Ofn dummy 11 17 14

Young and Determined NOVEMBER 17, 2014 • 32 PAGES

VOLUME 8, NUMBER 13 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Austin and Kayla Pratt put their ag degrees and family heritage to good use when starting their own farm

A Solid Saler Foundation Ron and Shelley Terrell explain how Saler genetics benefit their herd

Don’t Fuel the Fire

Farm Healt h, Insurance & Safety Issu e

10 fire safety tips every rural home should practice

Spray and Store Wisely Common sense will go a long way to keeping your family and farm safe when spraying chemicals

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

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

1

rumor mill

Animal Science Day at U of A: The Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center will play host to its first Animal Science Day celebration on Friday, Nov. 21. Activities will begin at 5 p.m., with Meet the Farm Animals, weather permitting, and the Carnival Game Gallery. Other entertainment includes a dog costume contest, a natural horsemanship and dog agility demonstrations and an Old Timers livestock-judging contest that concludes at 9 p.m. “The goal of this event is to encourage the alumni, emeritus faculty and staff and friends of the department to stay involved,” said Michael Looper, head of the Department of Animal Science. Admission is free, and a concession stand offered by the department’s student clubs will be serving food. Everyone is invited to attend.

Arkansas’s Secretary of Agriculture set to Retire: The Arkansas Agriculture Department announced the retirement of Butch Calhoun as Arkansas’s Secretary of Agriculture, effective December 31, 2014. In his letter to Governor Beebe, Butch said, “It has been an honor and privilege serving in your administration for the past eight years as the Director of Rural Services and the Secretary of Agriculture. I have enjoyed these jobs very much but feel it is time for me to spend time focusing on some other things in life. I am proud of the work being done at the Arkansas Agriculture Department and feel it is accomplishing its mission of supporting and advocating for all segments of Arkansas’s agricultural industry.”

Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadline Extended: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced extended deadlines for the dairy Margin Protection Program. Farmers now have until Dec. 5, 2014, to enroll in the voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill. The program provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also extended the opportunity for public comments on both the Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Product Donation Program until Dec. 15, 2014.

The Colvin Scholarship Fund has grown to award higher cash amounts to deserving students: Offered by the Certified Angus Beef brand, the annual awards recognize Louis M. “Mick” Colvin’s dedication to making dreams a reality and inspiring others to be their best. For 2015, $20,000 will be split among five undergraduate awards in the amounts of $6,000, $5,000, $4,000, $3,000 and $2,000. College juniors and seniors who have shown a commitment to the beef industry through coursework and industry-related activities are encouraged to submit an application before the Dec. 8, 2014, deadline. A $6,000 graduate-level scholarship will also be awarded to a full-time masters or doctoral student conducting applied research related to high-quality beef production.

The deadline for that application is Jan. 12, 2015. For more information contact Trudi Hoyle 800-225-2333 ext. 411.

Scan Me Or Visit ozarksfn.com OzarksFarm

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@OzarksFarm

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

|

VOL. 8, NO. 13

JUST A THOUGHT

3 Jerry Crownover – Are vets smarter than doctors?

8 19

4 5

Dusty Richards – Fall has set in Lynzee Glass – An Ozarks family tradition

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

7 Austin and Kayla Pratt face the

challenges of starting a new farm

8

Ron and Shelley Terrell select Saler cattle for calving ease and resilient nature

10

Take a step back in time with the Ozarks Older Iron Club

11

Eye on Agribusiness features Bar Broken Heart Saddlery

12 21

Town and Country features Tim Bailey

23

Youth in Agriculture spotlights Emily Corbin

The Farm to School program brings fresh, local food to Oklahoma Schools

FARM HEALTH 13 What you need to know about fire safety in a rural community

21

14

The most asked Affordable Health Care questions answered

18

Proper handling and storage tips of chemicals used on the farm

19

Select beef for a well-rounded diet

FARM HELP 26 How to successfully market your grass-fed beef

27 Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

27

Reasons why cattle may reject hay this winter

28 29

Managing deer on the farm

Understanding soil samples NOVEMBER 17, 2014

just a

thought

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

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

Sandra Coffman

Life Is Simple

e f i L elpmiS si

By Jerry Crownover

A

President

Weekly Sale

good friend of mine is convinced that veterinarians revare onsmarter worC ythan rreJ yB medical doctors. “Think about it,” he once told me, “vets go to school Jerry Crownover is the same length of time as doctors a farmer and former and they take basically the same subjects, have professor of Agriculture to diagnose and treat many species, plus they Education at Missouri don’t have the luxury of their patients telling State University. He is a them what their symptoms are, so they have to native of Baxter County, be smarter. When I get sick, I just go to my vet.”

Arkansas, and an I found no logical argument against his premise author and professional when he made that statement years ago. speaker. To contact Jerry, Visiting with that same friend last week, I was a go to ozarksfn.com and little surprised during our conversation when he click on ‘Contact Us.’ asked, “Have you ever imported any cattle from outside the United States?”

When I replied that I hadn’t, he informed me that he had once imported some cattle from Canada several years ago and it had been a major hassle for him. “The USDA, under guidance from their staff veterinarians, mind you, made me pay to have those cattle kept in strict quarantine at a border station for several weeks.” I was a bit confused, but he continued. “Let me tell you it was expensive, because, for days on end, they kept drawing blood to test for this disease and that disease. Plus, I had to pony-up for all the feed they were eating, not to mention the fees for the use of the pens and barn where they kept them until they were finally satisfied and released them to me.”

“Well,” I responded, “we can’t be too careful when it comes to keeping our livelihood safe and intact.”

“Oh, I agree, and I’m glad they did it. Have you ever transported cattle across state lines?”

“You know I have. What are you getting at?”

— Continued on Page 6

“Your Livestock Equipment Headquarters”

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 Lynzee Glass, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Dusty Richards, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production

Every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. starting with Goats, Calves & Yearlings, Stock Cows, Butcher Cows, then Bulls.

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Contributors Stephanie Beltz-Price, Diana Dickinson, Gary Digiuseppe, Amanda Erichsen, Klaire Howerton, Stacy Johnson, Pam and Terry Lamb, Dr. Tim E. O’Neill, Terry Ropp About the Cover Cattle health and nutrition are high priority for Austin and Kayla Pratt. Read more on page 7.

Photo by Terry Ropp

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., 2014.

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he sliding door in my office is the Richards and his wife scene of falling leaves from the hardPat live on Beaver Lake wood trees. Deer have come by gathin northwest Arkansas. ering the dropping acorns from the To contact Dusty, go to ancient white oak beside the house. If ozarksfn.com and click on we would have had a frost here before the time ‘Contact Us.’ I wrote this column it might have been gone.

When my wife and I first were married, her family would butcher on Halloween because it was cold enough to cut up the animal the next morning. This year it won’t be.

Bow hunters must run their kills to the freezer or locker plant to save them from spoiling.

According to deer hunters, the warm weather has put off the usual rut of buck and does by this time. I am not any expert but buck activity around the does in my area has been very limited.

Farmers continue to put up hay. I spoke with an older man who sold his cows a few years ago because of his age and inability to herd them. He cuts his hay now putting it up for sale and laughed about how valuable that crop was this year. “Everyone made lots and it is sure cheap.”

During my trip west to New Mexico a week ago, I saw lots of major ag development in both west Texas and western Oklahoma. I sit on the Oklahoma’s State Electric Cooperative Board and at this month’s meeting I talked to several representatives from the region about these developments.

Much of this acreage had been in the USDA Land Bank program and the owners got paid for years not to farm it and to hold down agriculture production. Those leases have run out and something had to be done. Deep wells were drilled and great irrigation circles were set up with the majority of that land being planted to corn, milo or alfalfa hay. The total development is massive on the west side of those two states.

The new oil income has brought on a lot of land clearing in Oklahoma too. First, was the clearing of many burn areas that occurred back in the drought of a few years ago. These of course were the easiest to bull doze off and re-sow to grass. Some land in scrub timber was cleared or thinned with those hydraulic jaws on the 3-point tractor lift to the back of the driver that scissor off the smaller trees at ground level and is handy. I had seen them in operation up in Missouri and years ago did a TV show on them when I was still on TV. The first time I saw one was when a farmer was snipping off scattered cedars that were invading his pasture. And the time when I interviewed the implement dealer, we cut down some good size post oaks and they fell to either side of the tractor by their design, though cab protection is advised.

Whatever you do it is important you do it safely. Wear protective glasses in all cases, even blowing leaves, weed eating and especially mowing. It only takes a small propellant in the eye to cause you a trip to the emergency room and even blindness can occur. You don’t have a safety director to tell you what to do but don’t take chances.

Whether you get a chance to hunt or not the season lie ahead. It is obvious the Fish and Game Commission has done a good job of helping to recover our wildlife. There are a dozen does in my neighborhood and most raised an offspring or two so hunting them is important no matter how tenderhearted you are about Bambi. We’ve come a long way since the early 1960s when there was a one-day deer season in Arkansas.

Good bless you, your family and all of America, Dusty Richards

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

just a thought

Keepin’ it Country

By Lynzee Glass

I

t’s deer season in the Ozarks. For many deer season is a cherished tradition and lifestyle. Deer harvested this fall is a staple on the dinner table for many families.

Lynzee Glass graduated When I was a child wild game was often from Missouri State found on the supper menu. Hunting was a way of University with a “killing two birds with one stone,” so to speak, degree in Agricultural because my dad loved to hunt and our growing Communications in 2008. family needed the harvested game whether it She grew up on a family was deer, turkey, squirrel or rabbit. Some of my farm in Dallas County, Mo. fondest memories include going into the woods To contact Lynzee call with dad to scout for rubs, check on deer stands 1-866-532-1960 or email and helping him clean the game. I look forward editor@ozarksfn.com. to a time when I can pass on the same cherished memories to my future children.

I hope you have the chance to get out in the woods this deer season and create fond memories of your own with family and friends. It’s important that we keep our hunting heritage alive. I encourage you to take a child out with you this season and teach them hunting safety and the importance of this lifestyle.

With all of this talk about wild game cooking in the kitchen let me just remind you that we will be publishing our Country Christmas Cookbook in the December 8th issue and I need your help collecting recipes. Please send me your favorite family recipes to share with our readers in this year’s Cookbook. Recipes can be mailed to PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR, 72753, faxed to 417-532-4721 or emailed to editor@ozarksfn.com.

While you are sending in your favorite recipes be sure to take a moment to vote for your favorite recipe of 2014. You will find the ballot for our Reader’s Choice on the next page. Kindly send in your nominations by November 21st.

desserts

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Heat sauce ingredients to boiling and then turn down to simmer. Mix all ingredients in batter and drop by teaspoon into sauce skillet. Cover tightly and simmer for 20 minutes.

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just a thought Life is Simple Continued from Page 3 Without even acknowledging my question, he probed further. “Didn’t you have to provide health papers from a veterinarian certifying them to be healthy and free of, or vaccinated against, contagious diseases?”

“Sure.”

“And didn’t you always have to provide health papers from a veterinarian on your boys’ show cattle before they could even take them to a fair in our own state?”

A little perturbed, I answered, “Of course, but why are you so obsessed with the health requirements of American cattle?”

“Well, it just seems to me that if we only had a good veterinarian at the Center for Disease Control, you know, someone with some authority, we’d never have had all this Ebola stuff going on here.”

I cautioned him that comparing people to cattle might not be politically correct.

“Oh, I know, we’re quite a bit more cautious with the health of our livestock.

That’s why we need a vet in charge.”

As before, I found no logical argument against his premise.

Readers’ Choice

Vote For your Favorite

Select your favorite recipe from our featured recipes in 2014.

Our readers’ favorite recipe will be featured in our 2014 Country Christmas Cookbook. Send nominations in by November 21.

p January 6, White Chocolate Cheesecake p January 27, Meringue and Stabilizer p February 17, Lemon Slices p March 10, Corn Casserole p April 21, Yogurt Biscuits p May 12, Chicken Salad p June 2, Zucchini Mock Apple Pie p June 23, Blueberry Angel Dessert p July 14, Crispy Meatballs p August 4, Wonderful No Bake Cheesecake p September 15, Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring p October 6, Diana’s White Chili p October 27, Fresh Apple Cake Please mail responses to

PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753

6

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

meet your

neighbors

to farm. The couple’s first venture was an impulse buy in 2011 of a small group of Gelbvieh who came for sale at a good price. At the time Austin wanted red heifers to AI with Black Angus or Charolais to produce black or yellow calves, which the couple believes sell equally well. That was the beginning of a diverse herd that also includes Red Beefmaster, Black Angus and Hereford cows and heifers. The current herd has 51 mommas and 21 replacement heifers, seven of which were recently purchased and are half-sisters to the first Beefmasters they purchased. The remaining heifers were raised on the farm. Kayla said, “We couldn’t have done any of this without Tim Cooper at Anstaff Bank.”

AI improves the diverse herd and is Photo by Terry Ropp performed by an ag teacher at North ArBy Terry Ropp kansas College who also works for Select Sires, the source of the Pratts’ semen.

Beginning farmers Austin and Kayla Pratt establish a Bulls are selected for traits such as calving good foundation on which to build their growing herd ease, milk, docility and weaning weights Austin and Kayla Pratt live out- earned a degree in agricultural systems and as the prominent criteria.

Cattle health is a high priority. Austin side of Harrison, Ark., and are technology and has worked for three years starting a new farm, a daunting at a Larson Farm and Lawn branch in Har- administers two rounds of shots and detask in this day and age. They rison, which is a John Deere dealership. worms the herd twice a year. Bull calves rent 200 acres on a family farm dating Kayla, on the other hand, earned a degree are cut rather than banded because the back to 1845 when the land was first in animal science, has worked at Qual- results are more certain and buyers prefer that certainty. During the sumpurchased by Kayla’s great, great, great ity Feed Grains for four years mer months, Austin monitors and is currently the Harrison Harrison, Ark. grandfather David Trotter. for the ever present danger of While the couple were “boyfriend and (Downtown) branch manager. pinkeye. The use of rural waThough not raised on a girlfriend” when they were 4 and attending ter rather than pond water is an the same preschool, neither remembered farm, Austin did help his added health benefit and is supwhen they met again at the Alpha Gama grandfather on a cattle farm plied through insulated waterers Rho house at the U of A in Fayetteville, when he was young. Austin installed with the aid of NRCS. Ark., where both were ag majors. Austin said, “I always knew I wanted

Young and Determined

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All cattle receive ADM mineral supplements, and replacement heifers and weaned calves are fed 13 percent protein Cattle Grower feed from Quality Feed Grains. In order to keep pastures able to support the herd, Austin uses rotational grazing based on grass conditions and, at the advice of his extension agent, drills Crimson Clover and rye grain in a 40acre pasture that was once part of Kayla’s grandfather’s extensive alfalfa hay operation. That pasture is used for winter forage and then harvested in the spring for haylage protected by several layers of plastic to retain its integrity. Austin also hays on halves with a neighboring farmer who has the needed equipment. The entire feeding process maximizes feed quality while minimizing costs. Austin laughed and said, “I do the work and Kayla is the brains.”

Having met the initial challenges of starting a new farming operation, the couple hopes to have significantly increased herd size in five years and perhaps start a family themselves.

Any family that has been in an area as long as Kayla’s is bound to have had a significant impact on local agriculture.

Kayla’s father, Leon Wallace, who had a good eye for cattle and was a good auctioneer, built Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction in Harrison. In 1976 and 1978, Leon was the runner-up World Auctioneer.

Austin and Kayla are hoping to one day be fulltime farmers continuing a 169-year family tradition in agriculture.

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Staying true to their Saler base herd Ron and Shelley Terrell introduce new breeds for hybird vigor Ron and Shelley Terrell have been married for 14 years and have a son, Damien, who is 10. Ron was raised on a farm in Stilwell, Okla. Shelley is from Chouteau, Okla.

“Dad always raised cattle as far back as I can remember. When I was a kid, we milked cows. I milked cows when I was

resilient and are good in cold weather,” he said. Ron has tried several different breeds to introduce hybrid vigor into his herd. “Mixed breed calves just do a lot better at the sale barn.” Ron has used Brahman and SimAngus bulls. He has a Watusi he bought from his father. “We keep her around to have something to

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in high school. I would much rather run a cow/calf operation,” Ron said. After Ron’s mother passed away and his father didn’t want to raise cattle anymore. Ron and Shelley bought his cattle, combined them with their own herd and leased his land. Ron and Shelley run cattle on 300 acres with 14 ponds. “We have done a lot of work on this place. About 90 percent of it we can bale,” he said.

Ron raises mostly Saler cattle for their low birth weights and easy calving. “The calves start out small but they grow into a big calf. They are pretty

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

look at,” he said. “She is as docile as can be until she has a calf.

“We are right at 110 cows right now.

We are fixing to add some heifers,” Ron said. He has been keeping heifers with Angus influence for the last few years.

“We kind of broke it up a little bit with Angus bulls. You have to do that once in a while because Saler has a tendency to grow a lot of hair.

Buyers would give Stilwell, Okla. you a lower price for cattle with long hair four or five years ago. We have kind of bred NOVEMBER 17, 2014

meet your neighbors that out of them over the years by mixing some Angus bulls in with them every three years or so,” he said. Ron is currently running three Saler bulls and one Angus. Saler cattle are mostly black but a red calf will surface occasionally. Ron keeps bulls with his cows year round.

“We do all natural. I never pull the bulls.

I didn’t want to go without a calf crop and didn’t want to go through the transition of pulling the bulls,” he said.

“We raise enough wheat to drill everything back into the main pasture and raise milo to grind for feed. We use creep feeders year round and creep feed all of our calves,” Ron said. He mixes milo with ground sudex hay. “We just keep our creep feeders full and free choice for the calves. It produces a pretty fat calf at six months,” he said. “Winter wheat really helps with the hay. We probably put up 1,000 bales a year. I’ve got two barns I keep full and this year I wound up stacking 300 bales outside. I only cut once because I had everything full,” he said.

Ron put a solar well and fresh water stations in two years ago. “I think having clean water even in the hot summer time has really paid off,” he said. “If I have the cows penned in the back side of the place, they will walk all the way over even in the summertime to drink from these troughs instead of drinking out of the ponds.” Ron thinks the troughs will pay for themselves in a few years and also likes keeping his cows out of the ponds.

Ron went to school to become a diesel mechanic because he had experience working on farm equipment growing up.

After working for John Deere for a number of years, Ron and Shelley opened Sundowner Tractor. They have been in business for 12 years. “We have a repair shop which is our local business. We do tractors and agricultural equipment. Our mechanics can fix anything. Everybody is certified in LS, Farmtrac and Montana repairs,” Shelley said. Customers can walk in for hay equipment or parts. Ron and Shelley also sell used equipment.

The major part of Ron and Shelley’s business is parts. “We ship worldwide.

We get the same parts for tractors when the distributors have gone out of business. We sell parts worldwide to other dealers and end users for Vicon, Horst, Durabuilt, Hycapacity, Tisco, Tonutti and A&I,” Shelley said. “We still sell original equipment manufacturer parts or OEM parts for these tractors. We try to stock for our local customer. We sell in store, online and over the phone and stock in warehouses throughout the United States,” she added.

Ron and Shelley run a wildlife rescue.

Shelley said, “This year we have had bat pups, a buzzard, deer, rabbits and squirrels.” Ron added, “We raised one doe deer basically in the house. The first year after we released her she had the tiniest baby. She raised it behind the shop.”

Shelley is a published author and is currently writing a series of books about children in foster care called Rag Dolls. Shelley and Ron were formerly foster parents.

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

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Barn Phone: 501-354-5900 NOVEMBER 17, 2014

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

9

ozarks

roots

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home

No Cabs, No GPS

Just Iron

By Stephanie Beltz-Price

Ozarks Older Iron Club welcomes guests to experience our agricultural heritage Nestled between Highway 60 and the railroad tracks in Cabool, Mo., is a place where you can step back in time. Between the semitrucks buzzing by on the highway and the trains carrying cargo across the country, sits the club grounds for the Ozarks Older Iron Club.

“Our main goal is to preserve as much agricultural history as possible through collecting and restoring antique equipment and showing those methods,” explained Ozarks Older Iron Club President David Melton. “We are proud to be able to educate people about how things used to be done.”

David has been a member of the club for 25 years. “My parents were members in the club and I’m proud to be part of the fourth generation. I have kids and grandchildren who are involved in the club. We are a family organization with members from 27 surrounding communities and even a few in Arkansas and Oklahoma.”

The Club History

In early 1988, a meeting was held to gauge the interest in forming an Antique Engine and Tractor Club. Twentynine people attended the first meeting and this was the beginning of the club.

Now the club has more than 130 members paying annual dues each year. They hold monthly meetings on the first Monday of each month.

“The Ozarks Older Iron Club is Branch 28 of the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association,” explained David. “They are a national organization formed in 1957 with membership only available through the local branches such as ours.

“Our club was established in 1988 and has been growing ever since then,” David added.

The Grounds and Shows

purchase 38 acres adjacent to the Chamber grounds and that’s where we’ve set-up shop ever since.”

They started construction on facilities and permanent buildings and have a “Tuesday Crew” of members who oversee this. “These groups of club members volunteer their time, machines and energy to keep the grounds mowed during the summer, keep equipment serviced and running at the grounds and build the new buildings as we have the funds,” David said.

“Currently we have a sawmill, a blacksmith and wheelwright area at the grounds, along with two large storage and display areas, a pulling track and plans for continued additions and improvements,” David proudly stated.

“During our show this fall we also hosted demonstrations including old-time harvesting procedures such as baling hay at a stationary baler that is on display and we had a display to show thrashing techniques of the past as well as having the other areas up and running,” he said. “We also had a molasses making demonstrations in one of our permanent displays throughout the day that was a hit.”

The Future of the Club

“We have two shows a year, one in May and one in October at our club grounds in Cabool,” said David.

“We started the shows in West Plains at the Heart of the Ozarks Fair Grounds, but as our shows grew and our membership base grew, we moved them to a more central location in Cabool.

“We were hosting the shows at the Chamber of Commerce grounds in Cabool and like West Plains it was borrowed ground,” David explained. “In 2001 we had the opportunity to

10

Tractor Pulls

In conjunction with the shows, they host a tractor pull for antique and classic tractors.

“This is a chance for tractor owners to show off their tractors and see other tractors in competition,” explained Josh Friend, club vice president, a member of the club for 20 years.

“One of the unique aspects of our tractor pulls is our Junior Pull,” explained Josh. “You officially have to be 13-yearsold to join EDGE&TA, so we’ve developed a junior member group of our club, the Ozarks Older Iron Club.”

“This is one of the ways we are getting the younger generations involved,” added David. “Many times kids come with their parents and grandparents to meetings and the shows and we want them to have ownership in the club as well, so that’s how the junior member club got started.”

“In regards to the tractor pull, they can only participate once they have passed a safety course, including a review of them on the tractor,” explained Josh. “This is something that we complete at the tractor show. The child has to be big enough to actually handle the tractor by themselves, no matter how proficient they might be regarding safety of the machinery.

“We want to include junior members but safety is top priority for our pulls and shows no matter your age,” added Josh.

The future of the Ozarks Older Iron Club is actually rooted in the past. “We are trying to preserve agricultural history through the machinery and mechanics of the old days,” explained David. “To do that we need to continue to educate people about these things.”

Josh Friend, Club Vice President Photo by Stephanie Beltz-Price

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

eye on

agri-business meeting the needs of farmers

Bar Broken Heart Saddlery Owners: Joe and Kathy Lester Location: Kansas, Okla.

History: “I started in junior high school in an industrial education class when I was in the eighth grade making belts. My dad and uncle had a welding shop so I got into building spurs. Then I got interested in saddle and saddle tree making. I cowboyed for a while in Canada. I needed a lot of different things. Out of necessity, I learned to make them. Kathy and I developed Bar Broken Heart Saddlery from there. We have been here for 22 years. There are a lot of good saddle makers out there who have never been on a horse. If you spend 10 to 15 hours a day in a saddle, you will learn a whole lot about how one ought to feel when you sit in it. It makes a lot of difference.”

Products and Services: “We do a lot of different leather work. With the introduction of the Internet and the computer, we sell all over the country. We make 60 to 70 percent of all of our leather goods. We do repair and custom work saddles, tack and just about anything a cowboy in this part of the county is going to need. A big part of our business is repair and rebuilds. If you have a design you want on a custom job that represents who you are and you want to put it on leather, Kathy can make that design or can design something for you. It can be painted, dyed or hand tooled. We build in the Texas style saddles. We also do a lot of rodeo type equipment. You kind of have to know the difference in the equipment and what a guy is looking for. You have to study a lot of cowboy lore, traditions. How it fits, how it works. We make some special items. We make holsters, cross draw holsters and different things. We make a night latch. The night latch goes on the swell of the saddle. It is simply a strap or handle that you can get a hold of to give you a little extra support in the saddle. Back in the trail driver days, the old cowboys had a night horse that they rode circle on at night. It was dark and if your horse had to move pretty fast, you had to have a pretty good hold on him. Boys who ride green horses or colts like them because our handle is so easy to get a hold of.

We carry several flag holders all the time.

We make five or six different kinds of spur leathers or spur straps to suit rodeo or ranch cowboys. We carry eight or 10 pairs of really heavy split reins for cowboys, cutting horse and sorting people. We will make about anything you can come up with no matter what style you want.”

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

11

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Tim Bailey In Town: “I started as a traveling preacher 16 years ago, for congregations without one and then became the pastor at Plainview Baptist Church in Jay, Okla., before moving to Westville, Okla., and becoming the pastor at Old Baptist Mission eight years ago. I have also worked for 15 years in sales at Williams Tractor in Fayetteville, Ark., which carries recreational, industrial and farm equipment. I am married to Jennifer, my childhood sweetheart, who has an education degree and now stays active with our three children, Caleb, 10, Audrey, 6, and Emorie, 4.”

In the Country: “I grew up in Lincoln, Ark., where my parents always had commercial cattle. My wife and I chose to live in Westville, Okla., on small acreage so our children could learn and benefit from an agricultural lifestyle. We have a substantial garden and my wife encouraged me to buy a Jersey cow, so we could produce our own dairy products. However, the cow produces far more than we can use so I have bought a few commercial calves to use the surplus milk. It is a very good learning experience for our children to realize the responsibility of having the calves dependent upon them for a milk feeding. I had the opportunity to purchase the children some registered Angus heifers as well. They have sold bull calves and kept the heifers to build a pedigree herd. My dad has artificially bred cattle for years, so we have a great advantage in the bulls through that opportunity. These are small steps in teaching my children where food is produced rather than the grocery store and the work that is associated with that production.”

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479-968-3795

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Story and Photo

By Terry Ropp

©Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2014.

12

How the Two Complement Each Other: “Because I sometimes get to work with farmers, I can learn from their experiences. My town jobs allow Jennifer to stay at home with Emorie, the youngest, to make sure she is ready to excel when she goes to school like the older children already do.

We love how we live, and I hope in 10 years I will still be open to God’s leadership and my children will have learned the joy of accepting responsibility and being part of a farming life. Maybe they will have the same desires as I do when they become adults.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

Don’t Fuel the Fire

By Pam and Terry Lamb

Eliminate potential fire hazards in your home and on the farm with these tips The fire death rate of rural communities is roughly twice the rate of the rest of the United States according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The major issue in rural areas concerning fire is the distance between communities, residences and one out of four homes not have working smoke alarms. Heating is the leading cause of residential structure fires and deaths. Fixed heaters, including wood stoves, are involved in most rural residential heating fires. The leading cause of outside fires is open flame.

Forty-five percent of the rural outside fires were caused by open flame, 16 percent by arson, and 9 percent by natural causes. Rural residential fires were more likely to be caused by heating equipment, to occur in properties that had no smoke alarms, and to have flame damage extend to the entire structure. Figures obtained from Mitigation of the Rural Fire Problem report, December 2007 by NFPA/USFA. Hay is another potential fire hazard in rural areas because hay stores heat. If square bales or round bales are not stacked appropriately, they can burst into flame and go unnoticed for an extended length of time.

Rural fire services are the first line of defense but have some real challenges.

Nearly all rural fire departments are mostly, if not all, volunteer. Rural fire departments tend to be understaffed to meet national guidelines for effective response. Travel distances are longer tending to make fires harder to handle once fire department staff are able to reach a fire.

“Be sure to keep a clear area around heat sources. Make sure drop down heaters don’t have too rich or lean fuel and have a good blue flame. Fire departments are restricted concerning how much water they can carry with them.

It is a good idea to have a static water source available. Be sure to have your address clearly marked. Membership with a local fire department often helps to reduce insurance premiums,” said Lowell Butler, Battalion Leader for the Siloam Spring Fire Department. Rural residents should check to see if nearby towns have rural programs. Connections with neighbors and friends can also be very effective in helping to prevent a fire from getting out of hand, because many rural residents work away from home.

NFPA/USFA recommendations for fire safety in rural areas include: 7. Use the proper fuel. Don’t use gasoline in a propane heater.

1. Get a fire alarm and keep it maintained.

8. Have a professional review your electric service. Use arc fault 2. Protect structure by using fire resistant materials; cover all exterior circuit Interrupter (AFCI) circuit breakers. Use the right light bulbs with vents, attics and eaves with three millimeter metal mesh screens. the right wattage. Signs of electrical problems include an acrid odor, 3. Develop an escape plan, make sure to practice it with family and flickering lights, tripped circuit breakers, blown fuses and a warm outlet inform neighbors. Keep fire emergency contact information available. or switch.

4. If you smoke, smoke outdoors, use stable ashtrays on a stable sur9. Make sure that outdoor burning of trash, brush or other waste is face and extinguish all cigarette butts. done in accordance with local laws regarding permits, notification of 5. Have space heaters checked, buy the right heater for the job, allow 3 authorities, and times and allowable ways of burning. Avoid burning feet of open space around space heaters, make sure plugins have caon windy, dry days. Never use flammable or combustible liquids. pacity for the space heater and turn them off when you leave the room.

10. Make sure there is a sign, a street number or some other marker 6. Make sure wood heat sources are properly vented and use the clearly visible from the nearest street. right type of wood. Have heating systems inspected by a certified specialist and cleaned annually.

NOVEMBER 17, 2014 Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

13

Benton County Sale Barn, Inc. farm health & insurance 20 Years of Serving the Tri-State Area

Sale Every Thursday at 12 p.m.

Affordable Health Care: Your Questions Answered

By Stacy Johnson

Same Great Services, New Lower Rates!

New Commission Rates Effective 9/19/13 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

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As part of the Affordable Care Act, most U.S. citizens were required to have health insurance beginning in 2014. In 2015, there is a penalty if you’re not excluded for a particular reason. Wondering why health insurance is so important, we sat down with Cynthia Hogue, Director of Patient Access of Sparks Health System and Summit Medical Center to find out.

having health insurmandatory?

Q Isance

A

Yes, with few exceptions, most U.S. citizens are required to have health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in 2010. Those who do not have minimum essential health coverage – like through an employer – and don’t qualify for an exemption, will have to pay a penalty fee if they don’t get health insurance.

Q What is that penalty?

A

If you can afford health insurance coverage in 2015, but don’t sign up, you will have to pay a penalty ($325 per adult, $162.40 per child – up to $975 per family or 2% of income whichever is higher). And without insurance, you’ll be financially responsible for all of your medical costs.

YOUR CHOICE WHEN YOU PURCHASE A QUALIFYING MODEL TO 60 mo 0% UP

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UP TO

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Offer ends December 31st, 2014. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Rebates and/or financing based on the purchase of eligible equipment defined in promotional program. Pricing and rebates in US dollars. Financing is subject to credit approval. Customers must take delivery prior to the end of the program period. Some customers will not qualify. Some restrictions apply. Offer available on new equipment only. Prior purchases are not eligible. Offer valid only at participating Dealers. See your dealer for details.

ARTRAC Sales & Rentals

14

479-705-2200 219 Taylor Road, Clarksville, AR 72830 WWW.ARTRAC.COM

Q A

Who is exempt from having to get health insurance?

The list is long, but here are a few reasons why a person might be exempt: • Coverage is unaffordable (more than 8 percent of household income) • You are a member of federally recognized tribe • You are below tax filing threshold and not required to file taxes • You have been uninsured for less than three consecutive months during the year

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Q A

When can a person purchase health insurance?

For the Health Insurance Marketplace, enrollment periods are only for a specified time during the year. The next enrollment period is from November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015.

You can only purchase insurance outside of that time period if you have a qualifying life event, such as a marriage, divorce, new baby, and change of income, to name a few.

You are considered covered if you have Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, any jobbased plan, any plan you’ve purchased yourself, COBRA, retiree coverage, Tricare, VA health coverage.

Q

How much does health insurance cost?

Q

What types of plans are there?

Q

Is help available if you can’t afford health insurance?

A

Each plan varies in terms of overall cost and depends on the amount of premium and deductible you choose. You may also have an annual deductible.

A

There are four levels of qualified health plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace: platinum, gold, silver and bronze. Each category has a different monthly premium costs, as well as deductible. There are a lot of affordable options on the Health Insurance Marketplace and you can compare each plan side by side so you can find the plan that meets you and/or your family’s needs.

A

The federal government can assist some individuals and families with their premium costs by providing subsidies to those who qualify based on their income.

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

farm health & insurance Are you working Cattle, or are they working YOU? For example, if a family of four had an income of about $40,000 in 2014, they may be eligible for subsidy assistance on premium costs that exceed 5 percent of their income. If that same family of four purchases a Silver plan that might cost them around $9,400 per year, they could eligible to receive subsidy assistance of up to almost $7,400; which means they would only be responsible for about $2,000 of the insurance premium costs themselves.

Q A

What if you have a preexisting condition?

You cannot be excluded from coverage for any preexisting condition. And, equally important, parents can cover their children up to age 26 on their insurance plan.

What do I need to do if I enrolled last year Q and have coverage?

A

The federal government has announced that for those consumers who are already enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2014, they will have an automatic enrollment option to select the same health plan coverage in 2015. Of course, these individuals and families have the option to shop for other coverage choices, as well. The Marketplace enrollment tools spell out the steps consumers will need to take for either the option to auto-enroll in the same health insurance coverage, or to shop for other choices.

Q A

What else does a health insurance cover?

In addition to pre-existing conditions, all qualified health plans must offer: • Ambulatory patient services • Hospitalization and emergency services • Maternity and newborn care • Mental Health and substance use disorder • Prescription drugs • Lab services • Preventative and wellness services • Chronic disease management • Pediatric services, including dental and vision care Of course, you have to meet your deductible before insurance pays.

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

preventive care services covered at no Q Are charge?

$5,995.00

A

Yes, qualified plans cover many preventive care screenings, tests and services such as vaccinations that can help adults and children stay healthy. And the best news is, they’re free – no copays or deductibles. Depending on your age, gender and other risk factors, your doctor may tell you it’s time for a mammogram, colonoscopy or other screening that can detect cancer or disease in its earliest, most treatable stages. Or, it may be time to screen for high blood pressure or high cholesterol to give your doctor information that can help prevent a stroke or heart attack.

For women, many preventive care screenings, tests and supplies that can help with family planning and pregnancy are now covered, along with services such as these: • Well-woman checkups • Contraceptives and birth control counseling • Screenings during pregnancy for a variety of conditions • Breastfeeding supplies, support and counseling

Q A

Q-Catch 8400 Squeese Chute • Operates from any position without adjustment • Push pull operation with no adjustment required • Side gates have new design slam-shut latches • 3 different head restraint options • Fully Sheeted auto locking rear sliding door • 5 year warranty

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What other types of health insurance are available?

Many families with limited income will qualify for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and they can enroll any time of the year. Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In some states the program covers all low-income adults below a certain income level. CHIP provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. In some states, CHIP covers parents and pregnant women. Each state offers CHIP coverage, and works closely with its state Medicaid program.

Stacy Johnson is the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for Sparks Health System in Fort Smith, Ark.

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

15

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 11/2/14 to 11/8/14)

271.46 265.00

Week of 10/12/14

254.19 250.00 265.00 *

Arkansas Cattle Auction, LLC

111.00-136.00 † 1

Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock Clinton Livestock

USDA Failed to Report † 121.00-143.50 †

* 251.87 253.31 273.47

** 277.15 242.00

70

255.96

116.00-152.00 † Not Reported*

90

Week of 10/19/14

255.32

119.00-131.50 † 108.00-142.00 † 125.00-136.00* 94.00-134.50 †

110

130

150

170

190

cows

slaughter

257.57 245.50

Springfield, Mo. • Springfield Livestock Marketing

116.00-141.00 † 113.00-134.00 †

244.24

(Week of 11/2/14 to 11/8/14)

250.00

Arkansas Cattle Auction

83.00-117.00 † USDA Failed to Report † 79.00-130.00 †

Ash Flat

**

Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock Clinton Livestock

250.02 252.16 255.00

85.00-120.00* 92.00-112.00 † 70.00-119.00* 97.00-110.00 †

County Line Sale Decatur Livestock Auction

263.91

100.00-134.00* 100.00-135.00*

Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Livestock - Springdale Ft. Smith Livestock I-40 Livestockk Joplin Regional Stockyards Mo-Ark - Exeter North Arkansas Livestock

241.46 278.21 * 261.37 239.44

84.00-129.00 † 70.00-119.00 † 60.00-115.00 † 83.00-139.00 † Not Reported* 86.00-119.00 † 84.00-126.00 † 79.00-119.00 † 85.00-130.00 † 100.00-130.00*

OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Auction Ozarks Regional Stockyard Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock

258.54 ** 260.73 *

40

239.98

60

70.00-121.00 †

80

100

120

11/9/14

dairy cattle

112.00-139.50 †

OKC West - El Reno Livestock Ouachita Livestock Auction - Ola Ozarks Regional Stockyard Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock

cattle

5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 164.00-168.00; wtd. avg. price 166.02.

Heifers: 165.00-168.00; wtd. avg. price 166.36.

Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 260.00-264.00; wtd. avg. price 262.00.

Heifers: 260.00-264.00; wtd. avg. price 262.17.

116.00-140.00 † 1 115.00-150.00* 1 115.00-137.00* 117.00-143.50 † 1 108.00-138.00 †

Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Livestock - Springdale Ft. Smith Livestock I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mo-Ark - Exeter North Arkansas Livestock

250.58

beef

Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle

117.00-146.00* 119.00-132.00 † 102.00-137.00*

County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction

* 238.49

Week of 10/26/14

bulls

140

160

10/28/2014

Receipts: 848 Demand very good, supply heavy with higher quality than recent sales. There were 05 percent springer heifers, 21 percent bred heifers, 16 percent open heifers, 03 percent fresh heifers and cows, 05 percent bred and springer cows, and 11 percent baby calves.

The balance was steers, bulls and slaughter cows.

Several milking cows and bred heifers sold by the pound. Holsteins unless noted otherwise. Prices reported on a per head basis.

Springer Heifers bred seven to nine months: Supreme 2300.00-2675.00, Approved 2025.00-2250.00, Medium 1600.00-1975.00, Common 1350.00-1500.00.

Heifers bred three to six months: Supreme 2200.00-2375.00, Approved 1900.00-2175.00, few crossbreds 1500.00-1725.00, Medium 1400.001875.00, pkg 3 Jerseys 1685.00, few crossbreds 1375.00-1475.00, Common 825.00-1375.00, few crossbreds 1000.00-1300.00.

Heifers bred one to three months: Supreme ind 2000.00, Approved 1600.00-1935.00, Medium 1175.001400.00, few Jerseys 1310.00-1450.00, crossbreds 1100.00-1350.00, Common few 950.00-1000.00.

Open Heifers: Approved 175-295 lbs 400.00-600.00, Jerseys 440.00-680.00, crossbreds 310.00-520.00, 310390 lbs 530.00-780.00, pkg 4 regtr at 335 lbs 840.00, crossbreds 570.00-620.00, 409-475 lbs 580.00-830.00, Jerseys 850.00-910.00, crossbreds 630.00-740.00, 535-591 lbs 800.00-1040.00, few Jerseys 810.00-930.00, crossbreds 800.00-820.00, 602-690 lbs 1090.00-1140.00, pkg 3 Jerseys 1010.00, crossbreds 810.00-1180.00, 728-803 lbs 1340.00-1450.00, crossbreds 1020.00-1240.00, Medium 510-600 lbs few 650.00-830.00, few crossbreds 550.00725.00, 610-685 lbs few 760.00-770.00, 704-764 lbs crossbreds 710.00-800.00.

249.42 253.27 269.74

** 280.57

951

257.77

Week of 11/2/14

266.90

Steers, Med. & Lg. 1

247.99

300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

253.86 269.85 260.93

Bulls, Med. & Lg. 1

* 241.49 254.25 256.53 273.87 268.06

195

216 237 258 279 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

300

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

16 16

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.

2-5 Higher 280.00-320.00 260.00-307.50 235.00-282.50 225.00-240.00 220.00-224.00 ----240.00-275.00 229.00-255.00 218.00-233.00 ----250.00-290.00 240.00-277.50 220.00-240.00 200.00-222.00 -----

Ash Flat Livestock

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

-----

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs 11/6/14

-----

870

-----

sheep &

goats

Diamond, Mo. • TS Whites Sheep and Goat Sale

11/6/14

Receipts: 1601 Supply was heavy Demand good. The supply included 23 percent slaughter and feeder lambs; 2 percent slaughter ewes and bucks; 10 percent replacement ewes and bucks; 42 percent kid goats; 17 percent slaughter nannies and billies; 6 percent replacement nannies and billies. All prices per hundred weight unless noted otherwise.

Sheep: Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 wooled and shorn non-traditional 60-80 lbs 185.00-205.00; 80-100 lbs 150.00-170.00; traditional 100-159 lbs 140.00-177.50. hair 60-70 lbs 175.00-217.50; 70-80 lbs 175.00-210.00; 80-90 lbs 180.00-210.00; 90-100 lbs 165.00-175.00; 100130 lbs 145.00-170.00.

Feeder/Stocker Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 hair 30-40 lbs 175.00-275.00; 40-50 lbs 232.50-250.00; 50-60 lbs 250.00-260.00.

Slaughter Ewes: Utility and Good 1-2 wooled 118-193 lbs 90.00-140.00; hair 60-165 lbs 60.00-110.00.

Slaughter Bucks: hair 125-140 lbs few 70.00-90.00.

Replacement Sheep: Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 wooled 135-225 lbs 82.50110.00; hair: 80-145 lbs 80.00-125.00.

Bucks: wooled 190-235 lbs 75.00-130.00; hair 120-150 lbs 100.00-105.00.

Goats: Slaughter Classes: Kids Selection: 1 40-50 lbs 235.00250.00; 50-60 lbs 230.00-237.50; 60-70 lbs 230.00240.00; 70-90 lbs 215.00-230.00. Selection 2 40-50

lbs 170.00-227.50; 50 210.00-235.00; 70-90 160.00. Selection 3 7 Does/Nannies: Sele Selection 3 98-126 lb Billies: Selection 1 1 2 105-140 lbs 115.00 115.00-125.00.

Replacement Nanni head. Selection 1-2 1 Selection 3 Dairy 68 Replacement Billies 175.00. Selection 2 1 3 100-115 lbs 105.00 Stocker/Feeder Kids 260.00; 30-40 lbs 205 lbs 160.00-200.00; 30 180.00-205.00; 50-60 195.00-220.00.

Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo L

Receipts: 884 Supply was moderat included 40 percent percent slaughter ew ment ewes and buck slaughter nannies a nannies and billies. unless noted otherw Sheep: Slaughter Lambs: C non-traditional 80-9 lbs 175.00-190.00; 70 152.50-169.00; 90-10 Feeder/Stocker Lam 30-40 lbs 205.00-210 lbs 180.00-200.00.

Slaughter Ewes: Me lbs 60.00-69.00.

Slaughter Bucks: ha Replacement Ewes: 166 lbs 68.00-76.00; Replacement Bucks Goats: Slaughter Classes: K 213.00. Selection 1-2 lbs 201.00-210.00; 70 lbs 132.50-135.00. S

stocker & feeder

pr

Clinton Livestock Auction* 11/6/14

County Line Sale Ratcliff 11/5/14

Decatur Livestock*

11/5/14

Cleburne Co. - Heber Springs 11/3/14

1270

589

532

165

865

408

539

1-25 Higher

St-10 Higher

2-8 Higher

Steady

8-12 Higher

St-5 Higher

2-3 Lower

2-24 Higher

3-10

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

321.00-380.00 287.00-328.00 246.00-308.00 229.00-241.00 -----

285.00-343.00 270.00-330.00 245.00-291.00 220.00-250.00 215.00-227.00

280.00-330.00 257.00-300.00 242.50-262.00 232.00-242.00 -----

270.00-360.00 240.00-332.00 199.00-288.00 186.00-255.00 180.00-233.00

302.50-340.00 287.50-310.00 282.50-295.00 238.00 219.00

300.00-382.00 290.00-320.00 270.00-294.00 220.00-247.00 205.00-230.00

316.00-357.00 272.00-316.00 258.00-272.00 240.00-258.00 -----

320.00-387.50 297.50-340.00 252.50-315.00 231.00-251.00 -----

315.0 296.0 254.0 227.0 -

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

306.00-329.00 285.00-328.00 235.00-307.00 220.00-234.00 214.00-222.00

265.00-330.00 245.00-323.00 235.00-275.00 205.00-241.00 185.00-225.00

----245.00-277.50 235.00-255.00 210.00-232.00 212.00-216.00

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

--------235.00-242.50 230.00 -----

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

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

317.50-365.00 285.00-320.00 238.00-300.00 217.50-240.00 210.00-221.00

270.0 240.0 218.0 209.0

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

275.00-303.00 241.00-270.00 219.00-255.00 207.00-222.00 200.00-211.00

250.00-298.00 235.00-281.00 210.00-250.00 200.00-221.00 190.00-216.00

250.00-310.00 240.00-263.00 216.00-242.00 215.00-222.00 -----

225.00-305.00 220.00-266.00 210.00-233.00 207.00-226.00 212.25

280.00-295.00 275.00-287.50 230.00-232.50 ---------

285.00-320.00 255.00-280.00 230.00-248.00 215.00-235.00 190.00-220.00

268.00-298.00 257.00-268.00 250.00-257.00 232.00-250.00 -----

275.00-310.00 241.00-280.00 227.00-254.00 215.00-229.00 206.00-210.00

303.0 256.0 226.0 217.0 -

86'$ )$,/(' 72 5(3257

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy 11/4/14

251.04

Replacement Cows: Fresh Cows: Supreme few 1950.00-2050.00, ind Jersey 2300.00, Approved 1475.00-1825.00, ind crossbred 1500.00, Medium 1075.00-1250.00.

Springer Cows: Supreme 1800.00-1875.00, Approved 1600.00-1700.00, Medium 1400.00-1525.00, crossbreds 1375.00-1700.00, Common few crossbreds 1090.00-1100.00.

Bred Cows: Approved ind Jersey 1775.00, Medium 1200.00-1500.00, Common few Jerseys 1050.00.

Baby Calves: Holstein heifers 280.00-410.00, Holstein bulls 330.00-480.00, small 120.00-310.00, Jersey bulls 75.00-140.00, Crossbred heifers 210.00-280.00, Crossbred bulls 290.00-340.00, small 110.00-190.00, Beef cross bulls 280.00-480.00.

11/4/14

Farmer’s & Farmers Ranchers Livestock Vinita, Okla.* Springdale 11/5/14 11/7/14

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

Ft. S Live

11/

5

ket sales reports

oats

Sale

11/6/14

supply included s; 2 percent t replacement ; 17 percent nt replacement ndred weight

-3 wooled and -205.00; 80-100 lbs 140.00-177.50.

175.00-210.00; 5.00-175.00; 100-

Large 1-2 hair .50-250.00; 50-60

wooled 118-193 -110.00.

70.00-90.00.

135-225 lbs 82.50-

00; hair 120-150

0-50 lbs 235.000 lbs 230.00tion 2 40-50

Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo Livestock Market

10/28/14

Receipts: 884 Supply was moderate demand good. The supply included 40 percent slaughter and feeder lambs; 6 percent slaughter ewes and bucks; 5 percent replacement ewes and bucks; 36 percent kid goats; 6 percent slaughter nannies and billies; 7 percent replacement nannies and billies. All prices per hundred weight unless noted otherwise.

Sheep: Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 wooled non-traditional 80-90 lbs 150.00-157.50; hair 60-70 lbs 175.00-190.00; 70-80 lbs 162.50-187.50; 80-90 lbs 152.50-169.00; 90-105 lbs 130.00-158.00.

Feeder/Stocker Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 hair 30-40 lbs 205.00-210.00; 40-50 lbs 186.00-215.00; 50-60 lbs 180.00-200.00.

Slaughter Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 hair 125-175 lbs 60.00-69.00.

Slaughter Bucks: hair 80-135 lbs 100.00.

Replacement Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 wooled 133166 lbs 68.00-76.00; hair 90-122 lbs 74.00-105.00.

Replacement Bucks: hair 125-140 lbs 75.00-81.00.

Goats: Slaughter Classes: Kids Selection: 1 60-70 lbs 206.00213.00. Selection 1-2 40-50 lbs 207.50-212.50; 50-60 lbs 201.00-210.00; 70-80 lbs 160.00-166.00; 100-108 lbs 132.50-135.00. Selecton 2 60-70 lbs 184.00-200.00.

feeder

prices

10.58

12

5.27

5.42

4 0 Blyt

10.61

10.43

5.42

5.53

le na hevil Hele

e

Elain

5.29

3.25

eola

Osc

usta

Aug

Pine

Bluf

Week of 10/12/14

252.73

** 240.23

1500.00-1975.00 †

2000

Ft. Smith Livestock I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mo-Ark - Exeter North Arkansas OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Ozarks Regional Stockyard Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock

10.24

5.12

3.80

f

0

3000

4000

1000

*

5000

232.42

pairs

2050.00-2475.00 † USDA Failed to Report † None Reported † 1300.00-2375.00 * None Reported † 1600.00-2850.00 *

223.12 234.01 225.55 225.40 * ** 217.97 226.51 231.13 250.03

2000.00-3100.00* 2000.00-2980.00* None Reported † None Reported †

* 242.44

1675.00-1900.00 †

226.88

2000.00-2925.00 †

239.58

Not Reported* 1225.00-3000.00 † 1950.00-3150.00 † 1750.00-1775.00 † 1550.00-2900.00 † 2400.00-2800.00 * None Reported †

2000

3000

4000

223.21 237.97 ** 223.20 224.00

5000

224.64 222.12 227.94

11/3/14

539

590

700

4645

-3 Lower

2-24 Higher

3-10 Higher

2-12 Higher

St-10 Higher

6.00-357.00 2.00-316.00 8.00-272.00 0.00-258.00 -----

320.00-387.50 297.50-340.00 252.50-315.00 231.00-251.00 -----

315.00-365.00 296.00-312.50 254.00-273.00 227.00-257.50 -----

312.50-390.00 307.50-335.00 255.00-305.00 238.00-254.00 211.00-220.00

320.00-335.00 270.00-325.00 247.50-290.00 226.00-255.00 221.00-243.00

317.50-365.00 285.00-320.00 238.00-300.00 217.50-240.00 210.00-221.00

----270.00-285.00 240.00-250.00 218.00-225.00 209.00-217.00

----270.00-275.00 240.00-272.50 ---------

315.00-337.50 275.00-305.00 230.00-248.00 224.00 -----

275.00-310.00 241.00-280.00 227.00-254.00 215.00-229.00 206.00-210.00

303.00-313.00 256.00-317.50 226.00-236.00 217.00-223.00 -----

290.00-315.00 262.00-283.00 220.00-234.00 215.00-227.00 215.00-219.00

275.00-330.00 242.50-277.50 220.00-247.00 210.00-240.00 222.00-223.00

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

10.63 7.31

8

231.35

1075.00-1925.00 † 1200.00-2900.00 †

Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Cleburne County Livestock Clinton Livestock Auction 1200.00 † County Line Sale Decatur Livestock Farmer’s & Ranchers Farmers Livestock - Springdale

Sorghum

230.91 203.41 231.05

(Week of 11/2/14 to 11/8/14)

16

408

8.00-298.00 7.00-268.00 0.00-257.00 2.00-250.00 -----

Corn

228.70 224.23

227.78 226.01

110.00-130.00 † Prices reported per cwt 1100.00-2900.00 † 1800.00-2250.00 *

1000

*

85.00-182.50 † Prices reported per cwt 1050.00-2050.00 † 1100.00-2500.00 † Not Reported*

Arkansas Cattle Auction Ash Flat Livestock

20

I-40 Livestock Ozark 11/6/14

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

Ft. Smith Livestock

Soft Wheat

1600.00-2200.00 * 1300.00-2375.00 †

cow/calf

Week Ended 11/10/14

Soybeans

1150.00-2100.00 * 115.00-125.00 † Prices reported per cwt 1125.00-2450.00 * 111.00-143.00 † Prices reported per cwt 1800.0-2700.00*

OKC West - El Renoo Ouachita Livestock Ozarks Regional Stilwell Livestock Tulsa Livestock

avg. grain prices

Joplin Regional Stockyards 11/3/14

Mo-Ark Exeter, Mo.* -----

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest 11/5/14

OKC West - El Reno, Okla.

11/5/14

Ouachita Livestock Ola, Ark. 11/7/14

Ozarks Regional West Plains 11/4/14

Stilwell Livestock Auction* 11/5/14

Tulsa Livestock Auction.

11/3/14

-----

724

5969

545

2585

1824

2560

-----

St-19 Higher

St-2 Higher

-----

2-10 Higher

Higher

Steady

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

342.00-347.50 281.00-352.50 256.00-299.00 230.00-262.50 230.00-235.00

385.00-426.00 290.00-365.00 256.00-317.00 229.00-275.00 224.00-249.00

310.00-366.00 300.00-340.00 265.00-296.00 225.00-253.00 218.00-232.50

320.00-350.00 300.00-335.00 257.50-287.50 237.50-257.00 234.00-262.50

300.00-380.00 285.00-330.00 240.00-305.00 230.00-255.00 210.00-235.00

325.00-336.00 313.00-335.00 266.00-286.00 233.00-256.00 226.00-235.00

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

----292.00-317.50 233.00-270.00 220.00-230.00 193.00

----298.00-330.00 241.00-290.00 217.00-249.50 215.00-220.00

290.00-301.00 272.50-287.50 240.00-262.50 221.00-237.00 212.50-225.00

315.00 270.00-285.00 242.50-260.00 ---------

285.00-365.00 270.00-310.00 225.00-265.00 210.00-245.00 200.00-225.00

300.00-304.00 263.00-287.00 243.00-269.00 225.00-236.00 205.00-220.00

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

295.00-313.00 248.00-290.00 227.00-267.00 225.00-240.00 -----

305.00-385.00 273.00-321.00 239.50-275.00 219.00-256.00 210.00-244.00

305.00-320.00 260.00-295.00 223.00-248.00 212.00-231.00 190.00-212.00

290.00-310.00 255.00-290.00 240.00-267.50 216.00-233.00 207.00-218.00

270.00-320.00 240.00-280.00 225.00-255.00 210.00-225.00 190.00-220.00

265.00-284.00 259.00-271.00 235.00-255.00 230.00-239.00 218.00-224.00

127 5(3257('

rmer’s & Farmers anchers Livestock ta, Okla.* Springdale 11/5/14 11/7/14

County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Market Farmer’s & Ranchers Farmers Livestock Ft. Smith Livestock I-40 Livestock Joplin Regional Mo-Ark - Exeter North Arkansas

0

238.61 220.00 236.98

USDA Failed to Report † 1125.00-2050.00 †

Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Salee Cattlemen’s Cleburne County Clinton County

11/7/14

Cheese: Barrels closed at $2.1200 and 40# blocks at $2.2000. The weekly average for barrels is $2.1290 (+.0945) and blocks, $2.1780 (+.0520).

Fluid Milk: On farm milk production is steady across the northern tier of states. Milk haulers serving those regions indicated declines in milk load volumes have tapered down. In the South Central and Southwest areas, California and Florida, milk production is increasing. Milder weather throughout this southern tier has improved cow comfort. Bottler orders are generally steady to declining as some school systems will not operate meal programs next Tuesday. However, orders for Thanksgiving week are increasing as that is generally an active week for consumer sales of milk products.

SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Midwest - $2.2080-2.4288.

**

† 1 1150.00-1825.00

Arkansas Cattle

dairy sales

National Dairy Market at a Glance

cows

(Week of 11/2/14 to 11/8/14)

Selection 3 50-60 lbs 180.00-203.00.

Does/Nannies: Selection 1-2 77-140 lbs 80.00-115.00. Selection 3 105-150 lbs 87.50-97.50.

Billies: Selection 1-2 135-260 lbs 85.00-105.00. Selection 2-3 aged weathers 80-148 lbs 85.00-120.00. Selection 3 60-120 lbs 80.00-111.00.

Replacement Nannies: Selection 1 76-140 lbs 130.00-135.00 cwt with a few 135.00-265.00 per head. Selection 2 80-100 lbs 100.00-135.00 cwt. Selection 3 dairy 87.50-130.00 per head.

Billies: Selection 1 185.00-240.00 per head. Selection 3 130150 lbs 107.50-109.00 cwt.

Stocker/Feeder Kids: Selection 2-3 30-40 lbs 200.00-235.00.

Selection 3 40-50 lbs 150.00-180.00.

Week of 10/19/14

.00, Medium 1050.00.

410.00, Holstein 00, Jersey 10.00-280.00, 10.00-190.00, Beef

replacement

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

Week of 10/26/14

875.00, Approved 1525.00, n few crossbreds

lbs 170.00-227.50; 50-60 lbs 185.00-230.00; 60-70 lbs 210.00-235.00; 70-90 180.00-205.00; 90-100 lbs 150.00160.00. Selection 3 70-80 lbs 205.00-230.00.

Does/Nannies: Selection 1-2 114-150 lbs 90.00-125.00.

Selection 3 98-126 lbs 115.00-120.00.

Billies: Selection 1 170-195 lbs 100.00-120.00. Selection 2 105-140 lbs 115.00-150.00. Selection 3 118-205 lbs 115.00-125.00.

Replacement Nannies: Selection 1 145.00-165.00 per head. Selection 1-2 115-140 lbs 115.00-135.00 cwt.

Selection 3 Dairy 68-150 lbs 100.00-135.00.

Replacement Billies: Selection 1 105-170 lbs 130.00175.00. Selection 2 100-160 lbs 125.00-170.00. Selection 3 100-115 lbs 105.00-115.00.

Stocker/Feeder Kids: Selection 2 20-30 225.00260.00; 30-40 lbs 205.00-280.00. Selection 3 20-30 lbs 160.00-200.00; 30-40 lbs 180.00-220.00; 40-50 lbs 180.00-205.00; 50-60 lbs 190.00-220.00; 60-70 lbs 195.00-220.00.

heifers 550-600 LBS.

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

225.32 242.96

** 253.21 229.52 236.76 Week of 11/2/14

preme few Approved 00, Medium

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

224.08 227.51 226.89 225.67 231.38 223.12 224.20 236.63 237.73 246.40

180

200 220 240 260 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

280

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

17 17

What’s Happening

at OFN?

Farm Machinery & Trucks Issue, Country Christmas Issue December 8th Ad Space Reservation Deadline: November 21st

What’s inside?

This issue will contain tips for keeping your diesel engine on the road and in the field longer, pros and cons of leasing vs purchasing farm equipment, plus advice for getting your livestock, pastures and farm budget ready for 2015, and much more. This issue will also feature our Country Christmas Cookbook, which will be filled with recipes your family will enjoy!

Farm Programs & Incentives Issue December 29th Ad Space Reservation Deadline: December 12th

What’s inside?

This issue will take a look at forage crop insurance, explain the EQUIP program and the types of projects it covers, address the new Dairy Margin Protection Program and much more.

Deadlines are approaching quickly, call today to place your ad and reach more than 34,000 readers!

PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753 • ofn@ozarksfn.com

1-866-532-1960 • ozarksfn.com

18

farm health & insurance

Spray and Store Wisely

By Amanda Erichsen

Know the recommended chemical safety procedures to keep you and your family safe on the farm When it comes to spraying and handling chemicals on the farm, we need to remember to take the proper precautions so we apply the chemicals properly and keep our selves, families and animals safe.

Bob Scott, professor and extension specialist in weed science at the University of Arkansas Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences instructs that label directions must always be read and followed. “Most labels spell out specific requirements for safety and precautions,” he added. “To avoid spills, mix chemicals in areas where spills or accidents can be contained.”

When preparing and spraying chemicals, Scott reminds producers that the instructions are different for every product. “If tank mixing two products together allows follow the most restrictive recommendations for personal protective equipment (PPE).”

Clothing and accessories to wear is described very thoroughly at the beginning of every label. “Most pesticides require a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, closedtoe shoes and gloves. It is also best to use rubber or nitrile gloves, not latex (from medical industry),” said Reid Smeda, professor and weed physiologist for the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Missouri. “Goggles and sometimes even a respirator should be worn for pesticide applications.”

Procedures for cleaning clothing after chemical application should be approached with common sense, Smeda added. “I recommend washing contaminated clothing separately from other clothing of family members. I pre-soak my application clothing in warm water with soap in a 5-gallon bucket, then wash.”

Smeda recommends that producers wash hands with soap and warm water. The applicator should then take a shower and thoroughly clean with soap/shampoo.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

“Producers should realize that animals and pets will travel through treated areas and potentially collect pesticide residue,” Smeda said. “This could contaminate family members or the producers. Keep pets and family members out of treated areas for at least the label-stated re-entry interval.”

According to Scott, sprayer and application equipment should be triple rinsed and have excess water applied to field areas. “Be sure to get all the chemical from one application out prior to moving on to a different application, this is mainly as to not injur the next crop you spray,” he added. “Most spray tips and other sprayer parts will last at least one season, however it depends on individual use patterns. As long as they are working properly and can be calibrated they can continue to be used.”

Equipment should be stored in an area where open-air exchange is possible, such as a large shed, and where air exchange with people is not likely (not your garage or basement).

Chemical labels, MSDS sheets and worker protection standards must be kept on record because it is the law.

Smeda added that producers should record environmental conditions (temperature, wind speed and direction, and etc.) and spray conditions (sprayer speed, pressure, and volume) as well as what field(s) and the specific pesticides (and additives – adjuvants, drift retardants, anti-foaming, and etc.) applied on a given day. “This is important in case there are future problems arising from off-target movement (potential complaints) and keep track of potential herbicide carryover to a field the following year. This is compliant with pesticide laws and also may be handy in case there is a pesticide spill or accidental poisoning.”

Scott recommended that producers take a pesticide applicator-training course in order to obtain a private or other applicators’ license.

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

farm health & insurance Container Sales & Rentals

Beef, the Real Health Food

By Gary Digiuseppe

A look at beef and its overall health benefits Dr. Peter Ballerstedt contends protein; the guidelines also claim, “AmeriAmericans are killing them- cans currently consume… too many caloselves with carbohydrates, and ries from solid fats.” Ballerstedt said the the U.S. government is complicit. guidelines are built on a disproven hypothBallerstedt, who is forage product man- esis; in fact, he said, red meat is good for ager for Barenbrug USA, was keynote you, and grains cause diseases that can kill speaker at the Arkansas Forage and Grass- you. He complained, “We’ve got 150 years land Council’s fall conference in Conway, of evidence that we’ve completely disreArk. The title of Ballerstedt’s talk was garded,” and said the government is un“Beef, the Real Health Food,” but he dedi- able to justify its recommendations. “These cated at least as much of his talk to why guidelines that we’re told to follow so that grains and other carbohydrates are bad for we will avoid chronic illness say the ‘food patterns recommended you as he did to why beef have not been specifically is beneficial. Ballerstedt A three-ounce tested for health bencited numerous pre-1970 serving of lean efits,”’ Ballerstedt said. medical textbooks and arbeef contributes “So they have no idea if ticles that called for obese less than 10 this stuff will work; it just people to consume diets percent of seems like it should.” high in meats and other With the governanimal protein, and low calories to a ment now conducting in breads and sweets; far 2,000-calorie diet its periodic review of from being bad for you, yet it supplies guidelines – and he said, the fats in meat more than 10 the suggesting they could will lower the blood lipids percent of the fine tune recommendthat lead to heart disease, Daily Value ed diets based on the while carbohydrate consumption contributes to for 9 essential sustainability of production – now, said heart disease, as well as nutrients.

Ballerstedt, is the time other maladies. source: beef.org to contact lawmakers Ballerstedt said, “Dietary fat, whether it’s saturated or not, and other federal officials. “When Sec. will not cause heart disease. He claimed Vilsack announced these the last time, high total blood cholesterol has been he said the science behind these guideproven to contribute to reduced risk lines is unquestioned,” he said. “I’ve got of heart disease in women, and longer some questions. Call on me, please? I’d life in all adults. “Saturated fats do not like to ask you.” He went on, “They’re cause heart disease,” Ballerstadt said. now creating the next round, the 2015 “Saturated and total fat consumption Guidelines. They’ll be released soon and are positively associated with longevity. that will guide all funding, all programs, The more you eat, the longer you live – for the next five years. Now would be the time to influence the debate.” Othand,” he added, “the happier you’ll be.”

However, he said, these studies have erwise, he said, the U.S. government been ignored by USDA and the U.S. De- will continue promoting the position it’s partment of Health and Human Services, held for the last 40 years – that beef is a whose most recent “Dietary Guidelines “dose dependent poison.” And for those for Americans” published in 2010 call for who challenge his credentials, Ballerroughly equal consumption of grains and stedt said his response is, “I read.”

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

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NOVEMBER 17, 2014

meet your neighbors

Planting the Seeds of Farm Knowledge

Photo by Diana Dickinson

By Diana Dickinson

The Oklahoma Farm to School program is connecting with local farmers to bring farm fresh foods into the school Now that the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm to School Month in October has come to a close, school districts throughout the United States still have an opportunity to participate. The program benefits the schools, nonprofit entities and the local farmer, rancher and/or grower. The grant provides assistance to eligible entities who want to implement farm-to-school programs to improve access to local food sources. The USDA awards up to $5 million in competitive grants annually for training, support, planning, equipment purchases, school gardens, partnerships and the implementation of farm to school programs.

The planning awards range from $20,000 to $45,000 with a required 25 percent match of the total project cost.

Implementation and support service grant awards range from $65,000 to $100,000 in addition to the required 25 percent match.

There are also Farm to School grants for eligible farmers.

Katie Kovar-Strack, Farm to School Coordinator with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture said, “The program has sev-

eral components. There is the planning, implementation and support services.”

The Planning Grants are intended for schools or school districts to start incorporating the farm-to-school elements into their daily operations. This is done by connecting with local farmers to bring the farm knowledge into the school or take the school to the farm. The grant also helps schools update their kitchen equipment, get certifications and training. It includes educational components such as participating in the garden and taste testing.

“It would be nice if the schools could do canning from their summer harvest since the season ends near the first month or two of when the schools are in session. Canning is a lost art,” said Katie.

Being able to update kitchen equipment and provide training helps the school to become a largevolume processor of local produce.

“The Implementation Grants are intended for school districts to start or further develop sustainable programs and incorporate

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them into existing programs. Some schools do not go forward with implementation and find that the planning grant is enough to help them build sustainable programs. The key is connecting to local growers,” said Katie.

Growers/local farmers may have a misconception of how to get on board with selling produce to the schools. “On our website, we have a cheat sheet for farmers to understand what is involved in being able to sell directly to the participating schools,” she added.

For a grower to sell directly to the Tulsa, Okla. schools can be done several ways. They may be linked to a business who acts as the hub and recommends their

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produce to an entity seeking a specific fruit or vegetable or a farmer may seek a participating school on their own.

“A GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) is a part of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which is really about the food safety on the farm. We work with farmers and educate them. They can be GAP certified but will have to go through a third party auditor to get that. A lot of farmers are put off from that because of the cost. But we like to train them so they know that they are doing everything to eventually get GAP certified.

Rita Scott with Oklahoma Food Alliance does the training. She brings farmers in to go over specific areas,” said Katie.

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meet your neighbors Planting the Seeds of Farm Knowledge

Continued from Previous Page Rita Scott with the Oklahoma Food Alliance in Tulsa said, “If a farmer is not GAP certified, it does not really matter unless it is written into the school’s policy. If the grower wants to produce for the school, and the school visits their farm

22

to see an agreeable safe practice of how the food is handled, then the school may want to buy from them. Better yet, there is nothing stopping the producer from backing his truck up and selling directly from his truck to the school.”

“The farm to school program is meant to supplement what is already being served.

There is no way that just one grower can provide all the needs for the school. We

have ambassadors that go to different schools to promote the programs. We work with others to try and align an overall strategy to make sure we are not duplicating efforts,” explained Katie.

Farmers who are just beef producers may have untapped property that could be used for an acre of corn, watermelon, lettuce, tomatoes or other popular foods.

They do not even need to be GAP cer-

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

tified yet – but according to Laura Cochran of Chouteau-Mazie schools in Mayes County, “The legislature is trying to pass it into law that farmers be GAP certified. I am more than willing to buy locally because you know how it is grown. I have local producers who donate cucumbers, tomatoes, apples and more because they know I will use it in the kitchen. Any food we purchase locally has to be unprocessed,” said Laura.

Laura had the help of Two Sisters in Tulsa to grow a garden at Chouteau-Mazie School. “We made a small garden near the administration building and started three raised beds for the middle school. There was an old greenhouse and we got it up and going. We use it as a growing classroom and had five counties being represented in the growing classroom. Debbie Shanks gets a lot of credit for helping. We used this for as much education as we can and used it for the summer school program,” said Laura.

“Most of the produce/fruits we would actually use in our cafeterias would be watermelon, tomatoes, berries, cucumbers and lettuce. We are not looking for beef, pork, poultry or dairy producers at this time,” said Carmela Kegley Farm to School Coordinator of Pryor Public Schools.

In addition to encouraging farmers to dabble in crops to benefit local schools, the farm-to-school program also includes farm tours. “I have yet to find one that works with either the school’s, teacher’s and the farmer’s schedule. We are using this Planning Grant to build up our school gardens. Roosevelt Elementary has used fresh veggies from their garden in their school lunch meals, educated on buying locally fresh fruits and vegetables and promote the benefits of buying/eating locally.

We also use the grant to buy the necessary equipment for our school cafeteria’s to be able to prepare and cook the fresh fruits and veggies in a productive fashion. It will also help us sustain our usage of such fresh fruits and veggies in our school district.

We had the kids taste test some recipes using the garden and then they took a survey as to what they thought,” said Carmela.

Carmela also purchased new books for the Roosevelt Elementary Library on agriculture, eating healthy or fruits and vegetables. “Education is key in getting families to eat healthier,” said Carmela.

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

youth in

agriculture tomorrow’s ag leaders

Emily Corbin Age: 15 Parents: Mike and Lori Corbin Hometown: Colcord, Okla.

FFA Chapter: Watts FFA FFA Advisor: Rick Stanislaus What is your favorite aspect of agriculture?

“I’m really not sure because I like all of it though spending time working with animals is perhaps the best. We live in the country and used to raise cattle when I was small. However, when I got to high school ag it was a required course. I really enjoyed it and all of Mr. Stan’s hard work and encouragement so I decided to run for an FFA office, was elected reporter and plan on staying with FFA throughout high school.”

Career Development Events: “I am on the poultry judging team, and we placed second in the state this year. To help us Mr. Stan had afterschool practices on carcasses and eggs for us to evaluate to support what we learned from studying the manuals.”

What are your future plans?

“Because of my ag class and FFA, I want to get a college degree in an agricultural field. At the moment I’m leaning toward ranch management which I learned about in class and on the Internet. I really enjoyed when we had the animals when I was young and would like to spend my life in that field.”

Do you have any advice for younger students interested in ag?

“My advice is pretty simple but it’s also true. If anyone has an interest in agriculture, they need to join FFA and 4-H because they are fun and introduce you to new people and new things you might not be exposed to any other way.”

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the ofn

ag-visors

Advice from

the professionals

The Udder Side of the Story

or oak is tannic acid. This tears the GI system up and hits the kidneys.

We normally see cows affected with this having black diarrhea and they begin acting weak. Since, this is an acid, let’s counteract it using a base. The cheapest and simplest base compound that can be feed to cattle is hydrated lime. An old timer told me to add 10 percent of mineral as hydrated lime to counteract acorn poisoning. He didn’t know

By Dr. Tim E. O’Neill, DVM why it worked but it is simply back to acid-base balance. Hydrated lime is a calcium carbonate compound that can be feed to cattle. It is n this article I thought I would just answer some common quesa little higher priced than regular lime, but works in the body better. tions I have been receiving via the phone. First is about turnNow that 10 percent of your mineral being hydrated is only adding 5 ing in on Johnsongrass. Well, this year we really have not had a pounds of hydrated lime to a sack of mineral or 10 pounds of hydrated drought. Johnsongrass is the most toxic when we get a rain after Dr. Tim E. O’Neill, DVM, lime to two sacks of mineral. a drought. That short, young, tender Johnsongrass is the most owns Country Veterinary Of course, another way to offset and keep cows from eating acorns toxic. The old rule of thumb is if it is knee high, it’s alright, is generally Service in Farmington, is to give them other feed to eat. In other words, provide proper true. The only fallacy to that rule is if you have just heavily fertilized.

Ark. To contact Tim go nutrition so they do not have to eat acorns.

Then after a drought and we get rain, it is ALL toxic. to ozarksfn.com and Another topic right now that is important is to have all of your I normally say feed your cows and turn them in with full bellies. click on ‘Contact Us.’ cows at a body condition score of 6. This gives them a little extra All toxicology is dose dependent. A full belly will dilute the toxin fat to survive the cold weather. If your cattle are at a BCS (Body out and of course, not let the cow lay her head down and mow off the fresh new grass as quickly. I also, recommend turn them in when you can take Condition Score) of 6, then just maintain them through the winter. If they are a the time to watch them for at least 2-4 hours. Normally, if they get a toxic dose from little thin, then we need to pump up the calories to them. If they are too fat and Johnsongrass, they will start dropping within 30 minutes to 2 hours. We need to hang have a BCS over 6 then back off and save your money on high priced feed. Part of this can be done simple by feeding your best quality hay to your thin cows and your around for that amount of time to rest assured they will be safe on the new pasture.

Another hot topic in the fall is acorns. When we have a lot of acorns drop from the worst hay to the fat ones. But, I would also remember we need our best quality hay trees and there is nothing else to eat, cows will eat them. The toxic principle of acorns when these cows are lactating or have had their babies in the spring.

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Facing the Grass-fed Challenge

By Gary Digiuseppe

With record setting cattle prices how will grass-fed producers justify the extended finishing period?

The market for cattle has been on fire in 2014, and the market for grass-fed cattle is even better. In Sept. 2013, USDA inaugurated a Monthly Grass Fed Beef Report; the Sept. 2014 report indicated domestic slaughter grass-fed steers and heifers were bringing $275-295 per hundredweight, compared to $238258 for grain finished slaughter cattle.

The conventional price has been setting records on a regular basis, and was just $196 in Nebraska at the end of Sept. 2013. The grass-fed price has not risen as sharply, according to Ann Wells, a partner in Ozark Pasture Beef in Fayetteville, Ark. Wells told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor the rising grain fed price has put pressure on the partnership’s own pricing decisions. “We have the philosophy that we want to provide a high-quality meat product to people at affordable prices,” she said. “We could probably increase our prices a lot more; we are certainly one of the, if not the, lowest prices in the area.

But by the same token, people who raise their price to match the conventional beef price will then probably feel pressure to lower their price when the conventional beef price drops, and we don’t want to be put in that position.”

When Ozark Pasture Beef was founded in 2001, they had 11 partners; they’re now down to four. Wells said demand for calves is so strong, it’s hard for producers to justify keeping an animal on the farm the additional 12-18 months needed to finish them on grass. But, she said, “The customer demand for grass-finished meats is also extremely high… many of our customers are young families, mothers with young children. We have quite a few people that are buying our beef because of health problems. A lot of people are trying to avoid GMOs, for example, or grains of any kind.” In addition to individual consumers, Ozark Pasture sells to natural foods wholesalers and restaurants.

The partnership’s volume is down due to drought, and they only expect to butcher 32-37 cattle this year. By comparison, Dr. Patricia Whisnant of Rain Crow Ranch in Doniphan, Mo., said at any given time they’re pasturing 2,500 cattle, “but if you look at our whole operation, it goes considerably up from that.” Some of those cattle come from neighboring farms, who then share in the proceeds.

what do you say?

“When working with chemicals on the farm how do you make sure you, your family and your livestock are safe?”

26

“I don’t have many leftover unusable chemicals because they’re expensive, but when I do, I keep them in protective containers until I can dispose of them safely with the county’s cleanup once every four years.”

Cody Hays Benton County, Ark.

Whisnant told OFN they started experimenting about 10 or 12 years ago with direct marketing and developed their website. “The market kind of came to us,” she said. “They were looking for that type of approach – grass-fed, sustainable, no antibiotics, no hormones – all of those things that comprised how we raised our beef. So actually, we kind of fell into that part of the market when it was beginning to grow, and then we’ve grown along with it to include other farms. We now own a processing plant, and we continue to market what we do directly to customers.”

The facility is certified High Animal Welfare by a third party organization, Animal Welfare Approved. Whisnant, who has a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee, said, “When you rotate pastures and those animals are continually being put onto clean pasture, your pathogens and parasites, anything that those animals might shed, are left behind,” she said. “Have a period of time of rest on that pasture and the weathering kills out all of that, you come back to a clean pasture.”

Whisnant said in the past 10 years, as grass feeders have gained a greater appreciation of how to build quality, it has improved. “Yes, it does take a little longer,” she acknowledged, “but so many factors go into making it a quality product. Genetics; how they are handled in the finishing process as far as the forages they are able to eat; and how they are actually handled in the processing, with low stress, contribute to a quality beef.” She said while the niche for these types of products is growing, she expects grass-fed opportunities to plateau. “It has become more mainstream,” she said. “Consequently, you have a lot more people entering that segment, and you also have the competition from what I call ‘industrial ag,’ the big ag people, and they’re shipping a huge amount of that kind of beef into this country from offshore.”

But for now, according to Wells, “The market’s wide open. I am also an educator; I work with producers, teaching them how to keep their animals healthy and helping them to understand the grass-fed meat market, so I think there’s room for a lot more producers of grass-fed meat than are out there right now.”

“We keep our cattle safe because we spray what they don’t like to eat like thistles and daisies. As a result they are not in danger.

We also never spray when it is windy so neither the cattle nor the land are harmed.”

“I follow the instructions, which a lot of people don’t because they think more is better.

The companies put the instructions on their products for a reason.”

Cheryl Dunaway Washington County, Ark.

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Danny Council Sebastian County, Ark.

“To keep ourselves safe, we wear protective clothing and follow directions which keeps both us and our animals safe.”

Tammy Simmon Adair County, Okla.

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

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Purebred Corral Townsend Brangus

Hay Rejection

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By Gary Digiuseppe

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

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atic mycotoxin is zearalenone, which is produced by several Fusarium fungal species on grains and can ultimately affect reproduction rates in cattle.

The appearance of other fungi in stored forage can contribute to rejection, according to Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

The presence of ergovaline, which is found in endophyte infected fescue, can put cows off their feed, although the longer the fescue has been put up, the more the toxin level declines. Yet another fungus, Rhizoctonia leguminicola, causes a disease known as “black patch” in red clover; cattle turn away from the infested legume, which can cause animals to slobber and exhibit other symptoms.

Even if a mold isn’t harmful, it could change the taste of the hay and cause cattle to reject it for that reason. Gadberry said because so many molds are harmless to cattle, a mold count doesn’t provide a substantial amount of useful information.

You also have the opposite situation of rejection when wet hay starts to ferment; there are reports that cattle prefer the taste of that hay, but the heat produced by fermentation makes some of the protein in the hay unavailable to the animal.

Cole recommended subjecting the hay to a standard protein test, to determine whether it needs to be supplemented.

If cattle are rejecting hay, can it just be replaced? “That’s easier said than done,” said Gadsberry. “We’ve invested money in that hay and would like to be able to utilize it.” If the problem is mold, there are several labs that can evaluate it; if the cows aren’t eating it for another reason, it could be made more palatable.

Some producers add liquid feed supplements to hay, in some cases using specialized equipment to inject it into the bale. Or, said, Gadsberry, you can alternate hay feedings, giving the cows feed they prefer part of the time, and reducing the negative impact on performance.

3/3/14 2/9/15

12/29/14

Understanding the reasons why cattle may reject hay this winter and knowing what your options are There are a number of reasons why cows reject hay. In some cases, it just isn’t very good hay.

Dr. Shane Gadberry, professor of animal science with University of Arkansas Extension, said cattle may reject hay because of its low digestibility. That could be caused by “the fact that hay was just harvested too mature,” Gadberry told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “It’s more fibrous; it takes longer for the rumen microbes to get in there and break down that fiber. So that basically slows the rate of digestion and if we have a slower rate of digestion, we have a reduction in intake.”

Hay can also be less digestible because it’s deficient in protein. Gadberry said it’s preferable to have the TDN (total digestible nutrient) to protein ratio in the range of 4:1 to 6:1. “In some instances, if we have neglected good fertilization practices according to soil tests, we may have hays that have very low protein content,” he said. The microbes in the animal’s rumen may not be adequate to fully utilize the hay; the situation can be remedied with supplemental protein, to bring protein and energy into better balance. Rejection of hay due to quality problems leads to both reduced performance and wasted feed, as cows will sort through the hay, searching for parts that are more palatable and digestible.”

When hay is put up too wet, it enhances the likelihood of mold. Cattle appear to be less susceptible to mold than horses and most molds are not harmful to the cattle, but some secrete mycotoxins that can cause mycotic abortion, respiratory disease or aspergillosis, which is caused by several molds in the same family as Aspergillus flavus, the cause of aflatoxin in grain. It may take days or weeks for symptoms from these infections to appear; often, the cows will reduce their dry matter intake. This could be followed by diarrhea and by signs of ketosis or hemorrhaging. Another potentially problem-

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treats for her family Shirley Allred bakes delicious her community and as a way to support

of morning in the heartland On a cold, crisp December fields glisof Ash Grove, Mo., the the Ozarks, just outside Allred, Allred Farm. Inside, Shirley ten white surrounding the treats is just putting the finishing a well-known baker of delicious baking marathon, getting ready touches on a week-long Christmas The kitchen counters are for the family’s Christmas celebration.pecan pies, yummy cookfilled and overflowing with delicious banana bread, chocolate and bread, in homemade-pumpk ies, macadamia nut fudge, peblack walnut fudge, white chocolate mouth watering?

Is your can turtles and caramel turtles. for her 24 years of serShirley, known in the community avocation of baking said her vice at the Bank of Ash Grove, four years ago. “really took off” when she retired Shirley explained. “Moth“I come from a family of cooks,” my grandmother was more of er was an excellent cook and could actually make a pie and a baker. Once I figured out I there. I really love from going kept I bake a loaf of bread, I also like to bake and send it to get in the kitchen and bake.

Her the calories,” Shirley smiled. somewhere so I don’t consume and noodles and homemade favorite meal is homemade chicken or coconut cream pie,” she added. rolls. “I am very fond of apple Steven, Jeff and Christina On Christmas day, Shirley’s children farm to open presents and at the and all the grandchildren gather prime rib dinner. “It’s our tradiafterward they enjoy a delicious it for years,” Shirley said. tional dinner and we’ve done needs tooth sweet your girl” when Shirley is definitely the “go-to comhave graced many tables in the a nurturing. Her pies and cakes as 10 pies a week. She also donates munity. She has sent out as many she is Grove Healthcare Facility where portion of her treats to the Ash at Ash Allred is on the football team Club. a volunteer. Her grandson Logan cooks for the Pirates Quarterback Grove High School and Shirley Cake.

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We are collecting recipes for our annual Country Christmas Cookbook, which will appear in our December 8th issue. Please send recipes to P.O. Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753 or email editor@ozarksfn.com.

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Deer hunting is a well-loved pastime here in the Ozarks. Not only is dressing up in camouflage and heading out to the woods with a rifle or a bow a good way to harvest meat for your family, but it is also a great way to make and share memories; many people can tell their grandchildren how their grandpa took them out hunting. If you live on a farm, chances are that you want to promote the recreational activity of deer hunting, while still balancing your farm management practices. The good news is, you can do both.

Pastures: “Remember deer need quality food, cover and water,” said Dr. Grant Woods, Wildlife Biologist and host of GrowingDeer.tv from Reeds Spring, Mo. Quality food is where your pastures can come in – you can plant legumes for your livestock that will also draw in deer. Clover is a prime choice; white clover, for example, has a higher nutritional value than grass due to its high levels of protein and its lower structural fiber, according to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Clover can be a relatively cheap seed, and is often ‘frost seeded,’ which means that the seed is broadcast onto grass pastures in late winter or early spring and is allowed to continually freeze and then thaw, leading to seed germination. The result is a lush, perennial pasture that features a mixture of grass and clover that is appealing to both livestock and whitetail deer.

Another legume option that can really draw the deer and increase weight gain on your livestock is forage soybeans.

Animals can eat both the leaves and the pods of forage soybeans, encouraging total utilization of the plant. Soybeans contain more than 20 percent crude protein, which is an attractive option to a deer that needs a minimum of 17 percent crude protein year round for optimal weight gain and antler growth. It is also

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

attractive to farmers who want their livestock to reach a healthy market weight.

No matter what you plant, however, you cannot have quality forages without good soil. “Plants are nutrient transfer agents,” Dr. Woods said. “Do a quality soil test annually.” He noted that better soil will lead to bigger antlers. After you ensure the quality of your soil, you can select crops that will keep it healthy. Caleb Howerton, Ranch Manager at Elkhead Ranch Hunting Retreat in Bruner, Mo., said that “The beneficial bacteria that work with the legumes trap nitrogen in the soil year after year, producing better yields annually in both forage and deer.” At Hickory Ridge Hunting Ranch in Lamar, Okla., cruciferous vegetables are often planted to attract deer and improve soil. “Radishes and turnips can break up the soil so it’s not as hard,” said Marketing Director, Joshua Jones, “and they add nutrients back.”

Mineral: Mineral is just as important for deer as it is for livestock. Dr. Woods recommends keeping mineral available year round. This can be as simple as letting the deer have access to your livestock’s mineral blocks – catching a glimpse of a whitetail deer sharing a block in a pasture with horses or cattle is not an uncommon sight. You can also purchase deer-specific mineral blocks; Trophy Rocks and Rack Rocks are both good choices. Joshua Jones also suggests creating a mineral lick area.

Observation: Just like you would observe your livestock, it’s a good idea to observe your deer. Learn their patterns and habits on the layout of your property; this will help you when hunting season arrives. You can also set up a test site to see how much the deer are browsing: simply fence off a small section of forage, and use the untouched area to measure how much the deer are eating outside the test site.

NOVEMBER 17, 2014

farm help

Soil Sample Savings

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Test soils now to prepare for next year’s forage production Now is the time to find out what shape your pastures are in.

Dr. John Jennings, University of Arkansas Extension forage specialist, told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor it’s a good idea to conduct soil sampling in the fall. “You usually have moisture so you can get a good sample, especially on rocky or hard soil,” he explained.

“Also, you can get results back before the big rush in late winter or early spring, so you have your results in time to be able to make adjustments in fertility amendments for spring forage production.”

Even if you can’t fertilize every field, Jennings said it’s valuable to know what the fertility levels are. But he’s worried about a problem that’s been building over the last 5 to 10 years. “Producers are letting their soil potash levels drop way down,” Jennings said. “Potash fertilizer has really increased in price, so a lot of producers have cut back on the applications they’ve been making. When the potash level in the soil drops down too low, the forage production goes along with it,” adding if yields crash and fields become unproductive as a result of low potash, it takes a while to catch up.

In most cases, producers don’t need to incorporate the fertilizers they apply into the soil. An exception is when preparing a seed bed for a new establishment; Jennings said in that case it’s a good idea, because disking all of the inputs into the seed bed gets them down into the root zone and helps the seedlings develop a good, strong root system.”

Another deficiency that can be detected via soil test is acidity; if the pH of the soil is too low, an application of lime is called for.

Jennings said a low pH will stall productivity, particularly of legumes like clovers and alfalfa, which need a higher pH than typical grasses. Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist for the Southwest Region, recommended keeping the pH in the 6.0-6.5 NOVEMBER 17, 2014

DELAYED CASTRATION

Proudly range. He told OFN, “If you have a piece of ground that was never limed, maybe just grew grass or trees for timber, usually the pH is going to be somewhere from 4.55.0. When you have a pH at that level it’ll grow things, but it may not grow them as well as if the pH was elevated. The limestone will react to the soil and adjust that pH, and it makes more nutrients available that are already in the soil but are tied up and can’t be utilized by the plant roots.”

In addition to testing for soil acidity and for the key nutrients phosphorus and potassium, producers can also test soil for magnesium, calcium and even micronutrients, although Schnakenberg said in most instances they’re already at satisfactory levels. Although the soil test will yield recommendations for nitrogen as well, forage producers don’t test for N. Schnakenberg said, “It’s really pointless to test for nitrogen, because it is a very mobile nutrient in the soil and doesn’t stay put very long. You can test it today and get a number, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same in a month. It’s not as stable as the other elements are.”

He recommended getting the lime applied as soon as possible, because it can take six months to a year before it starts adjusting the pH. It’s also helpful to apply phosphorus and potassium in the fall; that gives it all winter to break down and move into the soil profile, where it’s available for next year’s growth. Nitrogen, on the other hand, will volatize, and fall applications are not recommended. Soil nutrients are very stable, and frequent testing is not necessary; Schnakenberg said every 3-4 years will do, provided it’s done well. He said, “We like to recommend going down and probing the soil, either with an auger or a soil probe, 10-20 different places. When you do that in random areas that are representative of the field, you can be confident that you’ve taken a lot of variability out of the field.”

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Please mail this form & your check to: PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753

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calendar

November 2014 18 Master Gardener Training – Mountain Home, Ark. – to pre-register call 870-425-2335 18 2-Hour Poultry Training – Stilwell, Okla. – 918-696-2253 19 Initial 9-Hour Poultry Training – Stilwell, Okla. – 918-696-2253 20 Farm Bill Training – Morrilton, Ark. – 501-354-9618 20 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m., $10 Fee – Simmons First Bank

Community, Clinton, Ark. – 501-745-7117 20 Tax Management Meeting – Pryor, Okla. – 918-825-3241 21 Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards, Joplin, Mo. – 417-466-3102 21 Select Heifer Sale – Vinita, Okla. – 918-256-7569 22 Masonic Lodge 4-H Pancake Breakfast – 4:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. – Stilwell, Okla. – 918-696-2253 24 Master Gardener Training – Mountain Home, Ark. – to pre-register call 870-425-2335 24 Pesticide Applicator Training – Carroll Electric, Huntsville, Ark. – 479-738-6826 December 2014 4 Pesticides Applicator Training – 5:30 p.m. – Arvest Bank, Gravette, Ark. – to

pre-register call 479-271-1060 4 Poultry Waste Management Meeting – Pryor, Okla. – 918-825-3241 8 Pesticide Applicator Training – 10:00 a.m. – Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 9 Farm Bill Meeting – 5:30 p.m. – Pryor, Okla. – 918-825-3241 17 Pesticide Applicator Training – 8:30 a.m. – Russellville, Ark. – 479-968-7098

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November 2014 21 Show-Me Select Replacement Heifer Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards,

Joplin, Mo. – 417-466-3102 22 Sounderup Charolais Ranch & Friends Female Sale – Nebraska State

Fairgrounds, Neb – 785-672-3195 22 Sydenstricker Genetics 30th Annual Production Sale – at the farm, Mexico, Mo.

– 573-473-9202 22 Missouri Simmental Assoc. Fall Round up Sale – Springfield Livestock

Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 703-587-9959 29 LBJ Cattle “The Cream of Crop Sale” – Hope Livestock Market, Hope, Ark. – 870-703-4345

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