Arkansas Farmers, Ranchers Receive $138.5 Million in First Round of Federal Coronavirus Assistance

Sep 28, 2020

By Mary Hightower

Arkansas farmers and ranchers have received more than $138.5 million under the first round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance program, or CFAP.

The aid was in response to the 18,446 applications filed from Arkansas to the U.S. Department of Agriculture received through Sept. 20.

“Payments to livestock producers account for 69 percent of the approved first-round CFAP applications in Arkansas,” said Scott Stiles, extension economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Non-specialty crops — which include corn, cotton, soybean and sorghum — accounted for nearly 27 percent of the total.”

During the first round, rice, soft red winter wheat and peanuts were excluded. They are now included in the second round of CFAP, the application period for which opened Sept. 21.

The remaining portion of those first-round payments in Arkansas were divided among specialty crops, which received 2.6 percent, dairy receiving 0.7 percent and aquaculture-nursery-floriculture receiving 0.8 percent.

“Sweet potatoes and pecans account for 99 percent, or $3,524,323, of Arkansas’ specialty crop payments,” Stiles said. “Catfish accounts for 65 percent, or $753,330, of the aqua-nursery-flora category payments.”

Find Stiles’ analysis here: https://bit.ly/2RZL32k.

In the second round of CFAP, USDA is making available another $14 billion to eligible farmers. Signup for the second round program runs through Dec. 11.

Find other COVID-related economic analyses at https://bit.ly/AR-Ag-Eco-Impacts2020.

Source : uaex.edu

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.