Belinda Woodard Wright, a Scott Co. FB Women’s Committee member, is a talented photographer. She recently was honored when some of her photos were used on motivational posters for students at Waldron Middle School. The caption on this “Boot and Spur” photo reads “Respect: Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Congratulations, Belinda.
In Arkansas Soybean Research Summit The 2013 Arkansas Soybean Research Summit will cap a record-breaking year with a panel discussion featuring the growers who broke the 100-bushel-per-acre barrier, along with University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture experts who will share advice for a great 2014 growing season. “We have a solid lineup we think will answer many of the most common
concerns and questions Arkansas soybean growers may have had through the 2013 growing season,” said Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the UofA’s Division of Agriculture. The conference is set for Dec. 17 at the Northeast Arkansas District Fairgrounds in Jonesboro. The event, sponsored by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board,
KEN MOORE photo
KEN MOORE photo
FILE photo
SCOTT CO FB photo
tance of energy in agriculture. In this comic-book-style game, players visit regions facing energy crises, review each situation and fire up the “Energy Expert 5,000” to keep Energy Land running. The game offers a whole new experience for My American Farm users, as they adjust a virtual energy meter to designate energy sources for a region in need. After playing the game, learners will understand the importance of having a balanced energy plan and discover energy as an important sector in the agriculture industry. Accompanying the game is a new eComic, “Lights Out,” which invites learners to join Benjamin P. Farmington as he travels through time with his great-grandfather to learn how energy has changed. The new game and resources can be found at www. myamericanfarm.org/games/power_up.
The Garland Co. FB’s Women’s Committee sponsored a Dutch oven cook-off in Hot Springs on Oct. 26. Participants prepared main dish and dessert recipes, and certificates were awarded to the winners. The event was designed to promote agriculture in the county, with recipes featuring locally grown produce and food products.
Lonoke County farmer Robby Bevis of Scott uses the Arkansas Farm Bureau app to check the latest news, weather updates and market prices. Bevis also checks the calendar of events on a regular basis so he will not miss important meetings. The app is available for download on iPhone and Android mobile devices.
The National Association of Farm Broadcasters annual reporting awards were called Oscars until the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences requested the practice stop. NAFB says the awards now will be called “The Doans,” to honor the late Stewart Doan, an Arkansan who covered agricultural policy news from Arkansas to Washington D.C. for more than 30 years. opens at 8 a.m. with registration and ends with lunch at 12:15 p.m. There’s no cost to attend. Contact Jeremy Ross at 501-6712148 for more information. Record crop yields Despite a soaking start to the 2013 growing season, Arkansas farmers will likely end 2013 with yield records in corn, cotton, soybeans and rice, according to projections released Nov. 8 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The NASS “Crop Production” report said: • Corn yielded 182 bushels per acre. The previous record, 178 bushels per acre, was set in 2012. Arkansas farmers harvested 855,000 acres of corn. • Cotton yielded 1,120 pounds per acre from 300,000 harvested acres. This beats the record of 1,112 pounds per acre set in 2004. • Rice yielded 7,550 pounds, or 168 bushels per acre. Arkansas farmers harvested 1.07 million acres. • Soybean state average yield was 45 bushels per acre from 3.2 million harvested acres. This beat the 43-bushel-per-acre record set last year. • Sorghum didn’t set a record but came in at 88 bushels per acre, up four bushels from last year.