Support for Arkansas Week provided by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

The Arkansas Times and KUER FM 89.

Hello again everyone.

Thanks very much for joining us when we talk about public works on this program, it's always in the context of public policy.

Almost always not that there isn't a political undercurrent in this edition.

For it obviously involves the debate over American infrastructure.

We're speaking at the moment of the Interstate 40 bridge linking Arkansas and Tennessee.

It was closed on Tuesday, an River traffic beneath that halted engineers, having discovered cracks that could cause the span to collapse Friday morning.

Some relief for shippers.

The Coast Guard permitted hundreds of backed up barges and there tons of cargo to resume their journeys.

Obviously the story is bigger than one bridge, two states or the surrounding region.

It involves engineering, obviously, but also economics, transportation, travel, tourism, the social dynamic of the midsouth.

Joining us now.

Congressman Rick Crawford, whose first district includes Crittenden County and that West Memphis area congressman, thanks very much for being with us.

I suspect you have been suspect you been in touch with authorities.

State and federal.

Can you update us?

And by the way, for the benefit of our audience, we're taping this in the early afternoon of Friday.

What's the latest that you can offer us?

The latest is that Coast Guard went on ahead and resumed barge traffic, which is very big relief, obviously, are dot and 10 T dot are working together.

On the engineering, we have a collaborative agreement of working agreement with our counterparts in Tennessee, whereby inspections are performed by R dot engineering is is performed by.

The dot and they will work together to try and address the issue of the structure.

It's too early for me to speculate exactly, and I'm not an engineer, so I wouldn't attempt to.

But on a timeline when they might be able to begin repairs and the timeline for those repairs, I wouldn't want to hazard a guess, but they are working at a quick pace to address restoring traffic.

In the meantime, barge traffic has resumed.

We're experiencing some, some pretty major delays as we're down to one.

Bridge there in in Memphis West Memphis.

The trucking industry is re routing that's costing about two and a half $1,000,000 a day in delays.

An re routing in.

And it's also putting added strain on for example Highway 70 where a lot of the re routing is taking place and going across the bridge at Helena, West Helena where a lot of these smaller towns and secondary roads aren't equipped to handle the volume of traffic that they're about to encounter.

So a lot of things at stake here.

This is a big part of our economy.

This is, you know, obviously a major logistics hub, and it's certainly going to have an impact in the in the near to intermediate term.

We have some pretty arresting photographs.

Congressman that will put up on the screen as you and I continue to discuss here.

The crack in that in that beam almost 100 feet long is really something to see when it does come time to affect the repairs and to pay for them.

Do we know how the cost will be allocated?

Well, we talked to Secretary Buddha judge this morning myself.

Senator Bozeman, Senator Cotton, our counterparts from Tennessee.

We really.

Urged him to to help us access emergency funding.

For this, we do think there are some funding available for it.

The timing on it maybe if there has to be a silver lining in this, it may be that the timing is such that we could get funding included in the infrastructure bill that the Senate is currently undertaking now and add that.

But I mean really, this is an indication of why we need to be paying closer attention to infrastructure and why that infrastructure investment is so critical.

Well, short of a new infrastructure bill and we'll get to that in just a moment.

Is there what's the likelihood, Sir, that funds are available on hand to proceed if we have been assured that that there would be resources available to address this, and it's that critical and this is not just a regional issue, this isn't Arkansas and Tennessee only.

This is this is affecting the entire nation because I.

40 Corridor is a strategic coast to coast link for our economy, it would seem congressman this situation in Crittenden West Memphis and Memphis to to add some impetus to the.

To the quest for an infrastructure bill, but the issue are larger than just you call it an app properly.

So a national issue, but the issue involves a lot of members of Congress and an administration that are at odds over what constitutes infrastructure can this.

Can this process be moved along any faster?

Well, this absolutely isn't an indication of what constitutes infrastructure.

This is exactly what we're talking about.

Roads, bridges, highways, airports, inland waterways.

Ports and harbors.

These are the things we need to be focused on, and this is exactly why, you know, I've had the opportunity to travel the world.

I do that on a pretty regular basis.

As a member of Congress, and I can tell you that our infrastructure is is behind par.

By comparison, given the fact that we're the number one economy in the world, our infrastructure should reflect that.

And at this point unfortunately it doesn't and we need to improve on our infrastructure investment.

The administration and certainly some members of Congress, particularly on the Democratic side, are seeking a bill that's probably in the neighborhood.

I think about three times larger than what most in the Republican conference would prefer, but it does include some things that would be quite beneficial for Arkansas and including the first Congressional District.

How far apart are you?

Well, right now we're we're billions apart.

To not actually trillions, you're talking about a 2.3 trillion in the range of that all encompassing.

Everything is considered infrastructure spending bill.

We think that's extraneous, we think, and in fact, even the administration would acknowledge that only about 5 or 6% of that total spending would be allocated to what we consider to be a traditional infrastructure projects.

That said, it's important that we look at this particular project first and foremost, as it's an imperative that we begin repair on it after their engineering assessment is done.

Whether that requires emergency funding from from the federal government, which I'm sure there's available, or whether we need to appropriate more.

Either through the appropriations process or through the upcoming infrastructure bill.

In any case, we stand ready to address that issue, but it really is a glaring example.

Of just how far we are behind in terms of infrastructure, maintenance and improvement?

Congressman, I would we are out of time and I thank you very much for years and I would note for the audience that Speaking of infrastructure here, you're coming to us.

We caught you at a in between planes at the Atlanta airport so have a safe journey.

Thank you for that.

Thank you so much and come back soon.

We'll return with more on the story in just a moment.

Back now with more on the story.

We're joined by Mike Preston, Secretary of the State Department of Commerce, and Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association.

Our thanks to both of you for coming aboard.

Mr Secretary, Madam President, I assume that both of you would like that bridge fixed last week, but Mr Secretary will start with you.

This is we're talking about millions of dollars a day here.

Are we?

Not?

Absolutely.

It's a huge economic impact for state.

It's a big driver for our state, specially the.

The West Memphis in eastern Arkansas region.

Obviously, Shannon will talk a little bit more about the the trucking impact in the distribution, but the supply chain that that impacts throughout our state.

We got good news this morning that the waterway has opened back up.

We were about 15 boats waiting in queue with an additional probably 12 to 15 barges that they were all pushing that were just in a holding pattern until this morning.

So it's going to take a few days to get through that backlog, but.

Just there in his example of all the Commerce that had been halted, in addition to what was going on our roadways.

But through our waterways, so good news that the waterways are back open as of this morning.

Yeah Mr Secretary, much of that those commodities on those barge.

Is there any way to quantify how much of that was directly tide to Arkansas?

Hard to say until you know they're they're offloaded and we get the final reports here in the next couple of weeks, but it's safe to say that it you know a good majority of those barges were probably coming through Arkansas and that translates to millions of dollars in our economy and that's that's funds that have now slowed down or or dried up.

And again, we're hopeful that those will get flowing again very soon, and and Shannon Newton of the impact on the trucking industry.

Fuel prices.

Shipping times eventually this is going to accrue to consumers, is it not?

Yes, I think you know.

Inevitably, the longer this goes on, the more likely it is that everyday consumers are going to feel the impact of it.

You know, we've done some some research and try to calculate and quantify what those re routing and congestion costs are to the industry and in the short term you know the industry is kind of forced to absorb those.

But if you start looking more long term with long term contracts and continuing to make promises to shippers about routes that are that include going over that congested.

Waterway then those you know those rates are going to go up.

There's going to be surcharges that are associated with making deliveries or pickups you know so close to the bridge that you can't choose an alternate route.

Basically, shippers surface shippers have two avenues to cross the Mississippi, at least on it from Interstate 40 moving, moving East through through Arkansas.

My correct there.

That's 55 and 149.

So at Westmed, first obviously it's 40 and 55 and all of that traffic is being diverted to 55.

The northern option is 555 which is just across the border in Missouri and then the sudden option is I-40 map I 49 in Southeast Arkansas.

Both of those are more than 60 miles out around.

More than that 50 mark.

Can you vets and ex almost an exponential change to the dynamic?

Is it not?

If you're a driver?

If you're a shipper.

Absolutely.

I mean, you know trucking rates are based on the most efficient, safe route from Point A to point B.

And so when you either make will make that route significantly less efficient by trying to push tube, or really tin lanes worth of traffic into four, you're going to have significant congestion around the Memphis with West Memphis Bridge.

And then if you look at taking an alternate route, then you have additional time, additional fuel and those out of route miles in order for them to.

You know, go from there origination to destination.

Point, well, all roads lead to Washington, at least in the current context, Mr Secretary.

What are you telling the congressional delegation?

Well, we're telling the Congressional delegation feels the same way that I do on this, that we have to get that bridge back open.

The infrastructure is an Eden, Arkansas and across the country you know, you think about the people who commute each day over back and forth across that bridge, just to go to work.

There's a lot of jobs there in West Memphis that are dependent on people coming from across the other side of the River to fill the jobs.

And that's going to impact their their supply chain, and orders will get backed up and you're going to impact people coming across and going to Southland so.

So many issues there and I know that there's debate in Washington now about an infrastructure bill.

It's been talked about going back to the previous administration.

I think it's evident from what we've seen this week that the time to act is now.

And let's get these funds flowing to to the state so that we can repair or or outdated infrastructure.

Well, the sceptical response has always been that then you've heard it.

It's every week in Congress is infrastructure week, and yet nothing seems to get moving.

What is it that the Hutchinson administration is asking?

Or can you tell us what the administration your administration is asking from the delegation?

Yeah, well, we're we're asking for movement on an infrastructure plan.

Now, what the the Biden administration has proposed is not, you know, I can understand why you're not going to just rubber stamp something like that because there's a lot of things in that bill that don't equate to infrastructure.

I think more emphasis does need to be put on, you know, infrastructure on our bridges and our roads and our ports, our rail infrastructure and then our broadband deployment.

These are all the infrastructures that we need in the infrastructure of the future and we have to focus on that.

And, you know, figure out a way that we're going to be able to pay for it.

And not raise taxes.

So those are the issues that need to be addressed by by Congress and by the by administration is what we want to see done to help Arkansans.

Yeah, Shannon Newton, as the secretary noted and was noted earlier, the administration would seem to be or some political forces in Washington would seem to be redefining infrastructure.

Other forces say it's overdue that's overdue.

That's altogether proper.

Your thoughts?

I don't want to say that any of the things being called infrastructure or not valuable projects and issues that are worthy of being considered, rated, considered and may be worthy of being funded.

But when we say the word infrastructure, you and I and the people watching this program all have some sort of preconceived notion about what infrastructure is and we have demonstrated over the past several election cycles that people are comfortable with investing in the infrastructure that we all use and need every single day to make sure that we can get to work to make sure that we can get home.

Make sure we get our kids to where we want them to be.

And to make sure that our goods are delivered from wherever they were produced, to wherever we would like to consume them.

And that is the roads and bridges of this state of this country.

And so I hope that this is a great illustration of exactly what we mean when we say that our infrastructure is deteriorated and that we need to reinvest in it so that we can all depend upon it priority.

One, then, is asphalt infrastructure equals asphalt and steel.

From our industry's perspective, obviously that's the what we're relying on.

Is the roads and bridges in order to get freight delivered to consumers.

Mr secretary.

Is that a bit narrow, given the political dynamics as you read them.

You you look at, you know what we need and in terms of doing economic development, you have to have have roads available to get product in and out.

You have to have rail.

You have to have the ports to transport our products and you have to have broadband.

To me that's the you know the infrastructure that we all think of and we know about and its priority.

We're seeing it right now.

Maybe people don't realize how big of a priority is to have those roads open and cleared and the bridge is open and cleared until you run into an issue like this.

So hopefully that's you know open the eyes for a lot of people and just say you know what?

Let's focus on this core of what we need to get done.

It's going to keep business going in your conversations, either of you with the Congressional delegation.

What is their read?

It's read their read on on some progress up there that doesn't seem to be much of late.

Why did you say that?

I was just going to say I've been very pleased with the way that they have demonstrated that they are aware of the significant impact that this is having on the state that to their constituents and that they have all been very eager to help and to offer solutions and communicated regularly with us.

I still believe that we're reaching or haven't found a good solution yet.

Nothing has been put forward.

That's going to make us feel comfortable about maybe what the next steps are to getting the bridge open.

The delegation is certainly expressed their intent to do everything that they can to make sure that that happens as quickly as possible, and Mr. Secretary on the broader matter of of a larger infrastructure package.

Sure, and I don't want to, you know, try to speak for the delegation.

I will say that you know we're fortunate in Arkansas that we have a delegation who's very like minded and works well together, and I think they're moving all in the same direction to really push strong to get an infrastructure package passed, it's going to fund these things.

But as I alluded to earlier, that maybe fund the things that are not necessary.

Let's focus on the core that we need to right now and help us avoid raising taxes or do anything that would be detrimental to our economy.

Alright, gotta end it there because we're out of time, Secretary Preston, President.

Newton, thanks very much for your time.

Come back soon.

The economics of agriculture and the small businesses that grow from it this month focus on good roots coming up next.

Major funding for Good Roots is provided by Arkansas Farm Bureau, Arkansas Farm Bureau advocating the interests of Arkansas's largest industry for more than 80 years.

Arkansas counts on agriculture, agriculture counts on Farm Bureau.

The suite life of small family owned businesses.

That's our topic today.

There's nothing quite as sweet as an Arkansas strawberry in peak season.

I'm Lauren McCullough in this next episode of good routes.

We travel to Lone Oak County and pick berries with an Arkansas farming legend.

Mr Bob Barnhill, the customer with us is always right.

Will discuss family, community and what keeps him so motivated.

Then the sweetness continues as we head to a honeybee farm where a couple has made it their mission to educate the public about bees.

Let's go see if I can find Mr. Barnhill.

How are you?

I'm good.

What can I get you today?

I am Tori Barnhill and I'm at the corner market today.

Selling some strawberries.

Would you like this in the back up here with you here at Barnhill Orchards we are family owned and operated.

My dad Rex.

He is the farmer here at Barnhill Orchards and my echo she is in charge of all the communications and sales.

My Gran father people ask about him all the time.

He sets up the table he sells to customers and everyone just looks for the old man with the blue hats.

$16.00 well back in February they had turned 90 an he still got the desire and they want to.

I can't keep him out of town, he just loves to go to town, but he's still boss.

This all started back in 1980.

He retired out of the Air Force and we've been farming ever since.

The popularity of the strawberry here in Arkansas has risen quite a bit an to me.

It's the quality of the Berry that we're producing in this area.

It's much better than something you're going to buy in a grocery store.

That's dead right.

Ready to eat.

Best you ever put in your mouth.

Plus the local communities support us there.

Realizing the value of it an of course, I'm here to support them.

All right, Mr. Barnhill is that.

Is that about right?

Yes, it looks good morning.

Be sure to heat them up because they customers like to have a real full basket.

So what makes the perfect strawberry perfect?

Strawberry wants to be picked when it's deep colored red.

We pick the strawberries every other day.

You pick half the fee on one day and the other half the next day.

That has very little shelf life.

You've got to pick it, sell it.

They've got to take it home and eat it in about in a matter of three days.

Why strawberries, strawberries sell well, people like the heaven and they will come to the farm to get them it.

It really feels good to have a product that somebody wants.

Do you want to know my favorite way to eat strawberries?

With chocolate no.

I literally like to stand over the kitchen sink and just got this.

Oh OK. You know, eating over the sink or the stove.

They say it's very fattening.

Of course, that doesn't bother you.

But it does mate well to each their own.

These are so delicious.

Now we can talk about Arkansas strawberries without mentioning their ideal pollinator.

Perhaps their number one pollinator, which you could say are community minded.

I'm Emily Bemis here with my husband, Jeremy, be Mesabi Miss Honey Bee Farm in southeast Little Rock.

Well gotta send honey bees is we bought the property and there was actually an airport on it and obviously we did not want to own an airport so this building actually used to be an airplane hangar.

We decided we're going to Christmas trees and if you do Christmas trees you need to have a pumpkin Patch so the number one reason why pumpkins don't grow is not enough pollinators.

The easiest thing to do is to get some bees and.

Have some bees to pollinate the pumpkins, which I was not on board with, so she's actually allergic to honey bees.

He decided we probably need to start selling supplies.

We have the space to do it and then we quickly realized we need education as well.

So we started with some beginner classes.

Education is most important thing with these.

After you get your bees and you Start learning and reading some more, you realize how little you really know.

So better educated beekeeper, the better the bees you notice that these aren't all ANSI and everything.

We also have a wood shop.

Where we build a lot of our own supplies, so we try to do as much as we came here and offer all things beekeeping to anybody looking to get started.

So Jeremy were out in the workshop at the farm.

We're going to do today.

Today we're going to build boxes, so this is your standard langstroth box.

And this is the frame.

So this is what we're actually building.

Is the box that these frames will fit into OK?

Don't have a finger.

What good are bees doing for nature?

They are responsible for pollinating a large percentage of our food source for a lot of vegetables.

Things like that are pollinated by bees, so if we don't have them then we're really not going to have all that the honey bees not native to the US, So the native bees actually do a much better job of pollinating our crops than the honeybee does.

What happened is with our crop structure that we have we have.

Miles and miles of different crops, soybeans, cotton, whatever it may be.

The honey bee is the only insect that will travel as far as it will to pollinate those crops.

So a native be if it goes 100 yards away from the nest, that's a long ways away, whereas a honeybee could go up to three miles away from its have.

So when you get a crop that needs to be pollinated, you can put a bunch of honey bees in there and they'll just keep going and going and going, and we get food from them so the honey bee is the only insect that we get food from, and it needs a frame, right?

Well, it's like 10 of these, so this actually holds 10 frames.

So this is this.

Is it as long as that fits in there, then you've done it right?

And the next time you pull this out, it's full of beautiful Golden honey and honeycomb, right?

Yes.

I'm at the Bernice Garden Farmers market in the South on Main district of Little Rock.

For the first of a series that we would like to call the Farmers Market Roundup.

Farmers markets like this are a place where farmers and artisans can come together and sell their goods directly to the consumers.

I'm Amanda is spell I'm the events coordinator and manager of the Bernice Garden.

This beautiful Botanical Garden and sculpture gardens surrounding our farmers market.

You can find local produce handcrafted goods.

You can find body products all from local artisans, local vendors, local growers and producers.

It's important to the farmers to have their community support.

And we also feel like it's great for the community to have the farmer support connecting people, connecting local produce the freshest products, and the best experience 15 varieties of heirloom tomatoes.

Yes, ma'am.

How long have you been coming here?

This is actually my first year, but it's been like a small family and I really appreciate them here.

I love the farmers markets.

Being that I work for myself and I only have one employee, you know I don't get to interact, especially during.

You know the pandemic?

I like getting out and socializing a little bit.

I'm also really proud of what I'm doing, and it feels really good when people come and tell me what they've made and they really enjoy him.

I've been coming here for a couple years now.

We have a really vibrant farmers market seen this year.

I mean, we've got you know we've got a lot of produce.

We have a lot of producers.

Farmers markets facilitate a personal bond and connection between the farmers, the shoppers and the community.

The atmosphere at Bernice Garden just makes it that much more special until next time.

I'm Lauren McCullough and this is good roots.

And that's good routes for this month and our program for this week.

We'll see you next week.

Support for Arkansas Week provided by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

The Arkansas Times and KUER FM 89.