AR Agriculture News: Mid-August 2021

Arkansas Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture's law enforcement team works with agencies in and out of the state for agriculture-related issues.

The team includes five special agents and a few part-time officers. In 2021, they have opened 204 criminal cases, with 150 requests to assist within the department, and have closed 133 cases.

Read more about the Department's law enforcement team, how they serve the state, and some of their recent cases in this August feature story by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Upper photo courtesy of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas Catfish Month

Governor Hutchinson proclaimed August as Arkansas Catfish Month. The proclamation will be presented by Governor Hutchinson to agriculture leaders, industry partners, and Arkansas catfish industry representatives alongside Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward.

The proclamation highlights the state’s catfish industry and its value to Arkansas’s economy and agriculture industry. The full proclamation can be found here.

Join the Department in celebrating Arkansas Catfish Month! Learn about Arkansas catfish farmers, find recipes, aquaculture information, and more on the Catfish Farmers of Arkansas website.

Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery Volunteer Work

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Livestock and Poultry Division Inspectors Scott Chambless and Felton Jackson from Hempstead county spent August 16 and 17 volunteering to place headstones at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.

The Department's Forestry Division has also had volunteers assisting at the cemetery. Jason Parker and Daniel Schultz from Crawford county volunteered at the beginning of August.

"Many of my family members served in the military, including my dad, Bobby Chambless, in the Korean War, and my grandpa Royal Stroud and my great uncle Leland Powers in World War II," said Chambless. "It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to give something back to these veterans and their families, especially at their final resting place."

For 20 years the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery has been dedicated to serve all honorably discharged veterans and commemorate the military services of the state's deceased veterans. To learn more about the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery visit their webpage.

Arkansas Department of Agriculture Opens Organic Cost Share Program

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications from producers for reimbursement under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Organic certification fees paid between the dates of October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021, are eligible. Applications for reimbursement are available, here, and are due by November 1, 2021.

Reimbursement for 50% of eligible certification costs up to $500 is available for operators who have been certified by a USDA accredited certifying agent. Certification costs that have already been reimbursed through the USDA-Farm Service Agency or other agencies are not eligible. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture administers the Organic Certification Cost Share Program through funding provided by USDA.

Dairy Producers to Receive $350 Million in Pandemic Support

On August 19, the United Sates Department of Agriculture announced the details of the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program.

Through the program, USDA will provide about $350 million in pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers who received a lower value for their products due to market abnormalities caused by the pandemic. The assistance is part of a larger package including permanent improvements to the Dairy Margin Coverage safety net program.

Payments will reimburse qualified dairy farmers for 80 percent of the revenue difference per month based on an annual production of up to 5 million pounds of milk marketed and on fluid milk sales from July through December 2020. The payment rate will vary by region based on the actual losses on pooled milk related to price volatility. USDA will make payments through agreements with independent handlers and cooperatives. Handlers and cooperatives will distribute the monies on the same basis July - December 2020 payments were made to their dairy farmer suppliers and a formula set by USDA. USDA will reimburse handlers and cooperatives for allowed administrative costs.

Additional details about the program are available and will be updated at the AMS Dairy Program website.

Tick Threats to Livestock

Researchers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will be expanding their search this fall for various ticks that may transmit anaplasmosis, a disease that can kill cattle.

Anaplasmosis turns an animal's immune system against itself, destroying both healthy and infected red blood cells, which can starve the animal of oxygen. If anaplasmosis does not kill the infected animal, the animal carries anaplasmosis for life, becoming a reservoir for the disease.

In addition to the further research of anaplasmosis, the Asian longhorned tick has been confirmed in Missouri and Arkansas. The tick is less attracted to human skin and poses a bigger threat to livestock. The Asian longhorned tick is unlike others because a single female can produce as many as 1,000 offspring at a time without mating. The tick is light brown and can be smaller than a sesame seed, making it difficult to identify.

For additional information about anaplasmosis research visit the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture website. The CDC website contains more resources regarding Asian longhorned ticks.

Scholarships Awarded to Arkansas College Students Majoring in Agriculture

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture recently awarded $20,000 in scholarships to eight students attending Arkansas universities with agricultural programs. The universities include Arkansas State University, Southern Arkansas University, the University of Arkansas, and Arkansas Tech University.

The scholarship recipients include the following students:

Arkansas State University

- Jacob Holloway, Griffithville, AR; Agribusiness – Agriculture Economics and Finance Major

- Landon G. Smith, Jacksonport, AR; Agribusiness – Agriculture Economics and Finance Major

Southern Arkansas University

- Brieanna Shaw, Pine Bluff, AR; Agriculture Science Major

- Courtland Mixon, Prescott, AR; Agriculture Science Major

- Hannah Boyte, Oak Grove, AR; Agriculture Science Major

- Hannah Helms, Gurdon, AR; Agriculture Business Major

Arkansas Tech University

- Cheyenne Massey, Hartford, AR; Agricultural Education Major

University of Arkansas

- Kelby Biswell, Prairie Grove, AR; Horticulture, Landscape, and Turf Sciences and Agricultural Education Major

Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge

People who live on a tight budget and in areas with limited access to food can find eating nutritionally balanced meals a challenge.

Through Arkansas 4-H, youth are learning this important life skill. On August 6, 50 members showed just how creative they could be in preparing an inexpensive but nutritional meal.

Members from eight counties competed in the competition, which was modeled after the Food Network’s popular show “Chopped”, but required the young chefs to create meals using ingredients available at dollar stores. Using canned beans, corn, chicken broth, canned chicken, cheese, mushrooms, and tortilla chips, the young chefs whipped up an array of dishes, including tortilla dip, taco bowls, chicken nachos, and soups.

A panel of family and consumer science agents and specialists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service scored the teams on preparation and presentation. Howard County team Seniors with Spatulas placed first in the senior division, and Madison County Chopettes placed first in the junior division. To view the entire list of winners and learn more about the competition read the full press release here.

Annie's Project Virtual Learning Opportunities

Looking for a chance to expand your knowledge and meet other women in ag? Sign up for virtual sessions with Annie's Project via Arkansas Women in Agriculture!

There will be a session every Thursday beginning today through September 30. Attend one session, or all seven!

Tonight Dr. Laura Hendrix will kick off the first session over managing family finances.

Questions? Contact Rachel Bearden with UADA Hot Spring County Agriculture at 501-332-5267 or rlbearden@uada.edu.

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USDA Updates

August 2021 Crop Production Report

Through the 2021 crop season, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will publish Monthly Crop Production Reports.

The reports are released monthly, and provide annual forecasts for supply and use of U.S. and world wheat, rice, coarse grains, oilseeds, and cotton. The reports also cover U.S. supply and use of sugar, meat, poultry eggs and milk, as well as Mexico’s supply and use of sugar.

The August report was released August 12 and upcoming reports will be released September 10, October 12, and November 9. Find the full August report here. For more information about the reports visit the USDA website.

Up to $500 Million Available in Emergency Rural Health Care Funds

The USDA is making up to $500 million available in grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes, and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services, and nutrition assistance.

On August 12, USDA began accepting two types of applications for assistance: Recovery Grants and Impact Grants.

For more information about the grants and assistance available, visit the USDA webpage regarding rural health care funds.

Roundtable on Food Waste Solutions in the U.S. and Abroad

The USDA will host a virtual roundtable on September 15 (11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EDT) titled Exploring Food Waste Solutions: Success Stories from the U.S. and Beyond, to showcase innovative policies and approaches to reducing food waste in the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom.

The roundtable will feature public and private leaders in the food waste prevention sector followed by a Q&A session.

Registration is free but required to attend this event. Register online. The roundtable will be recorded and available on the USDA website after the event. For more information visit the event webpage.

2021 Arkansas Grown

The fishing town of Norfork, Arkansas has inspired a new brew. Tucked away where the White River meets the North Fork River, Norfork has long been considered part of the 'old west' and its those roots in the Ozarks setting that have inspired their history in a glass. Read about the Norfork Brewing Company in the latest edition of the Arkansas Grown magazine.

With over 20 features about Arkansas agriculture, there’s something for everyone. You can view the magazine online here, find a physical copy at various locations around the state, or request a copy!

Reminders

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.

For the latest in Arkansas agriculture, be sure to follow us on social media! Links to our social media pages can be found here.

Find a career in Arkansas's largest industry!

Are you passionate about Arkansas agriculture? With many new and exciting career opportunities, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture is looking for highly motivated individuals to bring their passion for the Arkansas agriculture industry to the workplace. Check out our available positions today on the AR Careers website by searching for "agriculture" or "natural resources."

Arkansas AG Facts: Arkansas Catfish Month

August is recognized as Arkansas Catfish Month.
Arkansas catfish farmers contributed more than $16.6 million to Arkansas's agricultural economy in foodsize fish sales last year.
Catfish producers in Arkansas had more than 7.1 million foodsize fish in inventory on January 1, 2021.
There were 3,600 water surface acres used for catfish production in Arkansas in 2020.
Arkansas is considered the birthplace of warm water aquaculture, beginning with the first commercial fish farms built in the 1940s for goldfish production.
Arkansas is also considered the birthplace of the commercial catfish industry with the first farm-raised catfish sales in the late 1950s.
There are excellent programs to provide research and support to the aquaculture industry in Arkansas.
The state enacted a catfish labeling law in 2015 to ensure consumers can accurately identify the country of origin of catfish produced in Arkansas retail establishments.
Aquaculture is an important sector of Arkansas's broad and diverse agricultural industry that contributes more than $21 billion to Arkansas's economy annual as the state's top industry.

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