Ofn dummy 10 19 15

A View from the Saddle OCTOBER 19, 2015• 28 PAGES

VOLUME 9, NUMBER 12 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Mixing old-fashioned methods of working cattle with modern herd management

Looking For the Perfect Brahman Cow

J&R Farms is among only a few Brahman breeders in Arkansas

Ag Mark & Produceting Sale Issution e

40 Years in the Making

The Whitmores continue to improve their herd at Trinity Ranch

Determining the Value of Your Hay Experts say hay might not be as expensive this winter as in years past

OCTOBER 19, 2015

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

1

rumor mill

Tyson presents U of A with gift: Tyson Foods Inc. has awarded a $1.3 million gift to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture aimed at further innovating and updating the division’s poultry Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville. The announcement came Tuesday as the Division of Agriculture celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, housed in a building named for Tyson Foods founder John Tyson. “The great Arkansas poultry pioneers envisioned a place where students can learn from the best and learn how to be the best, in what is now one of the largest teaching and research facility on this campus,” said John Tyson, Chairman of Tyson Foods.

Researcher honored: Fred Bourland, a cotton breeder for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will be inducted by Cotton Incorporated into the 2015 class of the Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame.

He will be honored with four other inductees in December.

FFA honors supporter: Joe Cunningham of Locust Grove, Okla., will receive a VIP award during the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky., which will be held Oct. 28-31. The VIP award honors individuals who have dedicated many years of service to FFA and agricultural education.

Joe has been an agriculture education teacher for 34 years, while also running registered Quarter Horses, registered Angus and Hereford, and commercial cattle.

Governor declares October as Farm to School Month: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinsons proclaimed October as Arkansas Farm to School Month. Farm to School is in 27 Arkansas school districts encompassing 169 schools and almost 87,000 students, according to the Census of Farm to School by the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Food and Nutrition Service.

Team takes first at grading contest: The Oktaha FFA Chapter team of Grace Blackwell, Levi Hill, Mazie Richards and Stetson Richards topped the FFA division of the Commercial Cattle Grading Contest at the Tulsa State Fair. The second-place team was the Warner FFA Chapter with members Nick Hayes, Kadee Holder, Brooklyn Herriman and Jessica Dureson. The contest was sponsored by American Farmers and Ranches. In the 4-H contest, high individuals were Jacob Blackwell, of Muskogee 4-H, first place; Tracy Kriner, of Wagoner 4-H, second place, Kylie Wickam, of Nowata 4-H, third place; Kaytie Cash, of Muskogee 4-H, in fourth place, Kayliegh Boydston, of Muskogee 4-H, in fifth place, Dillon Watson, of Muskogee 4-H, sixth place; Bailey Webb, of Wagoner 4-H, seventh place; McKenzie Todd, of Wagoner 4-H, eighth place; Dillon Simmons, of Nowata 4-H, ninth place; and Dax Delozier, Mayes 4-H, 10th place.

Scan Me Or Visit ozarksfn.com OzarksFarm

2

@OzarksFarm

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

OCTOBER 19, 2015

|

VOL. 9, NO. 12

JUST A THOUGHT

7

3

Jerry Crownover – The more things change, the more they stay the same

4 5

Jody Harris – Planting the seeds

Julie Turner-Crawford – The new “milk beverage”

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

7 40 years in the making

8 J&R Farms strives to produce the best Brahman cattle in the world

8 10

10

Cain’s Ballroom has hosted a vast array of musical acts

12

Eye on Agribusiness features Pro-Vet of Siloam Springs

13 16

Town & Country highlights Christi Shaver

18

Tara Hudson brings a look at agriculture to kids with her mobile pumpkin patch

20

Youth in Agriculture features Evyn Edmonds

Honey Creek Land and Cattle manager combines old-fashioned methods and new technology

FARM HELP 21 The cattle business 22 Determining the value of your hay 23 Agriculture marketing techniques

have begun to enhance direct sales to customers

16 Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

24

Time to check corrals, barns and equipment that might be in need of repair

25

Does your hay have the right stuff?

Low-quality forage should be supplemented this winter OCTOBER 19, 2015

just a

thought

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

e f i L elpmiS si

ne of my neighbors had been tellrevonworC yrreJ yB ing me for the past several months that he had in his possession, “something you will want to see.”

Jerry Crownover is Finally, this past week, he rea farmer and former membered to put it in his truck, to bring it by, professor of Agriculture and leave it with me for a few days.

Education at Missouri Through some fate, Larry had discovered a State University. He is a cache of old farm newspapers and brought me native of Baxter County, an issue of the Farmers’ Dispatch, published in Arkansas, and an St. Paul, Minn., dated May 23, 1916. On the author and professional front page was the picture of a bull that had been speaker. To contact Jerry, named Grand Champion Bull at the Chicago Ingo to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’ ternational Livestock Exposition for an unprecedented third time.

“What do you think of him?”

After examining the old, black and white photo, that was yellowed with age, I had to confess that the bull would be considered an outstanding animal in today’s show ring as well, 99 years later. That is truly amazing, considering how the beef industry has gone through so many major changes in desired body types over the past century.

Could beef production actually be turning back the clock to an earlier time?

I took the old newspaper home with me and, later that evening, began to read the news stories and advertisements that were included in the rest of the 1916 periodical.

There were stories about the latest battles raging in the Great War (though it wasn’t called WWI yet, because the U.S. was not officially involved), with familiar sounding names like Baghdad, Turkey and the Tigris River. Another story concerned the upcoming presidential election and I was appalled to see that politics were just as nasty and distasteful (if not more so) as they are now, complete with editorials condemning the candidates for being controlled by well-funded special interest groups.

— Continued on Page 6

Call Matt Trailers In Stock and Priced to Sale NEWIn Stock

Tedders & Rakes In Stock!

New Dealer for Delco

Truck Beds

McMahan Enterprises, Inc. Hwy. 65 S., Damascus, Ark. • 501-733-3551 www.mcmahanenterprisesinc.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

Healthy & Efficient

IVERMECTIN BEST BUYS Agrimectin Pour-On, 5.0 Liter........... Call Cydectin, 5.0 Liter........................... Call Cydectin, 10.0 Liter.................... Call Dectomax, 500 ml..................... Call Noromectin, 500 ml.............$85.00 Noromectin, 1000 ml........$145.00

By Jerry Crownover

Arkansas #1 Neckover Dealer

VET SUPPLY

Best Quality Products Delivered or Shipped To Your Door at the Lowest Prices

Life Is Simple

O

’ Mac s Keeping Your Herd

VACCINES One-Shot, 10 Dose....................$28.26 Ultrabac 7 Som, 50 Dose............. $46.78 Agricillin (Penn G), 250 ml............. $11.79 Twin Pen (Long Lasting), 250 ml... $22.89 Clostridial 7 Way, 50 Dose............. $17.64 LICE CONTROL PRODUCTS Delice, Gallon............................... $17.00 Cylence, 96 oz............................$87.79 ANTIBIOTICS Agrimycin 200, 500 ml..............$25.89 IMPLANTS Ralgro Cart..................................$28.65 Synovex Cart................................ $11.75 Come See Us at One of Our Locations 601 Front St. In Springfield Livestock Monett, MO Exit 70 • I-44 & Hwy MM 417-235-6226 417-863-8446

1-888-360-9588

PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753

Toll Free: 1-866-532-1960

479-846-1002 • Fax: 479-846-1003 E-mail: Member: editor@ozarksfn.com

Sandra Coffman President

Administrative Eric Tietze, Vice-President Operations Kathy Myers, Marketing Manager Sandra Coffman, Accounting Advertising Pete Boaz, Display & Classified Sales Kathy Myers, Production Sales Circulation Stan Coffman, Circulation Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Jody Harris, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production Contributors Gary Digiuseppe, Pam and Jack Fortner, Katrina Hine, Pam and Terry Lamb and Terry Ropp

About the Cover Randall Davis, ranch manager for Honey Creek Land and Cattle, tags a new calf as his horse waits.

See more on page 16.

Photo by Katrina Hine Ozarks Farm & Neighbor accepts story suggestions from readers. Story information appears as gathered from interviewees. Ozarks Farm & Neighbor assumes no responsibility for the credibility of statements made by interviewees. © Copyright Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, Inc., 2015.

All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

Benton County Sale Barn, Inc. 25 Years of Serving the Tri-State Area

Sale Every Thursday at 12 p.m.

Great Service, Low Rates!

Commission Rates 2.5% on all calves 3% on all cows & bulls

Please contact one of our Field Representatives for more information!

Cody Vaughn 479-790-3432 Joe Simpson 918-207-7123

Covered Pens • Easy Unloading • Cattle Received Wednesday & Thursday • Comfortable Seating with Good Views of Sales Arena • Hauling Available

Listen Friday a.m. KURM 790 Sale Barn Report!

3870 Highway 412 East, Siloam Springs, AR • 479-524-2371

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

3

“Your Livestock Equipment Headquarters”

Your Electric Fence Specialist!

Mains Energizers • Unigizers • Battery • Solar • Management Tools • Accessories

800-530-5158 www.zeitlow.com • Email: greg@zeitlow.com

AVAILABLE NOW ON SUPERIOR LIVESTOCK:

Top-quality, spring calving heifers bred to proven calving ease bulls 50 Angus bull bred females, Nichols Farms genetics from Indiana 200 Red Angus AI and bull bred females in South Dakota 150 Angus AI and bull bred females in Idaho, rank top 35% GeneMax DNA results 100 black and 50 red SimAngus™ AI and bull bred females in North Dakota 200 Angus AI and bull bred females in Kentucky, fescue tolerant

When PERFORMANCE

MATTERS!

Ross Rogers Equipment

479-938-2370

Ryan & Ross Rogers • 18151 N. Hwy. 109, Scraton, AR

4

just a thought

Freshly Picked

By Jody Harris

I

haven’t always been a farm kid.

There was a time when my dad was serving in Jody Harris is a freelance the military and we resided in “town.” It wasn’t communications specialist, until my dad retired from the U.S. Army we gardener, ranch wife and became residents of a rural farm community in mother of four. She and Missouri. Everything about farm life was new. Friends her family raise Angus beef and neighbors were always helping my sister and I cattle and other critters on discover something new about country living. their northwest Arkansas This past month, I volunteered for a morning ranch. She is a graduate with Apple Seeds, a non-profit group in Fayetteof Missouri State University. ville, Ark. Apple Seeds develops and implements To contact Jody, go to programs that educate and excite children about ozarksfn.com and click on fruits and vegetables. Fifty excited second graders ‘Contact Us.’ arrived on buses from a local elementary school along with parents and teachers. These children were eager to be on their first field trip. The buses unloaded and the faces of these students lit up. The enthusiasm built as they approached the 2-acre farm. They listened intently as the staff shared the importance of vegetables in a person’s daily diet.

Produce was weighed and students journaled about their experience in the garden.

The kids broke into small groups and were delighted to “harvest” vegetables from different parts of the garden – spinach, tomatoes and peppers. The fresh veggies were washed. Each table of children prepared their vegetables and shared their harvest with the other groups. It was fascinating to watch their joy as they cut and chopped vegetables to prepare their personal snacks from the harvest in the garden. Many of these children had never been in a vegetable garden or picked vegetables from rows or vines.

As a gardener and veggie lover, I was overjoyed with sharing in the education of these little people. I too, had been a child who’d never picked vegetables from a garden and know all-too-well the importance of having someone to learn from.

Apple Seeds is a growing group in Fayetteville and is making plans to expand the reach of the organization in the community. Apple Seeds partners with schools and community organizations to establish activities that serve students and their families. These include gardening clubs, school garden education, student-run farmers markets, and farm-to-table programs. These hands-on, educational programs empower students with skills to grow their own food, inspiring them to make healthy food choices that positively impact their lives. I was excited to learn more about this group and loved seeing how it impacts over 3500 students in our community each year. For more information about Apple Seeds, check out appleseedsnwa.org.

One of the other hats I get to wear as a mother of two girls is Girl Scout Troop Leader. This year, I have the privilege of co-leading a group of 15 second and fourth grade girls through a leadership badge that explores breaking down stereotypes for the roles of young women. Our first field trip as a troop this fall was visiting a local pumpkin farm, run by one of our neighbors – also a busy mother with three children.

It was great watching the children listen to her teach them how insects, bats and the weather affect the pumpkin crop each year. The lesson ended with each Girl Scout picking their own pumpkins right off the vines in her patch. They looked like they were in heaven.

I enjoy sharing stories about young people in the country. I am a lifelong learner.

As a person in agriculture, I love education and I love teaching. One of my greatest joys is finding someone in my life to learn from and someone to teach. I hope you get a chance to pass the love of agriculture onto someone else, neighbor.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

just a thought

Across the Fence

By Julie Turner-Crawford

W

hile perusing through social media the other day, I came across a post about a new “milk beverage” that is promoting less sugar, fewer caloJulie Turner-Crawford ries and more calcium than “reguis a native of Dallas lar” milk, so I thought I would do a little research.

County, Mo., where she First stop, the nutrition label of low-fat milk and grew up on her family’s the label of the milk beverage. The milk beverage farm. She is a graduate has only 20 fewer calories than low-fat milk and has of Missouri State 8 grams of sugar, which is 4 grams less that its low-fat University. To contact milk counterpart. The beverage also claims to have Julie, call 1-866-532-1960 45 percent of the drinker’s daily calcium needs, based or by email at editor@ on a 2,000-calorie diet, while milk has 30 percent. ozarksfn.com.

The “milk beverage” appears to be a “healthy alternative” to low-fat milk, but looks can be deceiving.

Looking further at the label, the “milk beverage” has 4 percent of the daily intake of total fat (including 8 percent saturated fat) and 10 mg, or 4 percent, of the daily allowance of cholesterol, based on that 2,000-calorie diet. Low-fat milk contains zero percent total fat and less that 5 mg of cholesterol, or less than 2 percent of the daily allowance. The milk substitute also has more sodium, as well as less protein and less vitamins A and C. So, is the “milk beverage” any healthier? Doesn’t appear so, but – in the words of some of the best TV pitchmen in infomercial history – Wait, there’s more!

For me the real truth comes in the ingredient list.

The first ingredient in the milk beverage is water, followed by low-fat milk, sugar, calcium carbonate, salt, gellan gum, “natural flavors” and vitamin D3. The ingredient list on low-fat milk is milk, vitamin A palmitate and vitamin D. Now, let’s break some of the more complicated ingredients in both down; first, calcium carbonate.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, calcium carbonate is found in nature as calcite and aragonite, and in plant ashes, bones and shells, and is used especially in making — Continued on Next Page

Saturday, November 7, 2015

12 PM at the farm in Hermitage, MO

Pitts Upward 4163 REG: 18200115 DOB: 9/24/14

A soggy made, deep-sided Sitz Upward son by the herd sire producing Elga Erica family that defines mating potential

Pitts Western Cut 4159 REG: 18197047 DOB: 9/24/14

Show-Me select qualifier by Connealy Western Cut from the Blackcap family

100 Commercial Heifers Sell!

Dinner Rolls

side dishes

Submitted by: Donna Bassham, Pea Ridge, Ark. 2 C Unsifted flour 2 Packages of active dry yeast 1 C Milk 2/3 C Water 1 1/2 tsp Salt 1/4 C Sugar 1/4 C Butter 2 Eggs 5-6 C unifted flour (To work dough)

Add yeast to two cups of flour. Heat milk, water, salt sugar and butter until sugar dissolves, then add eggs. Cool to lukewarm, add flour and yeast mixture. Beat in mixture until well blended. Beat with mixer until you have added five to six cups of flour.

Let rise until double in size. Knead about 10 to 12 times, then make into rolls and allow it to rise again. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Know a Good Recipe? Send in your favorite recipe to share with our readers. Mail them to: PO Box 1319, Lebanon, MO 65536; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

Heifers bred to Western Cut and Investment

Pitts Angus Farms

Robb, Ashley, Whitley & Shiloh Pitts 417-399-3131 pittsangusfarms@yahoo.com Maurice & Jan Pitts 417-745-6840

www.pittsangusfarms.com

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

5

just a thought

I-49 at Elm Springs Rd. 479-725-9100 EverettChevroletNWA.com

Across the Fence Continued from Previous Page

Susie Everett

CHEVROLET, OVER 100 YEARS OF PROUD TRADITION!

lime and Portland cement, and as a gastric antacid and a calcium supplement. Gellan gum, according to foodadditives.org, is a water-soluble anionic polysaccharide produced by the bacterium Sphingomonas elodea. It is primarily used as a gelling or thickening agent.

In low-fat milk, vitamin A palmitate is the form of vitamin A found naturally in animal sources and also produced synthetically, according to the website livewell. com, and is used to fortify foods such as dairy products.

In my non-expert opinion, for a product that is being marketed as a healthier choice for milk drinkers, the milk beverage doesn’t sound too yummy or healthy.

It’s kind of disheartening that a company is trying to alter one of the most

Life Is Simple Continued from Page 3 The advertisements were crudely designed, but very similar to today’s slicker versions with wagon-makers offering their new models made affordable by EZ financing; creams that had a money-back guarantee if they didn’t immediately restore hair growth for balding men; elixirs that could bring back that “youthful zest” that men enjoyed in their younger days; and even a bottled spirit that could calm the nerves of the most nervous women. It appeared to be 80 proof.

Lastly, there was a lengthy article that described the ongoing congressional debate

natural and healthy products available today and call it better than the original.

This isn’t the first time that a “new” product has made its to way grocers’ shelves, and it won’t be the last. There’s almond milk, soy milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, rice milk and even hemp milk available.

There are benefits to the other forms of milk, such giving those producers who raise almonds, soybeans and rice additional buyers for their products, but I will stick with the real stuff.

After all, farm families across the Ozarks are depending on me each time I go to the store.

over a farm bill that could finally provide farmers with the financial stability they needed to survive and prosper. The newspaper encouraged both political parties to reach an agreement for the “future of the country.” However, either the bill failed to pass or it failed in its intended consequence.

After spending the entire evening reading the journal from cover to cover, soaking in every word, picture and advertisement from a 99-year-old publication, I was reminded of a wise, old professor whom I once studied under. At least once (usually, more often) during every class, he would make the astute observation, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.”

• Saturday Sale - 12 p.m.

• Locally Owned & Operated • You Call, We Haul! All Loads, Fully Insured • www.101livestockauction.com

We now accept all major debit & credit cards for your livestock purchases!

John Knight, 501-412-7210 • I-40 Exit 101, Blackwell, AR

Barn Phone: 501-354-5900

6

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

meet your

neighbors

40 Years in the Making

Your One Stop Shop For Steel Fence and More!

ADJUSTABLE ALLEYWAYS & CROWDING TUBS

By Pam & Jack Fortner

The Whitmores continue to improve their herd at Trinity Ranch In 1958, Cliff Whitmore and his new bride relocated from Texas to the Ozarks because he loved the beauty of the area.

He and his wife Joan wanted to start a family, establish a veterinary clinic, have a ranch and raise cattle. The Texas A&M graduate lost no time in opening the clinic as soon as they arrived in Boone County, Ark. After 30 successful years, Cliff decided that he wanted to retire and raise cattle full-time.

help from his youngest son, Mark, who has followed in his father’s footsteps. He received his degree in veterinary medicine from Louisiana State University.

“I grew up in a vet family, which probably influenced the direction I took,” Mark said. “Dad started the ranch in the early 1970s. Growing up, I was probably more involved than anybody, kind of grew up with the cattle and was interested in that… I liked the lifestyle. I practiced in Conway (Ark.) for a short Photo by Pam and Jack Fortner

Cliff Whitmore, seated inside the vehicle, continues to run Trinity Ranch, with help from his youngest son, Mark, who is also pictured.

Cliff and Joan raised three children on time, but wanted to move back up to their initial farm, but as time went on, the mountains.”

Mark is currently a partner at Boone they accumulated more and more land.

From humble beginnings, the Whit- County Veterinary Clinic in Harrison, mores have developed a high-quality Ark. Ironically, the vet clinic is the same one his dad started in 1958. registered Red Angus/GelbMark said that the clinic vieh cross on more than 600 Harrison, Ark. has gone from large animal acres of some of the most to small, which allows him beautiful rolling Ozarks hills more time for the ranch and in the area. his family. Mark said his family Although Cliff lost his wife totally supports what he and his two years ago, he still runs father do. He couldn’t do it withTrinity Ranch with a lot of OCTOBER 19, 2015

out the encouragement of his wife, Lisa, their two daughters and son, he said.

Cliff is proud of all his children. Growing up, he taught them, “I might not leave you money, but what I will leave you is better.”

He taught them how to work.

Together they built all the fences on the farm, as well as a pipe corral and all the working pens. They even were assigned the never-ending job of keeping rocks out of the field. When the children grew up and left for their own careers Cliff said, “They knew how to give their employees a day’s work for a day’s pay.”

They have since told their dad many times how much they appreciate this gift that he gave them.

The Whitmores currently run a herd of approximately 100 head of Balancer cattle. They cut their own hay, 300 round bales a year, but normally have enough pasture that they don’t feed hay until after the first of the year.

Cliff and Mark breed with Red Angus bulls and calve twice a year. They raise their own replacement heifers and Red Angus bulls, and are serious about their breeding program. Record keeping is a critical part.

“That’s where I spend most of my time these days,” Cliff said.

As members of the Red Angus Association of America, they are required to maintain and submit detailed records of their Red Angus cattle. They do performance testing on their own herd, keeping complete records of birth weight, weaning weight and growth. All this is one of the ways they are able to keep improving their herd year after year.

“I just love breeding cattle and improving them,” Cliff said. “It’s been 40 years getting here, but it just gets better and better.”

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

Superior Gates 5, 6 & 7 Bar, Special Sizes, Latches or Hinges

Tubs and Alleyways in Stock Now!

Pre-Cut Posts

I-44 at Exit 22, 1/4 Mile West of Joplin Stockyards • Delivery Available

417-358-5555 www.superiorsteelsales.com

Know a Good Recipe?

We are collecting recipes for our annual Country Christmas Cookbook, which will appear in our December 21st issue. Please send recipes to P.O. Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753 or email editor@ozarksfn.com.

1-866-532-1960 7

meet your neighbors

$33,400

Titan Tractor Package • • • •

( 8WLOLW\ 7UDFWRU

)URQWLHU 5& 5RWDU\ &XWWHU 9x3 TSS Transmission + /RDGHU

+

0%

FINANCING OR

$31,500 7UDFWRU VKRZQ GRHV QRW UHĆ HFW ZKDW LV RIIHUHG LQ WKH SDFNDJH

&$6+ 35,&(*

AUTHORIZED DEALER

ANDERSON ..................... +Z\ : 2XWHU 5G ........................................................................... (417) 436-3333 FREISTATT ....................... 524 N Main St ............................................................................................. (417) 235-7279 HARRISON....................... +Z\ 6 ........................................................................................... (870) 741-4915 JEFFERSON CITY ............ Junction 50 & 63........................................................................................(573) 455-2353 LEBANON........................ 1001 Deere Ln .............................................................................................(417) 532-2011 NIXA ................................ +Z\ DQG && .........................................................................................(417) 724-2226 ROGERSVILLE ................. ( +Z\ ........................................................................................... (417) 881-2677 ROLLA.............................. &RXQW\ 5G ..............................................................................(573) 368-2011 WEST PLAINS ................. 1 86 +Z\ ..................................................................................... (417) 256-7127 *Offer ends 10/30/15. Subject to approved installment credit with John Deere Financial. Some restrictions apply; RWKHU VSHFLDO UDWHV DQG WHUPV PD\ EH DYDLODEOH VR VHH \RXU GHDOHU IRU GHWDLOV DQG RWKHU Ć&#x;QDQFLQJ RSWLRQV 9DOLG RQO\ DW SDUWLFLSDWLQJ 86 'HDOHUV &DVK SULFH LV LQ OLHX RI Ć&#x;QDQFLQJ RIIHU /)/ ; 2)$ &

Looking For the Perfect Brahman Cow

By Gary Digiuseppe

J&R Farms began a Brahman business after Rhonda Usery spotted the breed Two families in the small White County, Ark., town of Floyd are united in the goal of bringing the best Brahman cattle seedstock to the world.

The proprietors of J&R Farms, Jim and Rhonda Usery, began their purebred operation in 2006.

also have an F1 program, where they cross their cattle with Herefords and Red Angus. Usery said he’s never been around cattle like the Brahman breed. “Each one of them has their own disposition,� he said. “They’re just unique; there’s nothing in the English breeds that compares to their longevity, as far

LarsonJD.com

Purebred Corral Allen Moss Herefords Moss Seed Company Registered Horned Herefords CRP Grass Seeds Rt. 2 Box 146 B • Vici, OK 73859 12 Miles of East of Vici Phone/Fax: 580-922-4911 Mobile: 580-334-7842 E-mail: amoss@vicihorizon.com mossherefords.com

TRIPLE D FARM

REGISTERED GELBVIEH

Bulls & Females PO Box 483 Mountain Home, AR 72654

Home: 870-481-5603 Cell: 870-404-8465

3/14/16 1/19/15

Townsend Brangus Bulls • 501-940-0299 Heifers • 501-556-2046 broketranch@windstream.net Rose Bud, AR

Brangus Bulls

11/30/15 12/29/14

Lazy U Ranch

H Charles S. Hatfield, DVM 479-273-3921 • 479-531-2605

Bentonville, AR 4/4/16 3/3/14 2/9/15

4/4/16 3/3/14 2/9/15

Harriman Santa Fe (Bob)

Montrose, MO • bharriman39@hotmail.com

660-492-2504

6/27/16

918-693-9420 • davelazyu@aol.com

Simmental Bulls

11/30/15 10/27/14

Rose Bud Keith Cagle Feeders Bull Development & Sales

SimAngus, Balancer Bulls 18 Mo., Forage Developed, Top Quality & EPDS

20858 W. 10th St. North Haskell, OK 74436

Charolais, Angus & Brangus Bulls For Sale

Angus Bulls

Bentonville, Arkanas

479-273-3030

11/9/15 12/29/14

Cell: 501-940-0299 Email: kgcagle@windstream.net www.rosebudfeeders.com

4/4/16 3/3/14

Place your ad in Purebred Corral and you’ll also receive a listing in the Cattlemen’s Seedstock Directory in our Classifieds section and also in the Cattlemen’s Seedstock Directory on our website. Your ad is only $19 per issue!

Call Toll Free 1-866-532-1960 8

Jim and Rhonda Usery began their purebred Brahman cattle operation in 2006. They are assisted in their mission by manager John Allen, pictured at right.

Photos by Gary Digiuseppe

as raising calves and being able to produce calves.�

Brahman are most often seen in the far southern U.S., where their ability to “I’ve been around cattle my whole withstand heat gives them a leg up over life,� Jim told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. other breeds. But Usery said they perform “My grandfather had cattle when I was well in central Arkansas. growing up; I spent a lot of time around “They don’t mind the winters, and they them out at his ranch. I altake the summers really well. ways loved cattle, and then You’ll see the black cattle in my wife saw some Brahman the pond, and these cattle Floyd, Ark. cattle somewhere, and she will be out laying in the midloved them. So, we got into dle of the pasture when it’s 105 the cattle business.� degrees,� he said.

They raise both red and gray Both Userys have off-farm jobs. registered Brahman. They Rhonda owns Uco Equipment,

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

meet your neighbors which sells pipeline and powerline attachments, in nearby Cabot. Jim, who previously owned his own powerline construction business, sold it a few years ago and is now working for Uco full time. Both feed cattle and perform other chores on the ranch. Jim says his previous business was so stressful, “coming home and messing with my calves was my therapy. That was the only thing that kept me sane.”

So the ranch’s day-to-day work falls to its manager, John Allen, a local cattle producer who has been working for J&R Farms for about 10 years.

“I’ve always had cattle in this area, so I was over here helping whenever they got into a bind or needed some assistance in some way,” Allen told OFN. Allen has his own commercial cattle operation, with cow/calf pairs and midgroups of stockers being readied for the feedlot, plus 100-head of registered Hereford in a seedstock business. However, he focuses much of his attention on J&R, which has expanded its market area. When OFN visited the ranch, Allen had buyers present from Tennessee, and another called in from Mississippi.

“A lot of our cattle go to the Gulf Coast – Florida, Louisiana, South Texas,” he said.

“Recently, though, we’ve started moving a lot of cattle to the east and north, even.”

He said northern herds have “lots and lots of Angus influenced cattle, with no ‘eared’ influence (Brahmans are known for long ears) and people are wanting to add some eared cattle back into their cattle to get the heterosis.”

Allen said while most people categorize Brahmans as a novelty item, he wants to demonstrate their beef pro-

ducing capabilities. This year, in a national carcass ultrasound test, J&R had the highest carcass merit female for the 2014 calf crop. They’ve also produced champion show animals, including the Champion Senior Bull at the 2013 San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show.

“Purple and blue ribbons are nice, but the carcass merit means a lot to me,” Allen said. “That’s a true beef animal...

When you can show them carcass merits and feed efficiency and adaptability, there’s a place for these cattle.”

Much of their existing stock also descended from national and international champion animals. Allen said the 2011 international champion red female was out of their bull, which was the 2007 international champion.

“We’ve got some really well put together cattle here,” Allen said.

“We’re trying to create that perfect Brahman cow,” Jim Usery said. “F1s are in high demand and you can’t raise them fast enough. We found a really good niche that works for us; when we retain our heifers, their first calf is going to be an F1. We try not to have any heifers that we breed purebred on their first calves; we want them to learn to be good mamas first, before we start breeding them with the purebred Brahmans.”

The ranch is spread over three locations and there are only a few Brahman breeders in Arkansas, and none of the farms’ neighbors use the breed. They also market semen and embryos. The herd has been limited to about 300 head since the 2012 drought, but with improvements planned for next spring they hope to expand to 1,200.

Wholesale Seed Division

417-725-3512 • 1-800-648-7379

Wt. Lbs.

Total Germ.

Decatur Livestock Auction Inc. Serving the Tri-State Area

On Farm Appraisal Receiving: Mon.: 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Sale: Tues., 12 p.m.

Owners: Chris Buffer 479-531-2962 Shawn Sperry 479-957-1387

Bag Lb.

RED CLOVERS

Inoc., 80% Red, 121/2% Ladino

60 GAINER II MIX

90% 2.36 2.26

Inoc., Not Coated,

87% Red Clover, 12.5% Ladino, 5.5% Alsike

60 KENSTAR

92% 2.34 2.24

Forage, Inoc., Not Coated

50 KENLAND, Cert., Raw 90% ASK 50 MEDIUM RED, Raw 2.18 50 MAMMOTH RED CLOVER, Raw 2.12

OTHER CLOVERS 50 LADINO, “JUMBO”

Inoc., Not Coated, Big Leaf,

Excellent Re-Growth

50 LADINO “ROYAL”

90% 3.86 3.64

Inoc., Not Coated

GRAINS

Total Germ.

50 KY-31, Cert. & “Fungus Free”

Bu.

Bag

50 COLDGRAZER RYE 17.90 Strain Cross, Grows to 40 Degrees!

50 TRITICALE 17.95 Tamacale 5019, Rye x Wheat Cross

50 WHEAT, Forage Maxx, “Grazing Wheat” 13.45 50 WHEAT, Cover Crop 12.65 50 WHEAT, Cert. Bess 13.90 50 BOB OATS, Winter Annual 14.95 48 BARLEY, Winter Annual 14.95

Bag Lb.

91% 1.54

Only $10.00 Per Acre Difference!

50 KY-31 91% 1.12 50 KY-32, Fungus Free, Cert.

91% 1.54 50 FAST PASTURE MIX, Cattle/Horses 90% 1.58

Hulled Orchard Grass, Fungus-Free

KY-31 Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass & Timothy

50 ESTANCIA, Ark. Release

ASK 25 BAR OPTIMA E34, Soft Leaf

ASK 25 MAX Q II Texoma 90% ASK Friendly Endophyte

90% 4.06 3.84

50 ALSIKE, Perennial 90% 2.68 50 WHITE CLOVER, “Nitro” 3.96 3.76 25 DURANA, White Clover,

ASK Coated, 65% Purity 50 SWEET, Yellow Blossom 88% 1.88 1.68 50 SWEET, White Blossom 82% 3.44 3.24 50 ARROWLEAF, Yuchi, Winter Annual 1.78 Coated, 65% Purity 50 CRIMSON, Winter Annual 90% 1.29 1.06 50 BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL, Norcen 4.18 3.92

Wt. Lbs.

FESCUE

60 GAINER III MIX, Not Coated 90% 2.38 2.28

SAVE YOUR SEED SAMPLE

Free Portable Corral Use for Customers • Hauling Available • Covered Pens

$ Lb.

ORCHARD GRASS Add A Legume!

50 ARID, Drought Tolerant 90% 2.67 50 POTOMAC, Disease Resistant 90% 2.57 50 FAST PASTURE MIX 90% 1.58

Hulled Orchard Grass, Fungus-Free Fescue,

KY-31 Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass & Timothy

FIELD GRASSES 50 ABUNDANT 92% .62

Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass

50 BROME, Sow with alfalfa!

3.38

Southland, “The high protein grass.”

50 TIMOTHY, For horses 90% 1.48 50 PERENNIAL RYEGRASS, Best-for Plus 92% 1.06 50 ANNUAL RYEGRASS, Gulf Type .58 50 REEDS CANARY, Palaton

7.98 50 RED TOP, Limited

6.95

GRAIN ADDITIVES 50 WINTER PEA, Austrian

50 HAIRY VETCH, Winter Legume 50 TURNIPS, Purple Top

50 TURNIPS, 7-Top

50 RADISH, Daikon

Nixa, Missouri

.84 .64 1.96 1.76 1.88 1.48 1.94 1.64 1.84 1.44

SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE

nixahardware.com Nixa Hardware Company warrants to the extent of the purchase price that seeds sold are as described on the container within recognized tolerances. Seller gives no other or further warranty expressed or implied.

Prices/Germination subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

Your Ag Chemicals Headquarters No license req’d to buy 2,4-D or GrazonNext!

479-752-8499 • Hwy. 59 South • Decatur, AR OCTOBER 19, 2015

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

9

ozarks

roots

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home Photos by Pam and Terry Lamb

For the Love of Music

By Pam and Terry Lamb

Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Okla., has seen acts ranging from Bob Wills to Sid Vicious The Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Okla., was built in 1924 by Tate Brady as a garage for his cars and then opened to the public as a local hot spot.

In 1929, Madison “Daddy” Cain bought the building, becoming Cain’s Dance Academy the building hosted dance lessons and evening gatherings. The club featured jazz, rag, blues and country genres.

Bob Wills, with new band manager O.W. Mayo, just left Texas in search of a new venue. After being given a one-hour trial broadcast on KVOO in Tulsa, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys began broadcasting a noon show on Monday through Saturday, and hosting Thursday and Saturday night dances at the Cain’s Ballroom. Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys were regular performers from 1935 to 1942.

“Every weekend my parents would get dressed up, meet my aunt and uncle, and then go to the Cain’s Ballroom. They would learn the songs and would play them for us kids at home,” Vienna Willard Owasso, an Oklahoma native, said.

Popularizing western swing, Wills’ broadcast would become the earliest “coast-tocoast” live music in the nation. O.W. Mayo bought the Cain’s in 1944.

Bob Wills is remembered as “The King of Western Swing.” He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1978, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his significant contributions to American music from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Cain’s Ballroom is known throughout the music industry as “The Home of Bob Wills” and the “Carnegie Hall of Western Swing.”

The ballroom sat idle in the 1960s, largely due to the British music invasion. In 1972, the dance hall reopened under ownership of Marie Mayers. It functioned briefly as a Western Swing dance hall and special event rental venue.

Local promoter Larry Shaeffer bought the ballroom in 1976 and began its first fullscale renovation. At first, Shaeffer brought in mostly Western Swing and country acts. In the 1980s, Shaeffer branched out to include bands like Van Halen, Rush, Agent Orange and Metallica. In the late 1990s, ownership passed to the Finnerty brothers. They welcomed edgy acts that included Primus, The String Cheese Incident, Weezer, Cake and The Reverend Horton Heat. The first Bob Wills Birthday Bash was held in 1976 and it’s been held every March since.

Local neurosurgeon Jim Rodgers and his family purchased the Cain’s Ballroom in 2002.

“When my dad came in here to see it, he realized it needed some work and some love put into it,” Hunter Rodgers, son of Dr. Rodgers said. Dr. Rodgers asked his other son Chad, a local bar manager, if he wanted to run it. Hunter joined Chad after he graduating college.

10

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Cain’s Ballroom was built in 1924. Below, owners Chad and Hunter Rodgers have been at the helm since their family purchased the ballroom in 2002.

OCTOBER 19, 2015

ozarks roots “Chad and I are down here running it almost every day,” Hunter said.

The Rodgers family is responsible for major renovations, including an expansion into the old warehouse next door.

The Cain’s Ballroom re-opened in the fall of 2003 with a sold-out concert by Dwight Yoakam. The same year, the Cain’s Dancing Academy was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We were using the expansion as a venue for smaller shows and it just wasn’t worth our time unfortunately,” Hunter said. “My dad’s friend, Joe Davidson, was looking to expand his restaurant (Oklahoma Joe’s Bar-B-Que) so, we leased the space to him. It has been a great relationship to have.”

Alice Rodgers oversees the Ida Red Boutique, which carries Cain’s memorabilia, music posters, local CDs, t-shirts, jewelry and other eclectic items.

“When Larry Shaeffer had it, he took chances on anybody who wanted to play here and a lot of those names became huge. We have a hole in the wall in the office that Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols supposedly punched. Everybody wants to see that when the come through here,” Hunter said.

“When we got it in 2002, Chad got better and better at booking shows and it has been busy ever since,” Jim Rodgers said.

The Rodgers family is responsible for bringing Cain’s Ballroom back to its former glory as coast-to-coast, and now to a worldwide, venue. “By the end of this year, it will be our best year ever.

We have 25 events in October alone,” Hunter said.

“There are a lot more artists to bring in. Ones we haven’t been able to bring in yet and want to,” Hunter said. “We will keep going on providing good music for the area.”

With the hard work of the Jim Rodgers family, the Cain’s Ballroom has become a world class music venue selling more tickets to more shows than any other club venue in Oklahoma. The Cain’s Ballroom has made Pollstar Pro’s Year End Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 200 since the mid-2000s, ranking 23rd with ticket sales of more than 112,000 in 2014. “In the last three or four years, we have been in the top 30 every year,” Hunter said.

OCTOBER 19, 2015

15 roup h & s.

0 2 19th Annual or lite g lbvie spect f e e o w r G Heart of America Gelbvieh Association Ne g an ed e p

r llin ick dsi Se nd-p ® her a r of h ance l Ba

Show-Me Futurity PluS Sale OVER 100 FEMALES SELL

Saturday, November 14, 2015 • 1:00 PM Springfield Livestock Marketing Center • Springfield, M0

Selling 60 plus lots of prime registered Gelbvieh & Balancer® females • Cow/Calf Pairs • 3 in 1 Packages • Bred Cows • Bred and Open Heifers • Donors • Embryo Packages

Selling over 40 head of purebred Gelbvieh females in a complete herd dispersal.

Selling Twin Peaks Gelbvieh’s entire purebred herd. Most are black.

Bred & Open Females

Selling an elite group of herdsire prospects A choice group of outstanding Futurity nominated show heifer prospects sell. All qualify for the $500 winner’s purse.

See Sale Catalog or HAGA website for details..

Last year’s sale attracted buyers from 7 states!

Cow/Calf Pairs & 3 in 1s

All sale lots selected on the farm by sale management from the top-end of each consignor’s herd.

To request a sale catalog visit

www.MissouriGelbvieh.com Or contact Gelbvieh & Balancer Bulls

Austin Rash, 660-888-2536 austinrashgelbvieh@gmail.com

Bob Hart, 816-225-8530 bhart@hartfarm.net

This sale will be broadcast live on the Internet.

Real time bidding and proxy bidding available.

www.dvauction.com Complete Herd Dispersal

Videos on select lots available on DVAuction week of sale.

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

11

Put Some Extra

Profit In Your Marketing Efforts

The quickest way to reach more customers who need your products is with

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper.

More than 24,000 copies are mailed primarily to farm families and producers in 60 counties across the Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma Ozarks. Research indicates you will reach more than 58,000 readers when you advertise in Ozarks Farm & Neighbor.

Reach The Cattlemen’s Sweet Spot

eye on

agri-business

Pro-Vet of Siloam Springs Owners: Dr. Wesley Hood and Dr. Tom Hancock History: Dr. Wesley Hood and Dr. Tom Hancock have fulfilled a life long dream of opening a veterinary clinic in Siloam Springs, Ark. Dr. Hood was raised on a farm near Tahlequah, Okla. His love for both large and small animals led him to become a veterinarian. He graduated from Oklahoma State Veterinary School in 2005. Dr. Hood has practiced in the Siloam Springs area for nine years. Dr. Hood provides his services fulltime at Pro-Vet in Siloam Springs while his wife, Carlinda, does the book keeping for Pro-Vet while raising their two daughters.

Dr. Hancock was raised in Siloam Springs. Dr. Hancock graduated Oklahoma State Veterinary School in 2000. He, his wife Becky and their young family moved to Missouri where he practiced veterinary medicine. The family moved back to Northwest Arkansas in 2010 and opened Hancock Veterinary Services in Springdale, Ark., in 2012. Dr. Hood and Dr. Hancock decided to become partners in a veterinary clinic in Siloam Springs. They opened Pro-Vet in 2014. Dr. Hancock splits his time between both his clinic in Springdale and Pro-Vet in Siloam Springs.

There’s No Better Way to Reach Farmers in the Ozarks

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

Dr. Wesley Hood

1-866-532-1960 12

meeting the needs of farmers

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Products and Services: The team is committed to educating clients in how to keep pets healthy year round with good nutrition and exercise. Pro-Vet stays on top of the latest advances in veterinary technology and above all remembers all animals need to be treated with loving care in every check-up, procedure or surgery. The clinic is a full-service animal hospital treating dogs, cats, hobby farm animals and exotic animals such as ferrets and reptiles. ProVet performs in house laboratory services, dental cleanings and procedures, orthopedic surgeries, laser therapy, cutting edge stem cell therapy, microscopy, digital radiography and pet boarding. Dr. Hancock’s clinic in Springdale, Ark., handles all bird clients. The Siloam Springs clinic also provides care for small farm animals.

Story and Photo By Pam and Terry Lamb OCTOBER 19, 2015

town &

country

in the field and in the office

Christi Shaver

Cattle working systems takes the work out of working cattle SO1 $2,195.00

Family: Husband, Philip Dale Goodson Hometown: Salem, Ark. In Town: “I returned to Arkansas from Florida in 2001 when my brother and I inherited the family business, which we incorporated in 2002 as Shaver Plumbing and Hardware. Because my brother has another business, I’ve run this one. Doing so was a tremendous learning experience even though I grew up with plumbing as my dad and grandpa were both plumbers. My husband (Philip Dale Goodson) is a plumber and a huge help. Everyone, including vendors, was patient while I learned, although my belief in integrity, fitting in with people and having fun was always my business philosophy.”

In the Country: “My husband and I also run a 70 momma cows and two bulls, a Hereford/Angus cross commercial beef herd on 500 acres. The Angus influence is critical, but crossbreeding yields a more muscled, hardier and docile animal. We keep our heifers so the herd is closed and purchase only young, registered and vaccinated bulls, switching between Angus and Hereford to keep both influences balanced and pull the bulls from the cows in order to have spring and fall calves within a 30-day window. The calves are castrated, wormed and given a black leg vaccination within 30 to 90 days. We wait until 8 months (of age) to sell because by that time natural weaning is already taking place and the calves are easy to train for trough feeding. Our pastures are mostly Bermuda and supported by clover, commercial fertilizer and spring spraying for weeds. My nephews are like my children and show both cattle and horses in the county fair for 4-H. The 11-horse herd is actually a hobby, and I am the leader of the Fulton County 4-H Horse Club, a ministry for me. I strive to introduce young people to riding even if they will never own a horse of their own.”

Future: “In 10 years I hope to have expanded the lumber side of our business but am currently limited by space.

Our ultimate goal for the farm may not be possible but is to wean 700-pound calves at 8 months. We’re working on refining our genetics and practices in an effort to reach that goal.”

Story and Photo

By Terry Ropp OCTOBER 19, 2015

SO4 $3,495.00 1-800-364-0933 • 918-341-0933 721 W. 6th St. Claremore, OK www.stillwatermillingcompany.com Mon.-Fri. 8-6 • Sat. 8-5

More Than Just A Feed Store

MCBA

mISSOURI cHAROLAIS BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

Fall Bull & Female Sale November 7, 2015

Saturday at 1 p.m.

Springfield Livestock Marketing Center Springfield, Missouri

VPI Free Lunch son, BW: 67 lbs., WW: 746 lbs.

FOGleSONG CHAROLAIS

Keys Tenacious 66X son, BW: 80 lbs.

Special Consignment to the M C B A FA L L S A L E

60 Head of Spring Calving Bred Cows — Due in March & April 2016

For Sale Catalogs, contact: Sale Manager: Greg Hubert P.O. Box 100 Oakley, KS 67748 785-672-3195 785-672-7449 (cellular)

SALE SPONSOR:

MISSOURI CHAROLAIS BREEDERS ASSOCIATION President Jeannine Doughty 816-616-8838

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

Selling...

50 Bulls 75 Females

13

market sale

steers 550-600 LBS.

Ash Flat El Reno Ft. Smith Green Forest Heber Springs Joplin Ouachita Ozark Ratcliff Searcy Siloam Springs Springdale Tulsa West Plains

slaughter

**

(Week of 10/4/15 to 10/10/15)

207.15

Week of 9/13/15

208.24 222.06 ** ** **

cattle

Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle

10/11/15

5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 116.00-127.00; wtd. avg. price 123.98.

Heifers: 118.00-127.00; wtd. avg. price 124.29.

Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 190.00-197.00; wtd. avg. price 195.53.

Heifers: 184.00-197.00; wtd. avg. price 195.49.

† 8 88.00-98.00

goats 10/3/15

184.75

30

** 249.00 227.87

* 201.51 195.57 191.85 * 218.09 193.96 183.86 * 189.18 190.32 197.55 * 219.24

*

196.34 182.95 185.60 193.22 209.44 179.80 **

dairy cattle

slaughter

50

70

cows

90

110

130

205.72

* 198.93 175.55 193.25 166.33 182.11 ** 191.37 185.16 179.17 181.03 190.56 185.25 191.27 160

184 208 232 256 280 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale - Holiday

Prices Based on Weighted Average for Steers and Heifers 550-600 lbs.

Steers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

Bulls, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

Heifers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy 10/6/15

Ash Flat Livestock

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs 10/8/15

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

10/9/15

Barry Co. Regional Stockyards* 10/10/15

877

725

744

593

St-12 Lower

St-15 Lower

5 Higher

200.00-242.50 182.00-221.00 175.00-220.00 166.00-184.00 -----

---------------------

180.00-210.00 150.00-200.00 160.00-182.50 130.00-174.00 140.00-150.00 172.50-230.00 160.00-190.00 155.00-167.50 152.50-180.00 -----

Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo L

Receipts: 780 SHEEP: Feeder Lambs: Medi 210.00; 30-35 lbs 180 Slaughter Lambs: W 169.00-192.50; 100-1 68-73 lbs 151.00-165 Hair lambs: Prime 3Prime 2-3 41-80 lbs 1 Good 1-2 40-75 lbs 1 Replacement Ewes: 97.00-105.00.

Slaughter Ewes: Cho and Choice 2-3 75-21 Rams: Few Replacem 100-145 lbs 115.00-1 Slaughter Rams: Ha 65.00-75.00.

GOATS: Feeder Kids: Selectio 2 35-38 lbs 155.00-17 Slaughter Kids: Sele 2 42-85 lbs 161.00-19 Replacement Does: F 90.00-155.00.

Slaughter Does: Sele 80.00. Selection 2 55 Bucks: Replacement 100-155 lbs 125.00-1 Slaughter Bucks: Se

pr

County Line Sale Ratcliff 10/7/15

Decatur Livestock*

10/7/15

Cleburne Co. - Heber Springs 10/5/15

783

548

185

661

436

605

Uneven

Uneven

5-12 Lower

Uneven

Steady

-----

St-17 Higher

10-20

210.00-265.00 195.00-225.00 180.00-210.00 175.00-192.00 160.00-175.00

230.00-270.00 196.00-237.00 177.00-205.00 173.00-184.00 -----

195.00-241.00 185.00-208.00 175.00-200.00 160.00-183.00 150.00-172.00

190.00-225.00 180.00-214.00 160.00-195.00 160.00-170.00 157.00-168.00

202.00-227.50 217.00-237.50 181.00-209.00 173.00-186.00 172.00

290.00-350.00 200.00-235.00 185.00-210.00 170.00-188.00 160.00-182.00

265.00-240.00 240.00-201.00 201.00-178.00 178.00-183.50 183.50-169.00

227.50-260.00 206.00-237.50 188.00-207.50 178.00-188.00 171.00-185.00

215.0 190.0 170.0 169.0 169.0

---------------------

130.00 125.00 -------------

217.00-230.00 186.00-212.00 170.00-200.00 152.00-183.00 149.00-165.00

190.00-270.00 170.00-214.00 160.00-186.00 150.00-164.00 -----

----175.00-196.00 155.00-176.00 148.00-160.00 135.00-140.00

----174.00-200.00 173.00-190.00 169.00-178.00 154.00

---------------------

---------------------

222.50-237.50 204.00-227.50 171.00-204.00 158.00-180.00 159.00-162.00

188.0 172.0 166.0 155.0 156.0

---------------------

190.00-230.00 160.00-200.00 167.00-211.00 145.00-170.00 135.00-149.00

190.00 170.00-189.00 160.00-178.00 149.00-159.00 159.00-166.00

180.00-220.00 160.00-188.00 155.00-179.00 145.00-160.00 -----

170.00-207.50 155.00-187.00 148.00-165.00 145.00-160.00 145.00-156.00

186.00 167.00-192.00 173.00 164.00-167.00 167.00

280.00-300.00 170.00-195.00 140.00-170.00 128.00-145.00 100.00-118.00

204.00-183.00 183.00-176.00 176.00-167.00 167.00-162.00 162.00-158.00

190.00-203.00 174.00-200.00 169.00-180.00 162.00-177.00 156.00-160.00

191.0 161.0 162.0 162.0 149.0

121( 5(3257('

199.99

GOATS: Feeder kids: Select Selection 2 20-38 lb 175.00-192.50.

Slaughter Classes: 65-120 lbs 185.00-2 225.00. Selection 3 Does: Several repla 135.00-250.00.

Slaughter Does: Se Selection 2 70-125 lbs 100.00-127.50.

Bucks: Several rep 70-135 lbs 145.00-2 Slaughter Bucks: S Selection 2 55-190

stocker & feeder

150

179.00 186.49

Week of 10/4/15

sheep &

Koshkonong, Mo. • Oregon County Goat & Sheep Market

182.27

198.03

14 14

Heifers 235.00-310.00, Crossbred Bulls Large 260.00360.00, Small 150.00-240.00, Beef Cross Heifers 320.00360.00, Beef Cross Bulls 270.00-370.00.

Receipts: 153 100.00-122.00* GOATS: 97.00-140.00* 9 Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 45-60 lbs 220.00; 61-80 lbs Farmers Livestock - Springdale 98.00-123.00 † 190.00. Selection 1-2 81 lbs and up 135.00. Selection 2 Ft. Smith Livestock 89.00-113.00 † 45-60 lbs 205.00; 61-80 lbs 170.00. Selection 1 45-60 lbs I-40 Livestock 83.00-108.50 † dairy influence 145.00.

Joplin Regional Stockyards 91.00-115.00 † Feeder Kids: Selection 1-2 20-44 lbs 175.00.

Mid-State Stockyards 94.00-112.00* Norwood, Mo. • Producers Auction Yards 10/8/15 Slaughter Does/Nannies: Selection 1-2 115.00-120.00.

North Arkansas Livestock 80.00-114.00 † Receipts: 348 Selection 3 85.00. any grade yearlings 130.00.

94.00-110.00 † OKC West - El Reno Springer Heifers Bred Seven to Nine Months: Supreme Slaughter Bucks: Selection 1-2 115.00. aged wethers 100 Ouachita Livestock Auction Not Reported † 1850.00-2000.00, Individual Crossbred 1925.00, Individual lbs and over 115.00.

90.00-116.50 † Ozarks Regional Stockyards Jersey 2025.00, Approved 1650.00-1850.00, Crossbreds SHEEP: Stilwell Livestock Auction Not Reported* 1700.00-1800.00, Jerseys 1600.00-1700.00, Medium Slaughter Lambs: Good and Choice 2-3 hair and wool Tulsa Livestock Auction 91.00-115.00 † Individual 1500.00, Common 1050.00-1175.00. under 80 lbs 140.00-160.00; over 80 lbs hair 100.00120.00. 90.00.

40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Heifers Bred Four to Six Months: Supreme 1775.001800.00, Individual Crossbred 1900.00, Approved Slaughter Ewes: Utility and Good 2-3 70.00.

1575.00-1735.00, Crossbreds 1675.00-1775.00, Medium Diamond, Mo. • TS Whites Sheep and Goat Sale 10/1/15 1400.00-1500.00, Individual Crossbred 1175.00, Common Receipts: 1215 775.00-1075.00.

Heifers Bred One to Three Months: Approved Individual SHEEP: (Week of 10/4/15 to 10/10/15) Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 33-40 lbs 200.001650.00, Medium Individual 1275.00.

Arkansas Cattle 225.00. Medium and Large 2 28-36 lbs 155.00-195.00.

Open heifers: Approved 300-400 lbs 600.00-685.00, 57.00-85.00 † 5 Ash Flat Livestock 400-500 lbs 22 hd 456 lbs 850.00, Pair Crossbreds 770.00, Slaughter Lambs: Wool lambs: Prime 4-5 108-145 lbs 62.00-90.00 † 135.00-140.00. Good and Choice 3-4 62-118 lbs 145.00500-600 lbs Pair 850.00, Pair Crossbreds 890.00, 600-700 Barry County Regional Livestock 75.00-105.00* 167.50. lbs 825.00-950.00, Crossbreds 920.00-1000.00, Jerseys Benton County Sale 62.00-92.00 † 6 Hair lambs: Choice and Prime 3-5 43-68 lbs 190.00850.00-970.00, Medium 400-500 lbs 625.00-700.00, pair Cattlemen’s Livestock 62.00-88.00* Crossbreds 650.00, 500-600 lbs Crossbreds 700.00-710.00, 210.00; 70-98 lbs 170.00-185.00. Good and Choice 2-3 Cleburne County 65.00-85.00 † 47-98 lbs 160.00-185.00; 130 lbs 120.00-140.00.

600-700 lbs 700.00-825.00, Crossbreds 700.00-775.00, County Line Sale - Ratcliff 69.00-80.50 † 700-800 lbs Individual 700.00, 800-900 lbs 860.00-910.00, Utility and Good 1-2 70-98 lbs 135.00-155.00.

Decatur Livestock 80.00-95.00* Individual Jersey 735.00, 900-1000 lbs Crossbreds 875.00- Few replacement Hair Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 10078.00-121.00* Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita 130 lbs 95.00-100.00.

1000.00.

Farmers Livestock 65.00-92.00 † Slaughter Ewes: Wooled: Good 3-4 105-170 lbs 60.00Fresh Milking Heifers and Cows: Supreme 2175.00Ft. Smith Livestock 62.50-88.00 † 75.00.

2275.00, Medium Individual 1250.00, Common 850.00I-40 Livestockk 50.00-86.00 † Hair Ewes: Good and Choice 3-4 94-152 lbs 70.00-95.00.

1050.00, Crossbreds 875.00-1075.00, Individual Jersey Joplin Regional 60.50-95.00 † Utility and Good 2-3 62-75 lbs 90.00-110.00; 90-140 lbs 800.00.

Mid-State Stockyards 70.00-89.00* 50.00-70.00.

Bred and Springer Cows: Supreme 1700.00-1750.00, 56.00-85.50 † North Arkansas Approved 1525.00-1550.00, Individual Crossbred 1400.00, Rams: Few Replacement Hair Rams: Medium and Large 62.00-94.00 † OKC West - El Reno 1-2 170-180 lbs 110.00-140.00.

Medium 1225.00-1350.00, Individual Crossbred 1200.00, Not Reported † Ouachita Livestock Auction Slaughter Rams: Hair Rams: Good and Choice 2-3 190Common Crossbreds 875.00-1010.00, Jerseys 700.0058.00-90.00 † Ozarks Regional 320 lbs 60.00-77.50.

900.00.

Stilwell Livestock Auction Not Reported* Baby Calves: Holstein Heifers 285.00-370.00, Holstein Tulsa Livestock 60.00-96.00 † Bulls 190.00-290.00, Jersey Bulls 3 hd 90.00, Crossbred

**

Week of 9/20/15

70.00-106.50 † 7 100.00-110.50* 87.00-127.00 † 81.00-111.50* 93.00-106.00 †

Ash Flat Livestock Barry County Regional Stockyards Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Cleburne County Livestock County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction

**

beef

85.00-109.00 †

Arkansas Cattle Auction

219.67

Week of 9/27/15

bulls

10/6/15

Farmer’s & Farmers Ranchers Livestock Vinita, Okla.* Springdale 10/7/15 10/9/15

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

Ft. S Live

10/

6

75.00.

2 115.00-120.00.

30.00. . aged wethers 100

3 hair and wool hair 100.00-

70.00.

10/1/15

33-40 lbs 200.00155.00-195.00.

4-5 108-145 lbs 2-118 lbs 145.00-

68 lbs 190.00and Choice 2-3 -140.00.

155.00. and Large 1-2 100-

5-170 lbs 60.00-

52 lbs 70.00-95.00.

10.00; 90-140 lbs

Medium and Large

d Choice 2-3 190-

Ash Flat Livestock 850.00-1650.00 † Barry County Regional Stockyards 1400.00-1950.00* 14 † Benton County Sale Barn 1025.00-1700.00 1025 00-17 Cattlemen’s Livestock 1250.00-2700.00 * 850.00-1410.00 † Cleburne County County Line Sale - Ratcliff 72.00-140.00 † Prices reported per cwt 1400.00-2250.00* 1 Decatur Livestock Farmer’s & Ranchers None Reported * Farmers Livestock 1025.00-1650.00 † Ft. Smith Livestock 1000.00-1950.00 † 1000.00-1700.00 † I-40 Livestock Joplin Regional 880.00-1900.00 † Mid-State Stockyards 950.00-2050.00 * North Arkansas 900.00-1825.00 † 1110.00-1800.00 † OKC West - El Reno Not Reported † Ouachita Livestock Auction

10/9/15

Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.6200 and 40# blocks at $1.7000. The weekly average for barrels is $1.6420 (+.0745) and blocks, $1.7275 (+.0575).

Fluid Milk: Hurricane Joaquin brought heavy rains to part of the Southeast, producing floods of historical proportions.

However, milk hauling was marginally affected in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. A slight uptick of bottled milk sales in these region is attributable to pulls from the hurricane situation. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic milk production is flat. Milk volumes are slightly lower in Florida. Central and Northwest milk intakes are seasonally declining. Heavy rains and high humidity are adversely Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo Livestock Market 9/22/15 affecting the milk yield in the Southwest. Western and Eastern cream supplies are steady to lower. Cream demand Receipts: 780 700.00-2000.00 † Ozarks Reg remains strong across the country.

SHEEP: Not Reported * Stilwell Livestock Auction SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 20-30 lbs 200.00Tulsa Livestock Auction 1375.00-1725.00 † POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper 210.00; 30-35 lbs 180.00-185.00.

Slaughter Lambs: Wool lambs Choice and Prime 3-5 73-92 lbs Midwest - $3.3775-3.6477.

250 750 1250 1750 2250 169.00-192.50; 100-114 lbs 80.00-95.00. Good and Choice 2-3 68-73 lbs 151.00-165.00.

Hair lambs: Prime 3-5 63-65 lbs 220.00-240.00. Choice and Prime 2-3 41-80 lbs 190.00-215.00; 90-105 lbs 155.00-175.00.

Good 1-2 40-75 lbs 162.50-185.00.

Replacement Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 hair 125-135 lbs (Week of 10/4/15 to 10/10/15) 97.00-105.00.

Arkansas Cattle Auctionn 1350.00-1750.00 † Slaughter Ewes: Choice 3-4 90-170 lbs 107.50-155.00. Good Ash Flat Livestock 1325.00-2250.00 † and Choice 2-3 75-219 lbs 72.00-95.00.

Barry County Regional 1750.00-2250.00* Rams: Few Replacement Hair Rams Medium and Large 1-2 Benton County Sale Barn None Reported † 100-145 lbs 115.00-117.50; Pkg 136 lbs 150.00.

Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction None Reported * Slaughter Rams: Hair Rams Good and Choice 2-4 143-215 lbs Week Ended 10/13/15 Cleburne County Livestock 1575.00 † 65.00-75.00.

Soybeans Soft Wheat Corn Sorghum County Line Sale - Ratcliff None Reported † GOATS: 20 Decatur Livestock Auction 1600.00-2500.00* Feeder Kids: Selection 1 35 lbs 205.00-210.00. Selection Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita 1925.00-2035.00 * 2 35-38 lbs 155.00-175.00. Selection 3 30-36 lbs 100.00-135.00.

16 † Farmers Livestock - Springdale 1900.00 Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 40-80 lbs 200.00-235.00. Selection Ft. Smith Livestock None Reported † 12 9.36 2 42-85 lbs 161.00-192.00. Selection 3 40-85 lbs 120.00-155.00.

9.42 9.39 9.37 9.24 9.03 I-40 Livestock - Ozark 1500.00-1775.00 † Replacement Does: Fancy Dairy Does in milk 122-136 lbs 7.05 6.97 8 6.14 Joplin Regional Stockyardd 1450.00-2100.00 † 6.80 90.00-155.00.

6.42 5.51 5.31 5.27 5.18 Mid-State Stockyards 1300.00-2150.00 * 5.32 Slaughter Does: Selection 1 65-110 lbs 100.00-125.00; 172 lbs 4.88 4 3.85 1000.00-1810.00 † North Arkansas 3.73 3.75 3.72 80.00. Selection 2 55-120 lbs 90.00-98.00.

3.26 0 1350.00-1500.00 † OKC West - El Reno Bucks: Replacements: Selection 1 85-95 lbs 225.00-250.00; ff la le ta na Elaine Not Reported † Ouachita Livestock Auction 100-155 lbs 125.00-170.00. sceo Augus Pine Blu hevil Hele t O ly B 1300.00-2700.00 † Ozarks Regional Slaughter Bucks: Selection 2 95-130 lbs 107.50-138.00.

Stilwell Livestock Auction Not Reported*

cow/calf

prices

rmer’s & Farmers anchers Livestock ta, Okla.* Springdale 10/7/15 10/9/15

0

192.60 203.88 ** ** ** 186.00 ** ** * 198.04

* 182.67 188.86

2750

pairs

172.77 176.59 179.20 177.86 176.01 170.00 174.88

10/5/15

10/5/15

436

605

620

710

3300

571

747

5210

-----

St-17 Higher

10-20 Lower

-----

5-25 Lower

Steady

St-12 Higher

4-10 Higher

227.50-260.00 206.00-237.50 188.00-207.50 178.00-188.00 171.00-185.00

215.00-221.00 190.00-198.00 170.00-189.00 169.00-179.00 169.00-174.00

212.00-251.00 206.00-232.00 187.00-209.00 170.00-187.00 170.00-179.00

222.50-290.00 217.00-255.00 170.00-190.00 167.50-190.00 166.00-182.00

220.00-255.00 190.00-220.00 158.00-188.00 155.00-181.00 -----

222.50-250.00 200.00-232.00 177.00-209.00 171.00-187.00 171.00-172.00

245.00-253.00 216.00-235.00 198.00-216.00 171.00-204.50 182.25-199.25

222.50-237.50 204.00-227.50 171.00-204.00 158.00-180.00 159.00-162.00

188.00-194.00 172.00-189.00 166.00-173.00 155.00-170.00 156.00-160.00

193.00 195.00-197.00 177.00-188.00 174.00 168.00

228.00-250.00 206.00-227.00 160.00-189.00 150.00-164.00 -----

----170.00-200.00 155.00-181.00 150.00-162.00 -----

217.00-233.00 190.00-219.00 169.00-190.00 161.00-172.00 159.00-163.50

----200.00 157.00-191.00 186.00 164.00

190.00-203.00 174.00-200.00 169.00-180.00 162.00-177.00 156.00-160.00

191.00-203.00 161.00-184.00 162.00-173.00 162.00-167.00 149.00-163.00

OCTOBER 19, 2015

200.00-210.00 179.00-187.00 166.00-181.00 161.00-170.00 166.00

1000

166.00 177.60 192.03 194.04

* * * 164.29

1775.00-1950.00 †

2000

3000

4000

168.79 178.39 166.24 ** *

5000

166.79 165.01 169.45

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest 10/7/15

4.00-183.00 3.00-176.00 6.00-167.00 7.00-162.00 2.00-158.00

Ft. Smith Livestock

Tulsa Livestock Auction

I-40 Livestock Ozark 10/8/15

---------------------

**

avg. grain prices

feeder

5.00-240.00 0.00-201.00 1.00-178.00 8.00-183.50 3.50-169.00

*

Week of 9/20/15

20.00; 61-80 lbs .00. Selection 2 ction 1 45-60 lbs

196.48

1000.00-1575.00 †

Arkansas Cattle Auction

Week of 9/27/15

10/3/15

**

(Week of 10/4/15 to 10/10/15)

dairy sales

National Dairy Market at a Glance

cows

Ash Flat El Reno Ft. Smith Green Forest Heber Springs Joplin Ouachita Ozark Ratcliff Searcy Siloam Springs Springdale Tulsa West Plains

Joplin Regional Stockyards 10/5/15

Mid-State Stockyards*

201.00-225.00 172.50-207.00 160.00-180.00 157.50-177.00 160.00-174.00

205.00-215.00 180.00-191.00 160.00-182.00 153.00-164.00 158.00

188.00-216.00 168.00-205.00 160.00-176.00 152.00-164.00 -----

OKC West - El Reno, Okla.

10/7/15

219.00-249.00 187.00-208.00 191.00-197.00 174.00-190.00 161.00-182.75

Ouachita Livestock Ola, Ark. -----

Ozarks Regional West Plains 10/6/15

-----

2670

-----

Uneven

---------------------

232.50-262.50 200.00-230.00 190.00-202.50 175.00-206.00 177.00-181.00

---------------------

210.00-225.00 180.00-216.00 165.00-186.00 163.00-173.50 -----

---------------------

200.00-247.50 183.00-211.00 172.50-191.50 149.00-175.00 158.00-166.00

Stilwell Livestock Auction* -----

Tulsa Livestock Auction 10/5/15

-----

3148

-----

3 Higher

---------------------

230.00-239.00 218.00-227.00 182.00-203.00 163.00-181.50 170.00-174.50

---------------------

210.00-225.00 195.00-207.00 --------156.00-160.00

---------------------

----178.00-185.00 170.00-180.00 168.00-173.00 155.00-171.00

Serving More Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma Serving MoreThan Than24,000 24,000Readers Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

175.53 177.37

* 191.00 168.00 164.27 155.37

Week of 10/4/15

p Market

replacement

127 5(3257('

goats

GOATS: Feeder kids: Selection 1 25-35 lbs 245.00-260.00.

Selection 2 20-38 lbs 200.00-235.00. Selection 3 20-30 lbs 175.00-192.50.

Slaughter Classes: Selection 1 40-67 lbs 225.00-245.00; 65-120 lbs 185.00-210.00. Selection 2 40-83 lbs 200.00225.00. Selection 3 42-85 lbs 155.00-190.00.

Does: Several replacement does selections 1-2 80-175 lbs 135.00-250.00.

Slaughter Does: Selection 1 40-75 lbs 160.00-185.00.

Selection 2 70-125 lbs 130.00-155.00. Selection 3 78-145 lbs 100.00-127.50.

Bucks: Several replacements: 275.00-325.00 Per Head; 70-135 lbs 145.00-230.00.

Slaughter Bucks: Selection 1 70-120 lbs 130.00-160.00.

Selection 2 55-190 lbs 95.00-125.00.

127 5(3257('

Large 260.00s Heifers 320.00-

heifers 550-600 LBS.

Week of 9/13/15

ket sales reports

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

164.00 ** 170.68 173.00 162.18 167.24 177.24 180.00 173.94

145

166 187 208 229 250 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale - Holiday

Prices Based on Weighted Average for Steers and Heifers 550-600 lbs.

15 15

meet your neighbors

A View from the Saddle

By Katrina Hine

Oklahoma native uses old-fashioned techiques to handle cattle and modern technology to manage the herd powersports.honda.com PIONEER 1000-5 IS ONLY FOR DRIVERS 16 YEARS AND OLDER. MULTIPURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES (SIDE-BY-SIDES) CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOUR SAFETY, DRIVE RESPONSIBLY. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT, AND KEEP THE SIDE NETS AND DOORS CLOSED. AVOID EXCESSIVE SPEEDS AND BE CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. ALL MUV DRIVERS SHOULD WATCH THE SAFETY VIDEO “MULTIPURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES: A GUIDE TO SAFE OPERATION” AND READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. NEVER DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, OR ON PUBLIC ROADS. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS MUST BE TALL ENOUGH FOR SEAT BELT TO FIT PROPERLY AND TO BRACE THEMSELVES WITH BOTH FEET FIRMLY ON THE FLOOR. PASSENGER MUST BE ABLE TO GRASP THE HAND HOLD WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND BOTH FEET ON THE FLOOR. RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN DRIVING. Pioneer™ is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ©2015 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (9/15)

Randall Davis, ranch manager for Honey Creek Land and Cattle, stands next to a converted stock trailer that could be likened to a truck modified for rock climbing.

A modification to navigate the rough and rocky terrain of the deceptively beautiful hills and hollows just over the

lasting buyer relationships through tried and true networking with a little help from social media and the Internet. The notion that modern technology and traditional methods of managing cattle is an oxymoron in today’s world of fiber optics, YouTube and video conferences are quickly disproven as Randall manages the ranch using the best of both worlds.

Reliable Poultry Supply “OUR NAME SAYS IT ALL” Service Work Weekend & Daily Retro Fits Free Estimates

Springdale

2974 E. Emma St.

479-751-7511 Neosho

13991 Pennell Ln.

417-451-0807 Green Forest

1003 Ventura Ave.

870-438-5541 Siloam Springs 1629 E. Main St.

479-373-6590

www.reliablepoultry.com Shops, barns, stacking sheds, compost sheds, work sheds and generator sheds.

Turn key projects: poultry houses, turkey breeder and broiler

16

Check out our new Greenwood Store!

1724 W. Center St.

479-996-1377 479-996-1378

Honey Creek Land and Cattle ranch manger Randall Davis spends a lot of his time on horseback, checking on the ranch’s herds.

Photo by Katrina Hine

Originally from Southeast Oklahoma, Randall grew up around horses and cattle; in fact, he also trains cow horses and sometimes participates in the popular Mustang Makeover competitions.

Missouri state line into Arkansas. The His wife, Wylene Wilson-Davis, shares 1,500-acre ranch traverses into Arkan- his love of horses. She is a professional sas, Missouri and Oklahoma, a place horsemanship clinician, with a business where cell service and Internet are the that has grown with her many successes, including being a two-time only intrusions of the modwinner of the Supreme Exern world.

Gravette, Ark. treme Mustang Makeover, As his grey cow horse shifts which promotes wild BLM anxiously in the trailer preMustang adoptions through pared for a days work, Randall individual mustang makeovers. discusses his philosophy on He admits he has developed a love herd management and the for the area with its green valleys and tools he employs to develop

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

meet your neighbors

Atlas Steel Now Carries

Call for Quote!

With Beds In Stock rolling hills. He originally relocated to help his good friend, J.W. Brooks, build custom cowboy hats when he happened upon the Honey Creek management position.

He prefers the horse over ATVs due to their responsiveness to the unpredictable nature of the cows and the land where they graze, not to mention the cows are generally calmer with a horse then a motorized vehicle.

“If you do it properly, you can get up to a calf, tag ’em, note who the mother is and its sex while the cow stands nearby,” Randall said.

The lay of the land naturally allows for segregation of cows and calves in different stages of production throughout the grassy hollows and pastures. Much of the operation involves anywhere from 150 to 300 bred heifers at a time, with about 200 feeder calves. They have developed a breeding schedule that allows for a set of 100 to 150 spring calves and more in the fall.

While this method is reminiscent of cattle drives and John Wayne movies, Randall combines the old – fashioned methods of working cattle with modern methods of herd management. Using ultrasound equipment owned by the ranch, he is able to use those tools with the Honey Creek herd and assist other ranches.

Ranch owner, Dan Dykema, is proactive about his cattle business and stays on top of the market trends, while Randall markets the cows through Internet sources or through various cattle producer groups on Facebook.

“We like to sell 50 to 100 head at once to one person,” Randall added.

Part of the ranch’s marketing strategy relies on the large contact base that Randall has developed. He stresses that networking is key and while word of mouth is free, it also builds trusting relationships based on the quality of the cows and the honesty that Randall conveys to the individual buyers.

Because Randall checks the herd four times a day and sometimes twice at night, depending whether it is calving season or not, he documents every contact with every cow in a notebook that he later transfers to a spreadsheet. The data is further developed as a marketing tool for the benefit of the buyer.

“We make sure we have a lot of data on these cattle, so we know exactly what goes OCTOBER 19, 2015

into them but also so we can represent them accurately to the buyer,” Randall said.

Randall contends that success in cattle is much like success in any business.

“I always put myself in the buyer’s shoes when I look at our herd,” he added. “I want the buyer to be happy and I want the cattle to produce for them.”

ATLAS STEEL OFFERS:

• 3/4 Ton Flatbed Only $1,250, Dual Wheel $1,450 • Call for Quote on HD Bale Spike Beds • 1/8" Treadplate 4" Main Sills • 3" Cross Sills, All LED Lights & Pkg. $100

ATLAS STEEL PRODUCTS, INC. 650 ESH RD. • VINITA, OK atlassteelproducts.com

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

877-289-7835 918-256-6232

17

meet your neighbors

Taking the Farm to School

By Terry Ropp

Tara Hudson gives children a look at agriculture with her mobile pumpkin patch It’s no surprise that Tara and Jacob Hudson met at the University of Arkansas. They pursued the same degree in agricultural economics, worked for the same professor and attended the same church. After college, they got married and now have three children, Canaan who is 8, and daughters Hayden, 6, and Harper, 4.

Prior to moving back to Northwest Arkansas from Little Rock, Tara used her de-

COMMITTED TO AGRICULTURE

Tara Hudson, pictured with her children, son Canaan, 8, and daughters Hayden, 6, and Harper, 4, is a sixth-generation agriculturalist. While she and her husband have a small beef herd, Tara also operates a mobile pumpkin patch.

Today's farmers and ranchers have more challenges than ever before.

Understanding you and your specific needs is the key to being an effective financial provider. We have a dedicated team of lenders to meet those needs. We specialize in: • Poultry and cattle loans

• Fixed and variable rate options

• Operating loans

• Equipment purchases and leasing

• Construction loans

• Business checking accounts

• Real Estate loans

• Cash flow management

with beef cattle. But Tara has branched the family operation even more by establishing a new, seasonal cash crop on a portion of the family’s beef cattle operation, and she had hopes that it will inspire the seventh generation of agriculturalists in her family, as well as other children.

“When I grew my first pumpkin crop, I didn’t know exactly how I was going to market them. I soon came up with the idea of a portable pumpkin patch,” Tara said.

Contact one of our loan officers today to learn how Arvest can help.

Photos by Terry Ropp

arvest.com/agloans

Member FDIC

18

What is the portable pumpkin patch? grees in agricultural economics working in policy for the Arkansas Farm Bureau Fed- The portable pumpkin patch is a fielderation where part of her responsibilities trip experience that Tara takes to schools was working with farmers in agri-tourism. rather than them coming to the farm.

Soon after moving back to Northwest The idea was well received by schools Arkansas, the Hudsons purchased a 60- districts from the beginning due to inacre farm in Goshen, Ark., and named it creasing transportation costs and the Legacy Farms because they both repre- difficulty in transporting children. From that idea nine years ago, Tara sented the sixth generation now interacts with more of their families to farm in Goshen, Ark. than 3,000 Northwest Arthe Ozarks. kansas elementary and preThey have a small herd of school students each fall. As Black Angus and Charolais/ far as they know, the Hudsons Limousin cross cows. Each are the only portable pumpkin breed represented is part of patch in the United States. the couple’s individual history

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

meet your neighbors Tara fills a 16-foot utility trailer with 1,200 pounds of field corn, making it like a “sandbox,” while also providing other activities and a lesson on the lifecycle of a pumpkin. In her presentation, Tara exposes the students to agriculture by walking them through how a pumpkin grows from seed to harvest. The children learn how it takes sunA trailer filled with corn is one light, water and even bees for a pumpkin to of the highlights for children reach maturity. when Legacy Pumpkins Students rotate through stations with age apcome to their school. propriate activities. Each student receives a small pumpkin and each classroom a larger one, all of which are grown at Legacy Farms. Other pumpkin sales come from teachers and parents who attend the activities, as well as some individuals and businesses that purchase directly from the farm.

The Hudsons raise four species of mini pumpkins, such as Tiger Stripes and Baby Boos, for the children and traditional orange jack-o’-lantern pumpkins for the classrooms.

However, due to their increasing popularity, they have also begun raising heirloom species because of their broad range of colors and flatter shape. These include Pink Porcelain Doll, Green Jarrahdale and One Too Many, which looks like a bloodshot eye.

Over the years, the Hudsons have expanded their business to allow on-site sales.

Tara uses Facebook and word-of-mouth to publicize and inform people of on-site

sale days and hours and is considering more traditional agri-tourism activities at the farm in the future.

Jacob and Tara were both raised on farms in Northern Arkansas. They both credit their upbringings for instilling in them a strong work ethic, which they hope to pass on to their children.

“The pumpkin patch is a true family business,” Tara said. “Our kids help us work in the pumpkin patch, especially during harvest, and they have all logged many hours with me. In fact, they could teach my pumpkin lesson as well as I can.”

“Playing on the bouncy balls in the rows is the most fun,” Harper explained, while Hayden added, “I don’t do planting but I do pick the pumpkins which is hard because we have to pick them up and put them in the buckets.”

“I want to grow pumpkins of my own someday because you make a lot of money and it’s fun doing all of it. I even like the loading and unloading,” Canaan said.

When all is said and done, the Hudsons and their children hand pick more than 8,000 pumpkins each year with no hired labor and educate more than 3,000 elementary students about agriculture. A unique idea that began nine years ago has grown into an enjoyable, profitable and educational agri-tourism business.

ARKANSAS’ TRAILER & TRUCK BED HEADQUARTERS

100% FINANCING! (On most models W.A.C.)

FULL SERVICE & REPAIR (On-site shop with service technicians)

www.TheTrailerStoreArkansas.com OCTOBER 19, 2015

3831 Happy Bend Road / Atkins, AR 72823

501-354-3315

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

19

youth in

agriculture tomorrow’s ag leaders

Evyn Edmonds Name: Evyn Edmonds Age: 14 Parents: Keith and Lesley Edmonds Sibling: Sister, Allie School: Yellville-Summit High School, Yellville, Ark. How are you involved in agriculture?

“I was part of the livestock judging team this last year. I’ve grown up on a farm my whole life. I do a lot of farmwork. I help my grandpa out with cattle. We have more than 700 acres. I’ve just grown up around it.”

What responsibilities do you take on the family farm?

“Putting out salt licks or feeding hay with the tractor. I do like to weld a little, or at least watch my uncle. I don’t get to do very much of it. Mostly I just get asked to do whatever task needs to be done.”

Do you think you might work in the agricultural field when you get older?

“I would like to. But my uncle works down in the Gulf on the silt dredges and that’s something that I’ve considered also.”

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

“My grandpa, Billy Pyle.”

If you could change any one thing about agriculture, what would you change?

“I would have bigger activities that have to do with agriculture. I’d like to see people who don’t have anything to do with agriculture to come out to the farm and see what it’s like.

“Also, if I was in higher power, like in government, I would give more funding for the farmers because it’s very expensive to maintain your equipment.

My grandpa’s trying to get a new clutch for his tractor and that’s $1,300-plus.”

Story and Photo

By Pam & Jack Fortner

20

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015

The Cattle Business

the ofn

ag-visors

Advice from

the professionals

However, I’d like to take a step back and take a broader look at the picture. Just two years ago, in 2013, the local price for a 500 weight steer was $170/cwt, and five years ago, in 2010, it was $124/ cwt. When compared with last week’s price of $222/cwt, that is a 131 percent and 180 percent increase in price, respectively.

By Jessica Bailey Now, I would agree that seeing cattle prices tumble in the futures markets lately has not been pleasant by any means. When one gets used to ere in the Ozarks, we are proud to be known as cattle $200/cwt or more, it’s hard to imagine making do with less. Many of us country. Everywhere you look, it seems as if everyone have made changes to lifestyles and farming practices that reflect the has at least a few head of cattle in the pasture. Achigher prices. Is that a bad thing? No, not necessarily. The majority of cording to the 2012 Ag Census, cattle sales were secus have been cautious in making those changes, haunted by the expeond only to grains, and keep in mind that the census Jessica Bailey is an riences and stories of the 1980s and also fully aware that the markets was completed during the worst drought we’d seen in years, drivagricultural lender at couldn’t handle these prices very long and a price adjustment was bound ing up commodity prices and pressuring cattle values. Since 2012, Hometown Bank in to happen sooner or later. That’s why, as a loan officer and a former credit Neosho, Mo. A resident the market has seen big advances, with fed cattle prices reaching of Newton County, she analyst, I have stayed conservative when making cash flow projections. into unheard of territory. And with the decrease in the national also raises cattle on I would rather make sure you, the customer, can have a comfortable livbreeding herd during 2012, those of us who were able to stay in her family’s farm and ing regardless of the changes in the livestock market, and know that any the cow/calf industry were placed straight into the driver’s seat. is an active alumni of additional received per head is just icing on the cake.

A question I’ve been asked time and again lately, though, is what is up the Crowder College So bottom line, am I worried about cattle prices? At this stage, not with cattle prices right now? As of the end of the third week of SeptemAggie Club. really, not yet. Watching the market makes its changes now – knowing ber, the live feed steer price was $135/cwt, a 14 percent year over year here in the Ozarks we have an abundance of hay and grass on hand, feed decrease. Local prices for 500 weight steers averaged $222/cwt the same prices are still low, and the cattle are fat and happy out in the fields – we are in a good posiweek, a 17 percent year over year decrease from last year’s $267/cwt in the same period.

There are multiple explanations for why prices are falling. The size of fed cattle is the tion to make any needed changes to our operations, should the occasion arise. It is still a good time to be in the cattle industry and I for one am proud and excited that I am. largest they have ever been, meaning less are needed for the same production levels.

H

OCTOBER 19, 2015

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

21

farm

help

Making farming

a little easier

Determining the Value of Your Hay

By Gary Digiuseppe

Experts say hay might not be as expensive this winter as in years past Hay is only worth what the buyer will pay for it – and in the current environment, that’s a lot less than it’s been in the recent past.

“The common way of evaluating the value of your hay is to see what current hay prices are, and go from there,” Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri forage agronomist, told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “Hay doesn’t always sell for what it’s worth, and getting a hay test is one of the best things you can do whether you’re keeping what you’ve got and determining how to supplement it, or if you’re selling the hay. You can’t manage what you don’t measure, so measuring your hay quality is the starting point.”

The cost of producing a bale of hay can be surprising. In addition to the expense involved in mowing, raking, baling, transporting and storing it, the hay has removed a lot of nutrient from the soil that will have to eventually be replenished.

“I figure about $45 a ton just in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium,” Schnakenberg said. “Then you can add mowing and raking, and most people have $85 a ton tied up in it. An 800-pound bale is worth about $35. You can buy $25 bales, and people aren’t getting what’s valued out of it.”

And don’t forget wear on equipment, said Steve Swigert, agricultural economist and consultant with the Samuel R. Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Okla. “If you count the tractor as part of the hay equipment, it soon exceeds what you can even hope to get out of the hay,” Swigert told OFN. “If you have a tractor that’s being used for some other things the rest of the year you can defray that cost to the feeding side or some other enterprise you’re doing, but you can easily get $100,000 in hay equipment.”

what do you say?

How has technology changed your marketing strategies on your farm?

22

Need hay?

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry offers an online hay directory for producers searching for hay. The directory can be found at http://www.oda.state.ok.us/ mktdev/haydir.pdf and lists the types of hay being offered in each county.

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension also offers a hay directory. The directory can be found at http://hayproducers.uaex.edu/ArkansasHayProducersReadme.asp. Producers can search by county or the type of hay desired.

Additionally, the USDA Farm Service Agency also offers a service called Hay Net that allows producers to offer hay for sale or place an ad in search of hay. Hay Net can be found at http:// www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/hayNet?area=o nline&subject=landing&topic=han&set flag=welcome.

“Last year I used the Internet and sold two of my registered Angus bulls so I will try that again this year.”

Don Rainbolt Searcy County, Ark.

“At this point I am constantly changing my herd and use the Internet to decide if I will sell calves at the sale barn, on Craigslist or if I will go to selling bred heifers next time around.”

Swigert said if you’ve already got the cattle and it’s a way to get a beef cow from one season to the next and raise a calf, then it would be better to feed the hay yourself.

“But if you take the flip side of that and say what’s the best way for cow producers to obtain hay that they might need,” he said.

“It’s better for them to buy it from somebody else than putting it up because of the cost that they would incur on their own place.”

It’s not always that way, of course; if there’s a drought in 2016, prices could shoot up again. However, Swigert says keeping marketable hay until next year is problematic due to the wastage involved.

Right now, hay prices are low; there’s an abundance of supply, and much of what’s available locally is of poor quality. The Missouri Weekly Hay Summary published by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for the week ending Sept. 18 also noted, “Hay prices are being pressured by lower grain prices and a heavy supply. Demand for hay is light and prices are mostly steady. The supply is moderate to heavy and market activity is light.”

MU’s Schnakenberg said it’s a challenge to interpret the reports.

“They’re talking about fair, good, premium and supreme quality alfalfa; they call it good, fair to good, and fair quality mixed grass hay. To me, it’s just so ambiguous, but it’s the best we can do.

“When you’re pricing hay, you have to look at as many sources as possible to see what hay is selling for. There are lists at farm stores of people who are selling hay. There are people who buy and sell on Craigslist. They need to back it up by looking at the hay market summaries. Check the newspapers and magazines, see what they’re seeing hay sell for and use that as a guide. I wish it was more cut and dried, but it’s not.”

“I use a nation wide website that lists people who sell raw milk. Then my customers order it at least a day in advance and pick it up.

Thirty percent of my sales come through this site.”

Dakota Vaughn Adair County, Okla.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Jane Robinett Pope County, Ark.

“Seventyfive percent of our show Boer goat sales come from our Internet presence which includes a website, two Facebook pages and a Twitter account.”

Cheryl Pickering Benton County, Ark.

OCTOBER 19, 2015

farm help

Going Direct

By Gary Digiuseppe

Agriculture marketing techniques have begun to enhance direct sales to consumers Direct-to-consumer sales is one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture.

According to USDA’s 2012 Census of Agriculture, 144,530 farms sold $1.3 billion in fresh, edible agricultural products directly to consumers in 2012, a 6 percent increase in the numbers of farms and 8 percent increase in receipts over the previous Census conducted in 2007.

In addition, 94,799 farms in 2012 sold further processed, value-added goods like beef jerky, fruit jams, jelly, preserves, floral arrangements, cider or wine.

University of Arkansas Extension Economics Professor Dr. Ron Rainey said increasingly, producers of fruits and vegetables in particular are seeking ways to market a packaged, shelf-stable product.

The University of Arkansas-Fayetteville Food Science Department offers entrepreneurs access to a co-packing facility that allows them to process small amounts of their goods, and instruction in such techniques as labeling and marketing, dehydration, meat processing, canning and preserving.

UA also participates in MarketMaker, an Internet-based service that links farm marketers to consumers.

“Consumers continue to seek out connections to where their food comes from, and understanding agriculture,” Rainey said.

“Some of it is pure entertainment; some of it is the need to understand how their food is produced. The industry looks at it in terms of a ‘less processed’ or ‘cleaner’ product – fewer preservatives and ingredients, more natural and organic. MarketMaker continues to thrive in that space in terms of being a tool that helps connect farmers with consumers.” At a conference in Austin, Texas in May, Arkansas received the national program’s Innovation Award.

A guide prepared by three University of Missouri scientists, Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers, identified marketing techniques that can be used to enhance direct sales to consumers. The researchers, Drs. Bill McKelvey, Mary Hendrickson and Joe OCTOBER 19, 2015

Parcell, said the producer should have the basics covered before opening for business or making a sales call. Among those were, “Is your product fresh, clean and ready for sale? Are samples prepared?...Is your product priced fairly and competitively? Is your price list accurate and up-to-date?...Is your display neat, accessible and attractive? Are prices clearly marked? Is the name of your farm displayed on boxes, banners or signs?”

The scientists said developing strong selling skills, which can be learned, is critically important to acquiring and keeping customers in a direct marketing enterprise.

This includes such methods as maintaining eye contact with the customer, a neat and well-dressed appearance, and speaking without hesitation and with normal voice inflection. The seller should keep punctual hours, and engage the potential customer right away, so the buyer does not decide to go elsewhere.

In addition, good production skills and superior postharvest handling techniques can ensure high-quality products that command premium prices. This can be enhanced by learning customers’ produce preferences, so these crops can be provided at the market in the future. Post signs to let the buyers know which crops will arrive at the marketplace later in the season.

The successful marketer can stay in touch with customers with an Internet site, and newspaper advertising on such topics as nutrition, cooking, storage and preservation tips, classes, events, contests, history and origins of select food crops, relevant news stories and policy issues.

Pricing can also be an issue.

The scientists say, “A thorough knowledge of your farm’s financial condition can ensure that you employ the right pricing and advertising strategies to gain the most profit. Being aware that you are competing with supermarkets and other farmers at your market or in your particular region can also help ensure success. At the end of the day, you want customers to spend more of their dollars with you.”

BONANZA BUCKS

O%

PLUS

FINANCING FOR 72 MONTHS*

OR

CASH BACK

This year’s Value Bonanza gives you MORE SMART WAYS TO SAVE on select New Holland hay and forage equipment. It starts with BONANZA BUCKS – it’s like bonus cash just for buying – and continues with 0% FINANCING FOR 72 MONTHS. That’s SIX YEARS without finance charges. Or choose CASH BACK in lieu of financing on these models: • Roll-Belt™ Round Balers • Large Square Balers • Small Square Balers • Speedrower® Self-Propelled Windrowers • Haybine® Mower-Conditioners • Discbine® Disc Mower-Conditioners • MegaCutter™ Mounted Triple Mower-Conditioners

Act fast! See us before this offer ends on November 30, 2015.

Williams Tractor

1207 S. Main • Berryville, Ark. Williams Tractor 870-423-4226 2501 N. Shiloh Drive

Bobcat of NW Arkansas

2737

Fayetteville, AR 72704 (479) 442-8284 Williams •Tractor W. Hudson Rogers, Ark.

479-621-6001

*For commercial use. Offer subject to CNH Industrial Capital America LLC credit approval. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through November 30, 2015, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2015 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Williams Tractor

2501 Shiloh Dr. • Fayetteville, Ark.

479-442-8284

www.williamstractor.com *For commercial use. Offer subject to CNH Industrial Capital America LLC credit approval. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through November 30, 2015, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2015 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

23

farm help

We go the extra mile.

1-866-479-7870

26 Years Strong 1989-2015

Owned & Operated By Farmers Working to Help the American Farmer

Open Saturdays 8 a.m.-Noon

All Steel Structures • Bolt Together • Engineered Buildings

FREE estimates by the friendliest people in town www.MarathonMetal.com sales@MarathonMetal.com

Quality Feeds and Suplements Farmers Coop can help you maintain weight gains made this summer. Ask one of our Farmers Coop professionals to help you with your livestock feeding program.

24

Stilwell, OK 918-696-3191

www.farmerscoop.biz

By Gary Digiuseppe

Time to check corrals, barns, equipment that might be in need of repair

Hay Barns • Fire Stations • Horse Barns • Retail Centers Pole Barns • Metal Shops • Churches • Airplane Hangers • Arenas

Coweta, OK 918-486-5322

Evaluating Your Facilities

Tahlequah, OK 918-456-0557

Fall is upon us, so it’s a good idea to look at your cattle working facilities to make sure they’re in good shape.

“It’s always pretty tough when you get your cows and calves into your working facility and find out that something’s broken, a pipe’s broken or the footing’s not right,” Dr. Tom Troxel, associate head of animal science for the University of Arkansas Extension Service, told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “You’ve got cattle already in the pen, and you don’t know what to do; it takes you longer to work cattle than what you want to.”

He said each of the gates should be checked to see if they need oil, and to make sure the latches work properly.

Walk through your facilities just as the cattle would; look at both sides of the alley and make sure the boards or the metal are not loose. If nails or bolts are sticking out that could accidentally cut the cattle, smooth them down. Make sure that your palpation gate swings across the side and latches properly, and that your head gate works properly as well.

Also, make sure that the footing is secure. “We had a lot of rain last spring that could have washed out some of the footing through the alley. Maybe it would take some extra gravel to be put into the alley area or the pen or crowding alley, so that there’s not a low spot where calves could sneak underneath the lower railing,” Troxel said.

Where there are handles that come together, make sure that the space between them hasn’t widened over time.

“If there’s a little hole where calves can get their head in, you know they will find it,” he said.

The harsh weather earlier this year may also have loosened the roofing on the barn.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

If sheets of metal are flapping and making noise, that could make the cattle nervous.

“We’ve also had a lot of floods in that may have flooded through bars and working facilities, so you should certainly walk through those facilities,” Troxel said.

“There may be extra debris that may have washed through those facilities that you may want to pick up.”

Producers with calving barns should also make sure they’re well cleaned and aired out before the calving season.

“Bacteria don’t like dry, sunny conditions, so make sure that the old bedding is cleaned out, and you’ve had a good chance for some air drying and warm temperatures to occur to try to clean up that area before you put down any fresh bedding,” Troxel said.

Winter weather could also bring emergency conditions.

Bob Schultheis, University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist, told OFN rural landowners should assemble a disaster preparedness kit that will last at least two weeks. This should include a weather radio and flashlights, with plenty of replacement batteries.

Farm equipment should be winterized as well. Schultheis suggested reviewing the maintenance recommendations in operator’s manuals, so nothing is overlooked.

Change the oil in vehicles, tractors and small engines, clean or replace air filters, replace fuel filters, and lubricate bearings and joints. Check antifreeze for the correct freezing temperature; remember that antifreeze has a limited lifespan, and merely adding more may not be enough to fully protect your investment. Also, add fuel stabilizer to any gas tanks that will not be emptied within 30 days; otherwise, ethanol-based fuels will take on moisture and go through phase separation, making the engine hard to start.

OCTOBER 19, 2015

farm help

Does Your Hay Have the Right Stuff?

Springdale Branch

NOW OPEN

By Gary Digiuseppe

Low-quality forage should be supplemented There’s a lot of hay out there this year, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to a lot of nutrition.

“A lot of it was put up with some mildew,” Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri Extension forage agronomist, told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “It was really hard to get it dried down, and a lot of it got rained on. The rain brought a lot of hay production, but it also brought a lot of humidity and wet weather that made it very challenging to get it harvested on time without having mold issues.”

So there’s plenty of tonnage, but the hay will likely have to be supplemented.

Fortunately, the weather in southwest Missouri later in the year was conducive to getting stands of stockpiled fescue going. Schnakenberg said in this part of the country, “that’s the primary way to address feeding in the late fall and early winter time frame.”

Since the act of stockpiling temporarily takes acreage out of grazing access, there’s some cost to your operation. Schnakenberg said it’s sometimes best to keep those paddocks off limits to the cows in fall and start feeding hay early instead. But he said the short term cost is worth it; if you include 40 to 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre you’ll need for a good stand, stockpiled fescue runs about 44 cents per cow per day.

“If you were comparing that to a very modest cost of hay of 55 dollars a ton, factoring in a normal 10 percent feeding loss, I figure it costs from 80 cents to $1.30 per ton to feed hay,” Schnakenberg said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s good hay or bad hay. For less than half that amount, you can feed them a better quality feed through your stockpiled fescue, so it’s really the way to go.”

In addition to stockpiling, University of Arkansas professor of livestock nutrition Dr. Shane Gadberry said producers OCTOBER 19, 2015

who don’t have a perennial cool season grass like fescue can reduce winter feeding costs by incorporating winter annuals into their grazing systems. “Planting combinations of ryegrass with wheat and rye can get us earlier spring grazing.

Gadberry told OFN, “and during that time the nutrition of a growing forage would be much greater than a typical hay we’re producing in the Ozarks, so we’ve got the benefit of having those cows on a better plane of nutrition during late winter and early spring. That would help not only reduce cost, but increase productivity in our cow herd.”

Gadberry agreed that, faced with the challenge of abundant but lesser quality hay this season, producers will have to look at providing supplemental feed in order to keep them in good body condition through the winter. “If we don’t understand the nutrient composition of our hay and have to spend a little bit of money on supplemental feed to make sure that our cows are in good body condition so they breed back quickly after calving, then we’ve got the cost of lost production,” he said.

Schnakenberg said producers can supplement with bagged or bulk feeds, and a better quality hay.

“Anything that’s of better quality than what we’re feeding can be used with our existing grass hay supply to help supplement,” he said.

Once the gates to the pasture being stockpiled are closed, Schnakenberg recommended they stay closed until about the Thanksgiving time frame. “The best way to feed stockpiled fescue is with a polywire, tread-in posts and a reel; that’s an outstanding way of rationing that grass back to the cows,” he said. “We need to give a little at a time; that’s the most efficient way to feed stockpiled fescue.”

Fayetteville

479-582-0700

300 N. College Ave. 2971 N. College Ave.

Springdale

Huntsville

479-751-9260 5178 W. Sunset Ave. ATM Ozark Center Point Place

479-738-2147 312 W. Main St. 432 Harmony Rd.

todaysbank.com

702 Weir Road, Russellville

479-968-3795

Serving

the

R iver Valley Since 1986

www.russellvillekubota.com New Owners, Same Friendly Faces

*$0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 48 months on purchases of new Kubota RTV-X Series equipment is available to qualified purchasers from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory through 12/31/2015. Example: A 48-month monthly installment repayment term at 0% A.P.R. requires 48 payments of $20.83 per $1,000 financed. 0% A.P.R. interest is available to customers if no dealer documentation preparation fee is charged. Dealer charge for document preparation fee shall be in accordance with state laws.

Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended A.P.R. 0% A.P.R. and low-rate financing may not be available with customer instant rebate offers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., 3401 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 12/31/2015. See us for details on these and other low-rate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information. Optional equipment may be shown.

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2015

25

OUR 65th YEAR

The New Rhino Flex-Wing has been Unleashed!

Our Flex-Wing cutters are designed for perfomance, reliabilty and value. With seven models to choose from and 50 years experience, we know how to make them durable enough for any use.

Features & Benefits:

• Unique blade pan carrier - strong and durable stump jumper (patent pending) • New gearbox design - more torque with the same horsepower • Pivot hitch - unique locking clevis device for ease of hooking up • Smooth dome deck - less clutter, easy to clean with larger cutting chamber • Independent suspension - simple, no moving parts • Safety cover - quick access for easy maintenance

Flex Wing Gearbox

Blade Pan Carrier

Hwy. 69 South, Pryor, OK • 918-825-2044 See our Ad in Names & Numbers

ozarks’ farm

calendar

October 2015 1-31 4-H Canned Good Collection for Main Street Mission – Drop off location,

Pope County Extension Office, 105 West B Street, Russellville, Ark. – last

day to drop canned goods off is Oct. 31 – 479-968-7098 22 White County Beef Clinic – 5:30 p.m. – Arkansas Cattle Auction, Searcy,

Ark. – 501-268-5394 22 Poultry Waste Meeting – 2-4 p.m. – Delaware County Extension Office, Jay

Okla. – 918-253-4332 26 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Carroll Electric Building,

Huntsville, Ark. – $10 for class – 479-738-6826 26 Food Safety Class – 9:30 a.m. – Newton County Extension Office, Jasper,

Ark. – 870-446-2240 26 Natural Practices for Perennial Grass Control – mainly for specialty crops

– call Benton County Extension Office for more details – 479-271-1060 26-27 Income Tax School – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.– registration in $220 per person –

Harrison, Ark. – 501-671-2072 29-30 Income Tax School – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – registration is $220 per person –

Fayetteville, Ark. – 501-671-2072 30 Fall Carnival – 6-8:30 p.m. – Cherokee County Community Building,

Tahlequah, Okla. – 918-456-6163 30 Coley Family Tree Farm Tour – 9 a.m.-noon – 4700 Highway 367 S, McRae,

Ark. – 501-374-2441 or www.arkforests.org/event/ColeyTreeFarm 31 Hunter Safety Education Class – 8 a.m.-6 p.m. – Fred Berry Conservation

Education Center, Yellville, Ark. – 870-449-6349 November 2015 2-3 Income Tax School – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – Registration is $235 per person,

lunch is included – Batesville, Ark. – 501-671-2072 3 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Fulton County Fairgrounds, Salem,

Ark. – 870-895-3301 3 Bangs Vaccination in Logan County – call the Logan County Extension

Center by October 30th to sign up – 479-963-2360 3 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Fulton County Fairgrounds, Salem,

Ark. – 870-895-3301 3-5 Better Process Control School – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.

– 479-575-4450 5 Pesticide Applicator Training – 9 a.m. – Newton County Extension Office,

Jasper, Ark. – 870-446-2240

Whether on the floor of the Missouri Senate, working for the USDA, or hosting the Farm & Ranch Report, Morris Westfall cares about the people of the Ozarks.

Ag Production and political news and views for the farm and ranch.

— Continued on Next Page

You Are Invited

Join Morris Westfall for the Farm & Ranch Report.

November 2 - 3, 2015 Resort at Port Arrowhead, Lake Ozark, MO 65049 An opportunity you won't want to miss!

Saturday 8:05am Weekdays 6:35am

26

Saturday 8:05am Weekdays 6:3Oam & 12:05pm

Keynote Speaker, Dr. Allen Williams is joined by a host of additional renowned speakers.

Please visit our website for more details

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

http://mofgc.org

OCTOBER 19, 2015

ozarks’ farm

calendar

Continued from Previous Page 5 2015 Arkansas Forage & Grassland Council Fall Forage Conference –

registration starts at 8:30 a.m. – registration fee is $45 per person, $60 per

couple, and $10 for students and includes lunch and conference materials

– Woodland Heights Baptist Church Education Building, Conway, Ark. – 501-671-2171 5-6 Income Tax School – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – registration is $220 per person –

Van Buren, Ark. – 501-671-2072

ozarks’

auction block

October 2015 22 Kirkes Black Angus Ranch Fall Production Sale – at the Ranch, Talihina,

Okla. – 918-465-7830 23 Spur Ranch Angus Bull & Female Sale – at the Ranch, Vinita, Okla. – 918-256-2493 24 Flying H Genetics Roughage ‘N Ready Bull Sale – at the Farm, Butler, Mo.

– 303-842-9071 24 Mead Farms Annual Bull & Female Sale – at the farm, Barnett, Mo. – 573-216-0210 24 Gerloff Farms 8th Annual Bull Fest – at the Farm, Bland, Mo. – 573-680-9117 24 East Central Missouri Angus Assn. Fall Sale – Cuba, Mo. – 314-393-2885 24 Aschermann Charolais 21st Edition Bull Sale – at the Farm, Carthage, Mo.

– 417-358-7879 25 Reynolds Herefords 14th Annual Production Sale – at the Farm,

Huntsville, Ark. – 660-676-3788 26 SW Missouri PT Bull Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center,

Springfield, Mo. – 417-345-8330 27 Fink Beef Genetics Annual Bull Sale – Randolph, Kan. – 785-776-9385 November 2015 1 Baker Angus Ranch Fall Bull Sale – at the Farm, Butler, Mo. – 660-679-4403 7 Pitts Angus Farm Fall Production Sale – at the Farm, Hermitage, Mo. – 417-399-3131 7 Professional Beef Genetics Fall Sale – Montrose, Mo. – 816-532-6047 7 Missouri Charolais Breeders Assoc. Fall Bull & Female Sale – Springfield

Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 785-672-7449 7 Double A Limousin Production Sale – El Dorado Springs, Mo. – 417-684-0881

– 913-558-7966 7 Andras Stock Farm Red Angus Female Sale – at the Farm, Manchester, IL – 217-473-2355

Your #1 Choice!

• In Improving Your Land For More Cattle Production • Increasing Your Property’s Value • Improving Overall Landscape

Rent the Marshall Tree Saw

Call for More Info Today!

417-865-3535

OCTOBER 19, 2015

at 2520 N. Eastgate, Springfield, Mo.

Cattlemen’s Seedstock Directory Angus

Jac’s Ranch - Bentonville, Ark. - 479-273-3030 44 Farms - 501-940-0299 www.rosebudfeeders.com

Balancers

Bob Harriman Genetics Montrose, Mo. - 660492-2504

Brangus

Hatfield Brangus Bentonville, Ark. - 479273-3921 - 479-531-2605 Rose Bud Feeders - 501940-0299 - www. rosebudfeeders.com Townsend Brangus - Rose Bud, Ark. - 501-9400299 - 501-556-2046

Charolais

Rose Bud Feeders - 501940-0299 - www. rosebudfeeders.com

Gelbvieh

Triple D Farms Mountain Home, Ark. 870-481-5603

Auction

Livestock - Equipment

HUGE LIQUIDATION AUCTION

Saturday, November 7 8:30 am

JOHNSONS FLEA MARKET

JUG Livestock Waterers

Hwy 13, 6.5 Miles North of Bolivar, MO

Call Wes at

515-771-6036 www.weslynn.net

SEE COMPLETE LISTING AT www.bruceandleanauction.com

3/28/16

You won’t want to miss this HUGE Auction!

10/19/15

Livestock - Cattle 8 Sisters Ranch

Santa Gertrudis Dark Red Polled Breed developed south. Texas all American for live calves & profi t. Bulls are gentle in nature.

The Tuffest Made 14 GA., 2 3/8” Pipe & 5/8” Sucker Rod Starting At ....$3,565

www.work-your-cows.com

918-507-2222

10/19/15

417-926-7256

Wanted

12/21/15

Hudspeth Farms CHAROLAIS, SIMMENTAL & RED ANGUS BULLS Greg Hudspeth • St. Joe, Ark.

870-439-2285 or 870-365-8969

11/9/15

WANT TO BUY MILK TANKS

920-397-6313

6/27/16

College of the Ozarks

Herefords

HEREFORD PRODUCTION SALE

Allen Moss Herefords - Vici, Okla. - 580-9224911 - 580-334-7842 mossherefords.com

Sim Angus

Bob Harriman Genetics Montrose, Mo. - 660492-2504

Simmental

Lazy U Ranch - Haskell, Okla. - 918-693-9420

Reach More Than

24,000 Readers Who Are Primarily Livestock Producers,

By Placing Your Ad In the Purebred Corral, Call Today!

532-1960

1-866-

November 28, 2015 Point Lookout, MO Tammy Holder (417)342-0871

“A Tradit ion That Works” EZ Boardwalk Band Saw Mills • Built in the Heartland of America.

• Unique designs including our 15 degree angled head • 40" diameter logs that EZ Boardwalk customers enjoy.

660-415-7800 (No Sunday Calls)

8218 Shelby 366 Emden, Missouri 63439

Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

Fax: 1-573-439-5845 www.ezboardwalk.com

27

THE TRUCK SPECIALISTS! We know what you want ...

Big Selection + Low Prices!

We’re farmers, too! We know what farmers want, and we keep the most popular models in stock at the lowest prices you’ll find in North Arkansas!

Family owned and operated for over 43 years!

Absolute Top Dollar offered on all trades!

See why we are the area’s #1 Truck Volume Dealer!

We’re BIG on Heavy Duty Trucks!

600 Highway 62-65 Harrison � 870-741-8211

WoodMotor.com

North Arkansas’ Volume Dealer!

FINANCING AVAILABLE!

28

Call Mark Hanshaw: 870-715-9177 (cell) 870-741-8211

We stock the trailers farmers use most!

Whether it’s a golf cart, a 4-wheeler trailer or one of the big boys, you’ll find it at Wood Motor Co. We’ll NEVER be undersold!

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

OCTOBER 19, 2015