someone who may appreciate Brandon’s unique perspective. Connect with Brandon here: https://alleviant.com/brandon-wolfe/

On this episode, we’ll discuss how the Northern Lights phenomenon may have impacted agriculture over the weekend. We also recap the data from the latest WASDE report and what USDA is forecasting for commodity prices, plus how Cicadas could be creating a historical buzz in Arkansas and a lot more!

On this episode, we have the latest on timing for the EPA’s review of the newest dicamba label submission from Bayer. Also we discuss the latest information on the FDA’s new ag water rule and a crop planting progress update and a lot more.

On this episode, we cover farm bill news hot off the press in D.C., where the House and Senate ag committees released their vision for the legislation. We also give the details on H-2A labor regulations set to go into effect next month, share resources for Mental Health Awareness Month and much more.

On this episode we share how you can get involved in the State Water Plan update and when you should apply for Arkansas Century Farm status. We also cover new EQIP funding in Arkansas, give the forecasted timing for La Niña, share the latest data trends for ag industry greenhouse gas emissions and a lot more.

Rep. Rick Crawford stopped by the AgCast studio to share updates on his work in D.C. On this Deep Dive episode, we talk about his leadership of the Ag Labor Working Group within the House Ag Committee. Rep. Crawford walks us through the recommendations of that group, how those could become a reality for farmers and the significance of bi-partisan agreement in this age of politics. We also talk about his aspirations for additional leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives and much more.

Congressman Bruce Westerman stopped by the AgCast studio to share some updates on his work in D.C. On this Deep Dive episode, we talk about his work as chair of the House Natural Resources Committee and how that’s beneficial to the Natural State. In addition, we recap the impact his America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act will have on local communities and their ability to manage wildlife habitat. We’ll also cover the recent Energy Week legislation passed by the Natural Resources Committee and much more.

Avian influenza has made its way to mammals, and we talk about what that means for other industries in agriculture and consumers at the grocery store. We also cover the new heavy-duty truck rules on emissions that could impact farmers in the near future. Plus, conservation funding available from USDA and the outlook on row crop acres in the U.S. this year.

We welcome Sen. John Boozman back to the studio for an update on the farm bill, including his thoughts on the likelihood Congress will pass one in 2024. Sen. Boozman also shares some priorities he and his colleagues have for the framework of the legislation and we even find out what’s on the menu for his family’s Easter celebration.

We take a look at the latest round of tariffs leveed on Russian grain from the European Union, plus Congress is holding hearings on the topic of foreign-owned ag land in the U.S. We also share how Arkansas farmers are sending hay to help Texas farmers impacted by their state’s record-setting wildfires and tell you how to play a role in the next round of broadband infrastructure funding in Arkansas. Get it all on this episode of the Arkansas AgCast from Arkansas Farm Bureau.

We review the highlights of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s Ag Labor Working Group final report and recommendations to address challenges in the H2A program. Also, funds are available to help farmers markets across the state and we have all the details, plus more funding from USDA on climate-smart ag programs and a call for input on the revamp of the state’s water plan. We wrap up with a new farm-to-table restaurant recommendation from our producer, Matthew Magdefrau.

In this episode, we explore the reasons behind the EPA’s opening of its new Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and we calculate the impacts of 2023 weather disasters on crops in Arkansas. We also explore USDA's efforts to protect livestock and poultry farmers and cover Gov. Sarah Sanders' initiative to review Arkansas' levees, plus a lot more.

We invited Mike Klamm with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service to join the AgCast and discuss the data from the latest Ag Census. From the number of family farms in the Natural State to the average age of farmers and a trend that might surprise you. We cover a lot of numbers on this episode, you don’t want to miss it.

The latest Ag Census data was recently released, and we break down Arkansas’ numbers. You may be surprised to learn what changed in the five years since the last census. We also talk about the Brazilian soybean and corn crop with data from the latest WASDE, including weather impacts. All of that and more on this episode.

On this episode, we sit down with ag economist Jake Cartwright for a closer look at current beef cattle prices and what could be driving them to near record-setting high levels. We'll also cover how market prices will likely make their way to grocery shelves and what that means for your bank account.

This episode covers the latest report on net farm income projections for 2024 and why it might set a record. We have some tips for farmers planning to be in the fields during the solar eclipse on April 8. We’ll also talk about the YF&R convention coming up and some menu options for the big game.

This week we cover the “State of the State: Arkansas Ag Industry” report recently released by Talk Business & Politics. We also discuss breaking news from the U.S. House of Representatives, covering newly passed legislation that brings tax relief to American farmers and families and a lot more agriculture news. We had a bit of fun too since Feb. 2 is Groundhog Day. We answered trivia questions and debated the best Bill Murray movies.

We took the show on the road this week and recorded this episode live from the Arkansas Grown Conference in Hot Springs. We recap all the news from the American Farm Bureau Convention, chat about all the buzz around the Hot Springs Convention Center and have a discussion with Greg Matteson from the Farm Credit Council about resources available for new farmers. It’s a jam packed show you don’t want to miss.

On this episode, we take a closer look at the first WASDE report from 2024 and why production numbers increased since last month. We also tell you how a new partnership between John Deere and Space X could bring better connectivity to equipment on the farm.