Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas

Congratulations to all of our graduates! 🎓 We are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and the hard work that brought you to this moment. Watching you grow has been such a privilege, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing places life takes you next!

University of Arkansas Graduate School and International Education, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Arkansas farmers could see more than $150 million in disaster relief as the USDA expands Supplemental Disaster Relief Program payments and extends the application deadline to August 12. Extension economist Dr. Hunter Biram says the added funding—potentially doubling earlier payments—could help offset a share of the state’s steep farm income losses caused by rising costs and recent natural disasters.

Read more here: https://uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2026/april/04-28-2026-ark-farm-disaster-payments.aspx

Fist bump for Finals Week, everyone! With commencement just around the corner, we couldn’t be more excited. Take a look back at some of our favorite moments from last spring’s celebration.

As a reminder, Bumpers College Commencement will be held on Friday, May 8 at Barnhill Arena at 2:30 PM. Best of luck on your finals—we can’t wait to celebrate with you soon! 🎓👊

Helping farmers make smarter risk management decisions 🌾

Dr. Eunchun Park has launched the beta version of the Arkansas Crop Decision Support Tool, a new online resource designed to help producers navigate complex decisions around crop insurance, farm programs, production costs and grain marketing — all in one place.

Developed through years of research and data collection, the tool gives farmers and county agents a practical way to compare scenarios, evaluate downside risk and make more informed planning decisions using farm-specific information.

“This tool brings connected risk-management decisions together in one place,” Park said.

Read more about how this innovative tool is helping support Arkansas agriculture.

Check it out here: https://uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2026/april/04-29-2026-ark-farm-decision-tool.aspx

Farmers may need to “buckle up” as volatility in petroleum markets adds new pressure to already tight margins. Ryan Loy says that while interest rates have eased slightly from post-pandemic highs, borrowing costs remain elevated — and rising fuel and fertilizer expenses tied to global oil markets could push operating loans even higher.

Because petroleum products are essential for everything from diesel fuel to nitrogen fertilizer, fluctuations in crude oil prices can quickly ripple through farm budgets. Loy notes that even though interest expenses in 2026 are down slightly from the 2024 peak, the relief is modest — especially as producers take on larger loans to cover increasing input costs.

With interest expenses continuing to contribute to the on-farm price-cost squeeze, many producers may feel the compounded impact of higher costs and lingering borrowing pressure in the months ahead. If global conflicts continue to disrupt energy markets, that uncertainty could make an already challenging financial environment even tougher for agriculture.

Read more ➡️ https://www.uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2026/april/04-28-2026-ark-interest-rates-ag.aspx

New episode of Morning Coffee & Ag Markets is out now ☕🌾

Hunter Biram and Ryan Loy are joined by Eunchun Park to break down a new integrated decision-support tool designed for Arkansas producers. From crop insurance and farm programs to grain marketing and input cost risk, this all-in-one platform helps farmers compare their current strategies to profit-maximizing recommendations.

Tune in to hear how it can help evaluate downside risk, test “what-if” scenarios like rising input costs, and support smarter, whole-farm decisions in today’s uncertain ag landscape. 🎧

Listen Here: https://fryar-risk-center.uada.edu/ag-markets/ep-85-arkansas-farmer-decision-support-tool/

Big congratulations to graduate student Madison Price on successfully defending her thesis, “Consumer Perceptions of FDA Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling.” 👏📊

Excited to see the impact of her research moving forward—well done, Madison!

From Fayetteville to Washington, D.C. 🌎✨

U of A Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness graduate student Stefan Bonchis was selected as one of 100 international scholars to attend the 2026 Fulbright Enrichment Seminar—where he also earned a seat at the head table alongside senior U.S. officials.

“It was truly an honor to represent the University of Arkansas at the 2026 Fulbright Enrichment Seminar in Washington, D.C. Being part of a program that carries the legacy of J. William Fulbright… made the experience especially meaningful.”

Celebrating 80 years of the Fulbright Program, the seminar brought together global leaders to explore international exchange, leadership, and education—highlighting the power of global connections and collaboration.

Read more: https://news.uark.edu/articles/81160/ag-economics-and-agribusiness-graduate-student-honored-at-fulbright-seminar-in-washington-d-c-

🌊☀️ New Project ‘Floats’ Idea of Solar Panels on Irrigation Reservoirs

AEAB Dr. Mike Popp, Harold F. Ohlendorf Professor of Farm Management, is leading a new Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station research project exploring floating solar arrays on irrigation reservoirs at the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart.

The project tests how floating solar can generate renewable energy while helping conserve irrigation water, reduce evaporation, and avoid taking productive farmland out of use. Researchers are also studying economic feasibility, producer adoption, and how Arkansas-specific conditions—like migratory bird activity in the Mississippi Flyway—may influence design and performance.

Early estimates suggest floating systems may use less surface area than land-based solar while offering potential benefits like reduced water loss and improved system efficiency.

Read more here: https://aaes.uada.edu/news/floating-solar-array-project/

New Project ‘Floats’ Idea of Solar Panels on Irrigation Reservoirs Electricity and water don’t usually mix, but technological advancements in floating solar arrays open the potential to generate electricity while decreasing impacts on farm irrigation reservoirs and agricultural land...

New research in the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association’s Applied Economics Perspectives and Policy highlights an important piece of the sustainability puzzle in food systems.

The article, “Accounting for Substitution: Improving Estimates of GHG Reductions From Cattle-Based Product Demand Shifts,” finds that while providing consumers with information about product-level emissions can reduce demand for cattle-based products—and lower overall greenhouse gas emissions—those impacts may be overstated if substitution effects aren’t considered. In other words, what consumers choose instead matters just as much as what they reduce.

For more accurate estimates of GHG mitigation potential, this research underscores the need to account for these real-world consumption shifts.

Proud to see contributions from Brandon McFadden, Lanier Nalley, Alvaro Durand-Morat, and graduate alum Sara Gardner Hedgecock on this impactful work.

Read More: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aepp.70059