Mississippi County Ag Extension Service

07/07/2026

Cover Crop Workshop
Hosted by Crittenden County Extension Office

🌱 Join us for a morning of practical information on integrating cover crops into Arkansas production systems. Learn from Extension specialists about species selection, economics, rice production, insect considerations, and more.

📅 Date: Wednesday, July 15
🕗 Check-In: 8:00–8:30 a.m.
📍 Program Begins: 8:30 a.m.
🍳 Breakfast Served
🥪 Lunch Provided

Facilitators
Trent Roberts
Grant Bennett

Mark your calendars to join us next week. Please call our office to register so we can plan for breakfast and lunch. 870-739-3239

07/03/2026

☕ Grab a cup of coffee and join us for a new episode of **Dirt to Data!** 🌾🐄

This time of year, there's no shortage of things competing for your attention. Between checking crops, watching the weather, managing cattle, and trying to get hay put up, it's a busy season for Arkansas producers.

In this episode, we're taking a mid-season check-in and visiting about:
🌱 Why crop scouting is more important than ever
🐛 Issues producers may be seeing in the field
🐄 A cattle industry update, including information on the New World screwworm and why it's worth keeping an eye on
🌿 Tips for managing summer pastures and forage
📈 Small management decisions now that can make a big difference later in the season

Our goal is to bring you practical, research-based information you can put to work on your operation.

We'd love for you to listen, and if you find it helpful, please share it with a neighbor or fellow producer.

As always, if you have questions about your crops, livestock, or pastures, don't hesitate to reach out to your local Extension office. We're here to help.

🎧 Thanks for listening, and thanks for supporting Arkansas agriculture!


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06/12/2026

🚜🎙️ Something new is coming!

We're excited to introduce **Dirt to Data**, a podcast all about Arkansas agriculture and the people who make it happen.

From crop and livestock updates to timely topics, research, Extension resources, and conversations with experts from across the state, we'll be covering the issues that matter most to Arkansas producers.

Whether you're in the tractor, checking cattle, riding the turnrow, or just interested in agriculture, *Dirt to Data* is here to keep you informed and connected.

Stay tuned for our first episode and be sure to follow along for updates!

🌱 Real agriculture. Real conversations. Real-world information.

06/08/2026

I know our county does not have much livestock but please share to those you know do. And if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to reach out to (870) 563-0236 or stop by the office.

The first detection of New World Screwworm (NWS) has occurred in Zavala County, Texas, on a 3-week-old calf in the umbilical area. This detection was confirmed yesterday by USDA-APHIS.

Want to learn more about the pest and the current response? Here are some links to some helpful links:

🔘Official APHIS announcement of NWS case: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

🔘Unified Government website for most accurate and up to date NWS information: screwworm.gov

🔘USDA New World Screwworm Playbook and Supplemental materials: www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/nws-response-playbook.pdf

🔘U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Animal Drugs for New World Screwworm: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/new-world-screwworm-information-veterinarians

🔘USDA APHIS Pesticides for Control of New World Screwworm: www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/pesticides-for-nws.pdf

🔘NCBA resources including posters and handouts (will be updated in coming days): www.bqa.org/screwworm

🔘NCBA Cattlemen’s Webinar on “New World Screwworm - Regulations, Readiness & Response”: https://youtu.be/Xv6TfIoUEfM?si=iejH3ZmG9LUpCnL1

05/19/2026

‼️Important update for Arkansas cattle producers: Theileria has now been confirmed in 15 Arkansas counties, with the Asian longhorned tick identified in 10 counties. Staying informed and monitoring your herd is critical as this continues to spread across the state.
Join our extension entomologist Kelly Loftin and animal health specialist Kirsten Midkiff for a free webinar this Friday, May 22. They’ll discuss the latest county-by-county spread in Arkansas, infection rates in cattle, tick and herd management strategies, the importance of testing and reporting, and host a live Q&A with veterinarians sharing firsthand experiences managing theileriosis in the field.

❗🐄 Theileria has now been confirmed in 15 Arkansas counties, and the Asian longhorned tick that carries it in 10. Left unchecked, this tick-borne pathogen can cause weight loss, anemia, reproductive losses, and suppressed milk production in cattle, symptoms that can look a lot like anaplasmosis, making it easy to miss. 🔎

Our extension entomologist Kelly Loftin and animal health specialist Kirsten Midkiff will be hosting a free webinar this Friday, May 22 covering the latest county-by-county spread, infection rates among Arkansas cattle, tick and cattle management strategies, and the importance of testing and reporting + a live Q&A with veterinarians sharing their real-world experiences with theileriosis.

🗓️ Friday, May 22, 2026
⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
🔗 Register here: bit.ly/ALT-webinar-26

Read more about Theileria here 👉 https://bit.ly/Ark-theileria-ALT-webinar



Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Arkansas Extension Beef Systems

03/18/2026

Hello everyone!!! I know our county is not too big in livestock and grazing forage, but if anyone is interested, please check out the Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council, Spring Conference. And as always if you have any questions don't hesitate to call our office at 870-563-0236.