Food, Farms and Forests

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.

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

Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

U of A System Division of Agriculture

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

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Dr. Matt Bertucci, an assistant professor in the horticulture department, discusses his recent research on using herbicides normally used in row crops in blackberry production.
The data supports the safety and effectiveness of 2,4-D choline and glufosinate in blackberry growing systems. Bertucci hopes to see regulatory approvals for these herbicides soon, allowing blackberry growers to benefit from these "new" weed management options.

This research was made possible by the USDA IR-4 Project, which supports the registration of pesticides for specialty crops, ensuring that smaller but economically valuable crops like blackberries receive the resources needed to advance research and practical applications in the field.
Read the Research: https://smallfruits.org/2024/04/testing-new-herbicides-in-blackberry-production/

Related Links:
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
Department of Horticulture
Fruit Research Station, Clarksville
U A Division of Agriculture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food Life Science

In this Food, Farms & Forests episode, we travel to the University of Arkansas at Monticello to explore efforts to restore bottomland hardwood forests in Arkansas.
Dr. Michael Blazier, Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, discusses the Restoring Bottomland Hardwood Forests project, a $3.7 million initiative that plans to convert idle farmland into thriving ecosystems.
Funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Climate Smart Program, this initiative is part of a nationwide effort to enhance carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water quality and give small underserved landowners an opportunity to restore their land.
Blazier explains how this project is helping underserved landowners across Arkansas, especially those with smaller plots, to revitalize their lands while contributing to climate goals.
Dr. Nana Tian, an assistant professor at the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources and researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, is the principal investigator leading this initiative.
Read more about the project: Restoring Bottomland Hardwood Forests.
Related Links:

• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff