Food, Farms and Forests

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Story Links BIG NEWS Two new varieties of muscadines set for fall release, expand growing season   TOP NOTCH Kariyat holds Clyde H. Sites Endowed Professorship in International Crop Physiology   Arkansas Research Alliance...

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, we spoke with Derico Setyabrata , assistant professor of meat science and muscle biology with the animal science department, about a recent study looking at how to optimize long-term storage of beef in the freezer. After comparing three cuts of meat, in whole sections and cut into steaks, with freeze-thawing cycles in industrial blast freezers and two...

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Story Links AI in Ag: Hyperspectral sensor pushes weed science a wave further Space lasers and AI used by geospatial scientist to measure forest biomass TOP NOTCH: Muenich receives Purdue University Outstanding Alumni Awar...

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Story Links BIG NEWS: Research team homes in on genetics behind blackberry thorns TOP NOTCH: Jason Norsworthy honored by Weed Science Society of America NEW FACES: Justin Chlapecka served as county extension agent before d...

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Don Johnson, a University Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology, joins us to discuss the intersection of agriculture, technology and education. Johnson addresses the importance of agricultural education, the challenges and successes in the field, and how ag education is evolving to include concepts like ar...

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 NER...

“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 fund...

“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, exp...

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 variet...

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...

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 bio...

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 a...

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 acr...

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 plan...

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. Nalle...

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 c...

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 herbicide...

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 bl...

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...

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...

In this episode, we learn about research that shows pesticide use can increase productivity and profits for producers, and alleviate pressure on water, land, and energy resources per unit of crop produced.   Marty Matlock, professor of ecological engineering with the biological and agricultural engineering department, shares an update on a recent life cycle assessment that found pesticide use help...

Two recent studies have revealed that mowing silverleaf nightshade, a poisonous and noxious weed, enhances its fitness and defenses, making it more robust and resistant to insect predation.    Rupesh Kariyat, an associate professor in the department of entomology and plant pathology, has provided valuable insights into this research, shedding light on the properties of this weed, which is also kno...

FRST is an interactive online tool that provides soil testing data to farmers and scientists. This resource is free and aims to offer better and more information to farmers so that they can decide how to best treat their soil. Nathan Slaton, associate vice president for agriculture and assistant director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, was the principal investigator on the project...

Scott Lafontaine, flavor chemist and assistant professor in the food science department, explains the science behind malted rice and how it could become another tool for the beer brewing industry. As climate change and rising costs threaten barley, this novel research shows how malted rice could provide a viable alternative. For consumers, malted rice beer offers a gluten-free option and a variety...

In our first episode of 2022, Nick Kordsmeier, director of Arkansas Ag Experiment Station Communications, spoke with Scott Osborn, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering, about his improved method for carbonating beer and how it’s helping a local brewery speed up production. Then, Science Writer John Lovett tells the story of nocturnal pollinating moths and some recent rese...