Category Archives: Agriculture

Rice in Schools plants seeds of learning statewide

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Story by DDNS Reporter Jerry Don Burton

Schools across Arkansas are learning to embrace the natural state’s top crop as the Rice in Schools program pilot run continues.

The Arkansas Rice in Schools program, launched by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture in collaboration with Arkansas Rice and USA Rice, is an initiative to teach students how to cook with rice and educate them on the significance of the grain.

Leslee Tell, the farm-to-school coordinator for the United States Department of Agriculture, directs the program. She said Rice in Schools will teach students where their food comes from.

(Left) Leslee Tell, farm-to-school coordinator for the United States Department of Agriculture, describes the Rice in School Program to the Nettleton School Board at a March 17 meeting. According to the USDA website, the program, which is in a pilot phase, gives schools the tools to serve locally grown rice in healthy meals. PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY DON BURTON

“Our goal is simple, increase the use of Arkansas-grown rice in schools, while helping students learn about agriculture, nutrition and where their food comes from,” Tell said in a YouTube video introducing the program. “This program is about more than just meals, it’s about connecting students to Arkansas agriculture and supporting our local farmers.”

Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders developed the program in fall 2025, following the transition of nutrition programs to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

In December 2025, the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board approved $15,000 in funding to support the program’s implementation. These funds provided schools with equipment to encourage the usage of Arkansas rice in their menus.

Sanders said the new program will teach students how farmers use rice to feed families around the world. She said students will use food made in Arkansas to develop healthy eating habits.

“Rice isn’t just part of Arkansas’ economy; it’s part of who we are,” Sanders said in a press release published Nov. 13, 2025.

Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state, accounting for more than 40% of rice production in the United States, according to Arkansas Rice. Tell said a majority of this rice is produced in Arkansas’ northeast region. 

A graphic presents quick facts about Arkansas rice production. Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state, accounting for more than 40% of rice production in the United States, according to Arkansas Rice. GRAPHIC COURTESY OF ARAKNAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Almost 20 Arkansas schools and districts are scheduled to participate in the program’s pilot phase, which began in February at Ward Central Elementary in Cabot, Arkansas. The pilot will wrap up in May at Forest Park Elementary in Little Rock.

As part of the program, Tell travels to participating schools with a team to involve students in cooking demonstrations and interactive educational lessons. She also introduces meals with local rice to school menus and trains cafeteria staff in preparing them.

On April 9, Tell traveled to Newport, Arkansas, to introduce the program to students at Newport High School.

Leanne Bradley, the family and consumer science teacher at Newport High School, said Rice in Schools was a beneficial experience for her students. 

Bradley said rice’s significance to Arkansas demonstrates the program’s importance.

“I think everybody is aware that if you don’t take care of what you have, you can lose it,” Bradley said. “(Rice) is something that we have that not every other state has.”

Bradley said her food production and culinary students passed out stir-fried rice samples Tell made for elementary students. After sampling different meals made using rice, students placed stickers on a bulletin board to indicate how much or little they enjoyed the meals.

Tell said they compile student opinion data from every participating school. Then, in June, she said they will analyze the data to determine which recipes students liked most and least and make appropriate changes.

Bradley said the students greatly enjoyed the Rice in Schools program. She said her students cooked with rice before, but Tell’s contributions provided them with new ways to use the grain.

The family and consumer science teacher said she appreciated how the program helped her students realize how much rice Jackson County, where the Newport School District is located, produces.

According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, Jackson County produced almost 80,000 acres of rice, second only to soybeans.

“So just for the kids to realize this is a huge staple that Arkansas provides for the state, and it’s easy and it does not have to be Minute Rice,” Bradley said. “It really doesn’t take that much longer to actually cook your own rice and the quality is just so much better.”

Julie Isbell, superintendent at the Harrisburg School District, where Tell visited in March,

also said she loved how the program connected her students with local rice production.

Poinsett County, where Harrisburg is located, produced about 90,000 acres of rice, according to the same USDA census.

Tell also brought the program to the Nettleton School District in March. Nettleton School Board Vice President, Donnie Hauge, said he supported the program and thinks helping kids learn cooking skills and understand where their food comes from is an important undertaking.

Wes Ward, Arkansas secretary of agriculture, said the program emphasizes how Arkansas’ dominance over rice production could be used to support students and education. He said the program is a good step toward getting Arkansas to buy and use more of its own rice.

Bradley said rice is also versatile and can be stretched further than other ingredients. She said this is especially important for those who cannot afford as much food.  

“It’s a very quick and easy staple that you can keep in your pantry and it can go for a wide variety of different types of food,” Bradley said. “If your family is financially disadvantaged, you can pair beans and rice together, and that actually makes a complete protein.”

Bradley said her favorite part of the program was how it helped students interact with and cook rice in different ways than they’re used to. For some, Bradley said this program represents an introduction to rice as an ingredient.

However, the family and consumer science teacher said Tell’s visit to Newport was not without challenges. 

Tell was scheduled to return to Newport High School on April 10, but Bradley said she fell ill and missed the second day. 

“She could have talked so much more and given the information about it. She did not get to go into depth like she would at other places,” Bradley said.

In the time they did spend together, Bradley said Tell was a very energetic and fun, but professional person to work with.

“I think she’s phenomenal and I liked having the opportunity,” Bradley said. “I hope that this is something that takes off and is able to be utilized in schools across Arkansas.”

Tell said the student feedback, recipe evaluations and participation data gathered in the pilot will refine the program and prepare it for statewide expansion.

In the final iteration of the program, Bradley said she would like to see taste testing and activities for all grade levels.

Tell said the program continuously searches for and develops new and more effective methods of engaging schools.

Bradley said the school will continue building on the foundation laid by Tell and the Rice in Schools Program. She said the school’s student-run restaurant, the Hungry Hound Cafe, started implementing rice meals based on what they learned from the program.

Tell said she is a teacher at heart and loves to cook, so working with students to prepare recipes in the classroom was a great combination.

“We are bringing Arkansas-grown rice to schools across the state,” Tell said. “One plate at a time.”
More information about the Rice in Schools program may be found on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s website. Program organizers also created a digital guide featuring rice data and recipes from USA Rice.

Nettleton School Board discuss educational rice program, effective AI usage

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Photos and Story from DDNS Reporter Jerry Don Burton

March 18, 2026

Bar graph depicts U.S. rice production (red) and harvested area (green) from the years 1985 to 2024. Rice production increased by nearly 1 million acres between 2023 and 2024. Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Nettleton School Board heard presentations on an initiative to educate students about rice and effective AI use in classrooms at its monthly meeting.

Rice in Schools Pilot Initiative

(Left) Leslie Tell, farm-to-school coordinator for the United States Department of Agriculture, explains the Rice in School program at the Tuesday, March 17, Nettleton School Board Meeting. According to the USDA website, the program, which is in a pilot phase, gives schools the tools to serve locally grown rice in healthy meals. Photo by Jerry Don Burton.

Leslee Tell, farm-to-school coordinator for the United States Department of Agriculture, addressed the board at the meeting Tuesday, March 17, to provide an overview of the Rice in Schools program.

Tell said the initiative aims to provide schools with the resources to serve local rice and educate students about the significance of rice in Arkansas. She said Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders saw the importance of rice in the state and developed the initiative in fall 2025.

“So her idea was that, number one, students know where their food is coming from. Number two, that it’s local food as much as possible,” Tell said. “If we’re growing this much rice, then we should probably be serving rice and teaching kids to love rice as well.”

According to the USDA, the United States accounts for less than 2% of global rice production, but ships 5% of global exports. Arkansas is the largest rice-producing state, accounting for more than 40% of rice production in the U.S.

Tell said a majority of rice production in Arkansas is concentrated in the state’s northeast region. 

(Third from left) Donnie Hague, Nettleton School Board vice president, asks USDA Farm-To-School Coordinator Leslee Tell a question about the Rice in Schools program. Photo by Jerry Don Burton.

Donnie Hauge, Nettleton School Board vice president, said a program for helping kids understand where rice comes from and how to cook with it is a great idea.

The farm-to-school coordinator said about 20 schools have signed up for the program. 

Participating schools will introduce classroom lessons on Arkansas agriculture, participate in hands-on cooking demonstrations, train cafeteria staff and include local rice in school meals at least once a month.

Tell said schools may also engage in taste tests and interactive experiences. She said the program is continuously expanding and introducing new ways to highlight Arkansas rice. 

One such development is the creation of a cookbook containing 50 rice recipes for students to take home and prepare with their family. 

“In the food banks and blessing boxes, there’s a lot of rice,” Tell said. “ If you have kids wanting to eat rice at school and they’ve made it at school, they get their recipe book, and they can go home, and maybe that bridge can happen between the parent and the child, and we could encourage that.”

Tell said the program also engages with the current national interest in eating real food. 

“You can’t get any more real than this,” Tell said. “We’re eating real food, we’re eating real rice, real chicken, real vegetables and we’re making it right here from scratch, in front of the kids.”

Currently, the initiative is in a pilot phase. Tell said feedback from participating schools will be used to improve the program and shape future expansions.

Effective AI Usage in Classrooms

Following Tell’s presentation, the Nettleton High School principal, elementary school principal and three junior high school students addressed the school board to explain how they’ve implemented artificial intelligence in their respective fields.

Philip Cook, Nettleton High School career and technical academy principal, said he and other educators use AI to increase productivity and generate content. He said he uses AI to outsource elements of his workflow. 

(Right) Philip Cook, Nettleton High School career and technical academy principal, explains how the high school uses AI coaching assistant Edia to those in attendance at the Nettleton School Board meeting. Cook said AI, when used properly, helps educator lessen their workload. Photo by Jerry Don Burton.

“What we do at NHS right now is we have teachers that use it to generate worksheets. We use it for coaching students and to help with our summative evaluations,” Cook said. “Then also, to look at and align some of our different curriculum with each other.”

Using the Arkansas academic standards and ATLAS achievement level descriptors for geometry as an example, Cook demonstrated how AI can be used to parse and summarize dense information. 

The high school principal said projects like creating curricula that meet various standards, something which could take all summer to complete, are achievable in a single weekend with AI like ChatGPT. 

Cook said Nettleton High School is also incorporating Edia, an AI coaching assistant, in the classroom.

Despite embracing AI, Cook said education will always need a human element. 

“That’s what we’re trying to do in our critical algebra is not just turn it over to the AI–because then we become a facilitator–but use that where it’s appropriate to support that learning and then go ahead and let the teacher break kids into small groups, interact with them, give them those alternative learning methods,” Cook said. “I think it takes a good marriage of both to really be as effective as we can.”

University Heights Elementary Principal Sarah George said she uses Upraiser, an AI software designed to enhance teacher evaluations, in her administrative duties.

(Right) Sarah Geoge, University Heights Elementary principal, explains how she uses Upraiser AI when giving teacher evaluations. She said she uses Upraiser to provide actionable feedback to teachers. Photo by Jerry Don Burton.

“This platform has really helped, because it’s narrowed down the feedback that is given to teachers because it’s directly aligned to standards,” George said.

Garrett Andrews, the newest member of the Nettleton School Board, asked George if the AI she uses is accurate. George said Upraiser is mostly accurate, but agreed with Cook that a human element will always be necessary.

The elementary school principal said she is transparent with teachers and lets them know when the feedback they receive is partially AI-generated.

After George’s report, Nettleton Junior High School students Collins Baker, Jace Stegall and Brik Hogan presented a slideshow to detail how they use AI.

Baker said she learned how to use AI in 2025 and mostly utilizes it as a search engine, like Google. She said, while a helpful tool, AI can nonetheless introduce biases in its responses.

Stegall said he uses AI for coding help and in certain class assignments, specifically one project using drones to map hazardous conditions in Jonesboro.

“We want to know how to use it right, how to use it responsibly and how to use it for our school work instead of cheating,” Stegall said.

Hauge said the students’ presentation taught him how they use AI not for short answers or cheating, but productively and responsibly.

Other business 

In other business, Athletics Director Tommy Raffo announced several upgrades and additions to the athletic facilities:

  • New track and field sand pit
  • New baseball bullpen
  • New televisions installed near concession stands
  • New and updated spirit banners installed in gym

Raffo also said he was proud of the boys and girls basketball teams, who were seeded fourth and second in the state, respectively.

Finally, the Nettleton High School Choir performed three songs ahead of the school’s production of “Hairspray.” Showings will be held April 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m. More information may be found on The Raider Spotlight’s Facebook page.
The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m., April 21, at the Nettleton Central Office.

Arkansas Farmers Face Significant Challenges This Season

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This report from DDNS Reporter Shailey Wooldridge

Keynote speaker, Arkansas Department of Agriculture secretary, Wes Wardaddresses water infrastructure, food insecurity and trade initiatives at the Agribusiness Conference. Photo by DDNS Reporter Shailey Wooldridge.

Agriculture officials at Arkansas State University predict a challenging year for Arkansas agriculture. Farmers are expected to face difficulties in three areas: farm economy, agricultural and trade policy, and commodity markets.

Bert Greenwalt is a professor of agricultural economics at Arkansas State University. He said Arkansas agriculture is facing headwinds this year as farmers struggle with commodity prices decreasing over past years while farm input prices have declined very little.

“Farmers are in a cost-price squeeze situation, as it’s referred to, low profitability, struggling to make ends meet and looking to government, farm policy, the farm bill for some assistance,” Greenwalt said. “Unfortunately, our Farm Bill expired a couple of years ago and Congress has yet to address updates in the farm bill that would address the current situation.”

The Farm Bill is federal legislation passed by Congress governing various agricultural and food policies. It’s passed approximately every five years and covers a wide range of topics, from farm subsidies to food assistance programs. The bill affects farmers, ranchers, rural communities, consumers, and the environment.

“Agriculture is a cyclical business. Historically, there are ups and downs, like in some other businesses, and so we’re going through that downturn down cycle right now,” Greenwalt said. “Agriculture will continue to be an important industry in the United States and globally, but not all producers will remain in the industry over time.”

Greenwalt said one of the factors contributing to uncertainty in the agricultural economy today is the shifting trade policy in Washington. Since U.S. agriculture relies heavily on export markets, any disruptions, such as tariffs or trade wars, that affect trade or access to global markets are a significant concern for the industry.

“Farmers this time of year are making many plans for the coming year, what to plant, how to renew their lines of credit with lenders. So hopefully, some of this information will be useful to them as they complete their business planning for the season,” Greenwalt said.

Greenwalt is the co-founder and director of the annual Agribusiness Conference at Arkansas State University, which was held earlier in February. Keynote speaker at the conference Wes Ward addressed water infrastructure, food insecurity, and trade initiatives.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (ADA) secretary highlighted problems with water and wastewater systems across the state, including broken systems that have made it hard for people to access clean water.

He also addressed a decline in groundwater levels and the importance of ensuring enough water for irrigation in agriculture, which is crucial for the state’s economy.

“In August last year, we signed an executive order to update the state water plan. The deal is a comprehensive way to look at the needs for water resources throughout the state, both short term and long term,” Ward said. “Right now, there’s about $13 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure needs that impact every single one of us throughout the entire state.”

To address this, he said the state is working on two large irrigation projects to shift water use from groundwater to surface water for agriculture in eastern Arkansas. This will help ensure farmers have the water they need to grow crops.

In 2023, the USDA ranked Arkansas the worst state for food insecurity. Ward said the ADA staff is working to address this.

“A lot of what we’re focusing on this legislative session is just efficiency. We are working a lot about ensuring we’re working on food insecurity issues, but more so trying to identify and correct inefficiencies in government,” Ward said. “I would just ask if people are aware of issues on the state level, if there are things that we can do differently from an agriculture department, please don’t hesitate to visit us.”

Ward said there have been discussions about improving trade relations and access to markets for U.S. agricultural products. The ADA is working with NASDA and USDA to overcome barriers in international trade.

In January, a group from several U.S. states, including Arkansas, Montana, South Dakota, and Connecticut, traveled to India. Ward said the trip aimed to help open markets for U.S. agriculture, tackle trade challenges, and advocate for U.S. farmers.

“We can have a long conversation about India and what that might mean, but India’s the most populated country in the world; hopefully, in the future, there will be some good market opportunities, “ Ward said.

Haleigh Jackson, a graduate student majoring in Agriculture Business and Economics from Leachville, Arkansas, said staying current on agricultural issues and policy is crucial because they affect everyone in the farm sector.

“Agriculture touches everything,” Jackson said. “I think it’s good for everybody to come and learn about the things they use in everyday life.”

Scott Adams, land manager for Adams Land Company in Leachville, Arkansas, and owner of Buffalo Island Farms in Manila, Arkansas, has attended this conference for the past 19 years.

“The major take from it is, we’re going to have to get creative on restructuring entities, market, our crop during rallies, watch our inputs, where we can watch our inputs and just mind the situation and do our best to weather the storm if this is what we’re going to continue to try o do,” Adams said. “My biggest concern is the family farmer going away, smaller farms being dissolved into bigger farms, and it affecting our direct economy.”

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Farm Bureau Concerned Over Tariffs

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Press release courtesy of the American Farm Bureau
photo credit: AFBF Photo, Mike Tomko

The American Farm Bureau sent President Donald Trump a letter Jan. 31 expressing concern that new tariffs levied against Canada, Mexico and China may inadvertently create financial hardships on U.S. farmers and ranchers. Historically, retaliatory actions often target U.S. agriculture but then ripple throughout the U.S. economy. 

“Last year, the U.S. exported over $30 billion in agricultural products to Mexico, $29 billion to Canada and $26 billion to China – our top three markets by value combined for half of total agricultural exports,” the letter states. “Any effort to impose additional tariffs on these nations’ imports runs the risk of significant retaliatory measures against U.S. agricultural exports. We ask that you carefully consider the impact on American farmers and ranchers, associated businesses and rural communities when determining potential trade actions. For decades, American agriculture has strongly supported efforts to open the world to our agricultural and other trade products.” 

The letter also provides broader context about the importance of international markets to U.S. farmers and ranchers, stating, “Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside the borders of the United States and over twenty percent of U.S. farm income is based on agricultural exports. Expanding opportunities for U.S. crop and livestock producers to access international markets will boost farm income in the United States, while preserving existing access is critical to maintaining farm income. U.S. agricultural exports amounted to $174.5 billion in FY2024, and – historically – every $1 of U.S. agricultural exports results in over $2 in additional domestic economic activity.” 

Over 20% of U.S. agricultural products are exported. For many commodities, the percentage is significantly higher. U.S. actions, including implementing tariffs, that ultimately increase costs and drive down prices for farmers and ranchers would be especially difficult at a moment when so many are already facing insolvency.

The letter continues, “We urge your Administration to make certain that any action taken in the near- or long-term with Canada, Mexico and China does not make it more difficult for American farm families to raise a safe and affordable crop on domestic soil.”

Read the full letter here.

Brent Floating Farms aims to “revolutionize agriculture”

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Brent Floating Farms, a local agricultural initiative started by a husband-and-wife duo, is the beginning of a dream to discover more sustainable methods of farming

Delta Digital News Service

Monday, May 13, 2024

By Avery Jones | Editor

PARAGOULD, Ar. — Brent Floating Farms, a company headquartered in Paragould, is experimenting with sustainable agricultural methods. Headed by husband-and-wife duo Frank and Cinda Brent, the goal is to grow food in a way that is environmentally conscious and organic while at the same time profitable and accessible.

According to Frank Brent, their method is aquaponics, which he describes as “hydroponics and aquaculture mixed together.” 

Frank (right) and Cinda (left) Brent.

Essentially, they grow plants in repurposed shipping containers, and the plants are grown in water without soil which is fertilized by fish. The water is cleaned by the plants. This results in a “closed-loop” system.

The Brents have been studying this method for at least 25 years. When they first started, they were living in Marianna, Arkansas, and were “avid gardeners.” They decided to move their garden inside a greenhouse to do aquaponics because they didn’t want to use pesticides anymore. 

They also researched and worked for 7 years at University of Arkansas Pine Bluff on aquaponic methods, where their systems are still in use. They did many tests, including on what to feed the fish and how this affects plant growth.

Frank Brent has been a farmer since 1979, so he has much experience with traditional farming methods. He says that he “gave up” on row crop farming because he didn’t think it was very profitable due to the equipment costs. Less conventional methods of growing food offered a new perspective.

“I really enjoyed the symbiotic relationship…and circular agriculture,” Frank Brent said.

Chemical drift, also known as pesticide drift, became a problem for them. Pesticide drift happens when pesticides negatively or unintentionally affect humans, environment, and crops.

They decided to expand their operation by moving to Paragould and buying a 100-acre farm. However, they knew that pests would always be an issue and wanted a way to circumvent that. 

The Brents don’t believe in using chemicals for growing plants. They want their crops to be organic. However, it can be difficult to grow this way and remain profitable.

According to Frank Brent, commercial farms produce about 40% waste but organic farms produce 70% waste. This is why organic produce can be so expensive. 

“So I decided that, what would be better than taking it inside a container and taking it to sea?” Frank Brent said.

This was how the idea of Brent Floating Farms was born. Growing plants inside a container using only water and fish works well to prevent pests, and the temperature-controlled containers have the added bonus of allowing the growth of off-season crops.

However, there can still be issues with unintentionally letting insects inside the container when the door is opened. Furthermore, air still needs to be provided for the plants, and pests come with that as well. Their first year at Paragould, their plants were completely wiped out due to these issues. 

1 week old test crop with the Brents’ new design.

“Everything was perfect, it was beautiful, it was huge. We grew so much more per square foot than…any other method of farming,” Frank Brent said. “It was a pretty sore and sad moment to watch our produce all go down the tubes.”

“Everything was perfect, it was beautiful, it was huge. We grew so much more per square foot than…any other method of farming…It was a pretty sore and sad moment to watch our produce all go down the tubes.”

— Frank Brent

Brent had another idea for their farm which would avoid the problem of pests altogether. He used to work in the Navy and noticed that there were no pests at sea. By putting the aquaponic farms in the shipping containers on ships at sea, they would have no more problems with pests.

Of course, neither aquaponics nor “floating farms” are a new concept. Both of these methods can be traced back to the Aztecs who practiced an early form of this type of agriculture, called “chinampas.” Currently, this method has been revived in Mexico City, and the world’s first large-scale floating farm was conceived in the Netherlands.

The Brents, however, hope to eventually take their operation to a larger scale. They used to be set up in Louisiana, but when they were finally starting to gain traction, the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida took them out.

They’re still working on rebuilding. They recently purchased another farm called Chicken Town Egg Farm, which was in trouble financially, and are in the process of doubling that operation. 

When they’re able to get Brent Floating Farms back on track, their goal is to manufacture 350 containers for their crops on land in Louisiana and eventually put some containers at sea as well. 

On land, their hope is that waste will be at 15% while at sea, expected waste will be between 3% to 5%. Aquaponics also uses 90% less water than traditional soil and irrigation methods. The Brents recognize that energy usage can be an environmental issue, but they have looked into alternative energy methods.

Furthermore, their method doesn’t have to just use water and fish. With the use of black soldier fly larva, they can use any type of organic waste, and the insects will break that down. Insects that are beneficial to plants rather than pests can also be introduced inside the container.

Leigh Ann Weidner, CEO of Brent Floating Farms.

Because the crops won’t be subject to the environment, they will be able to produce a higher yield as well. According to Frank Brent, they can produce 12,000 heads of lettuce in 30 days in an average container.

The team behind Brent Floating Farms includes co-founders Frank and Cinda Brent as well as Leigh Ann Weidner, their CEO. Frank is the COO, and his focus is the technical, agricultural aspects while Cinda is the CAO and focuses on marketing. Weidner, who is working remotely from Wisconsin due to another job, specializes in sales.

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Avery Jones 

Avery Jones is a junior in The Department of English and Philosophy at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She can be reached at avery.jones@smail.astate.edu

Note: Featured image provided by Shutterstock.

Local resident proposes alternative method of growing food

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David Corbett, who is highly experienced in permaculture, is looking for people to help start a permaculture farm

Delta Digital News Service

Thursday, April 11, 2024

By Avery Jones | Editor

JONESBORO, Ark. – Permaculture, an agricultural practice focused on sustainable land management and design, has become a growing topic of conversation in recent years. The concept itself has been around since the 1970s, but thanks to rising concerns over climate change, food insecurity, and similar issues, many people are discussing various approaches to such problems.

There are a few farms and communities in Arkansas that are growing using sustainable methods like permaculture, such as the Lucky Star Farm near Rush and the Wilken Creek Farm in Huntsville. However, organizations like these are primarily located in Northwest Arkansas, and there isn’t currently much of a permaculture effort in Northeast Arkansas, where commercial agriculture dominates.

David Corbett, a local resident, is looking to change that. He’s been studying permaculture for 10 years. Corbett grew up in Alicia on a rice farm and has been living in Northeast Arkansas ever since. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a permaculture design certificate, and has worked in healthcare and information technology.

Corbett’s main concern about permaculture and related issues is that it’s less of a “topic of action” than it is a topic of conversation. He sees people talking about it, but not many willing to take action. 

He’s attempted to gather people like him who are interested in permaculture, to start a garden or to teach them, but he’s discovered that most people want him “to do it for them” rather than putting in the work themselves. For instance, he once had a Facebook group with 200 people in it for a community garden, but very few people actually wanted to participate.

As for himself, Corbett has been actively gardening for the past 10 to 15 years. He started out using conventional methods with tilling, pesticides, and fertilizers. By the time the pandemic had started in 2020, however, he had switched completely to more sustainable methods.

He first became interested in permaculture after doing some research on sustainable gardening methods. From there, he started eliminating his use of chemicals and tillage. During the pandemic, Corbett had up to 30 laying hens, 15 beehives, and was growing fruit, vegetables, and berries.

“Between my home garden, a community garden…I did pretty much solo for three years, and another three-acre plot I could use…for free on a handshake deal…while others feared empty shelves and little to eat, I barely noticed,” Corbett stated.

“Between my home garden, a community garden…I did pretty much solo for three years, and another three-acre plot I could use…for free on a handshake deal…while others feared empty shelves and little to eat, I barely noticed,”

David Corbett

Later, Corbett earned a permaculture design certificate from Oregon State University and received soil food web and essential rainwater harvesting training under professionals, in addition to self-study over the last 10 to 15 years.

What is the Soil Food Web? | Soil Food Web School by Dr. Elaine’s Soil Food Web School

Corbett proposes that permaculture could be part of the solution to what people call “food insecurity” or “food deserts.”

“It doesn’t make sense that there can be a hunger problem while there’s also an obesity epidemic at the same time,” he said

“It doesn’t make sense that there can be a hunger problem while there’s also an obesity epidemic at the same time,”

David Corbett

According to Corbett, the problem is not a lack of food but a lack of proper nutrition. In most other countries, he says, the definition of “the hunger problem” is lacking enough food to survive. Here, though, while many people may lack access to fresh food and produce, there’s no shortage of processed and prepared food.

“Most people think that permaculture is a gardening method,” Corbett said. “But it’s not. That’s where it started, in raising food. But it’s actually a design system based on ethics and principles…whether you’re doing a garden, a homestead, a business, a family, a church, a community, a city, you can take those principles and ethics to help guide you…in designing whatever that is to keep you going in the direction that’s going to be regenerative and abundant as opposed to consumer and extractive and degrading, which is what our current agriculture is.”

Corbett has an intimate knowledge of the farming industry due to growing up in it. He explained that the focus of commercial agriculture is always on bulk and yield. There’s rarely a discussion of quality. 

When they test the harvest at the mill, they’re testing for anything that’s not rice; they’re not doing any nutritional analysis. There’s not a question of quality because it’s a commodity. Average consumers aren’t looking for quality, but for quantity and consistency.

However, Corbett says that we should eat not just for filler but for nutrition. When he first became interested in permaculture, it just made more sense to him. He feels that what he puts inside his body matters, and if that’s the case, then where it comes from and how it’s grown also matters.

“I’m not going to say it was a religious conversion, but it’s kind of on that level,” Corbett said. “Because a lot of religion and religious conversions really to me seems to boil down to the why. What’s the meaning, what’s the purpose, why does it matter, why should I care?”

“I’m not going to say it was a religious conversion, but it’s kind of on that level,”… Because a lot of religion and religious conversions really to me seems to boil down to the why. What’s the meaning, what’s the purpose, why does it matter, why should I care?”

David Corbett

According to Corbett, if you don’t know how or where something is produced, it’s the equivalent of unknowingly putting chemicals into your body. Just because the pesticide or fertilizer used can’t be seen or tasted doesn’t mean it’s not there or not having effects.

The original patent of RoundUp, a pesticide, was as an antibacterial. While “bad” bacteria does exist, bacteria is also very important to the human body; without bacteria, we would die. RoundUp also binds to certain nutrients in the soil, such as magnesium, to get rid of them. Such nutrients are essential for plant health.

Preventing “pests” is about a change in perspective, Corbett says. Pesticides are a fairly recent invention, and most of human history has gotten along without them. What people often consider pests or weeds are often “indicators.”

Weeds and pests often indicate a lack or excess of a nutrient that’s needed for the plants. It may take a while, but if the “pests” are left alone, they’ll eventually fix the problem and work themselves out. 

For example, aphids feed on sap, which is high in nitrogen, so that means there’s an excess in nitrogen. If left alone, the aphids will get rid of the excess.

“They’re not the problem, they’re telling you there’s a problem,” Corbett said. “And just killing them doesn’t fix the problem.”

Furthermore, with a lack of habitat, other benefits such as ladybugs that could help control the aphids won’t appear. Planting in meticulous rows and cleaning out the leaves and weeds drives away predators that control the pests. 

When attacked by pests or fungi, plants produce a defense mechanism called phytochemicals, which to us are nutrients and antioxidants. If a plant never has to produce those chemicals, it’s not going to be as nutritious.

With this in mind, Corbett’s overall goal is to eventually have a farm designed using permaculture so that he can help feed the small community of Alicia where he grew up. He says that people who live there have to drive 20 miles or more to the nearest grocery store for fresh food.

“They live in the middle of millions of acres of farmland, but even the farmers can’t eat because none of them garden. They can’t eat unless they come to [bigger towns]…” Corbett stated. “If you’re having to drive twenty miles through farmland, and there’s nothing there to eat, what are you growing? Is it food? I don’t think it is.”

“They live in the middle of millions of acres of farmland, but even the farmers can’t eat because none of them garden. They can’t eat unless they come to [bigger towns]…” Corbett stated. “If you’re having to drive twenty miles through farmland, and there’s nothing there to eat, what are you growing? Is it food? I don’t think it is.”

David Corbett

Corbett pointed out that the rice has to be industrially processed. The same goes for some other commercially grown crops, like grains or soybeans. Grains and soybeans could be processed at home, but most people don’t have the resources or time for that.

Right now, he’s got a small property in Jonesboro which he hopes to eventually turn into a market garden with a nursery and classroom to teach others about gardening. He hasn’t been able to fully execute his ideas yet because he has to take care of family.

There’s also 900 acres of riceland around Lawrence County and Jackson County which he’ll eventually inherit. He wants to keep using it as farmland, but not as it currently is. He hopes to eventually use less chemicals and tillage. One of the fields is a mile outside of Alicia, which is the field he wants to use for the town.

In order to better execute his plans, Corbett hopes to start a nonprofit organization. He already has an LLC called Hippocrates’s Garden. With his organization, he wants to gather a group of like-minded people which will help him with his permaculture farm and to educate others about alternative farming.

However, he realizes that he probably won’t be able to execute his ideas in full for many years. In addition to caring for family, he’s also restricted by being unable to find people willing to participate or agree on anything long enough to get something done.

With a nonprofit organization, it’s easier to gain visibility and access to more resources. As an individual, it’s difficult to fund and run a community garden and similar projects, but nonprofits have more influence and benefits like tax write-offs.

“Right now, the first step would just be trying to find some truly dedicated, like-minded people who would be willing to go through the process with me, put their name on the line,” Corbett said.

He’s attempted before to bring attention to other community gardens around the Delta region. He said there’s one in Manila, Trumann, and at least three in Jonesboro. He tried helping in a community garden in Jonesboro, but with certain restrictions, his ideas didn’t fit with their project.

He believes that gardening should be a cycle. Rather than constantly taking from the soil for crops, the nutrients in the soil need to be renewed using other plants such as fungi, food scraps, and waste. 

Furthermore, he wants to be more focused on teaching people to garden rather than simply providing food. Community gardens are no doubt beneficial, but he says it would be more beneficial if there was a bigger focus on teaching people to grow their own. 

“There’s just so many ways of…tightening that cycle…We need to repair what we’ve done,” Corbett said.

He emphasizes that he doesn’t want to “feed the world”; he’s concerned about his immediate family and community. He doesn’t think the solution is to put the control of food supply into fewer hands, but instead empower others to grow their own food in a sustainable way.

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Avery Jones

Avery Jones is a junior in The Department of English and Philosophy at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She can be reached at avery.jones@smail.astate.edu

NOTE: Feature photo is of Corbett teaching a Cub Scout troop at a community garden in Marion, Ar.

Young Agricultural Workers Face Challenges That Drive Many Out of Arkansas

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Delta Digital News Service

By Garrett Hatcher | Contributor

JONESBORO, Ark. – The younger population of Arkansas appears to be leaving and even the agricultural business of Arkansas cannot persuade many to stay as the challenges ahead drive many new and younger generations of possible workers away.

According to the U.S. 2020 census results on PopulationU.com, Arkansas’ current population is around 3,042,231 people. The population is slowly rising over the year, however according to Arkansas Census Data: Age & Sex by County (a database created from the U.S. Census Bureau of 2000) stated only 9.4% of the total population of the 2000 census was 18-24. So, while the population is slowly rising, the number of younger residents and generations who stay is very low. This could be for a variety of reasons. Arkansas being ranked 13th place in agriculture, one may think the agriculture business would be able to keep younger generations interested in agriculture. That does not seem to be the case though as challenges and issues regarding agricultural business could be persuading them to look elsewhere for work in other states or even professions.

These ideas of challenges and problems are not all rumor as even those who have been working agriculture for years have seen some of them.

“There’s a lot of competition for land. Because it is a productive area, it’s real competitive and so people might be leaving this area because they’re just not finding opportunities here. It’s hard for someone who’s not established and it’s hard to find land to farm” said David Hodges, a retired Northeast Arkansas cattle and row crop farmer.

Hodges has been in the agricultural business for 40 years all the way back in the 1980s. Hodges developed a fascination for agriculture when he was young working on his parent’s farms and many others over the course of his life then he started his own after graduating from A-State and getting the loans needed to start his own farm.

Hodges said issues with loans when he was a student were different, as student debt today

is higher today than Hodge’s student debt when he was a student. Hodges said a challenge of newer farmers is finding land that can be used due to the competitive market agriculture has. Hodges mentions the market is competitive due to Arkansas’ good soil and agricultural status.

Hodges does not believe he was offered any advantage over anyone except a college degree in agriculture and being a local with expertise in farm work. Hodges said he believes that should be expected of any good agriculture worker looking to thrive.

Hodges does see the issues newer farmers face in such a competitive setting and that the financial challenges he faced are now far greater as the years have passed. Hodges is not alone in that thought process as other agricultural experts think the same about Arkansas farming loans.

“It’s very difficult for a young person to get started in agriculture it’s extremely expensive loans aren’t always available for them to fund an operation. You almost have to be an operation that’s owned by your family to work into a position” said Bill Shannon of Farmers National Co.

Shannon said loans and money just as much of a massive issue like Hodges said, but mentioned a loan can have up to $1,000,000 for most people just to get off the ground.

Shannon said all the money a newer agriculture worker would need to start a business would be hard to get for a newer worker. Most of them would need to have a form of collateral to even get the loan, which many would most likely not have, said Shannon.

Shannon said it’s easy to get a loan however, as many banks and operations like Arkansas Farm Services offer various loans to those in need of them. Shannon warned of loans and their ability to leave someone in debt, especially an agriculture college student who are the likely candidates for newer farmers in need of a loan.

It’s not just people like Shannon and Hodges who believe these problems exist. As even the Arkansas Department of Agriculture agreed with what they say.

“It’s a huge financial commitment. If they’re just getting started and don’t have the ability to borrow money or don’t want to borrow the huge sums, it’s just a lot” said Cynthia Edwards, deputy secretary of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

Edwards brought up a way to lessen the effects newer farmers could experience. Edwards said at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture has seen newer farmers start out in smaller operations that go away from the more competitive and abundant row crop business that many Arkansas farmers have. These operations include smaller livestock or specialty crop business like fruits and vegetables.

So, whether it be financial issues, a competitive environment, lack of land or even college debt that keeps newer and younger farmers from staying in Arkansas, hope remains in the Arkansas agriculture community. As the experts have said, they need to understand the challenges the will face and how to overcome them. Whether it be through family, experience or starting small and working their way up. People might be leaving, but perhaps in the future agriculture will be the reason they stay.

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NOTE: Featured Photo | A herd of cattle at the Eric Eaves Cattle Farm. These cattle are the kinds of cattle agricultural experts like Bill Shannon and Cynthia Edwards say newer agriculture business should invest in. (Photo by Kenneth Lucas)

Winter weather provides challenges for Arkansas agriculture

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Extreme weather provides little help, many challenges

By Garrett Hatcher | Delta Digital News Service

As cold winter temperatures and storms continue to hinder Arkansans, some cannot help but wonder how Arkansas’ agricultural workers and organizations have been braving the extreme climates.

While some people face problems like power outages, icy roads and a lack of winterization, livestock ranchers appear to be having the most immediate problems as they try to keep their livestock warm and feed while keeping up with the industry demands.

“As a livestock producer, this is hard on the animals that are out there in this weather. The rate of gain on the cattle is going to be definitely less. They’re gonna have to have a lot more feed just to generate body heat just to maintain themselves, much less gain any weight,” said David Hodges, a northeast Arkansas beef cattle farmer.

“….They’re gonna have to have a lot more feed just to generate body heat just to maintain themselves, much less gain any weight.”

– Beef Cattle Farmer David Hodges

Hodges said that despite the problems winter brings for farmers and ranchers, it does have one upside – the extermination of insects that would normally affect crops. Due to the very cold temperatures and storms, they keep off and away from farmer’s crops. This leads to cold temperatures being especially helpful to row crop farmers who have little trouble during the winter months.

Branon Thiesse, County Extension Agent – Staff Chair
UADA | CES | Craighead County

Hodges also mentioned how many farmers have taken up growing less nitrogen-dependent crops during the winter and overall during the seasons as prices for nitrogen and other farming chemicals rise. He said winter could cause financial issues to a farmer if a high maintenance and expensive upkeep crop were to die due to ice or snow.   

Branon Thiesse, a county extension agent – staff chair at Craighead County Cooperative Extension Service said ice could cause farmers issues. 

Craighead County Cooperative Extension Service is an organization that provides research-based information through non-formal education to help Arkansans with their economics and well-being in consumer science, community development and agriculture.

Bill Shannon of Farmers National Co.

“As far as an ice storm is concerned, loss of electricity, damage to buildings and farm shops and things like that can cause problems, broken pipes in the farm shops and different things like that because they don’t have an alternative heating method, as most of them use gas,” Thiesse said. He said that while some farmers may have kerosene heaters to heat their shops, many farmers have electric fans that when stopped could stop heat from circulating in their shops. This can damage equipment that hasn’t yet been winterized or protected and halts any future progress toward preparing for the next proper farming season.

“We don’t get dry soil that we can get out and farm. This is pretty much a dead time of the year; field work will typically begin in March unless we just happen to have an unusual dry period during the winter,” Bill Shannon of Farmers National Co. said. “Anytime they’re not able work in their fields, they work in their shops winterizing equipment, making repairs for the upcoming season and just getting ready to start another crop.”

“Anytime they’re not able work in their fields, they work in their shops winterizing equipment, making repairs for the upcoming season and just getting ready to start another crop.”

– Bill Shannon of Farmers National Co.

Farmers National Co. is an organization that manages land for absentee landowners, bank trust departments and charitable foundations, while also leasing farmland to operators so it can be farmed.

As winter drags on, many workers and organizations are planning out and maintaining their equipment as they prepare for the next season of growing rather than worrying about the cold and the troubles it tends to bring. 

NOTE: Feature photo: A herd of cattle at the Eric Eaves Cattle Farm stand in an ice covered field Friday. During extreme weather cattle need to be feed more to gain weight for protection against cold temperatures. Submitted Photo

Female farmer acts as spokesperson for industry

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By Tristan Bennett
Delta Digital News Service

WALDENBURG – A young, female farmer is taking the Arkansas agricultural world by storm by acting as an ambassador and a role model for others like her.

Originally adopted from Russia, Jenna Martin grew up on her father’s, Dennis Martin, farm in Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. She went on to pursue a degree in agriculture business and continued her work in an industry dominated by men.

“This is just something in my gut. It’s just what I want to do,” Jenna said. “It’s what I think about all the time, it’s what I want to learn about, it’s what I talk to Dad about all the time.”

Men dominated the agriculture field for centuries, so a stigma surrounds women who work in the industry. However, the 2017 census stated 36% of U.S. farmers are female, and that number continues to rise. Jenna works as a role model for many young girls wishing to pursue a career in agriculture.

Both of her parents grew up around agriculture, so it became a part of Jenna’s life early on. She began helping Dennis on the family farm as soon as she could walk. Her mother homeschooled her, so the flexible schedule gave her plenty of time to spend where she said she really wanted to be: on the farm.

“When she first started, she would help us move equipment from field to field, and as she got a little bit older, she started driving tractors and putting out all the Polypipe,” Dennis said.

She solidified her choice to stay in agriculture while still in high school and began learning as much as she could and promoting the industry. Along with staying active in 4-H for 15 years, Martin also held the title of 2013 Miss Arkansas Rice. The Miss Rice program encourages agriculture education and promotes rice as a major part of Arkansas’ economy.

After graduation, Jenna chose to attend East Arkansas Community College in Wynne before transferring to Arkansas State University to pursue a degree in agriculture business and minor in strategic communication. Even though she wanted to farm, she said her parents wanted her to have a degree to fall back on.

“I chose community college because it was close to home and closer to the farm,” Jenna said. “EACC was a good transition before I went to A-State.”

During her time at A-State, Jenna remained involved in the College of Agriculture, held many leadership positions and created good working relationships with her classmates and professors. Bert Greenwalt, professor of agricultural economics at A-State, worked closely with Jenna during her time at A-State.

“She immediately became involved in all activities of the college,” Greenwalt said. “The thing about Jenna to me is she’s just so enthusiastic. Very positive, very enthusiastic and always ready to jump in, lend a hand and make a difference.”

Jenna served as the president of the A-State Collegiate Farm Bureau during her senior year, and worked as a teacher’s assistant under Greenwalt, assisting with the annual A-State Agribusiness Conference as well.

Jenna explored different careers in agriculture during her internships with Farm Credit Midsouth and Pioneer Seed, but ultimately returned to Dennis’ farm and chose to remain in production agriculture. During harvest, Jenna handles the grain carts as Dennis mans the combine.

“Usually day-to-day I go out to the shop, get everything ready and then go out to the field and stay there until 8:30 or 9,” Jenna said. “In the summer I go around and help Dad with all the water. Like I said, irrigation is huge.”

While she feels perfectly confident with her work in the field, Jenna still struggles with the business aspects of running a farm. Dennis runs his operation the old school way: everything on paper, and Jenna learned about how to handle finances on the farm from him. However, in a world where technology reigns, even farmers must adapt to new equipment and tools.

“Something I wish I could have done more of in my degree is more on the technology side,” Jenna said. “It’s growing so much, and I think that’s a big thing.”

As far as being a woman in a traditionally male industry, Jenna is not intimidated.

“I’m pretty good about just jumping in with the guys, and they’re pretty cool about responding,” she said.

More women pursue careers in agriculture today than ever before, and Jenna acts as a role model for each young girl.

“Jenna has an interest, ability and a passion for speaking about our industry,” Greenwalt said. “She is someone I know will continue to be a leader in the industry.”

Jenna said she hopes to take over the family farm someday. In the meantime, she continues to help Dennis on the farm and work on acquiring land to cultivate on her own.

“We’re leaving that 100% up to her,” Dennis said. “If she wants to pursue a future in farming, we’re behind her.”

Editor’s Note: Feature Photo shows Dennis, left, and Jenna Martin. Photo taken by Tristan Bennett

Trade War Brings Struggles to Farmers

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By Tristan Bennett
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Arkansas farmers continue a fight with a competitor halfway across the world. The trade war with China drags on with steady impact.

For the second harvest season, Arkansas farmers experienced lower prices for their crops as a result of a tariff war with China. Joe Christian, owner and operator of JOC Farms Partnership, sees first-hand the negative impact of the trade war.

“This summer, prices were down to $8.50 a bushel for soybeans and even less. That’s $2 below production costs,” he said.

The low prices stem from a decrease in demand for exporting agricultural commodities. Farmers across the nation struggle to make ends meet in the wake of harsh tariffs imposed by China to specifically hurt American agriculture.

Scott Stiles, an economist with the Cooperative Extension Service, said this all began when the Trump administration added tariffs to aluminum and steel imports in April 2018. In response, China imposed a 25% import tariff on U.S. soybeans, grain sorghum, cotton and several more agricultural commodities as well as several other industries.

“They chose to go after a segment of the U.S. population that would really get the president’s attention,” he said. “Hitting the ag (agriculture) sector could be something that could really be detrimental to the president’s political future,” Stiles reiterated.

As the top U.S. export market, China bought one-third of all U.S. soybeans before the trade war began. Arkansas grows around 3.4 million acres of soybeans each year and 610,000 acres of cotton, most specifically to be exported. Now, China buys hardly purchases any Arkansan crops.

“We can’t sell them commodities, but they want to sell us everything, and they don’t want tariffs,” Christian said. “So, in other words, they can put tariffs coming into our country but we can’t on ours.”

Because agriculture makes up a large part of the Arkansas economy, the effects can be felt in several more industries. Patrick Lenderman, Paragould Farm Credit Midsouth branch manager and vice president, works directly with Arkansas Delta farmers to finance their farms.

“This is kind of a trickle effect. When a farmer spends a dollar, it affects a lot of different people, whether it’s going to retail sales at the local Walmart or buying a new tractor or truck,” Lenderman said.

Stiles said the government cannot quantify the effects of the trade war beyond the growers because too many industries intertwine with the agriculture industry.

The federal government began providing trade aid to farmers in 2018 to help compensate for the low prices. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Market Facilitation Program offers farmers payments for “trade damaged” commodities. Arkansas farmers received $281 million in trade aid in 2018.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture increased funding to $14.5 billion and added many more crops to the list of those eligible for aid in 2019. Farmers may continue to sign up for these payments through Dec. 6.

“I think if every grower participated in that, then the amount of aid out of this 2019 round would be about $435 million,” Stiles said. “The payment rates are structured a little bit differently in 2019, and it covers more commodities, so there’s more aid available.”

Currently engaged in trade talks, the Trump administration and Chinese leaders began thawing their relationship, but export numbers remain lower than before the trade war.

Christian said other countries buy soybeans from the United States and then sell them to China to avoid the tariffs, so they still get the products. This could make it difficult to strike a deal between the countries.

He also said farmers in the area appreciate the actions of the Trump administration so far.

“We’ve been 20 plus years in the WTO (World Trade Organization) agreement, and we get rulings that are not far and against the United States all the time, and it’s time to do something different,” Christian said. “If we got to hurt a little bit to hopefully do some good, we’re willing to do it.”

Because many factors must be agreed upon by all countries involved for trade to resume, a solution to the trade war isn’t likely come soon.

“The solution will take time. There is no overnight solution to this,” Lenderman said.

The countries find themselves in a stalemate because the Trump administration interposed issues such as intellectual property disputes along with many others between the two countries over the past many years.

Negotiation talks were broken down into phases to address each issue, with agriculture as phase one.

Stiles said, “Ag is wrapped up in issues that are not ag-related, and it could be a casualty if we don’t ultimately get a complete, comprehensive trade deal.”

In the meantime, farmers continue the struggle to make ends meet. Arkansas growers, no matter how small the operation, cannot escape happenings halfway across the world and must fight through the current economic challenges.

Editor’s Note/Feature Photo: Joe Christian, owner/operator of JOC Farms Partnership, is one of many local farmers affected by the U.S.-China trade war. Photo by Tristan Bennett.

Farmers bring fall fun to the Delta

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By Tristan Bennett
Delta Digital News Service

BROOKLAND – Autumn in the Delta brought a business opportunity to many small family farmers.

Many farms in the area set up pumpkin patches and corn mazes as a family fall attraction to make a little extra cash after harvest. These farms draw in everyone from families to groups of college students. Jerry Whitten, who owns WF Mootown Corn Maze in Brookland, runs his business as a way to stay in the agriculture industry after retirement.

“I grew up on a farm, had cattle, my parents farmed, and I worked in the agriculture industry. So when I got a chance to retire from that job, this was something I thought I could do,” Whitten said.

Mootown offers a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, corn maze, bonfires, hayrides and a program for school children. Whitten credited great weather for the high turnout so far this year.

Matt and Anna Beth Presley visited Mootown to complete the corn maze and choose pumpkins to carve.

“She’s a nurse and I’m a cop, so our schedules are kind of busy. So this is date night,” Matt said.

The couple said they came to enjoy the fall festivity and the cool weather.

Whitten’s school program, “Spookley the Square Pumpkin,” tackles problems of bullying among young children and promotes agriculture.

Whitten said, “We have a trail set up in the woods, and it’s basically the book on boards that they read as they go through the woods, and they do a challenge at the end.”

When children visit the farm, they learn the process of growing pumpkins as well. Whitten talks to them about production and how to plant the seeds. Many teachers also prepare their students for the visit by actually growing a pumpkin in class.

Farmers who run these fall farms must start planning early in order to pull it off by the beginning of the season. Pumpkins can be especially difficult to grow. The Farmer’s Almanac suggests farmers wait until all threat of a frost is gone and water and fertilize often throughout the growing season.

“My analogy is they’re like a goat. They’re born looking for a reason to die,” Whitten said, “But they’re a lot of fun to watch because you always think there’s none there until the leaves start dropping, and you think, ‘wow there’s a lot of pumpkins out there.’”

The corn maze also draws people to the farm. Arkansas State University’s Catholic Newman Center brings a group of students to Mootown each fall. Zachary Ridgeway serves as the president of the CNC student organization.

“We do it to get all the new students to get to know each other better and have fun at the same time,” he said. “We’re doing the corn maze, which some of us have already successfully completed. We’re going to carve some pumpkins, and later we’re going to have a bonfire and hot dogs.”

Planning the corn maze also takes some time for Whitten to complete. In Arkansas, farmers plant corn in April or May and harvested in September. In order to keep it green throughout maze season, Whitten does not plant his corn until after the Fourth of July. Then, the maze must be cut out of the corn

“For years I did it the old-style way. Basically, the design is on graph paper, and every row of corn corresponds to a row on the graph paper. You just take marking paint and a lawn mower and start counting rows,” Whitten said.

Nowadays, professional corn maze cutters do the work for the farmer. They use GPS systems to mark the design in the field and cut it using a tractor and a tiller.

While a lot of hard work goes into it, Whitten said he enjoys the work he does.

He said, “I like raising it, but to me, watching the kids and the families come enjoy it and make memories. We’ve had several who have been with us every year, and it’s kind of a family tradition. That’s a lot of fun.”

Many farms like Mootown close for the season soon. Visit for family fun as well as to support local agriculture.

Editor’s Note: Feature photo and video by Tristan Bennettt.

Delta farmers begin harvest after a difficult growing season

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By Tristan Bennett
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Arkansas Delta farmers harvested their crops and took them to market after a difficult growing season.

Farmers experienced many challenges this season as they planted crops and tended to their fields all summer. Chris Grimes, Craighead County Cooperative Extension agent, works with these farmers to ensure they use the most efficient growing methods possible.

“Right now, we are harvesting cotton, soybeans, peanuts, and there’s still a little bit of rice and corn,” he said. “We were delayed planting, which in turn pushed our harvest a little later than normal.”

Other than a few hiccups with rainfall, the harvest continues moving rather smoothly. Many rice farmers like Terry Gray, owner of Thomas Gray Farms, already finished cutting.

“We were probably off 15 bushels an acre from last year. Not a bad crop, but nothing to brag about,” he said.

The wet spring and late planting affected Gray’s crop just as it did many other growers in the area. Some, including Gray, even skipped out on growing soybeans all together rather than plant late.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in the October Crop Production report a 14.3% nationwide drop in soybean acres planted from last season and a 7.3% drop in yield. Rice harvested experienced a 15% drop from last season.

While yields may be lower, growers report high qualities in their rice crop. Sample houses look at characteristics such as grain length, aroma and stickiness to determine the quality. Factors such as the amount of rainfall, heat and pests affect the quality of the finished product.

“The early part of the crop, the quality is good,” Gray said. “The middle part of the crop got so dry in the field the moisture content got down to 12%. As that grain sits in the bin, it’ll age and come up.”

 

“The early part of the crop, the quality is good…The middle part of the crop got so dry in the field the moisture content got down to 12%. As that grain sits in the bin, it’ll age and come up.” – Terry Gray, owner of Thomas Gray Farms

 

After harvesting the crops, farmers take truckloads of grain to driers so it can be properly stored and milled. Rice comes out of the field at a higher moisture content than it can be stored, so it must first be dried before it can be milled.

Riceland Foods markets agricultural commodities for its 6,000 member-owners in Arkansas and Missouri. The Jonesboro Grain Drier accepts both rice and soybeans from their members.

Freddie Gahr, drier manager, handles rice for the Jonesboro area and the mill.

“There was so much rain this past spring and so many acres that went into preventive planting acres that it really hurt our harvest receipts on rice this year,” Gahr said.

In Jonesboro, growers can take advantage of early sign up. They tell Riceland how many acres they intend to market through them, and they might get a better price than they would during the season.

“We can take those acres and convert them to bushels per acre, and we can determine, on rice, what we are going to get during harvest,” Gahr said. “We take soybeans basically as a service for our members.”

For rice, the Jonesboro mill includes four different processes. The parboil mill precooks and steams rice, and the traditional white rice mill removes the hull and polishes the rice. Rivland, a partnership between Riviana and Riceland, produces rice flour, and the by-products division takes bran, sends it to Riceland headquarters in Stuttgart, and they make rice bran cooking oil.

Riceland offers the farmer a certain price per bushel for their crop, and it takes care of drying the grain and milling it to be consumed by the public. The price they give changes daily, but on Friday, Oct. 11, they offered $5.51 per bushel of rough rice, an OK price.

“The prices could be a lot better,” Grimes said. “They vary depending on where they deliver, and they may have it contracted.”

Low prices mean especially difficult times for farm families. Overhead costs such as insurance, taxes and equipment payments never stop, so a low yield could lead to a financial stress for families who rely on farming.

Stress on a farmer could also contribute to family issues.

“When things aren’t going right, I’m sure my kids don’t think I’m quite as nice a dad,” Gray said. “You try not to take that home with you, but sometimes you just come home and you’re really frustrated.”

Despite tough seasons, low prices and stress, farmers like Gray continue to grow year after year.

He said, “Two famous words that come out of a farmer’s house are ‘next year.’ As a farmer, we love what we do, we love taking care of the soil and land, and we are always wanting to promote our vocation.”

Gray said next season may bring higher prices due to the interruption in the market, and many farmers will start out with land already worked, making it an easy planting season.

Editor’s Note: Feature photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash

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Local 4-H Clubs showcase work at fair

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By Tristan Bennett
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO, Ark. – Members of local 4-H Clubs participated in animal competitions at the Northeast Arkansas District Fair. The organization uses fair shows as a way to showcase members’ hands-on projects to the public.

The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service runs the 4-H program across the state. The organization encourages young people to take on societal issues and work to make their communities better. Club members choose their own projects and must take on the responsibility of the project, whether it takes weeks or years to finish.

Greene County Cooperative Extension agent Lance Blythe said, “It’s a learn by doing organization. Kids learn by project work that they do on their own time. An animal or a project is a way to teach kids life skills.”

Arkansas 4-H members can choose projects in areas such as agriculture, animal science and plant science. Many members of the Greene and Craighead County 4-H Clubs chose projects in the animal science category, and they raised animals to compete at the fair.

Members choose projects based on the time commitment they are willing to contribute as well as their financial abilities.

Blythe said, “These projects range anywhere from a few weeks along with chickens and rabbits all the way to cattle and horse projects, which can last for years. It’s a time dedication and financial as well.”

After choosing a project, members must find the animal they would like to raise. Members receive help from the club and the Cooperative Extension to find one, but many buy locally with some buying from all over the country.

Lance Blythe, Greene County Cooperative Extension agent, leads a goat to the scale for weigh-in before the showing. Photo by Tristan Bennett

Lainey Walling, a member of the Craighead County 4-H, raised a Polish rabbit for her project. She worked with her rabbit for several months before the fair.

“You have to make sure they are not shedding, and you have to brush them out,” Lainey said. “You also have to make sure that they’re not sick because that will put them out of the competition.”

Members learn how to properly care for the animal they are raising, including feeding, maintaining health and training.

“They learn about health and nutrition and train the animal to lead so they can show the animal to a judge when it comes time,” Blythe said. “They are taking care of something besides their self.”

When it comes time to showcase the animal, judges look for certain characteristics in every species and breed. Rabbits compete in classes based on breed, age and gender. Members must enter their rabbit in the correct class or it may be disqualified.

Carrie Walling, Lainey’s mother and a 4-H Club alumna said, “Each rabbit breed has its own set of expectations. For example, our rabbits are Polish, and a big characteristic is little ears and big eyes.”

As they raise their animal, members must also keep a record book. It shows their goals for the project, what they learned, how they managed their project on a daily basis and the opportunities they took to learn more about their project.

Members of 4-H show their animals at fairs as a way to showcase their work, and judging tells them how good they did. Blythe said 4-H members are not necessarily at an advantage in competition against other animals.

“The advantage comes from how well you do all the things involved in a project. Beginning with genetics. Where did you get the animal? How well did you feed it, train it, take care of it?” Blythe said.

Depending on which project they choose, members also have opportunities to go on to compete in more 4-H competitions. They can show off their projects in other ways such as 4-H O-Rama, a district and statewide program. Members who raise animals for their projects qualify for several 4-H O-Rama competitions such as the speaking contest, livestock judging and quiz bowls.

Arkansas 4-H helps more than 134,000 young people acquire new skills and develop healthy lifestyles that they will need for the rest of their lives. Members not only learn about livestock, but also have opportunities to learn about science, citizenship, leadership, public speaking and many more topics.

“They do a lot of public speaking, so I learned to get over my shyness and a love of animals,” Carrie said.

Four-H clubs in areas such as baking and dogs allow the organization to reach more young people outside of the traditional clubs. Arkansas 4-H offers free participation in all 75 state counties.

Editor’s Note: Lainey Walling, Craighead County 4-H member, demonstrates how rabbits are judged at the fair. Photo by Tristan Bennett

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