Food, Farms and Forests
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
The latest food, fiber, and forestry research from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Researchers share their latest findings and advancements in agriculture and food science, explaining the methods and purpose behind their work.
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Top 10 Food, Farms and Forests Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Food, Farms and Forests episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Food, Farms and Forests for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Food, Farms and Forests episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
A Berry Big Deal: Merging traits for taste and toughness
Food, Farms and Forests
11/14/24 • 23 min
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.
Feast or Fowl: Why you might pay more for turkey and eggs this holiday season
Food, Farms and Forests
10/21/24 • 22 min
In this episode of Food, Farms, and Forests, Dr. Jada Thompson, associate professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness breaks down the economic factors affecting turkey and egg prices for the upcoming holiday season.
She discusses the highly pathogenic avian influenza and avian metapneumovirus, or aMPV, how producers adjust supply in response to potential outbreaks, and the impacts of biosecurity measures and backyard poultry.
Tune in as Thompson dives deeper into the economic dynamics behind the prices we pay at the grocery store.
Related links:
Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Department
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food Life Science
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
How replanting forests can improve ecological benefits and empower landowners
Food, Farms and Forests
09/23/24 • 19 min
In this episode of Arkansas Food, Farms & Forests, we explore the Restoring Bottomland Hardwood Forests project with principal investigator Dr. Nana Tian, a researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and associate professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Planting begins this fall, and over the next 3 to 5 years, this project aims to restore approximately 600 acres of Arkansas bottomland forests by planting oak species and other hardwoods. With a $3.71 million grant from the USDA’s Climate-Smart Commodities program, the project is set to make a lasting impact on Arkansas' ecosystem and economy.
Dr. Tian discusses the importance of bottomland hardwood forests, which provide vital ecosystem services like timber production, wildlife habitat, water regulation, and carbon sequestration. Her research focuses on quantifying both the ecological and economic benefits of this restoration project.
Dr. Tian counts on the help of her team of researchers at UAM, as well as collaborators from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Texas A&M University.
Join the conversation for an in-depth look at how scientific research, ecological restoration, and economic opportunity are intertwined in the effort to restore Arkansas' valuable bottomland hardwood forests.
Related links:
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Ep. 02 — Story of ARoma 17 Rice and Talking Fruit Breeding with John Clark
Food, Farms and Forests
12/21/21 • 27 min
In this episode, Science Writer John Lovett shares the story of how ARoma 17, an aromatic rice variety developed by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, came to be used as the base for an award-winning gin. And Nick Kordsmeier, director of AAES communications, sat down with John Clark, distinguished professor of horticulture and fruit breeding for the experiment station, to talk about the Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program and how fruit breeding works.
Ep. 01 — Farm Apprenticeships, Thanksgiving Food Safety, and Poultry Meat Quality
Food, Farms and Forests
11/23/21 • 40 min
In the inaugural episode of the Arkansas Food, Farms and Forests podcast, Science Writer John Lovett spoke with the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food about their apprenticeship program; AAES Director of Communications Nick Kordsmeier invited food safety expert Jennifer Acuff to share some food safety tips ahead of Thanksgiving; and Science Editor Fred Miller sat down with the Novus International Professor of Poultry Science, Casey Owens, to discuss her research program and the progress she's made towards fighting chicken meat quality defects.
How pesticides help advance sustainable agriculture
Food, Farms and Forests
05/28/24 • 21 min
In this episode, we learn about research that shows pesticide use can increase productivity and profits for producers, and alleviate pressure on water, land, and energy resources per unit of crop produced.
Marty Matlock, professor of ecological engineering with the biological and agricultural engineering department, shares an update on a recent life cycle assessment that found pesticide use helps advance sustainable agriculture.
A life cycle assessment is a tedious accounting of the environmental impact of every step in the process of producing a product, Matlock said. In this case, he and his collaborators considered what would happen if pesticides were taken out of the equation in the production of corn, soybean and cotton.
As the global population grows to 10 billion in the coming years, Matlock’s report found that pesticides will be critical to producing the food we need.
Bio & Ag Engineering: https://bio-ag-engineering.uark.edu
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station: https://aaes.uada.edu
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service: https://www.uaex.uada.edu
U of A System Division of Agriculture: https://uada.edu
University of Arkansas College of Engineering: https://engineering.uark.edu
Tracking Mallards Migration: Research and Conservation for Arkansas' Duck Season
Food, Farms and Forests
10/28/24 • 22 min
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
Optimizing Blackberry Pest Management: The Impact of RCA Trellising and Spray Coverage
Food, Farms and Forests
06/21/24 • 20 min
In this episode of Arkansas Food, Farms and Forests, we discuss a study on the interaction of trellising type and spray coverage in blackberries.
Aaron Cato, an extension specialist in the horticulture department focusing on integrated pest management, shared details about his latest research and related studies that looked at the impact of the rotating cross-arm trellis on pest management in blackberries focusing on the spotted wing drosophila infestation.
The research found that the RCA trellis provided better pest control than the traditional t-trellis. The data also revealed insights into the effects of microclimate on pest infestation and emphasized the need for cultural controls alongside insecticides.
Read the Research: Impact of trellising on spray coverage and spotted-wing drosophila infestation: comparing the rotating cross-arm trellis to the T-trellis
Related Studies: Rotating Cross-Arm Trellis Offers Improved Yields, Quality for Blackberries
Related Links:
Recommendations for RCA Trellis for Blackberries
Department of Horticulture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food Life Science
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
Addressing the need for academic training in agricultural communications
Food, Farms and Forests
06/04/24 • 20 min
In this Food, Farms & Forest episode, we learn about the development of the first agricultural communications program in the United Kingdom.
Jenifer Fouch speaks with Dr. Jeff Miller, a professor in the agricultural education, communications, and technology department, who’s helping establish the very first ag communications curriculum at Scotland’s Rural College based on his years of research on the topic.
Miller discusses his findings, the importance of agriculture communications and academic training in the field.
Tune in to learn how agricultural communications is evolving and its impact on the industry both in the U.S. and abroad.
Read the Research: Perceptions of Professionals, Faculty, and Students Regarding the Implementation of an Agricultural Communications Degree Program in the United Kingdom.
Related publications: Characteristics of U.S. Agricultural Communications Undergraduate Programs
Related links:
Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food Life Science
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
May 2024 Arkansas Agricultural Research Report
Food, Farms and Forests
05/30/24 • 6 min
May 2024 Arkansas Agricultural Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.
In this edition:
- Find out who was recently named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- Low-frequency microwaves destroy weed seeds underground, prompting further studies as a broad-spectrum application.
- A new soil prediction model was developed to provide speedier options.
- What makes a chicken more water efficient than others, and why does it matter?
- Keith Berry Jr. joins the experiment station as its first-ever research development specialist.
BIG NEWS
Researchers uncover what makes some chickens more water efficient than others: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/make-chickens-more-water-efficient/
TOP NOTCH
Poultry scientist honored as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/wayne-kuenzel-aaas-fellow/
USDA-NIFA grant supports microwave tech to zap weed seeds: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/microwave-weed-killer/
NEW FACES
New role aims to help faculty improve chances at grant funding: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/improve-funding-chances/
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS
Soil testing time saver predicts key soil health characteristics: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/soil-texture-prediction-model/
Slow-growth diet before breeding offered better long-range health in pigs: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/improving-sow-performance/
Be sure to sign up for our newsletter: https://aaes.uada.edu/category/news/
And don't forget to subscribe to Food, Farms & Forest for the latest news from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Food, Farms and Forests have?
Food, Farms and Forests currently has 19 episodes available.
What topics does Food, Farms and Forests cover?
The podcast is about University, Research, Podcasts, Education, Science, Agriculture, Forestry and Food.
What is the most popular episode on Food, Farms and Forests?
The episode title 'Optimizing Blackberry Pest Management: The Impact of RCA Trellising and Spray Coverage' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Food, Farms and Forests?
The average episode length on Food, Farms and Forests is 23 minutes.
How often are episodes of Food, Farms and Forests released?
Episodes of Food, Farms and Forests are typically released every 13 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Food, Farms and Forests?
The first episode of Food, Farms and Forests was released on Nov 23, 2021.
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