This month's Short Talks from the Hill features Ben Runkle, an associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering, discussing his ongoing research project called "Fish in the Fields."

The state of Arkansas is responsible for 40% of U.S. rice production, making it number one among rice producing states. Currently, rice is planted in the spring and harvested in the fall, leaving the ponds empty in winter, often as habitat for migratory fowl. But what if a second winter crop were added? What would the benefits be? How might that help or hinder rice production? Those are some of the questions Runkle is trying to answer in the multi-year research project being conducted at Zero Grade Farms in Lonoke County.

"Our project is looking at fish in the winter period," Runkle explains, "which is normally not a productive period for the rice farmers. They flood their fields for waterfowl and hunting leases, but it's not an economic or agricultural production period. There are other projects in the world where fish are grown concurrently with rice in the summer season, but we're looking at the off season. The fish can help consume and degrade some of the leftover residues of the rice plant. In theory, there's evidence from other places that they can reduce methane emissions from the field in the winter period, and they can provide an alternate source of income for the farmers. If the fish are harvested and then sold on the market, then they can derive income from that."

You can listen to Runkle discuss Fish in the Fields by clicking on the link above or by visiting the home of research and economic development news at the U of A.

And remember, you can now listen to Short Talks programming wherever you get your podcasts. Previous podcasts can be found at the link above or by visiting arkansasresearch.uark.edu.

Thank you for listening!