Arkansas Department of Agriculture News

Arkansas Department of Agriculture Reminds Industry of State Dicamba Cut-Off Dates in Response to Recent EPA Existing Stocks Order

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is reminding farmers and applicators of the Arkansas State Plant Board’s rule that prohibits in-crop agricultural use of dicamba after June 30. 

On February 6, 2024, the U.S. District Court of Arizona issued a ruling that vacated 2020 registrations for the following dicamba products: XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium. On February 14, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an existing stocks order that allows limited sale, distribution, and use of existing stocks already in the possession of growers or in the channels of trade and outside the control of pesticide companies as of February 6, 2024. The cut-off dates outlined in the order are consistent with the application cut-off dates on the previously approved federal label of the dicamba products at the time the registrations were vacated.

The June 30 cut-off date is controlling in Arkansas despite later deadlines provided in the existing stocks order issued by the EPA on February 14, 2024. The Arkansas State Plant Board rule includes additional restrictions on burndown and tank mixes and is consistent with the Federal Fungicide, Insecticide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) that allows states to impose more restrictive use requirements than the federal order.

Farmers and applicators who fail to comply with the Arkansas rule on in-crop agricultural use of dicamba may be subject to civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation and possible suspension or revocation of their applicator license.

USDA Releases 2022 Census of Agriculture

On February 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than six million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The information collected from Arkansas producers shows a decline in the number of farms and farmland. There were 37,756 farms (down 11.4 percent from 2017) and 13,722,525 acres of farmland (down 1.2 percent from 2017). The average size of a farm in Arkansas is 363 acres (up 11.4 percent from 2017).

Arkansas Department of Agriculture Accepting Proposals for Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). These grants are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance the competitiveness of the Arkansas specialty crop industry. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as fruits, vegetables, horticulture, floriculture, and tree nuts.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture uses a two-phase application process for administering the grant funds. Project concept proposals outlining the project’s goals, tasks, and budget requirements must be submitted by March 1, 2024.

2024 Arkansas Century Farm Applications Due May 31

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2024 Arkansas Century Farm Program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. The program is voluntary and there is no cost to apply.

To qualify, Arkansas farms must meet the following criteria:

• The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by December 31, 2024. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through marriage and adoption.
• The farm must be at least ten acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

Applications must be recieved via email at beth.moore@agriculture.arkansas.gov or postmarked on or before May 31, 2024, to be eligible for designation as a 2024 inductee.

Poultry Feeding Operation Registrations Accepted Until March 31

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting registrations for the Poultry Feeding Operations Registration Program until March 31, 2024. Under Arkansas law, persons in Arkansas who own or operate poultry feeding operations where 2,500 or more poultry are housed or confined on any given day are required to register annually.

Soybean Yield Contest Winners Announced

The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and Arkansas Soybean Association announced the winners of the 2023 Grow for the Green Soybean Yield Contest at the association's annual meeting on February 6. The contest divides state soybean producers into nine groups: seven geographic regions, one all state conventional (non-GMO) category, and a champions category consisting of all previous 100-bushel winners. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three in each division achieving a minimum of 60 bushels/acre with the exception of the champions. Congratulations to the following winners:

Photo Features

Magnolia was Arkansas's Capital for a Day on February 22. Secretary Ward joined Governor Sanders to visit the Southern Arkansas University rodeo team.

Members of the Midwest Regional Noyce Conference toured the Arkansas Department of Agriculture laboratories on February 9. The group consisted of high school teachers from seven states across the Midwest.

The Arkansas Bait and Ornamental Fish Growers Association held its annual meeting on February 8 in Lonoke. Dr. Nilima Renukdas spoke to attendees about the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Fish Certification and Inspection Program.

Earlier this month, Secretary Ward attended the NASDA 2024 Winter Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. At the conference, NASDA members discussed some of the top issues in agriculture, heard from speakers and panelists, and voted on policy. NASDA members also met with Secretary Tom Vilseck at the U.S. Department of Agriculture office and multiple legislators on Capitol Hill.

Photo Credit: NASDA

Representatives from the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board (ASPB) attended the 60th Arkansas Soybean Association Annual Meeting in Stuttgart. ASPB Vice-Chairman Doug Hartz and Scott Bray, ASPB Administrator, provided updates to attendees.

The Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting was held at the beginning of the month in Jonesboro. At the meeting, Deputy Secretary Cynthia Edwards provided state updates to attendees and the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board met to hear three promotion proposals and one communication proposal.

Mountain Home was Arkansas's Capital for a Day on January 31. Secretary Ward and Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Secretary Shane Khoury visited with Mountain Home FFA students.

New Resources from the National Agricultural Law Center

The Feed:

The body of laws, policies, and regulations affecting agriculture is vast and fast-changing, but the National Agricultural Law Center has introduced The Feed, a biweekly newsletter aimed at keeping industry professionals up to date.

Content is written by research attorneys but is designed for non-attorneys as well. Find recent issues of The Feed here.

Upcoming Webinars:

• March 20: Small Entities Must File: Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act's New Reporting Requirements
• March 27: From Seed to IP: Growing Your Career in Agriculture Patent Law Practice

Recent Blog Posts:

• Eleventh Circuit Narrowly Blocks Florida From Enforcing Foreign Ownership Law
• The Deal with Dicamba: Court Vacates Over-the-Top Registration
• Agritourism: Reducing Liability Risk During Solar Eclipse Activities
• FAIR Labels Act of 2024
• U.S. Department of Labor Finalizes Independent Contractor Rule
• Supreme Court of Nevada Issues Important Decision Impacting Groundwater Rights
• Who Owns the Ag Land? Congress Considering Changes to the Federal Reporting Regime
• EPA Proposes Updates to Effluent Limitations for Meat and Poultry Processors
• Legal Issues with Land Trusts: Tax Benefits and the IRS Crackdown

March 17: Giving of the Green for Arkansas 4-H

March 17 is a day to support Arkansas 4-H! Arkansas 4-H provides hands-on educational opportunities about health, science, technology, and citizenship. It is also a great source of scholarships for students looking to attend two and four-year colleges and universities.

Donations can be made online, or donors may text AR4H to 44321.

Registration Open for 2024 Arkansas Grazing Conference

The 2024 Arkansas Grazing Conference is set to take place on March 28 at the University of Arkansas Community College, Hope-Texarkana, and on March 29 at the Durand Center in Harrison. This premier annual event is a rallying point for industry leaders, livestock producers, and environmental stewards, converging to explore the latest innovations and strategies in sustainable grazing practices.

Wildlife of Arkansas Student Art Contest Accepting Submissions

The Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AWF) is accepting artwork submissions for the annual Wildlife of Arkansas Student Art Contest. This contest provides an opportunity for students to explore their natural surroundings. The term wildlife includes animals, plants, wildflowers, and landscapes. Applications will be accepted through March 31.

Arkansas Ag in the Classroom Accepting Nominations for Outstanding Teacher of the Year

Do you know of a teacher doing a great job with Ag in the Classroom? Nominations are open for Arkansas Ag in the Classroom's Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Self-nominations, as well as nominations from school faculty, community leaders, or parents of students, are invited. Applications must be submitted by certified mail and postmarked no later than April 1, 2024, to:

     

Donette Spann

Director, Ag in the Classroom

Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

P.O. Box 31

Little Rock, AR 72203-0031

Registration for 2024 Future Ag Leaders Program Open

Registration for the 2024 Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour is now open for college undergraduate juniors and seniors. This year’s tour, from May 13-17, will give participants an overview of the agriculture industry in Arkansas, plus an opportunity to make key connections with future employers or collaborators.

The program is open to undergraduate juniors and seniors enrolled in colleges of agriculture or pursuing agriculture-related majors within the state of Arkansas who can register for one of 50 spots. There is no cost to participate.

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Arkansas Technical Assistance Projects

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Arkansas is seeking opportunities to partner with natural resource conservation partners to provide technical services to support implementation of NRCS authorities under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Project proposals should address at least one of the following key conservation objectives specific to IRA implementation:

• Development and implementation of outreach/communications/marketing strategies to educate the public, specifically agriculture producers, on benefits of Climate Smart practices.
• Development and implementation of outreach/communications/marketing strategies aimed at attracting new customers to NRCS.
• “Boots on the ground” staff capacity that supports planning, design, implementation, or management of conservation plans/contracts funded through IRA.
• Data/information documenting the green house gas (GHG) reduction potential of specific conservation practices such as:
• Irrigation storage reservoirs
• Irrigation tailwater recovery systems
• On-site monitoring of GHG emission reductions on operations with implemented conservation practices.

Proposals must be submitted through grants.gov and are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 1, 2024. The Notice of Funding Opportunity can be found under the Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-AR-MULTI-24-NOFO0001332.

Weekly Market Summary

Each Friday, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture publishes a comprehensive Weekly Market Summary, which includes the Arkansas Weekly Livestock Auction Summary and Related Individual Market Sale Summaries, National Weekly Rice Summary, Memphis Weekly Feed Report, Weekly Rice, Grain, Cotton, and Feed Futures Trends, Weekly Livestock and Milk Futures Trends, Bid Prices to Farmers, Arkansas Daily Grain Report, Heading Links for Historical Data, and news.

The summary is available on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Market Reports webpage, as well as each Division's webpage and Facebook page, and you may sign-up to receive the summary by email at Subscribe To Notifications And Publications.

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• Arkansas forest industries contribute over $5.5 billion each year to the state economy.
• Arkansas has over 19 million acres of forests with more than 12 billion trees.
• Arkansas's economy is the most forestry dependent of all the southern states.
• The Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Forestry Division is committed to protecting Arkansas's forests, and those who enjoy them, from wildland fire and natural hazards while promoting rural and urban forest health, stewardship, development, and conservation for all generations of Arkansans.
• In 2023, the Forestry Division:
• Suppressed more than 1,084 wildfires on 17,470 acres.
• Grew and sold 5.6 million seedlings at Baucum Nursery.
• Recorded 1,252 flight hours detecting wildfires, timber damage, and other forestry-related issues.
• Assisted 4,117 Arkansas landowners with management plans and forestry needs.

• Arkansas Beef Council Meeting, February 27
• Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Meeting, February 28
• Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting, February 28-29
• 75th Annual Mid-South Farm and Gin Show, March 1-2
• Arkansas Veterinary Medical Examining Committee, March 5
• Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board Meeting, March 7-8
• 65th Rural Life Conference, March 15
• Arkansas Grazing Conference, March 28
• Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference, April 1-2
• Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, June 7

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The Arkansas Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.