7 minute read
The West family focuses on forages
from OFN March 15, 2021
by Eric Tietze
Submitted Photo
Randy and Cheryl West, pictured with their grandson Brody, strive to produce top-quality hay, in addition to their cow/calf operation.
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Focused on Quality Forages
By Terry Ropp The West family has been on their Arkansas farm for six generations
The Randy and Cheryl West farm in needed extensive and costly updating. The Prairie Grove, Ark., was founded in couple decided it was the right time to leave 1860 by Robert Jay West. Randy and the poultry industry. They did, however, conCheryl are the fourth generation with their tinue forage production and a cow/calf operdaughters being the fifth and their grandchil- ation. dren the sixth to farm the land. “The process of watching hay grow
Farms like theirs capture the and then cutting, raking and balheart of American agriculture by Prairie Grove, Ark. ing it is very satisfying,” Cheryl changing, evolving and adapting explained. “Randy is a perfectionas times dictate. Chicken produc- ist and everything he does helps us tion began in 1957, with Randy produce high-quality hay and maintaking over in 1974. After raising tain customers year after year.” chickens for 40 years, the houses In the 1980s, the couple identified a
14th Annual Production Sale
Saturday, April 3, 2021 • 1:00 p.m. CST
Selling the Res. National Champ. Pen of Three Gelbvieh Bulls
Offering....65 fall & yearling Gelbvieh/Gelford bulls 5 Gelbvieh show heifers 25 pens of Gelbvieh, Gelford and Gelbvieh influenced open heifers Fall Gelbvieh/Gelbvieh influenced bred heifers First calf Gelbvieh & commercial Gelbvieh influenced heifer pairs
Sells at Lot 1 “American Pride”
He Sells! He Sells! She Sells! She Sells!
Circle S Ranch
John & Carla Shearer & Family • Canton, Kansas Home 620-628-4621 • John Cell 620-654-6507 • Johnny Cell 620-654-6731 Email: circle_s@hometelco.net www.circlesgelbvieh.com
Photo by Lindsay Kennedy
high-demand niche market for horse hay. Then, after leaving the chicken industry, they parceled off 220 acres for hay production. While West Farm always produced some hay, the acreage needed to be plowed and sprigged for optimum production. Bermudagrass was a good choice because the species grows well in Arkansas’s climate, while also having the appropriate nutrition. As the acreage was transitioned, they purchased bermudagrass sprigs and cut some from their fields.
Fields are broadcast sprayed with a pre-emergence spray that hinders weed growth though some, especially crabgrass, breakthrough. Clovers are not welcome in a hayfield because they can shade out the Bermudagrass. Those weeds that breakthrough the pre-emergent barrier are broadcast sprayed and/or spot sprayed according to need.
Hhay fields are soil tested annually for pH level, as well as potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen levels. If any of those nutrients are off balance, production volume suffers. Consequently, the hay fields are fertilized according to the specific needs of each field.
For the last several years, Randy has applied liquid nitrogen. Currently, a third party spreads blended potassium and phosphorus on the fields, with lime being spread separately because of weight issues. The volume used in their hay fields is large enough to make purchasing each nutrient separately by the semi-load a significant cost-cutting measure. The plan is for Randy to apply all of the components separately according to each fields’ needs.
“Our most difficult obstacle is Mother Nature,” Randy said. “We don’t have irrigation so we are totally dependent on rain. Fortunately, if one year hay quality doesn’t meet the higher standards for horse hay, I can still sell it as cow hay, which means the year won’t be a total wash. We believe in the Golden Rule and want to treat all people fairly. We sell exactly what we offer. It’s the right thing to do and it’s good for business because my customers know they can trust me.”
The remaining 300 acres of West Farm are devoted to a cow/calf operation. The pastures are comprised of Bermudagrass, fescue and clover and fertilized in the spring while weeds are sprayed as needed. The acreage is divided into four pastures, which are sometimes over seeded with wheat in the fall. Except for a five-year period a number of years ago, the farm has always produced cattle. The herd is now managed by their son-inlaw Colt Bartholomew.
The farm’s herd is made up of 130 heavily Angus-influenced cows bred by both Hereford and Black Hereford bulls. The combination is intended to produce mainly black baldies, with an occasional red-white face. The majority of the herd calves are born in late September which blends well with the hay production cycle. Calves are sold at weaning, if the market is right. If not, they retain the calves until the market is more favorable, sometimes a month sometimes three. Calves are fed a commerical ration, with the herd receiving mostly grass and hay.
Wt. Lbs. Total Germ. $ Lb. RED CLOVERS
Bag Lb.
60 HAY ‘N GRAZE MIX, Inoc. 90% 1.94
Not Coated, 70% Red Clover, 30% Haygrazer Alfalfa 60 GAINER II MIX, Not Coated 90% 1.94
Inoc., 85% Red Clover, 15% Rampart Ladino 60 LANDSTAR, Forage 90% 1.78
Inoc., Not Coated, Equivalent to $1.16 coated seed 50 KENLAND, Inoc., Not Coated 90% 1.88
Equivalent to $1.22 coated seed 50 HAY THICKENER, Inoc., 90% 1.88
Not Coated, 75% Red Clover, 25% Hulled Orchardgrass 50 MEDIUM RED, Raw/Not Coated 90% 1.68 50 MEDIUM RED, Coated, 90% 1.54
65% Purity, Inoc.
OTHER CLOVERS
50 LADINO, “JUMBO” Inoc., 90% 3.98 3.78
Not Coated, Giant Leaf, Equivalent to $2.45 coated seed
Wt. Lbs. Total Germ. $ Lb. Bag Lb.
FESCUE
Add a Legume
50 KY-31, Certifi ed & Endophyte-Free 90% 1.78
ONLY $12.00 PER ACRE DIFFERENCE
50 KY-32, Certifi ed & Endophyte-Free 90% 1.78
50 KY-31 90% 1.38 50 KY-31 & 10% ORCHARD GRASS MIX 85% 1.29 50 KY-31 & 12% ANN. RYEGRASS MIX 90% 1.18
50 FAST PASTURE MIX Cattle/Horse 90% 1.69
63% Endophyte-Free KY-31 Fescue, 14% Hulled Orchard Grass, 19% Best-For Plus Ryegrass & 4% Timothy 25 BAR OPTIMA E34, Friendly Endophyte ASK 25 MAX Q II TEXOMA, Friendly Endophyte ASK
25 ESTANCIA, Friendly Endophyte ASK ORCHARD GRASS
Add a Legume
50 ARID, Drought tolerant 90% 2.26 50 ARID / RED CLOVER MIX, 75% / 25% 2.16
50 ARID “DR” 90% 2.46
50 LADINO - Rampart, 85% 3.16 2.96
Inoc. Not Coated 50 WHITE CLOVER, Ivory 2 90% 4.08 3.88
Intermediate, Innoc.
Disease + Drought Resistant 50 POTOMAC, Disease Resistant 90% 1.84 50 HULLED ORCHARD, VNS 85% 2.64
50 FAST PASTURE MIX 90% 1.69
25 WHITE CLOVER - Durana
Coated 65% Pure
ASK
50 WHITE CLOVER, 90% 3.78 3.58
“Nitro” White Dutch 50 ALSIKE, Perennial 90% 2.88 2.68 50 ARROWLEAF, Yuchi 2.62 2.42
Winter Annual, 99% Pure 50 CRIMSON, Winter Annual 90% 1.38 1.18
50 BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL 4.96 4.76
ALFALFAS
63% Endophyte-Free KY-31 Fescue, 14% Hulled Orchard Grass, 19% Best-For Plus Ryegrass & 4% Timothy
FIELD GRASSES
50 ABUNDANT, 90% 0.68
Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass 50 MARSHALL, Annual Ryegrass
0.68
Not a Tetraploid 50 BROME, Smooth “Southland” 90% 3.86 “The high protein grass.” Sow with Alfalfa! 50 TIMOTHY, Horse Approved 90% 1.42
50 BEST-FOR PLUS, 90% 1.16
HayGrazer Cert. Alfalfa
A high yielding alfalfa bred for both hay & grazing. Improved tolerance to stress (disease & grazing).
Tetraploid Intermediate Ryegrass 50 PERSISTER, Rescue grass/Improved Matua 2.18 GRAINS
Bushel Bag
HayGrazer produces an aggressive large branching root system.
Inoc./Not Coated 90% Germ.
$3.16 lb. $2.96 bag lb.
60 COMMON SENSE, 3-Way Blend 3.06 2.86
Haygrazer,Cimarron 400 & 500, Inoc., Not Coated 50 GENUITY, Roundup Ready® 7.76 L446RR Coated, 65% Pure 48 GOLIATH OAT, Hay Type/Tall
48 HAYDEN OAT, 11.23 16.85
11.30 16.95
Combine-Type/Dual Purpose 50 SOYBEANS - LAREDO, Very Tall Hay Type 36.45
50 SOYBEANS, 29.95
Roundup Ready®, Willcross WXR7484, 3.5’ Tall
50 SOYBEANS, 29.95
Roundup Ready®, Willcross WXR7488, 4’ Tall 140K SOYBEANS, Roundup Ready®, Lewis 473R2 42.00 80K CORN, Roundup Ready®, Lewis RB110RR2 164.50 80K CORN, Roundup Ready®, Silage R1315 VP2 218.50
50 CIMARRON VL400, Cert. 90% 3.16 2.96
Inoc., Not Coated
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SAVE YOUR SEED SAMPLE SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE 510 W Mt Vernon, Nixa, MO 65714 nixahardware.com
Nixa Hardware Company warrants to the extent of the purchase price that seeds sold are as described on the container within recognized tolerances. Seller gives no other or further warranty expressed or implied. Prices/Germination subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to limit quantities.
