OFN December 30, 2019

DECEMBER 30, 2019 • 24 PAGES

VOLUME 13, NUMBER 14 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Farm Programs & Incentives Issue

Maximizing Profits Bill Sossamon returned to Arkansas and the family farm after living in California

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Busting the Myths

Growing on the Farm

Daniel and Katie Beal made their way to the Ozarks and agriculture

An Ambiguous Future

Aaron Artripe prefers Beefmaster cattle and rented pasture

Some of the most common misconceptions regarding farm programs and incentives

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

1

rumor mill

Cookbook winner announced: Barbara Groskopf of Hartman, Ark., is the winner of a cookbook for her recipe submissions for the annual Ozarks Farm & Neighbor Country Christmas. More than 50 recipes were submitted for the contest.

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

DECEMBER 30, 2019 | VOL. 13, NO. 14

University receives donation: Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. of Arkansas Inc. recently donated $100,000 to Southern Arkansas University’s new poultry science facility. The gift was made to the SAU Foundation, and it will support the construction of a new poultry house on the north side of the Agriculture Center. In recognition of the company’s gift, the building will be named the Farm Bureau Insurance Agriculture Education Facility. It will also have a Farm Bureau Insurance Broiler/Breeder Room inside.

JUST A THOUGHT

3 Jerry Crownover –

Childhood memories

7

Grant awarded to FFA Chapter: The Oklahoma FFA Foundation has announced that the Claremore FFA Chapter is a recipient of the FFA Health and Wellness Grants sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma. The Claremore FFA Chapter applied for and is being awarded a Health and Wellness Grant to build the Claremore FFA Cold Frame Garden Boxes. These cold frame garden boxes extend the vegetable growing season to include fall, winter and early spring. The project will provide fresh vegetables to the students of Claremore High School make use of the Claremore High School Food Pantry. Funds awarded through the grant will be used to purchase building materials for the FFA program to build the cold boxes.

4

Jody Harris – A new year, new adventures

5

Julie Turner-Crawford – Predictions for 2020

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

7 Family incorporates poultry and cattle operations

Benton County group honored: The Women’s Leadership Committee from Benton County was presented with the Outstanding County Women’s Program award for 2019. The group was recognized Dec. 5, during Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 85th Annual Conference at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. It was a repeat win for the ladies who also earned the honor in 2018. Each year, Arkansas Farm Bureau honors the county Women’s Leadership Committee that exhibits exemplary support of its county organization, activities and goals. Farm Bureau women help accomplish the organization’s mission by working with local schools and educating children about agriculture and where people get their food, fiber and fuel.

Feral Hog eradication program coordinator hired: The Arkansas Agriculture Department has announced that J.P. Fairhead is the first feral hog eradication program coordinator in the state, a newly created position that’s part of a $3.4 million federal grant awarded to the department.

Fairhead has been employed with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission since 2008 as a natural resource program technician and field biologist.

He’s also served as the commission’s feral hog eradication program coordinator since February 2013. Arkansas was one of 10 states to receive funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program.

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8

Daniel and Katie Beal start their own farm in the Ozarks

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Eye on Agribusiness features the Tulsa County OSU Extension

10

Museum features a mixture of unique items

11

Town & Country spotlights Troy Dryer

14

Aaron Artripe finds a path to success

16

Youth in Agriculture highlights Chasee Cooper

FARM HELP 17 Creating a strategy is key 18 Local, state and federal programs can improve farms and ranches

20 Misconceptions

about programs

OzarksFarm @OzarksFarm

Know a Good Rumor?

Do you have a rumor you would like to share with our readers? Mail them to: PO Box 1514, Lebanon, MO 65536; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com

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Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

21

Managing feeder heifers

DECEMBER 30, 2019

just a

thought

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

Broken Cedar Saanen Dairy Goat Farm

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

Located in Northwest Arkansas, our herd of high quality registered Saanen dairy goats has been in development for 10 years. We offer for sale excellent milking does, yearlings, kids, and breeding bucks.

Life Is Simple

e f i L elpmiS si

Eric Tietze Publisher

Administrative Kathy Myers, Marketing Manager Eric Tietze, Accounting Advertising Pete Boaz, Display & Classified Sales Kathy Myers, Production Sales Circulation Eric Tietze, Circulation Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Jody Harris, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production

Our bloodlines….

By Jerry Crownover

T

PO Box 1514, Lebanon, MO 65536

Toll Free: 1-866-532-1960

imes were always hard, back on the farm, revoyears, nworC yrreJ yB when I was a kid. Some however, were worse than others, and one of the worst for us occurred when I was 9 years old.

Jerry Crownover is It had been an unusually dry summer a farmer and former and both the corn and hay crops that we relied professor of Agriculture upon to feed the cattle and hogs through the Education at Missouri winter, were less than meager. To add to the fiState University. He is a nancial stress of the farm, my youngest sister had native of Baxter County, required hospitalization a couple of times. Even Arkansas, and an though I was just a kid, I had been able to see author and professional the worry in the eyes and hear it in the voices speaker. To contact Jerry, of my parents all through that fall. I knew that go to ozarksfn.com and it would take all the money we had to buy extra click on ‘Contact Us.’ “store-bought” feed to supplement the livestock and pay off medical bills. As a typical 9-year-old, I began to suspect Christmas would probably be as bare as the cornstalks had been.

The big garden that we always raised, was as devastated by the drought as the field crops, but the green beans had managed to mature before the worst of the dryness and Mom had been able to can at least a couple hundred quart jars of the produce to store in the damp, dark safety of the fruit cellar. Always a wonderful cook, she must have found a hundred different ways to prepare the vegetable, but we still had green beans twice per day, every day, for most of the year, and I swear that if she had found a way to cook them for breakfast, we would have had them three times per day. By the time Christmas rolled around, it was my contention that green beans were only slightly better than nothing at all.

The day before Christmas, my mother had gone around and secretly asked each of her three children what she could make for the big dinner the following day.

That would be her gift to us. My oldest sister asked if there was any ham left in the smokehouse and, when Mom said there was, she wanted a big mess of fried ham.

We use outstanding bucks from two of the leading Saanen show and milking herds in the United States. These bucks are from national award winning and record milk production does.

• Caprikorn Farms, Gapland, Maryland www.caprikornfarms.com

• Caprikorn Zurich Bing • Des-Ruhigestelle Saanens, Molalla, Oregon www.ruhigestelle.com

• Des-Ruhigestelle Eedrick

Contact us or come for a visit to see the herd.

Eric Wailes, Owner/Manager 6355 E. Huntsville Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72701

(479) 236-6498

Email: ewailes@uark.edu www.brokencedarfarm.com

A

Contributors Jessica Allan, Klaire Howerton, Benjamin Maddux, Kathy Parker and Terry Ropp

About the Cover Bill Sossamon’s family moved to California, but they kept their Arkansas farm. Today, Bill has a poultry and cow/calf operation on the same farm. 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., 2019. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

HERITAGE OF

QUALIT Y WHERE IT COUNTS

— Continued on Page 6

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Freshly Picked

By Jody Harris

H

appy New Year! This past year is almost in my rearview mirror. We enjoyed several old family traditions this past year. We began some new ones too. As I reflect on the fullness Jody Harris is a freelance or our days and evenings it’s understandable how communications specialist, each year flies by faster than the last. gardener, ranch wife and Our oldest daughter was part of a competitive mother of four. She and dance team. We were on the road attending comher family raise Angus beef petitions this last winter and spring. We enjoyed cattle and other critters on a quick trip to Colorado to ski. We spent time their northwest Arkansas in the bleachers at several baseball and softball ranch. She is a graduate games; coaching and cheering our way through of Missouri State University. the season. This summer, we enjoyed our local To contact Jody, go to Rodeo of the Ozarks with some friends who had ozarksfn.com and click on never attended a rodeo. It’s always fun to intro‘Contact Us.’ duce people to something we enjoy.

Our youngest daughter played a lead role in her middle school’s production of Snow White this month. The boys have joined a local 4-H Club. They have big plans for a cattle dog and show rabbit operation. I can’t wait.

My husband introduced the boys to sprint car racing last fall. They are fans. They dart out the door to get chores done so they can practice “racing” their little buggies in our front yard.

Our youngest daughter learned to can. Her jar of homemade salsa went on to the Arkansas State Fair. We can now refer to Aunt Jan’s salsa as “Blue Ribbon Salsa.”

We’ve ventured out in our RV (also known as the Tour Bus) around Arkansas. We enjoyed trout fishing on the White River, a trip to Platte City, Mo., and the best trip of all was all the way to Destin, Fla. We may never get all the sand out of the camper, but these farm kids enjoyed creating sandy fields, castles and racetracks.

The wildest news from 2019 is – we have a new driver. Our oldest daughter turned 14 in November. In Arkansas, this is the age a person can test for a driver’s learning permit.

Our kids have grown up driving everything from RTV’s to bulldozers on the farm. However, the open roads and highways are a whole new animal for a young woman to absorb.

My husband brought her home the driving manual to study. She wasn’t very motivated. She was probably the only eighth grade girl in her school who didn’t have a phone.

We have postponed as much technology as humanly possible in our household. It’s hard to manage and mostly unnecessary. Especially since the two of us walked up hill to school in the rain and snow both ways in eighth grade. You remember how it was?

We challenged our daughter to pass her written driving exam on the first try. The incentive? A cell phone. She studied hard and passed the test. She was elated. So, the responsibility of teaching her to drive in town lies with my husband and me.

The first time she drove me, my husband called to inquire about it. It was terrifying. I would rather ride Powder Keg at Silver Dollar City than ride with my 14-year-old on the open roads of Fayetteville, Ark. She drives like Grandma Moses and isn’t afraid to come to a complete stop on a busy highway. Scares. Me. To. Death. I know she’ll get better with more practice, but it’s added some gray to my hair and shaved a few years off my life.

Thank goodness for taking plenty of country backroads home every day. Our New Year’s resolution is to make a safe driver out of this girl. Blessings to you and yours.

If you see us out on the road, get out of the way, neighbor!

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 30, 2019

just a thought

Across the Fence

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— Continued on Next Page

Twice Baked Potatoes Submitted by: Julie Turner-Crawford, Phillipsburg, Mo.

• 8 baking potatoes, washed • 3 Tbsp. canola oil • 2 sticks salted butter • 1 C. bacon bits (fry your own) • 1 C. sour cream • 1 C. cheddar or Jack cheese (or a mix of both), plus more for topping

• 1 C. whole milk • 2 tsp. seasoned salt • 3 green onions, sliced • Pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet. Rub them with the canola oil and bake for one hour, making sure they’re sufficiently cooked through. Slice the butter into pats. In a large bowl add the bacon bits and sour cream. Remove the potatoes from the oven. Lower the heat to 350 degrees. With a sharp knife, cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scrape out the insides into the mixing bowl, being careful not to tear the shell. Leave a small rim of potato intact for support. Lay the hollowed out potato shells on a baking sheet. Smash the potatoes into the butter, bacon and sour cream. Add cheese, milk, seasoned salt, green onions and black pepper to taste and mix together well. Fill the potato shells with the filling. Top each potato with a little more grated cheese and bake until the potato is warmed through, 15 to 20 minutes.

Know a Good Recipe? Send in your favorite recipe to share with our readers. Mail them to: PO Box 1514, Lebanon, MO 65536; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com

Receiving: Mon.: 8 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

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t’s the dawn of not only a new year, but a new decade. What will 2020 hold for us? Hopefully more ups than downs.

This year marks a milestone for me – my 50th birthday. As a child, I predicted my life to be Julie Turner-Crawford much different by the time I hit 50 than what it is now. is a native of Dallas Young Julie planned on being a millionaire at the age County, Mo., where she of 50. That hasn’t worked out for adult Julie, but I still grew up on her family’s have a few months to buy that winning lottery ticket. farm. She is a graduate Some of the predictions for 2020 over the years of Missouri State are hilarious.

University. To contact Julie, call 1-866-532-1960 In 1966, Time magazine predicted, “machines or by email at editor@ will be producing so much that everyone in the ozarksfn.com.

U.S. will, in effect, be independently wealthy.”

The average non-working family could expect to earn an average salary of between $30,000 and $40,000. In today’s economy, that would be about $300,000. In 1957, Popular Mechanics predicted every road

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just a thought Across the Fence Continued from Previous Page

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6

in America would be replaced with a network of “pneumatic tubes” and cars would only need enough power to drive to the nearest tube. In 1951, the same publication predicted we would all have at least one helicopter in the garage.

Transportation would not be the only change we would see in 2020, according to some scholars. In a lecture at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1911, surgeon Richard Clement Lucas predicted outer toes would be used less and less, and “man might become a one-toed race.”

Futurist and computer scientist Ray Kurzweil wrote in his 2005 book The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology that by the 2020s, there will be “nanobots” capable of entering the bloodstream to “feed” cells and extract waste, making food consumption obsolete. Thank goodness that prediction has not come true. Nanobot fried chicken just doesn’t sound too appetizing.

We may laugh at some of the predictions for 2020 from long ago, but not all are far-fetched.

In 1913, Gustav Bischoff, former president of the American Meat Packers Association, predicted humans’ diets would consist of mostly vegetables as the years went on because of a shortage of meat. There’s no shortage of meat in the U.S. today, thankfully, but inaccurate information is presented to consumers about animal-based foods being “unhealthy,” prompting some to skip

out on meat, dairy and poultry products.

Then there’s the animal-rights movement scaring folks away from animal products with allegations of animal cruelty.

Other predictions regarding agriculture are coming to fruition, including advanced technology, the mainstream production of hemp, a growing farmto-plate movement and increased food safety, just to name a few.

We’re also going to see some not-so promising changes. There will be more stumping for “fake meat,” to draw more consumers away from animal products.

There’s going to be a continued decline of farms in some production areas, especially dairy operations.

The coming years may be difficult for some producers, however, there will always be a need for farmers and ranchers to feed the world.

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the world population is expected to boom to 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100. This means food production is going to need to increase dramatically in the coming years, meaning there will be a need for more farmers and increased agricultural technology because nothing can replace food or the American farmer or rancher – nothing.

Life Is Simple Continued from Page 3 My youngest sister requested Mom’s famous vanilla cream pie, with extra-thick meringue on top. When she approached me, about my request, I can remember, as plain as day, saying, “Could we please NOT have green beans.”

The next day turned out to be the most memorable Christmas of my childhood.

We opened presents that morning and I was given the .22 rifle that had been my father’s and his father’s before, but it was mine now. It didn’t even dawn on me at the time, but this was a gift that I still

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

treasure to this day, but did not require my parents to spend a single dime.

When dinner was served, there was a huge mound of fried ham, three gigantic vanilla cream pies, heaped with meringue that had to be 4-inches thick, and a monstrous pot of…black-eyed peas. I love black-eyed peas.

My youngest sister asked, “Where are the green beans? We always have green beans.”

Mom replied, “Oh, I found this jar of peas on the back shelf, and decided to cook them instead,” as she glanced toward me and gave a sly wink.

I hope everyone had a Merry, greenbean free, Christmas.

DECEMBER 30, 2019

meet your

neighbors

Photo by Terry Ropp

Maximizing Profits

By Terry Ropp

Bill Sossamon returned to Arkansas and the family farm after living in California Bill Sossamon spent most of his early childhood living on 17 acres devoted to raising chickens for Swift. Then his father and mother, Bill Sr., and Vesta, decided to move to California, where Bill Sr., worked for a chemical company while Arkansas family members took care of the farm.

Bill graduated from Oklahoma University with a pharmacy degree in 1976. During Bill’s senior year, his folks went back to California to start their own chemical business while Bill joined them a bit later to work as a pharmacist. There he met his wife Liz, who was a pharmacy technician.

Good memories of the farm stayed with Bill during his time in California. He especially remembers helping his grandfather produce molasses with a mule-driven sorghum mill. Bill’s jobs were to remove debris and to keep his grandmother supplied with fresh cane. By 1997, Bill wanted to return to the farm to help his dad and someday take over while continuing his career in Arkansas. The farm now consists of 500 acres, four broiler houses and a commercial cattle herd.

The farm produces five and a half flocks of 7-pound broilers per year for Tyson.

Overhead is reduced by cleaning out the chicken houses themselves and spreading litter as fertilizer.

“Each week, 15 to 20 producers harvest their chickens, and producers in the top 50 percent do well financially because of Tyson’s incentive program,” Bill said.

“While Tyson supplies the chicks, feed and fieldman, our constant attention to air movement and temperature is a significant factor in our success.”

The cattle side of the Sossamon operation consists of 90 mommas divided into spring and fall calving herds and bred by four bulls.

Half the cows are commercial black Angus bred by two registered Hereford bulls, while DECEMBER 30, 2019

the other half is comprised of black baldies bred by two Brangus bulls. Bulls are kept with the cows for three months, with the cows preg checked two months later.

Both herds develop calves that weigh 550 to 600 pounds at weaning. Calves are kept for a minimum 45 days after weaning as part of the requirements for a preconditioning program that maximizes selling prices.

Sometimes Bill works under Arkansas’s Go Green program and at other times under Bill Sossamon another program called VAC 45. runs a cow/calf Winter hay is supplemented by a liquid operation, as feed called Rumilic that can be used with well as growing both cows and calves. Bill believes the nonbroilers for Tyson. urea formula and the addition of a small percentage of molasses and probiotics are significant factors in the success of his oper- marketing to include direct customer sales. ation and was impressed enough to become Bill currently sells to one restaurant and is talking with a few others. In addition, he a distributor for the company.

In his constant effort to maximize prof- sells beef off the farm, selling both specific its, Bill follows several practices. One is cuts and anywhere from one-eighth to a combining calves with the neighbor’s whole beef.

“I am always looking to expand my sellto create a semi-load headed for the local Ozark I-40 Sale Barn, or at Carthage, ing options, because I look towards the fuMo., or Oklahoma City, Okla. The calves ture when my children will take over,” Bill are sold at special preconditioning sales said. “My children are the fifth generation with current prices being the determining and a family tradition has always been to pass on the farm in better condition than factor of the location.

Another practice is to not raise his own the generation before.”

The entire family is involved with the replacement heifers. When he tried, most heifers bred the first time but did not do farm. Bill and Liz’s son Chris works for Farm as well the second time even though they Credit. Father and son share equipment were in good condition. As a result, Bill and bulls, as well as help each other out purchases about 15 bred second-calf heif- as needed. Daughter Dr. Sarah Sexton is a veterinarian who performs all of the vet serers as replacements.

In order to maintain good winter forage, vices for the farm, while his other daughter Laura Sossaman is a lawyer who Bill overseeds with a wheat/ takes care of all of the legal facrye combination though this tors. Bill readily admits his wife year’s exceptionally hot SepOzark, Ark. Liz, a retired elementary school tember and October signifisecretary, “keeps him straight” cantly decreased productivity. because she is far better at organiNonetheless, he plans on conzation. She also maintains much of tinuing the practice. the farm records.

A final process is expanding The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

The most significant future plan for the Sossamon farm is to transition from a cow/ calf operation to a stocker operation in order to help Bill decrease his 10 to 12 hour days. The first step is to not sell the calves after weaning but to keep them to 750 pounds, which also avoids the stress and illness issues when purchasing stockers at a sale barn. Initially Bill plans on maintaining the cow/calf part of the operation, but not replacing females as he culls them.

Eventually the cows will be gone and Bill will begin purchasing calves to finish.

Bill is an active member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association and has served as county president, in addition to being a member of the National Cattlemen’s Business Association. Both he and Liz have served as officers in the FFA Alumni Association and continue active participation.

“My dad was even more active than I am,” Bill acknowledged. “Right now, my son is busy with his career and family though I think he will become more active one day as well. All of this would not be possible without the Lord’s help, so Liz and I are also active members of the Bread of Life Fellowship in Ozark.”

7

meet your neighbors

Growing on the Farm

By Benjamin Maddox

Daniel and Katie Beal made their way to the Ozarks and agriculture The farm’s most popular and successful venture is the retail cuts Together with their two daughters, Evelyn and Anof lamb, which Daniel and Katie direct market to customers nie, Daniel and Katie Beal manage Blackberry through their website and Facebook pages. While they Hill Farm and Orchard in Highfill, Ark. don’t currently attend any regional farmers markets, the Their farm consists of 80 rolling acres, of which 50 acres Beals do provide delivery of their products to customare dedicated to their sheep, horses and pastured pigs. ers within the Northwest Arkansas region. Daniel For the Beals, their farm is all about finding enterpriscredited their success to supplementing the sheep es that work for them and differentiate their farm flocks’ year-round forage with grain, which in an increasingly crowded market for local foods. helps to create a milder and more pleasing flaThe Beals’ journey to farming was an unvor. conventional one, as Daniel and Katie both In caring for their sheep flock, the Beals rely originally received degrees in music before on free choice mineral that is supplemented changing career paths. Daniel eventually with vitamin E during gestation. Special atcompleted his engineering degree and Katention is given to overcoming two of the tie her medical degree before they found more persistent issues with sheep productheir way to their farm in the Ozarks. They tion in the Southeast – parasites and hoof both say they draw on this experience in problems. Katie points to preventative care higher education to inform the daily decias a big part of controlling these issues. sion-making on the farm.

“We pull all of the sheep in regularly and “We have no formal agricultural educaassess their FAMACHA and worm the ones tion,” Daniel said. “But we try to utilize that have evidence of anemia. We also check resources that are peer-reviewed and data their hoofs and log that data.” driven as opposed to relying only on anecThey then use that information to make decidotal materials.” sions about which animals to cull, improving herd Daniel and Katie credit a number of organizaperformance over time. Katie is careful to point out tions with providing them the research needed to that they only worm sheep when absolutely necessary, build a successful farming operation, citing Cornell and instead rely on genetics and culling to improve the University, the University of Arkansas, and the Naparasite tolerance of their flock over time. tional Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) as excellent resources for beginning farmers. Daniel says NCAT, Planting for the Future which has a regional office in Fayetteville, Ark., has been particuWhile sheep remain the economic center of the farm, the Beals have larly helpful, with staff members Linda Coffey, Margo Hale and Guy Ames Photo by Benjamin Maddox recently planted a small orchard to diversify and experiall assisting in the planning and research for the farm’s ment with. two main enterprises – the sheep flock and the orchard.

Daniel and Katie Beal, along with their “We really wanted to just plant a few trees, and daughters Evelyn and Annie, operate Blackthings got out of control,” Daniel said, as they now Choosing Sheep berry Hill Farm and Orchard, where they raise have more than 100 apple, pear and fig trees planted The Beals, who knew from the beginning that they would Katahdin sheep, and have diversified their across the southern end of the farm. They are now in need to find a livestock enterprise that could be profitable operation with apple, fig and pear trees. their second year of orchard development and expect at a smaller scale, eventually chose hair sheep. “With 50 small amounts of fruits to be available for sale to the acres of pasture, we knew we weren’t going to be sustainable with a cow/calf operation,” Daniel said. While they did attempt a small experiment public by 2020. For the Beals, working with the local environment was critically important in planning their orchard. with goats early on, they quickly found sheep were a better fit. “In farming, “We focus on varieties that grow really well in the Ozarks and will have things migrate toward what you enjoy – and sheep work for us.”

Highfill, Ark. heritage varieties like Arkansaw, Arkansas Beauty, Shannon, Tull and The sheep flock consists of 50 Katahdin breeding ewes and several rams, King David apples,” Daniel said. with plans to eventually grow the herd to 100 ewes. The farm is working toThe Beals hope their orchard will eventually become one of the few ward lambing every eight months, and the Beals frequently keep back replacecommercial orchards to market these older varieties to the public. For Danment ewes while raising the ram lambs for meat processing. The Beals market iel and Katie, the orchard is just another experiment-turned-business that has their young livestock at auctions in Diamond, Mo., and Centerton, Ark., but helped them adapt and grow on the farm. prefer to sell directly to other farmers and ranchers in the area.

8

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 30, 2019

eye on

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FINANCING AVAILABLE

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Tulsa County OSU Extension FCS

By Terry Ropp

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FCS Educator: Michelle Bonicelli (pictured) History: “The Extension service for Family and Consumer Science educates and helps Tulsa County residents. Originally, educators were called agents though they have taught individuals and groups for over 100 years which has included everything from making feather beds to learning to can and garden as well as helping with sewing and child rearing. Now the Family and Consumer Science Department of the Extension Service is trying to overcome the image of teaching only cooking and sewing. We now focus on overall wellness, which also includes finances in addition to physical, social, emotional and occupational wellness. Every day is different and fun. As a Family and Consumer Science Educator, I have a variety of state specialists who provide research-based information.

An example is one individual who asked about the difference of acidity between green tomatoes and red tomatoes and how to adjust recipes to fit the acidity of each.”

Services: “My job is to educate using research-based information about everything

from financial wellness to nutritional cooking, to the opioid crisis. I often recommend one or two financial freeze days per week where people spend zero money and therefore teach their children to say no to spending. Once a month I present a 3-minute spot on our local TV station to encourage the use of seasonal produce such as blueberries or pizza crust made of zucchini. Another important aspect of our educational services has to do with digital detox, that is choosing to look people in the eye and have discussions rather than being bound to our cell phones, computers, etc. Additionally, we help with job skills such as interviewing techniques and practice as well as writing resumes. Perhaps our most important current thrust is the opioid crisis. In a report from October 2017, more opioid deaths occurred among the rural population than the urban, with Oklahoma surprisingly ranking ninth in the nation while ranking 28th in population in 2018. A likely explanation is selfmedicated use of prescription opioid medication to combat farm-related stress and injury.”

Philosophy and future: “The philosophy of my part of the Oklahoma

Extension Service is to provide education individually and to groups of all kinds from young families or seniors to Master Wellness Volunteers or cattlemen in order to improve their lives. The current thrust of Extension improvement is in using technology to get more information to more people through modern channels such as podcasts. Because the younger generations often won’t go to meetings, many are not aware of our wide variety of educational services.”

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9

ozarks

roots

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

Meteorites, a Giant Eggs and Much More

By Terry Ropp

The University Museum offers a mixture of unique items from the Ozarks and beyond Off the center of campus at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is the amazing University Museum, a diverse set of collections ranging from archaeology to zoology.

Curators Dr. Mary Suter and Laurel Lamb manage the museum, with Mary focusing on the collections and Laurel on public outreach. Staff also includes various interns, including Rachel Hutchings, an outreach intern.

Collections are not exhibits with long glass display cases and explanatory cards but rather groups of artifacts often stored in pullout drawers. Consequently, the museum is not open daily to the public, but has several avenues of accessibility. The most significant is an annual open house in March, Arkansas’s archaeology month.

Last year, 400 people walked through with staff and volunteer members spread throughout to answer questions. The open house also offers a hands-on experience such as distinguishing “meteorites from meteor-wrongs,” as described by Laurel.

One outreach program is called Museum in the Library. It consists of pop up exhibits and a collection of artifacts brought to the Fayetteville Public Library monthly with experts available to answer questions as people are drawn to the exhibit. Monthly lectures are open to the public and cover diverse topics such as meteorites, snakes and African art. Finally, individual or group tours can be prearranged by contacting the museum office.

The collections began soon after the university was formed in the 1870s with the first being a geological teaching col-

10

lection. The collections now include geology, archaeology, zoology, history and world cultural materials obtained from the cultures they represent and therefore relatively modern.

Goals change with curators and time.

Previously an emphasis was on global acquisitions while now the emphasis is caring for artifacts and increasing public accessibility. While the 20-year-old facility has little space for new items, the museum occasionally accepts new items but also helps potential donors find the best place for their specific item through the networking within the Arkansas Archaeology Survey, Arkansas’s version of a statewide archaeology system.

The first collection when entering the secure area is the archaeology collection.

One of the more substantial sections is that concerning numerous Native American Bluff Shelters in parts of Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Many items are well preserved do to the dry areas in which those people thrived. Artifacts include seeds and plant fibers, some hundreds of years old, as well as spear points and grinding stones, all of which help determine how those people interacted with their environment. Just south of Little Rock is an experimental area growing ancestral

species of some of today’s plants including quinoa. The site is called Plum Bayou Garden at Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park and is open to the public.

The second collection is the zoology collection specializing in Arkansas zoology, though artifact origins are worldwide. One of the most amazing artifacts is an egg, not a fossilized egg, of the elephant bird extinct for only 500 to 1,000 years. The elephant bird looked like an ostrich on steroids and was found only in Madagascar. The huge egg is the equivalent of 100 chicken eggs with only about 40 found throughout the United States in public institutions.

The geology collection features one of only 15 recovered Arkansas meteorites.

In 1934, two men were working in a field west of Fayetteville the day after Christmas. They saw a blazing light overhead and heard a tremendous boom around noon. The men headed in the direction of the impact and soon came across a group of nervous cows and found the stillhot rock 20 inches below the surface.

The history collection is focused on more recent eras. For example, during World War I, two Prairie Grove brothers, Thomas and

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Lee Rogers, joined the war effort. Airplanes were so new they were called only machines, and Thomas was being trained how to fly when his plane collided with another.

Both pilots died and one of the museums prized items is a broken wooden strut from that plane. The piece was donated by Lee and the family still lives in Prairie Grove.

Another favorite item is a book of sketches by a French POW artist, signed and probably donated by him.

The world culture collection is perhaps best explained by a sample artifact. In the collection is a necklace probably purchased by famed Arkansas architect Faye Jones, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Faye served in the South Pacific during World War II and afterwards presented the necklace as a gift for his daughter, a gift she recently donated to the museum..

“The cultural materials allow you to take a quick trip around the world, all in one place. They are wonderful for recognizing and understanding not just the differences in fellow human beings across the globe, but also what we have in common as welllike music, clothing, cooking and jewelry, as Jones necklace highlights,” Laurel said.

DECEMBER 30, 2019

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Hometown: Heavener, Okla.

Family: Wife Lacey; and daughters Laney (15), London (13), Leighton (11) and Landi (7) Town Life: “My wife Lacey and I met at a show in Kansas while we were attending college. She was attending Kansas State while I was attending Panhandle State in Oklahoma. We both are teachers in Heavener, where my parents live. Between teaching college and high school, I have 20 years of experience and agriculture at Heavener High School. I specialize in speech, though I teach animal science and other classes which change yearly as needs change. My wife is an 11-year veteran and a fifth-grade teacher with the same students throughout the day. Our four daughters are active athletically in both softball and basketball. The other part of our town life is we are members of the First Baptist Church in Heavener.”

Country Life: “Lacey and I have 30 acres outside of Heavener where we raise show pigs and a small commercial cow/calf herd. We have 25 sows: purebred Yorks, purebred Durocs and crosses. I like the Yorks because of their maternal qualities and the Durocs for their growth. Sows are bred by AI from semen purchased all over the country. I search the internet to find the right boars and use data on individual boars to select semen for each sow. The goal is to produce piglets with show-quality confirmation, soundness and balance.

The largest group of piglets is born in July and August, with a smaller group in March and April. Piglets are sold at 10 weeks, when they weigh 40 to 60 pounds. Each sow has an individualized feeding program based on corn, soybean meal and a rice bran mix. Sows are fed once a day while the piglets are fed three times a day. I vaccinate for Mycoplasma and use other shots as needed. My biggest concern for show pigs is soundness in feet and legs.

If piglets are not sound or don’t develop well, I cull them. I also replace any sow whose piglets don’t develop well or whose litter is too small. My cattle herd consists of 15 mostly black commercial females currently bred by a Hereford bull. I keep my bulls for two calving seasons and then change either by selling or trading. Next time I think I’m going to switch to Angus. My life right now couldn’t be much better. I have my wife and girls, and even though Lacey and I are always running to ball games or shows, I couldn’t be happier.”

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11

slaughter

market sales reports

bulls

cattle

Replacement Cows: Fresh Cows: Supreme – few 1025.001150.00, Approved – 800.00-950.00, ind Jersey 835.00, Medium 675.00-975.00, few Jerseys 675.00 ind crossbred † 52.00-72.50 Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle 12/15/19 725.00, Common 320.00-650.00. † Milking Cows: Supreme 1025.00-1400.00, Approved 60.00-75.00 5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction - 800.00-950.00, Medium - 600.00-775.00, Common 40.00-79.00* Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice † 275.00-550.00.

County Line Sale - Ratcliff 25.00-78.00 Steers: 117.00-122.00; wtd. avg. price 119.21.

Springer Cows: Supreme – few 1000.00-1125.00, ApDecatur Livestock Auction Not Reported* Heifers: 117.00-120.50; wtd. avg. price 119.60. proved - 825.00-975.00, Medium - 625.00-800.00, ComFarmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita None Reported* Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice mon - 500.00-580.00, few crossbreds 610.00.

Farmer’s Stockyards - Springdale 55.00-75.00* Steers: 188.00-190.00; wtd. avg. price 188.88.

Cows bred one to six months: Supreme – 975.00Fort Smith Stockyards 55.00-80.00* Heifers: 190.00-190.00; wtd. avg. price 190.00.

1075.00, Approved- 750.00-850.00, ind Jersey 770.00, ind Four State Stockyards Not Reported* crossbred 780.00, Medium - 525.00-750.00, ind crossbred I-40 Livestock - Ozark None Reported † 750.00, Common - 350.00-500.00, ind Jersey 320.00, ind Joplin Regional Stockyards 57.00-82.00 † crossbred 435.00.

Mid-State Stockyards 75.00* Baby Calves: Holstein heifers- few 15.00-50.00, Holstein North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest 55.00-76.00 † Springfield, Mo. • Springfield Livestock Marketing Center 12/10/19 bulls - 35.00-50.00, small 15.00-30.00, Jersey bulls – ind 53.00-77.00 † OKC West - El Reno Receipts: 652 15.00, crossbred heifers – few 25.00-45.00, crossbred Ouachita Live 15.00-70.50 † The supply was heavy with three herd dispersals. The bulls – 60.00-65.00, small 22.50-25.00, beef cross heifersOzarks Regional Stockyards 50.00-87.00 † demand was moderate to light. Included were 08 percent 140.00-210.00, beef cross bulls – 180.00-235.00, small Stilwell Livestock Auction Not Reported* springer heifers, 15 percent bred heifers, 14 percent 60.00-140.00.

Tulsa Livestock Auction 66.00-82.50 † open heifers, 16 percent fresh and milking cows, 11 perWelch Stockyards 65.00-86.00* cent bred and springer cows and 10 percent baby calves.

0 10 30 50 70 90 110 The balance was steers, bulls and slaughter cows. Prices reported are on a per head basis and for Holsteins unless noted otherwise.

Diamond, Mo. • TS White Sheep/Goat 12/5/19 Springer Heifers bred seven to nine months: Supreme – Receipts: 990 1000.00-1360.00, Approved – 800.00-975.00, ind Jersey 900.00, crossbreds 700.00-875.00, Medium 600.00-750.00, Compared to one month ago. Feeder and slaughter lambs (Week of 12/15/19 to 12/21/19) Jerseys 600.00-750.00, crossbreds 550.00-600.00, Common were mostly steady to 20.00 lower. Market kids, nannies and billies were mostly steady. Demand was good and Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy 22.00-43.00 † 350.00-550.00, ind crossbred 450.00. supply was heavy. Supply included: 11% Feeder Sheep/ Ash Flat Livestock 20.00-50.00 † Heifers bred three to six months: Supreme – 950.00Lambs (100% Hair Lambs); 38% Slaughter Sheep/ Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs 27.00-55.50 † 1050.00, crossbreds 935.00-1025.00, Approved – 800.00Lambs (5% Wooled & Shorn, 50% Hair Breeds, 6% 20.00-47.00* Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction 935.00, crossbreds 700.00-900.00, Medium - 550.00Ewes, 31% Hair Ewes, 1% Bucks, 6% Hair Bucks); 1% 15.00-41.00 † County Line Sale - Ratcliff 790.00, Jerseys 600.00-750.00, crossbreds 575.00-650.00, Replacement Sheep/Lambs (100% Families); 6% Feeder Decatur Livestock Auction Not Reported* Common 450.00-500.00, crossbreds few 400.00-525.00.

Heifers bred one to three months: Approved - ind 850.00, Goats (100% Kids); 43% Slaughter Goats (70% Kids, None Reported* Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita 21% Nannies/Does, 5% Bucks/Billies, 4% Wethers).

Farmer’s Stockyards - Springdale 30.00-48.00* ind crossbred 860.00, Medium - ind 635.00.

Feeder Sheep/Lambs: Open Heifers: Approved: 198-200 lbs few crossbreds Fort Smith Stockyards 17.00-54.00* Hair Lambs - Medium and Large 1: 200.00-225.00.

135.00-150.00, 382-395 lbs pkg 7 at 382 lbs 230.00, ind Four State Stockyards Not Reported* Hair Lambs - Medium and Large 1-2: 190.00-220.00. crossbred 378 lbs 175.00, 410-490 lbs 220.00-400.00, pkg I-40 Livestock - Ozark None Reported † Hair Lambs - Medium and Large 2: 175.00.

4 Jerseys 499 lbs 310.00, ind crossbred 270.00, 522-591 Joplin Regional Stockyards 12.50-65.00 † Slaughter Sheep/Lambs: lbs 325.00-370.00, crossbreds 250.00-400.00, 665-690 lbs Mid-State Stockyards 50.00* Wooled & Shorn - Good and Choice 1-2: 120.00-165.00.

400.00-470.00, pkg 3 Jerseys 690 lbs 530.00, ind 715-lbs North Arkansas Livestock 15.00-46.00 † Wooled & Shorn - Good 1-2: 110.00.

410.00, ind crossbred 790 lbs 500.00. † OKC West - El Reno 20.00-69.50 2 Hair Breeds - Good and Choice 1: 200.00-230.00.

Medium: pkg 2 685 lbs 325.00, ind Jersey 635 lbs 340.00, † Ouachita Livestock Auction 13.50-48.00 Hair Breeds - Good and Choice 1-2: 116.00-185.00. ind crossbred 615 lbs 375. † Ozarks Regional Stockyards 22.00-60.00 Ewes - Utility and Good 1-2: 62.50-85.00.

(Week of 12/15/19 to 12/21/19)

Arkansas Cattle Auction Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs

beef

45.00-72.50 †

dairy cattle

sheep &

slaughter

cows

Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction Welch Stockyards

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.

12 12

50

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy✝ 12/17/19 825

Ash Flat Livestock✝

3-10 Higher 145.00-160.00 150.00-175.00 136.00-161.00 130.00-140.00 ----145.00-164.00 147.00-165.00 120.00-153.00 105.00-133.00 ----132.50-155.00 120.00-137.00 119.00-132.00 118.00-121.00 108.00-124.00

70

stocker & feeder

90

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

12/20/19 685

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs✝ 12/19/19 1,381

Uneven

Farmer’s Stockyards*

Fort Smith Stockyards*

---------

Farmer’s & Ranchers Vinita, Okla.* 12/18/19 -----

12/16/19 253

-----

-----

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

Decatur Livestock*

12/18/19 791

County Line Sale Ratcliff✝ 12/18/19 159

Uneven

St-5 Higher

1-11 Lower

161.00-170.00 145.00-157.00 140.00-152.00 135.00-140.00 -----

178.00-197.00 164.00-181.00 144.00-169.00 140.00 133.00-143.00

150.00-178.00 125.00-166.00 115.00-150.50 105.00-139.00 -----

141.00-150.00 138.00-146.00 125.00-135.00 ---------

155.00 130.00-154.00 125.00-140.00 ---------

161.00-187.00 155.00-181.00 136.00-161.00 125.00-138.00 117.00

----136.00-168.00 100.00-145.00 119.00-127.00 117.00-119.00

--------120.00-129.00 105.00 -----

130.00-140.00 115.00-133.00 115.00-124.00 115.00 115.00

142.00-160.00 137.00-162.00 124.00-138.00 118.00-126.00 124.00

120.00-147.00 105.00-144.00 102.00-132.00 81.00-129.00 -----

----110.00-133.00 108.00-120.00 95.00 100.00-105.00

12/20/19

12/16/19 1,658

Four State Stockyards Exeter, Mo* ---------

I-40 Livestock Ozark✝ 12/19/19 1,569

Joplin Regional Stockyards✝ 12/16/19 5,354

-----

-----

-----

4-13 Higher

St-2 Higher

175.00-180.00 170.00-175.00 148.00-170.00 ---------

140.00-185.00 140.00-166.00 135.00-160.00 130.00-142.00 125.00-133.00

125.00-185.00 118.00-170.00 112.00-162.00 102.00-150.00 -----

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

160.00-180.00 150.00-172.50 126.00-159.00 130.00-144.00 122.00-142.00

185.00-200.00 152.00-179.00 146.00-160.00 140.00-151.00 140.00-152.25

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

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

135.00-145.00 130.00-140.00 125.00-135.00 120.00-130.00 110.00-125.00

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

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

----135.00 125.00-139.00 118.00 125.00

----160.00 154.00 ----105.00

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

135.00-145.00 138.00-145.00 136.00-140.00 ---------

120.00-143.00 140.00-150.00 125.00-136.00 120.00-129.00 110.00-123.00

118.00-153.00 112.00-143.00 103.00-145.00 95.00-144.00 -----

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

130.00-156.00 130.00-149.00 126.00-139.00 119.00-147.00 122.00-127.00

144.00-161.00 132.00-146.00 126.00-141.00 118.00-144.00 132.00-138.75

✝ USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

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prices

NOT REPORTED

300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

30

Nati

Compared to last week slaughter lambs were steady to 15.00 lower, except at San Angelo, TX fully 10.0020.00 higher. Slaughter ewes were steady to 10.00 higher. Feeder lambs were firm to 13.00 higher, except at Newell, SD 3.00-8.00 lower. At San Angelo, TX 6637 head sold. Equity Electronic Auction sold 332 feeder lambs in Wyoming. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs were not tested. 4400 head of negotiated sales of slaughter lambs were steady to 1.00 lower. 3,812 lamb carcasses sold with all weights no trend due to confidentiality. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless otherwise specified.

35.00-68.00* 3

10

NOT REPORTED

Steers, Med. & Lg. 1

National Sheep Summary

Not Reported* 30.00-60.00 † 3

NONE REPORTED

0

goats

Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2: 75.00.

Hair Ewes - Good and Choice 1-2: 110.00-115.00.

Hair Ewes - Good 1-2: 92.50-95.00.

Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-2: 60.00-85.00.

Hair Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2: 50.00-65.00.

Bucks 1-2: 87.50.

Hair Bucks - 1: 120.00-125.00.

Hair Bucks - 1-2: 75.00-105.00.

Replacement Sheep/Lambs: Families - Medium and Large 1 w/20-40 lbs lamb: 195.00-210.00.

Families - Medium and Large 1-2 w/20-40 lbs lamb: 110.00-140.00.

Families - Medium and Large 1-2 w/40-60 lbs lamb: 140.00.

Feeder Goats: Kids - Selection 1: 150.00-265.00.

Kids - Selection 1-2: 125.00-230.00.

Slaughter Goats: Kids - Selection 1: 145.00-290.00.

Kids - Selection 1-2: 130.00-272.50.

Kids - Selection 2: 175.00-210.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 1: 120.00-140.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2: 105.00-135.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 2: 100.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 2-3: 77.50-80.00.

Bucks/Billies - Selection 1: 150.00-165.00.

Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2: 140.00.

Wethers - Selection 1: 155.00-277.50.

Wethers - Selection 1-2: 235.00.

DECEMBER 30, 2019

Mi Stoc

12

140 135 130 122 120

120 110 110 118 110

Corn

9.52

9.58

5.90

5.69

5.69

5.85

3

3.98

ille thev

n Hele

0

3.97

Bly

a

9.13

500

3.93

3.99

3.78

e Elain

eola Osc

oc tle R

Joplin Regional Stockyards✝ 12/16/19 5,354

Mid-State Stockyards*

13 Higher

St-2 Higher

Week of 11/24/19

*** 133.98 125.27

117.67

138.00

140.07

155.08

126.63

143.38 153.53 138.78

133.54

133.09 145.36

125.41 128.39 125.07 123.51

133.63

125.26

149.47 155.55

122.56 **

**

510.00-950.00 † None Reported †

138.05

325.00-1100.00 †

750

-----

Uneven

St-6 Higher

1-11 Higher

2-5 Higher

185.00-200.00 152.00-179.00 146.00-160.00 140.00-151.00 140.00-152.25

140.00-170.00 135.00-166.00 130.00-157.00 122.00-152.00 120.00-147.00

163.00-190.00 147.00-165.00 148.00-161.00 130.00-143.00 138.00-139.00

166.00-205.00 148.00-200.00 153.00-180.00 135.00-161.00 135.00-156.50

153.00-159.00 143.00 131.00-138.00 118.00 -----

167.50-173.00 156.00-170.00 142.00-160.00 137.50-151.00 135.00-145.50

----135.00 5.00-139.00 118.00 125.00

----160.00 154.00 ----105.00

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

163.00-175.00 142.00-167.00 --------123.00

190.00-205.00 161.00-181.00 ----126.00-135.00 -----

140.00-154.00 120.00-142.00 134.00-149.00 111.00-126.00 100.00-108.00

----135.00 ----130.00-133.00 129.00 142.00-157.50 132.50-150.00 129.00-139.00 129.00-136.00 -----

1250

1750

146.93 127.73

143.90

2250

Stilwell Livestock Auction* ---------

Tulsa Livestock Auction✝ 12/16/19 3,024

Welch Stockyards*

-----

4-9 Higher

-----

150.30 131.00 134.76 136.46

187.00-200.00 174.50-188.00 158.25-171.00 144.50-160.00 138.50-148.75

170.00-193.00 160.00-186.00 140.00-163.50 135.00-147.50 135.00-149.00

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

169.00-179.00 160.00-180.00 140.00-151.25 118.00-137.00 -----

160.00-190.00 150.00-175.00 120.00-132.50 115.00-130.00 90.00-112.00 140.00-156.00 130.00-147.00 125.00-148.00 120.00-135.00 115.00-132.00

The Most Read Farm Newspaper TheOzarks Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

129.45

125.08 130.51

147.60

*

120.00 158.61

138.37 129.57

149.55 149.93 134.05 143.23 129.97

130.39 132.15

152.88 137 164 191 218 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

129.60 112.57

128.07

151.22

110

135.31 129.88

128.16

140.62

159.37

143.50-154.00 129.00-149.50 126.50-137.00 123.00-136.50 124.50-136.00

124.73

125.00

149.91

12/17/19 1,349

133.75 122.84

119.18

132.19

155.77

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

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

115.99

157.33

Not Reported * None Reported †

12/16/19 240

128.00-135.00 126.00-137.00 121.00-137.00 112.00-126.00 107.00

***

146.06

None Reported * 700.00-1725.00 †

Ozarks Regional West Plains✝ 12/17/19 2,216

151.00-173.00 136.50-167.00 129.00-145.00 124.00-143.50 131.50-145.50

***

***

550.00-1200.00 †

Ouachita Livestock Ola✝ 12/20/19 243

DECEMBER 30, 2019

***

Not Reported * None Reported †

OKC West - El Reno, Okla.✝ 12/17/19 7,218

133.00-144.00 130.00-146.00 122.00-132.00 120.00-125.00 110.00

***

131.23 ***

160.56

None Reported * 650.00-1150.00 * 450.00-1410.00 *

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest✝ 12/18/19 769

120.00-140.00 110.00-135.00 110.00-134.00 118.00-130.00 110.00-120.00

***

***

2000

Ouachita Tulsa

*** 141.97

***

1700.00 * None Reported † Not Reported *

0.00-180.00 0.00-172.50 6.00-159.00 0.00-144.00 2.00-142.00

144.00-161.00 132.00-146.00 126.00-141.00 118.00-144.00 132.00-138.75

***

***

None Reported †

250

Ash Flat El Reno Green Forest Joplin Ozark Ratcliff Searcy Siloam Springs West Plains

***

pairs

Welch Stockyards

0

I-40 estock Ozark✝ 2/19/19 1,569

1500

Oct. 19 Nov. 19

heifers 550-600 LBS. ***

1000.00-1200.00 † 675.00-1100.00 †

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

k

ices

0.00-156.00 0.00-149.00 6.00-139.00 9.00-147.00 2.00-127.00

1000

Ouachita Tulsa

July 19 Aug. 19 Sept. 19

***

625.00-1150.00 †

Fort Smith Stockyards Four State Stockyards I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional

5.39

Lit

375.00-1285.00 † 650.00-1100.00 * 500.00-1210.00 † 330.00-1450.00 †

600.00-1075.00 † 710.00-1160.00 *

County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmer’s Stockyards

9 6

None Reported †

Not Reported *

Arkansas Cattle Auction Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction

Sorghum

9.54

450.00-1700.00 * Not Reported *

(Week of 12/15/19 to 12/21/19)

12 9.57

600.00-1100.00 *

cow/calf

Daily Report 12/20/19

Soft Wheat

Ash Flat El Reno Green Forest Joplin Ozark Ratcliff Searcy Siloam Springs West Plains

350.00-1120.00 † 285.00-1250.00 †

0

avg. grain prices Soybeans

steers 550-600 LBS.

Not Reported* None Reported *

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

Apr. 19 May 19 June 19

Week of 12/1/19

12/20/19

slaughter lambs were steady to San Angelo, TX fully 10.00er ewes were steady to 10.00 were firm to 13.00 higher, except 00 lower. At San Angelo, TX y Electronic Auction sold 332 ng. In direct trading slaughter were not tested. 4400 head of ghter lambs were steady to 1.00 rcasses sold with all weights no ality. All sheep sold per hundred otherwise specified.

Dec. 18 Jan. 19 Feb. 19 Mar. 19

40.00-80.00 † Prices reported per cwt

Week of 12/8/19

5.00-290.00.

30.00-272.50.

5.00-210.00. ion 1: 120.00-140.00. ion 1-2: 105.00-135.00. ion 2: 100.00. ion 2-3: 77.50-80.00. on 1: 150.00-165.00. on 1-2: 140.00.

155.00-277.50.

2: 235.00.

County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmer’s Stockyards - Springdale Fort Smith Stockyards Four State Stockyards - Exeter, Mo. I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock

$80

610.00-1225.00 † 1175.00 *

Week of 12/15/19

0.00-265.00.

25.00-230.00.

12/20/19

Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.6650 and 40# blocks at $1.8600.

The weekly average for barrels is $1.6170 (-.2520) and blocks, $1.8045 (-.0920).

Fluid Milk: Across the country, milk production shifts higher. In the same vein, the NASS Milk Production report for November 2019 shows milk production in the 24 selected states at 16.7 billion pounds, up 0.9 percent from a year ago. Milk discounts abound as the market moves toward the holiday week. Typical holiday processing measures are expected as most fluid milk operations reduce their milk orders and take extra days off as closing educational institutions create the usual logjam of milk.

Balancing plants are likely to run near/at processing capacity, but should be able to handle the surplus milk supplies. Cream supplies in the regions are increasing and prices are lower going into the holiday. Hence, more cream will be moving toward churns as manufacturers negotiate price reductions to accept extra loads of cream. Cream multiples, f.o.b., are 1.10-1.30 in the East, 1.08-1.27 in the Midwest, and 1.00-1.22 in the West.

Condensed skim markets are steady.

SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Midwest $2.3559 - $2.4727.

$120

460.00-1010.00 † 400.00-900.00 †

Week of 11/24/19

d Large 1-2 w/40-60 lbs lamb:

National Dairy Market at a Glance

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

$160

Prices reported per cwt

Week of 12/1/19

d Large 1-2 w/20-40 lbs lamb:

dairy sales

cows

(Week of 12/15/19 to 12/21/19)

550-600 lb. steers

$200

Week of 12/8/19

0-125.00.

0-105.00. mbs: d Large 1 w/20-40 lbs lamb:

replacement

NOT REPORTED

y 1-2: 75.00.

Choice 1-2: 110.00-115.00. : 92.50-95.00. d Good 1-2: 60.00-85.00.

Utility 1-2: 50.00-65.00.

12 Month Avg. -

$240

Week of 12/15/19

es reports

✝ USDA Reported * Independently Reported

245

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

95

116 137 158 179 * 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.

13 13

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meet your neighbors

An Ambiguous Future

By Terry Ropp

Aaron Artripe prefers Beefmaster cattle and rented pasture “I’m just old enough to be invited to the grown-up table of cattle producers,” quipped 30-year-old Aaron Artripe of Rogers, Ark. “What I do isn’t typical but it’s working well, and when I grow up in another 10 years with a lot more experience and data behind me, perhaps my kind of diversification will have value for others.”

business part could translate into many areas. What Aaron learned in college combined with an association with James Skelton of Springdale, Ark., pushed him in two complementary directions. His education, especially a semester-long internship at the Pea Ridge National Military Park in restoring native grasses, revealed his deep passion for the complex interrelationships in selective management of grasses and le-

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14

Aaron Artripe started his cattle operation from scratch.

Photo by Terry Ropp

Though both Aaron and his wife Me- gumes for optimum grazing efficiency.

One of Aaron’s best friends was Bryce gan were raised in the country, they were town kids. Aaron’s off-the-farm job is with Skelton, a college roommate and one of the National Park Service, while Megan James Skelton’s nephews. James is best known for being a leading producer of the works as a labor and delivery nurse.

Aaron credits Chad Burkett of Spring- composite Beefmaster breed and for piodale High School for igniting his interest neering the use of highly detailed feedlot in agriculture after Aaron selected one of data to refine genetics. The combination Chad’s classes as an elective. After gradu- of specific cows and bulls spearhead herd development through data ating in 2007, Aaron went gathered from highly efficient to Arkansas Tech with the Rogers, Ark. feedlot calves. Aaron also saw intention of becoming a vetthe docility of James’ bulls. erinarian and majored in ag Aaron can sit on any of his own business and animal science. reclining bulls.

This met the requirements for “It seems like every two years I veterinary school while giving have an outstanding bull calf that him flexibility since the agriOzarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

I retain for future breeding, which makes detailed breeding records essential,” Aaron said. “However, while bull selection is the easiest way to improve performance and genetics, cows are the other half of the story and need equal attention. One goal is to market replacement heifers to producers who want date-driven females by using feedlot steer data.”

Aaron thought sending cattle to Kansas where he could get conversion data would complicate his health procedures, but has found the process pretty simple.

He vaccinates twice per year so all animals are always protected and worms with an injectable supported by pour on and/or worming blocks.

While Aaron respects the Angus breed and its tremendously successful marketing program, he believes Beefmaster Breeders United is the most progressive in terms of feed conversion and research. He cites the organization’s current investigation of reducing methane emissions as an example.

Like all beef producers, Aaron believes profit is the end goal , with maintaining a cow herd taking up the lion share of overhead.

“We need more emphasis on cows combine with low cost of total ownership as well as a method to put hybrid vigor into calf crops. Further, retaining ownership in the feedlot and selling on the hook by the pound on a grading scale diminishes the hide color issue,” Aaron explained.

Aaron’s belief in heterosis has fostered the purchase of other breeds of cattle in addition to his Beefmasters, though he remains completely dedicated to using feedlot data, just as James does.

Aaron and Megan had to start from scratch. At this point they own 160 acres and lease an additional 400. The land supports a commercial herd of 120 heavily Beefmaster-influenced cows which he hopes to increase to 150 this year. The acreage is also sufficient for him to set aside ungrazed hay fields, where he is beginning to apply his native grass and legume philosophy. Aaron firmly believes in stockpiling two years of hay at all times because of the unpredictability of weather trends. While he prefers fertilizing with litter, it is rarely available. Consequently, he combines weed control with commercial fertilizer which produces a soaked commercial fertilizer mix that has worked very well so far.

DECEMBER 30, 2019

meet your neighbors

Berryville • 344 Hwy. 21 North 870-423-4245

Keep the heat in.

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Aaron and Megan are currently retaining all of their heifers and see almost every animal daily, even though the leased land spreads over four counties.

“People shook their head and thought I was crazy because my land was so spread out,” Aaron admitted. “I leased land through a wide variety of contacts, some of whom were not even involved in agriculture. Nonetheless location diversity proved important during the 2012 drought because my land furthest north near the Missouri state line was dry and I was able to lean my operation heavily on other locations.”

Aaron has found several factors critical to success. First, he believes it’s important for a man to search for the best woman he can find and credits Megan as the essential element in their success. Second is taking advantage of unexpected opportunities in unexpected places and weaving them together into a workable unit whether those opportunities concern land or animals or advice from proven producers. Third is planning ahead to combat Murphy’s Law by over stocking bulls and expanding leased land before unexpected problems arise. Finally, Aaron highly recommends looking at perspective calf purchases when the calves are 4 to 5 months old and then again after weaning so a developmental comparison can be made before purchase, a practice especially important with prospective herd sires.

In a system as fluid as Aaron and Megan’s, their agricultural future is naturally more ambiguous than others while paradoxically more stable in terms of outside influences such as weather, disease, or land productivity. They plan to add AI and ET relatively soon, while always continuing to search for more land. Aaron also plans to eventually become active in the cattlemen’s association and the Beefmaster Breeders United as a way of influencing best practices. Right now, however, he’s having trouble finding time to sleep.

“Of course my dream is to have a herd of 15 head that manicure my lawn for me while I’m sitting on the porch,” Aaron said with a laugh. “The reality, however, is quite different. As our operation matures, we plan to eventually own a thousand head or more depending upon land availability.”

Keep the cold out.

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DECEMBER 30, 2019

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

15

Love agriculture and rural life, and have a knack for writing?

youth in Submitted Photo

agriculture tomorrow’s ag leaders

Then you might enjoy being a contributor to Ozarks Farm & Neighbor!

OFN is currently seeking freelance feature writers.

Experience in agriculture preferred, but not required. Some photography skills needed.

Freelancers should have excellent organizational and time management skills, the ability to produce news stories following AP style and a strong initiative. Must be able to meet deadlines and follow through with projects.

Freelancers are required to travel to farms to conduct interviews and take pictures.

Chasee Cooper

By Kathy Parker

Age: 18 Hometown: Adair, Okla.

Parents: Craig and Tobie Cooper Siblings: Chancie Cooper FFA Chapter: Adair High School How did you get started showing pigs?

“I started showing when I was 8 years old. I showed hogs because my older sister was showing them. We always raised show pigs, but we’re done now. We’re worn out.”

Are you going to college?

“I intend to go to Northeast Oklahoma A&M first, then transfer. I have torn ACLs in both my legs from playing basketball. Because physical therapy helped me so much, I think I might be interested in doing that. Knowing how much that helped me, I know it’s important. I think I’d like to coach and maybe teach health. I’d love to play college ball, and I know Mom would like that, but I’ve been injured so much and if I’m going to coach I might need to save my knees. And playing college ball is a job.”

Please submit a current resume and writing samples to julie@ozarksfn.com

16

What have 4-H and FFA taught you?

“Responsibility. If you want something, you have to work for it.”

What was your biggest accomplishment showing?

“I won grand champion (market hog) at Mayes County Fair at its 100th anniversary. That was pretty special. That was one of the few pigs I showed we didn’t raise.

He was from Loveless Show Pigs in Oklahoma City. He was a crossbred blue pig. My last show pig this year, Facebook, he’s just been great. I loved him.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 30, 2019

the ofn

ag-visors

Advice from

the professionals

Creating a Strategic Plan

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Over 25 Years of Serving the Tri-State Area

Great Service, Low Rates!

By Jessica Allan

M

y employer, Guaranty Bank, recently held its bank-wide strategic plan Jessica Allan is an agricultural lender meetings in which they rolled out and commercial new goals for the next few years. I relationship manager appreciate these meetings not only at Guaranty Bank in because they loop all employees in – not just manNeosho, Mo. A resident agement – but they also reinforce that reaching our of Jasper County, she is goals is a team effort. The achievement of those goals also involved in raising and the overall success of the company is affected by cattle on her family’s everyone, from branch bankers to lenders to back offarm in Newton County fice operations, even board members. and is an active alum At the meeting, the chairman of the board of the Crowder Colquoted NBA legend Michael Jordan: “You have lege Aggie Club. She to expect things of yourself before you can do may be reached at them.” The point he was making is that you will jallan@gbankmo.com. do whatever it is that you set out to do. Your mindset determines the achievement of any goal just as much, if not more, than any amount of work or money you throw at that goal.

I completely agree and it’s why I think it’s so important for my customers to have a strategy for goal achievement, whether they have 10 goats or 1,000 cows. Just like the strategic plans put into place by the banks I have worked for, these plans need to be specific and measurable. This makes it much easier to attain that goal, so instead of setting something vague be specific: Growing the herd by 20 percent through heifer retention by 2025 versus getting more cows. Put simply, what gets measured gets done.

Part of any goal achievement strategy is making a contingency plan for when something goes wrong, an all-too-common occurrence in agriculture where so much depends on fickle weather patterns.

Whether it’s crops or cattle, you are going to be affected by weather, supply and demand, prices, global economies and who knows what else. What is your plan for keeping up with operating costs and bank payments in those tough years? A savings account? An off-farm job? Diversifying your operation? Insurance? What happens if you get sick, hurt or, heaven forbid, die? Disability insurance? Life insurance? Hire extra hands?

My point is that establishing a strategy and contingency plans well before you want to achieve your goal can help ensure your success. Not only does it provide you with specific targets, but it can keep your mind engaged. You must keep the mindset that the goal you set can be achieved. If you set a goal of owning 600 acres, but know you will be OK if you only have 300, then chances are you’ll settle for that 300 acres or perhaps less.

If you think you can or you can’t, you are right. Our mind is a powerful tool that is often left neglected in our toolbox. The most important key to any operation is you. You are the one that endures the failures, large and small, and celebrates the victories. You are in the day-to-day management of your operation, slogging it out in the mud and heat, and basking in the relief of a job well done.

You, and the team you surround yourself with, will make your dreams a reality, but only if you determine that they will, in fact, happen.

DECEMBER 30, 2019

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17

farm

help

Making farming

a little easier

Benefits of Participation

By Klaire Howerton

Working with local, state and federal agencies can help producers improve their farm There is an almost endless array of farm programs, many of which are offered through the USDA and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), for a producer to apply for.

With options ranging from crop insurance to high tunnel initiatives to grazing schools to conservation and energy initiatives, the process of selecting a program can be a little overwhelming. A producer will want to make sure their time and energy are well invested in a program that will make a difference for them, and many folks ask the question ‘what can these programs actually DO for me?’

Fortunately, the answers are pretty beneficial. Farm programs can: Extend the Growing Season: Many produce farmers and small homesteaders apply for the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative.

This initiative is geared towards helping growers who raise produce for commercial or educational purposes extend their growing season in an environmentally friendly manner.

“There is more environmental benefit by allowing them to grow longer,” USDA/ NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for

what do you say?

What program or incentive has been the most beneficial to you and your operation?

18

Field Operations Curt McDaniel said.

He explained better soil health, increased organic matter, better nutrient cycling, and taking advantage of the sunlight are all benefits of using a high tunnel.

Curtis Millsap, a grower from Springfield, Mo., who received a High Tunnel grant from the NRCS and produces vegetables year-round with nothing but solar heat.

“I think that is a great thing for the environment,” he said.

Put Up Fence: Building fence for rotational grazing can be an expensive undertaking, but farm programs can help. Michael and Amy Billings of Buffalo Lodge worked with their local NRCS team to design and partially fund a rotational grazing system for their herd of bison.

Michael and Amy first began working with NRCS in 2011, when they had a herd of 25 bison and 80 acres. To more effectively utilize the forage on their farm, Amy and Michael acquired another 105 acres, and they utilized NRCS and local soil and water conservation district assistance to install crossfencing, a livestock water-distribution system, tire tanks and pasture seeding, including conversion of some acres to native warm-season forages. They can

now support up to 100 bison that rotate through 17 paddocks on 185 acres.

Build Barns: Another Ozarks producer, Polk County, Mo., dairy farmer Nelson Hostetler, put up a new dairy shed and animal waste system with design and financial assistance from the USDA NRCS. He originally contacted the NRCS about a manure lagoon, but his local service center employees helped him expand on that idea. With his new set up, his cows are producing 20 pounds more milk per head, per day.

Pollinate: David Panahi, of Fair Grove, Mo., utilized the assistance from NRCS’ Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to provide plenty of resources for his beehives. According to the NRCS, Panahi’s pollinators are surrounded by fields of wildflowers, shrubs, red maples and fruit trees including pears, peaches, apples and even heat-loving figs.

The native plants, Witchazel, Aromatic Asters and Goldenrod, were established with assistance from NRCS and designed to have continuous bloom periods throughout the growing season that enhance honey production and pollination activity.

“One year we lost 60,000 chickens, half of our flock, due to a power outage and the USDA had a disaster relief program which was an immense help to us.”

“For me, clearing land and building stock ponds on a cost share basis worked well.”

Donnie Martin Heavener County, Okla.

Reduce Erosion: Gary Harral, a farmer in Benton County, Ark., reached out to his USDA NCRS branch to rectify losing a foot of pasture a year along a 2,400-foot section of the Anderson Branch of the Little Osage Creek to erosion. His program of choice was the Illinois River Sub-Basin and Eucha-Spavinaw Lake Watershed Initiative Project (IRWI) – a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for addressing water quality concerns in Northwestern Arkansas and Northeastern Oklahoma.

“Gary’s project consisted of bank shaping and protection by pulling the creek bank back on a 2:1 slope, installing a rip-rap toe in the streambed and placing geotextile and rock rip-rap on the shaped banks up to the normal bank,” Josh Fortenberry, NRCS soil conservationist at the Bentonville Field Service Center, explained.

Today, erosion on Gary’s farm is drastically reduced.

These are just a handful of success stories from folks who have participated in farm programs. Stopping in at the local USDA/ NRCS Service Center, visiting www.usda. gov and following state specific USDA and NRCS social media pages can help producers get inspired and begin implementing some of these programs on their own land.

“The insurance we collected from the 2012 drought was tremendously important because we lost a lot of grass which needed to be receded and we had to purchase a lot of hay for the cattle.”

Seth Pitts Washington County, Ark.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Tim Holland Benton County, Ark.

“The most important program for us was cost sharing on adding new fences.”

Rod Garman Adair County, Okla.

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farm help

Busting the Myths

By Klaire Howerton

Some of the most common misconceptions regarding farm programs and incentives With the popularity of social media, misconceptions about agriculture run rampant these days.

It can be difficult to tell fact from fiction, even for producers in their own industry.

One topic within the field of agriculture that has its own share of myths is participation in federal farm programs.

Federally funded programs are “farmer welfare” While many farm programs and subsidies offered though the Farm Bill can aid a producer in a time of need, they are not intended to be “farmer welfare.”

Government programs are essentially a form of insurance. Most people insure their homes, cars, health, businesses, etc. Why shouldn’t a farmer insure his or her business against unpredictable weather, invasive pests, disease, drought or flooding?

Risk mitigation through participation in one of the USDA’s programs can provide protection and peace of mind to producers. According to the USDA, some of their most popular risk management programs include: the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs (protects farm revenue from changes in market conditions and provides a safety net to farmers and ranchers when there is a substantial drop in revenue or prices for covered commodities), the Dairy Margin Coverage Program (replaces the Margin Protection Program for Dairy and offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer, Federal Crop Insurance (offers hundreds of different insurance products – product offerings include coverage for production loss, revenue loss, and price decline. The insurance covers row crops, livestock, specialty crops, organics, dairy, grazing land and more) and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (provides financial assistance to producers of certain eligible crops for which catastrophic risk protection plan of insur-

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

ance is not available when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to an eligible cause of loss).

Producers Have No Control Another common myth when it comes to farm programs is that once a producer is approved to participate, the government “takes over” a farm.

The USDA and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Service Center employees are all about building relationships with the farmers and landowners they serve.

“We always encourage people to stop in and visit,” Curt McDaniel, USDA/ NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, said. “We want to give people the best experience we can, and it starts with a conversation.”

Once producers have selected a program, applied and been approved, they can utilize an online portal called the Conservation Client Gateway. This tool allows producers to request technical assistance, apply for financial assistance, view, sign and submit applications and other documents, and track payments.

“Big” Farmers Get Preference When it comes to programs like those offered through the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), applications that have been submitted are reviewed to determine which requested projects will have the largest positive impact on the environment. McDaniel said these programs and initiatives are aimed at producers who have environmental needs with livestock, landscape and headquarters, and are not necessarily related to the amount of acreage, number of animals, etc.

Farm programs can be incredibly beneficial to producers, despite the myths that surround them. Visiting a local USDA/NRCS Service Center or going online to www.usda.gov can help further dispel misconceptions and inspire producers to apply.

DECEMBER 30, 2019

farm help

Managing Feeder Heifers

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By Klaire Howerton

Feeder heifers can require special management When raising beef cattle, producers might find themselves in a situation where not all heifers make the cut as replacements.

“Heifers not kept as replacements can be a source of additional income when sold as feeder heifers or even finished on farm and sold as locally-grown beef,” Dr. Shane Gadberry, ruminant nutrition specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, said.

If producers choose to go this route, they should bear in mind that the management of feeder heifers is somewhat different than their male counterparts.

One of the main differences in the management of feeder heifers is managing their heat cycles.

Heifers tend to begin cycling when they are between 600 to 800 pounds. In the western United States, some producers will spay feeder heifers to avoid heat cycles and prevent pregnancies while turned out during development, therefore reducing costs that go along with gestation, such as preg checks.

There are other costs associated with this method, of course. Spaying heifers costs between $4.50 to $6 per head, or more, and a recommended post procedure is that the heifers receive a hormone implant to facilitate adequate growth and weight gain.

Western producers who implement this practice typically have large herd numbers that make the costs of spaying worthwhile. According to Dr. Craig Payne, Extension Veterinarian with the University of Missouri Extension, spaying heifers is not a common practice in the Ozarks.

A more applicable management strategy in this area is estrus suppressing feed additives.

Dr. Eric Bailey, Beef Cattle Nutrition Extension Specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, said utilizing MeDECEMBER 30, 2019

30 Years Strong 1989-2019

lengesterol acetate (MGA) is successful and there is an increase in weight gain per day and feed efficiency when this product is fed.

The effect of MGA in mixed pens of steers and heifers was evaluated over a three-year period at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm in Iowa. Two pens of approximately 40 head were fed diets with or without MGA in each of three replications. Estrus and riding activity was monitored using the Heat Watch system.

At slaughter, in addition to routine carcass data collection, a rib sample was collected from each carcass for tenderness evaluation.

There was no effect on dry matter intake due to MGA treatment. Mixed-sex pens that were fed MGA were 4 percent more efficient than controls. MGA-fed steers gained similarly to control steers.

MGA fed heifers gained 8 percent faster than control heifers. MGA highly reduced measures of estrus and riding activity throughout the feeding period.

MGA feeding improved marbling and tenderness measured in both steers and heifers. These data suggest that MGA has potential to improve performance, quality grade and tenderness in mixed pens of steers and heifers.

To facilitate additional weight gain, Gadberry said, feeder heifers can be given growth promoting implants and that feeding ionophores like Bovatec and Rumensin (which do not require Veterinary Feed Directives) can improve weight gain on pasture, if that is the management system, and help prevent coccidiosis. He added that feeder heifers not be fed overly aggressively, as fleshly cattle are discounted at market.

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January 2020 7 Pesticide Applicator Training – 9 a.m. – Greenwood, Ark. – 479-474-5286 8 Nomination/Pre-Entries for prospect steers, heifers, sheep and swine for Delaware County Spring Livestock Show

– call your local FFA chapter or Delaware County Extension office at 918-253-4332 14 Crawford/Sebastian Counties Beef Cattle Production Meeting – 9 a.m. – Crawford County Extension Office,

Van Buren, Ark. – call the Crawford County or Sebastian County Extension offices for details 479-474-5286 or 479-484-7737 14 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Pope County Extension Office, Russellville, Ark. – 479-968-7098 18 Pesticide Applicator Training – 1 p.m. – Arvest Bank Hospitality Room, Gravette, Ark. – 479-271-1060 28 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Crawford County Extension Office, Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 28 Pesticide Applicator Training – 3 p.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 28 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Booneville, Ark. – 479-675-2787 30 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Carl Garner Vistors Center, Heber Springs, Ark. – 501-362-2524 February 2020 4 Row Crop Production Meeting – Topics include: Rice, Soybean and Corn Production, Fertility, Weeds and Market

Updates – 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., lunch provided – White County Extension Office, 2400 Old Searcy Landing Rd.,

Searcy, Ark. – 501-268-5394 or jyingling@uaex.edu 6 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Greenwood, Ark. – 479-474-5286 6 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Pea Ridge High School Ag Building, 781 West Pickens Road, Pea Ridge,

Ark. – 479-271-1060 11 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – White County Extension Office, Searcy, Ark. – 501-268-5394 15 Pesticide Applicator Training – 9 a.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 17 Serve Safe (Food Safety) – Crawford County Extension Office, Van Buren, Ark. – call 479-474-5286 for more information 25 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Cost: $20 – Workforce Training Center, Timberwolf Drive UACCM

Campus, Morrilton, Ark. – 501-329-8344 or rbeard@uaex.edu 25 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Paris, Ark. – 479-675-2787 25 Horticulture Conference – commercial pumpkin and strawberry production – 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. – White County Extension

Office, 2400 Old Searcy Landing Rd., Searcy, Ark. – Cost: $25 per person, lunch provided – register by Feb. 14 –

501-268-5394 or 501-329-8344 27 Pesticide Applicator Training – 9 a.m. – Crawford County Extension Office, Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 March 2020 2 Pesticide Applicator Training – 5 p.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 4-7 Delaware County Spring Livestock Show – Delaware County Fairgrounds, Jay, Okla. – 918-253-4332 5 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Cost: $20 – First Electric Building, 801 S. Fourche Avenue, Perryville, Ark.

– 501-329-8344 or rbeard@uaex.edu 12 Basic Pecan Production Meeting – Homeowners & Small-Scale Producers – 10 a.m. – ASU Beebe Farm, Beebe, Ark. – register by Mar. 2 – Cost: $20 per person, lunch provided – 501-268-5394 19 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – White County Extension Office, Searcy, Ark. – 501-268-5394 April 2020 2 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Cost: $20 – Faulkner County Extension Office, 844 Faulkner St., Conway,

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