OFN December 9, 2019 by Eric Tietze

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS INSIDE

Continuing the Farm DECEMBER 9, 2019 • 40 PAGES

VOLUME 13, NUMBER 13 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Brothers manage cattle and poultry operations on the farm that has been in their family for more than a century

DECEMBER 9, 2019

A Heart in Farming Brian Austin runs an Angus operation, but longs to return to his dairy roots

Fescue Foot

Starting with a Starter Yard Colby Cunningham started a growing yard so he could build his own ranch

Causes, treatment and prevention of the disease

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

rumor mill

Arkansas youth wins national contest: Meredith Holman, of Ozark, Ark., recently won the National 4-H Turkey BBQ Contest at the National Poultry and Egg Conference in Louisville, Ky. She is the daughter of Susan Holman and the late Heath Holman. To qualify for the national competition, Holman, 16, had to first win at the county, district and then state levels. Her winning recipe included buttery-flavored popcorn oil and a McCormick grilling seasoning. Books awarded: The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, in partnership with the OKFB Women’s Leadership Committee, recently presented several teachers in the state with books through the Bushels for Books program. The program takes donated bushels of any commodity crop, as well as monetary donations from farmers and ranchers, and provides bushel baskets of agriculture books to Oklahoma educators. Area recipients are Zena Lewis, Owasso; Amy Harward, Haskell; and Jennifer Riddle, Foyil; Applications being accepted for apprentice program: Aspiring farmers can learn the ins and outs of farming in a new on-farm apprenticeship program beginning January 2020. The CFFSE is a multidisciplinary partnership operated through the division’s research arm, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The apprenticeship program is key to CFFSE’s mission to strengthen the food and farming system through experiential learning opportunities. Applications are due by Dec. 15. If accepted, a program fee of $285 per year will be due to pay for program education and administration. For more information, contact Heather Friedrich at heatherf@uark.edu. Professor honored: Steven C. Ricke, professor of food science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has been named a Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Wisconsin College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Ricke is the Donald “Buddy” Wray Endowed Chair in Food Safety and director of the Division of Agriculture’s Center for Food Safety. He is also a faculty member of the food science department of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and the cellular and molecular biology graduate program at the University of Arkansas. Grant awarded to control feral swine: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it is awarding $3.4 million to fund projects to control feral swine in Arkansas. These projects are part of a joint effort between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Together, they hope to address the threat that feral swine pose to agriculture, ecosystems, and both human and animal health by reducing feral swine population, agronomic damage, and environmental impacts throughout the project areas.

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

DECEMBER 9, 2019 | VOL. 13, NO. 13

JUST A THOUGHT 3 Jerry Crownover –

Winter’s bitter arrival

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

Jody Harris – Passing it on Julie Turner-Crawford – Thank a farmer

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS 7 Colby Cunningham started his operation from the ground up

8 16

Brian Austin hopes to return to his dairy roots

10 12

The last courthouse

Town & Country spotlights Joe Don Sharp

Couple finds their Christmas tree farm to be their happy place

The Pitts brothers continue the family tradition

Youth in Agriculture highlights Phynix McQuiston

Eye on Agribusiness features Wister Farm and Ranch Supply

FARM HELP 21 Understanding the

Fiduciary Standard

OzarksFarm @OzarksFarm

Know a Good Rumor?

4 5

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

The importance of macronutrients

23 24

Is it time to feed hay? Fall is fescue foot time

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e live in an area of the country revoyears, nworthere C yrreare J yB where, in most four distinct seasons. Call me crazy, but up until the last couJerry Crownover is ple of years, winter has always a farmer and former been my favorite. professor of Agriculture For me, spring is always too unpredictable to reEducation at Missouri ally enjoy; cold one day, warm the next and, in State University. He is a my part of the world, the never-ending chance native of Baxter County, for tornados or flooding rains. Summers are alArkansas, and an ways hot, dry and seemingly last forever. You can author and professional only take off so many clothes to stay cool, before speaker. To contact Jerry, the neighbors start to complain. In the fall, all go to ozarksfn.com and the grass and trees take on a look of dead, which click on ‘Contact Us.’ is really depressing to me. Winter, however, had always been my season. As a kid, bundling up in warm layers of clothes to build snowmen, having snowball fights and going sledding, was a big treat. Even as a young man, I continued to enjoy the colder temps, just knowing how good it would feel to come in by the fire and warm all the extremities, once the outside jobs were completed. I remember visiting with a farmer friend from the very northern tip of Wisconsin a few years ago, and him telling me, that where he was from, they really only had two seasons – winter and the Fourth of July. Even though he was exaggerating (I think), I thought to myself that it must be a wonderful place to live and farm. I could even imagine myself moving there. A lot of my cattlemen buddies disagree with my past love of winter, when it comes to raising cattle, but I have always taken great pleasure in caring for cattle in cold weather. Feeding hay and chopping ice on the ponds for the cows is kind of like dating those “husky” girls in college – they seem to appreciate it more. — Continued on Page 6

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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 Contributors Klaire Howerton, Christine Graham, Kathy Parker, Britani Rexwinkle and Terry Ropp

About the Cover Brothers Seth, Connor and Alec Pitts continue to work on the farm established by their greatgreat grandfather Sterling Chamber Pits in 1914. Read more on pagve 18. 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.

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s we were leaving our church and Sunday School one morning, I helped my youngest son tie his shoes for what felt like the third time that Jody Harris is a freelance day. communications specialist, He smiled when he got into the car and pregardener, ranch wife and sented me with a beautifully decorated card that mother of four. She and said, “One good thing leads to another. Pass it her family raise Angus beef on!” I asked him what it was for. He replied that cattle and other critters on it was for helping him tie his shoes. It was the their northwest Arkansas sweetest gesture. He had made the card in Sunranch. She is a graduate day School class. His teacher had taught a lesson of Missouri State University. on thankfulness and doing good for others. He To contact Jody, go to added that I needed to pass the card along the ozarksfn.com and click on next time someone did something nice for me. ‘Contact Us.’ Recently, our friends’ oldest son has been out to help our boys set up a deer stand, feed deer and check deer cameras. This guy truly loves the outdoors. Any activity that has hunting and fishing attached to it, you can count on him. Watching the boys (and girls) learn how to love the outdoors is a treasure, I’m so grateful he’s willing to pass his knowledge and passion along. Selfless love and giving of one’s time is a treasure. In Girl Scouts, our daughters have learned the motto, “do a good turn daily.” This slogan is supposed to remind all of us that we can contribute positively to the lives of others. They spent this past Saturday teaching a class of younger Girl Scouts a sewing project. A couple of months ago, they helped execute a field day event at a local park for younger girls. It always amazes me to watch them help other people. Even though they are often difficult teen/pre-teenagers at home, I get to witness them making a difference in the world. There are not enough column inches in Ozarks Farm & Neighbor for me to bear witness to all the ways people in our family and community have been kind to our family. From helping carpool to and from dance and play practice to helping us round up loose cattle all over East Fayetteville, we are loved and blessed. A dear friend recently had surgery. This is that friend who is always helping others. I was filled with joy to be able to whip up some dinner and drop off at her home to feed her family while she was recovering. It’s so nice to be able to return favors occasionally. Wouldn’t the world be more beautiful if we spent our days passing around, “One good thing leads to another. Pass it on!” cards? At Christmastime we get to recall how joy came to the world in a tiny manager in Bethlehem. The Harris’ December calendar is chocked full of ballgames, school plays, programs and parties. My hope this season is to continue to have opportunities for our family to serve others and bring joy to the world. Time doesn’t slow down but spending it loving others is never wasted. Merry Christmas, neighbor!

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 9, 2019

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eady or not, the holiday season is here, which means diets are out the window for many of us as gatherings with family and friends center around food. The holidays are when some of those Julie Turner-Crawford “special” foods make an appearance. I like my motheris a native of Dallas in-law’s sweet potatoes, and then there’s that sweet poCounty, Mo., where she grew up on her family’s tato casserole she will occasionally make. Because I’m farm. She is a graduate the only one in my household who will eat sweet potaof Missouri State toes, I have to get my fix at her house for the holidays. University. To contact The Crock-Pot corn and cheesy potatoes my sistersJulie, call 1-866-532-1960 in-law make are phenomenal as well. Then there are or by email at editor@ the pies and cakes my nieces make, and those Oreo ozarksfn.com. and cream cheese balls covered in chocolate – amazing. The menus of our holiday tables may differ, but they all have something in common – it took farmers to make it all come together. From the flour to the butter, the turkey to the ham, the cranberries to the green beans, farmers are a needed ingredient to create our holiday feasts. Even vegetarians and vegans who opt to celebrate with a Tofu “turkey” have to give kudos to our soybean producers for the production of soymilk used to make the Tofu, as well as the other farmers who toiled the soil to grow the produce they enjoy. Society, in general, seems to have forgotten how important agriculture is. Many Americans today simply go to the store, pick up what they want, check out and — Continued on Next Page

Main Dish

Skillet Lasagna Submitted by: Julie Turner-Crawford, Phillipsburg, Mo.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound hamburger • 2 Tbsp. butter • 1 envelope dry spaghetti sauce mix • 1 pound cottage cheese, small curd • 3 C. egg noodles • 2 tsp. basil leaves • 1 Tbsp. parsley flakes • 1 tsp. salt • 1 can tomatoes • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce • 1 (8-ounce) package mozzarella cheese

Directions: In a large skillet, brown hamburger. Sprinkle with one half package of spaghetti sauce mix, spoon in cottage cheese. Top with broken up noodles and sprinkle with remaining spaghetti sauce mix, basil, parsley and salt. Combine tomatoes and sauce, pour over mixture. Cover and simmer for 35 minutes or until noodles are tender. Remove lid and arrange mozzarella cheese in strips. Allow cheese to melt and serve.

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

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Continued from Previous Page go home. They don’t think about what it takes to produce their food, and how many people it has taken to get that product on the shelf. The farmers and ranchers producing the raw ingredients are just the beginning of the process. Agriculture is not only the core of our small and rural communities; it’s the building block of our society. American consumers also seem to forget the U.S. has a stable food supply thanks to our farmers and ranchers. There’s no need to stand in line for hours at a time just to receive a cup of rice and hope there’s still some available when it’s your turn. According to an American Farm Bureau Federation report, Americans spend only 4.8 percent of their disposable income on food, not including food purchased at restaurants. In contrast, the poorest countries in the world spend the highest percentage of income on

food. For example, Nigerians only spend about 40 percent as much money for food as Americans in raw dollar terms. But, Nigeria’s lower median income means about 59 percent of disposable income goes to food-at-home purchases, according to the AFBF. Food isn’t the only product of agriculture. Oils, resins, fibers, clothing, medications, energy, cosmetics and plastics are just a few of the other products with ties to agriculture. I’m thankful for our farms of all sizes this holiday season for their hard work, day in and day out to not only put food on their tables but mine as well. Thank you for being a farmer.

Life Is Simple Continued from Page 3 But, alas, all good things come to an end. These last two or three winters have become a lot less enjoyable for me. Even though the recent winters haven’t been extremely cold or snowy, it seems that my toes, fingers and ears react much more negatively than they did just a few short years ago. And, now, when I slip and fall on snow-packed ground or ice-covered ponds, I don’t seem to jump right back up like I used to… at least, not without assistance. As I write this column, I’m staring out the window at the ground that is beginning to turn white. We’ve had freezing

rain, sleet and snow this morning and the TV weatherperson is predicting temperatures in the single digits tonight, with the wind chill below zero. A few years ago, I would have looked forward to getting up earlier than usual, and getting out to check the cows and make sure everyone was OK, but I have a feeling I’ll have to drink an extra cup or two of coffee before I find the fortitude to do so. Given my newly found distaste for winter, I can only conclude two things; I guess I really am getting old, and secondly, the only time I need to go back to northern Wisconsin is on the fourth of July.

Happy Holidays from All of Us at

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 9, 2019

meet your

neighbors

Starting with a Starter Yard By Kathy Parker

Colby Cunningham started a growing yard so he could build his own ranch Submitted photo

we seeded it in Bermuda, except for a few acres around our The old saying “starting from scratch” aphouse we put wheat and rye because it was getting late in plies to Colby and Rachel Cunningham’s the year; and chicken litter. We’ve used lots of chicken litranch in a slightly different form; starting ter. We keep the litter on it and hope it will all come back from a starter yard. volunteer this year (it will be the third one). If it doesn’t, “If I ever did one smart thing, it was building the grow we’ll probably broadcast some more seed.” yard first,” Colby said. From the first heifer they bought, the Cunninghams Fresh out of college in his 20s, Colby knew he would have grown to 614 commercial cows. need a cash flow source to buy a ranch. A starter yard is “They’re all 4-year-olds so we haven’t had to keep any a labor intensive service for weaned cattle where they replacements yet,” Colby said. are worked, vaccinated, nursed back to health – if necesThere are three sets of cows. Red Angus cows are bred sary – and started on feed. Contractors bring the calves to a Priefert Red Angus bull. Black baldie cows are out to the yard where they stay 45 days. Today, the Cunwith Angus bulls from Jack’s Ranch and Express Ranchninghams have 1,722 yearlings on the starter yard, 300 es. The black cows, the Four Sixes herd, are with a Langof which are their own. The company cattle on the yard ford Hereford bull. All are bred to calve in the spring. are bought, not raised. Colby said his main criteria when looking at a bull’s “Colby is the starter yard,” Rachel said. “That’s his numbers are weaning weight and yearling weight. Since ‘town job.’” his cows are mature, birthweight is not a big consideration. “I like working at the grow yard,” Colby said. “It’s “With Angus bulls, any mature cow ought to be able stressful, but I like making cattle healthy and seeing to calve with no trouble,” Colby said. “When I have to that growth.” start keeping some replacement heifers, I might look at After a few years of working the starter yard, the Cunthat birthweight number more. My main thing has been ninghams began looking for their own ranch. It was soundness. The ground is rough and bulls get crippled. But difficult to find one in the area they could afford. One I guess when I’m selecting bulls I still am more concerned near Rachel’s hometown of Adair, Okla., was particuwith phenotype than genotype.” larly appealing and they looked at it many times. The calves will all go to the grow yard after weaning “If we could’ve moved the grow yard to that ranch, to be sold by Superior Livestock. we could’ve made it work,” Colby said. Colby said he’s worried about young people staying in Unfortunately, the starter yard was already estabthe business. lished near Colby’s hometown of Rose, Okla., where “My youngest customer (at the starter yard) is in his his family lives on a historic ranch. He is the fourth 40s and the oldest one is 83,” he said. “In this whole generation to be raised there. Colby and Rachel Cunningham, along with area there is only me and one other grow yard.” There was a continuous piece of land, 1,206 acres, very their children Claire and Clancy, run three When the calves come in the spring, there is a dragclose to the starter yard, just down the road from the herds of breeding stock in addition to more ging at the ranch with much neighboring, good food and family ranch for sale, but it was rough and rocky. than 1,700 yearlings in the feed yard. fellowship. Until now it has been done in two very long “We went to look at it, and you couldn’t drive days, but Colby thinks the next one might be three. across most of it,” Rachel said. Still, if the land could “Last year on the first day they didn’t know it, but we be cleared and seeded, Colby thought it would be a good place to run cows. After much negotiation and some time, the Cunninghams drug 366 calves and worked 366 cows.” The Cunninghams have two daughters, 6-year-old Claire and 10-year-old Clancy who bought the land, cattle, equipment and a stockpile of hay. They sold the cattle and land clearing began. Oldtimers who had lived in the area a long time told Colby it love the ranch life. Both are already top showmen. Clancy got a reserve grand champion heifer title at Mayes County Fair and division winner with couldn’t be done. her Angus at Tulsa State Fair. Claire won grand champion mini“We burned it before we ever dozed,” Colby said. “We put an Rose, Okla. Hereford heifer at Tulsa this year. With both girls in school, Rachel I beam drag behind the dozer to get the timber. You go across has taken the guidance counselor job at Locust Grove, Okla. it one way and then the other. We used a brush rake to get it Ranch life has come full circle. Colby and Rachel met showinto decks and burned them.” ing animals as FFA members at the county fair. They didn’t Using a giant roller filled with water, the ground was leveled and know it then, but together they would start a ranch from a the many rocks pressed down. “We used a 14-foot box scraper to fill the big holes starter yard. from the trees,” Colby said. “Basically you do that going in concentric circles. Then DECEMBER 9, 2019

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

A Heart in Farming

Photo by Terry Ropp

meet your neighbors

By Terry Ropp

Brian Austin runs an Angus operation, but longs to return to his dairy roots Brian Austin of Lincoln, Ark., is one of those people who went to college to earn an agricultural degree with the intent of working the rest of his life on the farm. When the 100-cow dairy farm was unable to support his parents, his brother’s family and himself, Brian was the one to leave the farm and work in town while the dairy herd was sold and his brother began a feeder cattle operation. Though Brian’s degree was in dairy science, he began his town career as a dispatcher for a trucking company. He was subsequently hired as an account manager for BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe Logistics), a position he still holds.

Brian’s grandparents, Shelby and Jewell, left Texas and settled in Lincoln in 1952. The family history has been difficult. First, the farm was struck by a tornado in 1971 although, fortunately, two large hay barns from the late 1800s survived. While Grandma Jewell and Brian Austin’s farm was homesteaded by his family in the 1800s. Like genBrian sheltered safely in the house batherations before, Austin Farms has a mix of livestock species and breeds. tub, Grandpa Shelby was picked up and thrown a few hundred feet, but survived. involved walks with the cows up early and milk cows with Grandma In that year, the house was – they seem to listen very Jewell. He had his first Holstein bottle rebuilt and a new dairy barn well.” Brian said. calf named Lulabelle when he was only was constructed. Lincoln, Ark. In spite of the tragedies, 5. He would hurry home from school and Both Brian’s father John Brian’s love of the land and spend hours with the calf in a separate and his brother Ken passed agriculture were strong. He can’t pen and later milked her for years. His suddenly in 2017. remember a time during his child- uncle, Lonnie, married to his father’s sis“I had to find a place for hood when he wasn’t excited to get ter Mary, rounded out his understanding my grief, that space often

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meet your neighbors of farm life as they walked side-by-side throughout his childhood. Because time would be a severe limitation, Brian bought the house and 100 acres of the original homestead while the rest of the 350 acres was sold. He wanted agriculture in his life until he can hopefully farm full-time again in the near future. The land is an excellent piece of property and contains multiple underground springs with every pasture having a fresh water source. Austin Farms echoes the old self-sustaining farms of years ago. In addition to his cattle operations, Brian has 40 chickens, mostly Black Copper Marans. He produces eggs, some of which he sells with the rest going to friends and neighbors and personal use. He feeds a commercial laying pellet and scraps from home. He also provides yard clippings and occasional hay, which they use to search for seeds. Brian feeds his chickens in the morning and the evening, but harvests eggs every afternoon with production ranging from two to five dozen at a time, a schedule made possible by his 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. town job. The chickens have a laying house with five nesting boxes and are cooled in the summer with a fan. Because his childhood was filled with all kinds of poultry, Brian also maintains a flock of geese and ducks. “Geese are messy and the flock size is starting to get out of control,” admitted Brian. “But I enjoy them. They have always been a part of the barnyard.” The final production component of Brian’s farm is a herd of 50 Angus cows and two Angus bulls. Because the farm is a one-man operation, the bulls stay with the cows year round. Calves are grass fed with supplemental hay and high mag mineral blocks. Brian retains four replacement heifers a year and keeps the herd size at 50, due to space and time constraints. Bulls, however, he changes every two or three years to keep the genetics separate. Brian’s true love is dairy, which goes back to his grandparents. When registrations are required, he operates under the prefix Golden Jewell Guernseys, named after his grandmother, and he DECEMBER 9, 2019

plans to enter into the raw milk market more extensively. He currently has eight Brown Swiss milking cows, and Brain is allowing them to raise their calves. Additional milk is used for bottle calves and is sold to a few buyers. Brian also has 10 registered Guernsey heifers that will calve in February 2020. He selected the breed because of the gentle temperament, their milk’s high butterfat content and the breed’s self-sufficiency. “The only disadvantage is that dairy bulls, especially Guernseys, are highly dominant and have to be watched all the time,” Brian said. Brian raises his own hay, but, because of time, he has somebody harvest it, including an additional 25 acres he leases on shares. Brian usually raises sufficient hay for his needs but will occasionally buy hay from his aunt, Mary, who lives across the road. Pasture composition is Bermuda and fescue with a good stand of clover and some native grass. Sufficient moisture and fertilizing usually means he doesn’t need to over-seed. “One of the things I’ve learned about being a small producer is you have to keep expenses to a bare minimum so I don’t over-seed and I don’t spray for weeds, but brush hog and clip, a process that also keeps my clover strong,” Brian explained. Health protocols are simple with vaccination and worming twice a year, supplemented with back rubs for fly control. All cattle, both commercial and dairy, are grass fed with a little grain used as a supplement during winter, depending upon weather and hay quality. “Everything about this operation is geared toward maintaining a lean overhead and promoting time efficiency. Consequently, calving ease is my top priority with my beef cattle. People laugh when I say I want to milk cows when I retire, and I figure whether it’s one cow or 100, I can call myself a dairy farmer. That way I get to be what I wanted to be when I grew up.”

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ozarks

roots

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home Photo by Kathy Parker

Last

Courthouse in the Cherokee Nation By Kathy Parker

The structure became a private residence in 1898 The last remaining courthouse in the Cherokee Nation is at Rose, Okla., near the Arkansas state line. The Saline Courthouse was built in 1884. The district included what is now Mayes, Cherokee and Delaware counties. It is one of nine built in the 1800s and sits on 14 acres where three fresh-water springs meet. It is designated Saline National Park, and was the first Cherokee National Park. The Teehee Cemetery is at the end of the driveway on the grounds. A few of the graves are marked with headstones, but 28 are marked with white crosses. The last burial in the cemetery was in the 1890s. One of the marked gravestones says the burial was the result of a murder. The Indian community of Saline was once a bustling place with a general store, blacksmith shop, churches, a doctor and a school. Non-Cherokees were allowed to live in Saline on tribal permits. The courthouse was closed in 1898 and became a private residence, first to John Teehee, but later to John and Poca Phillips, Coon Phillips, Stanley Perkins and Lee and Florine Ransom. Ransoms sold the building to the Oklahoma Park Service in 1970 and the Cherokee Nation took ownership in the 1980s. Restorations began in September 2018 with the spring house. Eventually, the entire property will be restored, including the cemetery. The courthouse is being renovated inside and out, complete with modern plumbing and handicap access.

One event stands out concerning the Saline Courthouse. It happened Sept. 20, 1897, and is called the Saline Courthouse Massacre. Three people were shot and killed as a result of alcohol and animosity. As with most things involving members of the community, the participants were related. Thomas Baggett, a law school graduate from Alabama, owned the Saline general store. At the time of the massacre, Jesse Sunday was the Saline Sheriff. The elected sheriff had to be a Cherokee citizen. Sunday, 44 years old and a full blood, was almost to the end of his service. His halfbrother, Dave Ridge, had already been elected to succeed him. Baggett and his family lived above the store. On Sept. 20, Ridge’s wife sent him to the store to get some groceries for the family. He ran into a few friends and got drunk. In the meantime, Baggett closed the store. About 6 p.m., Ridge realizes he hasn’t bought the groceries. Finding the store closed, Ridge began banging on the door and yelling for Baggett to open. Baggett raised a second-floor window to say the store is closed. That’s when Baggett was fatally shot in the face and fell back into the room. Later on the road out of town, Sampson Rogers came across Ridge. They argued and Rogers dealt Ridge a fatal blow to the head. His son later found him slumped against a tree. Ridge died that night, but he was able to tell his family Rogers had given him the death blow. Rogers accused Ridge of shooting the storekeeper. Community members said Rogers had

a feud with Baggett and didn’t like Ridge either, so his plan was to kill Baggett and pin it on Ridge. Sheriff Sunday was 10 miles away when the murder occurred. Sunday returned and deputized men who came to the Saline Courthouse to investigate the murders. In the course of his investigation, Sunday questioned Martin Rowe who was visiting a house near the store. Rowe shot Sheriff Sunday, and there are differing reports of how that happened. One account says when the sheriff approached the house to ask questions, the owner and Rowe were sitting on the porch. Rowe was holding a shotgun across his lap. In this version, when Sunday leaves, Rowe goes after him and shoots him. Rowe was arrested for killing Sheriff Sunday. At his trial in Tahlequah, Rowe was sentenced to hang. His case was later

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

reviewed and Rowe swore there was a shootout with the posse chasing Rogers and that is when Sheriff Sunday was shot. On the basis of these differing accounts, the court decided there was doubt as to who shot the sheriff. Rowe’s sentence was commuted to 10 years. Rowe escaped three months later and joined the Army at Quannah, Texas. After the Spanish-American war, he was discharged and lived the rest of his life in Stilwell, Okla., 50 miles from Saline. A grand jury indicted Sampson Rogers for the murder of Dave Ridge, but witnesses refused to testify against him and he was freed. Much history surrounds the Saline Courthouse and it is a peaceful spot to visit. The courthouse is on North 4490 Road just off Highway 412 alternate near Rose, Okla. DECEMBER 9, 2019

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Location: Wister Okla. Manager: Linda Walden (pictured) History: “My husband Sam and his brother Steve have owned this property for a number of years and have rented it to various businesses. When the last renter left, we approached the owner the of McAlester Ag Supply and True Value Hardware about opening a much-needed feed and hardware store here. After some discussion, he agreed to open this this business, and I agreed to manage it. As for me, this is a perfect job because I am close to home, love people and am able to provide a service for the community.” Products and Services: “Wister Farm and Ranch Supply carries farm and ranch supplies with over 50 percent of our customers being rural. However, we also have many faithful townsfolk who return again and again, so we carry products for them while our general hardware serves town and country people. We have creep feed and range cubes, and sometimes deliver large orders. Other feeds include show feed, sweet feed and specialty feeds from rabbits to pigs, as well as cat and dog food. Straw and hay square bales are available while other farm and ranch supplies include gates, panels, head gates, feeders, troughs and horse tack. Because of our mixed clientele, we have fertilizers and weed control products for homes as well as ranches. We carry small gas engine products such as chainsaws and weed eaters in addition to important lubricants. We also offer repair service for Echo products. As expected, our general hardware has a little bit of everything. The community has been very responsive and we try very hard to meet all requests. Because we continue to grow, we are hoping to install a 30-ton feed bin to better service our customers. We look forward to all of us providing for the community for a long time and adding features as we continue to grow.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 9, 2019

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Joe Don Sharp By Terry Ropp

Family: Wife Ashley, and daughters Sadie (12) and Sophia (9)

1 02 3 E S U B - C O M PAC T T R AC TO R

Hometown: Berryville, Ark. In Town: “We moved into Berryville three or four years ago. I started in 2007 at the First National Bank of North Arkansas as a general loan officer. About a year ago, I was promoted to senior vice president and work most often out of the Harrison and Yellville branches. My wife Ashley is a fifth-grade language arts teacher in Berryville, starting in 2004. In the intervening years, she took some time off to stay home with our daughters, Sadie who is 12 and Sophia who is 9. In addition, I served as a board member on the Chamber of Commerce for seven years because I was raised in the Yellville area as well as working there.”

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Photo by Terry Ropp

In the Country: “I loved the farming lifestyle, but believe that leasing land makes more sense for me so that if something should happen all that needs to be liquidated are cattle and equipment with no land payments pending. “I share 340 acres with my family, where we run 100 Angus-influenced mommas bred by six purebred Angus bulls. I have another 50 mommas nearby on 120 acres where I also keep two registered Angus bulls. I turned the bulls in around Mother’s Day because I believe spring calving is easier on the cows, and calves are enough developed to be more independent when summer comes. I typically retain 10 to 12 heifers as replacements for older cows, which I usually sell. After retaining calves for 60 to 90 days after weaning at 6 months, I sell usually in Green Forest. By that time, calves have received two rounds of shots. Sophia is my country girl and loves the cattle. She often goes with me to feed and check on them. We maintain a bottle-feeding area close to home to care for occasional sets of twins.” Future: “Like many of us town and country farmers, I’m hoping that I someday can retire and farm full time instead of using it for stress relief as I do now.”

DECEMBER 9, 2019

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market sales reports

bulls

(Week of 11/24/19 to 11/30/19) Arkansas Cattle Auction Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday †

Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction

No Sale - Holiday* No Sale - Holiday †

County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction

No Sale - Holiday* No Sale - Holiday* No Sale - Holiday* 21.00-79.00*

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

No Sale - Holiday* No Sale - Holiday †

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday* 60.00-75.00 †

Welch Stockyards

No Sale - Holiday*

slaughter

cows

(Week of 11/24/19 to 11/30/19) Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn - Siloam Springs Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday*

County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday*

Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmer’s Stockyards - Springdale

No Sale - Holiday* No Sale - Holiday*

Fort Smith Stockyards Four State Stockyards I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest

13.00-55.00* No Sale - Holiday* No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday † 56.00* No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday †

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

300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

14 14

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

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

---------

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs✝ ---------

-----

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

Farmer’s Stockyards*

Fort Smith Stockyards*

---------

Farmer’s & Ranchers Vinita, Okla.* ---------

---------

-----

Decatur Livestock*

---------

County Line Sale Ratcliff✝ ---------

-----

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

11/25/19 1,521

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

I-40 Livestock Ozark✝ ---------

Joplin Regional Stockyards✝ 11/25/19 13,045

-----

Uneven

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

122.00-185.00 116.00-174.00 110.00-165.00 105.00-141.00 96.00-138.00

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

----151.00-178.00 135.00-155.00 130.00-152.25 137.00-157.50

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

----150.00 135.00-138.00 128.00 -----

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

110.00-143.00 106.00-141.00 98.00-136.00 89.00-126.00 88.00-121.50

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

135.00-137.00 120.00-140.00 122.00-135.00 127.00-145.00 132.00-145.25

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

✝ USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

Nati

Che The $1.9 Flui coun com and the wea harv Bott year pric mar con this sche crea Mid SPO BU $2.5

prices

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

Heifers, Med. & Lg. 1

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

stocker & feeder

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

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

Ash Flat Livestock✝

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

Bulls, Med. & Lg. 1

-----

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

11/15/19

Compared to last week slaughter lambs were mostly weak to 10.00 lower, instances 20.00 lower on lambs over 70 lbs. Slaughter ewes were steady to 6.00 higher. Feeder lambs were mostly steady to 9.00 lower. At San Angelo, TX 4678 head sold. Equity Electronic Auction sold 470 slaughter lambs in Nebraska. In direct trading slaughter ewes and feeder lambs were not tested. 3700 head of negotiated sales of slaughter lambs were steady. 3,625 lamb carcasses sold with all weights no trend due to confidentiality. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless otherwise specified. Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 90-160 lbs: San Angelo: wooled and shorn 100-130 lbs 136.00-140.00. PA: wooled and shorn 100-140 lbs no report. Ft.Collins, CO: wooled and shorn 105-150 lbs 137.00153.00. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 105-150 lbs 146.00152.00. Kalona, IA: wooled and shorn 100-150 lbs 144.00-165.00. Billings, MT: no test. Missouri: wooled and shorn 100-150 lbs 135.00-150.00.

24.00-64.00 † 2

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

National Sheep Summary

No Sale - Holiday*

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy✝ --------Steers, Med. & Lg. 1

Wooled - Good and Choice 1-2: 185.00. Hair Breeds - Good and Choice 1: 200.00-215.00. Hair Breeds - Good and Choice 1-2: 175.00-190.00. Hair Breeds - Good 1-2: 167.50-185.00. Hair Ewes - Good and Choice 1-2: 87.50-145.00. Hair Ewes - Good and Choice 2: 60.00-80.00. Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-2: 75.00-95.00. Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-2: 75.00. Hair Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2: 55.00-75.00. Hair Ewes - Cull 1-2: 40.00. Hair Bucks - 1-2: 60.00-90.00. Feeder Goats: Kids - Selection 1: 255.00-290.00. Kids - Selection 1-2: 230.00-250.00. Slaughter Goats: Kids - Selection 1: 260.00-275.00. Kids - Selection 1-2: 225.00-242.50. Kids - Selection 2: 190.00-215.00. Kids - Selection 2-3: 170.00-185.00. Nannies/Does - Selection 1: 140.00-190.00. Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2: 100.00-115.00. Nannies/Does - Selection 2: 80.00. Nannies/Does - Selection 2-3: 50.00. Bucks/Billies - Selection 1: 145.00-180.00.

No Sale - Holiday*

NONE REPORTED NO SALE - HOLIDAY

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday †

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

dairy cattle NOT REPORTED sheep & goats

No Sale - Holiday † 75.00* No Sale - Holiday †

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

cattle

Wooled - Good 1-2: 104.00-185.00. Hair Breeds - Good and Choice 1: 212.50-237.50. Hair Breeds - Good and Choice 1-2: 160.00-205.00. Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle 12/1/19 Hair Breeds - Good and Choice 2: 160.00. Hair Breeds - Good 1-2: 140.00-182.50. 5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Hair Breeds - Utility and Good 1-2: 100.00. Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2: 59.00. Steers: 116.00-120.00; wtd. avg. price 118.18. Hair Ewes - Good and Choice 1: 100.00-105.00. Heifers: 116.00-120.00; wtd. avg. price 118.39. Hair Ewes - Good and Choice 1-2: 66.00. Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1: 76.00-84.00. Steers: 186.00-187.00; wtd. avg. price 186.69. Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-2: 65.00-72.50. Heifers: Not Reported; wtd. avg. price Not Reported. Hair Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2: 40.00. Bucks - 1-2: 70.00. Hair Bucks - 1-2: 70.00-95.00. Replacement Sheep/Lambs: Hair Ewes - Medium and Large 1-2: 160.00. Feeder Goats: Kids - Selection 1: 155.00-235.00. Kids - Selection 1-2: 110.00-225.00. Slaughter Goats: Kids - Selection 1: 152.50-275.00. Kids - Selection 1-2: 145.00-225.00. Kids - Selection 2: 150.00-195.00. Kids - Selection 2-3: 154.00-165.00. 110 Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo Livestock Market Sheep/Goat 11/26/19 Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2: 100.00-132.50. Receipts: 586 Nannies/Does - Selection 2-3: 60.00. Compared to last month, prices were sharply higher. Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2: 130.00-155.00. Feeder lambs and slaughter lambs were 20.00-30.00 11/23/19 higher. Slaughter goats were 20.00-40.00 higher, while Norwood, Mo. • Producers Auction Yards Sheep/Goat there were not enough feeder goats to establish a market Receipts: 1,144 trend. Nannies and billies were mostly steady but not Compared to last month, feeder lambs traded mostly well tested. Demand was good and supply was moderate. steady. Feeder and slaughter goats traded mostly steady Supply included: 19% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair with spots of 5.00-10.00 higher. Slaughter ewes, rams, Lambs); 55% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (1% Wooled & does and bucks we mostly steady compared to last month Shorn, 1% Shorn, 12% Wooled, 38% Hair Breeds, 1% but on a light test. Demand was good on a heavy supply. Ewes, 40% Hair Ewes, 1% Bucks, 5% Hair Bucks); Supply included: 33% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (98% Hair 0% Replacement Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Ewes); 2% Lambs, 2% Sheep); 33% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (3% Feeder Goats (100% Kids); 24% Slaughter Goats (89% Wooled, 45% Hair Breeds, 49% Hair Ewes, 2% Hair Kids, 8% Nannies/Does, 3% Bucks/Billies). Bucks); 8% Feeder Goats (100% Kids); 26% Slaughter Feeder Sheep/Lambs: Goats (63% Kids, 33% Nannies/Does, 4% Bucks/BilHair Lambs - Medium and Large 1: 210.00-242.50. lies). Hair Lambs - Medium and Large 1-2: 185.00-232.50. Feeder Sheep/Lambs: Hair Lambs - Medium and Large 2: 195.00. Hair Lambs - Medium and Large 1: 210.00-235.00. Slaughter Sheep/Lambs: Hair Lambs - Medium and Large 1-2: 200.00-217.50. Wooled & Shorn - Choice 1-2: 105.00. Hair Lambs - Medium and Large 2: 180.00-200.00. Shorn - Good and Choice 1-2: 175.00. Sheep - Medium and Large 1: 220.00. Wooled - Good and Choice 1-2: 104.00. Slaughter Sheep/Lambs:

beef

No Sale - Holiday †

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

slaughter

DECEMBER 9, 2019

Mi Stoc

140 135 130 122 120

120 110 110 118 110

6 3

d shorn 100-150 lbs 144.00-165.00.

0 Blyt

5.69

5.59

8.56 5.73

5.29

3.90

hevil

Elain

Hele

eola

Little

Roc

ices Mid-State Stockyards*

Uneven

11/25/19 225

Ozarks Regional West Plains✝ 11/26/19 1,959

-----

2-5 Lower

140.00-162.00 135.00-158.00 130.00-145.00 122.00-140.00 120.00-135.00

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

----150.00 135.00-138.00 128.00 -----

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

135.00-137.00 120.00-140.00 122.00-135.00 127.00-145.00 132.00-145.25

1000

Ouachita Livestock Ola✝ ---------

----151.00-178.00 135.00-155.00 130.00-152.25 137.00-157.50

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

500

OKC West - El Reno, Okla.✝ ---------

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

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

DECEMBER 9, 2019

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

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

167.50 148.00-170.00 140.00-168.00 137.00-148.00 133.00-140.00

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

----135.00-145.00 120.00-138.00 124.00-125.00 110.00-118.00

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

135.00-137.00 130.00-137.50 125.00-129.00 125.00-133.00 -----

110.11 152.17

127.83

150.67

127.25

** 140.00

158.87

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday †

127.23

144.10

No Sale - Holiday * No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday *

150.11 134.35

2000

134.97 *

117.22 141.17

153.37

126.95

143.98

2500

-----

130.00-146.50 132.50-144.50 124.50-135.10 115.00-127.00 119.50-129.35

136.16

140.00

4-6 Higher

----151.00-169.00 140.00-151.00 121.00-131.50 107.50-117.50

123.34 120.71

152.80

-----

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

120.15

156.12

Welch Stockyards*

181.00-198.00 169.00-190.10 155.50-169.00 134.00-148.50 128.50-142.00

122.07 114.79

143.93

Tulsa Livestock Auction✝ 11/25/19 3,104

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

133.18 123.77

131.98

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

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

134.74

No Sale - Holiday †

1500

Week of 11/3/19

pairs

None Reported * No Sale - Holiday * No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday †

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest✝ ---------

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

-----

Joplin Regional Stockyards✝ 11/25/19 13,045

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

I-40 estock Ozark✝ ---------

117.93 110.17

153.40

None Reported * Mid-State Stockyard No Sale - Holiday † North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest No Sale - Holiday † OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Auction - Ola No Sale - Holiday † Ozarks Regional No Sale - Holiday † Stilwell Livestock Auction No Sale - Holiday * Tulsa Livestock Auction 900.00-1360.00 † No Sale - Holiday † Welch Stockyards

3.72

Osc

134.98 122.52

119.67

125.80

No Sale - Holiday * No Sale - Holiday *

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

139.41

157.34

Week of 11/10/19

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

140.75 129.13

129.23

2000

146.52 128.48

132.36

130.92 133.44

124.59 117.43 119.57 **

123.19

147.19 156.00

---------

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

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

124.21 131.00

148.17

***

*** 141.97

*** *** ***

131.23 *** *** *** ***

*** ***

*** 160.56

133.98 125.27

146.06 110

Ouachita Tulsa

117.89

Week of 11/17/19

675.00-1085.00 † No Sale - Holiday *

1500

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

142.86

No Sale - Holiday *

Oct. 19 Nov. 19

heifers 550-600 LBS.

155.14

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday †

1000

Ouachita Tulsa

July 19 Aug. 19 Sept. 19

137.79

650.00-1400.00 * No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday †

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

Sorghum

8.85

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

(Week of 11/24/19 to 11/30/19)

12 8.84

steers 550-600 LBS.

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday †

500

Apr. 19 May 19 June 19

Week of 11/24/19

Corn

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

Week of 11/10/19

Soft Wheat

$80

No Sale - Holiday * 400.00-850.00 * No Sale - Holiday *

cow/calf

Daily Report 12/2/19

Soybeans

No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday * No Sale - Holiday † No Sale - Holiday* No Sale - Holiday *

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

$120

No Sale - Holiday †

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 - Green Forest

avg. grain prices

and shorn 105-150 lbs 146.00-

horn 100-150 lbs 135.00-150.00.

11/27/19

Cheese: Barrels closed at $2.2475 and 40# blocks at $1.9625. The weekly average for barrels is $2.1942 (+.0292) and blocks, $1.9250 (+.0795). Fluid Milk: Milk production is level to higher across the country. Fall weather conditions are prompting positive cow comfort reports, particularly in a majority of the Western region and in the Southeast. However, snowstorms have hit parts of the country, and it’s anticipated to continue this week. This weather adds to the frustrations for farmers who have yet to harvest corn. Class I sales were expectantly lighter this week. Bottlers relay school districts are allotting more days off this year. Cheesemakers report a mixed spot milk market. Spot prices ranged from $5 under to $.50 over Class. Condensed skim markets are fairly unchanged. The majority of sales are through contracts at this time. Cream was noticeably more available this week in the country. Many Class II plants are on limited schedules, and butter churning varies within the regions. F.O.B. cream multiples are 1.22-1.30 in the East, 1.15-1.27 in the Midwest, and 1.0150-1.22 in the West. SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Midwest $2.5631 - $2.6041.

$160

Prices reported per cwt

Week of 11/17/19

11/15/19

slaughter lambs were mostly nstances 20.00 lower on lambs ewes were steady to 6.00 higher. tly steady to 9.00 lower. At San d sold. Equity Electronic Auction bs in Nebraska. In direct trading der lambs were not tested. 3700 s of slaughter lambs were steady. old with all weights no trend due heep sold per hundred weight se specified. ce and Prime 2-3 90-160 lbs: d shorn 100-130 lbs 136.00-140.00. 100-140 lbs no report. d and shorn 105-150 lbs 137.00-

National Dairy Market at a Glance

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

550-600 lb. steers

$200

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

0.00-275.00. 25.00-242.50. 0.00-215.00. 70.00-185.00. ion 1: 140.00-190.00. ion 1-2: 100.00-115.00. ion 2: 80.00. ion 2-3: 50.00. on 1: 145.00-180.00.

dairy sales

cows

(Week of 11/24/19 to 11/30/19)

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

5.00-290.00. 30.00-250.00.

replacement

NO SALE - HOLIDAY

hoice 1-2: 185.00. d Choice 1: 200.00-215.00. d Choice 1-2: 175.00-190.00. 2: 167.50-185.00. Choice 1-2: 87.50-145.00. Choice 2: 60.00-80.00. d Good 1-2: 75.00-95.00. d Good 1-2: 75.00. Utility 1-2: 55.00-75.00. 40.00. 0-90.00.

12 Month Avg. -

$240

Week of 11/24/19

es reports

✝ USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

245

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

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.

15 15

meet your neighbors

A Happy Place By Terry Ropp

Couple leaves the hustle and bustle of California for their own Christmas tree farm in Oklahoma 50x100x16

One side sheeted. One gable sheeted materials.

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enclosed w/3” reinforced vinyl back insulation. 1- walk thru door, 2-10x10 openings, 26 ga. 40 year painted metal. All red iron frame. Materials.

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Toll Free: 1-888-364-9527 Office: 417-671-8015 Fax: 417-671-8018 Hours: Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm 12760 St. Hwy 76 • Cassville, MO 65625 www.superiormetalsalesinc.com sales@superiormetalsalesinc.com

Native Californians Brian and Rachelle Batesole found California to be too expensive with a too fast lifestyle. In an effort to slow things down, the young couple moved to Oklahoma and developed a Christmas tree farm. Brian works in the Oklahoma Department of Human Services as a case manager in the developmental disability services while Rachelle teaches algebra 2, the math of finance and botany at Vian High School. The couple chose Oklahoma because friends who had retired there told him they absolutely had to see it. Brian and Rachelle fell in love with the area but could not find exactly what they were looking for. Brian finally saw a small property outside of Gore that had been on the market for nine months without a viewing. The couple went in and came out with a home. They have 8 acres, 3 of which are used for Christmas trees and an additional acre for a newer venture of pick-your-own blueberries. “Every year, we see more and more customers returning to real trees as in their youth,” Rachelle explained. “Also, a growing number of families want more tradition and togetherness during the holidays that an artificial tree simply can’t provide.:” Cal2Homa Farm (California to Oklahoma) caters to those seeking the joy of picking out a tree from a luscious grove and cutting it down themselves. The farm has 1,200 to 1,400 people annually, with many making the process a family event that often includes extended family. Parents appreciate sketchy cell service so everyone is more involved.” Brian and Rachelle begin selling trees the day after Thanksgiving knowing that the Cross family from Muskogee will be at the door at 9 a.m. on the dot with five dozen peanut butter cookies kissed

Photo by Terry Ropp

Brian and Rachelle Batesole grow several varieties of Christmas trees on their Oklahoma farm.

by a Hershey’s as a gift. Another family, the Skuliches, will not be far behind with sometimes as many as 20 family members, all dressed in full Pittsburgh Steelers regalia, except for one son-in-law who flaunts his Cleveland Brown loyalty. The couple fondly remembers one gradeschool youngster running up to them all excited because his Gore, Okla. family had just found a tree and needed one of their bow saws. When asked which tree, the boy

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

happily explained it was a green one. “I often tell people, ‘We will not refuse to deny you the experience to put your derriere in the air to cut your own tree,’” quipped Rachelle while Brian suppressed a smile. A typical Christmas tree outing lasts about an hour and a half, with people patiently and happily waiting for the trees to be shook and baled as they partake other site activities. These activities include complementary hot chocolate, poor man’s ping-pong played on a piece of plywood, crazy corn hole and a chalk wall. A favorite for people of all ages is a petting zoo with a mini horse, donkeys DECEMBER 9, 2019

meet your neighbors

DECEMBER 9, 2019

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

Keep the heat in.

Yellville • 801 Hwy. 62 West 870-449-4966

Shop Powell for all of your Cold Weather Needs!

Flippin • 9095 Hwy. 62 East 870-435-4400 Huntsville • 304 Labarge St. 479-738-6814

Huge Selection of Gloves for the Whole Family Large Selection of Milk House Heaters

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Green Forest • 181 West Main 870-438-5184 Harrison • 502 Hwy 62/65 N. 870-741-0855

Nice Selection of Dryshod Boots

Siloam Springs • 1629 East Main 479-524-3511 Learn More About Our Products And Locations By Visiting

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Be sure to like our Powell Feed & Milling Co. Inc. Facebook page to keep up with new products, specials, coupons, giveaways, & MUCH MORE! 573305z

Harrison 502 Hwy 62-65 N. 870-741-9084

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181 W. Main St. 1629 Main 9095 Generations Hwy. 62 E. 304 Labarge Ave.of 344 Hwy.Business 21 N. 801 Hwy. 62 W. 5564 Hwy 63 East Future Farmers of America Proud Supporter ofE.Future Ag through the 870-438-5184 479-524-3511 870-453-4400 479-738-6814 870-423-4245 870-449-4966 870-869-2644 573305z

and goats, including one charming goat named, Daisy Mae, referred to as the “unigoat” because it has only one horn. The farm offers Virginia Pines, Leyland Cypress and Murray Cypress trees with White Pine as a recent addition. In order to keep offerings diversified, the Batesoles order Grand Firs and Fraser Firs for those who want those species or prefer not to cut their own trees. Another service for customers is to stay open through Dec. 23, which especially helps those who use the many campgrounds for family holiday gatherings from Christmas through New Year’s. The beautifully trimmed trees require an intensive work year, which begins in February by redoing the business plan and proceeds through March, when White Pine bare root seedlings are planted followed by containerized seedlings being planted in April. Another part of the spring routine is ordering precut trees for the next December. Continuous tree care through weed control, pest control and shaping carry on throughout the summer. Because some species lose their color in dormancy beginning in the fall, the trees are sprayed with a permanent organic colorant that gives that luscious, healthy color everybody loves. Beginning Nov. 1, everything revs up to high gear, a condition fondly named Def Con 1. “This is really a family affair and it takes five of us during peak time,” said Brian. “While our son Noah is in airman leader school and will not be able to join us, our daughter Gracie, who just married Dakota Rich, will return to be our cashier with her husband an integral part of our business plan. We are a family ready to say hello again to families we have watched grow during the last 17 years and are racing to have everything in perfect condition for a fun family Christmas activity.” Just to make sure they don’t get bored during the summer, the Batesoles raise and sell five varieties of blueberries, which ripen mid-June through July. They are southern varieties that can handle the heat and offer fresh berries when others cannot. The species include Climax, Onslow, Premier, Tif Blue and Ka-Bluey. While not registered as organic, organic practices are used to raise the berries which are “you pick” though pre-picked are available upon request. Plans are in the work to expand blueberry acreage and varieties.

Keep the cold out.

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:

Berryville

Clifty

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

Elmer Robertson C - 479-466-0904

Kevin Logan H - 870-545-3637 C - 870-423-7708

Troy Cline H - 479-665-2934 C - 479-738-7746

Kingston

Restaurant on Premises

“We Know Cattle, and we Know the Markets” Kirk Powell (870) 654-2205 and Ron Wallace (870) 654-6369 Community Owned and Operated with Consistency, Uniformity, and Convenience • Online Auctions with bidding • Hay and Water pens • On Farm Appraisals • Free Parking • Hauling and Delivery

• Professional staff and services • Cattle sorted by size, weight, type • Receiving day before and day of

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 www.northarkansaslivestock.com

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

meet your neighbors

Continuing the Farm By Terry Ropp

Brothers manage cattle and poultry operations on the farm that has been in their family for more than a century Sterling Chamber Pitts founded what is now named Pitts Brothers Farm in 1914 with 350 acres devoted to raising apples. Sterling’s sons introduced registered polled Herefords as the apples were phased out. Chickens were introduced in 1966 and the farm is now ran by three brothers: Seth, Connor and Alec who are Sterling’s great-great grandsons. “Today you can find no trace of the apple orchard,” Seth, the oldest brother, said. “The transition was complete and not a single apple tree can be found on the original acreage, though the acreage has increased to 1,100 acres.” The boys’ father Russell passed from a heart attack when he was 42 in 2007. At that time, his father Roger took over the entire operation with the boys always helping out when not involved with school. Then Roger passed and the three brothers took over with their mother living in the original homestead and their grandmother just down the road. Every day Grandma Mary Alice, 83, cooks for the hard-working and hungry young men who use the time to catch up on what each is doing and prioritizing. It’s all hands on deck when setting up for the chickens to be caught or a total clean out is due. At the peak of chicken production, the farm ran nine broiler houses, with four having been retired and now only used for covered storage for equipment and hay. “I always liked chickens better than cows and basically take care of the chicken side of the business,” Alec, the youngest of the three brothers, said. “I don’t much care for spraying around the chicken houses, the rest is golden.” In 1999, the remaining chicken houses underwent a major upgrade which included cool cell pads, new water lines, and new stoves. They raise 120,000 birds to 7 1/2 pounds on a seven-week cycle with a 14- to

28-day cycle between flocks used for preparing for the next. Total cleanouts occur in the spring when the litter is used to fertilize their pasture and hay grounds. “We never buy commercial litter and rotate which areas are fertilized so everything is fertilized once every three years,” explained Seth who focuses on financial and public relations management, as well as repairs. Middle brother Connor is in charge of the cattle. Today the herd consists of 550,

summer and the coldest part of winter. Connor prefers a bit of ear and facial markings with the Brangus used to “size them back up.” Bulls are selected for birthweight and milking ratios with a goal of creating calves looking as uniformly as possible so they can be sold in large groups thereby increasing profit. Calves are typically sold at the Benton County Sale Barn in Siloam Springs four times a year, with a typical sale consisting of 100 calves or more. While 50 to 60 heifers are retained each year, the

Brothers Alec, Connor and Seth Pitts are the fifth generation of their family to work their farm. Photo by Terry Ropp

an increase of 300 head added after the herd is reaching a comfortable size. four chicken houses ceased production. “We have the size herd we want for They are predominantly black mommas, now, so I’m considering selling bred which he believes sells better. Females are heifers instead of saving them all as rebred by 20 registered bulls: 15 placements,” Connor said. Angus, two black Herefords, Herd health is a priority. The one Beefmaster, one Brangus Lincoln, Ark. cows and calves are vaccinatand one Hereford. ed and wormed at least once The farm uses two 90-day a year, while bulls are worked breeding seasons intended twice a year, including checking to prevent calves from being for breeding soundness prior to each born during the hottest part of breeding season. Bulls are left in the Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

same field while cows and heifers are spread around to perfect genetics. The entire herd is grass and hay fed, with those animals failing thrive on that regimen or that can no longer perform well being culled. The land is divided into 13 pastures plus hay fields. Field composition is mixed grasses with Johnsongrass, fescue, Bermuda and crabgrass supported by naturallyoccurring clover. Last year, the farm needed more hay and over seeded with wheat though that is not in this year’s plan. Land is boom sprayed though hay fields seldom need anything but spot spraying since the grass chokes out the weeds. In pastures, however the cattle choose grass first which leaves patches for weeds to spread. Hay is typically harvested three times per year. While the Pitts brothers have always worked on the farm, the untimely passing of their father followed by their grandfather, has brought the brothers together as they look toward the future. They are considering phasing out the chicken business in order to focus solely on cattle. Nonetheless, the past influences many of their choices. For example, they wouldn’t even consider going into a hayfield without first greasing the equipment the way their grandfather taught them. The Pitts family were the 2019 Farm Family of the Year. They didn’t even know they were in the running. One day Seth received a call informing him of the honor, and it took a while for him to realize they weren’t asking if the farm would like to participate. What’s most important to everybody is that the family stays close by and works together though not necessarily with all three of the brothers using farming as their full-time occupation. The Pitts never want to lose the long-standing family tradition of Sunday dinners with everybody gathering around the table. The sixth generation is already joining this hard-working farm family. DECEMBER 9, 2019

Columbia, MO Columbia, MO MO Columbia,

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VEN

vision

Driven by Driven by by Driven

O H S

TION & TRADE vision

O N OONN V E NVVEENN T I O

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January 10-12, 2020 January 10-12, 2020 Columbia, MO

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Location: Holiday Inn Executive Center2020 January 10-12,

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Whether you’re just starting out or bringing your third generation into the business, learning how to better your operations, cattle, and marketing practices is always a great investment. Join us in Columbia this winter to meet Whether you’re just starting out or bringing your third generation into the Whether you’re just starting out orout bringing third generation into you’re just or bringing your third generation into the andWhether learn from some ofstarting the industry’s topyour experts and network withthe other business, learning how to better your operations, cattle, and marketing business, learning how to better your operations, cattle, and marketing business, learning how to better your operations, cattle, and marketing cattlemen and investment. cattlewomenJoin across state tothis winter to meet practices is always a great us inthe Columbia

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Phynix McQuiston By Britani Rexwinkle

Age: 15 Hometown: Berryville, Ark.

by When you don’t have your Farm Hand Ag Resource Directory handy, you can still find the information you need on your phone, computer or tablet.

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Parents: Raymond and Kimberly McQuiston Sibling: C’Ara Smith 4-H Club: Farewell 4-H Club Leader: Britani Rexwinkle What is your involvement in agriculture?

“I am a member of a large family who raises black Angus cattle. They are registered and we raise them for market. We also have pigs that we raise for market as well.”

YOUR AUTHORIZED ARROWQUIP DEALER

YOUR AUTHORIZED ARROWQUIP DEALER YOUR AUTHORIZED ARROWQUIP DEALER

Photo by Britani Rexwinkle

What is your favorite part of being involved in agriculture/living on a farm? “We learn new stuff every day. I get to work hard and have fun doing it. I really like having my own jobs to do, weeding and watering the animals, and sometimes playing around with the animals.”

What are your future plans?

“At this time, I really haven’t thought about college. I do know, however, that when I get older I hope to still be a part of the farm. For now, I’m taking life one day at a time.”

What’s the best advice about agriculture you have received from adults? “I get advice from my parents and grandparents. They help me a lot when it comes to preparing to show at a fair or with chores at home.”

What advice would you give to other young people who want to be involved in agriculture?

“Agriculture is a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun. With a lot of support, we can all go a long ways. Also, animals are amusing creatures and are worth the time.”

(479) 938-2370

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Awards: “While showing hogs, I stood third in my class and third overall at the fair. I also entered a cake at the county fair and was grand champion and reserve champion overall.”

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Scranton, Arkansas rossrogersequipment.com Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

DECEMBER 9, 2019

the ofn

ag-visors

Advice from

the professionals

The Fiduciary Standard

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

By Christine Graham

f you’re considering working with a financial advisor, or even if you’re already working with one, chances are you’ve heard the term “fiduciary standard.” But what does it mean – and how does it apply to you and the advisor you’re working with? What is a fiduciary relationship? The fiduciary standard focuses on loyalty and honesty, requiring that the fiduciary acts in the best interests of their clients. Specifically, advisors held to the fiduciary standard must ensure the information and recommendations they provide are thoroughly researched and accurate. And, most importantly, advisors who act as fiduciaries must prioritize their clients’ best interests above incentives, commissions or even their firm’s success.

OFN is currently seeking freelance feature writers.

Christine Graham is vice president of private wealth legal counsel at UMB Bank in Kansas City. She can be reached at Christine.Graham@ umb.com.

Fiduciary vs. suitability standard It’s important to note that there’s a clear distinction between investment advisors who are fiduciaries and broker-dealers who need only to follow the suitability standard. The suitability standard only requires brokerdealers to provide advice and direction that is considered suitable at the time. It doesn’t require that they prioritize their clients’ best interests in the long-term, and it doesn’t require they make recommendations irrespective of their potential commission. What are the particular areas a fiduciary can be helpful in? Estates and trusts are key areas where it’s particularly helpful to work with a fiduciary. Accounting for estates and trusts can be extremely technical and require excellent recordkeeping and tracking. Fiduciaries must be able to demonstrate through proper accounting that they have handled and managed the estate in an accurate, fair and unbiased manner. If an individual is lacking in knowledge or organizational skills, they are at risk for liability. Tax planning is also a necessary expertise; it’s imperative that an estate, trust or any taxable portfolio is run in a tax-efficient manner. Fiduciaries must understand how their actions will impact the tax liability on estates or trusts and the beneficiaries. This includes how assets are invested and distributed as trusts are subject to different tax rates and laws than individuals or corporations. A professional can adeptly advise and maneuver through these technical and sometimes obscure areas. It’s their responsibility to be experts and to stay abreast of changing laws. Can I afford to work with a financial advisor who is a fiduciary? Employing a professional fiduciary is cost-effective, and something you should think about even. Your immediate reaction may be that it’s more expensive to hire a fiduciary to handle everything, rather than seeking individual counsel from different experts as needed. However, in many cases, a fiduciary’s cost will be equal to or less expensive. DECEMBER 9, 2019

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

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.

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

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Understanding Macronutrients By Klaire Howerton

Proper macronutrient management is critical for livestock nutrition When thinking about and developing livestock nutrition programs, producers should bear macronutrients in mind. Macronutrients are, by definition, nutrients required in large amounts. When looking at livestock nutrition, water, energy and protein are essentials.

Water

Dr. Shane Gadberry, ruminant nutrition specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, explained that water is essential and required in large amounts, but often taken for granted because livestock often have free access from a pond, tank or stream. If animals are not drinking enough water, either due to an insufficient supply or a contaminated water source, their feed intake, productivity and overall health will rapidly decline. According to the Noble Research Institute, a beef cow can drink up to 5 percent of its body weight per day; a high-producing dairy cow, up to 20 percent.

Energy

Energy is a vital macronutrient that is

what do you say? What is your fondest Christmas memory?

responsible for an animal’s health, maintenance and productivity. The amount of this macronutrient in livestock feedstuffs is derived from total digestible nutrients (TDN) found in fat and carbohydrates. “Cattle get the majority of energy in the diet from carbohydrates, primarily fiber,” according to Dr. Eric Bailey, Beef Cattle Nutrition Extension Specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. Since fiber and forage provide a great deal of energy, the quality of the forage animals are eating should be determined and addressed. Knowing the forge quality and the amount of energy it is providing will ensure that animals get enough of this macronutrient year-round. “Energy deficiencies often occur in winter because stored forages can be low in energy while production and environmental conditions ramp up energy needs during this time,” Gadberry said.

Protein

According to Gadberry, while protein also contributes to energy like fat and carbohydrates, it is also considered independently since its components are

“I entered agriculture from scratch, so I could be a strong presence in my children’s lives. I remember buying my son a small child-sized plastic blue and yellow car for Christmas though he played more with the box at first.” Greg Wheeler Madison County, Ark.

important for microbial proliferation in the rumen. “The combination of feed protein and microbial protein for ruminants take care of protein turnover in maintenance along with protein deposition in growth and fetal development,” he said. Again, producers need to consider the amount of the macronutrient in the forage they are feeding. Fescue hay often has adequate protein. “Tall fescue hay is unique relative to other forages used for hay in that energy is often limiting, but not protein,” Bailey explained. “Many of you have heard or seen article after article encouraging feeding supplemental protein to cattle when feeding hay. There is a lot of poor fescue hay put up around this state with 8 to 10 percent crude protein, which is not significantly limiting to cattle, depending on their stage of production (lactation, pregnancy, etc.). The reason protein supplementation is talked about frequently is that in warm-season forage systems, hay crude protein will commonly drop below 6 percent. When forage crude protein gets that low, it slows the rate at which rumen microbes ferment feed. When the rate of

“Our fondest Christmas memory is the tradition of the whole family getting together on the 23rd and then the immediate family on the 24th and 25th which now includes my brother’s 3-year-old daughter with another on the way.”

fermentation slows, feed stays in the rumen longer and they eat less overall.”

Putting It All Together

Livestock water supplies should be evaluated to ensure proper water intake. If producers suspect a contaminated water supply, testing should be done right away to determine the contaminate and a course of action. To ensure enough consumption of protein and energy, producers need to evaluate the levels of both, because if the amount of macronutrients in the nutritional program is found to be lacking, producers will need to provide an appropriate supplement. “Assessing forages for nutritive value is very important as these conditions vary from farm to farm,” Gadberry said. “If the goal is to feed livestock to a target level of production, it is important to both understand nutrient requirements and nutrient supply. Putting the two together can help determine if and what is most limiting.” County extension agents can assist producers with forage testing, analyzing feedstuffs for nutrient composition and interpreting results.

“My favorite memory is a combination of all the foods we ate like Norwegian Leftsa made from left over potatoes, oyster stew and chili.”

Connor Pitts Washington County, Ark.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Lee Holland Benton County, Ark.

“At one time we had three generations sharing Christmas and swapping old family stories.”

Bill Sossamon Franklin County, Ark.

DECEMBER 9, 2019

farm help

When is the Right Time to Feed Hay?

s i t m r h a C s r u o Y HeadquartesGift

By Klaire Howerton

Producers should evaluate forage length and type When it comes to the right time to start feeding livestock hay, there are a number of factors to consider. Here in the Ozarks, however, there are some guidelines that producers can follow to stay on top of things.

Four-Inch Rule

to develop and avoid injuring the forage stand by grazing too early.

Be Aware of Forage Varieties in the Stand

While cattle can benefit from a multiOne guideline for feeding hay, accord- tude of forages, not all forages are created ing to Dr. Eric Bailey, Beef Cattle Nutri- equal and when the lower quality ones are tion Extension Specialist with the Uni- all that are there, it’s time to supplement. versity of Missouri Extension, is to begin “Feeding hay may become less obviwhen forage gets below 4 inches across ous but needed when pasture grasses apthe pasture. pear abundant but their quality and palatability “At that point, availis very low,” Gadberry able forage for consumpsaid. “Examples may intion becomes limiting “Too often clude fields with a high and the cattle do not cattle are percentage of mature get enough to eat,” he allowed to graze bromesedge, purpletop said. Every acre-inch of winter annuals or foxtail.” tall fescue is about 400 too soon after pounds of feed for cattle. planting. When feed availability gets much below 2,000 – Dr. Shane Gadberry pounds per head, intake starts to decline.” He strongly encourages producers to follow the 4-inch guideline to avoid overgrazCattle’s dietary needs change throughing and damaging their pastures. out the year, so producers should be thoughtful as to the quality of the forage they are feeding. “As animal nutrient requirement increases, switching to a higher quality hay “Too often cattle are allowed to graze instead of supplementing low quality paswinter annuals too soon after planting. ture may be needed,” Gadberry said. These plants often need 8 to 10 inches He explained an example is stockpiled of height established before turning in Bermudagrass. The quality is usually adecattle,” Dr. Shane Gadberry, ruminant quate for dry cows but not lactating cows. nutrition specialist with the University of “One can either continue to try to use Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, the stockpile Bermudagrass along with said. supplemental energy feeds to make up He advised that producers isolate cat- the energy shortage or switch to a hay if tle to a pasture or pen to feed hay. This the hay is more in line with the energy will allow extra time for winter grasses requirement for lactation,” he said.

Think About the Nutritional Needs

Consider the Growing Stage

DECEMBER 9, 2019

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Fescue Foot By Klaire Howerton

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Tall fescue is a commonly utilized forage in the Ozarks. While fescue has plenty of pros in its favor, it also brings a few cow-health related cons to the table, such as fescue foot.

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What is it? “Fescue foot refers to a disease condition of the hooves of cattle that is associated with consuming endophyte infected tall fescue,” Dr. Craig Payne, veterinarian with the University of Missouri Extension, explained. “Cattle may appear lame or in severe cases, a hoof, or hooves, may become gangrenous and eventually sloughed.”

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Causes, treatment and prevention of the disease

What causes it? The condition is caused by the culprit that is responsible for more than one fescue-related livestock health issue – endophytes. “Endophyte in tall fescue produces a class of compounds known as ergot alkaloids,” Payne explained. “At sufficient levels of consumption, these compounds cause vasoconstriction and damage to capillary endothelium, which leads to decreased blood flow in the distal extremities. The rear hooves, particularly the right, are most susceptible, and cold environmental temperatures contribute to the severity of lesions.” Cold temperatures contribute to the manifestation of the condition, as does fertilizer. “Spreading extra nitrogen fertilizer in the fall to boost grass growth also boosts production of toxins,” according to Craig Roberts, agronomy field specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. Treatment options. Fescue foot is an unfortunate condition, as there’s not much that can be done. “Treatment options are limited and primarily consist of removing the animal from the source of alkaloids, or vice versa, and providing supportive care as recommended by your veterinarian, antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatories for example. Severe cases may warrant euthanasia,” Payne explained.

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How can it be prevented? Prevention is the best course of action when it comes to fescue foot. Payne advised prevention consists of limiting exposure to potential sources of alkaloids. If endophyte tall fescue is the source of the problem, it may be necessary to renovate your pastures, inter-seed legumes, or adopt some other management practice to reduce exposure. Other preventive measures include not allowing cattle to graze fall-grown fescue too short (recent research shows most toxins in the fall stay in the lower two inches of the fescue plant), feeding hay during fall cold snaps, leaving stockpiled fescue alone until about January (the toxins will have decreased by this time), and implementing management intensive grazing practices. “With rotational grazing, cows are moved before they grub grass into the ground,” Roberts said. Producers are encouraged to reach out to their local extension offices regarding fescue foot issues.

EARLY SYMPTOMS

4 Lameness in the

rear leg 4 Swelling below the hock 4 Picking of rear hooves and licking or flipping them to stimulate blood flow 4 Reluctance to get up and move, and when they do the cattle act like they are “walking-on eggs.” DECEMBER 9, 2019

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December 2019 10 Go Green Meeting – Dinner at 5:30 p.m., program starts at 6:30 p.m. – Clinton Stockyards, Clinton, Ark. – 501-745-7117 10 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – First National Bank Community Center, Paris, Ark. – 479-963-2360 or 479-675-2787 10 Private Pesticide Applicator Training – 9:30 a.m. – White County Extension Office, 2400 Old Searcy Landing Road, Searcy, Ark. – 501-268-5394 11 Washington County Extension Office Open House – 11 a.m-2 p.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 12 Pesticide Applicator Training – 1 p.m. – Cost: $20 – Greenbrier City Events Center, 5 Lois Lane, Greenbrier, Ark. – 501-329-8344 or rbeard@uaex.edu 18 Pesticide Applicator Training – 8:30 a.m. – Cost: $20 – Pope County Extension Office, Russellville, Ark. – 479-968-7098

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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 February 2020 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 15 Pesticide Applicator Training – 9 a.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 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 27 Pesticide Applicator Training – 9 a.m. – Crawford County Extension Office, Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 March 2 4-7 5

2020 Pesticide Applicator Training – 5 p.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 Delaware County Spring Livestock Show – Delaware County Fairgrounds, Jay, Okla. – 918-253-4332 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Cost: $20 – First Electric Building, 801 S. Fourche Avenue, Perryville, Ark. – 501-329-8344 or rbeard@uaex.edu

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