Mahfuzur Rahman, a food scientist and grain processing engineer with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, is this year’s recipient of the Andersons Early-in-Career Award. Rahman joined the experiment station, the research arm of the UADA…
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Economists Tackle Estimating Consumer Effects Following the Loss of Billions of Birds and Eggs Lost to Avian Influenza
Fewer and more expensive eggs in 2024 put estimated $1.41 billion burden on consumers in 2024, according to study by a trio of researchers examining the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza — HPAI — on the economy…
Training on Particle Size Analyzer set March 19 at Food Science Building
A new particle size analyzer, which is useful in many scientific disciplines, has been acquired by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.
Growth Rates of Broilers Contribute to Behavior Differences, Shed Light on Welfare Impacts
As poultry companies weigh cost and efficiency with higher animal welfare standards, research comparing conventional and slow-growing broiler breeds showed that the slow-growing chickens displayed behaviors more closely…
Precision Agriculture Research Measures Effectiveness of See & Spray Technology
Like any new technology, there is a learning curve to using it correctly, and the See & Spray™ from John Deere is no exception. A three-year field trial in Arkansas soybeans showed proper use of the technology can cut post-emergence herbicide use by half and save millions of dollars in expenses.
WATCH: Derico Setyabrata – Preserving Meat, Reducing Waste | Behind the Discovery
When it comes to the color of beef in the store or refrigerator, there’s more going on than meets the eye. Animal science researcher Derico Setyabrata is looking for ways to extend the shelf life of beef products to reduce food waste and boost the bottom line…
Cold Plasma-Treated Seeds Show Potential to Protect Plants, Reduce Pesticide Use
The same substance that paints the sky with the Northern Lights also appears to enhance plant growth and insect defense, according to a new study. Food science and entomology researchers from the AAES teamed up to harness plasma…
February 2025 Arkansas Ag Research Report
A monthly round-up of top stories from the AAES. How machine learning is used in poultry processing and ecology. Soybean research on impacts of flooding. Agricultural is evolving to include AI and microcontrollers. New director of Veterinary Diagnostics Lab. The Experiment Station’s top-cited scientists..
New Cotton Grading Score App Aims to Improve Yield Stability
Fred Bourland has another score to settle with cotton, and this time it’s coming with a technical punch. The professor of plant breeding and genetics for the AAES is working on his third cotton grading score to help cotton breeders in their unceasing…
J.O. Ware’s Rare Reference Book on American Upland Cotton Released Online
A rare 77-page reference book on American upland cotton has been made available online by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. “Origin, Rise and Development of American Upland Cotton and Their Status at Present” by J.O. Ware
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Researchers Recognized As Top-Cited Scientists
Seventeen Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers are among those ranked as the world’s most-cited scientists, an indication of their impact across multiple fields of inquiry.
Conference Explores Sensory Cues Beyond Food Preference
An international conference that explores the impact of sensory cues such as lighting and aroma will be hosted by the UADA’s Sensory Science Center at the end of February. Sensory cues can affect perceptions and behaviors…
Machine Learning Maps Animal Feeding Operations to Improve Sustainability
Understanding where farm animals are raised is crucial for managing their environmental impacts and developing technological solutions, but gaps in data often make it challenging to get the full picture…
Chicken ‘Woody Breast’ Detection Improved With Advanced Machine Learning Model
It’s called “woody breast” and for consumers it can mean a chewier chicken sandwich, but for the industry it can mean up to $200 million annual yield loss. Chaitanya Pallerla with hyperspectral imaging camera and woody breast chicken meat…
LISTEN: From ChatGPT to Hay Balers: Technology and Ag Education
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…
Second-Gen Land-Grant Poultry Veteran Barton Takes Helm of Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
A veterinarian with deep experience in poultry science, animal welfare and disease prevention was recently named the director of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.
More Than Demand Driving Super Bowl Chicken Wing Price Increase This Year
The nearly 1.5 billion chicken wings fans are expected to consumer during Sunday’s Super Bowl watch parties will cost more this year, and it is more than just the demand driving the increase….
How Flooding Soybeans in Early Reproductive Stages Impacts Yield, Seed Composition
With an increasing frequency and intensity of flooding events and an eye to capitalize on a common rice production technique, soybean breeders are on a quest to develop varieties with flood tolerance at any stage in the plant’s development…
January 2025 Arkansas Ag Research Report
A monthly round-up of top stories from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. IN THIS ISSUE: What are “phantom agents” and how does their identification offer potential to improve international food security? New software package developed to help understand…
WATCH: Casey Owens – Enhancing Poultry Quality | Behind the Discovery
Casey Owens is at the forefront of improving poultry meat quality. One of her current studies is focused on marination and how certain functional ingredients could help improve meat texture. Casey’s passion for poultry began in high school through her involvement with FFA…
Behavioral Economist Aims to Bridge Information Gap Between Farmers, Consumers
Most people go to the grocery store for food. Behavioral economist Shijun Gao goes for research. Gao’s passion for learning where food comes from, how it’s produced and how consumers make choices about the foods they buy led him to pursue a career in agricultural economics…
Herbicide-Resistant Trait Patented in Conventional Grain Sorghum
Grain sorghum is widely grown in arid environments as an animal feed grain, but weedy grass control in the crop is a big challenge due to limited post-emergent herbicide options. A joint effort between the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas A&M AgriLife Research…
New Software Package Drives Deeper Understanding of Trait Evolution
Evolution is complex and difficult to study, but a new software package developed by the AAES offers researchers a better way to simulate how organisms change over time. The new software, called TraitTrainR, builds on work in the field of comparative biology to provide an efficient and effective framework…
Worthington Wins a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
A University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture horticulture professor and researcher was recently bestowed the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers…
How Do Road Salts Impact Roadside Microorganisms?
Salt is essential to keeping our roads and walkways safe when it snows. But when salt is washed off the roads, how does it impact nearby microorganisms? Water quality researcher Shannon Speir and her students have been conducting studies…