The 77th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced its eight district farm families, representing a wide variety of Arkansas agriculture, the state’s largest industry. Judges will visit farms to determine the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, who will be announced Dec. 13.

Three east Arkansas farms were included on this year’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Technology Information Center tour. State Conservationist Mike Sullivan says it’s a tribute to the innovation and sustainable conservation methods of area farmers.

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Arkansas farmers have been hit hard this year with storms and rain. In Prairie County, Frank Lisko saw a recent hail storm impact his crops. Despite that, he hopes to make the most of his delayed beans and damaged corn crop.

Sen. John Boozman released the Senate Ag Committee Republicans framework for the farm bill today. The document prioritizes the farm safety net, expanding overseas markets, research and growing rural communities. See details of the framework in full here: https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/rep/press/release/boozman-unveils-senate-ag-republicans-framework-answering-call-to-put-more-farm-in-the-farm-bill.

Just outside of Pocahontas in Randolph County you’ll find a unique market in the middle of “Knollwhere.” The Knoll market, open around the clock, is using the honor system to give folks in the Dalton community flexibility to buy local products at their convenience.

Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Ag Youth Leadership Summit is an immersive leadership camp for juniors and seniors in high school and was hosted this year at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Students learned about in-depth leadership commonly utilized in careers across industry sectors. Students also participated in a service-learning project and explored agricultural careers. The summit wrapped up with a mini-Olympics, where students competed in pool, table tennis, boat making and a lip-sync battle. Hear from Arkansas Ag in the Classroom director, Donette Spann to learn more about the opportunities AYLS provides students. To see event photos, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBtY3t.

This week, USDA announced proposed changes to the poultry tournament system, which includes guarantees for base price and addresses other issues. We’ll have the details and how you can add input to the proposal. Plus, a Sicilian delegation visited the Natural State this week to form a partnership focused on agriculture with the U of A, how farmers continue to struggle with weather challenges and more on this episode of the Arkansas AgCast.

It’s either a groundbreaking idea for enterprising farmers or Jacob Feather is just going nuts. The 32-year-old’s soybeans are surrounded this year by 2,000 pecan trees on his farm in Griffithville.

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service along with the Kore University of Enna, Italy, has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish an agriculture partnership between the universities. The MOU, which began with the help of the Little Rock Sister City Commission, allows opportunities for collaborative projects in agriculture research and exchange of agricultural goods.