Forestry Division Staff Provide Assistance
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Forestry Division staff braved the winter weather to clear the drive at the Arkansas State Veterans Home in North Little Rock. Baucum Nursery Supervisor James Shelton, Pulaski County Ranger Anthony Brown, and Watershed Forester Ty Dillon worked this week to ensure that the Arkansas State Veterans Home was accessible.
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USDA NASS Catfish Production Report Released
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service released the January Catfish Production Report on February 8. This full-text report, issued twice yearly, contains the grower inventory numbers of catfish by size groups for selected states. The report includes water acre usage, as well as total sales and a breakdown of usage by size group.
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Homegrown By Heroes Scholarship
Applications Due March 26
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas are partnering to provide two $1,000 Homegrown by Heroes academic scholarships to military veterans and active military personnel, their spouses, and children who are pursuing a degree in agriculture. Funding for the scholarships is generously provided by Farm Credit. Applications are due March 26, 2021 and are available at: agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-programs/.
“We are proud to partner with Farm Credit to provide academic scholarships for the men and women, and their families, who have served our country in the military,” says Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “Military service members and their families have many skills that make them great candidates for successful careers in agriculture. It is an honor to provide these scholarships as a way of thanking them for their service to our country.”
“The Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas appreciate the service Arkansas veterans and current military personnel give our country. We are pleased to help service members and their families pursue degrees and careers in the agricultural field by sponsoring these scholarships,” said James McJunkins, CEO and president of Farm Credit Midsouth.
Selection of scholarship recipients will be based on academic achievement, community involvement, extracurricular activities, financial need, and family circumstances. Preference will be given to Arkansas Homegrown by Heroes members, spouses, and their children, but membership is not required.
The scholarships are affiliated with Homegrown By Heroes, an Arkansas Department of Agriculture program that helps farmer veterans market their local agricultural products by labeling them as veteran-produced. Learn more about Homegrown by Heroes and find products grown or made by military veterans at arkansasgrown.org/homegrown-by-heroes/.
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New Homegrown By Heroes Member: DBees’s Nature Honey & Honey Bee Colonies
Danny Brewer, owner of DBees’s Nature Honey & Honey Bee Colonies and Arkansas Department of Agriculture employee, received his Homegrown By Heroes sign from Secretary Ward early this month.
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Farm to School Connection
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service are excited to offer an opportunity for schools and farmers to connect to create more opportunities for local food in schools. Join us March 18, 2021 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. to learn how to buy local food, how to sell your local produce to schools, and connect in a regional breakout session.
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Greenway Equipment and Jason Aldean
Partner to Benefit Local Food Banks
For the third consecutive year, Greenway Equipment and Jason Aldean are teaming up for an equipment giveaway as a fundraiser to benefit local food banks. The partnership will run until the drawing on April 9th and will give away a John Deere Gator and zero-turn mower Aldean used on his property near Nashville.
Proceeds from the promotion will benefit weekend backpack programs at the Arkansas Food Bank in Little Rock, Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro, and Southeast Missouri Food Bank in Sikeston. Together, the three food banks feed 4,600 children through their backpack programs, which send food home with deserving children each weekend. 1 in 4 local children are at risk for hunger, but $150 can provide a Backpack of food every weekend for one child for an entire school year.
"The backpack program serves one of our more vulnerable and precious resources: children," said Marshall Stewart, Greenway CEO. "This program provides food for local hungry children on the weekend when other resources, such as school meals, are not available. In fact, 25% of our local kids are at risk of food insecurity. For many of these children, school meals may be their only source of food."
The drawings will be held virtually on April 9. The first individual drawn will have his/her choice between the Gator and mower. The second individual draw will win the remaining piece of equipment. A $10 donation is requested for each entry*. Entries can be made through April 8 at any Greenway location or by texting "GoBackpack" to 44321. Entries can also be made by scanning the QR code below.
“Arkansas Foodbank is thrilled to be one of three food banks receiving backpack program support in central and southern Arkansas," said Rhonda Sanders, Arkansas Foodbank CEO. "Last year, we distributed nearly 100,000 backpacks to children facing hunger, and this contribution from Greenway and Jason Aldean will help us continue feeding students in 2021.”
Winner is responsible for freight/pickup and must pay taxes on equipment. For any questions about this fundraiser, please email kscott@gogreenway.com.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM CST
Price: Free
Open to the public - Anyone on or off Facebook
Keynote Speaker
Agenda
10-11: How to Pivot in a Pandemic
11-12: Video Content Production
12-1: Lunch- send in questions for Q&A
1-2: How to set up a YouTube Channel
2- 2:50: Q&A
3:00: General Meeting and Elections
(Note: must be a Core member and be on the conference at that time to vote.
Membership must be renewed prior to the general meeting.)
50% off Core Membership!
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Thank you to the farmers and ranchers across Arkansas for your strength, dedication, and diligent work. Arkansas agriculture is resilient.
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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.
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- FFA Week is a yearly tradition dating back to 1948 and is always the week of George Washington's birthday (February 22nd).
- During the week, FFA chapters across the nation celebrate program success, recognize invaluable supporters, and connect with their communities.
- In addition to the celebration days, FFA week also includes a National Days of Service campaign where students across the nation give back to their communities.
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While festivities may look a little different this year due to COVID-19 precautions, the National FFA Organization offers seven ways to celebrate FFA Week from a safe distance: https://www.ffa.org/ffa-new-horizons/2021-guide-to-national-ffa-week/?vgo_ee=Tvxyf8NXCXNZymPXyufbaTLNIrdM2%2BV3EVlOsryNJ4hENPrAykX09NZtdtRxyAJp
- During the week, FFA also partners with Tractor Supply Company to raise Grants for Growing funds so that FFA chapters can apply for up to $5,000 for growing their classroom, chapter, or ag awareness.
- Check with your local FFA chapter to see how you can participate, donate, volunteer, or support.
- Follow our FFA Week celebration on social media!
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COVID-19 Resources
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has produced numerous shareable and printable COVID-19 resources. We invite and encourage the use of all resources which can be found on our COVID-19 Resource page, including:
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Opt-in to receive email notifications (board meeting notices, newsletters, etc.) from the
Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
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