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Arkansas MBB Signee Named to McDonald’s High School All America Team

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Arkansas MBB Signee Named to McDonald’s High School All America Team

FAYETTEVILLE – For the second straight year, Arkansas will be represented at the McDonald’s All-American game as signee Baye Fall will play for the West team. The 2023 McDonald’s All-American game is set for March 28 (Tuesday) in Houston’s Toyota Center at 8 pm (CT) and will be televised on ESPN.

Fall, a 6-10 center from Denver’s Accelerated Schools, is listed as the #3 player at his position in the country and is a consensus top 20 player in the nation. He is currently projected by NBADraft.net as the #9 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Fall becomes the 18th Razorback signee to be selected a McDonald’s All-American and the fourth at Arkansas under the direction of fourth-year head coach Eric Musselman. Prior to Musselman’s arrival, the most recent McDonald’s All-American was Bobby Portis in 2013 and Al Jefferson, who ended up being a first-round NBA draft pick out of high school, in 2004 before that.

Fall is averaging 16.3 points on 48.1 percent shooting from the field while making 82.5 percent of his free throws to go along with 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots.

This past summer, Fall was a standout at the prestigious National Basketball Players Association top 100 camp when he led the event in scoring with 14.9 points per game in seven games. He additionally had a camp-leading 9.4 rebounds per game including an event-leading 4.9 offensive rebounds per game. Fall was also co-MVP at the 2021 Pangos All-American Camp.

Razorback Signees Named McDonald’s All-Americans

Ricky Norton (1980)

Willie Cutts (1981)

Andrew Lang (1984)

Ron Huery (1986)

Todd Day (1988)

Lee Mayberry (1988)

Corliss Williamson (1992)

Darnell Robinson (1993)

Kareem Reid (1994)

Derek Hood (1995)

Glendon Alexander (1996)

Olu Famutini (2003)

Al Jefferson (2004)

Bobby Portis (2013)

Nick Smith Jr. (2022)

Jordan Walsh (2022)

Anthony Black (2022)

Baye Fall (2023)

Note: Joe Klein was a 1980 McDonald’s All-American that signed with Notre Dame before transferring to UA.

Note to Our Readers: The following story was sourced directly in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Mike Cawood.

How Do Massage Guns Compare to Traditional Massagers?

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How Do Massage Guns Compare to Traditional Massagers?

If you’ve ever suffered from muscle aches and pains, you’ve likely resorted to massage therapy at some point in the healing process. If done correctly, a massage can yield the relief you desire while your muscles recover from injury or stress.

Traditional massagers can’t always get to the root of the problem. Give yourself the relief you need by learning how massage guns compare to traditional massagers to keep the pain at bay.

A Percussion Massager Works To Penetrate Tissue

Not all massagers are built the same. You might think you’re getting a decent massage while you feel the vibration against your muscle for a few minutes, but unless your device targets the muscles with pinpoint accuracy, you’re likely wasting your time. Fortunately, massage guns penetrate deep inside muscle tissues to find those problem areas and loosen them up while you’re trying to find relief.

You Have All the Control With a Massage Gun

Because it is handheld, a massage gun puts you in control of your therapy. You’ll be shocked at how easy it is to use a massage gun! It includes a variety of settings so you can control your massage’s pace, speed, and depth for your personal needs.

Not every massage should be the same; not all injuries or ailments have the same treatments because they vary from person to person. Controlling every aspect of the experience keeps you on top of your health, and many people love this aspect of the massage gun.

Supplementation for Medical Appointments

When you have all the necessities to get by at home and away from the clinic, you’re exemplifying the advancement of future healthcare industry trends, such as active mobile covid testing, that help patients and physicians. Nowadays, it’s easier to schedule an appointment for your specific needs, even with scheduling conflicts between you and the doctor. A massage gun can provide medical-grade therapy in between appointments as needed.

Now that you know how massage guns compare to traditional massagers, you can see the benefits of these instruments. You’ll find they have a lot to offer and can make a painful day much more pleasant once you have tried them yourself.

Things You Must Know Before Starting a Food Business

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Things You Must Know Before Starting a Food Business

You’ve likely heard the frightening statistic from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that nearly 20 percent of new businesses fail within their first 2 years of operation. Moreover, that percentage rises significantly each year, with nearly 65 percent of businesses failing during the first 10 years. If you are planning on opening your own restaurant, you may find that statistic extremely frightening, but you shouldn’t let it stop you from achieving your dreams. Find out the things you must know before starting a food business.

Business Plan

It may seem bold to say, but you are nothing without your business plan, and potential investors won’t take you seriously if you don’t have one. A business plan lays out every aspect of your business in full and considerate detail. That means it will include the type of business you plan to have, your marketing plan, your food concept, your location, your target audience, your budget, and potential staffing. This business plan will help get your foot in the door and will be a stronghold you refer to as you start breaking ground.

Gathering Equipment

One of the most significant sources of spending will come from the must-have kitchen equipment your new restaurant needs. Thankfully, the part of your business plan that focuses on the food you will serve will help you zone in on the specific equipment your kitchen needs. Try to divvy your equipment into cold, hot, and cutlery categories, as this will greatly assist you when shopping. You might even consider putting feelers out to local restaurants to see if they’re selling any of their used equipment.

Licenses and Permits

Securing your licenses and permits is an aspect of opening a restaurant that people don’t often find very exciting. However, this part is one of the most important things you must know before starting a food business. If you fail to secure the proper permits and licensing, your business could be hit with fines and closures. As such, it’s essential that you follow all food service regulations and health and safety codes as applicable to your area.

Onboarding Process

It might seem odd to begin looking for potential employers when it seems like your business is so far away from opening its doors. However, it’s crucial that you start getting the word out as soon as possible. If you have never hired might a restaurant staff before, you not know that the onboarding process can take quite a while. You’ll have to speak with many potential employees and have multiple rounds of interviews before making that final, challenging decision on who to hire. As such, you want to ensure you allot more than enough time for this process so that you can feel confident in the employees you choose.

SR Tigers Run 88mph Past Future School

Adam Hecox
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SR Tigers Run 88mph Past Future School

Everyone deserves a second chance. The Mansfield SR Tigers went 6-8 in the first half of their season to close 2022. The good thing about basketball though is that teams tend to get a second shot at conference opponents. So Mansfield Head Coach Joshua “Doc” Brown threw in the ol’ VHS tapes of past games, rigged up a flux capacitor, and sent the Tigers into 2023 with a four-game win streak. Wins over Magazine, Mountainburg, JC Westside, and Hector all of a sudden drove the Tigers into second place in the 2A-4. But could Mansfield maintain their top speed in a part two match against the Rockets of Future School or would they be stuck in the past?

Even though Future School suited up just five players for the game, the Tigers knew that they couldn’t take the Rockets lightly. After Zach Hayslip won the jump ball, Daniel Burton hit the score button with a short jumper to put Mansfield up 2-0 to start the game. The Rockets rocketed right back though by hitting a jumper of their own and following that up with a deep three-point bucket to take a 5-2 lead. Mansfield then went on a roll starting with a Daniel Burton layup with an added plus one off a foul. Drew Elmore jumped into the mix with a powerful board bucket and then Elmore stole the ball and dished it to Clint Stovall who dropped in a three-pointer. Another three was airmailed by Stovall giving the Tigers a 13-5 lead forcing the Rockets to call a time-out with 3:50 left in the opening quarter. Future School came out of the time-out with a quick three-point shot but that was all the Tigers would give them as the first quarter ended with a 13-8 score in Mansfield’s favor.

A five-point lead to start the second quarter isn’t exactly what the Tigers desired. With Mansfield seeing stars, the Rockets rattled off another three points off of a layup and a free throw. Now with the Tigers speedometer slowing down after three minutes without scoring, Mansfield needed a boost. Travis Tobey sped things up a little for the Tigers with a three-point swish then was backed up with a Daniel Burton board bucket. Future School was able to get a free throw point to cut off the Tigers run, but Mansfield kept the scoreboard going with another Travis Tobey three-pointer. Greyson Baggett unselfishly gave Clint Stovall an assist for the layup then showed his defensive prowess with a smooth steal. With just 0:06 left in the half, Braxton Byers was fouled on a putback and dropped in a free throw to send the Tigers into halftime with a 29-15 lead.

The Tigers came out of the half with purpose as Clint Stovall sent a darting pass across the court to Daniel Burton for the easy layup. Burton then took a loose ball and went the length of the court for another quick drop-in. The Rockets were able to set up a smooth board bucket to stop Mansfield’s scoring run, but Drew Elmore picked things up right where the Tigers left off by fiercely battling his way to the boards for a score. The teams traded a couple of jump shots showing that kept things lively before Peyton Martin drove the baseline and made a circus-like reverse layup on the Rockets defense. Clint Stovall and Daniel Burton drained a couple of threes to send the Future School reeling as the Rockets called a time-out with 1:40 left in the quarter. As proven earlier in the game, time-outs turn into Future School points and the Rockets did just that by laying up a fast bucket after the break. There just weren’t enough time-outs to curve the score though as Mansfield ended the third quarter up 49-27.

A large lead going into the fourth quarter isn’t something you’ll hear any team complain about, but the Tigers were determined to not fall back to their past practices of falling at the end of games. Clint Stovall kicked things off with not one, but two midrange jump shots and then sank a three-pointer for good measure. Mansfield again showed their unselfish passing nature with a Winston Allison to Greyson Baggett to Clint Stovall passing trifecta for a Stovall layup. Although the Future School was able to rattle off seven unanswered points, the Tigers remained atop the scoreboard as Mansfield defeated the Future School Rockets with a 61-34 final. Clint Stovall led the team in scoring with 22 points in the game followed closely by Daniel Burton who finished with 19 points. Travis Tobey and Drew Elmore tied with 6 points apiece. Braxton Byers, Peyton Martin, Zach Hayslip, and Winston Philmon closed out the scoring by combining for 8 points in the Tigers win. The victory keeps Mansfield as the number two ranked team in the 2A-4, but their next opponent is undefeated and holds the top spot. Mansfield will host the defending state champion Lavaca Golden Arrows. The game has been postponed until 6:00pm on Wednesday, January 25th due to the threat of inclement weather. Coach Joshua “Doc” Brown will reset the Tigers flux capacitor and the Tigers will fill up their Delorian to get ready for what is sure to be one “GREAT SCOTT” of a game!

Hope Center to Provide Services in Scott County

Tammy Teague
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Hope Center to Provide Services in Scott County

A ministry calling has been placed on the hearts of two Scott County men to help those whose needs are both physical and spiritual. The “Rev. Mike Jordan Scott County Hope Center” is a nondenominational ministry, geared toward the support, and recovery from addiction of any kind.

Owners Konnor McKay and Kurtis Bell have a heart to see people from all walks of life join together in a “safe place” to share their heart, find support, and rehabilitate from their struggle. Whether it be drugs, or depression; all are welcome at The Scott County Hope Center.

The short-term vision for The Hope Center:

  • Acquire support through prayer, and finances to renovate the hope center (old jubilee church building)
  • recruit help from any and all who are willing to participate in the ministry. (All denominations, churches, and individuals.)
  • begin hosting Celebrate Recovery meetings.
  • provide multiple hot meals weekly.
  • provide live music, testimonials, and recovery classes weekly.

Long-term vision for Scott County hope center:

  • provide professional and spiritual counseling to those who have dealt with substance abuse.

According to Bell, the ministry is tentatively set to be in place within the next month. For more information about the Hope Center, including how to contribute to the ministry, contact Waldron Pentecostal Church of God Pastor, Konnor McKay.

Altes Pleads Guilty to Abuse of Public Trust

Tammy Teague
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Altes Pleads Guilty to Abuse of Public Trust

A special state prosecutor announced that today, Monday, January 23, Robert Dennis Altes has pleaded guilty to one count of Abuse of Public Trust.

In a press release, Special Prosecutor Emily White stated:

“Today, the State of Arkansas resolved the criminal case against Robert Dennis Altes, via agreement with the Defendant and on advise of his attorney, John Everett.  

The Defendant entered into a negotiated plea of guilty to one count of Abuse of Public Trust, in violation of Ark. Code Ann. 5-52-101, a class A misdemeanor.  The Defendant was sentenced to 1 year of probation, to pay a fine of $250.00 and standard court costs, commit no future criminal violations within the upcoming year and be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Act 346.  

I would specifically like to thank the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, Public Integrity Division, and Investigator J.P. Massiet for his diligent efforts in this criminal investigation and successful prosecution.”

Arkansas Attorney General, Tim Griffin, also issued a statement:

Thank you to Special Prosecutor Emily White for her prosecution of Robert Dennis Altes. I also want to thank Investigator JayP Massiet of our Special Investigations Division’s Public Integrity Unit for all his hard work investigating this case. I will continue to make public integrity cases a priority and will pursue them wherever they lead.”

Obituary – Nicole Marie Trager (1964-2023)

Tammy Teague
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Obituary – Nicole Marie Trager (1964-2023)

Nicole Marie Trager, 58, of Jonesboro, Arkansas formerly of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Nicole was born April 17, 1964 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Douglas and Joyce (Cook) Trager.

Nicole was a nature lover and enjoyed being outside taking in the beauty of flowers. She loved to watch birds and squirrels. Nicole also enjoyed shopping and visiting with her family and friends.

Nicole leaves behind to cherish her memory, her father, Douglas Trager and stepmom, Sheila Trager of Waldron, Arkansas, one sister, Theresa and husband Herschel Lovett of Waldron, Arkansas, one brother, Rev. Christopher and wife Katherine Trager of Van Buren, Arkansas. Nicole will forever remain in the hearts of a host of nieces and nephews.

Nicole was preceded in death by her mother, Joyce Trager, brother Benjamin Trager and nephew Bobby Mays.

A private memorial service will be held Sunday, January 29, 2023 at the family home. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted by the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Tammy Teague
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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins
Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! It’s a blustery day said Pooh Bear. Cool and windy here today. Most of ya’ll know my mom passed away from Alzheimer’s disease. So please do not ever think I am making fun of her when I tell stories. As an Alzheimer’s caregiving, you have to laugh or you will cry. Trust me, I have done both. My mom was always upbeat and cheerful unless she was mad, then look out world. She was a Jones and let me tell ya if she was mad get out of the way. I hate to tell ya that I’m like her in that sense. I rarely get mad, but look out world if I am. Don’t tell her I told ya’ll, but my sister, Pam, whew if she’s mad or someone did one of her kids wrong, she will tear your head off. Needless to say, when mom had Alzheimer’s she got mad at me a few times. She was always good for some laughs.

One day Jimmy was griping because I hadn’t cooked supper yet, and he just kept on asking when it was going to be ready. Without skipping a beat, my mom pipes up and says “Jimmy your lucky to get a glass of water in this house.” We all just died laughing, knowing how much I love to cook. Of course, Jimmy agrees with her to make it worse. I can’t tell you how many times she would get Jimmy’s car keys and put them in her purse. He never could find his keys to start with but it would get really wild when he needed to get to work and mom would have them in her purse, which she guarded with her life. He would ask her if she had them and she always denied it. That purse was a treasure cove. We would find remote controls, keys, Hotwheels, and false teeth, to name a few.

When my mom was younger, she never wanted to go to the store, so she would give us her list for the Countryboy, and my sister, Pam, and I would take our red wagon down the alley by the old agri building to Countryboy and get what she needed. We also got to pick up some candy. That was our incentive. The funny thing about the list was my mom never called things by the correct name. She was like this for as long as I can remember. Dawn dish soap was dow, Woolco was “wilco”, Kmart was “kmark” and Walmart was “walmark”. When we would be shopping we would have to decipher the list. How do you get “dow” from Dawn. When Pam and I got too old to go, she would get my nephews, Jason and Michael, and my niece, Kelly to go for her. They would take off with the red wagon and get her stuff from Countryboy. They always got candy money, too. We sure had lots of fun with mom.

Michael always said Nanny Jane’s house was lit up at 2 p.m. just as bright as it was at 2 p.m. You could drive by that trailer late at night and it looked like a chicken house all lit up. Every light in the house was on and she would let them stay up however late they wanted eating junk and watching tv.

This week’s recipe comes from one of the sweet ladies I took care of, Betty Smith. I enjoyed going to her house. She sure had a lot of good stories to tell. I loved listening to her. This is the best Mexican cornbread I have ever had. It’s a meal by itself, but it sure goes well with pinto beans on top, yummy!

MEXICAN CORNBREAD
Meat mixture
1 pound of ground beef
1 large onion (chopped)
2 hot peppers (ex. jalapenos), chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Brown this all together and drain off fat
Cornbread mixture
1 ½ cups cornmeal
Mix 1 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1 can cream-style corn, 1/2 cup shortening melted or bacon drippings all together.
1 cup shredded cheese
In a greased -iron skillet is best, but I have made it in a 9×13 pan- pour half the cornmeal mixture in the skillet or pan and put the hamburger mixture on top of that, and spread the shredded cheese on top of the meat mixture then pour the rest of the cornmeal mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes till golden brown. This recipe is a keeper, it’s so good.

Tax filing seasons opens Jan. 23; extension offers tips for preparation, filing 

Tammy Teague
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Tax filing seasons opens Jan. 23; extension offers tips for preparation, filing 

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Tax seasons officially starts Jan. 23,when the Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting and processing 2022 tax year returns. For those who haven’t started preparations yet, now is the time to collect documents and understand the changes to tax credits and deductions that may affect their finances. 

The IRS expects more than 168 million individual tax returns to be filed, with the majority of those coming before the April 18 tax deadline. People have three extra days to file this year, as April 15 is a Saturday and the Emancipation Day holiday is observed on April 17 in Washington, D.C.

“For tax year 2022, some tax credits that were expanded in 2021 will return to 2019 levels,” said Laura Hendrix, an accredited financial counselor and associate professor of personal finance with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “This means that some tax filers could receive a smaller refund than last year.”

Hendrix offers tips for preparing to file this year.

Be aware of changes for credits and deductions

For tax year 2022 some tax credits that were expanded in 2021 will return to 2019 levels. Changes include amounts for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child and Dependent Care Credit.

▪ Those who received $3,600 per dependent in 2021 for the Child Tax Credit will, if eligible, get $2,000 for the 2022 tax year.

▪ For the Earned Income Tax Credit, eligible taxpayers with no children who received roughly $1,500 in 2021 will now get $500 in 2022.

▪ The Child and Dependent Care Credit returns to a maximum of $2,100 in 2022 instead of $8,000 in 2021.

Unlike 2020 and 2021, there were no new stimulus payments for 2022 so taxpayers should not expect to get an additional payment in their 2023 tax refund.

During COVID, taxpayers were able to take up to a $600 charitable donation tax deduction on their tax returns. However, for tax year 2022, taxpayers who don’t itemize and who take the standard deduction, won’t be able to deduct their charitable contributions.

If you bought a new, qualified plug-in electric vehicle in 2022 or before, you may be eligible for a clean vehicle tax credit.

Get your refund fast 

One of the fastest ways to get your refund is to file electronically and use direct deposit. The IRS discourages people submitting paper forms to avoid potential delays. Tax refunds can be deposited in up to three accounts, and Hendrix recommends people deposit at least a part of theirrefunds into a savings account to build financial security. Use IRS form 8888 for direct deposit. 

Filers should also avoid using advance refund loans,which often have high fees. 

Save money by filing for free

Several organizations offer free assistance to filers who meet income and age criteria. 

“Taking advantage of these services means you can keep more of your refund because you don’t have to pay a tax-preparation service,” Hendrix said.

Some of these include the following: 

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance):

• Your income is $60,000 or less, or

• You are 60 years old or older, or

• You have a disability or speak limited English

• Find VITA Locations https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide:

• You are age 50 or older, or

• You have low to moderate income.

• Find AARP Tax-Aide locations at https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations.html

MyFreeTaxes:

• Your income is $73,000 or less.

• https://myfreetaxes.com

IRS Free File:

• If your income is $73,000 or less, you can access guided return preparation assistance.

• If your income is more than $73,000, you can access fillable forms to prepare your own return without assistance.

• https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

MilTax

• Free software and support for military tax filers

• https://www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/taxes/miltax-military-tax-services

Organize records for tax time

Whether you are doing your own taxes, using a paid tax preparation service, or using one of the free file options,you will need to gather the following information:

• Birth dates and Social Security numbers for yourself, your spouse and dependents on the tax return.

• Wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R,1099-Misc) from all employers.

• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099).

• Health Insurance Exemption Certificate, if received.

• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available.

• Bank account routing and account numbers for direct.

• Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number.

• Forms 1095-A, B and C, Health Coverage Statements.

• Copies of income transcripts from IRS and state, if applicable.

• If using a free or paid tax preparation service, you will need to show proof of identification, such as a driver’s license. 

• If married and filing jointly, both you and your spouse will need to sign the tax return. 

For more information, visit IRSgov. For extension resources on personal finance, visit uaex.uada.edu/money. To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. 

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

US hay stocks fall to lowest level since ’74; Arkansas hay production down in 2022

Tammy Teague
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US hay stocks fall to lowest level since ’74; Arkansas hay production down in 2022

Drought and high fertilizer prices took a significant bite out of hay production across the U.S. Extension Economist James Mitchell expects farmers will pay more for hay in the current marketing year. (U of A System Division of Agriculture file photo by Lauren Husband)

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

High fertilizer prices and drought in 2022 handed hay production in the United States its biggest decline in 11 years with stocks at their lowest level since data collection began, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The stats were part of the Jan. 12 Crop Production Summary from NASS, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The report includes information about all U.S. crops, their production, acreage, and yield. NASS places hay in two categories, alfalfa and “other hay,” the latter being relevant to the Southeastern U.S. 

Drought and high fertilizer prices took a significant bite out of hay production across the U.S. Extension Economist James Mitchell expects farmers will pay more for hay in the current marketing year. (U of A System Division of Agriculture file photo by Lauren Husband)

According to the summary, May 1 hay stocks were tight, totaling 16.77 million tons or 7 percent lower year over year.

“May 1 stocks, combined with lower 2022 hay production, put hay supplies at the lowest level on record since the data began in 1974,” said James Mitchell, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The previous record low in hay supplies was in 2021.”

Production declines
Nationwide, other hay production totaled 64.84 million tons in 2022, down 9 percent from the prior year, with Arkansas seeing a 16 percent decline. Texas, the nation’s largest hay-producing state, produced 6.15 million tons, a 40 percent decline compared to 2021.

“Most Southern Plains and Southeast states had double-digit hay production declines,” said Mitchell said.

Mississippi saw a 16 percent decline, Tennessee a 13 percent decline, and Kentucky, a 20 percent decline. Florida bucked the trend, seeing a 7 percent increase in hay production. 

“USDA’s estimate for Arkansas is much better than what I would have predicted last summer,” Mitchell said. Based on conversations with producers last year, he said “I was expecting a decline closer to 25 percent.

“It was hard to predict whether we would get late-season rain last summer,” Mitchell said. “It was even hard to predict whether a late-season rain would help us make up for the severe production losses we had in July. Conditions improved enough in September for us to make up for some of that loss.”

Yields down
“Expensive fertilizer and poor precipitation impacted yields,” he said. “U.S. hay yields averaged 1.87 tons per acre or 6 percent lower year over year. Yields dropped 9 percent in Arkansas to two tons per acre. Neighboring Oklahoma and Texas saw yields averaging 1.25 tons per acre and 1.50 tons per acre, respectively.”

Overall, other hay acreage fell 2 percent to 34.63 acres. Arkansas’ hay acres declined by 5 percent, while Texas saw a 25 percent reduction in hay acres in 2022.

Mitchell said that “declining cattle inventories, expensive inputs, and high crop prices all likely contributed to the decline in 2022 hay acreage.”

Higher prices
Mitchell said farmer would likely be paying more for hay.

“Like other commodities, price comparisons are based on the marketing year,” he said. The hay marketing year begins in May and ends in April.

“For the May 2021-April 2022 marketing year, prices averaged $147 per ton,” Mitchell said. “For the May 2022-April 2023 marketing year, we forecast prices to average $170 per ton.”

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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