Food, Farms and Forests

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Story Links

BIG NEWS

Two new varieties of muscadines set for fall release, expand growing season

TOP NOTCH

Kariyat holds Clyde H. Sites Endowed Professorship in International Crop Physiology 

Arkansas Research Alliance awards additional funding for essential research

NEW FACES

New Arkansas Ag Experiment Station administrator eyes continuous improvement on impactful research and development

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS

Probiotics prove to be powerful chick hatchery disinfectant

Look to the data, not the marketing: Turfgrass research shows no differences in ‘penetrant’ and ‘retainer’ wetting agents

How do I store beef in the freezer?

Refining Nanotechnology to Enhance Absorption of Meds, Probiotics

WATCH 

Elvis Elli – Increasing Productivity & Sustainability

LISTEN

What’s the best way to store beef in the freezer? A new study has the answer.


HOT OFF THE PRESS

Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2024

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In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, we spoke with Derico Setyabrata, assistant professor of meat science and muscle biology with the animal science department, about a recent study looking at how to optimize long-term storage of beef in the freezer.

After comparing three cuts of meat, in whole sections and cut into steaks, with freeze-thawing cycles in industrial blast freezers and two types of freezers found in most homes, Setyabrata found that the size and cut of beef matters.

We also discussed his previous work looking for ways to reduce waste coming from the dry aging process.

📑 Read the study: Impact of Product Size and Subsequent Consumer Freezing Practices on Meat Quality and Palatability of Different Beef Muscles

Related Links:
Animal Science Department
Bumpers College
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Story Links

AI in Ag:

• Hyperspectral sensor pushes weed science a wave further
• Space lasers and AI used by geospatial scientist to measure forest biomass

TOP NOTCH: Muenich receives Purdue University Outstanding Alumni Award

NEW FACES: Grain processing engineer Kaushik Luthra joins bio and ag engineering faculty

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS:

• ‘What’s wrong with my lawn?’ Research points toward possible answer
• Beer gets a boost from Arkansas rice thanks to new research
• Sorghum proteins offer resilient 3D-printable ‘bioink’ base

WATCH: Michael Popp - Economics on the Farm

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Summaries of Arkansas Cotton Research 2024

Sign up for our monthly newsletter!

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Story Links

BIG NEWS: Research team homes in on genetics behind blackberry thorns

TOP NOTCH: Jason Norsworthy honored by Weed Science Society of America

NEW FACES:

• Justin Chlapecka served as county extension agent before doctoral studies
• Kristiina Ala-Kokko to join agricultural economics and agribusiness department

IN MEMORIAM: Charles Maxwell had global reputation for research, student engagement

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS:

• Study on rice lab mills shows differences in yield based on several factors
• Soil fertility research publication tracks results of soil testing samples from across the state
• Solar power system installations impact less than 1 percent of Arkansas’ ag land
• Dog owners willing to pay more for food labeled for certain health attributes

WATCH: Trenton Roberts – Optimizing Soil Fertility

HOT OFF THE PRESS: International Rice Baseline Report, 2024-2034

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Don Johnson, a University Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology, joins us to discuss the intersection of agriculture, technology and education. Johnson addresses the importance of agricultural education, the challenges and successes in the field, and how ag education is evolving to include concepts like artificial intelligence and microcontrollers.

Johnson also highlights a recent USDA grant project aimed at integrating microcontrollers into high school agricultural education curricula, emphasizing the need to attract more students to the field and prepare them for technological advancements in agriculture.

Related links:

WATCH: Donald Johnson – The Future of Agriculture | Behind the Discovery

Teaching Method Increases Students’ Interest in Programming and Breadboarding

Study Shows Successful Use of ChatGPT in Ag Education

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Tim Burcham joins us to discuss the recently completed Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center — also known as NERREC. Dr. Burcham shares NERREC's mission to help farmers achieve greater profitability and sustainability and to educate the public about the importance of rice and agriculture in Arkansas.

He discusses the significance of NERREC's location and agronomic characteristics, the importance of sustainability in rice production, and highlights some of the educational aims of the Center.

Learn more about NERREC:

• NERREC Home Page
• Nearly 400 Attend Grand Opening for NE Rice Research and Extension Center
• Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center Hosts Inaugural Rice Field Day

Other related links:

• Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
• Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service 
• U of A System Division of Agriculture 

“I love research and being a part of … this process of being able to help faculty get funding for their research,” said Dr. Keith Berry Jr.

In this Food, Farms & Forest episode, we are joined by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s first-ever research development specialist. Berry shares an overview of the proposal writing process and provides some quick tips for finding greater funding success.

Listen in to learn how Berry is helping Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station faculty find funding for innovations in food and agriculture.
 
Learn more about Berry: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/improve-funding-chances/ 

Related links:

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

U of A System Division of Agriculture 

Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food Life Science 
 
 

“We’re introducing a new fruit,” said Dr. Renee Threlfall. 

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Renee Threlfall shares her work on a USDA-funded project to develop a new generation of muscadine grapes. Known for their resilience and unique flavor, muscadines are being hybridized with bunch grapes to combine each species' best qualities. Threlfall, who leads the quality team, explains the science behind creating a grape that balances durability with consumer appeal.

Threlfall discusses how consumer preferences, from packaging to taste, guide decisions about sweetness, texture, and appearance. She explains how advanced testing methods are helping the research team with the breeding process to meet these demands and create a grape that’s both flavorful and resilient.

The Vitis x Muscadinia project is supported by the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, USDA-NIFA project award no. 2024-51181-43236.

Related Links:
 
LISTEN: A Berry Big Deal — Merging Traits for Taste and Toughness

Vitis Vinifera and Muscadines: Grape Breeders Seek the Best of Both Grapes

USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s Plant Disease Action Plan for 2022-2026

USDA Invests Nearly $121M in Specialty Crops Research and Organic Agriculture Production

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service 

U of A System Division of Agriculture 
 

New research is exploring combining the best traits of traditional table grapes with muscadines to create disease-resistant, flavorful grapes consumers will love.
 
In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Margaret Worthington, associate professor of horticulture and researcher at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, explains the project she co-leads to create a new grape variety.

Worthington and an interdisciplinary team of 31 researchers from 12 institutions across the country are working on a research project to develop hybrids between two very different types of grapes: the classic table grape, Vitis vinifera, and the southeastern native, Muscadinia rotundifolia, better known as muscadine.

Muscadines have exceptional disease resistance and thrive in the Southeastern U.S., while Vitis vinifera grapes have the textures and flavors consumers love.

Worthington shares some history of efforts that began over a century ago to bring together the best traits from both grape types. She explains that one unique aspect of this research is the unprecedented level of collaboration between the traditional Vitis vinifera and muscadine grape breeding communities.

Worthington—who grew up enjoying the fruit in North Carolina—hopes to elevate muscadines to a nationwide “fifth berry category,” joining the ranks of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

This project is funded by a $7 million USDA-NIFA grant.


Related Links:

Vitis Vinifera and Muscadines: Grape Breeders Seek the Best of Both Grapes

USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s Plant Disease Action Plan for 2022-2026

USDA Invests Nearly $121M in Specialty Crops Research and Organic Agriculture Production


The Vitis x Muscadinia project is supported by the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, USDA-NIFA project award no. 2024-51181-43236.

Duck hunting season takes place in November and December in Arkansas and duck hunters and experts are watching for birds coming into the area in October, a group often referred to as "Halloween ducks".

Dr. Doug Osborne, professor in the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and researcher for the experiment station, explains mallards' migration patterns, the challenges faced by waterfowl populations, and the importance of creating optimal habitats for these birds.

The duck population has declined over the years; Osborne says understanding waterfowl behaviors can better inform decisions to help those numbers rebound by ensuring healthy habitat management to provide diverse food sources and environments.

Osborne discusses how his research into waterfowl behavior is helping inform habitat management and restoration efforts.

He discusses the benefits and significance of his research and protecting waterfowl habitats both for wildlife and human benefits, including the wetlands' role in water quality and flood management, carbon sequestration, providing essential nutrients for waterfowl,  and the cultural and economic importance of duck hunting in Arkansas.

Related Links:

Doug Osborne's Research

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station

College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Recourses

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture