Arkansas GROWN A guide to the state’s farms, food & forestry What started as a phone call between coworkers soon evolved into the revival of a once-lost aspect of the Arkansas forestry industry. . .

Every Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents of Washington, D.C., can find something a little unexpected in the bustling metropolitan area of the National Mall: a farmers’ market. The market, which is organized and hosted by USDA, has been hosting farmers, ranchers, growers and producers from around the D.C. area since 1995. For the 2019 market season, which runs until Oct. 25, more than 30 vendors assemble on the sidewalk around the USDA headquarters to sell local honey, fresh seafood. . .

For three days in March, a perfect storm unfolded across the state of Nebraska. Heavy rains, abnormal for that time of year, pounded the frozen ground and immediately ran into already-full streams and rivers. Eventually, the state’s water containment system simply could no longer handle the deluge, and the Spencer Dam on the Niobrara River collapsed. Bridges and roadways were washed away, along with homes, farm buildings and fences. Sand from the streambeds of the state’s waterways was pushed. . .

With the population of Americans living in rural parts of the country growing ever smaller, the agricultural community must begin to consider the ways in which it engages with the urban population. Recently a group of key stakeholders, including state and county Farm Bureau leaders and staff, met to discuss the role Farm Bureau plays in cultivating agriculture in an urban setting. The Urban County Farm Bureau Coalition Summit II was the second such meeting of the coalition, which is working. . .

While most Americans associate NASA with the famed “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” and missions like the Mars Curiosity Rover, the agency is much more than the projects that make headlines around the world. Today, NASA is doing more than ever to advance the human condition on Earth, particularly in the agriculture sector. In fact, the agency, which receives less than 0.5% of the federal budget, is working on several missions that have major potential to impact the way. . .

Agritourism is a booming industry in the Ozarks, with more than 500 operations listed in the Missouri Farm Bureau agritourism directory alone. Agriculturists may be able to increase revenue by opening their doors to visitors. Kelly Smith, director of marketing and commodities at Missouri Farm Bureau, said that many agritourism operations decide to open the farm doors to the public because of the need to bring in extra income to support another. . .

Alda Owen was 60 years old when she owned her first puppy, a Border Collie she named Sweet Baby Jo. The two bonded immediately, enjoying rounds of fetch in the pasture and going for rides in a utility vehicle. But Sweet Baby Jo isn’t just any farm dog and Owen isn’t just any farmer. Owen has been legally blind since the age of 10. At 58 she battled breast cancer and depression, along with frustration from a lessened ability to help her husband, Rick, around the farm due to decreased physical. . .