Arkansas Farm Bureau Podcast

Some are saying the effects of the recent flood in Arkansas could rival that of a similar event in 2011 that caused an estimated $500 million in losses to agriculture. While the full effects of this storm will not be known for several weeks, Dr. Eric Wailes, Distinguished Professor of Ag Economics at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, offers an early assessment of the magnitude of the recent flood and its impact on rural communities and agriculture.

Craig Wilson of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement updated members of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Rural Health and Safety committee on a number of health-related issues, including proposed revisions to the state insurance program and the need and prospects for reform.

In our latest podcast, we close out Autism Awareness Month with a discussion about Ag For Autism, a nonprofit organization established in 2012 to help provide education, therapy and support for families with autistic children in rural parts of Arkansas. Nathan Waldrip of Armor Seed in Jonesboro, president of Ag for Autism, explains the program and the need for more support.

The 2017 crop planting season is underway and the USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Service has released its planting intentions report. Listen to Matt King, ArFB director of market information and economics, discuss the report, what it says about Arkansas and what to expect this year.

About 60 Louisiana Farm Bureau cattle ranchers spent three days in Arkansas recently, touring livestock operations, research facilities and networking with their Natural State counterparts. In this conversation, Marty Wooldridge, a Louisiana Farm Bureau state board member and chair of the livestock advisory committee, talks about the tour and why it’s important for their producers to learn how things are being done in other states.

A recent poll asked almost 2,000 registered voters their opinions on agriculture and sustainability. According to the survey, almost all respondents - no matter the political affiliation - supported sustainability, by one definition or another, and most believe agriculture and farming to be among the nation’s most sustainable sectors. In this conversation, Mace Thornton, executive director of Communications for American Farm Bureau, discusses the survey results and why it’s good news for farmers and ranchers.

More young farm women are voluntarily giving their time to Arkansas Farm Bureau on the state and county level. Peggy Miller chairs the Arkansas Farm Bureau state women’s committee and Donna Bemis serves as vice-chairwoman. The annual state women’s conference was held recently and they took time to discuss the committee’s projects and why it’s important to get more farm women involved in advocating for agriculture.

Fighting hunger in Arkansas has become a priority for Arkansas Farm Bureau. The organization’s Young Farmers and Ranchers and Women’s Committees have adopted the “Pack Shack” and Backpack programs as their way of addressing the need to alleviate hunger in the state. In this conversation, Trent Dabbs, former chair of the state YF&R committee and Melanie Brown, a former elementary school teacher in Lonoke County, discuss these efforts and the need for young farmers and ranchers to get involved in their local communities.

Agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S., but most farm-related injuries and deaths are preventable. Listen as Amanda Williams, education and safety coordinator for Arkansas Farm Bureau, discusses the upcoming Agriculture Safety Awareness Week, the meaning this year’s theme of “Get out of my Space,” and some simple safety basics.

The theme of the 2017 Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers conference was “Thrive to Survive.” That’s exactly what the 350 or so who attended the annual gathering in Little Rock are doing. They are the future of agriculture in Arkansas. Miller County cattleman Chase Groves and his wife Krystal chair the ArFB state YF&R committee. He sat down to share his thoughts on the vital role of his generation in advocating for the state’s largest industry to ensure it remains profitable and sustainable.

The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University have formed a partnership to help fill a need for more graduates in poultry science. Dr. Tim Burcham, dean of the ASU College of Agriculture, Engineering and Technology, discusses the launch of this dual transfer "3-plus-1" bachelor’s degree program and its future benefits to the poultry industry in Arkansas.

More than 150 Arkansas farmers and ranchers participated in Arkansas Farm Bureau’s "Farmers’ Day at the Capitol" on Feb. 8. Agricultural producers met with their senators and representatives to speak with them in person about agricultural priorities. Listen to our interview with Jackson County farmer Jeff Rutledge, as he explains why the day was so important for the state’s largest industry.

As the number of family dairy farms continue to decline in Arkansas, Simon Brothers dairy near Conway endures. In this conversation, Matt Simon shares how he and his brothers are able to remain in business and what he believes needs to happen to the milk pricing system to make family dairy farming profitable again.

Arkansas Farm Bureau president Randy Veach discusses agricultural priorities for 2017 and offers his reaction to President Donald Trump's initial actions on international trade policy. He also shares his views on President Trump's nominees to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency.

The 115th Congress is now in session in Washington D.C. and House and Senate members are discussing possible changes to the federal tax code. Some of the proposed changes may benefit farmers and ranchers, while others may create new challenges. A special workshop, “Tax Code Changes that Could Impact Your Bottom Line,” was conducted at the American Farm Bureau annual convention in Phoenix this week to inform farmers and ranchers about what to expect. Hear workshop leaders Brennis Craddock and Patricia Wolff sum up their key concerns.

JoeThrash by Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation