Arkansas rice organizations honor UADA's Burcham

·     Burcham recognized for leadership in establishing NERREC

·     Burcham joined UADA in 2019, when research center broke ground

·     $18.5 million facility focused on Delta conditions

HARRISBURG, Ark. — Two of Arkansas' major rice-supporting organizations recently honored Tim Burcham, director of the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, for his leadership in bringing the new research center to fruition.

Jim Whitaker, a Desha County farmer and chairman of the Rice Research and Promotion Board, and David Gairhan, a current board member, presented Burcham with a plaque at the center on Feb. 4, during the 2026 Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting. The plaque, which was sponsored by the Arkansas Rice Federation and the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, reads:

“We sincerely appreciate the outstanding leadership, dedication, and lasting contributions you have made to the Arkansas rice industry.”

“That recognition is really for what is a team effort, for sure,” Burcham said. “It wasn’t just Tim Burcham, I can promise you that. It was a whole host of dedicated individuals.”

 

While the Division of Agriculture’s Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas, has stood for nearly 100 years, there was a strong desire among many rice growers in the Delta to see a research facility specifically focused on Delta production. Planning and groundbreaking for the Northeast center began in 2019 under Mark Cochran, then head of the Division of Agriculture. Burcham left his position as Dean of the College of Agriculture and Technology at Arkansas State University to direct the forthcoming extension center that same year.

 

The Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center celebrated its grand opening in August of 2024. The $18.5 million facility sits on 600 acres and features a teaching greenhouse, classrooms, a demonstration kitchen and more.

 

Whitaker said he and his fellow members of the Arkansas Rice Board felt that the Feb. 4 event would be an ideal time to present Burcham with the award, as it was the first time the annual Arkansas Rice Day was held at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center.

“Combined with all the other activities of the day, we just thought it would be a good time to present him with a small token of our appreciation for all the hard work he’s done over the last seven or eight years,” Whitaker said.

“What stands out to me about Dr. Burcham is his work ethic,” Whitaker said. “When he comes to a meeting, he has all the information we need to make a good, sound decision. He doesn’t leave room for doubt. When he presents something, it’s well thought out. The level of detail has always been impressive to me.”

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.