Ofn dummy 3 19 18

Feed, Fields & Crops • Poultry • Production Sale

Built for Production

MARCH 19, 2018 • 28 PAGES

VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Mike Moss has found Beefmaster cattle to be a good fit for his Oklahoma operation

MARCH 19, 2018

Preserving Heritage Breeds Fall Fire Farm is home to some of the oldest known breeds of turkeys

Understanding a Feed Analysis

From Cattle to Crops

Allen Moore says crops, just like cattle, need careful management to be profitable

Producers should understand what the nutritional value is of their livestock’s feed ration Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

1

rumor mill

Bill drafted in wake of hog farm controversy: Rep. DeAnn Vaught (RHoratio) has drafted a proposed bill that would clarify procedures for transferring a general permit to an individual permit by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. Newton County, Ark.-based C&H Hog Farms has come under scrutiny in recent years due to concerns over waste runoff into the Buffalo National River Watershed. The farm sits on Big Creek, a major tributary of the Buffalo. Gordon Watkins, president of the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, says this altering of Arkansas code could allow C&H to continue operating. Watkins’s group, as well as the Ozark Society and the Arkansas chapter of the Sierra Club, is calling on Gov. Asa Hutchinson not to include Vaught’s bill in the upcoming special session of the Arkansas General Assembly. The groups also hand-delivered a petition with more than 2,000 signatures to the governor’s office as well as both houses of the state legislature.

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

MARCH 19, 2018

Wagoner County woman honored: Dawna Livesay of Porter, Okla., has been named a Significant Woman in Agriculture by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry. Dawna and her husband, Kent, purchased an orchard and farm stand 1997. In 1997, Livesay Orchards, which is owned and farmed by brothers Kent and Steve Livesay, purchased a portion of Blackledge-Fisher Orchards, along with a highway farm market and re-named it The Peach Barn.

Grad student and faculty members earn awards: A graduate student and several faculty members from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science’s Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology earned awards at the recent Southern Region American Association of Agricultural Education meeting in Jacksonville, Fla. Haley Hensley, a master’s degree student in agricultural and extension education, teamed with department head George Wardlow, associate professor Don Edgar, university professor Donna L. Graham, professor Don Johnson and associate professor Kate Shoulders to win the AAAE Southern Region Distinguished Research Poster Presentation competition.

Their research and presentation was “Teaching Enhancement Through Agricultural Laboratories Workshop: Effects on Self-Efficacy and Intent to Teaching Agricultural Sciences.” In addition, three faculty members were recognized with AAAE career awards. Johnson received the Outstanding Agricultural Educator Award, Shoulders was named the Outstanding Young Member and professor Leslie Edgar won the Distinguished Research Award.

Grant funding awarded: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will receive nearly $1 million in grant funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The grant will be used to study the efficiency of cover crops and no-tillage techniques and their effect on overall soil health. Mike Daniels, extension water quality and nutrient management specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said he originally applied for the grant after discussions with the Arkansas Soil Health Alliance. The alliance is a farmer-led coalition of Arkansas growers interested in increasing and maintaining soil health through techniques including cover crops and avoiding tillage during fallow periods.

OzarksFarm @OzarksFarm

2

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

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

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VOL. 12, NO. 1

JUST A THOUGHT

8

3

Jerry Crownover – The dangers of new technology

4

Jody Harris – Making the sale

5

Julie Turner-Crawford – Helping neighbors

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

7 Todd Smith stays close to his farming roots

16 18

8

Mike Moss says Beefmaster cattle are built for production

10

The Caldwells continue their family business

12

Eye on Agribusiness features Brady Farms

13

Town & Country spotlights Tom Smith

16

Zane Graham works to preserve heritage turkey breeds

18 20

Family farm transforms Youth in Agriculture highlights Ben DeSalvo

FARM HELP 21 Should you lease or get a loan?

22

22

Cover crops can enhance soil fertility and improve yields

24

Understanding what’s in your feed

MARCH 19, 2018

just a

thought

Livestock, Flatbed and Dump Trailers

PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753

Toll Free: 1-866-532-1960

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

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

Sandra Coffman President

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e f i L elpmiS si

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nyone who knows me, knows of revonworC yrreJ yB my disdain for new technology. My sons call me a dinosaur, my friends call me technologically challenged, Jerry Crownover is and my wife says I’m simply bulla farmer and former headed but, I doubt, at my age, my attitude is goprofessor of Agriculture ing to change.

Education at Missouri It’s not that I don’t understand or appreciate State University. He is a the conveniences and efficiencies that modern native of Baxter County, technology has afforded us. I use the computer Arkansas, and an and internet every day to find information and author and professional communicate with others; I have a smartphone speaker. To contact Jerry, that I use to text, e-mail, and even keep detailed go to ozarksfn.com and records of my cow herd and, sometimes, use it to click on ‘Contact Us.’ make a telephone call; heck, I surprise most of my farmer-friends when I tell them that I have a GPS system installed in my tractor.

You see, I use a lot of technology – I just don’t like it…and now, my worst fear has been realized – new technology is dangerous!

One of my coffee-drinking buddies (who is almost 20 years older than me – so he’s really old) traded in his flip-phone for his very first smartphone. His grandchildren had shamed him into the trade and promised to transfer all his contacts and information from his old phone, plus teach him how to operate the new device. Every morning for the first few weeks, he would ask me how to do something on the new phone, since his grandkids were either at work or in school and I became his “go-toguy” for tech questions. How sad is it when Jerry Crownover becomes your “go-toguy” for technology?

A couple of weeks ago, my friend broke his smartphone and when he went to purchase a new one, he went all-in and bought a top-of-the-line, ultra-smart phone.

This phone has all the bells and whistles and is way above my pay grade. Again,

Frye F,arms S M eneca

o

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

About the Cover Mike Moss began his cattle operation with Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle, but found Beefmaster a better fit. Read more on page 8.

Photo by Terry Ropp

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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., 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

— Continued on Page 6

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Freshly Picked

By Jody Harris

I

once worked as a foodservice sales representative. I learned my customers would push to get as much out of my employer as possible. It didn’t matter if it was discounts and product Jody Harris is a freelance samples or rebates and marketing funds, cuscommunications specialist, tomers were always lobbying for more. My boss at gardener, ranch wife and the time cautioned about giving in to too many of mother of four. She and their demands. He told us to be leery of customers her family raise Angus beef who asked our company to invest in their business, cattle and other critters on but weren’t willing to get their skin in the game for a their northwest Arkansas promotion or event. This advice has served me well. ranch. She is a graduate As our children grow up they’ve begun to have of Missouri State University. more expensive needs and wants. As parents of four, To contact Jody, go to we sometimes feel tapped out and we wanted them ozarksfn.com and click on to get some “skin in the game.” From school fund‘Contact Us.’ raisers and birthday parties to motorcycle repairs and new cowboy boots, we are careful to asses spending on extras. We teach our children how to earn some of their own money and save up for some of these extra needs and wants as they come up. Not because we are mean or stingy, but teaching them the value of hard-earned money will prepare them for their adulthood.

We make a living raising Angus beef cattle. Our young sons have taken more of an interest in the operation in recent years. Between the boys helping during hay season and checking on cows during calving, they’ve earned a few head of their own.

The most exciting thing to them is when their momma cows have calved, and they get to name their offspring. The girls are a little envious of the boys and their small start into a cattle operation. We continually tell them, if you help at the farm, you’ll earn an investment as well. They haven’t bit yet.

Since the kids are interested in cows and cartoons, they wanted to go see a movie, “Ferdinand,” during winter break.

They were familiar with the story as they’d heard us read the classic by Author Munro Leaf. As a beef producer, the movie sent mixed messages about beef production. The plot is all about a big, strong bull who wants to avoid fighting a matador in an arena bull fight. He prefers to spend his days sniffing flowers on a hillside. However, if bulls don’t have enough bravado for the arena, the owner sends them down the road to the chophouse. The animals of the story end up rescuing a bull from the chophouse. They live happily-ever-after grazing on a Spanish hillside.

I spent the 20-minute drive home after, explaining the difference between the fictional movie and the reality of beef production. The kids know most of our calves are raised to a certain weight and then sent to the sale barn. Some years we hold back heifers when we are rotating out a herd bull.

Recently there was a discussion about what had been produced in the year’s calf crop. One of our boys’ cow had a heifer and the other one’s cow had a bull calf. They were arguing about what we’d keep and what would be sold.

Suddenly, our 8-year-old son popped off with, “Your cow had a bull and he’s going to the chophouse!”

This erupted into a few tears. I had to circle back to the point of raising cattle is to make a living and you can’t do that until you make some sales. Whether you raise beef or eat beef, the chophouse has skin in the game, neighbor.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

Across the Fence

By Julie Turner-Crawford

F

armers and ranchers share an unspoken bond of sorts, even if they have never met.

We’ve seen the bond countless times as farmers come together to help their felJulie Turner-Crawford low farmers. We’ve all heard the stories of is a native of Dallas combines firing up to harvest an ailing neighbor’s County, Mo., where she fields before their own and of cowboys coming togrew up on her family’s gether to get livestock out of harm’s way. We’ve farm. She is a graduate seen it right here in the Ozarks when loads of hay, of Missouri State feed and fencing supplies traveled west in the wake University. To contact of natural cover fires. If you own cattle, you’ve gotJulie, call 1-866-532-1960 ten that dreaded “You’ve got cows out,” call or a or by email at editor@ knock on the door at least once, and folks have ozarksfn.com. probably stopped to help you get your loose bovine rounded back up. As I’ve written before, it’s kind of what we do; we help each other when we can.

On a recent cool, windy Sunday morning, my husband and I were traveling home from seeing his parents when he spotted something along the road.

“Did you see that?” Bill said. “There’s an old man in the ditch... I think there’s a calf there.”

My nose had been in my phone, so didn’t see what he was talking about, but Bill quickly turned the truck around and we headed back up the road.

When we pulled up, I asked the gentleman if he needed help.

“I think I’ve got more here than I can handle,” he said. He was just about out of breath and was happy help had arrived.

We jumped out of the truck and there in the ditch was a newborn calf. The big gray calf was still wet and there was no momma in sight. He apparently had been born nearby

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main dish

Easter Egg Casserole

Submitted by: Barbra Groskopf, Hartman, Ark. 3 slices of bacon, diced

2 C milk

1 package chipped beef

8 eggs

1 can sliced mushrooms

1/2 C evaporated milk

1/4 C butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 C flour Sauté bacon, chipped beef and mushrooms in butter; add flour and milk. Put aside.

Scramble the eggs, evaporated milk and salt. After cooked, alternate layers of eggs and meat mixture in a 9-by-13 baking dish. Bake at 275 degrees for 1 hour.

Know a Good Recipe? Send in your favorite recipe to share with our readers. Mail them to: PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

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Across the Fence Continued from Previous Page and rolled under, or fell through, the old barbed wire fence, then rolled down a hill and into the road ditch. The man said it wasn’t his calf, but he couldn’t get a hold of the man he thought owned it.

As we picked the calf up and packed him back up the hill, another couple stopped to help. The other lady and I got the calf back through the fence, but with no cow in sight, we knew he’d be back in the same situation in no time, so under the fence we crawled (which is much harder to do when you’re closer to 50 than 40) to try and find a momma.

The hungry calf followed right along.

The other lady called the cows as we walked and they came running — then ran the other way. She decided she would walk the trailing calf to a nearby barn, and I walked back toward the road to tell the men what was going on. A cow showed some interest in the calf and began to follow; I don’t know if she was momma or not, but it was a good sign. The owner of the calf drove by as I was walking back through the pasture, so the men waiting were able to tell him what had happened. The owner and

the first gentleman we met thanked us, but we were just glad we could help out.

It was a long trip back to Dallas County, Mo., with manure, mud and “calf slime” all over me and my plan to stop off at the grocery store was axed, but the calf was out of the ditch and it was mission accomplished for the elderly man who was trying to help out his neighbor.

As we made our way home, I couldn’t help but wonder how many people drove by the elderly man trying to retrieve the calf, but didn’t bother to stop. It appears we were just in the right place at the right time to help out. Bill and I were glad we could help because we know what it’s like to need another set of hands.

Thankfully, we have good friends, family and neighbors who have helped us out over the years, and on that Sunday morning, none of us were strangers, we were just neighbors helping neighbors.

3/19/18

Gelbvieh/Balancer Bulls and Females Available Martin Cattle Company David Martin

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Continued from Page 3

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Allen Moss Herefords Moss Seed Company Registered Horned Herefords CRP Grass Seeds Rt. 2 Box 146 B • Vici, OK 73859 12 Miles of East of Vici Phone/Fax: 580-922-4911 Mobile: 580-334-7842 E-mail: amoss@vicihorizon.com mossherefords.com

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Call Toll Free 1-866-532-1960 6

just a thought

his grandchildren were happy to transfer everything. Life was good, until…

My buddy was in his shop one Saturday morning, working on his old truck for which he had just replaced an engine. As he was trying to reconnect the wires to the alternator, he had to lean over into the engine compartment from the top of a small step ladder. While he was trying to thread three wires through a plastic tube, he was encountering problems that he described as, “trying to stick a wet noodle up a wildcat’s rear end.” After the third unsuccessful attempt, he began to talk to the wires by saying, in a not-so-quiet voice, “Get in there, you @#$%&*!”

Thinking he was alone, my friend was shocked to hear a feminine voice calmly

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

say, “Now, there’s no reason to use that kind of language.”

Surprised, beyond description, my friend quickly raised up his head to the point it banged off the open hood of the truck. Losing consciousness for a second, he fell off the step ladder onto the hard concrete floor of the shop, spraining his wrist as he landed.

Evidently, the grandkids figured their PawPaw would probably want the ability that allows a conversation between the owner of the phone and the lady computer inside the phone and he had, unknowingly, said some semblance of her name when he was ranting over the side of the fender. He had the kids deactivate that function the next day.

New technology is dangerous!

MARCH 19, 2018

meet your

neighbors

Staying Close to His Roots

By Larry Burchfield

Todd Smith says he has always wanted to be a part of a family farm Todd Smith has been involved in agriculture his entire life.

The multi-generational farmer has worked in just about every aspect of the business, and he never strayed far from his roots in McRae, Ark. A graduate of McRae High School, Todd attended the University of Arkansas, where he obtained a degree in agriculture with a minor in business.

After college, he worked at a variety of jobs before joining his parents on the family farm.

passed down through the generations since. Todd and his wife Cheryl bought the farm in 1999.

The Smith Farm was recognized in 2013 by the Arkansas Agriculture Department as an Arkansas Century Farm.

“The land started out as timber,” Todd explained. “Cotton was grown for many years, then we switched to soybeans and

with Todd being one of several farmers to add broiler houses.

“My operation is one of the smaller ones,” said Smith. “Some of the farmers build 10, sometimes 20 houses. Six was all I wanted to handle. I got my first batch of birds in January 2017. I have one hired hand who helps me; that’s perfect. It has been a good fit so far.”

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Todd Smith, pictured with his grandchildren, 5 year-old Claire and 7 year-old Dayven.

“I’ve always wanted to farm, especially rice. Row crop farming was becoming the family farm,” Todd said. “But, I had more challenging, so in 2008 I enrolled to work other jobs until the time was my 380 acres into the Wetlands Reserve right to join the family operation. My Program. Now I’ve come full circle, and business degree came in handy and I I’m in the broiler business. “ Smith currently operates six broiler gained some valuable experience workhouses under contract with Peco Foods ing off the farm.”

The origin of the Smith family farm out of their plant in Batesville, Ark. Peco dates back to 1886 when the original is the eighth largest poultry processor in the United States and began 40 acres were established by having a larger presence in ArJohn F. Rogers. kansas when they purchased The land had been deeded McRae, Ark. Townsend Foods in 2011. In to Arkansas from the United addition to the large expansion States government in 1853. into northeast Arkansas, Peco Roger’s son-in-law, John CalFoods has experienced a large exvin Smith, inherited the land pansion into White County, Ark., in 1899, and the farm has been MARCH 19, 2018

Broilers are brought to the farm directly from the hatchery and then removed at about 7 weeks. The broilers are taken to the Batesville, Ark., plant for processing. Peco Foods has a large feed mill in Batesville, which provides the feed for area broiler growers.

While some of the Smith family have moved on to other locations, they all seem to maintain a certain closeness to the farm.

All the kids were active in 4-H growing up and helped on the farm when they could.

Daughter Trella Elam and her husband live in Northwest Arkansas, as does their son Kevin. The youngest child, Kelly Shofner, and her family live just down the road in Beebe, Ark. While the family is somewhat scattered, they all still hold to the values they learned growing up on the farm.

“Our kids all show an interest in the land,” said Smith. “We have always been a close-knit family. My dad and my uncles were all close. That’s just the way it was. We have a new generation coming on and it is a great experience to have the farm so that we can enjoy the land with our grandkids. For us it is God first, family second and work third.”

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7

meet your neighbors

Photo by Terry Ropp

Mike Moss switched his cattle operation to Beefmasters in 2004 after raising registered Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle.

Built for Production

By Terry Ropp

Mike Moss has found Beefmaster cattle to be a good fit for his Oklahoma operation Mike Moss of the Peggs community in Oklahoma has remained an extremely busy and committed man his whole life, just like his parents.

They are in their 80s and still have a commercial herd of 45 momma cows, a garden and cut their own firewood.

Mike was raised in Cherokee County, Okla., on a commercial cattle farm and began 4-H at a young age. He started showing sheep and hogs. The money from premiums and auctions was used to support the purchasing of animals for the next year. He got his first loan at the age of 12 and went into the hog business, buying six sows and one boar. The money made from that was then reinvested into cattle.

Mike attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., 15 miles away, so he could live at home to help with the farm, which transitioned into a dairy. To earn extra money, he also drove a school bus while earning both a bachelors’ and master’s degrees in education.

His first job was in a K-8 school with 120 students. He taught 30 seventh and

eighth-grade students in a self-contained classroom, drove a school bus, coached various sports and served as a 4-H leader. Mike retired in December after teaching for more than 37 years.

Mike met his future wife Kelly during a basketball camp at Peggs, Okla.

Leach, Okla., where she taught. Kelly currently teaches fifth grade language arts at Locust Grove, Okla.

“Kelly is definitely a town girl. She knows there are cows down here but is unsure which end is which,” Mike said with a laugh.

Pine Springs Ranch is a 560-acre Beefmaster breeding operation with 100 females and four bulls. Though he had cows from

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Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

meet your neighbors

MARCH 19, 2018

Serving Arkansas & Oklahoma

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Mike has both spring and fall calving seasons. The bulls stay with the cows for 60 days. All heifers are bred by AI, which continually increases the genetic quality of the herd with the goal of maintaining a balance of the six essential traits established by Lasater.

Ultrasound tests are performed on all yearlings to document ribeye size and marbling. Mike also has scales on the ranch to record growth records. Calves are weaned at 7 to 8 months. The average weight of bull calves for the last four years is over 625 pounds and for heifers is 575 pounds without any being creep fed. Calves receive two rounds of shots and are dehorned at three months so it is less painful. All bulls are DNA tested to provide the most accurate data possible for perspective buyers. The bulls are marketed in the spring at an Oklahoma Beefmaster sale and in the fall at a Texas sale because those sales provide the best pricing since they attract discriminating breeders interested in the highest quality available.

Mike’s bulls are sold nationwide, from Florida to Oregon, though he also sells some locally. The only animals sold at the sale barn are cows culled for infertility, health issues and old age. Since he is still rebuilding his herd after the 2012 drought, he retains most of his females, but sells about 25 percent of them at local registered sales.

Mike is one of those cattlemen who believes that being active in the cattle organizations is necessary for contributing to the strength and future of the industry. Therefore, he belongs to a number of organizations: Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Ozark and Heart of America Beefmasters, Central States Beefmaster Breeders Association, Beefmaster Breeders United, Arkansas Beefmaster Breeders and Central Texas Beefmaster Breeders Association.

“I want to continue to increase the quality of my cattle and breed for what my customers will buy and can use for profitability and efficiency. If my customers make money, they will come back. That helps everyone,” Mike said.

St

a young age, he expanded his operation in 1984 when he agreed to maintain a ranch while the owners went north to raise potatoes.

Mike eventually purchased the ranch.

His pastures and a 40-acre hayfield are mostly Bermuda, with some fescue and little clover. One of the most important features of the property is Spring Creek, which runs a little over a mile through the land, in addition to tributaries and spring fed ponds. The result is clean water in every pasture without additional cost. To protect his water sources, Mike fertilizes with commercial fertilizer instead of litter.

Mike began his operation with registered Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle, a tame, lean and highly muscular breed.

“They’re almost like a Limousin but without the attitude,” Mike said.

He stayed with the French breed for eight years and was secretary for the national association, but found the limited availability of cattle an issue.

He began crossing with Beefmaster bulls as a solution. The result was an animal that retained all of the favorable qualities of the French breed, plus better growth and hybrid vigor. Next, Mike bought Beefmaster females and discovered they were much more adapted to the local environment with its hills and temperature variations. By 2004 he had sold all his cows, except his registered Beefmasters.

“We live far enough south that a touch of ear is needed to help with adaptability to heat,” Mike said. “Another important reason for staying with the breed is that my input per animal is down 50 percent because they are so efficient. Also because of the docility of my Beefmasters, I only need a feed bucket to round them up, important since I do 95 percent of the work by myself.”

The Beefmaster breed was developed in the early 1900s in Texas by Tom Lasater and is a cross of Hereford, Brahman and Shorthorn. He wanted a breed with efficient growth, milk, disposition, fertility, hardiness and a confirmation that was functionally sound rather than meeting show ring criteria.

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

9

ozarks

roots

50

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home

Years of Caldwell Eggs

By Larry Burchfield

Four generations of the Caldwell family have been involved in the poultry industry

Fifty years ago, the Caldwell egg business was a very basic “mom and pop” type entity, processing and packing eggs in a building behind Caldwell Feed Mill in Rose Bud, Ark. The Caldwells contracted out their egg production to growers across the area. At the time, there were three generations of Caldwell involved in the egg business, Bill Caldwell, his son Henry and grandson Billy Caldwell, who represent the second, third and fourth generations of the Caldwell family. The fifth generation, Billy’s son Seth, is waiting in the wings.

The contract egg business served the Caldwells well until the industry began to change dramatically in the mid1990s. Much like the broiler industry, the entire poultry industry began to look at large economies of scale models and smaller producers found themselves either expanding to multi-house complexes to meet demands, or leaving the poultry business.

Faced with the same economies of scale scenario, Caldwell Foods LLC made the decision for a major facility expansion and to produce their own eggs.

In 1998, Caldwell Foods began construction on a large egg facility, complete with processing plant just north of Rose Bud. The plant became operational in 2000 and Caldwell Foods LLC., was formed to operate that aspect of the business with Billy and his wife Robin as the principals in the business.

Unlike the broiler industry, which maintains a steady profit model, the egg industry can provide some wild roller coaster margins for egg produces.

“Over the last 50 years, the egg industry has proven to be profitable for those producers who can weather the market storms,” Billy explained. “It requires operators to be knowledgeable in many facets of the business, manage effectively and adapt to emerging technologies.”

Major factors that influence profitability for the industry are: surpluses and deficits

10

in the supply of eggs nationally (bird inventories) and the prevailing cost of major inputs, mainly grain feed. Additional factors that affect individual companies include the ability to correctly manage flock placements to match both local and national supply (price) variances and their ability to participate in supplying premium markets (customers).

Being a perishable commodity, eggs require refrigeration and expedited transportation throughout the food channels. The primary end users of shell eggs are retail customers who purchase them at grocery stores for household consumption, food service customers who purchase them to serve in restaurants and other commercial dining situations, and egg products companies who convert shell eggs into a multitude of egg products, many of which have extended shelf lives. And as most grocery shoppers know, there is not a one-size-fits-all to egg companies today any more than it was 50 years ago.

The egg industry presents challenges and opportunities just like any other industry.

“Some large firms face big challenges,” Billy said. “And some smaller firms are quite successful. Consolidation affects all industries and the egg industry is no different, but there are niches for the small family farms that can be just as beneficial as those opportunities that exist for the bigger, nationwide conglomerates. We have found our niche, and it works well for us.”

Cage-free or free-range chickens is a trend that has certainly gained a lot of momentum the last few years and is one that has not gone unnoticed at Caldwell Foods.

The shift in production is away from traditional housing for laying hens to the new cage-free designs. What a lot of consumers do not realize is this will take a staggering amount of investment by the industry coupled with and a decision by the buying public to choose to purchase a more expensive product. Currently, consumers are

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

ozarks roots Photos by Larry Burchfield

TOP 10 REGISTERED FEMALE & COMMERCIAL FEMALE SALE Spur Blackbird 7083 | Reg. # 18786957 Lot # 1Sire: G A R Composure | Dam: Spur Blackbird 5059

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50 Registered | 200 Commercials DOB 1/1/2017

Billy Caldwell is the third generation of his family to operate Caldwell Foods, which was started in the 1960s by his grandfather, Bill Caldwell.

Caldwell Food is an integrated Grade “A” egg production and processing company with clients throughout the south.

proving to be slow in adopting higher the higher prices.

“The industry is really struggling with this (cage-free) right now,” Billy said.

“Some of the early adapters of the cagefree system reaped some early profits.

But those are gone. With the reluctance of consumers to “jump on the bandwagon 100 percent, many are standing back, taking a good hard look at the investment required. In my thinking, I see the industry evolving into more cage-free facilities as the current “legacy systems” become obsolete, perhaps over the next 10 years or so.”

MARCH 19, 2018

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12

eye on

agri-business meeting the needs of farmers

Brady Farms Story By Katrina Hine

Owners: Mike and Sherri Brady Location: Welch, Okla.

History: Brady Farms is still located on the same homestead built by Orb Brady, grandfather of Mike Brady and is north of the community of Welch, Okla., approximately seven miles. Mike grew up farming, working cattle and driving heavy equipment but today he has expanded what was just a small family farm into a thriving ag business providing services to other ag producers and selling produce from the rich Neosho River bottoms. He and wife, Sherri, have a combined five children and one special nephew, Shane Rice, all of whom have worked all aspects of the farming operation over the years.

Mike has farmed full-time over half his life and has diversified to keep up with the times, raising more than 600 acres of pecan trees, more than 2,100 acres in row crops and running 460 head of cows.

Owning lush river bottom acreage translates into a haven for Pecan trees. In fact, the Neosho River bottom region is known for producing more than 2 million pounds of pecans a year. Brady Farm’s pecans routinely travel to several states, such as, Texas and even to China.

Products/Ser vices:

Since stretching the operation to provide ag services in the four-state region, Brady Farm’s employs an average of 10 full-time employees and up to 24 employees during peak harvest time. They generally are running five to six trucks delivering pecans, produce or chicken litter.

Five years ago, Mike started providing dozer services, even though he has been operating heavy equipment since high school. They even do some custom haying and average about 2,000 bales a year.

Chicken litter is possibly the biggest share of the business operations for Brady Farms. They purchase litter from broiler, hen or pullet houses, depending on the needs of their customers. They provide three venues for producers from the poultry side to the crop farmer side; cleaning houses, trucking litter and spreading litter, separately or as a full-service package.

“We keep busy year-round,” Mike adds.

Future: “My Dad always told me, ‘If you’re not growing… you’re dying,” Mike reflects.

Their biggest hope for the future is that their children and nephew continue to grow the business and the family farm, following the long line of Brady footsteps.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

town &

country

in the field and in the office

Tom Smith

Story and Photo By Terry Ropp

Hometown: Tontitown, Ark. Family: Wife, Lori; grown children, Zac and Kathleen In Town: When Tom graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in biology, he thought he wanted to be a biologist. However, he ended up working for the health department for several years.

“The pay scale along with the politics involved convinced me to go to private industry,” he said. “While working for Tyson, I completed a master’s in food science at the University of Arkansas. Still with Tyson, I now work in food safety and quality assurance department at the corporate level where I manage the food safety and quality assurance departments for 20 prepared foods facilities.

I also travel, sometimes outside of the country, to visit national account customers.”

Future: “I plan on working these cattle as long as I can and am converting part

of my barn on the Lowell land into an apartment I call ‘my barn dominium.’ This allows me to be around during calving or spend the weekends or late nights working on the farm. I hope to expand when I retire, but my wife wants to travel so will have to work that out when the time comes.”

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In the Country: Tom and his wife live on 3 acres in Tontitown, Ark. “We never had the time to raise cattle even though it’s something I always loved,” Tom said. “However, once our children were grown and I began to travel less, we bought 20 acres in an unusual gated hobby farm community that used to be a 300-acre farm.

In 2006, I began a polled miniature Hereford herd. The breed is beginning to become popular at state fairs, so that part of my customer base is made up of 4-H and FFA students, as well as other interested small acreage farmers from as far away as Georgia, Iowa and Texas. I also liked the breed’s conformation because they resemble the Hereford breed in the 1950s, short and stocky. They have more ribeye per hundredweight than the standard-sized Hereford. Further miniature Hereford’s are hardy and fill out well after calving. Finally, these miniatures are extremely docile. I have two working bulls and trade or purchase bulls fairly often to keep the bloodlines productive. When I buy a new bull, I choose mostly by appearance and the animal history. One practice I have is to use a specialized fly vaccine developed by a Huntsville veterinarian that is geared toward the local fly population and has proven to be very effective.”

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13

slaughter

market sales reports

bulls

(Week of 3/4/18 to 3/10/18) Arkansas Cattle Auction

70.00-90.00 †

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

75.00-96.00* 75.00-97.00 † 61.00-105.00 †

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

Not Reported † 65.00-102.00 † Not Reported* 75.00-107.00 † 80.00-106.75*

Welch Stockyards

40

60

80

slaughter

100

120

cows

(Week of 3/4/18 to 3/10/18) Arkansas Cattle Auction

61.00-94.00 † 45.00-70.00 † 36.00-74.00 † 52.00-74.00* 55.00-68.00 †

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

31.00-71.50 † 58.00-78.00* None Reported* 45.00-70.50 † 35.00-72.50 † 30.00-73.00 † 42.50-74.00 † 40.00-72.00* 40.00-74.00 † 50.00-76.00 †

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

20

Steers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

Bulls, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

Heifers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

14 14

Not Reported † 36.00-83.00 † Not Reported* 40.00-79.50 † 58.00-80.00*

40

60

80

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy 3/6/18 643

Ash Flat Livestock

100

Bred Cows: Supreme ind 1000.00, Approved few 920.00925.00, Medium 700.00-850.00, Common 500.00-675.00, few Jerseys 600.00-675.00.

3/11/18 Baby Calves: Holstein heifers ind 70.00, Holstein bulls 85.00-130.0, small 45.00-65.00, Jersey heifers few 70.00-130.00, crossbred heifers few 110.00, crossbred bulls 60.00-180.00, beef cross heifers few 200.00-240.00.

dairy cattle

sheep &

goats

Diamond, Mo. • TS Whites Sheep and Goat Sale

3/1/18

Receipts: 410 Supply was moderate and demand was good with a full house at the start of the sale. Replacement ewe markets were down Springfield, Mo. • Springfield Livestock Marketing Center 2/27/18 35 cents, kid goat markets were up 10-30 cents with the reReceipts: 755 mainder of the markets holding steady. Supply was made up The moderate supply included a registered herd dispersal and of about 37 percent kid goats, 14 percent Does and Bucks, the demand was moderate. There were 12 percent springer 22 percent lambs, and 11 percent ewes and rams. All prices heifers, 19 percent bred heifers, 26 percent open heifers, 11 are per hundred weight (CWT) unless noted otherwise. percent fresh and milking cows, 04 percent bred and springer SHEEP: Feeder Lambs, mostly hair: Medium and Large 1-2 cows and 04 percent baby calves. The balance was steers, 35-59 lbs 250.00-275.00. bulls and slaughter cows. Prices reported are on a per head Slaughter Lambs, mostly hair: Choice and Prime 2-3 69-72 lbs 140 basis and for Holsteins unless noted otherwise.

255.00-277.5; 85 lbs 215.00; 130 lbs 160.00. Choice 1-2 60 lbs Springer Heifers bred seven to nine months: Supreme 245.00; 90 lbs 162.50-185.00; 110-118 lbs 147.50-165.00. Good 1150.00-1600.00, crossbreds 1000.00-1180.00, Approved 1-2 60-65 lbs 230.00-235.00.

800.00-1125.00, crossbreds 800.00-985.00, Medium 600.00Replacement Ewes, Mostly Hair: Medium and Large 2-3 105760.00, crossbreds 600.00-750.00, Common 300.00-550.00.

145 lbs 110.00-120.00.

Heifers bred three to six months: Supreme 1000.00-1325.00, Slaughter Ewes: Utility and Good 2-3 108-160 lbs 75.00ind Jersey 1160.00, crossbreds 1050.00-1150.00, Approved 95.00. Utility and Good 1-2 85-92 lbs 115.00.

800.00- 985.00, few Jerseys 825.00-950.00, crossbreds 800.00Replacement Hair Rams: Medium and Large 1-2 90 lbs 970.00, Medium 600.00-775.00, crossbreds 725.00-785.00, 135.00-170.00.

Common 300.00-575.00, crossbreds 400.00-700.00.

Slaughter Rams: Utility and Good 1-2 100-195 lbs 65.00.

Heifers bred one to three months: Approved ind crossbred GOATS: Feeder kids: Several bottle babies 40.00-185.00 Per 850.00, Jerseys 860.00-910.00, Medium 700.00-710.00, ComHead. Selection 1 35-36 lbs 285.00-290.00. Selection 2 30-45 mon 550.00-610.00, crossbreds 420.00-540.00. lbs 260.00-277.50. Selection 3 24-30 lbs 205.00-210.00.

Open Heifers: Approved and Medium: 165-298 lbs 200.00Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 42-60 lbs 290.00-335.00; 102-140 345.00, 308-394 lbs 330.00-470.00, few Jerseys 290.00-320.00, lbs 165.00-185.00. Selection 2 40-60 lbs 250.00-282.50; 85-115 ind crossbred 335 lbs 290.00, 405-490 lbs 310.00-480.00, few lbs 165.00-185.00. Selection 3 42-45 lbs 225.00-240.00; 108Jerseys 420.00-570.00, pkg 2 crossbreds 410 lbs 390.00, 528-578 115 lbs 120.00-135.00. lbs 450.00-600.00, ind 655 lbs 730.00, crossbreds 550.00Replacement Does: Few Families 75.00-90.00 Per Head. Selec560.00, 705-755 lbs 550.00-830.00. tion 1 100-135 lbs 145.00-175.00; 145-160 lbs 85.00-105.00.

Replacement Cows: Fresh Cows and Heifers: Approved Selection 2 65-90 lbs 160.00-180.00.

925.00-1070.00, crossbreds 900.00-1040.00, Medium 700.00Slaughter Does: Selection 2 72-140 lbs 130.00-155.00. Selec875.00, few crossbreds 750.00-875.00, Common 560.00-675.00, tion 3 90-125 lbs 100.00-125.00. few Jerseys 550.00-610.00, few crossbreds 510.00- 600.00.

Replacement Bucks: Selection 1 155.00-200.00 Per Head; Milking Cows: Supreme ind 1350.00, Approved 925.0053-100 lbs 165-200.00; 140-195 lbs 125.00-137.50.

1025.00, Medium 700.00-775.00, ind crossbred 775.00, ComSlaughter Bucks: Selection 2 80-120 lbs 140.00-165.00. Selecmon 600.00-775.00, ind Jersey 500.00, ind crossbred 625.00. tion 3 70-180 lbs 105.00-135.00.

Springer Cows: Supreme ind 1200.00, Approved ind 950.00, Medium ind 850.00.

Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo Livestock Market

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

County Line Sale Ratcliff 3/7/18 295

Decatur Livestock*

3/7/18 704

Cleburne Co. - Heber Springs 3/5/18 170

3/9/18 925

3-7 Higher

St-5 Higher

1-12 Lower

St-3 Lower

2-4 Higher

194.00-220.00 178.00-200.00 163.00-177.00 155.00-164.00 140.00-150.00

196.00-203.00 185.00-197.00 175.00-185.00 160.00 -----

203.00-220.00 185.00-215.00 164.00-189.00 150.00-169.00 140.00-150.00

175.00-206.00 165.00-195.00 153.00-185.00 145.00-167.00 -----

----165.00-186.00 146.00-168.00 135.00-148.00 -----

187.00-191.00 170.00-200.00 156.00-165.00 149.00 -----

195.00-214.00 172.00-208.00 149.00-181.00 143.00-155.00 124.00-138.00

164.00-182.00 146.00-173.00 142.00-156.00 136.00-142.00 -----

----157.00-168.00 145.00 149.00 -----

164.00-182.00 160.00-174.00 144.00-167.00 134.00-141.00 128.00-136.00

2/27/18

Receipts: 1,129 Supply and demand were good with a full house on hand at the start of the sale. Feeder lambs were mostly steady, slaughter hair and wool lambs were mostly 20.00 lower. Replacement ewes were 10.00 to 20.00 lower, while slaughter ewes and rams were mostly steady. Feeder kids were 30.00 higher, while slaughter kids were unevenly steady. Replacement does were steady while slaughter does were sharply lower. Slaughter bucks were 20.00 lower. The supply made up of 48 percent lambs, 17 percent ewes and rams, 23 percent kid goats, and 12 percent bucks and does. All prices are per hundred weight (CWT) unless noted otherwise.

SHEEP: Feeder Lambs: Hair Lambs: Medium and Large 1 36 lbs 315.00. Medium and Large 1-2 29-40 lbs 270.00-290.00.

Medium and Large 2 15-48 lbs 235.00-265.00. Medium and Large 3 40-48 lbs 145.00-185.00.

Feeder Lambs: Wool Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 40 lbs 260.00-285.00. Medium and Large 2 45-49 lbs 240.00. Medium and Large 3 40 lbs 165.00.

Slaughter Wool Lambs: Choice 1-2 50-66 lbs 230.00-260.00; 75 lbs 215.00; 80-100 lbs 160.00-205.00; 160 lbs 155.00. Good and Choice 1-2 73 lbs 182.50.

Slaughter Hair Lambs: Choice 1-2 51-80 lbs 205.00-250.00; 90-103 lbs 146.00-167.50. Good and Choice 1-2 60 lbs 205.00; 77-84 lbs 165.00-185.00. Good 1-2 54 lbs 195.00; 73-84 lbs 142.50-150.00.

Hair Sheep Families: Medium and Large 1-2 70-135 lbs 220.00-270.00. Medium and Large 2 60-100 lbs 155.00-205.00.

Wool Sheep Families: Medium and Large 1-2 60-110 lbs 180.00-225.00. Medium and Large 2-3 70-125 lbs 135.00175.00.

Replacement Hair Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 85-105 lbs 115.00-140.00; 113-142 lbs 101.00-146.00.

Replacement Wool Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 96-115 lbs 103.00-130.00.

Slaughter Hair and Wool Ewes: Utility and Good 1-2 80-160 lbs 83.00-97.50. Utility 1-2 115-180 lbs 62.00-70.00.

Replacement Hair and Wool Rams: Medium and Large 1-2 135-165 lbs 100.00-110.00.

Slaughter Hair and Wool Rams: 120-205 lbs 60.00-90.00.

GOATS: Feeder Kids: Selection 1 35-36 lbs 280.00-300.00. Selection 2 20-38 lbs 250.00-270.00.

Slaughter Goats: Selection 1 43 lbs 315.00; 50-70 lbs 255.00-285.00. Selection 2 35-38 lbs 255.00-270.00; 45-47 lbs 235.00-260.00; 48-58 lbs 200.00-240.00; 70 lbs 205.00-217.50.

stocker & feeder

120

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs 3/8/18 2,985

121( 5(3257('

0

5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 125.50-130.00; wtd. avg. price 127.05.

Heifers: 125.00-129.50; wtd. avg. price 126.73.

Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 200.00-208.00; wtd. avg. price 203.90.

Heifers: 202.00-206.00; wtd. avg. price 204.30.

† 6 69.00-96.00 84.00-95.00 † 75.00-98.00* None Reported* 71.00-93.50 †

65.00-91.50 † 82.00-96.50 † 70.00-103.00 †

cattle

Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle

75.00-100.00 † 71.00-89.00*

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

20

beef

61.00-94.00 †

Sele 140 Rep 155 Slau Rep 172 Slau Slau 105

Nati

Che The $1.5 Flu stea mee the the to fi con of th Con Alt to t usag 1.00 SPO BU $2.6

prices

Farmers Livestock Springdale 3/9/18 892

Fort Smith Stockyards

3/6/18 976

Farmer’s & Ranchers Vinita, Okla.* 3/7/18 772

3/5/18 1,622

I-40 Livestock Ozark 3/8/18 607

Joplin Regional Stockyards 3/5/18 7,967

Uneven

St-10 Higher

-----

186.00-211.00 174.00-198.00 162.00-176.00 ---------

190.00-210.00 176.00-190.00 168.00-185.00 160.00-166.00 148.00

200.00-227.00 185.00-205.00 164.00-183.00 141.00-155.00 128.00-140.00

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

175.00-199.00 160.00-189.00 146.00-165.00 132.00-146.00 -----

--------157.00-170.00 150.00-153.00 -----

160.00-181.00 150.00-176.00 142.00-160.00 130.00-155.00 -----

160.00-178.00 153.00-168.00 130.00-151.00 130.00 133.00

165.00-175.00 149.00-160.00 144.00-157.50 135.00-148.00 141.00

Uneven

Uneven

Uneven

St-3 Lower

200.00-215.00 175.00-210.00 145.00-167.00 ---------

193.00-223.00 178.00-206.00 157.00-178.00 149.00-160.00 -----

201.00-235.00 180.00-212.00 170.00-195.00 144.00-171.50 141.00-152.00

190.00-209.00 174.00-202.50 168.00-186.00 154.00-165.00 139.00-142.00

200.00-216.00 180.00-210.00 155.00-197.00 150.00-176.00 141.00-160.00

185 172 160 152 136

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

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

192.00-212.00 164.00-194.00 149.00-162.50 138.00-149.00 129.00-136.00

----160.00-168.00 160.00-178.00 150.00-167.00 135.00-150.00

----163.00 154.00-174.00 143.00-159.00 129.00-142.00

190.00 180.00-207.50 150.00-185.00 142.00-155.00 128.00-137.50

180 168 140 130 110

184.00-197.00 160.00-178.00 140.00-153.00 128.00-140.00 115.00-130.00

165.00-175.00 160.00-181.00 146.00-155.00 ---------

162.00-173.00 149.00-170.00 140.00-162.00 ---------

175.00-199.00 160.00-178.00 145.00-183.00 135.00-153.00 130.00-167.00

170.00-185.00 155.00-210.00 141.00-165.00 141.00-150.00 -----

160.00-182.50 149.00-175.00 140.00-162.00 135.00-151.00 126.00-141.50

160 148 142 133

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

MARCH 19, 2018

Mi Stoc

3

S

35-36 lbs 280.00-300.00. Selection 2

on 1 43 lbs 315.00; 50-70 lbs 2 35-38 lbs 255.00-270.00; 45-47 lbs 200.00-240.00; 70 lbs 205.00-217.50.

Soybeans 12

10.41

Corn

10.39

Sorghum

10.36

10.31

6

5.11

5.24

5.05

5.12

4.95

3

3.99

4.00

4.02

4.03

3.77

0 Blyt

le hevil

na

Hele

e

Elain

eola

Osc

Little

k

3/5/18 618

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest 3/7/18 971

OKC West - El Reno, Okla.

3/6/18 13,592

St-3 Lower

Steady

Uneven

2-4 Lower

0.00-209.00 4.00-202.50 8.00-186.00 4.00-165.00 9.00-142.00

200.00-216.00 180.00-210.00 155.00-197.00 150.00-176.00 141.00-160.00

185.00-210.00 172.00-205.00 160.00-184.00 152.00-162.00 136.00-144.50

200.00-220.00 181.00-209.00 160.00-180.00 137.00-170.00 -----

212.00-241.00 194.00-218.00 168.00-195.00 152.00-177.00 137.50-168.00

----163.00 4.00-174.00 3.00-159.00 9.00-142.00

190.00 180.00-207.50 150.00-185.00 142.00-155.00 128.00-137.50

180.00-205.00 168.00-180.00 140.00-162.00 130.00-145.00 110.00-135.00

201.00-207.00 175.00-205.00 148.00-174.00 ---------

----170.00-185.00 159.00-169.00 152.00 140.00

Uneven

0.00-185.00 5.00-210.00 1.00-165.00 1.00-150.00 -----

Mid-State Stockyards*

160.00-182.50 149.00-175.00 140.00-162.00 135.00-151.00 126.00-141.50

160.00-182.00 148.00-172.00 142.00-159.00 133.00-142.00 -----

MARCH 19, 2018

170.00-186.00 152.00-180.00 142.00-162.00 135.00-140.00 -----

178.00-202.50 153.00-178.00 153.00-167.00 138.00-162.00 126.00-144.00

*

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

----180.00-190.00 ----149.00-152.00 136.00 175.00-183.00 163.00-181.00 156.00-175.00 137.00-154.00 135.00-142.00

139.00

166.50 176.38 * *** 170.11

143.49 148.64 * *** 145.25 139.32

161.87

144.00

*

151.00

* 177.90

156.25

176.08

154.84

*

170.00

158.90

176.40

152.70

173.18

145.71

174.71

2000

2500

* 179.32 178.50 170.00 164.19

Tulsa Livestock Auction 3/5/18 2,340

Welch Stockyards*

-----

St-2 Higher

-----

175.00

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

206.00-219.00 195.00-211.00 175.00-193.50 152.50-167.50 135.00-152.00

180.00-205.00 170.00-190.00 160.00-191.00 145.00-175.00 134.00-140.50

173.32

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

198.00-211.00 189.00-206.00 159.50-184.00 148.00-158.00 -----

170.00-201.00 150.00-181.00 150.00-181.00 140.00-147.00 105.00-115.00

136.00 149.80

175.03

153.31 152.00

167.22

156.57

175.31

3/6/18 1,597

150.00-170.00 150.00-175.00 145.00-163.00 135.00-146.00 125.00-133.00

156.49 147.47

144.76

176.42

159.04

145.00 160.93

180.81

147.65

167.34

150.24 143.00

164.47 174.23 ** 171.47 173.97

147.92 150.10 149.39 148.03 156.24

182.81 137 164 191 218 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

158.63 245

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

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

146.36

169.42 159.48

110

152.91 **

167.43

181.10

165.00-177.50 162.50-174.00 154.00-170.00 136.00-149.00 116.50-130.00

140.00

160.48

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

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

144.71

*

None Reported †

205.00-220.00 195.00-217.50 178.00-203.00 160.00-192.50 155.00-163.00

154.67

168.48

None Reported †

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

157.12 151.98

173.91

1175.00-1675.00 † Not Reported † None Reported † Not Reported *

2-6 Higher

149.63 140.31

*

760.00-1600.00 †

-----

151.00 143.34

177.15

1500.00 † 775.00-1500.00 † 900.00-1375.00 * 925.00-1500.00 †

Ozarks Regional West Plains 3/6/18 3,389

144.24

169.28

pairs

1500

Week of 2/11/18

Week of 2/11/18

162.99 154.26

146.98 143.49

164.45

1050.00-1500.00 * 1650.00-1900.00 * 940.00-1650.00 †

Ouachita Livestock Ola, Ark. ---------

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

173.11 *

2500

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy 975.00-1375.00 † Ash Flat Livestock 1050.00-1200.00 † Benton County Sale Barn 910.00-1625.00 † Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction 1000.00-1300.00 * Cleburne County Livestock - Heber Springs None Reported † County Line Sale - Ratcliff 1025.00 †

1000

149.72 145.00

170.15

2000

(Week of 3/4/18 to 3/10/18)

Welch Stockyards

Joplin Regional Stockyards 3/5/18 7,967

175.75

162.55

1500

cow/calf

156.29 145.79

*

810.00-1340.00 *

1000

*

171.43

810.00-1210.00 †

500

500

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

176.64

475.00-1500.00 † Not Reported *

Jan. 18 Feb. 18

heifers 550-600 LBS.

170.73

700.00-1575.00 † 750.00-1300.00 † 555.00-1500.00 † 700.00-1225.00 * 775.00-1275.00 † 770.00-1375.00 † Not Reported †

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

0

Oct. 17 Nov. 17 Dec. 17

750.00-1470.00 †

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

Roc

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

850.00-1300.00* 1250.00-1600.00 *

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

9

ices

I-40 estock Ozark 3/8/18 607

10.35

Soft Wheat

July 17 Aug. 17 Sept. 17

steers 550-600 LBS.

935.00 † 60.00-148.00 † Prices reported per cwt

Decatur Livestock Auction Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita

Week Ended 3/13/18

Apr. 17 May 17 June 17

Week of 2/18/18

avg. grain prices

Mar. 17

Week of 2/25/18

ol Ewes: Utility and Good 1-2 80-160 -2 115-180 lbs 62.00-70.00.

Wool Rams: Medium and Large 1-2 00. ol Rams: 120-205 lbs 60.00-90.00.

$80

Week of 2/18/18

: Medium and Large 1-2 85-105 lbs bs 101.00-146.00. s: Medium and Large 1-2 96-115 lbs

$120

600.00-1075.00 † 800.00-1400.00 † 800.00-1250.00*

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

Week of 2/25/18

edium and Large 1-2 70-135 lbs and Large 2 60-100 lbs 155.00-205.00.

Medium and Large 1-2 60-110 lbs and Large 2-3 70-125 lbs 135.00-

3/9/18

Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.4975 and 40# blocks at $1.5700.

The weekly average for barrels is $1.5090 (+.0375) and blocks, $1.5830 (+.0480).

Fluid Milk: Milk production across the United States is mostly steady to increasing. Supplies seem to be largely available to meet end-users’ needs. In the East, weather conditions disrupted the distribution of milk. Organic and conventional dairies in the Midwest, the East, and some parts of the West are battling 0 to find new processors that will take their milk as their current contracts will expire soon. Class I sales remain balanced in most of the regions, except in the Southeast where it is stable to down.

Condensed skim demand is ample in the East and the West.

Although cream supplies are sufficient, availability is starting to tighten in the East and the Midwest. Cream multiples for all usages range 1.14-1.27 in the East, 1.20-1.25 in the Midwest, and 1.00-1.23 in the West.

SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Midwest $2.6316-2.7413.

$160

PricesPrices reported per cwt Prices reported reported per percwt cwt

870.00-900.00 †

Arkansas Cattle Auction

dairy sales

National Dairy Market at a Glance

cows

(Week of 3/4/18 to 3/10/18)

550-600 lb. steers

$200

Week of 3/4/18

e good with a full house on hand Feeder lambs were mostly steady, lambs were mostly 20.00 lower. Re0.00 to 20.00 lower, while slaughter stly steady. Feeder kids were 30.00 kids were unevenly steady. Replacewhile slaughter does were sharply were 20.00 lower. The supply made 17 percent ewes and rams, 23 2 percent bucks and does. All prices (CWT) unless noted otherwise.

Hair Lambs: Medium and Large 1 nd Large 1-2 29-40 lbs 270.00-290.00.

48 lbs 235.00-265.00. Medium and 185.00. mbs: Medium and Large 1-2 40 lbs and Large 2 45-49 lbs 240.00. Medium 0.

Choice 1-2 50-66 lbs 230.00-260.00; 160.00-205.00; 160 lbs 155.00. Good 2.50.

Choice 1-2 51-80 lbs 205.00-250.00; 0. Good and Choice 1-2 60 lbs 205.00; Good 1-2 54 lbs 195.00; 73-84 lbs

replacement

Selection 3 40 lbs 220.00; 45-50 lbs 115.00-150.00; 65-76 lbs 140.00-187.50.

Replacement Does: Selection 1 and 2 70-110 lbs 138.00155.00.

Slaughter Does: Selection 2 and 3 63-168 lbs 89.00-120.00.

Replacement Bucks: Selection 2 and 3 130-150 lbs 141.00172.50.

Slaughter Bucks: Selection 2 and 3 75-128 lbs 112.00-135.00.

Slaughter Wethers: Selection 2 85 lbs 182.00. Selection 3 105-130 lbs 120.00-149.00.

127 5(3257('

2/27/18

127 5(3257('

ock Market

12 Month Avg. -

$240

Week of 3/4/18

es reports

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

95

116 137 158 179 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

200

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

15 15

meet your neighbors

Preserving Heritage Breeds

By Terry Ropp

Fall Fire Farm is home to some of the oldest known breeds of turkeys “You can get a turkey cold, you can get a turkey wet but you can’t get a turkey both Getting out of the car at Zane Graham’s Fall Fire Farm in Hindsville, Ark., is a joyous but shocking experience; a swarm of large, cold and soaked without problems,” Zane explained. “These turkeys are similar to wild turkeys with the same kind of heartiness and disease resistance.” distinctively colored heritage breed free range tom turkeys.

The farm sells eggs and poults, both of which are ordered before the spring selling “Turkeys are creatures of habit and rather like dogs as long as you handle them when season. Eggs are his largest commodity because they are shipped nationally, even as far they are young,” Zane explained. “They have no fear and love to be around you.”

Zane was born in Madison County, Ark., and remembers his grandparents, Clifford away as Hawaii and New York, while poults must be picked up at the farm. As soon as an egg is laid, the variety is written in pencil on the and Rema Ahart, and his first view of a Bourbon Red shell and then moved into the house where the eggs turkey. His grandparents raised heritage turkeys as a hobZane Graham credits his time at his are sorted into those that will be sold as eggs and those by with Clifford working as a carpenter and for Ralston grandparents’ farm for his love of heritage that will hatch. Those sold as eggs are placed in cartons Purina. Zane never lost his fascination and solidified his breed turkeys. inside the warm house and turned daily until they are preference for heritage breeds by working in a production shipped, which is done once a week. Those that will turkey operation during high school and college. Zane hatch are first placed in the incubator, where they regraduated with a teaching degree and has taught third main for 25 days, then moved to the hatcher. They are grade in the Siloam Springs (Ark.) School District for kept off the ground until 6-weeks-old, at which point 13 years. For the first five years Zane lived in Bella Vista, they become part of the breeding flock. A few extra but turkeys never left his mind. During those years, he toms are sold in the fall. searched the Internet to learn everything he could in adSelling internationally is highly complicated because dition to wanting to return home and raise turkeys like of mountains of paperwork relating to disease issues as his grandparents. Six years ago he purchased 5 acres in well as being cost prohibitive, something Kevin Porter Hindsville, where he now manages 250 to 350 breeders discovered when he ordered 40 eggs at $100 each in orof 35 different varieties on an acre and half of that land. der to obtain a rare spotted gene. The spotted turkey died “I guess the love of turkeys skipped a generation with out in America but popped up in Australia. Only eight me, though my 12-year-old son Colton helps with of the 40 eggs hatched and the gene was subsequently chores and has his own birds in order to make spendfound to be different than the native American spotted ing money,” Zane said. breed called Nebraska. That breed appears to be gone.

Zane’s heritage breeding operation is rare. While in Unlike any other areas of production agriculture, the learning stage, he found rare turkey breeder Kevin the genetic base for heritage turkeys is extremely Porter’s site the best source for information and birds. small with breeds disappearing. One of the oddities is Though the two have never met, they have had many that the heritage species were interbred which further phone calls and exchanged many emails. complicated the genetic base issue. Consequently, The Fire Farm operation is comprised of several differbirds of old breeds pop up with the farmer being unent components. Each breed is separate from all the others aware of the kind of bird that he has produced. Some with pens from 10-feet-by-10-feet to 20-feet-by-10-feet, varieties that have made a comeback are Lavender depending upon the number of birds in that particular vaHarvest Gold Auburns that originated in the 1700s, rieties’ group. Any bird not true to the variety is culled.

Fall Fire and Chocolates. Zane raises more ChocoEach pen contains shelter, some with doors and others lates and is particularly fond of the breed because they only a roof. Other parts of the operation include a Georgia are the only breed originating in the South. The Civil Quail Farm cabinet incubator, which holds 210 eggs, and War wreaked havoc with only 12 birds surviving, a GQF hatchery, both of which are located in the house. though they are far more secure today. Zane is hoping The hardier and more disease resistant heritage turPhoto by Terry Ropp to increase the size of his cherished Chocolate flock. keys don’t require the same living conditions as proThe entire genetic base issue is further complicated by the fact that poults duction turkeys. Production turkeys are broad breasted, and grow too big are born of only a few combinations of colors regardless of species so that for their bodies. They also cannot reproduce naturally. Heritage turkeys identification of the particular species by the color of a poult is next to have more dark meat, a more distinctive flavor and reproduce naturally Hindsville, Ark. impossible. For example, Fall Fire poults can be any of three colors with with minimal health issues. the Sweet Grass and Red Sweet Grass breeding true.

All turkeys have parasite issues and Zane must be his own veterinarian The importance of the Graham operation cannot be over emphasized. Zane since heritage turkeys are so rare. Through careful study on the Internet, is providing a genetic repository that hopefully others will use as part of the efhe has learned to use products made for other species such as pigs, horses fort to guarantee the continued existence of these beautiful heritage birds. and cows.

16

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

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meet your neighbors

From Cattle to Crops

By Terry Ropp

Allen Moore says crops, just like cattle, need careful management to be profitable

Photo by Terry Ropp

Allen and Cindy Moore of Lincoln, Ark., lease 800 acres of crop land, where they raise corn, a hay blend and soybeans double cropped with wheat.

“We use lease land because buying is cost prohibitive,” Allen said. “In addition, the distinct possibility that land in our area will be sold for housing developments sometime in the future may well be part of the relentless urban sprawl invading this corner of Arkansas.”

Allen has a lifetime history with agriculture, in terms of both livestock and crops.

When his grandfather Glenn Moore passed away, a then 11 year-old Allen added driving a tractor to his chores in order to help his father Ralph pick up the slack. When Allen and Cindy married, Allen was in the commercial cattle business with his father Allen Moore has been involved in agriculture his whole life, but in and brother Curtis. Starting in 2008, they 2012, his family opted to get out of the cattle business, and Allen had grown silage to feed weaned calves from began raising corn, wheat and soybeans. a herd with 200 mommas. Then, in 2012, the three decided to switch. Allen moved to crops while Ralph and Curtis went “Science and chemistry are the best re- river and typically sent to China rather into the chicken business. Consequently, cent advancements in the crop farming than to a crusher plant for protein extracthey sold the cattle while the market was industry,” Allen said. “Years ago Round- tion as frequently happens with northern high. As Allen often did, in preparation he up ready seeds were the solution. Then soybeans lacking river access. sowed some acreage into wheat to serve as some weeds such as pigweed became After harvest, the soybean stubble is winter forage. The difference was that af- resistant, so 10 to 15 years ago Liberty baled and provided 500 bales last year. The ter the cattle were sold during that winter, developed soybean varieties prepared for bales are sold to a dairy farmer as part of a the wheat was allowed to mature and then a different weed control product. Now a dairy mix and to other customers who use harvested in June and sold as grain to local 3-year-old product called Diacambia has it as road and construction mulch. Allen chicken companies. targeted the pigweed issue once again as is also looking toward a new and growing Land, whether leased or owned, needs the pigweed and others mutate to sur- customer base where the material will be careful management to be productive. A vive chemical control just the way bac- used as bedding. One advantage of baling crop farm, just like a cattle ranch, needs teria mutate to survive antibiotics.” the stubble is that the ground is more wheat to protect the land with a nutrient manSoybeans, Allen’s largest crop, is plant- receptive, which means higher yields. agement plan while maximizing profits ed after wheat harvest with Liberty seeds Wheat is planted after the beans are through best and value-added practices. and harvested in September through harvested in September and November, What this means in terms of the Moore November. The land is sometimes fertil- and then fertilized with nitrogen Janufarm is that each crop has its ized in the spring with chicken ary through March. The wheat is harown land management prolitter and sometimes with a vested in June when it is either sold to tocols. One of the biggest Lincoln, Ark. bio-solid byproduct fertilizer local poultry companies or sent down challenges in the industry purchased from municipali- river as the soybeans are. is constantly evolving weed ties. Liberty Link supplies weed Corn ground is fertilized with chicken resistance to chemicals, very control. The harvested beans litter before planting in April and then similar to the antibiotic rego to river ports, usually Catoosa, with liquid nitrogen while it’s growing. sistance in medicine.

Okla., where they are barged down Several different varieties are planted for Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

meet your neighbors

MARCH 19, 2018

www.powellfeedstores.com

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staggering harvest as a means of managing the harvest workload. The corn is Roundup ready and harvested in August. After harvest, the land is disked to allow winter seasoning to optimize spring seeding.

Sometimes the stalks are baled, a practice Allen intends to expand for uses similar to those of the harvested soybean stubble.

The final crop is a hay blend comprised of mixed grasses with some Bermuda and a little volunteer clover. Hay is sold to a dairy and five beef producers. The hay land, typically providing three cuttings per year, is fertilized mostly with chicken litter and sprayed for weeds with changes in products as needed.

The use of chicken litter is well-planned.

Ralph and Curtis have chicken houses.

Most of Allen’s chicken litter, which he spreads himself, comes from his dad and brother. Years ago, he sold chicken litter and still sells some, depending upon his needs and the time of the year. In annual terms this means of selling litter at some points and purchasing it at others in order to maximize usage and profits and to meet the demands of the chicken companies.

“My semi is a multipurpose tool with different Aulick Industries trailers which I also sell as a sideline,” Allen said. “The use of the semi helps cut down on equipment expenses. I use a flatbed to move equipment and haul hay while I use a belt trailer for chicken litter and grain.

I sometimes haul litter and grain myself and other times pays someone to haul it for me because of time constraints.”

As if the farming doesn’t keep Allen busy enough, he is highly active with his family. Cindy has worked at Arvest bank in West Fork since 2001 and is a loan officer. The couple has three children: Cameron, 16; Kipton, 7; and Hudson, 3.

Allen also believes involvement in the agriculture community is important. He is a member of the Farm Bureau Board, the Washington County Fair Board, and the Van Buren Farmers Co-Op Board.

“Being part of the development of the agricultural community is critical. In addition, you can learn from everyone if you are willing to take the time to listen.

I want to make our farm the best it can be with the hope that years from now my kids will be interested in agriculture so we can expand our farm,” Allen said.

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

19

youth in

agriculture tomorrow’s ag leaders

Ben DeSalvo Story and Photo By Terry Ropp

Parents: Philip and Beth DeSalvo Hometown: Center Ridge, Ark. 4-H Club: Nemo Vista Pioneers Club Leader: Alicia Hugen Describe your 4-H experience?

“I started showing when I was 8 years old with a steer and a heifer because my family had always liked showing and I wanted to be part of it. My black steer I named Blackie and the black baldie I named Part because her face was part black and part white. I still really like showing and keep an informal record book of how much I feed the show animals every day which is about 1 percent of their total body weight, something my dad helps with. The show animals require a lot of time and work. In the morning I walk them for three or four laps, feed and water them and a few hours later hay them. At 6 at night I repeat the procedure again.”

What do you like about showing, competing?

Farm & Ranch Report

“I really like hanging out with my friends and my cousins, but I also like competing with what my family raises, which is Brangus and Ultrablack cattle. Because I am competing against my sister and cousins, it can get pretty intense.

What do you do to help out on the farm?

Help us welcome our newest Ag Expert

Jamie Bellis Johansen!

Jamie has been a part of the local agriculture community for all of her life.

She now travels the country reporting on the world of agribusiness, animal agriculture, & precision technology.

20

“I started driving a tractor couple of years ago so I help with raking and haying. I also feed out of the cake box in the truck plus working on fencing and over seeding wheat for winter pasture using a no till drill method.”

What is your favorite part about living in the country?

“Classrooms can sometimes get kind of claustrophobic with all the people around in such a small area. I like being out in the open spaces.”

What are your future plans?

“I really want to stay on the farm and see how the Brangus and Ultrablack breeds develop. I’m considering starting out with an animal science degree at OSU or Kansas State because both have good ag programs. After my four-year degree, I’d like to go to vet school and become a large animal veterinarian because there aren’t many around and I could contribute those skills to our farm so we won’t need anybody else.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

the ofn

ag-visors

Advice from

the professionals

Leases vs. Loans

SPRAYERS, FERTILIZER & SEED Weed Control is a key part to successfully maintaining your property whether cow pasture or hay fields and a Wylie Sprayer can make the job faster and easier.

Remedy • Grazon • 2-4-D Cimarron® • Weedmaster® Stillwater Milling Company carries a full line of field, lawn and garden ag chemicals to help control unwanted weeds so you can get the most out of your land and the crops you grow.

Reseeding, we have fescue, bermuda and hay grazer.

By Tom Sears

S

hould your business lease or buy equipment?

The answer depends on your specific situation and need. Most business Tom Sears is an area owners tend to want to own the asset loan manager at Arvest or equipment, but there are instances where it Bank, serving southwest may make sense to lease or “rent” instead of own.

Missouri, southeast First, it is important to understand what a lease Kansas, and northeast is and the types of leases available. Put in very Oklahoma. Tom grew general terms, a lease can be considered a rental up on a row crop and agreement. This is particularly true for an operatbeef cattle farm in ing lease. Under this type of lease, for accounting Northwest Kansas. purposes, the payments are considered an operational expense and, in most cases, fully deductible.

A capital lease is treated more like a loan. The business can deduct the interest expense and benefit from depreciation, including Section 179 and bonus depreciation (be sure to review the 2018 tax code updates with your accountant). The business also has the option of retaining ownership of the asset at the end of the term, just like with a loan.

Leasing can be advantageous for shorter-term projects that require custom use and/ or very specific and specialized equipment needs.

Leasing also can be beneficial in the long term if there is constant asset turnover or frequent upgrades required. As technology continues to rapidly advance, leasing provides the ability to stay up-to-date and ahead of the curve.

Often, within 12 to 36 months, these ever-changing components and systems become antiquated and obsolete. In this scenario, an operating lease may be the most cost-effective option to provide the needed competitive advantage.

On the flip side, if the investment is long-term and will be a key component of everyday operations, ownership in the form of a capital lease or loan may make the best business and financial sense. In this situation, long-term ownership also provides the ability to sell or trade at a future date.

Leases typically require less cash outlay in the beginning, with little to no down payment. One hundred percent financing is common practice, along with a flexible payment structure to pair with the cash flow cycle. This flexibly allows for the use of the asset with minimal initial cash outlay, and payments can be covered by future earnings.

Another factor that should be considered is the total cost of the equipment or the project. Many specialized items will require costs above and beyond that of the asset or project, commonly referred to as “soft costs.”

These costs can include sales tax, shipping, installation, training, set-up, software, etc. Most leases allow for these costs to be included, up to a certain percentage of the overall project cost. In this situation, a lease may be the preferred structure to avoid these upfront costs and help preserve cash.

The balance sheet is also a financial focus for most businesses. Operating leases are typically “off balance sheet” and not reflected as a liability, but rather an operating expense.

As with most business decisions, many factors are involved in the decision-making process. The business goals and both short- and long-term objectives should be considered.

Don’t discount equipment leasing without fully understanding the potential benefits to your business.

MARCH 19, 2018

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21

farm

help

Making farming

a little easier

The Benefits of Cover Crops

By Kristyn Richner

Cover crops can enhance soil fertility and improve yields Cover crops are crops that are grown in dormant season to help promote healthy soil and ideally, increase crop yield. Cover crops are a “multipurpose farm tool.”

Cover crops can help accomplish several goals, including: reducing soil erosion and runoff, keeping fertilizer in the soil and out of the water supply, increasing organic matter, aiding in weed management and several other benefits. One of the many questions among agriculturalists is, can cover crops help increase production?

According to the University of Arkansas Research and Extension, cover crops are not grown for harvest, but rather to protect and improve soils. They are commonly referred to as “green manure” because at the end of their growing cycle, cover crops should be terminated and tilled back into the soil, where nutrients are released as the plants decay.

“Cover crops have the potential to be the backbone of any sustainable agriculture producer,” Kyle Richner, Marshfield, Mo., MFA Bulk Plant manager said. “Cover crops can help hold the nutrients in the soil. Plus, you can also use cover crops as a mulch for the next planting season. This will help increase microbial activity and reduce weed competition.”

One of the many important aspects of cover crops is the root system. The roots grow much deeper into the soil than commodity crops. Typical Ozarks commodity crops include corn, soybeans and wheat. The root depth of these crops is much shallower than that of cover crops. The addition of cover crops allows untapped nutrients with greater soil depth to be utilized, specifically carbon.

Many of the benefits of cover crops are a direct result of what occurs in crop production that neither the producer or consumer can physically see. The biodiversity of cover crops has a direct impact on increasing microbial activity (bacteria, fungi and nematodes) in the soil and occurs more rapidly when organic carbon is added through leguminous cover crops. Microbes are responsible for nitrogen fixation, the process of converting nitrous gas in the environment into a usable form for plants.

Through instating practices that focus on maximizing soil health, a grower can see an increase in yield of commodity crops. But is the increase enough to offset the cost

what do you say?

What can producers do to improve crop yields?

“The best fertilizer is the owner’s footprint in the soil because being there makes all the difference. Also important are education and keeping up with technology.”

Joseph Post Franklin County, Ark.

22

obtained through planting the cover crop? Studies show yes, over time, a grower will see additional profits from planting cover crops. Researchers used legume and nonlegume cover crops on wheat-corn-soybean and corn-soybean rotation on claypan soils. They compared input cost and yield to analyze benefits. The study lasted four years and the first two years were marketed by drought and poor growing conditions.

The third year, fields showed an average of 8 percent increase in crop yield, which resulted in a 30 percent increase in revenue per acre. On the flip side, the initial input cost was a 37 percent increase per acre, resulting in no increased profits. Moving on to the fourth year of the study, 2015, revenues and yields increased and researchers reduced input cost.

As research continues, it is evident that more nutrient loss occurs when fields are bare after harvest, especially in areas with heavy rainfall. Cover crops benefits the soil during fallow periods by adding nutrients and reducing soil erosion.

“Use of cover crops is important in the Ozarks, where row crop farming lacks diversity,” said Dhruba Dhakal, University of Missouri Extension agronomist. “The lack of diversity reduces soil productivity and increases pest and disease pressure. It also increases weed pressure.”

Cover crops are typically associated with conservation programs, targeted at improving the quality and health of soil. But research by the Noble Research Institute suggest that one benefit offered by planting a cover crop, that is rarely acknowledged, is the use as a forage for grazing livestock.

According to the Noble Research Institute, cover crops can fill two predominate forage production gaps. The first is for a summer cover crop to be used for grazing in conjunction with wheat between harvesting and planting. The second is for a cool-season cover crop to be interseeded into a warm-season pasture, providing early spring season forage for cattle.

There are several resources available to help growers begin utilization of cover crops, including grant opportunities through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS).

If you have questions or an interest in cover crops, reach out to the USDA, NRCS or local agronomist for direction.

“While that is mostly up to God, planting at the right time and supporting with the correct fertilizer is extremely important.”

Larry Davis Ottawa County, Okla.

“I raise grapes commercially and have found that mulch not only keeps the weeds down and adds organic matter to the soil for my grapes but for my garden as well.”

“You can’t see what you need, so you have to do a soil analysis and have the results correctly interpreted by the company or a local expert and adapted to the specific crop as well as the soil.”

Tim Sweet Washington County, Ark.

Tim Moore Boone County, Ark.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

11th Annual

Gelbvieh • Gelfords • Herefords

"Going to Grass Production Sale"

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farm help

Understanding a Feed Analysis

By Kristyn Richner

Producers should understand what the nutritional value is of their livestock’s feed ration Nutritional requirements vary across production livestock. The best way to determine if a rancher is providing a feed ration that is utilized to its full potential is to review the feed analysis report.

A feed analysis report provides reliable nutritional information that is important to not only feed balanced rations but also to ensure the most economical option is utilized. Unfortunately, these reports can be quite daunting if you’re new to the industry or have never paid much attention to them.

The first components on a feed analysis report is typically dry matter. Dry matter is the moisture-free content of the feed and contains the essential nutrients within a given feed or forage. Moisture dilutes the nutritional value of a feed.

Why is knowing moisture content important? It allows us the opportunity to compare nutrient content of different feeds on an equal basis.

Feed nutrients are determined on either an as-fed basis or a dry matter basis. Feeds having a higher moisture content, like pasture grass or hay, have a much lower nutrient content than dry hay when compared on an as-fed basis.

But when you correct for water content and compare on a dry matter basis, they are nutritionally the same. As a rule of thumb, hay or other dry feed should not exceed a moisture content of greater than 15 percent.

Another feed component on an analysis will be fiber, which will be represented as NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) or ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber) on the report. Fiber content is important, especially in cattle and sheep, since they are classified as ruminants.

Fiber cannot be digested by mammalian organisms but it can be digested by ruminants; because of this, it’s important

24

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

to pay close attention to these numbers in feed rations.

The next factor, most people are familiar with, is crude protein. Crude protein measures the amount of nitrogen in a feed because protein is made up of around 16 percent nitrogen. This isn’t very specific for the average producer.

There are additional protein values like soluble crude protein, by-pass protein and more. Essentially, these other values will help inform the producer if the feed is mainly amino acids (the building blocks of protein) or other components like urea and ammonia. These factors help with solubility and digestibility.

Protein is essential for weight gain in livestock. Consider the fact that most beef cattle are finished on feed lots.

Why? Because most grains have a higher protein content than most grasses.

In this scenario, it’s easier to increase weight gain and bring cattle to market weight than it would be on a grass-finished basis. However, for the local smalltown producer, grass-finished livestock is not uncommon.

Other components of a feed ration to pay attention to include fat and minerals. Why is all of this important? Consumption of one feed could result in an increase in the consumption of another feed or vice versa.

Over feeding or under feeding certain minerals and feedstuffs could be life threatening to your herd. If you have questions regarding certain feed rations, contact your local feed mill.

MARCH 19, 2018

Call for Price!

Call for Price!

Wheeler Steel Trusses

12’ - $58 20’ - $128 24’ - $144

30’ - $207 40’ - $295

ozarks’ farm Weekly Sale Every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. starting with Calves & Yearlings, Stock Cows, Butcher Cows, then Bulls.

With the lowest commission rates in the area and the best buyers, getting you top dollar for your livestock is what we do best!

March 2018 23-25 Arkansas River Valley Lawn & Garden Show – Fort Smith Convention Center, Fort Smith, Ark. – 479-226-0906 24 Delaware County 4-H Robotics Workshop – Jay, Okla. – 918-253-4332 27 Poultry Chain Basic Workshop – Fairgrounds, Marshall, Ark. – 870-448-3981 27 Baxter County Soil Conservation District Forage Meeting – Baxter County Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, Ark. –

870-425-3527 ext. 3 – RSVP by March 23 29 Nutrient Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Benton County Extension Office, Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 to register April 2018 9 Statewide Blackberry Association Meeting – 1 p.m. – Boone County Extension Office, Harrison, Ark. – 870-741-6168 10 Pesticide Applicator Training – 7 p.m. – Crawford County Extension Office, Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 10 Statewide Blackberry Association Meeting – 1 p.m. – Washington County Extension Office, Fayetteville, Ark. – 870-741-6168 10 I9 Poultry Waste Management Education – 9 a.m. – Delaware County Fairgrounds, Jay, Okla. – 918-253-4332 11 Continuing Poultry Waste Management Education and Field Day – 9 a.m.-4 p.m. – Delaware County Fairgrounds, Jay Okla. – 918-253-4332 12 Pesticide Applicator Training – 1 p.m. – call Madison County Extension Office for more information 479-738-6826 14 Pecan Grafting Workshop – 9-11 a.m. – at the home of William Johnson, 1313 W. Mississippi Street, Beebe, Ark. – pre-register

by March 30 – 501-268-5394 or ssanders@uaex.edu

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calendar

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March 2018 19 B&D Hereford & Beran Brothers Angus 32nd Annual Production Sale – Claflin, Kan.– 620-786-9703 20 KW Cattle Company Angus Production Sale – at the Ranch, Fort Scott, Kan. – 620-224-7305 23 Three Forks Ranch Spring Bull Sale – at the Ranch, Muskogee, Okla. – 918-541-0418 24 Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, Mo. – 877-486-1160 24 Magness Land & Cattle Annual Bull Sale – at the Ranch, Miami, Okla. – 402-350-3447 24 Total Performance Tested Angus, Limousin and Charolais Bull Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo.

– 405-590-1388 24 Worthington Angus Spring Production Sale – at the Farm, Dadeville, Mo. – 417-844-2601 24 Arkansas Bull Sale Multi Breed Registered Bull & Commercial Female Sale – Heber Springs, Ark. – 205-270-0999 24 Maplewood Acres 31st Annual Bull & Female Sale – Sedalia, Mo. – 660-826-1880 24 Rogers Cattle Company Red Angus Bull & Female Production Sale – at the Farm, Strafford, Mo. – 417-241-1302 25 C/S Cattle Company Angus Production Sale – at the Farm, Pomona, Mo. – 417-293-6087 26 SW Missouri PT Bull Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 417-345-8330 27 GENETRUST at Suhn Cattle Company Brangus/Angus Bull Sale – Suhn Cattle Company, Eureka Kan. – 620-583-3706 April 2018 2 Brockmere Farms Annual PT Bull Sale – New Cambria Livestock Auction, New Cambria, Mo. – 660-358-3011 5 Hunter Angus Farm Annual Production Sale – at the farm, Fair Grove, Mo. – 417-860-1624 7 Circle S Gelbvieh Ranch “Going to Grass Production Sale” – at the Ranch, Canton, Kan. – 620-628-4621 7 Four State Angus Association Production Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 734-260-8635 7 Shoal Creek Land & Livestock “The Gathering” Simmental Sale – at the farm, Excelsior Springs, Mo. – 816-336-4200 7 The Andras Kind “Red Angus Bull Sale” – at the Farm, Manchester, IL. – 214-473-2355 7 B/F Cattle Company & Cleland Cattle Maternal Integrity Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull Sale – B/F Cattle, Butler, Mo. – 660-492-2808 10 Sydenstricker Genetics Influence Sale – at the Farm, Mexico, Mo. – 573-473-9202 10 Oak Water Ranch 35th Annual Bull Sale – Valentine Livestock, Valentine, NE – 402-376-3611 13 Spur Ranch Female Sale – at the Ranch, Vinita, Okla. – 918-633-2580 or 918-244-2118 14 New Day Genetics Ranch-Ready Bull & Female Sale – Wheeler & Sons Livestock Auction, Osceola, Mo. – 660-492-2777 14 Renaissance XXVI Charolais Sale – Chappell’s Sale Arena, Strafford, Mo. – 405-246-6324 14 Ozark & Heart of America Beefmaster Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 417-827-9391 15 The Great America Pie Limousin Sale – Laclede County Fairgrounds, Lebanon, Mo. – 402-350-3447 20 Missouri Red Angus Association “Show Me Reds” Sale – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 417-327-7870 Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

MARCH 19, 2018

Cattlemen’s Seedstock Directory Angus 44 Farms - 501-940-0299 www.rosebudfeeders.com Jac’s Ranch - Bentonville, Ark. 479-273-3030 Windy Acres Cattle - Rose Bud, Ark. - 501-412-4939 Balancers Bob Harriman Genetics Montrose, Mo. - 660-492-2504 Hodges Ranch - Omaha, Ark. - 870-426-4469 870-704-9450 Martin Cattle Company Judsonia, Ark. 501-278-7614 Brangus Hatfield Brangus - Bentonville, Ark. - 479-273-3921 479-531-2605 Jackson Double J - Gentry, Ark. - 479-659-4200 www.doublejbrangus.com Rose Bud Feeders - 501-940-0299 - www.rosebudfeeders.com TRO-GIN Brangus Ranch Booneville, Ark. 479-675-4420 Charolais Rose Bud Feeders - 501-940-0299 - www.rosebudfeeders.com Gelbvieh Hodges Ranch - Omaha, Ark. 870-426-4469 - 870-704-9450 Martin Cattle Company Judsonia, Ark. - 501-278-7614 Herefords Allen Moss Herefords - Vici, Okla.

- 580-922-4911 - 580-3347842 - mossherefords.com Red Angus Cooper Ranch - Romance, Ark. 501-556-5263 Sim Angus Bob Harriman Genetics Montrose, Mo. - 660-492-2504

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2013 NEW HOLLAND T6.175, MFWD, Cab, A/C, 16x16 Powershift Transmission, Electronic Hitch, Air Seat, New Holland 845TL Loader With Bucket & Bale Spike ....$77,500

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Machinery

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2012 KUBOTA M100X, Cab, H & A, 16x16 Powershift Transmission With Shuttle, 2 Rear Hydraulic Remotes, Kubota LA1953 Loader With Bucket and Bale Spike...........$47,000

3/19/18

Poultry Litter Fertilizer Application Service Available • Application Rate 1-2 Tons Per Acre • GPS Guidance Green Forest, AR hostetlerlitter@emypeople.net

Since 1986 No Sunday Calls “Get More Out of Your Pasture” Louis Hostetler 870-438-4209 Cell: 870-423-8083

Hostetler Litter Service

Family Owned & Operated Since 1944

We Specialize in all Types of Berry Plants

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2015 JOHN DEERE 4066M, 12 x 12 Transmission With Shuttle, MFWD, John Deere D170 Loader, Super Clean, Low Hour, One Owner, This Unit Is Like New., The Rotary Cutter Is Not Included. ................................$35,500

Williams Tractor

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MARCH 19, 2018

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

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MARCH 19, 2018