Food, Farms and Forests

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Tim Burcham joins us to discuss the recently completed Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center — also known as NERREC. Dr. Burcham shares NERREC's mission to help farmers achieve greater profitability and sustainability and to educate the public about the importance of rice and agriculture in Arkansas. He discusses the significance of NERREC's location and agronomic characteristics, the importance of sustainability in rice production, an...

“I love research and being a part of … this process of being able to help faculty get funding for their research,” said Dr. Keith Berry Jr. In this Food, Farms & Forest episode, we are joined by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s first-ever research development specialist. Berry shares an overview of the proposal writing process and provides some quick tips for finding greater funding success. Listen in to learn how Berry is helping Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station fac...

“We’re introducing a new fruit,” said Dr. Renee Threlfall. In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Renee Threlfall shares her work on a USDA-funded project to develop a new generation of muscadine grapes. Known for their resilience and unique flavor, muscadines are being hybridized with bunch grapes to combine each species' best qualities. Threlfall, who leads the quality team, explains the science behind creating a grape that balances durability with consumer appeal. Threlfal...

New research is exploring combining the best traits of traditional table grapes with muscadines to create disease-resistant, flavorful grapes consumers will love. In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Margaret Worthington, associate professor of horticulture and researcher at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, explains the project she co-leads to create a new grape variety. Worthington and an interdisciplinary team of 31 researchers from 12 institutions acros...

Duck hunting season takes place in November and December in Arkansas and duck hunters and experts are watching for birds coming into the area in October, a group often referred to as "Halloween ducks". Dr. Doug Osborne, professor in the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and researcher for the experiment station, explains mallards' migration patterns, the challenges faced by waterfowl populations, and the importance of creatin...

In this episode of Food, Farms, and Forests, Dr. Jada Thompson, associate professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness breaks down the economic factors affecting turkey and egg prices for the upcoming holiday season. She discusses the highly pathogenic avian influenza and avian metapneumovirus, or aMPV, how producers adjust supply in response to potential outbreaks, and the impacts of biosecurity measures and backyard poultry. Tune in as Thompson dives deeper into the economic dyn...

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Natalie Clay, an associate professor in the entomology and plant pathology department, talks about her research on decomposition in Brazil's dry tropical forests supported by the Fulbright Scholar Program, the world's largest and most diverse international education exchange program. Clay’s research investigates how changes in land use affect nutrient cycling, soil health, and decomposition rates, revealing unexpected results about sodium lev...

In this episode of Arkansas Food, Farms & Forests, we explore the Restoring Bottomland Hardwood Forests project with principal investigator Dr. Nana Tian, a researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and associate professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Planting begins this fall, and over the next 3 to 5 years, this project aims to restore approximately 600 acres of Arkansas bottomland forests by planting oak species and other hardwoods. With a $3.71 mill...

In this Food, Farms & Forests episode, we travel to the University of Arkansas at Monticello to explore efforts to restore bottomland hardwood forests in Arkansas. Dr. Michael Blazier, Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, discusses the Restoring Bottomland Hardwood Forests project, a $3.7 million initiative that plans to convert idle farmland into thriving ecosystems. Funded through the U.S. Department o...

Arkansas could produce an estimated 1 to 3.5 million more servings of rice per year. That’s according to recent research analyzing rice quality in the state. In this episode of Food, Farms and Forests, Dr. Lanier Nalley, interim department head and professor in the agricultural economics and agribusiness department, explains his research on the impacts of improving rice milling quality. Dr. Nalley and Dr. Alvaro Durand-Morat conducted a study titled "Feeding More With The Same Output: How ...

In this episode of Food, Farms, and Forests Podcast, we talk to Dr. Emily McDermott, assistant professor of medical and veterinary entomology, and Dr. Cameron Osborne, a postdoctoral fellow, to discuss the REDI-NET project and how their research is contributing to building the database for the Department of Defense. REDI-NET, which stands for Remote Emerging Disease Intelligence Network, is a collaborative initiative involving the University of Arkansas, the University of Notre Dame, an...

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Matt Bertucci, an assistant professor in the horticulture department, discusses his recent research on using herbicides normally used in row crops in blackberry production. The data supports the safety and effectiveness of 2,4-D choline and glufosinate in blackberry growing systems. Bertucci hopes to see regulatory approvals for these herbicides soon, allowing blackberry growers to benefit from these "new" weed management options...

In this episode of Arkansas Food, Farms and Forests, we discuss a study on the interaction of trellising type and spray coverage in blackberries. Aaron Cato, an extension specialist in the horticulture department focusing on integrated pest management, shared details about his latest research and related studies that looked at the impact of the rotating cross-arm trellis on pest management in blackberries focusing on the spotted wing drosophila infestation. The research found that...

In this Food, Farms & Forest episode, we learn about the development of the first agricultural communications program in the United Kingdom. Jenifer Fouch speaks with Dr. Jeff Miller, a professor in the agricultural education, communications, and technology department, who’s helping establish the very first ag communications curriculum at Scotland’s Rural College based on his years of research on the topic. Miller discusses his findings, the importance of agriculture communi...

May 2024 Arkansas Agricultural Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. In this edition: Find out who was recently named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.Low-frequency microwaves destroy weed seeds underground, prompting further studies as a broad-spectrum application.A new soil prediction model was developed to provide speedier options.What makes a chicken more water efficient than other...