Ofn dummy 12 25 17 by Eric Tietze

FARM PROGRAMS & INCENTIVES ISSUE

DECEMBER 25, 2017 • 28 PAGES

VOLUME 11, NUMBER 15 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Going Home To Raise Cattle Mike Flynn’s career path was finally compete when he retired and was able to raise cattle fulltime

Thinking Outside the Box The Quapaw tribe develops agriculture programs to better utilize their lands

Back to the Fundamentals

Farm sustains a variety of livestock operations with help from the NRCS

Using Your Resources Programs that will work for you and your operation are easy to find

DECEMBER 25, 2017

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

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Mountain Home, Ark., program wins top honors: Mountain Home High School grabbed the top spot as the Outstanding Ag Education Program by the Arkansas Farm Bureau. The program recognized outstanding educators and school programs at the organization’s recent annual convention in Little Rock, Ark.

Oklahoma ag teacher wins national award: The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) recently honored Jonathan Holloway, agricultural educator at Owasso High School, in Owasso, Okla., with the Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher Award. He was recognized at NAAE’s annual convention in Nashville, Tenn., and is one of only six individuals nationwide to receive the award. Students in Holloway’s program learn to appreciate agriculture and understand how core academic principles will help them in agricultural careers. Holloway relies heavily on technology to deliver his lessons, creating a collaborative environment for students. Longtime cattlemen dies: Cattleman Hicks Bernice Blasingame, 96, died on Dec. 8. Born in Royal Hill, Ark. He raised registered Charolais at his Circle 21 Farm and Ranch for 47 years. He was a member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association in White County, Ark., and a faithful member of Park Hill Baptist Church-North Little Rock. His wife of 73 years, Pauline Blasingame of El Paso, a daughter and two grandsons, as well as other family members survive him. Top 10 freshman recognized: Officials at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) recently honored accomplished student leaders during the Ninth annual Top Ten Freshmen ceremony. Among those honored were Lyndsey Harvey, an agriculture business major from Claremore, Okla. Holding a 4.0 GPA, she is recognized on the President’s Honor Roll. She is an active member of the Equestrian and Horse Judging teams, the PTK Honor Society, Ag Ambassadors and Student Ambassadors. Cutbacks sent back to state board: A legislative subcommittee has refused to ratify an Arkansas Plant Board proposal to restrict farmers’ use next year of dicamba, a herbicide linked to crop damage in Arkansas and two dozen other states. Sen. Bill Sample, R-Hot Springs, made a motion to kick the measure back to the Plant Board before the Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules and Regulations Subcommittee could hear testimony from a handful of farmers or from Plant Board officials. No member cast an audible “no” vote on Sample’s motion, which also asked the Plant Board to consider other possible cutoff dates for different regions of the state and to look at cutoffs involving temperatures.

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Know a Good Rumor? Do you have a rumor you would like to share with our readers? Mail them to: PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

DECEMBER 25, 2017

VOL. 11, NO. 15

JUST A THOUGHT

Jerry Crownover – Home sweet home

4 5

Jody Harris – The substitute Julie Turner-Crawford – A new year

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS 7 Chris Ward’s farm goes back to the basics

10 16 18

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Mike Flynn is happy at home on the farm

10 12

Still standing after a century

Town & Country features Louis Skelton

Quapaw leader moves tribe into the agriculture business

Woman’s dream of a ranch started with bottle calves

Youth in Agriculture features Jager Pifer

Eye on Agribusiness spotlights Thomas Fence

FARM HELP 21 “Special advisors” in

agriculture and farming

Finding out what programs can work the best for your operation

Are there benefits to clipping pastures?

Financial assistance programs benefit producers and the environment

DECEMBER 25, 2017

just a

thought

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

Life Is Simple

e f i L elpmiS si

By Jerry Crownover

f someone blindfolded you, took you for a ride, then took the blindfold revonoff, woafter rC yrthey reJ yB led you into a house, you would still know if you were in a farmer’s home. Jerry Crownover is Coming in the back door, whether a farmer and former through a garage, porch, mudroom or utilprofessor of Agriculture ity room, you would most certainly see a row of Education at Missouri muddy (and by muddy, I mean manure-covered) State University. He is a boots. There would be coveralls, coats, hats and native of Baxter County, caps (also muddy) hanging on the wall or thrown Arkansas, and an across the back of a chair or bench where dressauthor and professional ing and undressing takes place every morning speaker. To contact Jerry, and night of the year. go to ozarksfn.com and Upon entry to the house, you would most assurclick on ‘Contact Us.’ edly see a framed, aerial photo of the farmstead and you would also observe framed pictures of the children or grandchildren leading a prize steer, pig or lamb at the county fair. In another room, one would most likely view a certificate of appreciation or plaque from the local 4-H club or FFA Chapter. The magazine table would be filled with at least a dozen breed association magazines, agricultural journals and farm-business publications, and the curio cabinets would be filled with miniature models of the owner’s favorite brand of tractor. If your hosts offered you (and they would) a cup of coffee or glass of iced tea, the beverage would surely be served in a cup or tumbler adorned with the logo of a seed company, implement dealer, feed store or co-op. And, if you opened the door to the refrigerator to help yourself to a refill, you would probably see a bottle or two of penicillin, vaccine or other animal medicine somewhere in the door of the appliance. Most of us have a drawer or shelf, somewhere in our house, that contains a myriad of things that would not be found in anyone’s home other than a farmer. Mine, for

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Administrative Eric Tietze, Vice-President Operations Kathy Myers, Marketing Manager Sandra Coffman, Accounting Advertising Pete Boaz, Display & Classified Sales Kathy Myers, Production Sales Circulation Stan Coffman, Circulation Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Jody Harris, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production Contributors Larry Burchfield, Kathy Daily, Katrina Hine, Klaire Howerton, Jessica Thompson, Terry Ropp and Kenley Williams

About the Cover Mike Flynn always wanted to be a cattleman, but he had to retire from the banking industry before he could work fulltime on the farm. See more on page 9. 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., 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

— Continued on Page 6

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Freshly Picked By Jody Harris

ometimes when the kids come home from school they’ll mention they had a substitute or “sub.” This can have one of two verdicts – a great day because the person chose to Jody Harris is a freelance follow the teacher’s lesson plans and rules, or a communications specialist, not-so-great day because the person lost control gardener, ranch wife and of the classroom and the predictability of a “regumother of four. She and lar” classroom schedule went out the window. her family raise Angus beef Substitute teachers have been a hot topic in our cattle and other critters on household lately with teacher meetings, teachers their northwest Arkansas out due to illness and workshops. Mostly, the reranch. She is a graduate cent “subs” have gotten a good grade from the of Missouri State University. Harris kids. The consequences at school and at To contact Jody, go to home are more severe if our children do not beozarksfn.com and click on have well for a person filling in. ‘Contact Us.’ We are in the throes of winter chores around here with a lot of extra things to do. My husband went away on a pheasant hunting excursion with some of his buddies last weekend. Prior to his departure to Kansas, we had a practice run of all the things I would have to do in his absence from the farm. Overnight, I became the farmer’s sub. I’m not usually the one feeding daily hay bales to the cows and horses. He decided I probably needed a refresher course under his close supervision. I think he was more worried about potential damage to fences and gates than he was the old Ford tractor, After our practice run he was convinced I had a good handle on what I needed to do every day to get all the horses and livestock fed. For four days I was able to get into a pretty good routine of taking the kids to school and getting home in time to put out round bales for the animals. At one farm, I simply had to drive by and check the status of each field. If the hay was gone, I had to open a new gate for the cows to get to more bales that had already been put out. On Saturday, I noticed our 8-year-old son was following me closely on the Razor. I waved at him, thinking he’d drive on by but he didn’t. He watched me intently as I finished my chores. Little did I know, he was spying on me to see if I hit any gates or fences with the tractor. I’m sure he was anxious to report to his dad what happened with all the animals, chores and the tractor of course. On Sunday, the day my husband was heading back home from his trip, I took duct tape and made makeshift tape-fix jobs on a few of our farm’s gates. I was hoping to have a little bit of fun with him since apparently, he was worried I’d have an accident or two. He never mentioned the duct tape but I’m sure he wanted to, and it disappeared by Monday morning. Just like students tell their teachers EXACTLY how things went with the substitute upon their return, our little 8-year-old reporter gave a full disclosure to his dad. I thankfully received an A-plus report, I cannot believe there was ever a doubt. Filling in for someone who does really great work can be a tough job. A little coaching and a lot of grace can go a long way. This applies to substitute teachers and farmers, neighbor.

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Across the Fence By Julie Turner-Crawford

t’s hard to believe 2018 is upon us. Like many folks, I always hope the new year is better than the last, and that my friends and family have good health and Julie Turner-Crawford prosperity, but I’m not one to make a trove is a native of Dallas of New Year’s resolutions. County, Mo., where she In the words of Mark Twain, “Now is the acgrew up on her family’s cepted time to make your regular annual good farm. She is a graduate resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell of Missouri State with them as usual. Yesterday, everybody smoked University. To contact his last cigar, took his last drink, and swore his Julie, call 1-866-532-1960 last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary or by email at editor@ community. Thirty days from now, we shall have ozarksfn.com. cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient short comings considerably shorter than ever.” I tend to share Twain’s feelings about the dreaded New Year’s resolutions. This year, however, I have decided to set a few attainable goals – not resolutions, but goals – for the New Year. In 2018, I want to share more about agriculture with my friends who have never stepped foot on a farm. I want to explain that there is a difference between a cow and — Continued on Next Page

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just a thought Across the Fence Continued from Previous Page a steer, a ewe and a ram. I want share that farmers do care about their livestock. I want to share with others that farmers are not the ones causing global warming and the environment to crumble. I want to share that farmers are actually stewards of the land and environment because that’s how they make their living. I want to learn more about agriculture and the new innovations and technology on the horizon. I want to find out how things work and get a better understanding of how new practices and products will improve the industry. I want to be a better advocate for agriculture. I want to be armed with the knowledge to answer questions proposed by the public about farming and agriculture. I want to be more engaged with the public about agriculture. I want to spend more time with the next generation of agriculturalists. I want to share with them how I always wanted to have a career involving agriculture, but I had to take a few detours along the way, but I never lost sight of my goal. I want to inspire young people to follow their farming dreams.

I want to continue to share the stories of the hard working farmers and ranchers from across the Ozarks in 2018, and for many years to come. Oh, I also want to lose weight, spend more time with friends and family, take an actual vacation and give up bad habits – it’s the New Year afterall. I also want to find a way to somehow to once again be allowed to post comments on the social media of pages of animal rights groups that I am currently banned from. Seeing and reading some of the falsehoods and lies they continue to post has given me withdrawals. I think some of my goals will be much more achievable than others. To all of our readers, have a happy and safe New Year. May you and your family continue to find the rural way of life the best way of life for your family. And in the words of S. Omar Barker, may your horse never stumble, your spurs never rust, your guts never grumble, your cinch never bust.

Life Is Simple Continued from Page 3 instance, is a cabinet above the clothes dryer, where I keep syringes, a bolus gun, an IV needle to treat milk fever, tattoo ink (for calves ears, not me), and an odd assortment of other devices that would raise serious questions if my home was ever raided by the DEA and, even though I attempt to keep these oddities in one place and out of the view of visitors, there are times eyebrows are raised. A good example is what happened this past Thanksgiving. The house was filled with family and friends as Judy was in a cooking frenzy that morning. As my wife scurried around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on what would be a wonder-

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

ful meal, one of our guests generously offered to help. “OK,” Judy instructed, “You can get the powdered sugar for me. It’s on the top shelf of the cabinet to the left of the refrigerator. I think it’s in the very back.” The guest began the search. I was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping on a cup of coffee when the friend looked at me with a confounded expression. “What is this?” she asked. I looked at what she was holding and then turned to my wife and hollered, “Hey, honey, Alli found the powdered colostrum that I hunted for all of last spring! It was right behind the powdered sugar – where it should be.” Only in a farmer’s home. DECEMBER 25, 2017

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Back to the Fundamentals By Larry Burchfield

Farm sustains a variety of livestock operations with help from the NRCS Sustainable agriculture is an ongoing work in progress for Zinc, Ark., livestock producer Chris Ward. Chris raises a variety of livestock on his 300-acre farm, including cattle, Katahdin sheep, hogs, pasture broilers, and Kiko and Spanish goats. While that may seem like a lot of variety for one farm, on Ward’s farm, every species has a specific function that parallels the definition of sustainable agriculture: the production of

“You have to give the farmers something to counter growing drugs,” Chris said. “Getting them out of the drug business leaves a void. You have to fill it with something, sustainable agriculture is a logical alternative.” Chris returned to his homestead in 2012 with a deeper appreciation for sustainable agriculture and how to implement it on his hillside farm. “I’ve been farming my whole life,” Chris explained. “Sustainable agriculture influPhoto by Larry Burchfield

Chris Ward utilizes two pasture broiler houses at his Zink, Ark., farm. He works to provide his animals with a “natural habitat.”

food, fiber, or other plant or animal products using farming techniques to protect the environment, public health, human ences how I look at everything. Plus, communities and animal welfare. Located 20 miles northeast of Harrison, farming is good therapy.” Seeking to maximize the efficiency of Ark., the steep hillside topography is not conducive to livestock production. In fact, the farm and insure good environmental most producers would consider it impos- practices, Chris turned to the Harrison sible. But after serving several years in the field office of the Natural Resources and Conservation Service. In the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture last two years the NRCS has Service, Chris had a vision for Zink, Ark. provided technical and fithe farm his grandparents purnancial assistance through the chased in the 1950s. EQIP program to help Chris Chris’ FAS assignment took install 6,200 feet of cross fenchim to Afghanistan, where he ing, which provides for livestock helped farmers break the ecorotational grazing. Using the multinomic cycle of drug production. DECEMBER 25, 2017

species grazing addresses several issues, including undesirable plant productivity, plant health, and inadequate and forage issues. In addition to the fencing, the NRCS assisted in laying 4,800 feet of water lines to four watering facilities, providing livestock and irrigation for pasture. Sixteen hundred square feet of heavy-use area rock pads around the watering facilities has also been installed to control soil erosion. “I really like the way they are using the multiple animal species concept,” said Rick Adams, district conservationist with the Harrison Field office of NRCS. “It allows them to graze and browse over the same acreage rotating them at different times. This brings new meaning to maximum efficiency and sustainable agriculture. Another term used to describe farm operations like Chris’ is stackable enterprise. It parallels everything (species) in its place, and a place for everything. In its simplest form, it is non-compete grazing.” Predators such as coyotes can be a major problem for sheep and poultry growers. To help abate that problem, natural habitat is provided on the farm to encourage the “cycle of life.” “We have brush piles, but we don’t burn then.” Chris said. “We build brush piles to provide small animal habitat, which provides the food chain for the predators. It takes the pressure off our livestock. Again, everything we do has a specific purpose on the farm.” Off the farm, Chris has been active in helping establish markets for farmers who are pursuing sustainable agriculture. Chris was instrumental in establishing the Grassroots Farmers Co-op in Clinton, Ark. All the meats processed by the co-op are pasture raised from small farmers and are GMO, antibiotic and hormone free. Chris works with other organizations like Heifer International to build markets and networks for farmers and consumers interested in sustainable agriculture.

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Going Home To Raise Cattle By Terry Ropp

Mike Flynn’s career path was finally compete when he retired and was able to raise cattle fulltime A writer named Thomas Wolfe once wrote a book entitled You Can’t Go Home Again. He was wrong. Mike and Debbie Flynn of Charleston, Ark., are proof that going home again is not only possible, but can be highly rewarding. The Flynn family farm was started in Charleston 100 years ago by Myrt and Ina Flynn, who purchased 40 acres. Their son and his wife, Waldo and Veda Flynn, expanded the original acreage to 175 acres, which has since been divided amongst their four children with Mike being one of those. Mike and his wife Debbie knew each other as children because their parents shared common interests, mainly cattle and rodeos. As could be expected, their first date took place at a rodeo, this one in Clinton, Ark., where Mike competed in bareback and bull riding. “She was a good-looking gal and I didn’t think I had a chance with her,” Mike said. The couple started dating after their first year of college at the University of Arkansas. Mike graduated with a degree in agriculture and then earned a masters’ degree in animal nutrition, while Debbie earned a degree in home economics. “I love what I do and I’m not quite ready to leave the classroom yet,” Debbie, who is now in her 40th year of teaching, said. Mike’s career path was not quite as straight. His first job was a two-year stint as an assistant county Extension agent in Harrisburg, Ark., which is row crop country. “Two years in a career is a short period of time, but two years lived every day where your wife doesn’t want to live is an eternity,” Mike said with a laugh. Truth be told, Mike wasn’t all that happy either because he missed the hills of western Arkansas, and getting a transfer to a cattle county proved difficult. When offered a chance by Joe Hiatt to return home with a job at the local

bank in Charleston, Ark., Mike decided to make a career change. The decision turned out to be a good one. Though Mike started at the bottom, he became president of American State Bank in Charleston within 10 years and the Westeern Arkansas Regional President of Simmons Bank 14 years after that. When Mike retired in 2015, he

toward a goal of 60 high-quality commercial cows. To accomplish this, Mike recently purchased 17 bred heifers and 18 open heifers from his brother-in-law, Jim Moore, also from Charleston. The open heifers will be bred by one of Jim’s bulls. Jim was recently awarded the Certified Angus Beef top commercial cow/ calf herd in the nation.

Mike and Debbie Flynn plan to expand their Angus herd, focusing on high-quality commercial cows. Photo by Terry Ropp

had truly returned home because he was able to pursue the cattle business fulltime. Mike and Debbie own 200 acres and rent an additional 80 on which they support a 30 pair cow/calf operation that is moving quickly

Logically, Mike relied heavily on Jim’s advice when seCharleston, Ark. lecting heifers and herd bulls from Jim’s herd. Mike is now in the process of replacing his current mommas with these heifers and their female offspring. The next step is selling weaned

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

calves from his current mommas and replacing those mommas with females from his heifers as soon as possible. In the future, calves will be marketed at 750 pounds and sold in Oklahoma City where buyers prefer larger calves ready for the feedlot. Fall calving is Mike’s preference so the young calves don’t have to go through the hot summer and are ready to graze when the grass is ready. Calves are weaned and worked at 500 pounds. At that time calves are vaccinated, wormed and castrated. Mike prefers an injectable longterm wormer and watches all his cattle to see if any need another round. Weaned calves are placed on wheat pasture and provided supplemental feed and a high magnesium mineral supplement. In addition to grass and hay from 56 acres Mike sets aside for that purpose, the cattle are grained daily in fall and winter with a 12-percent protein corn and cottonseed ration from Bert Feed Mill at a rate of 4 ½ pounds per cow. He learned early on from his father the importance of not skipping on feed. Cattle always have free choice minerals with the summer product containing added fly control. While Mike’s son Cody is an integral part of the operation, Mike does most of the work himself. Sorting takes all day and Mike matches his subdivided herds to pastures that will sustain them without moving. Looking back on his years in the cattle business, Mike feels the most important technical improvements are not necessarily the more recent ones but older and simpler ones. For example, the gooseneck ball revolutionized livestock transportation and round hay balers made haying far less labor-intensive. Mike is looking forward to a productive retirement doing what he loves in a place he loves.

DECEMBER 25, 2017

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DECEMBER 25, 2017

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ozarks

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

Story By Terry Ropp

A one-time general store built more than a century ago now houses a new family business One of the ways people try to preserve history is by turning old buildings into museums. Not so common are buildings over 100 years old that have housed viable businesses the entire time. One such building is Stamps Historical Store in Carroll County, Ark. The postal address is Alpena, rather than the original Osage, named for the local Indian tribe and one of the town’s creeks, because the town faded over time and simply became part of Osage Township. The site, 11 miles south of Alpena, Ark., was picked for construction in 1898 for two reasons. The first is that two roads and two creeks crossed at that location. The second was imminent plans for the railroad to go through the town. While the railroad soon chose a different route because trains couldn’t make it up the western mountain, the locale had a sufficient number of residents and travelers to support a long lasting general store business. At its peak, the town had two stores, a canning factory, as well as two doctors and a school on a nearby hilltop. Three years were spent hauling and stacking rocks for construction, using a new Springfield wagon that barely survived the process. The general store opened for business in 1901 and had several owners until Claude and Kenneth Stamp purchased it in 1911 for $2,500. The price included the general store and its contents, 2 acres of land and the storekeeper’s house. Claude’s son Frank came home from World War II and ran the general store until his passing in 1989. One feature was a lunch counter that sold thick and thin sandwiches because the slicer did not slice evenly. Additionally, the store

sold hardware, harness, dry goods and groceries of every kind. “They sold everything but illegal whiskey,” current owner Newt Lale said. The second part of the story involves Newt and Amy Lale. In 1972, Newt was pursuing a degree in architecture at Texas A&M. A weekend workshop exposed him to clay, and he was hooked at once. He searched out his ceramics professor, Dr. Jim Henderson who had just paid $50 an acre for 80 acres of rock and tree strewn land in the Osage area. Newt called his professor who told him to stop at Stamps General Store and ask for directions. “When I arrived, I saw a two-story stone building with tall ceilings and an antique pop machine that provided me with my first Mountain Dew,” Newt said. “I loved the feel of the store and the mounds of merchandise and antiques.” Newt found Jim’s place and immediately noticed both the natural beauty and the land available-for-sale in the area. The two talked and Newt discovered that Jim’s place was not only beautiful but practical because it contained a gas pipeline, which could be used to inexpensively fire kilns. Because Newt loved the area and wanted to start his own pottery studio, he bought 40 acres along the pipeline’s route near the store. He paid $170 an acre and worked there for 10 years. After Newt had been in Arkansas for five years, he went to a craft show in Tennessee. A young woman named Amy walked up to his booth and asked where he was from. Because Osage was so small, he simply answered rural Arkansas. Amy pushed and he told her Osage.

To Newt’s astonishment, she asked, “Does Frank Stamps still run that store?” Further conversation revealed that Amy was from the area and a potter as well. Not done putting his foot in his mouth, he asked to see her work. She showed him a cup and saucer about the size of a penny explaining her wares were intended for dollhouses. He said, “Those are really cute, but if you learn to make real pots, you can make a living.” The couple has now been happily married and working together for 33 years, with their daughter Jessa Lea and her husband Donald work with them. When Frank Stamps passed away in 1989, his family was ready to sell the store. “When the family offered me the opportunity, I tried not to drool too much,” Newt said. “We settled on a price with the understanding that I would never sell the antiques. At that time I was focused on the land and the store and had no idea of the extent of the antique collection. Now I love the antiques as much as the business and have honored that promise.” Osage Clayworks resides inside the old general store building. The authentic aura makes the place feel well cared for and in original condition. Antiques are mostly displayed close to the high ceilings though

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Newt and Amy also have the original ledger for 1902 which shows what locals bought and how they paid their bills, both by cash and barter, including hundreds of eggs and a cow/calf pair. The Lales are members of the Arkansas Craft Guild and also sell work from two other potter’s who have worked with them in the past. “Once you’re part of the Clayworks family, that relationship continues,” Amy said. In addition to pottery work, Osage Clayworks offers the works of other local craftsmen. Craft items such as turn bowls, wooden spoons and wooden toys are available as well as jars of jellies, hot sauces and handcrafted soap. Whether for personal use or gifts, their stoneware is crafted with love. DECEMBER 25, 2017

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Williams Tractor

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1207 S. Main Berryville, Ark.

*For commercial use. Offer subject to CNH Industrial Capital America LLC credit approval. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through November 30, 2017, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. ©2017 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

WILLIAMS TRACTOR 2501 N Shiloh Dr, Fayetteville, AR 72704 www.williamstractor.com 479-442-8284

*For commercial use. Offer subject to CNH Industrial Capital America LLC credit approval. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through November 30, 2017, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2017 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afﬁliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afﬁliates.

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SimAngus, Balancer Bulls

Registered Gelbvieh and Balancers Bulls and Females

Troy & Virginia Bedwell HWY. 71 6.5 MI. S. OF MANSFIELD, AR

*479-675-4420*

8/13/18 5/29/17

18 Mo., Forage Developed, Top Quality & EPDS Harriman Santa Fe (Bob)

Montrose, MO • bharriman39@hotmail.com

660-492-2504

1/15/18 12/29/14

FoR SALE

HODGES R ANCH

Omaha, AR home 870-426-4469 cell 870-704-9450 hodgesranch@live.com 9/3/18

3/19/18

Gelbvieh/Balancer Martin Cattle Company David Martin

Red Angus Bulls for Sale COOPER RANCH

martincattleco@windstream.net

501-556-5263

Bulls and females available 501-278-7614

7/23/18

Romance, AR.

9/3/18

H Angus Bulls

Bentonville, Arkanas

479-273-3030

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

Bentonville, AR 6/11/18 3/3/14 2/9/15

2/26/18 12/29/14

Cagle Rose Bud Keith Bull Development Feeders & Sales

Horned Herefords, Charolais, Angus & Brangus Bulls For Sale (view on website) Cell: 501-940-0299 Email: kgcagle@windstream.net www.rosebudfeeders.com

6/11/18 5/8/17

agri-business meeting the needs of farmers

Thomas Fence

Your Electric Fence Specialist!

Place your ad in Purebred Corral and you’ll also receive a listing in the Cattlemen’s Seedstock Directory in our Classifieds section and also in the Cattlemen’s Seedstock Directory on our website.

eye on

WinDYRegistered AcreS cATTle Angus Bulls

Story and Photo By Terry Ropp

Owners: Greg (pictured) and Kate Paschal Location: Bethel Heights, Ark. History: “Mark Thomas started this business in 1993, but only put up wood fencing. My wife Kate and I bought Thomas Fence in 2003 and retained the name,” owner Greg Paschal said. “Before that, I was in an engineer and manager for Glad Manufacturing and Clorox, but tired of the move every two-year program. I knew nothing about fencing except when I had helped at my grandparents’ place when I was young. We began with a workforce of me and two subcontractors each with one helper. We currently have a staff of 12 and are on the lookout for hard-working and experiencing fence builders. We have worked hard so that now our business is more than seven times greater than when we started, and we’re still growing.” Products and Services: “We build, not repair, fences. Customers usually contact us by phone when we discuss what they are looking for. Then a fencing expert goes to the location to discuss options and provide a free estimate. Most of our customers are hobby farmers who often initially aren’t sure what they need or want. Hobby farmers tend to want to keep small animals like chickens or goats in and unwanted visitors and coyotes out. They also frequently like something that is aesthetically pleasing but also practical without understanding that’s what they want or how to get there. We build more five-strand barbed wire fence than three- strand, and have the capacity to install fencing in places so that deer and other herbivores cannot get in. We pride ourselves in building fences in difficult terrain, something important in Northwest Arkansas.” Philosophy and future: “Our goal is to at least meet, but hopefully exceed, customer expectations from that first contact on. We never charge customers for our mistakes and have an A-plus rating with the Better Business Bureau. I don’t ever plan on being an absent owner. I will always oversee and consult but I can foresee a time when I will cut back on my 50- to 60hour work week so Kate and I can travel to visit our two children, who are currently in college on opposite coasts.”

Rose Bud, AR

501-412-4939

2/26/18

Call Toll Free 1-866-532-1960 12

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 25, 2017

town &

country

in the field and in the office

Louie Skelton Story and Photo Terry Ropp

Hometown: Springdale, Ark. Family: Wife, Deeann; a son, Tucker; and a daughter, Sabra Town Life: “My education has placed me where I am today. I have a fire science degree from Northwest Arkansas Community College, plus an agribusiness degree from the University of Arkansas. Consequently I have been in the Springdale (Ark.) Fire Department for 19 years at Station 4 in Springdale, which is the same station my dad retired from. I serve as captain, the front-line supervisor for this station. My wife Deeann drives a bus for the Springdale schools and is a manager/ waitress at her family-run restaurant named Neal’s Café. Our daughter is still in high school and participates in competitive cheering for Arkansas Career Dynamics. All of these factors combine to make a living in town a necessity at this point in our lives. Country Life: “My agribusiness degree comes into play when I work with my father in a Beefmaster cow/calf operation on leased land in Springdale near his 13- acre homestead and on the family farm in Brentwood, Ark. We sell 60 to 70 steers per year but retain ownership when we send them to the feed yard in order to gather growth data that we then use to perfect our genetics and feed efficiency. Some heifers we retain as replacements and others we sell as replacements to other farmers. My brother Joe is also a fireman so our father always has one or both of us with him to help with the cattle. We literally just help because our father James keeps the entire operation in his head. That means the most efficient things for us to do are whatever he directs and to leave the big picture to him. We hay, feed, water and work the cattle, as well as perform maintenance on both equipment and the farm itself with the neverending task of repairing fence.” Future: “The combination of town and country life has been particularly important in terms of our children. Tucker gained practical knowledge like driving a tractor, performing maintenance chores and changing tires. The most important impact on my daughter is the appreciation she gained for the out-of-doors and animals, so much so that she wants to be a veterinarian and has already served an internship. The importance for me is that the farming provides an entirely different environment and set of tasks that allow me to maintain a healthy, greatly reduced stress level from my duties as captain of our station. Most firemen retire between 55 and 60 at which time I hope to work the cattle fulltime. We might even be able to move out of town into the country we love so much.” DECEMBER 25, 2017

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POST FRAME BUILDINGS

market sales reports

bulls

(Week of 12/10/17 to 12/16/17) Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy

46.50-76.00 † 60.00-85.00 † 63.00-78.00* 73.00 †

60.00-74.00 † 50.00-79.00 † 57.00-95.00 † 60.00-82.00* † 59.00-78.50 58.00-82.00 †

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

55.50-78.00 † 65.00-90.00 † 65.00-77.00* 63.00-93.00 † 75.00-95.00*

Welch Stockyards

slaughter

100

cows

(Week of 12/10/17 to 12/16/17) Arkansas Cattle Auction

37.00-55.00 †

Ash Flat Live Benton County Sale Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock County Line Sale Decatur Livestock Auction Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Livestock Fort Smith Stock I-40 Livestock Joplin Regional Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock

25.00-54.50 † 28.00-57.00 † 32.50-60.00 † 40.00-60.00* 40.00-60.00 † 35.00-61.00 †

OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock - Ola Ozarks Regional Stockyardd Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Welch Stockyards

Steers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

Bulls, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

Heifers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

14 14

34.00-55.00 † 36.00-68.00 † 42.00-57.00* 40.00-72.50 † 50.00-68.00*

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy 12/12/17 723

Ash Flat Livestock

100

dairy cattle

Springfield, Mo. • Springfield Livestock Marketing Center

11/28/17

Receipts: 772 The supply and demand was moderate. There were 09 percent springer heifers, 14 percent bred heifers, 34 percent open heifers, 06 percent fresh cows, 13 percent bred and springer cows and 02 percent baby calves. The balance was steers, bulls and slaughter cows. Prices reported are on a per head basis and for Holsteins unless 120 noted otherwise. Springer Heifers bred seven to nine months: Supreme 1300.00-1500.00, Approved 1000.00-1275.00, few Jerseys 925.00-1025.00, Crossbreds 925.00-1125.00, Medium 775.00-950.00, crossbreds 725.00-885.00. Heifers bred three to six months: Supreme 1200.001400.00, Jerseys 1300.00-1350.00, crossbreds 1000.001225.00, Approved 975.00-1100.00, crossbreds 870.00975.00, Medium 760.00-950.00, crossbreds 685.00-850.00, Common 600.00-700.00. Heifers bred one to three months: Medium few 825.00875.00, few crossbreds 550.00-675.00. Open Heifers: Approved: 185-299 lbs 200.00-360.00, Jerseys 180.00-240.00, 315-392 lbs 400.00-410.00, Jerseys 380.00-400.00, crossbreds 285.00-385.00, 400-475 lbs 350.00-500.00, crossbreds 370.00-420.00, 500-600 lbs 460.00-660.00, Jerseys 540.00-710.00, crossbreds 430.00580.00, 620-683 lbs 540.00-670.00, Jerseys 860.00-890.00, crossbreds 525.00-600.00, 702-802 lbs 750.00-800.00, Jerseys 700.00-780.00, crossbreds 640.00-740.00. Medium: 565-585 lbs few Jerseys 410.00-500.00, 620-685 lbs 350.00-510.00, 702-775 lbs 410.00-620.00. Replacement Cows: Fresh Cows and Heifers: Supreme 1550.00-1750.00, Approved 1025.00-1350.00, Medium 625.00-925.00. Bred and Springer Cows: Scarce. Baby Calves: Holstein heifers few 135.00-245.00, Holstein bulls 100.00-180.00, Jersey heifers Scarce, Jersey bulls 120 55.00-65.00, crossbred heifers 110.00-290.00.

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

12/15/17 802

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs 12/14/17 1,466

3-5 Lower

Steady

170.00-197.00 155.00-179.00 139.00-160.00 138.00-144.00 --------139.00-165.00 130.00-152.00 124.00-134.00 ----140.00-166.00 124.00-153.00 125.00-138.00 125.00-130.00 -----

12/17/17

5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 114.65-122.00; wtd. avg. price 119.66. Heifers: 116.00-120.50; wtd. avg. price 119.85. Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 188.00-190.00; wtd. avg. price 189.13. Heifers: 185.00-191.00; wtd. avg. price 189.77.

121( 5(3257('

25.00-54.50 † 32.00-59.00 † 42.00-63.00* 41.00-53.00 † 26.00-47.50 † Not Reported* None Reported* 35.00-60.00 †

cattle

Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle

56.00-69.00 † Not Reported* None Reported* 68.00-85.00 †

Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Livestock - Springdale Fort Smith Stockyards I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest

beef

55.00-74.00 †

Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock - Heber Springs County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction

sheep & Diamond • TS Whites Sheep and Goat Sale

goats 1130/17

Receipts: 1076 Supply was good and demand was good. There were plenty of seats in the house but the action held steady all night. Lamb markets were 10.00-20.00 lower, While the remainder of the markets held mostly steady. Supply was made up of about 42 percent kid goats, 13 percent Does and Bucks, 28 percent lambs, and 10 percent ewes and rams. All prices are per hundred weight (CWT) unless noted otherwise. SHEEP: Feeder Hair Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 40-59 lbs 170.00-180.00. Medium and Large 2-3 33-56 lbs 140.00166.00. Slaughter Hair Lambs: Prime 3-4 62-68 lbs 170.00-190.00; 83-98 lbs 132.50-155.00; 100-125 lbs 120.00-135.00. Choice 2-3 66-75 lbs 155.00-165.00; 82-98 lbs 125.00. Replacement Ewes: Mostly Hair. Few Medium and Large 1 fancy bred ewes 148 lbs 185.00. Medium and Large 1-2 81-123 lbs 130.00-165.50. Medium and Large 2-3 100-152 lbs 105.00-127.50. Slaughter Ewes: mostly Hair. Utility and Good 1-3 90-175 lbs 62.50-98.00. Replacement Hair Rams: Nice White Dorper Ram 260.00 Per Head. Slaughter Rams: 135-190 lbs 55.00-77.00. GOATS: Feeder kids: Bottle Babies 23.00-30.00 Per Head. Selection 1 30-39 lbs 220.00-240.00. Selection 2 25-32 lbs 195.00-205.00. Selection 3 22-40 lbs 105.00-130.00. Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 42-65 lbs 230.00-250.00; 6575 lbs 220.00-235.00; 110-170 lbs 145.00-175.00. Selection 2 42-80 lbs 200.00-225.00; 70-95 lbs 160.00-185.00. Selection 3 45-80 lbs 150.00-185.00. Replacement Does: Several Selection 1-2 160.00-210.00 Per Head. Selection 1 70-125 lbs 150.00-175.00. Slaughter Does: Selection 2 and 3 65-140 lbs 100.00135.00. Replacement Bucks: Selection 1 300.00-390.00 Per Head. Selection 1 70-145 lbs 160.00-190.00. Slaughter Bucks: Selection 1 80-138 lbs 175.00-215.00; 165-180 lbs 137.50-140.00. Selection 2 65-175 lbs 115.00125.00.

Buffalo• Buffalo Livestock Market

County Line Sale Ratcliff 12/13/17 255

Decatur Livestock*

12/13/17 901

Cleburne Co. - Heber Springs 12/11/17 455

St-12 Higher

St-9 Higher

St-4 Lower

Uneven

----160.00-165.00 151.00 144.00 146.00

188.00-205.00 172.00-198.00 155.00-176.00 141.00-156.00 -----

162.00-191.00 150.00-175.00 142.00-167.00 138.00-148.00 142.00-145.00

170.00-189.00 153.00-182.00 144.00-166.50 140.00-150.00 146.50

160.00-180.00 152.00-170.00 143.00-158.00 142.00-152.00 135.00-137.00

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

175.00-198.00 170.00-191.00 149.00-176.00 135.00-152.00 131.00-133.00

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

----130.00-162.00 130.00-150.00 120.00-137.00 -----

140.00-146.00 140.00-148.00 135.00-148.00 120.00-136.00 -----

----140.00-141.00 -------------

152.00-164.00 141.00-164.00 135.00-155.00 124.00-136.00 133.00

138.00-158.00 130.00-146.00 128.00-139.00 119.00-135.00 115.00-130.50

140.00-156.00 134.00-145.00 130.00-145.00 125.00-134.00 -----

130.00-144.00 130.00-139.00 120.00-130.00 110.00-135.00 -----

11/28/17

Receipts: 957 Supply was good and demand was good with a full house on hand at the start of the sale. Sheep markets were mostly steady to 10.00 higher compared to last month. Kids goats were steady to 20.00 higher, while the remainder of the goat markets were mostly steady compared to last month. The supply made up of 47 percent lambs, 10 percent ewes and rams, 24 percent kid goats, and 14 percent bucks and does. All prices are per hundred weight (CWT) unless noted otherwise. SHEEP: Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 hair 40-53 lbs 225.00-240.00. Slaughter lambs: Wool Choice and Prime 2-3 62-75 lbs 165.00-175.00; 110-155 lbs 113.00-131.00. Hair Choice and Prime 3-4 50-65 lbs 207.50-220.00; 82-99 lbs 140.00162.50; 105-125 lbs 122.50-135.00. Good and Choice 1-3 51-77 lbs 165.00-197.50. A few families of Hair ewes with single lambs. Medium and Large 1-2 105-155 lbs 135.00185.00; 180 lbs 115.00. Replacement Hair Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 81-126 lbs 105.00-137.50. Slaughter Ewes: Utility and Good 1-2 115-162 lbs 85.0097.50. Replacement Rams: Hair Medium and Large 1-2 110-155 lbs 137.50-150.00. Wool: Large 1 240-260 lbs 67.00-75.00. Slaughter Hair Rams: Good and Choice 1-3 140-185 lbs 80.00-90.00. GOAT: Feeder Kids: Selection 1 28-39 lbs 220.00-275.00. Selection 2 30-39 lbs 180.00-205.00. Selection 3 23-38 lbs 103.00-110.00. Slaughter Goats: Selection 1 40-65 lbs 240.00-270.00; 100-225 lbs 145.00-190.00. Selection 2 45-75 lbs 190.00220.00. Selection 3 43-65 lbs 145.00-180.00. Replacement Does: Selection 1 83 lbs 180.00; 117-133 lbs 110.00-130.00. Selection 2 130.00-152.00 Per Head, Selection 3 62-90 lbs 115.00-122.50 Per Head. Slaughter Does: Selection 2 and 3 55-98 lbs 110.00135.00. Replacement Bucks: Selection 1 110-185 lbs 172.50210.00; 205 lbs 120.00. Slaughter Bucks: Selection 2 80-140 lbs 147.50-162.50. Selection 3 50-168 lbs 90.00-120.00.

stocker & feeder

Nati

Che The $1.4 Flu Cal of Id seas and Nat Cla exc upc curr to p han prop a te Con are East buy all u 1.00 SPO BU $2.6

prices

Farmers Livestock Springdale 12/15/17 580

Fort Smith Stockyards

---------

Farmer’s & Ranchers Vinita, Okla.* 12/13/17 810

Joplin Regional Stockyards 12/11/17 4,476

Mi Stoc

12/11/17 1,180

I-40 Livestock Ozark 12/14/17 771

-----

St-6 Higher

1-12 Lower

St-14 Higher

St-10 Higher

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

184.0-193.00 169.00-184.00 162.00-169.00 ---------

186.00-200.00 162.00-181.00 144.00-165.00 145.00-150.00 -----

171.00-211.00 153.00-176.00 146.00-161.00 136.00-148.00 -----

177.50-195.00 167.00-192.50 158.00-182.50 157.50-160.00 -----

197.00-217.00 185.00-207.00 160.00-182.50 142.00-165.00 148.00-155.50

170 158 145 140 136

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

177.00-190.00 155.00-173.00 136.00-159.00 128.00-137.00 132.50

162.00-170.00 150.00-158.00 140.00-154.00 131.00-150.00 129.00

157.50 152.50 147.00-167.50 130.00-155.00 125.00-133.00

195.00-202.50 176.00-180.00 152.00-169.00 140.00-144.00 124.00-134.00

145 140 130 121 110

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

155.00-160.00 148.00-155.00 135.00-148.00 ---------

141.00-166.00 135.00-156.00 131.00-145.00 128.00-135.00 -----

144.00-177.00 135.00-160.50 125.00-174.00 120.00-132.00 110.00-118.00

140.00-167.50 133.00-152.00 131.00-139.00 128.00-140.00 106.00-170.00

150.00-160.00 148.00-158.00 135.00-149.00 132.00-146.00 135.00-138.00

145 135 125 120 120

127 5(3257('

slaughter

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

DECEMBER 25, 2017

y and Good 1-2 115-162 lbs 85.00-

air Medium and Large 1-2 110-155

lbs 67.00-75.00. Good and Choice 1-3 140-185 lbs

1 28-39 lbs 220.00-275.00. Selec-205.00. Selection 3 23-38 lbs

tion 1 40-65 lbs 240.00-270.00; .00. Selection 2 45-75 lbs 190.0065 lbs 145.00-180.00. lection 1 83 lbs 180.00; 117-133 ction 2 130.00-152.00 Per Head, 15.00-122.50 Per Head. ion 2 and 3 55-98 lbs 110.00-

election 1 110-185 lbs 172.50-

ction 2 80-140 lbs 147.50-162.50. 90.00-120.00.

avg. grain prices Week Ended 12/19/17

Soybeans

Soft Wheat

Corn

12 9.55

9.55

9.41

9.31

4.57

3 0

3.42

eville

h Blyt

4.52 3.46

Hele

5.49 4.42 3.46

Elain

4.60

4.27

3.42

eola

Osc

Little

Roc

ices

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs Cattlemen’s Livestock Cleburne County Livestock - Heber Springs County Line Sale

500

1000

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

Week of 11/19/17

152.49 162.46 *** *** ***

135.94

156.55

140.43

* 152.54

167.44

None Reported †

135.22

154.27

1075.00-1350.00 † None Reported †

140.13

158.77

800.00-1335.00 * None Reported † 700.00-1270.00 † Not Reported * None Reported * 1100.00 †

* 171.00 147.39 159.75 157.54

133.37 145.64

132.60 142.24

164.78

144.53

165.30

145.27

152.70

135.89

150.73

2000

2500

St-10 Higher

3-5 Lower

5-14 Higher

2-5 Higher

6-12 Higher

3-7 Lower

-----

132.56

148.94 162.68 148.73 146.68 164.24

170.00-200.00 160.00-186.00 155.00-177.00 145.00-164.50 145.00-153.00

195.00-202.50 176.00-180.00 152.00-169.00 140.00-144.00 124.00-134.00

145.00-175.00 140.00-165.00 130.00-145.00 121.00-133.00 110.00-125.00

166.00-197.00 154.00-187.00 131.00-159.00 134.00-145.00 127.00

----162.00-190.00 151.00-163.00 131.00-145.00 137.50

150.00 149.00 145.00-155.00 129.00-143.00 124.00-128.00

161.00 152.50-156.00 140.00-155.00 138.00 -----

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

170.00-181.00 166.50-184.00 140.00-169.00 131.00-142.50 120.00-134.50

150.00-178.00 140.00-160.00 145.00-160.00 130.00-137.00 110.00-128.00

0.00-167.50 3.00-152.00 1.00-139.00 8.00-140.00 6.00-170.00

150.00-160.00 148.00-158.00 135.00-149.00 132.00-146.00 135.00-138.00

145.00-167.00 135.00-150.00 125.00-145.00 120.00-136.00 120.00-128.00

142.00-163.00 138.00-149.00 132.00-142.00 125.00-135.00 -----

164.00-182.50 141.00-158.00 130.00-151.50 135.00-145.00 136.50-141.50

156.00-165.00 136.00-155.00 127.00-147.00 124.00-131.00 121.00-130.00

162.00-168.00 146.00-166.00 135.00-151.00 136.00-146.00 130.00-131.00

145.00-165.00 140.00-158.00 133.00-149.00 122.00-140.00 120.00-130.00

147.00-160.00 141.00-161.00 140.00-148.00 130.50-149.00 128.00-138.00

145.00-167.00 135.00-153.00 130.00-147.00 130.00-148.00 130.00-143.75

139.10 130.24 132.97 133.85 133.36

151.10

136.37 *

147.38

149.25

157.98

137.40

161.37

151.00

146.25

150.85

132.27 133.91

156.34 152.61

Week of 12/10/17

180.00-192.00 185.00-195.00 155.00-185.00 144.00-157.50 130.00-148.00

136.24

149.97

12/12/17 1,236

157.50 152.50 7.00-167.50 0.00-155.00 5.00-133.00

168.79 158.09 162.58 146.18 144.47

141.82 142.86 225

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

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

134.15 126.21 145.35

166.36 125 150 175 200 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

139.73 133.06

135.26

149.77

100

131.21

130.97

159.04 158.30

DECEMBER 25, 2017

130.90

161.39

900.00-1375.00 † 1225.00 † 500.00-1325.00 † None Reported *

182.00-199.00 187.00-202.00 162.00-179.00 139.00-150.00 125.00-135.00

131.12

152.17

1050.00-1350.00 † 900.00-1410.00 * None Reported †

Steady

191.00 172.00-194.00 155.00-191.00 145.00-164.00 -----

147.64 133.73

162.31

970.00-1325.00 †

12/11/17 726

170.00-214.00 150.00-182.00 153.00-170.00 143.00-148.00 -----

137.45

147.22

Welch Stockyards*

187.50-212.50 160.00-210.00 157.00-189.00 144.00-168.00 143.50-155.00

***

169.44

Tulsa Livestock Auction 12/11/17 2,334

175.00-209.00 164.00-188.00 151.00-172.50 148.00-158.00 138.00

***

Stilwell Livestock Auction* 12/13/17 870

170.00-200.00 158.00-185.00 145.00-165.00 140.00-157.50 136.00-151.00

145.47 ***

136.82

174.00

197.00-217.00 185.00-207.00 160.00-182.50 142.00-165.00 148.00-155.50

134.10

***

Ozarks Regional West Plains 12/12/17 2,565

St-10 Higher

132.27 ***

150.50

Ouachita Livestock Ola, Ark. 12/15/17 398

14 Higher

*** *** 152.89

OKC West - El Reno, Okla. 12/13/17 10,970

Mid-State Stockyards*

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

***

2500

Oct. 17 Nov. 17

heifers 550-600 LBS.

***

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest 12/13/17 880

Joplin Regional Stockyards 12/11/17 4,476

July 17 Aug. 17 Sept. 17

***

pairs

1500

Apr. 17 May 17 June 17

steers 550-600 LBS.

900.00-1135.00 † None Reported †

Welch Stockyards

I-40 estock Ozark 2/14/17 771

7.50-195.00 7.00-192.50 8.00-182.50 7.50-160.00 -----

2000

Dec. 16 Jan. 17 Feb. 17 Mar. 17

(Week of 12/10/17 to 12/16/17)

Mid-State Stockyard North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Auction - Ola Ozarks Regional Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction

3.28

1500

cow/calf

Farmers Livestock - Springdale Fort Smith Stockyards I-40 Livestock - Ozark 825.00 † Joplin Regional Stockyards

9 6

1000

Decatur Livestock Auction Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita

Sorghum

9.61

500

$80

Week of 11/26/17

es: Medium and Large 1-2 81-126

12/15/17

Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.6600 and 40# blocks at $1.5300. The weekly average for barrels is $1.6680 (+.0755) and blocks, $1.4835 (-.0060). Fluid Milk: Milk output in the Northeast, the Midwest, California, the Pacific Northwest, and the mountain states of Idaho, Colorado, and Utah is stable and in line with usual seasonal patterns. However, milk yield is up in the Southeast and Arizona, while it is steady to increasing in New Mexico. Nationwide, milk supplies are sufficient to meet end users’ needs. Class I sales are generally steady to higher in all the regions, except in the Midwest where they are mixed. In the face of the upcoming holidays, finding haulers for milk transportation is a current issue in the Midwest and the West regions. In an effort to provide a financial relief to dairy manufacturers and milk handlers in Florida after the devastation of Hurricane Irma, a proposal to amend Florida Federal Milk Marketing Order through a temporary supplemental charge on Class I milk is under review. Condensed skim is readily available in the market, but its sales are steady to lower. Cream is currently more available in the 0 East and West. Meanwhile, cream sellers in the Midwest say that buyers’ interest for cream is at a low point. Cream multiples for all usages are 1.18-1.34 in the East, 1.18-1.29 in the Midwest, and 1.00-1.26 in the West. SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Midwest $2.6131-2.8567.

$120

Arkansas Cattle 690.00-1025.00 † Ash Flat Live 500.00-1000.00 † Benton County Sale Barn 725.00-1300.00 † Cattlemen’s Livestock 700.00-1110.00* Cleburne County Livestock Auction 48.00-75.00 † Prices reported per cwt County Line Sale - Ratcliff 40.00-84.00 † Prices reported per cwt Decatur Livestock Auction Not Reported* Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita None Reported * Farmers Livestock 660.00-1080.00 † Fort Smith 530.00-1200.00 † I-40 Livestock 600.00-1350.00 † Joplin Regional 540.00-1400.00 † Mid-State Stockyards 800.00-1375.00 * North Arkansas Live 625.00-1325.00 † 690.00-1450.00 † OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Live 500.00-1130.00 † Ozarks Regional 650.00-1550.00 † Stilwell Livestock Auction None Reported * Tulsa Livestock Auction 925.00-1300.00 † Welch Stockyards 760.00-1410.00 * 7

Week of 12/3/17

Choice and Prime 2-3 62-75 lbs 5 lbs 113.00-131.00. Hair Choice s 207.50-220.00; 82-99 lbs 140.002.50-135.00. Good and Choice 1-3 0. A few families of Hair ewes with nd Large 1-2 105-155 lbs 135.00-

$160

Week of 11/19/17

m and Large 1-2 hair 40-53 lbs

National Dairy Market at a Glance

cows

reported per cwt (Week of 12/10/17 to 12/16/17) PricesPrices Prices reported reported per percwt cwt

Week of 11/26/17

emand was good with a full tart of the sale. Sheep markets 10.00 higher compared to last e steady to 20.00 higher, while oat markets were mostly steady h. The supply made up of 47 pert ewes and rams, 24 percent kid bucks and does. All prices are per ) unless noted otherwise.

replacement

dairy sales

11/28/17

$200

Week of 12/10/17

arket

550-600 lb. steers

12 Month Avg. -

$240

Week of 12/3/17

es reports

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

100 125 150 175 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

200

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

15 15

meet your neighbors

Thinking Outside the Box By Katrina Hine

The Quapaw tribe develops agriculture programs to better utilize their lands Many travel to Northeast Oklahoma to enjoy the exciting venues of the numerous casinos sprinkled about the region. There are roughly 39 federally recognized Native American tribes that call the state home. Of those, nine tribes reside in the Northeast corner alone. One tribe, the Quapaw, originated in the Mississippi River region of eastern Arkansas. The tribe was called Arkansas by the French in the late 1600s, leaving a legacy to the state that still bears the name, as does the nearby river. History does not sugar coat the fact that Native Americans were forcibly relocated to land considered wasteland. However, the Quapaw tribe has taken positive steps to not only lift their tribal members but to also kindle a vision that is quickly becoming a benchmark for other tribes across the nation. The Quapaw, under the leadership of Chairman John L. Berrey, have chosen to reach out to their neighbors in the region through regenerative processes, hands-on quality control of their products and revitalization of tribal lands. Quapaw Tribe Agricultural Director Chris Roper began working as the construction supervisor at the site of the tribe’s

Downstream Casino in 2007 but soon transitioned into something much larger as part of Berrey’s vision for the tribe’s future. John’s vision to give back to community, specifically the tri-state area, is built on restoring, reviving and replenishing a balanced “farm-to-table” model with various programs built on the most natural practices possible. While the tribe owns thousands of acres in all four states, the blossoming agricultural programs centers on approximately 5,000 acres. John is very active in the advancement of the tribe’s ag programming and traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue about issues, not just those specific to the tribe, but also to agriculture in general, such as the Farm Bill. In 2010, the tribe began their bison program, with current numbers standing at 140 head. The tribe soon followed with development of a 700-head black Angus herd. All the meat is hormone free and as natural as possible. Utilizing their meat products in their restaurants, cultural programs, daycare and senior centers, as well as retail locations, has saved a significant amount of money.

Highlighting their commitment to advancing diverse agricultural practices, a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art meat processing facility was developed to control product quality, cost effectiveness and decrease animal stress. The cattle are fed on grass via a network pastures that transition into 10 different holding pens where they supplement as necessary. The finishing stages often utilize Bermuda hay and silage bringing them to an “A-quality level of maturity.” “We don’t necessarily grow the program to meet a retail need because the cost that it takes to produce a lot of products is high. So, we gear our products to commercial customers, so we can deal in volume, which works out better,” Chris said. However, the meat is sold at their retail locations, along with other products. The FDA-approved facility is the first of its kind to be solely owned and operated Quapaw, Okla. by a Native American tribe. And building on the vision of giving back to community, the facility also serves as a train-

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

ing ground for students who desire to learn about cattle production and meat grading. Another program developed is the horticulture program, headed up by Gilbert Johnston. Originating from the maintenance needs of the 37 acres of landscaping and building off the farm-to-table concept, several greenhouses were constructed featuring cut flowers, naturally grown herbs and vegetables. In addition, there are nearly 100 bee hives, with 65 actively producing honey for use in spas, restaurants and for retail sales. The tribe also utilizes a goat herd for weed control and to eliminate over use of chemicals. Not shying away from thinking outside the box, the tribe also grinds and develops their own coffee blends at their roasting facility for use in the Ma-KoSha Coffee Shop and retail sales. Diversifying their business model has proven their greatest accomplishment and tackling challenges has led to the Quapaw’s to effort reclaim the nation’s number one Superfund site centered on 40-square acres of tribal land at what once was Pitcher, Okla. Making them the first Native American contractors to take on such a massive task, creating hundreds of acres of productive pasture. DECEMBER 25, 2017

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Mountain Home Yellville 1312 East 9th St. 801 Hwy. 62 West 870-425-5530 870-449-4966 Flippin 9095 Hwy. 62 East 870-435-4400

Harrison 502 Hwy 62/65 N. 870-741-0855

Huntsville 304 Labarge St. 479-738-6814

Siloam Springs 1629 East Main 479-524-3511

Lincoln 700 W. Hwy 62 479-824-3291

Imboden 5564 Hwy 63 East 870-869-2644

NORTH ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AUCTION, INC. Call 870-438-6915 For Sale Information & For Special Sales For on Farm Appraisal or Hauling Contact One of the Following: www.powellfeedstores.com Harrison Green Forest 502 Hwy 62-65 N. 181 W. Main St. 870-741-9084 870-438-5184

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Siloam Springs 1629 E. Main 479-524-3511

Flippin Huntsville 9095 Hwy. 62 E. 304 Labarge Ave. 870-453-4400 479-738-6814

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Berryville 344 Hwy. 21 N. 870-423-4245

Kevin (Short) Williams H - 870-423-3099 C - 870-423-8444

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Auctions on Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Special auctions to be announced. 304 West Main Street • Green Forest, AR 72638 Office (870) 438-6915 • Fax (870) 438-5223 DECEMBER 25, 2017

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

meet your neighbors

From Bottle Calves to a Ranch

Photos by Jessica Thompson

By Jessica Thompson

Oklahoma woman’s dream of a raising Angus cattle began with by raising Holstein bottle calves For Shanda Coppedge, the cattle business started out with long days and nights, and lots of bottles. For 12 years, she raised 375 Holstein bottle calves a year and from the money she earned raising calves, she started building a herd of black Angus cattle. Ten years ago, she purchased her first Angus cow. Her herd now numbers more than 100 head. She picked Angus because they are easy keepers, keep their weight well through winter, and they are gentle and easy to work with. Shanda is not the average farmer. Her cows have dark lavender ear tags and some come running when she calls their names. On a cold November morning, one of Shanda’s cows had twins, and one of the calves fell 15 feet off the edge of the bluff and rolled across Spring Creek. Shanda rescued her and took her to the house to try to warm her up. She got her dried off but the cow would not take her, so Shanda named her Pumpkin and raised her on a bottle. To this day when Shanda goes in the field and calls for Pumpkin she comes running and stands still for Shanda to brush her. Last spring Pumpkin had a calf and, of course, Shanda named her Pie. Shanda and her husband Troy live near the town of Kansas in Delaware County, Okla. The farm is on edge of the Ozark Mountains with the beautiful Spring Creek winding throughout the property. Across the dirt road is Shanda’s neighbor, Eddie Douglas. He has 150 acres on the east side of the road and Shanda and Troy own 110 acres on the west side. The land has been a part of the Coppedge and Douglas families for many years. In fact, Eddie and Troy’s grandpas were great friends who grew up playing on the farm and swimming in the creek together.

To this day, Spring Creek plays a big part in their family traditions and community gatherings. It is not just a place where the cattle drink, it is place where family and friends gather to have cookouts and splash in the cool water after a long day in the hay field. The creek has been the place where their children grew up playing and taking creek bathes. If you stop by Spring Creek Angus Ranch, don’t be surprised if there is shampoo and conditioner on the banks of the creek. Shanda grew up on a farm with a few bottle calves, horses and mules. She really didn’t dream of being a rancher when she grew up. When asked if she enjoys farm work Shanda said, “I love working the farm and I love staying busy and being on a schedule.” Eddie works fulltime which keeps him very busy. He did not want his 150 acres to just sit so he and Shanda became business partners. Shanda takes care of the land and cattle at his place also. They have their meat processed at Cooks Processing in Miami, Okla. Eddie works on marketing and selling the meat to customers. Their Angus cattle are grass fed, and grain finished, all can be registered but not all are. They try to keep their bull calves longer before castrating them because it grows them out bigger. When selling their calves, they shoot for a weight of 550 pound. As for the bulls, they use natural cover all year which makes calving season spring and fall. Shanda has one cow that has had two sets of twins, the first year she named them Chaos and Confusion because she kept seeing one and not the other so she wasn’t sure if there were one or two calves. There is no confusion about Kansas, Okla. the fact that with determination and hard work you too can turn babies and bottles into a cattle ranch.

Shanda Coppedage grew upon an Oklahoma farm, but she didn’t dream of being a rancher.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 25, 2017

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

youth in

Know What’s Coming,

Before It’s Here… The new Ozarks Farm & Neighbor look ahead email is now available. Receive directly in your email: • A brief look at the coming issue. • Additional content not in the print edition. • Information about upcoming agricultural events in the Ozarks.

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agriculture tomorrow’s ag leaders

Jager Pifer Story and Photo By Terry Ropp

Parents: Jim and Jaime Pifer Hometown: Kansas, Okla. FFA Chapter: Kansas FFA Advisor: Clayton Williams What is your favorite aspect of agriculture?

“I like the sense of community, the brother and sisterhood of agriculture, because food production is a cooperative activity where everyone helps. We couldn’t raise good cattle without a good feed mill or veterinarian, and they wouldn’t have jobs without us.”

Who is the most influential person in your life? “My dad is the most influential because he teaches me values, as well as practical agricultural information and practices. I really appreciate our bond and how we work together.”

What is your current involvement in agriculture?

“We raise commercial cattle. I originally bought two Angus heifers and recently sold those to buy an Angus heifer of better genetic quality. I will sell my bull calf and hope the next calving is a female so they will be the beginning of my seed herd. I kept my heifer separated until she was old enough to be bred by my dad’s Angus bull. We feed them and rotate pastures as needed. Their daily grain ration is supported by grazing and/or hay. I also help herd the cattle for working while my dad administers shots. We wean at 6 months old and sell calves at the Benton County (Ark.) Sale Barn after adding more muscle and fat on them so they bring a better price.”

What are your future plans?

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1-866-532-1960

“I really have no idea what I want to do yet, but I am determined to be the best I can be perhaps in engineering or technical field. I do know, however, I want land and cattle in addition to a career.”

What are your FFA activities?

“I am currently serving as the chapter vice president. Unlike many FFA students here, I don’t show livestock but compete in other events. Last year, I won first in creed speaking in the Vinita PI district, got second in Greenhand quiz and qualified for state. I’m considering doing a prepared speech on the value of FFA regardless of an eventual career choice and will compete in environment and natural resource judging at Connors State College and Oklahoma State University.” Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 25, 2017

the ofn

ag-visors

Advice from

the professionals

Do You Have a ‘Special Advisor’? By Kathy Daily

ith the new President in office, you may have been hearing a lot about “special advisors.” The President of the United States and the CEOs of large companies rely on the expertise of a multitude of people who specialize in certain subjects every day. These management officials realize it is impossible to be experienced in all of the areas that they manage on a daily basis. These managers know they must be knowledgeable in most of the areas, but they realize they are better served by Kathy Daily is the getting input and guidance from professionals in Senior Vice President each individual field. of First Financial Bank’s Your farm operation is no different than runFarm and Ranch Divining a large corporation where you’re the CEO. sion. She has been an Every day you are responsible for many things agricultural lender for and you can’t possibly be an expert in every one. over 25 years. Who are your “special advisors?” Are you getting guidance and advice from people more knowledgeable, or are you winging it and hoping it works out? Special advisors for your farming operation might be a nutritionist, agronomist, accountant, attorney, banker, insurance agent, trusted mentor, veterinarian or a host of others who have an influence on your operation. Just like you, all of these people want to see your operation succeed. You probably already bounce ideas off of these people on a daily or weekly basis, but have you ever considered holding a “cabinet meeting” on an annual basis or before making a big change in your operation? Getting all of these professionals together, or even a selected few, to help you brainstorm how to grow your operation could be very beneficial. Most of these people would probably be willing to help free of charge. It is fairly common for large farm operations to have advisory boards to get input from professionals. The members offer advice, but the ultimate decision and liability is that of the producer. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the input from others before you make those big decisions that have a huge impact on your operation? Next time you have to make these decisions, you may want to consider contacting your “special advisors.” Many years ago, a smart person once told me to surround myself with people who were smarter than me. That was good advice then and it’s good advice still today. The day that you think you have all of the answers is the day that you are in over your head. Take advantage of the ideas and advice the specialists in the field may have for you and your farm.

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farm

help

Making farming

a little easier

Using Your Resources By Klaire Howerton

Finding programs that will work for you and your operation As a farmer or rancher, you know how important it is to use all resources efficiently, whether it is time, feed, fertilizer or dollars. When you utilize some of the farmer-friendly programs available through the Natural Resources Conservation Society (NRCS), you are tapping into an amazing resource that can help you maximize your operation to the fullest. The NRCS offers a wide variety of programs and funding to qualified landowners and farmers to help the producer while also bettering the environment. “Our conservation working lands programs allow us to provide the necessary technical and supporting financial assistance to agricultural producers to help protect and improve our natural resources for sustainability of healthy, productive environments,” NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist Reginald Jackson said. If you think participating in an NRCS program would benefit your farm, here is how you can find out what is available to you and get started with planning, applying and implementing.

Visit the Website

Curt McDaniel, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist-Programs, suggests that anyone interested in participating in NRCS program start out by visiting the website, www.nrcs.usda.gov. Interested parties will find all kinds of different program and resource information here. Another website tool is the Field Office Locator – this search feature will help you locate your local USDA Field Office by county. If you are already working with the NRCS on a program for your farm, you can utilize an online portal called the Conservation Client Gateway. This tool allows you to request technical assistance, apply for financial assistance, view, sign and submit applications and other documents, and track payments. After a visit to a local field office to set up your account, you can interact with the NRCS online in a convenient and flexible manner. While you are perusing the NRCS website, it is important to

what do you say?

“Yes, they have helped farmers and ranchers expedite improvements to their operations.”

Do you think cost share programs have added to agriculture? Kaleb Smith Benton County, Ark.

keep it mind that there is a lot of information in one place, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t immediately find what you need. Make use of the search feature, and know that you can always get in touch with your field office if you need additional assistance.

Get Social

When it comes to researching innovative ways to make environmentally sound improvements to your farm, McDaniel said “another great spot is social media.” He recommends following not just your state specific NRCS on social media, but other states and the general NRCS accounts as well. That way, people can see what programs and ideas others are implementing they might be able to adapt to their own state.

Visit Your Field Office

The best way to get on track to participating in an NRCS program is to visit your local USDA field office. “We always encourage people to stop in and visit,” said McDaniel. “We want to give people the best experience we can, and it starts with a conversation.” He went on to explain that “programs are a by-product of what we try to do with people.” When visiting a local field office, NRCS staff will first talk with you and help you determine your goals and problems that you need solved on your farm. After this has been determined, the NRCS will help you create a plan and find a program that meets your needs.

Apply

Once you’ve settled on a program, you can begin the application process. The first step, is going to your local field office and providing documentation that you either own or lease the land that the improvements will be made upon so that you can update your farm records. The NRCS will then determine your eligibility, after which you can sign up for the program and put your name in the hat, so to speak. There will be NRCS staff members to work with you from start to finish on the planning, the application.

“It really depends on the program. We used a program to help build really good ponds, and that program work for us. The milk margin, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to help.”

“Our farm is an NRCS product and the programs have helped us improve the land and our operation tremendously. Now our pond is fenced off so the cattle can’t pollute the water, and we use low maintenance Gallagher system cross fencing for rotational grazing.”

Betty Scates Washington County, Ark.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Jana Jones Johnson County, Ark.

“For us, the work and time involved is not work the cost share help because the system is simply too complex.”

Logan Courtney Mayes County, Okla. DECEMBER 25, 2017

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farm help

Why Should You Clip Pastures? By Kenley Williams

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Farmers and ranchers have many good reasons to mow the pastures their animals graze on. Whether it be for the animals’ safety or to make it easier to cut and harvest hay, they know taking the extra step to clip the pasture is always the right thing to do. Mowing in the fall, especially in areas that are being reclaimed for pasture or forage, mowing before seeding, reduces spring growth of weeds and other plants, thus reducing competition and aiding in the establishment of new grasses. Some grasses, including Bermudagrass, see increased yields the following season if clipped or burned in the winter months, specifically in mid-February, to remove residual, mature grass. Brian Pugh, an Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service area agronomy specialist, said producers must always look at the animals’ needs first. They are the main reason producers take care of their pastures and grasses the way they do. Clipping pastures after animals have been there grazing for a while is especially beneficial. It evens out the pasture and promotes regrowth of not only the grass that was heavily grazed, but the grass that wasn’t grazed as much. Mowing the pasture to an even level also reduces uneven grazing patterns in the future. “It really is a great way to make sure there will be vegetative growth in the future for the cattle. If we don’t get the pastures evened out in the fall, the fields in the spring won’t have the vegetation the cattle need,” Pugh said. Another important reason to mow the pasture is to prevent unwanted plants from growing, like weeds and thistles. It is important to mow at the correct time, however. Clipping before the pasture’s “rest period,” promotes growth and prevents the wrong species from taking over.

The rest period is simply the time where there are no animals grazing the pasture. Pugh said he prefers a rotational grazing and mowing system, which really helps with each of his pastures’ rest periods. Kevin Williams, a cattle farmer, also brush hogs his land to prevent those unwelcome plants, but makes sure his pastures have a good rest period. Williams said if he’s not careful unwanted weeds can sneak up and take over his fields. With mowing, he can easily keep this from happening. Weed suppression is a huge benefit of clipping, he said.

“We mow to control the competition of the grasses the cattle eat,” Pugh said. “These competitions can be any kind of weed or thorn, which we don’t need in the pastures.” Pastures can also be clipped prior to opening them to grazing. This is a better option if the pasture has become too mature. Pre-mowing allows producers to stockpile hay for later in the season. “We are able to bale hay two or three times a summer, depending on rain,” Williams said. While harvesting hay is useful, clipping pastures has other benefits as well.

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The remaining clippings after a cutting help promote soil health. “Clipping for hay can really improve the nutrients of the soil and it builds carbon – two extremely important features needed for healthy pastures,” Pugh said. When mowing, it is important to be mindful of the mower height. Pugh said the length of cut depends on the forage species. “We cut fescue 4 to 6 inches, white clover, and Bermuda 2 to 4 inches, and our native grasses; we don’t cut them shorter than 12 inches. Their growing points are high and use a lot of energy in the fall,” Pugh said. Maintaining forage quality is another important practice both Williams and Pugh advise following. They advocate watching which forages the cattle choose, and they advise others to mow to promote the growth of the most productive forages in the pasture. Pugh said if the forage is tall, the roots will be deeper. It is better to let grasses grow tall before mowing to allow their roots to grow also. “The roots mirror the shoots,” Pugh said. “If the stems and leaves are strong and healthy, the roots will be too.” Mowing and clipping pastures promotes livestock nutrition. Quality forages provide livestock with their vegetative requirements without the use (and expense) of supplements, and timely mowing can easily increase the nutrition of the forage even more. “If the pasture remains vegetative because it is taken care of correctly, producers will be able to run more cattle on the land in a shorter amount of time,” Pugh said. “Beyond the livestock, the forage is my main concern. If the forage isn’t nice and vegetative, the livestock won’t (look nice) either.” DECEMBER 25, 2017

farm help

Benefits of Financial Assistance Programs By Klaire Howerton

Programs offered by agencies offer benefits to producers and the environment If you’ve ever considered applying for an agriculture-related financial assistance program, chances are that you have run across some programs from the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS offers several farmer-friendly financial assistance and incentive programs that have benefits for the farmer, the community and the environment. “The flagship financial assistance programs of the NRCS are the Environmental Quality Incentive Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program,” said Curt McDaniel, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist – Programs. He added that these are two of the most heavily utilized programs in the NRCS. According to the NRCS website, the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) “provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat.” Some popular practices implemented by producers working with the NRCS through the EQIP program include cover crops, irrigation and prescribed grazing. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address DECEMBER 25, 2017

priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance – the higher the performance, the higher the payment. There are three main benefits to participating in a financial assistance program such as EQIP or CSP, McDaniel explained. One benefit is that the producer gets protection of the natural resources on their farm or ranch – which is quite a large benefit indeed, considering that the natural resources we have are the only ones we have. The second benefit is that the producer will hopefully see an increase in production from properly implemented practices through NRCS financial assistance programs. The third benefit from participating in these programs is a little broader. “Society gets an environmental benefit,” McDaniel said. “And these programs are also beneficial to rural communities.” When producers utilize the financial assistance they receive from the NRCS, they are purchasing supplies from their local communities and making every dollar count, while also making production practice choices that help safeguard not just their natural resources, but their neighbors as well. The NRCS takes applications to their financial assistance programs year-round. “There’s never a bad time,” McDaniel said. The best way to get the application process started for one of these programs is to visit your local USDA field office. “We always encourage people to stop in and visit,” McDaniel said.

Oklahoma NRCS Offices Adair County .................... Stilwell, Okla ................ (918) Cherokee County............. Tahlequah, Okla.......... (918) Craig County..................... Vinita, Okla. ................. (918) Delaware County............. Jay, Okla. ..................... (918) Le Flore County................. Poteau, Okla................ (918) Mayes County................... Pryor, Okla.................... (918) Muskogee County............ Muskogee, Okla.......... (918) Rogers County.................. Claremore, Okla.......... (918) Sequoyah County............. Sallisaw, Okla............... (918) Tulsa County...................... Tulsa, Okla.................... (918) Wagoner County.............. Wagoner, Okla............. (918)

Arkansas NRCS Offices

696-7612 456-1924 256-6882 253-4513 647-4800 825-3673 682-8831 341-3276 775-6577 280-1596 485-4747

Baxter County................... Mountain Home, Ark. ..... (870) 425-3527 Benton County.................. Bentonville, Ark. .......... (479) 273-2622 Boone County................... Harrison, Ark. ............... (870) 741-8600 Carroll County.................. Berryville, Ark. ............. (870) 423-2638 Cleburne County.............. Heber Springs, Ark. ..... (501) 362-2628 Crawford County.............. Serviced by Fort Smith, Ark., Office .................................................................................... (501) 474-2281 Faulkner County............... Conway, Ark. ............... (501) 327-6509 Franklin County................. Ozark, Ark. ................... (479) 667-8600 Fulton County.................... Salem, Ark. ................... (870) 895-3201 Johnson County................ Clarksville, Ark. ........... (479) 754-2800 Logan County.................... Paris, Ark. ..................... (479) 963-2612 Madison County............... Huntsville, Ark. ............. (479) 738-6321 Marion County.....................Serviced by Mountain Home, Ark. Office ............................................................................................(870) 449-6356 Monroe County ................ Clarendon, Ark. .......... (870) 747-3431 Newton County................. Serviced by Harrison, Ark. Office .................................................................................... (870) 446-2236 Pope County...................... Russellville, Ark. ........... (479) 968-3881 Searcy County.................. Marshall, Ark. .............. (870) 448-3184 Sebastian County............. Fort Smith, Ark. ............ (479) 646-8300 Stone County..................... Mountain View, Ark. .... (870) 269-3726 Van Buren County............ Clinton, Ark. ................. (501) 745-5161 Washington County......... Fayetteville, Ark. .......... (479) 442-4160 White County..................... Searcy, Ark. .................. (501) 268-5866

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

ozarks’ farm

calendar

January 2018 8, 22, 29, 2/5 Early Childhood Training Opportunities – 6:30 p.m. – classes are free of charge – Marion County Extension Office, Yellville, Ark. – pre-registration is required by Jan. 5 – 870-449-6349 or rmyers@uaex.edu 9 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Marshall Assembly of God, Marshall, Ark. – 870-448-3981 9 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Crawford County Extension Office, Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 17 KOMA Cattle Conference – Washington County Fairgrounds, Dewey, Okla. 18 Moving Plants from Greenhouse to Outdoors – 1 p.m. – Eureka Springs Community Center, Eureka Springs - 870-423-2958 18 Pesticide Applicator Training – 2 p.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 23 Young Cattlemens Series of Carroll County – Harrison, Ark. – 870-423-2958 25 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Carl Garner Vistors Center, Heber Spring, Ark. – 501-362-2524 February 2018 1 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – $10 fee at the door – Marion County Fairgrounds, Yellville, Ark. – 870-449-6349 6-3/13 Annie’s Project – for Women in Agriculture – Tuesday nights at 5 p.m. – Harrison, Ark. – 870-423-2958 8 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Bald Knob School Cafeteria, Bald Knob, Ark. – 501-268-5394

Set Your Location

12 Pesticide Applicator Training – 2 p.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 14 River Valley Beef Conference – registration starts at 8:30 a.m. – $20 per person – steak lunch will be provided – Hughes Center, Russellville, Ark. – 479-474-5286 20 Young Cattlemens Series of Carroll County – Eureka Springs, Ark. – 870-423-2958 21-23 Sequoyah County Junior Livestock Show – Sequoyah County Fairgrounds, Sallisaw, Okla. – 918-775-4838 22-26 Spring Livestock Show – Cherokee County Fairgrounds, Tahlequah, Okla. – 918-456-6163

If you have a community event coming up in the new year that you would like to share with our readers, please send in your information and look for it to appear in future issues of Ozarks Farm & Neighbor.

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