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Arkansas Grown Meats Meat Processing Grant Program Steers Needed Funds Into Arkansas
Arkansas Grown Meats
Meat Processing Grant Program Steers Needed Funds Into Arkansas
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As Arkansans tried to source more locally grown and processed meat in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused food supply chain disruptions, it quickly became apparent that Arkansas needed additional meat and poultry processing capacity. To address that need, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) worked with industry partners to create the Arkansas Meat Processing Grant Program. With $10.4 million provided for the program by the Arkansas CARES Act Steering Committee and the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Department awarded grants up to $500,000 to 31 facilities across the state in October 2020. Colton Capps, owner of JACO Meats in Hope, was one of the 31 grant recipients. Capps had witnessed the growing demand in his area for locally processed meat even before the pandemic and considered expanding his operation, but the cost of construction and processing equipment made it cost- prohibitive. “Once we heard about the grant, we knew it was our chance to make the expansion possible,” said Capps. Capps used the grant funding for the construction of a new building, refrigeration equipment, and additional meat processing equipment. The facility received its federal grant of inspection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in August and has tripled its weekly processing
capacity. Capps expects to almost double his current production rate in 2022. Capps said, “The grant program helps bridge the gap between producers and consumers. It provides producers more avenues to market their livestock, and it allows consumers to buy meat that is raised locally, providing that peace of mind that comes with knowing where it came from. It also creates an efficiency “The expansion of the meats that we haven’t seen in program at Arkansas State my lifetime in southwest will provide our students Arkansas. We aren’t and community with selling cattle to an out- of-state feedlot, valuable career training...” processing it in another state, and buying it from a grocery store that isn’t locally owned. We are doing all of that right here at home.” Arkansas State University College of Agriculture (ASU) received funding through the grant program to upgrade its current meat processing facility, known as the A-State Meats Lab, and expand teaching and research opportunities. Dr. David Newman, associate professor of animal science at ASU, oversees the meats lab project and works with USDA to achieve federal inspection for the renovated lab. In addition to giving the lab the ability to sell USDA-inspected meat into interstate commerce, a USDA grant of inspection will give students the opportunity to work with USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service inspectors and receive crucial and relevant on-the-job training. ASU believes the renovated lab and the expanded programs offered will attract
new students to the Animal Science program and also provide educational opportunities for the community. Dr. Newman said, “The expansion of the meats program at Arkansas State will provide our students and community with valuable career training, educational seminars, and the availability to purchase fresh directly from campus.” Damon and Jana Helton, owners of The Farm at Barefoot Bend and Central Arkansas Meat Processing, used their grant to purchase the state’s first Mobile Harvest Unit (MHU). The Heltons produce cattle, hogs, and poultry on their farm and have experienced the processing backlog firsthand. “Having meat to sell is how we pay the bills. Not being able to get finished animals into the butcher really put a financial strain on our farming operation,” said Damon Helton. “The state’s Meat and Poultry Processing Grant was a unique opportunity to develop a Mobile Harvest Unit to help address the processing backlog, reduce the loading and transporting stress on animals, and reduce transportation costs for producers.”
The MHU has received a Conditional Grant of Inspection from USDA and will be able to process cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats. Initial capacity is estimated at 15 head of beef, 20-25 hogs, and 25-30 sheep and goats per day.
The Heltons also plan to establish a “brick and mortar” facility for the fabrication and packaging of the finished meat products. “We are in the middle of a local food renaissance and demand for local food is through the roof,” said Helton. “Jana and I are honored to be part of helping consumers 'know their farmer, know their food'."
Learning Life Skills on the Farm
Investing in Agriculture Means Inmates Learn New Skills
While the Arkansas Department of Corrections may not have the largest farm in the state, Davey Farabough, farm administrator for the Department of Corrections, is confident it has one of the most diverse. Row crops, produce, dairy cattle, laying hens, beef cattle, horses, and timber are spread across more than 20,000 acres at nine different farm locations throughout the state. The continuous effort to provide low-cost and nutritious food to inmates while teaching them agricultural skills plays an invaluable role in preparing individuals to re-enter society and saving the state tax dollars.
“It’s hard work, and most of them want to be out there doing it,” said Farabough. “Being a part of our unit farms means they are moving closer to going back into society. They are learning a trade, a skill, a labor… and they take pride in it. For example, a lot of the men work for us in the laying houses that are part of our poultry operation. They’re assigned a house to care for and they really take ownership of it. It’s theirs to manage, to care for, to play a role in the success of it. So, they are fully invested and they have a sense of pride about it.” Farabough also explained the importance of providing the products grown and raised by the inmates back to them for consumption. Dieticians with the Department of Corrections plan meals for consumption and work alongside the agriculture units to decide what needs to be planted and grown.
Much of the row crops are grains such as rice, corn, soybeans, oats, and wheat. Many of the vegetables grown for consumption, including squash, potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, peas, beans, and radishes, are planted multiple times throughout the year. Eggs and milk are processed by inmates, and all finished products are consumed in the units. Beef cattle are sold through Superior Livestock Auction and the money is used to purchase ground beef for inmates.
In addition to providing food for inmates, the Arkansas Department of Corrections farm produces feed for livestock on the farm. An onsite feed mill and grain bins store corn and oats for cattle raised on the farm and the horses utilized throughout the farming operation. Their partnership with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture also helps with the improvement of the operations
and advancement of research in agriculture, all of which affect the farm’s bottom dollar. “We operate this farm just like any other farm in the state of Arkansas,” said Farabough. “We only spend what we make, but what sets us apart is that we’re so diverse. If we suffer a hailstorm that wipes out a corn crop, we can chop it for silage and feed it to cows without a total loss.” The horse herd at the farm enables the safe implementation of labor and teaches inmates trade skills like farrier work. Teaching inmates to drive tractors and grain trucks helps with harvest while preparing them for future careers. Each aspect of the agriculture units provides the opportunity for improved production, advancements in agriculture research, and the success of the inmates.
“We have a strong success rate with inmates learning a work ethic through our program and then getting jobs,” said Farabough. “A lot of people don’t realize the farm is here and that it operates as a public service. Everything we produce here goes back into the units to help offset the cost and to relieve the burden on the taxpayers of Arkansas. And we do it all while working with these inmates and investing in them.”
NATURAL RESOURCES
Conservation, Water Resources Development, and Water Resources Management
Funded 6 Unpaved Road Program projects totaling $396,475
DEVELOPMENT
Water Planning DAM SAFETY CONSERVATION UNPAVED ROADS
Provided technical training and support on flood risk reduc�on and mi�ga�on to 1,700 community officials represen�ng 425 towns, ci�es, and coun�es
Nonpoint Source POLLUTION GROUND WATER Floodplain management
$1.4 Million and
technical assistance provided to 44 projects associated with the abatement/ reduc�on or control of nonpoint source pollutants
Partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey and USDA Natural Resources Conserva�on Service
Provided $150,000 in boun�es for 16,933 beaver tails across 55 districts
917 nutrient management plans developed and
Monitored Arkansas aquifers, taking measurements at
1,200 WELLS
provided $713 Million
to hire Nutrient Management Technicians
Processed and approved 16 new riparian zone tax credit projects with $835,500 in eligible project costs
63 community water-related projects worth more than $154 MILLION
Managed the ongoing deployment of $5,000,000 in flood mi�ga�on projects, providing support to communi�es ravaged by the 2019 Arkansas River flood
Saving Vital Resources
Conserving Arkansas's Groundwater and Agricultural Production
In the 1980s, a report issued by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, now the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division, called attention to the rapidly shrinking groundwater resources in the Grand Prairie area of Arkansas. Two important irrigation and water management projects in eastern Arkansas are closer to achieving the goals of preserving Arkansas’s groundwater while also reducing flood damage and conserving wildlife habitat. The Grand Prairie of Arkansas is an agriculturally significant area in Arkansas, Prairie, Lonoke, and Monroe counties between the White River and Arkansas River. The area is the cornerstone of Arkansas’s rice industry that consistently produces more than 50 percent of the nation’s rice. The Grand Prairie also produces a wide range of other crops, including soybeans and corn, and is the home of two of the state’s largest farmerowned cooperatives, Riceland Foods and Producers Rice Mill.
The Grand Prairie Project and the Bayou Meto Water Project were initiated decades ago for groundwater protection and conservation purposes, incorporating water quality, waterfowl management, recreation, and environmental protection/restoration measures. The projects share similar purposes but differ in some ways to meet the unique needs of the project area, geography, and local preferences. The progress of both the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto projects has been possible because of devoted partners at the local, state, and federal levels.
Grand Prairie Project
In 1991, Congress authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project by working with local, state, and federal partners to develop an optimal improvement plan to offer water security while supporting agricultural, municipal, and commercial water uses.
The resulting plan for the area includes numerous on-farm conservation and winter waterfowl improvement measures with an emphasis on conversion from groundwater to surface water use. The plan includes on-farm reservoirs and tailwater recovery systems, irrigation “There is a critical pipelines to save water need for these irrigation projects.” during transport, and other conservation measures to meet about 50 percent of the water need. The remaining 50 percent is to be met with the Grand Prairie Project which involves the import of excess water via a pump station on the White River, a network of new canals, pipelines, and associated channel structures, on-farm features, and environmental restoration and enhancement measures. The improvement plan is currently being implemented by a partnership involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS), the Arkansas Department of
Agriculture, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the White River Irrigation District. Other partners include the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
To date, more than $200 million has been invested in the project. The project has provided a pump station and pipelines that will carry the water from the river to a completed irrigation-regulating reservoir that sits almost 100 feet higher than the river. Water from the reservoir will gravity flow through a network of new canals and pipelines to more than 250,000 acres of irrigated cropland. The water will flow west from DeValls Bluff to Carlisle, then Southeast to Slovak, Stuttgart, and as far south as DeWitt.
A crucial step toward delivering affordable surface water to the first 40,000 acres of the 250,000 acres of irrigated crop land took place in early 2021 with the start of canal construction. Funded through grants provided through USDA NRCS and committed loans from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, construction started in 2021 on the first two miles of the canal. An additional ten miles of canal construction is planned for 2022. Future phases of this project are designed in increments of 30,000 to 40,000 acres over the next five years. Construction will continue with a new segment starting each year, funding permitting, until all 250,000 acres are receiving water.
Bayou Meto Project
The Bayou Meto Project was authorized by Congress in 1996 to provide flood control, wildlife habitat, and surface water irrigation benefits to approximately 300,000 acres in Lonoke, Prairie, Jefferson, and Arkansas counties. Row crop farming of soybeans, rice, cotton, corn, and other crops is the primary driver of the economy in the Bayou Meto Project area and is dependent upon irrigation water availability and good drainage.
The approved plan for the Bayou Meto Project includes pumping excess Arkansas River water into a series of canals, bayous, and pipelines to approximately 268,000 acres of irrigated farmland to support commodity production. A pumping station in the lower portion of the project area will
remove excess water from the lower project area, including the 33,000-acre Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area, a premier winter duck habitat. Preventing water retention during the growing season of high-quality bottomland hardwood trees will help preserve valuable wildlife habitat.
Partners in the project include the Bayou Meto Water Management District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, the USDA NRCS, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Approximately $167 million has been invested in the project to date, resulting in the construction of two pumping stations, a regulating reservoir, several miles of canal, and a bridge.
A recent grant from the USDA NRCS is financing the next phase of the construction. Work is expected to start in early 2022 and will include completion of the main canal to reach the Indian Bayou, removal of obstructions from the bayou, and construction of pipeline networks to reach farms. Pending available funding, the project is estimated to begin delivering water to farms within the next three to five years.
Mike Sullivan, the Arkansas State Conservationist for the USDA NRCS, has been instrumental in the recent progress on both projects. “There is a critical need for these irrigation projects due to declining levels in the Alluvial and Sparta aquifers that are used for agricultural irrigation, municipal, and industrial water,” Sullivan said. “These projects will balance the use and supply of existing surface and groundwater resources so agricultural production can continue sustainably into the future.”
Sporting the Jacket –Green and Blue
FFA & 4-H Students Break New Ground
As two young girls grew up in the agriculture-based state of Arkansas, they learned the power of community and how to find their way in a big world. Sara Gardner and Anna Mathis, through involvement in FFA and 4-H, have found ways to impact the upcoming youth with the same passion for agriculture.
FFA and 4-H enjoy statewide support, with 4-H being in all 75 counties and FFA having over 14,000 members across the state.
Sara Gardner
Sara Gardner is a junior at the University of Arkansas (UA) pursuing a double major in Agricultural Economics and International Economics with minors in Ag Leadership, International Development, and Spanish. Her passion for international economic development was established through a onemonth service-learning trip to Mozambique.
She served as State 4-H President, was inducted into the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame, and now serves on the National 4-H Young Alumni Advisory Board.
Gardner has been volunteering for veterans for 12 years and was the recipient of the National Disabled American Veterans Youth Volunteer of the Year Award. On campus, Gardner is serving her second term as Associated Student Government’s Director of Veterans Affairs and is a National Ag Futures of America Scholar. Gardner is an officer of Collegiate Farm Bureau, Delta Delta Delta, and the Student Alumni Association.
In 2021, she interned in the White House Office of Political Affairs. She is employed part time as a Communications Specialist at the National Agricultural Law Center and plans to attend law school after completing her degrees.
Anna Mathis
Anna Mathis grew up in the small town of Valley Springs, Arkansas. She is a student at the University of Arkansas (UA) in Fayetteville double majoring in Agricultural Communications and Agricultural Leadership. Mathis has long term aspirations of being involved in the intersection of rural engagement and agricultural policy, while amplifying the stories of farmers and ranchers along the way.
During her first year as a Razorback, Anna served as the State FFA President where she set strategic vision and was a voice for student success through agriculture and agricultural education.
Anna took a leave of absence from UA while serving as the National FFA Secretary. In this role she informed, motivated, and inspired 760,000+ FFA members, along with advisors, state staff and teachers, while forming relationships with corporate sponsors and state and national legislators.
SHARED SERVICES
Fiscal, Human Resources, Marketing, Information Technology, Legal, Laboratory Services, Law Enforcement, Trade and Economics
Fiscal managed a combined opera�ng budget of more than $208 MILLION
$1,312
received in fines and suppression reimbursements
133 law enforcement cases resolved
158 law enforcement assists performed
$608,645 Restitution returned to Arkansas land owners
Human Resources filled 142 open posi�ons across all divisions
Marke�ng issued 74 press releases, and promoted 14 state proclama�ons
Assisted Department’s boards and commissions in promulga�ng 9 rules
Coordinated 14 farm loan media�ons, with 10 resul�ng in successful resolu�ons
11,350 vendor invoices processed
SASDA: An Authentic Success
SASDA 2021 Conference Made Possible Through Generous Sponsors
While the agriculture industry certainly looks different across the United States, all 50 states and four territories have a department of agriculture with the same basic purpose – to protect, promote, and support the state’s agriculture industry. These departments work together through the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, better known as NASDA.
NASDA, founded in 1916, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association that represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. NASDA grows and enhances American agriculture through policy, partnerships, and public engagement. NASDA is governed by a ten-member Board of Directors consisting of a five-member Executive Committee, one At-Large member, and the presidents of the four NASDA regions. Executive Committee members are the officers of the association and serve a five-year term. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward was elected secretarytreasurer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) for 2021-22 at their annual conference in September.
“It’s a great honor to be elected as secretary-treasurer of NASDA,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “I am proud to represent Arkansas within the organization and look forward to supporting our nation’s states and territories in promoting our diverse agriculture industry.” Secretary Ward served as the 2020-2021 President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA), one of the four NASDA regions, and chairman of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee. SASDA strives to improve American agriculture through the development and promotion of sound public policy and agriculture-related businesses and programs and to communicate the vital economic importance of agriculture. SASDA includes members from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia.
As part of Secretary Ward’s term as the SASDA President, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture hosted the 2021 Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA) Conference in June. The conference included updates and discussions on a range of issues, policies, and programs important to agriculture. Governor Asa Hutchinson and members of Arkansas’s congressional delegation, including Senator John Boozman, Congressman Rick Crawford, Representative French Hill, and Representative Bruce Westerman, were able to join SASDA members and provided updates on a range of issues and policies important to agriculture. Harrison Pittman with the National Agricultural Law Center provided an overview of the latest agricultural and food law issues.
The 2021 SASDA conference would not have been possible without the generous contributions from sponsors. The conference’s theme was “Authentic Arkansas,” and from the rice fields of the Arkansas delta to the top of Petit Jean Mountain, attendees enjoyed several excursions that demonstrated why agriculture is Arkansas’s largest industry. The outpouring of support throughout the whole state demonstrated to guests what true Arkansas hospitality looks like.
“Serving as the 2020-2021 President of SASDA and hosting the 2021 SASDA meeting, in-person in Little Rock, was an honor,” said Secretary Ward. “We are incredibly proud of the agriculture industry here in our state and look forward to the many ways that Arkansas will continue to contribute to American agriculture through SASDA and NASDA in the coming years.” At the close of the conference, Secretary Ward passed the SASDA president's gavel on to Commissioner Kent Leonhardt of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
SASDA and NASDA are great resources for state departments of agriculture and provide additional ways for producers to have their voices heard at the regional and national levels. “Partnerships have always been important in agriculture, and I’ve seen firsthand the impact that working with our counterparts across the county can have in addressing issues and finding effective solutions for the industry,” said Ward.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture was honored to host the 2021 Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA) annual meeting in Little Rock.
The 2021 SASDA agenda incorporated many of the unique and authentic features of Arkansas that make it such a wonderful place to live, work, and visit. Attendees enjoyed scenic views from atop Pinnacle Mountain, a trip to the Delta rice fields, Arkansas pecans, black apples, tomatoes, a private concert from Arkansas’s very own Buddy Jewel, and discussions with key Arkansas state and national government officials. This showcase of Authentic Arkansas was possible through the generous support of the 2021 SASDA sponsors! Thank you for your support of Arkansas and Arkansas agriculture!
Diamond Sponsors
Revolution Simmons Bank Southern Crop Production Association
Platinum
Riceland Foods, Inc. Tyson Foods, Inc.
Gold
Airbox Arkansas Farm Bureau Elanco Animal Health Inc. Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas Merck Animal Health Rollins, Inc. U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Silver
Agricultural Council of Arkansas American Farmland Trust American Pecans Anthony Timberlands Arrow Exterminators Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. CoBank Delta Peanut Silver (Cont.) Little Rock Port Authority Mi-Corporation National Industrial Hemp Council Petit Jean Meats Potlatch Deltic Ralston Family Farms USA Rice Weyerhaeuser
Bronze
ADM American Seed Trade Association Arkansas Bait and Ornamental Fish Growers Association Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Arkansas Forestry Association Arkansas Pork Producers Arkansas Timber Producers Association Catfish Farmers of Arkansas Catfish Pro Delta Solar Ducks Unlimited Green Bay Packaging Greenway Equipment, Inc. Hiland Dairy Foods
Bronze (Cont.) Hormel Foods Corporation Hot Springs Natural House of Webster Kingwood Forestry Services, Inc. Mountaire Corporation Murray State University Hutson School of Agriculture Natural State Rabbit Nestle Purina Producers Rice Mill, Inc. Ray Dillon Ritter Agribusiness The Ross Foundation Skippy Brand Peanut Butter Southern Cotton Ginners Association Southern Extension Risk Management Education Texas Peanuts Soybean Promotion Board Wilson Brothers Lumber WinWam Software
Friends of Agriculture
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Arkansas PBS Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Arkansas Rice Federation Arkansas Secretary of State Caddo Trading Company Cavender’s Central Arkansas Resource Conservation & Development Council Dan’s Whetstone Epstein Gin Fayette County Farm Bureau FieldWatch First Financial Bank Halo Branded Solutions Honeyton Farms KYYA Chocolate Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort Post Winery Pradco Outdoor Brands Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce Who Dat’s Cajun Restaurant Winthrop Rockefeller Intitute
Agribusiness Options for Arkansas Youth
New Business Academy Opens in Lonoke County
In the United States, it takes an average of four to six years to complete a baccalaureate program. Going straight into college is not always the best option for some students, and many can benefit from obtaining a certification degree in high school to enter the workforce.
Business leaders in Lonoke County realized the need for a technical school in the area and the opportunities it would provide to students and the region. On October 25, 2021, the new Lonoke Business Academy was dedicated and officially opened its doors. Students can participate in five hands-on programs of study designed to prepare them to enter the workforce in skill-based careers.
Elizabeth Anderson is a Lonoke School Board member who served as chair of the local school millage campaign and capital campaign that raised $12.5 million for the Lonoke Business Academy. “Lonoke County, with its agriculture-based economy, is an ideal location for a school to focus on preparing students for careers in the area. Statistics show that only 30 percent of students in Lonoke County go to college, and of that 30 percent, only 50 percent finish with a degree. So why not provide them an opportunity within their high school education that better prepares them for a career and a lifelong partnership with their community?” said Anderson. The Lonoke Business Academy offers classes in healthcare, aquaculture, diesel technology, animal science, and industrial technology. The Lonoke School District partnered with Arkansas State University-Beebe (ASU-Beebe) and Baptist Health on the development of the 30,000 square foot facility that serves as an ASUBeebe regional career center location and is connected to a 12,000 square foot Baptist Health Family Clinic. The health clinic will serve as a family clinic for the community as well as a school-based clinic. The clinic will support the medical professions program of study
Farmers and agribusinesses in the region have been supportive of the new academy and are excited about the positive impact it will have on heir industry. Farmers will participate in teaching the agricultural courses, thanks to a waiver the Lonoke School District was able to obtain. Donations have included grants for a diesel engine simulator and virtual reality headsets for students to access the state-of-the-art technology and curriculum.
Students can earn a certificate of proficiency, or in some instances, a technical certificate by the time they graduate high school. In the patient care tech program, students will be ready to sit for a national board licensure examination after completion of the program. After completing programs at the academy, students are prepared to go straight into the workforce or continue their education.
Seventy-five students are currently enrolled at the Lonoke Business Academy. Enrollment is expected to increase as the news spreads about the school.
“Our opportunities are endless as long as we can offer the instructors and classes to meet the demand,” said Anderson. “Right now, the cost for students is free. Lonoke Public Schools had enough reserve to support the students enrolled,” said Anderson. “As enrollment increases, the program cost will be passed to the students at a very reduced rate compared to collegiate cost.” Governor Hutchinson attended the dedication of the Lonoke Business Academy and stated, “It’s all about providing options for our young people. Young people want a career that they enjoy and that brings value and dignity to their lives. This center will give young people the option to find their passion and work they enjoy, and if they have that, they will enter the workforce and remain in the workforce.” More information about the Lonoke Business Academy can be found at www.lonokeschools.org.
Strides in Efficiency
Improving Irrigation Practices in the Natural State
The University of Arkansas Irrigation Water Management group, led by Dr. Chris Henry, Russ Parker, Travis Clark, and Casey Sieber, is helping Arkansas farmers improve their irrigation practices while maintaining crop yields and improving farm profitability. The Irrigation Water Management group created a new program in 2018, the Arkansas Irrigation Yield Contest: Most Crop Per Drop. Developed as a novel way to promote and encourage experimentation with irrigation water management practices by Arkansas farmers, there have been over 150 entries in the contest since it started. It is the only irrigation contest of its kind in existence.
Participants acquire a portable flow meter for a 30 acre field of corn, rice, or soybeans. Installation is verified and sealed to prevent tampering. For no cost, participants can borrow soil moisture monitoring units and surge valves and use factsheets or a variety of mobile apps available from the University of Arkansas program. Every participant has used Computerized Hole Selection in the contest to date, but they can also use any other technology available.
County Agents and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) irrigation technicians serve as advisors for the contestants. In addition to irrigation efficiency, participants also must achieve a minimum yield, which is set relatively high. Achieving yield (and profitability) while effectively managing irrigation makes the contest challenging and rewarding. A yield check measured on three acres is used to determine which participants have the best water use efficiency, i.e., the “most crop per drop” of rain and irrigation. Over $68,000 in prizes are awarded to nine winners annually.
All contest participants are provided a report card so they can assess their irrigation management acumen, which is a useful feedback mechanism for farmers. For those participating each year, the report cards are providing historical performance data that enables producers to see their improvement from year to year.
“The yields, water use efficiency, and extremely low irrigation depths the participants have been able to achieve over the last four years is nothing short of amazing,” said Dr. Chris Henry, Associate Professor and Water Management Engineer.
Financial support for the contest is provided by the Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, Arkansas Natural Resource Conservation Service, Ricetec, Delta Plastics, McCrometer, Seametrics, Irrometer, Agsense, Trellis, and CropX.
For more information or to enter the contest, see the “Irrigation Contest” link at http://www.uaex.uada.edu/irrigation for the entry form and contest rules.
POULTRY
Arkansas’s largest sector of agriculture
Arkansas is the fourth largest
producer of turkey meat
1.1 BILLION
broilers raised and processed
Benton County is the number one poultry producing county in the state
119,172
individual tests conducted for avian influenza
6,500+
Arkansas farms producing some type of poultry
Arkansas ranks #3 nationally in the production of chicken broiler meat
Cultivating leadership in public policy since 1939.
GROW WITH US
Agriculture is more than land and crops; it is Arkansas
' s economic foundation. We promote this industry and advocate for its future and our state ' s prosperity.
