Arkansas AgCast

This week’s episode covers Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ executive order allowing farmers to use tax-free, dyed diesel fuel on highways through October. We also discuss USDA’s Agriculture Risk Coverage deadlines. ArFB state board member Dana Stewart discusses the current state of the cattle industry and the need for a state climatologist to help with drought reporting.  

On this episode we discuss President Donald Trump’s plan to lower fertilizer costs by purchasing potash from Belarus, and how diesel rates could raise grocery prices. Sen. John Boozman discusses the Agricultural Act of 2026 passing the Senate Agriculture Committee and what that could mean for farmers moving forward.    

The farm bill has passed the senate ag committee, hot and dry weather is causing problems at harvest, and we visit with Dr. Tim Burcham, director of the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center to hear about research being done to benefit farmers.  

On this episode we discuss how an increase in farm income projections will not necessarily translate into more profit for farmers. Plus, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Feral Hog Program Coordinator Ryan Farney joins the show to discuss the feral hog problem in Arkansas. 

Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Beef Economist Addie Stamps joins the show to discuss the planned import of 300,000 metric tons of beef into the U.S. Also, we’ll discuss biofuel news and new risk management tools for cattle producers. 

On this episode, we discuss President Donald Trump’s announcement to import beef in an effort to lower prices at the grocery store. We also welcome Keith Glover, CEO of Producers Rice Mill, to discuss historically low rice acres in Arkansas and the long-term effects that may have on rural communities. 

On this Arkansas AgCast Deep Dive, Clay Parker, ArFB’s Young Farmers and Ranchers vice chair, discusses the current work being done by the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, challenges facing young farmers and ranchers, and how being involved with Farm Bureau offers unique opportunities for networking and support. 

On this Arkansas AgCast Deep Dive, ArFB Executive Vice President Jarrod Yates joins us to discuss policy development, advocacy and the implementation of Farm Bureau Health Plans of Arkansas. 

On this Deep Dive episode of the Arkansas AgCast, Dr. Ryan Loy, assistant professor and agricultural finance extension economist at the University of Arkansas, discusses the current state of international markets, volatile interest rates and what the future may hold for agriculture.   Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Tune in as Dr. Loy breaks down the challenges and opportunities facing fa...

On this Arkansas AgCast Deep Dive, Dr. Hunter Biram discusses the current farm economy, updates on the farm bill and potential aid for farmers. As farmers prepare for harvest and plan for 2027, hear when Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage payments are expected to begin. 

On this episode, we break down a nationwide right-to-repair settlement involving John Deere that expands farmers’ and mechanics’ access to repair tools and diagnostic software. Also new research shows U.S. farmers face significantly higher production costs than global competitors, USDA's record investment in the Farm-to-School Grant Program and China's largest purchase of U.S. soybeans since 2025.

On this episode, we break down a bipartisan proposal to overhaul the H-2A guest worker program, including changes that could expand access to ag labor and provide more certainty for producers. We also take a look at USDA's latest acreage report and what a major shift toward soybeans means for Arkansas agriculture. Finally, we discuss new rules governing the future use of feral hog chemicals and ex...

On this episode, we break down the Senate Agriculture Committee's newly released farm bill draft, including proposed updates to the farm safety net, crop insurance, specialty crop programs and rural development. We also look at new research showing how low Mississippi River levels can reduce the prices farmers receive for their grain, discuss the White House's request for additional farm assistanc...

Host John McMinn sits down with newly-appointed Farm Service Agency State Director Ty Davis to discuss his farming roots, FSA programs that farmers can utilize and how his role in Senator John Boozman’s office helped prepare him for his role as FSA director in his home state. 

On this episode, we break down USDA's new specialty crop assistance payments, a rare opportunity for farmers to review and update base acres, and the first confirmed case of New World screwworm in U.S. livestock in decades. We also cover major changes to federal farm program eligibility rules that could expand payment limits and increase flexibility for many farm operations beginning in 2026.

Host John McMinn sits down with Jay Robbins, Arkansas Farm Bureau’s senior director of national affairs, to discuss the recent passage of the farm bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. For farmers still relying on programs tied to the outdated 2018 farm bill, the move marks an important step forward.   The conversation explores what still stands between the bill and becoming law, including Se...

On this episode, we break down USDA’s latest efforts to expand domestic fertilizer production, how rising diesel costs are reshaping crop decisions for Arkansas farmers, and new trade commitments between the U.S. and China that could impact agricultural exports and input costs. We also look at continued strong demand for beef, pork and poultry despite higher grocery prices and what that means for...

Host Jason Brown sits down with Mandy Young to discuss mental health in agriculture and the work being done through Tailgate Time, a nonprofit built for mental health support services for farmers, their families, farm employees and others in agriculture. From stress and isolation to the realities facing farm families, we look at prioritizing mental health on the farm and in rural communities. The...

On this episode, we break down House passage of the 2026 farm bill and what it could mean for producers as it heads to the Senate. We also cover major freeze damage to Arkansas peaches and blueberries, new USDA conservation funding opportunities and the timeline for applying for the Arkansas Century Farm Program.

Host Jason Brown sits down with Arkansas Farm Bureau economist Brandy Carroll to break down new data on fertilizer purchases and what it reveals about the financial pressures facing farmers, especially here in Arkansas. From rising input costs to tough decisions on fertilizer use, this conversation explains how today’s farm economy is shaping production and risk management across the state.

On this episode, we take a closer look at ongoing fertilizer challenges and how federal officials are working to stabilize supply and invest in domestic production. We also cover a new push led by Arkansas Rep. Rick Crawford to investigate foreign rice trade practices, a which could significantly impact for Arkansas farmers and global competitiveness. In addition, USDA is offering new funding oppo...

On this episode, we break down USDA’s latest WASDE report and what steady supply estimates mean for crop and livestock markets heading into the growing season. We also look at new American Farm Bureau survey data showing fertilizer affordability challenges for farmers, with rising input costs continuing to shape planting decisions across the country. In addition, we discuss ongoing conversations i...

From equipment to policy to education, this episode covers crucial ag news in the headlines right now. This week, we break down a major right-to-repair development as John Deere reaches a proposed $99 million settlement that could expand farmers’ access to equipment diagnostics and repair tools. We also provide an update on the Illinois River Watershed case after a federal judge rejected proposed...

This Arkansas AgCast episode covers new EPA guidance aimed at reducing equipment downtime tied to DEF system failures, including changes that could improve reliability for farmers. We also take a closer look at USDA’s Prospective Plantings report and what shifting acreage trends could mean for corn, soybeans, rice and cotton in Arkansas and across the country. In addition, new data shows farmers a...

On this episode, we break down rising fertilizer costs and supply concerns tied to the Iran conflict, review a proposed farm bill framework for specialty crop disaster assistance and discuss increased scrutiny of U.S. ag exports at Chinese ports. We also cover important dicamba changes for Arkansas farmers ahead of the growing season.