Cattle buying, steak sampling coming to the 2024 Beef and Forage Field Day in Hope

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Researchers and extension specialists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will present on future forage programs, hay verification and winter feed options at the Beef and Forage Field Day next month.

BEEF AND FORAGE — The 2024 Beef and Forage Field Day will take place on April 5 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope. Research updates, cattle buying tips and vaccine management are all on the agenda. (Division of Agriculture photo).

The event is scheduled to take place on April 5 at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope. Those interested in registering or learning more about the event can contact the center at 870-777-9702. There is no cost to register.

Alongside the research and extension updates, Daniel Rivera, associate professor of animal science and the center’s director, will be introducing Jonathan Kubesch, a new assistant professor and forage specialist who starts with the Division of Agriculture on April 1. Experts from outside the Division of Agriculture will also discuss cattle markets and outlooks and the proper management of vaccines for cattle health.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to compare steak samples from cattle that were finished at the station against steak bought from a grocery store. This was made possible as part of an Arkansas Beef Council grant, Rivera said.

“I am excited to showcase the projects we have done at the station, as well as having a local order buyer discuss discounts and premiums and have that visual example for the producers,” he said.

A cattle order buyer purchases cattle at livestock auctions, usually on behalf of another party, like a stocker operator, feedlot or meat processing company.

“Hopefully producers can come away with insight on what type of cattle they should be producing,” Rivera said.

Rivera thanked the Ouachita district extension ag agents for working with him to put the event together.

Speakers and topics:

• Kubesch will discuss his upcoming forage programs with the Division of Agriculture.

• Michelle Johnson, a graduate research assistant in the department of animal science, will share updates on her beef finishing study.

• Les Walz, agriculture and forages educator, will discuss the hay verification program.

• Maggie Justice, assistant professor and beef cattle specialist, will discuss winter feed options.

• Jake Cartwright, director of commodity activities and economics for beef, equine and dairy, for AR Farm Bureau.

• Ken Blue, senior food animal technical consultant at Elanco, and Harold Newcomb, technical services veterinarian at Merck Animal Health, will host a veterinarian roundtable to discuss vaccines and methods to improve calf health.

• Lanny Ford, owner of F&F Cattle, will discuss the good and bad traits he looks for when purchasing cattle.

The schedule is as follows:

• 9:00-9:30 — Registration

• 9:30-9:45 — Future forage programs with Kubesch

• 9:45-10:00 — Beef finishing study with Johnson

• 10:00-10:30 — Hay verification program with Walz

• 10:30-11:00 — Winter feed options with Justice

• 11:00-11:30 — Cattle Market Outlook with Cartwright

• 11:30-12:30 — Veterinarian roundtable on vaccines and methods to improve calf health with Blue and Newcomb

• 1:00 — Premiums and discounts in purchasing feeder/stocker cattle with Lanny Ford, F&F Cattle

Lunch will be served from 12:30-1:00 p.m.

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. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

UAMS Students Shine in Student Research Day Presentations

By Nathan Tidwell

Graduate and professional students, post doctorate fellows, and medical house staff presented research to faculty and peers during Student Research Day at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Nobel Prize winner Craig C. Mello, Ph.D., spoke as part of the Robert E. McGehee Jr., Ph.D., Distinguished Lectureship in Biomedical Research.

A concurrent Student Research Day was held at the Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville for the second consecutive year.

In addition to the Mello presentation, the March 5 event, held at the I. Dodd Wilson Education Building, consisted of two research project presentation poster sessions, the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and awards in various categories. More than 250 posters were submitted, with all five colleges and the Graduate School represented between the two participating campuses.

Liam Alderson of the College of Medicine discusses his poster at Student Research Day. Image by Bryan Clifton

Womack supports National Security, secures funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base

Washington, DC—March 22, 2024…Today, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1102, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024,which is a package of the remaining six Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bills, including Congressman Steve Womack’s (AR-3) Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) bill.

Congressman Womack said, “I supported the package today because I refuse to turn my back on strengthening national security, improving border security, and additional funding for Fort Smith’s critical pilot training program—all while avoiding a painful government shutdown. Although the package is far from perfect, I’m proud of the GOP’s work to secure conservative wins. The package enables the Pentagon to focus on its core mission while expanding support for our troops. It increases the number of Border Patrol agents and expands detention capacity to address the border crisis. Committed to our friend Israel, the package provides defense assistance and halts all funding for UNRWA for its proven collusion with Hamas. My FSGG bill rescinds funding for Biden’s army of IRS agents, pulls back billions of unused COVID-era slush funds, and holds Biden’s hyper-regulatory agenda in check. In a two-to-one divided government, we must take the wins where we can. I will not let the perfect get in the way of the good.”

Legislation details:

The package includes the remaining six FY24 appropriations bills: Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Legislative Branch; and State-Foreign Operations.

The Senate must pass the House-approved package for it to be signed into law by President Biden.

Ebbing Air National Guard Base:

The Defense bill includes $207.947 million for the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, AR. This funding is in addition to the $83 million signed into law on March 9.

Conservative wins:

Increases funding to the Department of Defense to modernize our military, funds a pay raise for our troops, and cuts wasteful partisan programs:

• Provides our servicemembers with a historic 5.2% pay raise — the largest in over two decades.

• Includes $1.2 billion to fight against the flow of illicit fentanyl and counternarcotics — $291 million above the President’s budget.

• Prohibits funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alliance in China.

Increases funding for the Department of Homeland Security for border security and enforcement while rejecting a blank check for open borders:

• Increases ICE detention bed capacity to 41,500, an increase of 7,500 above the FY23 level.

• Funds 22,000 Border Patrol Agents — the highest level ever funded and same as authorized in H.R. 2.

• Restores shortfalls in border security technology and funds non-intrusive inspection equipment to counter fentanyl.

Additional policy wins:

• Reaffirms our commitment to Israel by fully funding our annual security commitment of $3.3 billion.

• Prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves.

• Only allows for the American flag and other official flags to fly over U.S. diplomatic facilities.

• Maintains the Hyde Amendment and other pro-life protections.

Significant cuts to spending:

• Cuts 6% of overall foreign aid funds, including enhanced and new conditions on assistance to organizations like the U.N.

• Prohibits funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and U.N. Commission of Inquiry against Israel.

• Rescinds $20.2 billion from President Biden’s IRS expansion.

• Claws back an additional $6 billion in unused COVID funds.

Malinowski’s house searched over alleged illegal gun sales

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Bryan Malinowski, who died after a shootout with federal agents Tuesday, is alleged to have made hundreds of illegal gun sales prompting an investigation.

On Tuesday, Officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant for a home owned by Malinowski. After they entered his house, Malinowski fired at agents who in turn shot him in the head. Malinowski died in the hospital two days later. The 53-year-old was the executive director of Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.

Documents detailing why the initial search warrant was issued were released to the public Thursday. They include an affidavit from an undercover ATF explaining the allegations against Malinowski. The document says he bought at least 92 guns from 2021 to 2023 and 142 guns from 2019 to 2023. He would allegedly often sell them to people without checking their licensure status.

Malinowski’s house searched over alleged illegal gun sales

Jason Burt/Arkansas Business

New documents reveal former Clinton National Airport Executive Director Bryan Malinowski was illegally selling firearms to those not licensed to own guns.

Airport director dies following shootout with ATF agents

Clinton National Airport

Bryan Malinowski

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Bryan Malinowski, the executive director of Little Rock's Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, died from injuries sustained during a shootout with federal agents earlier in the week. He was 53 years old.

Malinowski was reportedly shot in the head following a shootout with agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives early Tuesday. He allegedly opened fire on agents attempting to serve a search warrant at his home in west Little Rock, injuring one agent.

Malinowski worked for the airport since 2008, serving as its executive director since 2019. The airport's deputy executive director, Tom Clarke, was named acting executive director earlier in the week.

Airport director dies following shootout with ATF agents

Attorney General Griffin calls on Congress to affirm State's authority to ban or regulate intoxicating and dangerous Delta THC products

“Arkansas has banned Delta THC products, but inconsistent court interpretations of certain provisions within the federal Farm Bill have led to challenges in Arkansas and many other states across the country. Meanwhile, these harmful products are available in convenience stores with no age restrictions for purchasing them. They’re often packaged to look like candy or mimic popular snack-food brands, so of course they are getting into the hands of children.

“This easy access and use of enticing packaging has led to more minors ingesting these unregulated and dangerous products, leading to seizures, loss of consciousness, and even death. That’s why Congress needs to create uniformity in the next five-year Farm Bill reauthorization and make clear that states have full authority to regulate and even ban these types of products.

“I am grateful to Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita for co-leading this letter with me and to the full bipartisan group of attorneys general who signed on. Protecting our children has to be our highest priority regardless of party affiliation.”

The 2018 Farm Bill reintroduced hemp as an agricultural commodity while maintaining federal prohibitions on cannabis products. However, bad actors have exploited the 2018 Farm Bill’s definition of hemp to introduce products that are intoxicating and are harming children.

Griffin and Rokita were joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.

To read the letter, click here.

For a printer-friendly version, click here.

Federal budget bill includes $207.9 million for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith (Updated)

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The U.S. House approved Friday (March 22) a federal budget bill that could not only avoid a partial government shutdown but would direct $207.947 million to the ongoing process of establishing a foreign military pilot training center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith.

The Senate early Saturday morning also voted to approve the spending package. U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., voted for the bill.

The funding approved Friday and Saturday is in addition to the $83 million included in the MilCon-VA bill approved early in March and pushed through the legislative process primarily by U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark.

Federal budget bill includes $207.9 million for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

Attorney General Griffin announces investigation of Change Healthcare, Inc., a unit of UnitedHealth Group, following cyberattack

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing that his office is initiating an investigation of Change Healthcare, Inc., a unit of UnitedHealth Group, under the Arkansas Personal Information Protection Act and the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act in light of a February cyberattack:

“I am initiating an investigation into Change Healthcare, Inc., a unit of UnitedHealth Group, to determine whether the confidential medical information of Arkansans was compromised in the late February cyberattack against Change Healthcare and whether any laws were violated. Additionally, my office will look into whether Change Healthcare used reasonable security procedures and practices to protect this information as required by Arkansas law.

“Protecting Arkansans’ personal information and holding organizations accountable for data breaches are two of my responsibilities under Arkansas law.”

The ransomware attack has disrupted billing and healthcare information systems across the country and has threatened hospitals’ ability to care for patients and pay physicians. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced that it will investigate the cyberattack, citing its “unprecedented magnitude.”

For a printer-friendly version, click here.

Joycelyn Elders, M.D., Gives Address at Event Honoring UAMS’ Phenomenal Women

By Chris Carmody

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) welcomed former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, M.D., as the keynote speaker at a March 14 event honoring the accomplishments of women at UAMS.

This year’s Phenomenal Women ceremony, organized by the UAMS Division for Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships, celebrated female employees who reflect UAMS’ core values, advocate for change and address injustices. UAMS holds the event each March to commemorate National Women’s History Month.

Elders, a 1960 graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine (now known as the UAMS College of Medicine), spoke on the topic of “Women who advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.” She said she read every word of the nomination letters for this year’s 28 Phenomenal Women honorees, captivated by their dedication to improving the lives of others.

Joycelyn Elders, M.D., Gives Address at Event Honoring UAMS’ Phenomenal Women

The 2024 Phenomenal Women are:

Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, M.D., delivers the keynote speech during this year’s Phenomenal Women ceremony. Image by Bryan Clifton

Severe Weather Briefing from the National Weather Service

There will be a brief window for severe weather Monday afternoon and evening over the south and southeast parts of the state. While there will be a lot of wind energy with this system, instability is low which will keep the severe threat limited. 

Windy conditions are expected to develop before the actual system arrives and some parts of the state may see some locally heavy rain.

• We continue to monitor a strong cold front that will be moving across the state Monday into Monday evening. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected with higher gusts possible outside of any thunderstorm activity.

• Strong gusty winds remain the primary threat with storms on Monday. While the tornado threat is minimal, it is not zero.

• The greatest overlap of severe thunderstorm ingredients will lie over southern and southeastern Arkansas Monday afternoon and evening. While there is a tremendous amount of wind energy with this system, instability is limited.

• Widespread rain is expected before the actual cold front arrives which will further decrease the chance of widespread severe weather.

• In addition to severe weather, localized heavy rainfall is possible, primarily over the western half of the state. Some localized flash flooding issues may arise as a result.

Release: Representative Hill Statement on Completing FY2024 funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today released the following statement after the House passed the remaining six appropriations bills and finished FY2024 appropriations.

“Two weeks ago, House Republicans locked in the first overall cut to non-defense spending in almost a decade, keeping the first group of appropriations bills in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) – saving hardworking Americans $2.6 trillion over the next ten years. Today, we passed the second group of bills which cut wasteful spending while strongly funding our national defense. 

“We secured increased defense spending and a 5.2% pay raise for our troops, which will directly benefit our brave service members at Little Rock Air Force Base. Further, this year’s budget includes nearly $300 million to formally establish the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Pilot Training Center in Fort Smith, which is projected to have up to a $1 billion annual economic impact for Arkansas. 

“We also secured other wins, including $3.3 billion in support for Israel, defunding United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for a number of its employees being involved in Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attack in Israel, clawing back $4.3 billion in unneeded COVID-19 funding, providing funding for 22,000 Border Patrol agents which is in line with H.R. 2, and increasing overtime pay for Border Patrol agents. 

“The bills we passed today reflect crucial cuts that will lead to a decrease in the budget deficit, which were negotiated almost one year ago. Before the FRA, our budget deficits were projected to be $20.3 trillion over the next ten years. Now that we’ve secured FRA spending levels, deficit projections declined to $18.9 trillion over the next ten years. While there is still much work to be done to address our debt and deficit, the win we achieved today amidst divided government is a step in the right direction. 

“As we begin FY25 funding, I urge Speaker Johnson and House leadership to build on this momentum and move our appropriations process along so we can complete our work in a timely manner that reflects how our process is intended to be.”

Further Background:

H. Res. - Further Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY24: This funding includes the following appropriations bills:

• Defense

• Financial Services and General Government

• Legislative Branch

• Homeland Security

• Labor, Health and Human Services, Education

• State and Foreign Operations

Cotton, Stefanik introduce legislation to stop Pentagon from using Chinese-owned tutoring service

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation, the Ban Chinese Communist Party Access to U.S. Military Students Act, to prevent the Department of Defense (DoD) from using Tutor.com. The website provides educational services to DoD service members and their families. Tutor.com is owned by Primavera Capital Group, an investment firm with links to the Chinese Communist Party. 

The legislation follows a letter Senator Cotton sent to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, urging him to sever DoD’s contract with Tutor.com. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (New York-21) is introducing companion legislation in the House. 

“There is no reason the Pentagon should be paying a Chinese-owned service that collects the data of our service members and their families. There are plenty of American companies that offer tutoring services and aren’t subject to the Chinese government,” said Senator Cotton. 

“I am proud to join Senator Cotton in introducing legislation prohibiting the DoD from utilizing Communist Chinese-owned company Tutor.com to educate our service members and their families. We cannot allow Communist China to collect an arsenal of data on our service members and their families that can be weaponized against them, posing a grave and unnecessary threat to America’s national security,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. 

Boozman-Led recycling and composting bills pass Senate

WASHINGTON – Legislation backed by Senate Recycling Caucus co-chair Senator John Boozman (R-AR) that would improve our nation’s recycling and composting systems unanimously passed the Senate last week.

Boozman, along with Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), have been leading proponents of the pair of legislative initiatives to enhance recycling capabilities and expand opportunities for recycling and composting in rural and underserved areas.

“These bills will lead to sustainable practices that preserve our resources while enhancing our nation’s recycling and composting infrastructure. I appreciate Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito’s leadership championing solutions to expand opportunities to be better stewards of our environment. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass these commonsense measures that will also benefit the economy and create jobs,” said Boozman.

“Most Americans want to do their part to reduce waste and harmful pollution,” said Carper. “Yet, roughly two-thirds of recyclable materials still aren’t being recycled, resulting in more and more waste polluting our land, air and oceans. These two bipartisan bills will help address several of the challenges plaguing our nation’s recycling and composting systems — including reliable data collection and improving access to recycling programs. I am pleased to see these two bills pass the Senate, and I thank Senators Capito and Boozman for once again working with me on a critical issue for our nation and our planet, because there is no Planet B.”

“By passing these bills, the Senate took a positive step forward in making it easier for more people to recycle, especially in rural states like West Virginia, which is good for the environment and our economy,” said Capito. “This bipartisan legislation would implement commonsense policies and programs to improve access to recycling across the country, and create good-paying jobs in our communities. I appreciate Chairman Carper and Senator Boozman for once again working together to increase recycling and composting opportunities in the future.” 

RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT:

The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act would improve data collection on our nation’s recycling systems and explore the potential of a national composting strategy. The legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collect and publish data on recycling and composting rates across the country to provide an accurate reflection of performance both nationwide and at the state level. This information is critical to improving existing recycling and composting programs and evaluating future recycling policies.

Full text of the bill is available here.

RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCESSIBILITY ACT:

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act would establish a pilot recycling program at the EPA. This program would award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for improving recycling accessibility in a community or communities within the same geographic area. The goal of the program is to fund eligible projects that would significantly improve access to recycling systems in underserved communities through the use of a hub-and-spoke model for recycling infrastructure development.

Full text of the bill is available here.

As a founder and co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus, Boozman has championed initiatives to improve commercial and curbside recycling and hosted events bringing together industry leaders to promote sustainability and preservation of our natural resources. 

There is broad support for the recycling and composting legislation. Here are what stakeholders are saying about these bills:

American Beverage Association
“The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act will help move our country closer to a circular economy for recyclables that reduces plastic waste and decreases the use of new plastic. We will continue to work with federal lawmakers on well-designed policy that recovers more of our bottles and cans so they can be remade into new ones, as intended, keeping them out of nature.”  

American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA)
“AF&PA applauds the leadership of Senators Carper, Capito and Boozman on Senate passage of the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act and the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act. We look forward to working with Congress to address any concerns and move this legislation to improve recycling data and accessibility forward.”

Consumer Brands Association
“Consumer Brands appreciates the strong, bipartisan effort in Congress to tackle the glaring issues within America’s fragmented recycling system that are keeping us from reaching our potential. These bills make crucial investments and add the tools and resources needed to improve our current recycling systems and evaluate future recycling policies, while improving access to recycling systems in underserved communities.”

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
“Recycling is one of the most important activities that all of us can do every day to help protect our environment, conserve natural materials, reduce energy use, and help combat climate change because recycled materials are important building blocks in the global manufacturing chain. For example, using recycled aluminum saves 95 percent of the energy needed to make virgin aluminum. Accordingly, the RCAA would establish baseline data on recycling and composting in the United States and collect data on the amounts of materials that are being diverted to landfills or incineration. This data is essential to fill the existing data gaps and provide policymakers with a better understanding of our nation’s recycling programs as we discuss policy prescriptions.”

Arkansas governor’s campaign manager leads abortion amendment opposition group

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Supporters of ballot initiatives on abortion, medical marijuana and education said they’re not concerned about the formation of a new opposition group led by an adviser to Arkansas’ governor.

Stronger Arkansas is chaired by Chris Caldwell, a political consultant who served as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ 2022 gubernatorial campaign manager. Caldwell will also lead her 2026 re-election campaign.

According to a statement of organization filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission on Friday, the ballot question committee is pursuing “the disqualification and/or defeat” of three constitutional amendments, including the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024.

Arkansas governor’s campaign manager leads abortion amendment opposition group

Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate

Petitioners gather signatures for a ballot initiative to expand abortion access in Arkansas during the Voices and Votes rally on Jan. 28, 2024 in Fayetteville.

Arkansas farmers urge Congress to protect conservation funding

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Farmers in Arkansas are urging Congress to make permanent funding for conservation programs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 dedicated just under $20 billion to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS. Now, growers are calling on lawmakers to include that funding in the reauthorization of the large multi-year spending package known as the Farm Bill.

Jared Phillips is a professor at the University of Arkansas, and raises sheep at his farm in the Northwest Arkansas city of Lincoln. He says the funding, of which Arkansas received $724 million, helped him sustain and preserve his natural resources for future use.

Arkansas farmers urge Congress to protect conservation funding

Fred Miller/UA Division Of Agriculture

Corn research plots at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville, Ark. on July 8, 2022.

CelluDot wins statewide innovation award

By the University of Arkansas System

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A startup founded at the University of Arkansas that seeks to mitigate herbicide drift won the Innovation Pacesetter award at the 36th annual Arkansas Business of the Year Awards.

CelluDot’s co-founder and CEO, Joseph Batta-Mpouma, Ph.D., said being named an Innovation Pacesetter raises the company’s profile across the state.

PACESETTERS — Joseph Batta-Mpouma, left, and Gurshagan Kandhola, center, with former advisor Jin-Woo Kim, professor of biological and agricultural engineering. Batta-Mpouma and Kandhola are co-founders of the startup CelluDot, which won the Innovation Pacesetter award at the 2024 Arkansas Business of the Year Awards. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo).

“It means citizens in Arkansas and key stakeholders in the industry, from farmers to agrochemical companies, start to pay close attention and value the socio-economic benefits we offer with our innovative technology,” Batta-Mpouma said.

Batta-Mpouma and CelluDot co-founder Gurshagan Kandhola, Ph.D., are working with University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture scientists to test CelluDot’s patent-pending product in field trials. The nanotechnology product was developed while Batta-Mpouma and Kandhola were doctoral students at the University of Arkansas.

Herbicide drift occurs when environmental spray application practices or tank mix composition causes herbicides to move off target, resulting in unintended damage to nearby crops or other vegetation. It is a $3.1 billion issue for the agriculture industry, according to Batta-Mpouma.

CelluDot addresses the issue with a nanocellulose-based formulation, trademarked as BioGrip™. Made from forestry waste, like sawdust, the technology has three functions: a drift-reducing agent, a volatility-reducing agent and a surfactant. 

The eco-friendly product is designed to add weight to the herbicide spray droplets and make them fall more directly on target during field applications. It also works to reduce volatilization of the active ingredient without compromising its efficacy, noted Kandhola, chief technology officer of CelluDot.

Lisa Childs, Ph.D., assistant vice president for technology commercialization and patent attorney for the Division of Agriculture, said she was excited to see how CelluDot is moving Division of Agriculture research toward the marketplace.

“Licensing our patent-pending technologies to a company now recognized as an Innovation Pacesetter is confirmation of what we already knew,” Childs said. “UADA research provides solutions to real world problems. And it is just one part of the wide spectrum of research UADA has going on to support our land-grant mission.”

“This award highlights the team’s dedication to their mission of translating an academic innovation to the commercial marketplace,” said Parker Cole, Ph.D., associate director of technology commercialization. “It also is a testament to the support network within the Division of Agriculture, the U of A System and across the state to ensure our entrepreneurs are positioned for success.”

Batta-Mpouma and Kandhola formed the company in 2019 during their participation in the graduate New Venture Development courses as part of the Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship. Overseen by the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the certificate pairs graduate students from business and non-business disciplines on teams together, providing an incubation-like setting for exploring real business ideas and connecting new technologies to market opportunities.

Jin-Woo Kim, Ph.D., professor of biological and agricultural engineering for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture, supervised Batta-Mpouma while he earned his doctorate. Kim, who also teaches classes for the University of Arkansas College of Engineering, said the award was an “important step” in highlighting the technology.

“I take great pride in the accomplishments of Joe and Gurshagan, who have effectively translated the technology developed by our group into tangible results,” Kim said. “This award marks another important step in showing how practical and effective our technology can be.”

CelluDot was among five finalists that “are remaking an old industry or charting an entirely new course to create a new market,” according to Arkansas Business, which oversees the awards.

In September, CelluDot received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to optimize and commercialize their technology.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture’s Technology Commercialization Office, visit agritco.uada.edu.

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. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

Cotton, Banks introduce the Countering Chinese Political Warfare Act

Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Countering Chinese Political Warfare Act, legislation that would sanction any individual or group that conducts political warfare on behalf of a foreign government against the United States. The legislation also requires the Secretary of State to determine if the United Front Work Department (UFWD)—an overseas influence arm of the Chinese Communist Party—qualifies for sanctions. Representative Jim Banks (Indiana-03) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“The Chinese Communist Party has proven that it will spread disinformation and lie any way it can—from the oppression of Uyghurs, to the origins of COVID-19, to it accessing the data of Americans who use TikTok. Any person or group who spread the Chinese Communists’ propaganda, like UFWD, should face sanctions,” said Senator Cotton. 

“The United Front Work Department has targeted our universities, state and local lawmakers, business associations and even Congress. This bill gives America the necessary tools to strike back against malign Communist Party influence on US soil,” said Congressman Banks.

Text of the bill may be found here. 

The Countering Chinese Political Warfare would:

• Create a new sanctions authority against state backed political warfare networks.

• Require the Secretary of State to examine whether or not the United Front Work Department meets the criteria to be sanctioned under this new authority. 

Background:

• On December 2, 2020 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took the historic step of imposing visa sanctions on individuals active in the UFWD.  

• Chairman Xi has described the United Front as a “magic weapon” that will help bring about “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 

• The United Front has led aggressive campaigns of subversion and espionage on U.S. college campuses through the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) and Chinese-language centers called Confucius Institutes. The United Front has also funded a number of think tanks in Washington D.C., and co-opted business leaders to squash criticism of China. Despite this information, there are currently over a hundred United Front organizations that openly operate in the United States.

Boozman, McConnell, colleagues push back on EPA’s regulatory overkill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in introducing legislation to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing a new rule tightening fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standards, which would further halt the growth of America’s manufacturing industry. Boozman, McConnell and 44 other Senate Republicans have filed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to prevent the EPA from implementing this new mandate. 

The Biden administration’s EPA is tightening PM2.5 emissions for the first time in a decade, despite its own data reporting that concentrations have fallen by over 40 percent since 2000. Additionally, the vast majority of PM2.5 emissions come from sources like wildfires and dust from agriculture and roads that are not easily contained and – in some cases – impossible to control.

“Under this administration, the EPA has yet to find a burdensome regulation it didn’t embrace. Crippling the economy in countless rural communities despite evidence that current standards are delivering on cleaner air is absurd, will cost Americans’ jobs and drive up costs. I’m proud to join Leader McConnell and our colleagues to prevent this regulatory overkill from taking effect,” Boozman said.

“The Biden administration rolled out yet another job-killing mandate that would impose more unilateral economic pain at home. This one goes well beyond the regulatory standards of most European allies, let alone our top strategic competitor, China. The EPA’s new standard is so strict that upon its effect, 30 percent of U.S. counties, including many in my home state of Kentucky, would immediately find themselves out of compliance, grounding manufacturing growth to a halt. In order to keep up with President Biden’s new mandate, American manufacturers would be forced to import raw materials, like concrete and steel, for virtually any construction project. The kind of projects that grow our economy and supply good-paying jobs,” said McConnell.

Wildfires, road dust and other hard to control non-point sources now make up 84 percent of particulate matter, leaving states few options when trying to comply with EPA’s needlessly stringent new standards. Nearly 20 percent of counties in the U.S. could fail to meet the standard, resulting in permitting gridlock that threatens new infrastructure projects, expanded manufacturing and the economic growth that creates well-paying jobs. On top of that, counties with particulate matter levels just below the standards would also face restrictions on development. That’s why the U.S. Chamber supports Leader McConnell’s Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval,” said Chad Whiteman, Vice President of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Boozman, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and other senators wrote EPA Administrator Michael Regan to urge the agency to rescind the proposed rule last September.

A CRA resolution is a tool used by Congress to eliminate onerous regulations imposed by the executive branch through an expedited procedure for consideration in the Senate. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is afforded special privileges that bypass normal Senate rules and allow for a vote on the Senate floor. When a CRA resolution is approved by a simple majority in both chambers of Congress and signed by the president—or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto—the rule is invalidated.

Joining Boozman and McConnell on the CRA resolution are Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tedd Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Todd Young (R-IN).

Click here for text of the CRA resolution.

Fayetteville man, 3 others sentenced in $18M fraud scheme

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

John Nock, a Fayetteville businessman who once owned the former Cosmopolitan Hotel in downtown Fayetteville, was one of four men sentenced last week in Fayetteville for participating in an eight-year investment fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded over a dozen victims around the world out of more than $18 million.

According to a press release Monday (March 18) from the Department of Justice, Nock, 55, was sentenced on March 14 to 20 years and 10 months in prison; Brian Brittsan, 67, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced on March 14 to 10 years in jail; Kevin Griffith, 68, of Orem, Utah, was sentenced on March 15 to 12 years and six months in prison; and Alexander Ituma, 57, of Lehi, Utah, was sentenced on March 15 to eight years and four months in jail.

Between 2013 and 2021, Nock, Brittsan, Griffith and Ituma colluded in an investment fraud operation under The Brittingham Group, an Arkansas-based company. The scheme falsely claimed access to exclusive investment opportunities, including deals involving the monetization of foreign bank guarantees.

Fayetteville man, 3 others sentenced in $18M fraud scheme

College of Pharmacy Pinning Ceremony Recognizes Third-Year Students

Members of the College of Pharmacy Class of 2025 posed for a group photo in Little Rock following this year's ceremony. A total of 87 students were recognized in Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas. Image by Evan Lewis

By Benjamin Waldrum

The UAMS College of Pharmacy recognized third-year students with commemorative pins at a joint ceremony held March 8, marking the transition to patient care for their final school year.

Third-year pharmacy student Nicholas Hollowell (right) receives his pin from Dean Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D.Evan Lewis

Ceremonies were held on the UAMS Little Rock campus and UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, recognizing a total of 87 students from the College of Pharmacy Class of 2025. The annual tradition marks the end of in-class instruction for pharmacy students.

Dean Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D., welcomed the students and faculty present, as well as a packed house of friends and family members. Addressing the class, she told them to be “practice-ready.”

College of Pharmacy Pinning Ceremony Recognizes Third-Year Students