Food, Farms and Forests

Two New Muscadines, Probiotics Vs. Formaldehyde, & Freezing Beef: July 2025 Arkansas Ag Research Report

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Story Links BIG NEWS Two new varieties of muscadines set for fall release, expand growing season [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/new-muscadine-varieties/]   TOP NOTCH Kariyat holds Clyde H. Sites Endowed Professorship in International Crop Physiology [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/rupesh-kariyat-awarded-endowment/]  Arkansas Research Alliance awards additional funding for essential research [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/ara-research-grants/]    NEW FACES New Arkansas Ag Experiment Station administrator eyes continuous improvement on impactful research and development [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/cynthia-sides-aes-ad/]    RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS Probiotics prove to be powerful chick hatchery disinfectant [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/probiotics-poultry-hatcheries/] Look to the data, not the marketing: Turfgrass research shows no differences in ‘penetrant’ and ‘retainer’ wetting agents [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/turfgrass-penetrants-vs-retainers/] How do I store beef in the freezer? [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/beef-freezing-study/] Refining Nanotechnology to Enhance Absorption of Meds, Probiotics [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/jin-woo-kim-probiotics-research/]   WATCH  Elvis Elli – Increasing Productivity & Sustainability [https://youtu.be/7VL90EHR0zo] LISTEN What’s the best way to store beef in the freezer? A new study has the answer. [https://aaes.uada.edu/podcast/how-to-freeze-beef/] HOT OFF THE PRESS Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2024 [https://bit.ly/2024-corn-and-grain-sorghum-research] Sign up for our monthly newsletter! [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/5oWuQYU/ArkAgResearchReport]

What's the best way to store beef in the freezer? A new study has the answer.

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, we spoke with Derico Setyabrata [https://animal-science.uark.edu/people/faculty-directory/uid/dericos/name/Derico+Setyabrata/], assistant professor of meat science and muscle biology with the animal science department, about a recent study looking at how to optimize long-term storage of beef in the freezer. After comparing three cuts of meat, in whole sections and cut into steaks, with freeze-thawing cycles in industrial blast freezers and two types of freezers found in most homes, Setyabrata found that the size and cut of beef matters. We also discussed his previous work looking for ways to reduce waste coming from the dry aging process. 📑 Read the study: Impact of Product Size and Subsequent Consumer Freezing Practices on Meat Quality and Palatability of Different Beef Muscles [https://doi.org/10.22175/mmb.19030] Related Links: Animal Science Department [https://animal-science.uark.edu/] Bumpers College [https://bumperscollege.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]

Space Lasers, Hyperspectral Sensors, & Beer: June 2025 Arkansas Ag Research Report

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Story Links AI in Ag: * Hyperspectral sensor pushes weed science a wave further [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/hyperspectral-weed-research/] * Space lasers and AI used by geospatial scientist to measure forest biomass [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/forest-aboveground-biomass/] TOP NOTCH: Muenich receives Purdue University Outstanding Alumni Award [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/muenich-purdue-alumni-award/] NEW FACES: Grain processing engineer Kaushik Luthra joins bio and ag engineering faculty [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/new-faculty-kaushik-luthra/] RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS: * ‘What’s wrong with my lawn?’ Research points toward possible answer [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/large-patch-disease/] * Beer gets a boost from Arkansas rice thanks to new research [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/milled-rice-na-beer/] * Sorghum proteins offer resilient 3D-printable ‘bioink’ base [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/novel-sorghum-bioink/] WATCH: Michael Popp - Economics on the Farm [https://youtu.be/rTG41nr9tS4] HOT OFF THE PRESS: Summaries of Arkansas Cotton Research 2024 [https://bit.ly/2024-cotton-research] Sign up for our monthly newsletter! [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/5oWuQYU/ArkAgResearchReport]

Blackberry Genetics, Remembering Charles Maxwell, and More: May 2025 Arkansas Ag Research Report

Welcome to the audio version of our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Ag Research Report: a monthly round-up of the top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. Story Links BIG NEWS: Research team homes in on genetics behind blackberry thorns [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/genetic-region-blackberry-thorns/] TOP NOTCH: Jason Norsworthy honored by Weed Science Society of America [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/norsworthy-wssa-award/] NEW FACES: * Justin Chlapecka served as county extension agent before doctoral studies [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/justin-chlapecka-new-faculty/] * Kristiina Ala-Kokko to join agricultural economics and agribusiness department [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/kristiina-ala-kokko-new-faculty/] IN MEMORIAM: Charles Maxwell had global reputation for research, student engagement [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/maxwell-tribute/] RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTS: * Study on rice lab mills shows differences in yield based on several factors [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/optimizing-lab-analysis/] * Soil fertility research publication tracks results of soil testing samples from across the state [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/soil-fertility-publication/] * Solar power system installations impact less than 1 percent of Arkansas’ ag land [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/solar-ag-footprint/] * Dog owners willing to pay more for food labeled for certain health attributes [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/dog-food-marketing-assesment/] WATCH: Trenton Roberts – Optimizing Soil Fertility [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IXVtzMGf_E] HOT OFF THE PRESS: International Rice Baseline Report, 2024-2034 [https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/wordpressua.uark.edu/dist/3/599/files/2025/05/1016_International_Rice_Baseline_Projections_2024-2034.pdf]

From ChatGPT to Hay Balers: Technology and Ag Education

In this episode of Food, Farms & Forests, Don Johnson, a University Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology, joins us to discuss the intersection of agriculture, technology and education. Johnson addresses the importance of agricultural education, the challenges and successes in the field, and how ag education is evolving to include concepts like artificial intelligence and microcontrollers. Johnson also highlights a recent USDA grant project aimed at integrating microcontrollers into high school agricultural education curricula, emphasizing the need to attract more students to the field and prepare them for technological advancements in agriculture. Related links: WATCH: Donald Johnson – The Future of Agriculture | Behind the Discovery [https://aaes.uada.edu/videos/the-future-of-agriculture/] Teaching Method Increases Students’ Interest in Programming and Breadboarding [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/don-johnson-arduino/] Study Shows Successful Use of ChatGPT in Ag Education [https://aaes.uada.edu/news/don-johnson-chatgpt-arduino-studies/]