April 2024 Arkansas Ag Research Report

Big News

Food scientists are finding ways to preserve food quality and ensure food safety

Food scientists with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station have developed a framework to help preserve food quality during thermal processing while still ensuring food safety. Jennifer Acuff, assistant professor of food microbiology and safety, said the food processing industry sometimes relies on overly stringent standards that unnecessarily reduce food quality.

Using data from a study on a harmless “surrogate” microorganism and a statistical technique called “bootstrapping,” the researchers developed a framework to provide food processors options within U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The study, with lead author Arshpreet Khattra, was published in the Journal of Food Protection.

Arshpreet Khattra, now a Ph.D. student at the University of Michigan, was the lead author of a study to improve food quality as a food science graduate student in Arkansas.

Nathan McKinney retires as assistant director of experiment station

Nathan McKinney is known across the state of Arkansas as someone who has been committed to improving the lives of people through advances in agriculture.

In addition to serving as associate vice president of agriculture and assistant director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station since August 2012, McKinney served as interim director of the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart from 2016 to 2018 and interim director of the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope from 2019 to 2021.

McKinney retired at the end of March 2024 after 16 years with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

New parasite affecting Canadian partridges named for Arkansas poultry scientist

Billy Hargis, Distinguished Professor of poultry science, was recently honored with the name of a poultry pathogen.

Eimeria hargisi is a parasite discovered by the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph following studies of a recurring disease at a commercial chukar partridge farm in Ontario, Canada.

Hargis got more than the pathogen named after him. He also got a tattoo of an image of the pathogen.

Billy Hargis, Distinguished director of the John Kirkpatrick Skeeles Poultry Health Laboratory, commemorated the naming of a poultry pathogen in his honor with a tattoo of Eimeria hargisi.

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment station faculty recognized for mentorship

Fiona Goggin, professor of entomology, and Kristen Gibson, professor of food safety and microbiology, received Outstanding Faculty Mentor Awards on April 10 at the Provost’s Faculty Recognition Reception during Faculty Appreciation Week.

The entomology and plant pathology department also received this year’s Provost Award for Departmental Excellence. Goggin said the award was for creation of a departmental mentoring program with committee members including Rupesh Kariyat, Austin Jones, Glenn Studebaker, Faith Cordes and Chandan Maurya. Goggin is chair of the committee.

Ken Korth, head of the entomology and plant pathology department, left, and Fiona Goggin, professor of entomology, accept the 2024 Provost Award for Departmental Excellence. The award, which comes with an $8,000 prize, was presented by Anna Zajicek, vice provost for Faculty Affairs, and Terry Martin, far right, provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas. (U of A System photo.)

Claude Kennedy, retired Cotton Station director, former ASCS regional director, passes away

The Cotton Research Station at Marianna may bear Lon Mann’s name, but the place belonged to Claude Kennedy.

“He loved his station. It was personal for him,” said Chuck Culver, director of external relations for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Kennedy, retired resident director of the station, passed away April 3. He was 82.

Claude Kennedy showing a map of the cotton station. Taken Aug. 24, 2005.

Wendell Hutchens – Supporting the Turfgrass Industry

Wendell Hutchens is working to build up the turfgrass industry in Arkansas and beyond. His research focus is managing problematic turfgrass pests, but he’s also been collaborating on research evaluating water management in golf course putting greens.

Wendell’s ultimate goal is to positively impact the turfgrass industry and build lifelong connections with the outstanding people who make it up. “I really love how it feels very personal, and you really get to know folks,” Wendell said. “I don’t think there’s a better industry.”

Becca Muenich – Focusing on Agroecosystems

Arkansas native Becca Muenich has a lifelong fascination with the environment and natural landscapes. In her work as an engineer, she leverages data to improve water quality and address environmental challenges. Becca sees engineering as a way to solve pressing issues affecting people and the world they live in. “For me, engineering is just being able to help people in a broader sense,” she said.

AI, Machine learning boosts Arkansas animal science research

Aranyak Goswami is a bioinformatics specialist who recently became an assistant professor for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. He will work with three different departments to boost the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Pre-weaned calf deworming study showed improved weight gain, added value

A recent animal science study showed deworming calves about two months before weaning improved weight gain and added value for producers.

Daniel Rivera, associate professor of animal science, said the weight gain translated to adding about $13 of value per head of cattle 21 days after weaning. With roughly 400,000 calves in Arkansas at 400 pounds or less, deworming before weaning could result in an additional $5.12 million for Arkansas beef cattle producers.

An recent study at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope looked at the effects of deworming pre-weaned calves.

USDA-grant supported FRST Project releases new fertilizer prediction tool

A new fertilizer recommendation tool, developed nationally in collaboration with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, was released in April following several years of development.

FRST (Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool) provides an unbiased, science-based interpretation of soil test phosphorus and potassium values for crop fertilization. University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture scientists participating in the project include Nathan Slaton, assistant director of the experiment station; Gerson Drescher, assistant professor of soil fertility; and Bronc Finch, assistant professor and state extension specialist for soil fertility.

Analysis of soil samples have been harmonized across state lines with the FRST (Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool).

• New Food Entrepreneurs Focus of May 10 Event
• Biological and agricultural engineering student places first in poster competition
• Value-Added Products Focus of ‘Plan. Produce. Profit!’ Workshop May 6

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