State Department of Agriculture Announces $5M Grant Program
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has received $5 million in federal CARES Act funding for its Meat & Poultry Processing Grant Program. read more >
Trump’s Tariff War with China Hits Arkansas Farmers Hard
President Trump's trade war with China is creating casualties in Arkansas. Soybean farmers have seen their exports to China plummet as prices have dropped 15%. read more >
by Jan Cottingham -
Wes Ward Wins VP at SASDA (Movers & Shakers)
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward was elected vice president of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture at the annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas. read more >
Update: Governor Announces Levee Task Force, $10M Request For Repairs
Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued an executive order Thursday to create the Arkansas Levee Task Force, which will study and analyze the current conditions of the state’s levees, following record flooding along the Arkansas River earlier this month. read more >
What’s Rice? Under Arkansas Law, It’s Not Cauliflower
Act 501 creates a fine for labeling any product as rice if it isn't a product of the swamp grass cultivated for grain around the world. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Armor Bank Moves Back Into the Black
The purchase and renaming of Forrest City Bank has given Nathan Waldrip an intensive education. read more >
by Marty Cook -
New Firm, Campbell Ward, Emerges From Noble Strategies
Lauren Waldrip Ward and Becky Barnes Campbell form a new public affairs and public relations firm, Campbell Ward LLC. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward on Bringing State Crops to World Market
Wes Ward, 34, had no farming experience — and still doesn’t — when he became Arkansas’ agriculture secretary in March 2015. read more >
Asa Hutchinson to Promote Rice, Poultry on China Trip
Gov. Asa Hutchinson will travel to China to meet with existing and prospective business contacts and with government officials about opening the country to Arkansas rice and poultry. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Update: Waldrip Family to Purchase Forrest City Bank
Big Creek Bancshares, formed in September by Mark Waldrip of Moro (Lee County) and Nathan Waldrip of Jonesboro, has struck a deal to buy Forrest City Bank from Forrest City Financial Corp. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Arkansas Gets $755K from USDA for Spinach Research
Arkansas is receiving $755,784 from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service for a multi-state project to evaluate and develop field resistance to downy mildew in spinach. read more >
Wes Ward to Delve Into Cuban Relations at Agriculture Law Conference
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward will speak at the Third Annual Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference this week in Memphis. read more >
by Alexis Crowe -
Engage Cuba Launches Arkansas Council, Calls for End to Trade Restrictions
Engage Cuba President James Williams said Monday that Cuba will pledge to buy a significant amount of rice from the U.S. should the Congress allow trade on credit between the countries. read more >
Arkansas Business Power List 2016: Agriculture & Timber
An agriculture and timber resource to help navigate the leadership of the largest Arkansas companies or institutions. read more >
Crawford: Cuban Market Could Boost Arkansas, But Leaders Must Act Fast
Cuba's dependence on outside food sources could provide a $36 million annual boost to Arkansas' economy, particularly farmers in northeast Arkansas. read more >
by -
ASU Agribusiness Conference Set for February
Arkansas State University’s 22nd annual Agribusiness Conference on Feb. 10 will focus on the agricultural economy, environmental law and regulation, business transition planning, trade policy and the commodity market outlook. read more >
State Rice Convention to Take Place in Jonesboro
The Arkansas Rice Council and Arkansas Rice Farmers will hold their annual meeting and trade show Friday, Feb. 5, at the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro beginning at 9 a.m. read more >
Arkansas Launches Farmer-Veteran Initiative
The "Homegrown by Heroes Arkansas Grown" program merges the national Homegrown by Heroes program, started in Kentucky, with the Arkansas Grown initiative, which promotes Arkansas farmers and growers and their products. read more >
by Mark Carter -
Government Not the First Rodeo for Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward
Wes Ward hails from Lake City, and he has degrees in agriculture and agriculture and food law. He served on U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford’s staff. read more >
by -
Asa Hutchinson Taps Wes Ward for Ag Secretary
Ward, an Arkansas State University graduate, has degrees agricultural business and in agricultural and food law. He also served as a captain and civil affairs officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. read more >
Sign up for Daily E-news
Sign Up
THIS WEEK’S EDITION
This Week’s Stories
View Digital Edition
![Dr. Burke Soffe, dean of the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine: “This will provide a generational impact on oral health in the state.” [Karen Segrave]](https://arkansasbusiness.wppcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ARBusiness-Lyon-Dental-School-0174_opt-150x150.jpg)
