Boozman applauds Section 32 purchase of

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approval of Section 32 purchase of up to $42 million of catfish products for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs, including charitable institutions.

Catfish

to help America’s catfish producers reduce the risk of financial insecurity they are facing as a result of sharply-climbing inventories and rapid increases in feed costs.

years mimics historic fire regimes and fire return intervals.”

In addition to reducing fire danger to residents and visitors, forest wildlife also benefits from prescribed fire treatments. “Opening the forest floor to sunlight initiates the germination cycle of those seeds lying dormant, and reintroduces nitrates and minerals back into the soil which provides vital nutrients for the understory to grow,” Wilson said. “This understory vegetation is the food supply for much of the wildlife on these landscapes.” Healthy fire also creates new habitat and improves existing habitat conditions.

Visit the “Fire Information” link at https://www.fs.usda.gov/ouachita for more information on planned prescribed burn activities, or contact the Oklahoma Ranger Districts office at 580-494-6402. People with smoke sensitivities who are not currently on the Forest Service’s prescribed fire notification list may also call this number to be added.

Boozman, who led a bicameral coalition in support of the request, announced the details of the purchase while speaking at the Catfish Farmers of Arkansas’s annual convention in Hot Springs.

“This is great news. It means more catfish will be purchased to alleviate the constraints on producers’ stocks and food insecure Americans will have additional nutritious, U.S. grown food on their plates. It’s a win-win,” Boozman said.

In November 2022, Boozman led a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the purchases

“Catfish producers and processors are predominantly located in rural America. Due to historically high inflation across the economy these communities continue to feel the burden of increased prices. Purchasing catfish will help to strengthen rural America and provide a nutritious, U.S.-grown product to families, children, and our communities,” the members wrote.

The following Senate and House members joined Boozman to send the letter: Sen. Tom Cotton (RAR), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS).

State records over $444M in unclaimed property

By Patrick Massey

LITTLE ROCK – State officials are once again reminding Arkansas residents they may have unclaimed property just waiting for them to discover.

Auditor of State Dennis Milligan, whose office administers the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt, joined colleagues from around the country on Feb. 1 in highlighting Unclaimed Property Day.

Unclaimed Property Day was launched by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators in 2021 to raise awareness of unclaimed property.

Unclaimed property can be any number of financial items, such as unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, certificates of deposit, unused rebate cards – you name it.

The state currently records a total of $444.1 million in unclaimed property owed to Arkansas citizens through the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt program.

When owners abandon an account – through a move or a death, for instance – and the company cannot locate the owner, the money or properties are submitted to the Auditor of State’s office. The office’s Unclaimed Property Division then works to connect property to its rightful owner, Milligan said.

Statistically, one in seven people nationwide have unclaimed property. In Arkansas, the percentage is greater at one in four.

Since Milligan took office on Jan. 10, his office has returned more than $1.4 million in unclaimed cash through the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt program.

To see if you might have unclaimed property in Arkansas, visit www. ClaimItAR.com. Those who wish to check whether they have unclaimed property in other states may visit www. missingmoney.com

Arkansans may also call the Auditor’s office at 501-682-6000.