Record flooding, followed by untimely rains this spring has limited cotton planting. Arkansas and Mississippi, two of the Top 4 producing states, will plant and harvest less acres of cotton than a year ago, but growers hope demand and prices will rise as a result.

It’s tomato festival time, but who’s bringing the salsa? Imports from Mexico account for 70% of the U.S. market and South Arkansas farms are declining. A tariff beginning July 14 could even the playing field.

The Mighty Rib sat down with Sandy Barnhill of Barnhill Orchards to learn about their farm stand and the restaurants they supply with food. Barnhill Orchards is just one of the great stops you can make to support local foods and farmers on the Arkansas Farm Trail. To learn more visit: arfarmtrail.com.

On this episode of Arkansas AgCast, we break down the Trump administration’s proposed USDA budget for fiscal year 2026, which includes significant funding cuts across conservation, nutrition and rural development programs. We also highlight a bipartisan effort led by Rep. Rick Crawford to freeze wages for H-2A guest workers, citing concerns over rising costs for American farmers. Arkansas specialty crop producers should tune in for details on a newly opened grant opportunity. Plus, we have new research from the University of Arkansas showing that large-scale solar projects currently occupy just 0.2% of the state’s farmland, though more installations are on the horizon.

The Ag Youth Leadership Summit is a camp for high school students hosted at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, where students learn more about agriculture in the state, develop leadership skills and discover careers in agriculture available to them after graduation.

Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School teacher Jill Herrin credits agriculture for helping increase science scores by 39 points. Herrin’s hands-on projects, like egg incubation and hydroponics, keyed student improvements. Watch to learn about why she’s the 2025 Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

An Idaho couple moved to Florida before finding paradise 4 miles south of Missouri in Oak Grove, Ark. Their 3,500-mile faith journey required cerebral calculations and courage but led to full-time work with 1,000 cows on 3,000 rolling acres. Watch the intriguing TB Cattle at Flat Hat Ranch story.

After a very wet spring, preliminary estimates from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture indicate nearly $79 million in crop-related flood damage in Arkansas. Of the more than 800,000 acres planted in early April, 31% was reported as flooded. Rice accounted for 46% of those flooded acres. Extension rice agronomist Jarrod Hardke explains we are at a critical point in the planting season as the success of this year’s crop hangs in the balance. For more details on exact numbers visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2025/april/04-15-2025-ark-flood-damage-crops.aspx.

Ten acres of almost-ripe berries were destroyed in 10 minutes Sunday at Dozier’s Sta-N-Step Farm in Northwest Arkansas. Devastated owner Les Dozier looks ahead after losing his blueberries, blackberries and raspberries to hail and high winds.

This week’s #FarmTrailFriday heads to Baxter County. Hannah and Cody Walker of Henderson operate County Line Beef, LLC, a direct-to-consumer operation that allows the Walkers to connect with their community. To learn more visit: arfarmtrail.com.