In this episode of Morning Coffee and Ag Markets, Riley Smith sits down with Dr. Nalley, the newly appointed head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Nalley shares his journey from assistant professor to department head and discusses his dedication to bridging research, extension, and teaching to support Arkansas producers. He highlights key challenges for 2025, including avian influenza, thin profit margins for row crop producers, and poor rice milling quality. 

Dr. Nalley also emphasizes the importance of proactive and reactive research, the development of practical tools like crop enterprise budgets and crop insurance resources, and the University’s commitment to addressing real-world issues faced by farmers. This conversation offers valuable insights into the University of Arkansas’ role in supporting the agricultural community through research and extension.