Ofn dummy 4 13 15 by Eric Tietze

Simplification Makes Sense APRIL 13, 2015â&#x20AC;˘ 32 PAGES

VOLUME 9, NUMBER 3 â&#x20AC;˘ WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Mike and Jill Hargis share a love of farming, cattle and keeping things simple

APRIL 13, 2015

Happy Chickens Size, complexity of the Marley Family Farms requires efficiency

Preserving the Past

reen G g n i m r a F tion c u d o r P d an Sale Issue

The Murrell Home is the last remaining antebellum plantation home in Oklahoma

Building a Herd One Cow at a Time From a bus driver and school teacher to full-time cattleman

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

rumor mill

Two University of Arkansas students win awards for blackberry and raspberry recipes: The North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association (NARBA) awarded prizes to two students in the University of Arkansas Food Science Department for their winning recipes in a recipe contest. The first-place award went to Joshua Andrews for his recipe “Chocolate Éclairs with Blackberry Mascarpone Filling.” Second-place award went to Carlyn Oswald for her recipe “Raspberry Dessert Enchiladas.” Wes Ward appointed to serve as Arkansas Ag Secretary: The Arkansas Agriculture Board recommended the appointment of Wesley “Wes” Ward to serve as Arkansas’s third Secretary of Agriculture. Ward is a native of Lake City, Ark., received an undergraduate degree in Ag Business from Arkansas State University and a law degree from the University of Arkansas, where he also obtained an L.L.M. in Agricultural and Food Law. Ward is also a Marine and has served in Afghanistan and Jordan. Arkansas growers planning more sorghum: Arkansas growers are doubling down on grain sorghum in 2015, while pulling back sharply from wheat and cotton, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA has published its annual Prospective Plantings report online forecasting the intentions of growers across the country. The report looks at planting acreage estimates of more than a dozen crops in every state in the union, using survey data drawn from more than 84,000 growers across the country. The producers were contacted by mail, Internet or phone, or interviewed in person, according to the report. With a projected planting of 250,000 acres, grain sorghum (also known as milo) is expected to boom in Arkansas in 2015, representing a 47 percent increase over acreage planted in 2014. Poultry farm hit by storm: A confirmed tornado ripped through Clifty in Madison County, Ark., on March 25 around 5:30 p.m. A chicken farm in Clifty, Ark., was likely hit by the reported tornado that came through the area or strong straight-line winds. Four buildings were damaged on the property, including three chicken houses. The owner, Mike Ingram, says he was just returning home when he pulled up and saw the roofs flying off the chicken houses. He said he was shocked because he didn’t realize just how severe the storms were going to get. Ingram found his wife and kids safe inside their home. While nobody was injured, he estimates close to half a million dollars in damage. A tornado was also reported in Carroll County, Ark., that same night. It touched down south of Berryville, Ark., but there were no injuries reported. Scan Me Or Visit ozarksfn.com OzarksFarm

@OzarksFarm

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

APRIL 13, 2015

VOL. 9, NO. 3

JUST A THOUGHT

3 4 5

Jerry Crownover – Good neighbors Dusty Richards – Is solar the answer? Julie Turner-Crawford – Back on the farm

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS 7 Bansleys raise Berkshire pigs in animal welfare approved operation

10 14

A look at the history of Oklahoma’s last antebellum home

Eye on Agribusiness features the Cleaver Farm and Home

Every dollar counts at Huntsville, Ark., family farm

Keeping things simple at the Hargis farm

Town and Country features Bryan Beshear

Marley Family Farms incorporates poultry, cattle in one operation

Youth in Agriculture spotlights Colton Padgett

Wayne Ford ‘retired’ when his cattle operation became a full-time job

FARM HELP 25 Advice for farmers entering the world of sustainable agriculture

20 Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

26 27

Advantages of Haylage

28 29

Utilizing cover crops

Organic farming: Where to find the funding Not just for food plots

APRIL 13, 2015

just a

thought

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

200

Head Cattle & Equipment

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

Complete & Total Angus Dispersal Sale

Life Is Simple

e f i L elpmiS si

Saturday, May 9, 2015 • 12:00 CDT

Held at the Interstate Regional Stockyard, Cuba, MO

By Jerry Crownover

Selling

ne of the absolute best parts of livrevoniswhaving orC ygood rreJ yB ing in rural America neighbors and, fortunately, that is true regardless of what part of the Jerry Crownover is country you reside. When I get a farmer and former a truck or tractor stuck in the mud, help is only a professor of Agriculture phone call away. When I leave a gate open, it’s not Education at Missouri uncommon for a friend to call and see if I meant State University. He is a to or, more likely than not, if I messed up again. If native of Baxter County, my cattle get out, these same neighbors are just as Arkansas, and an likely to drive them back in instead of calling. But, author and professional sometimes, it gets downright embarrassing. speaker. To contact Jerry, Last Wednesday, as I entered the gate at the go to ozarksfn.com and north farm, I could see a single cow off by herself. click on ‘Contact Us.’ Reasoning that she had a newborn, I went ahead and unrolled the bale of hay before going to tag her baby. As I approached the cow, I could see a tiny black blob next to her that was much too still and in a position that would have made any cattleman a little sick at his stomach. Sure enough, a lifeless calf lay beside the upset mother and to the dismay of both cow and cattleman, there was a second calf also. Neither of the twins looked as if they had ever drawn a breath. I usually try to gather the stillborns for a more secluded resting place as quickly as possible, and I would have done so, if not for the fact that the cow was obviously not finished with her grieving process. There was no way she was going to let me within 20 feet of her dearly, departed offspring and it would have cost me either life or limb to attempt to do so. I jumped back inside the safety of the truck. At 3 o’clock that afternoon, a good neighbor called to ask if I knew about the twins in the corner of the pasture by the road. I assured him that I did and explained the situation with the cow. “Yeah,” he replied, “I stopped to see how she was doing, but she wouldn’t let me over the fence.”

PF Henrietta Pride 1009 EXAR – The foundation Henrietta donor female in the Seven T Farms program was the $58,000 ½ interest for a $116,000 valuation top selling female through a past event. Through the same event she gathered up $48,000 on three pregnancies. Selling ½ interest she will headline this event along with her offspring. Sitz Henrietta Pride 643T – The $390,000 valued dam of PF Henrietta Pride 1009 EXAR.

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Sandra Coffman President

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 Dusty Richards, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production Contributors Jessica Bailey, Gary Digiuseppe, Jack and Pam Fortner, Klarie Howerton and Terry Ropp

About the Cover Mike and Jill Hargis like to keep things simple. Read more on page 14. Photo by Terry Ropp Ozarks Farm & Neighbor accepts story suggestions from readers. Story information appears as gathered from interviewees. Ozarks Farm & Neighbor assumes no responsibility for the credibility of statements made by interviewees. © Copyright Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, Inc., 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

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Western novelist Dusty Richards and his wife Pat live on Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas. To contact Dusty, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’

recently flew way out to Reno, Nev., for a meeting of Rural Electric Association directors. The main thing I took home is the notion about solar energy and people on the lines. More and more folks want solar energy. Don’t think it is free and on only a few houses will it fit on the roof to get the greatest amount of energy. Secondly, many dwelling do not have the structure to hold the panels up. Add a heavy snow to that and your house could be flattened like some chicken houses are during the big winter storms we have. But the plan of this administration is to get half your electricity needs from solar in a decade. People are told they won’t have to pay utilities and make their own, but when the sunsets the lights go off. Despite how much electricity you make during the day, it is over at sundown, so you will need an electric utility to take over – or light candles. Everyone is looking for large batteries, which are needed to store the solar energy generated. All the big companies like Apple, Amazon and Goggle, want some – but they require lead plates and are still too expensive, plus they are short lived. So until they make an inexpensive, large battery you will be tied to your current utility. Today there are large federal subsidies for solar users, but the last time I saw how long it will take to recover your costs of installation was 40 years. Now I don’t know much of anything, but what lasts 40 years that they are making today? Maybe a hoe you only use a few days a year. No one really knows because the improved models they have now have not been tested for any length of life. Who is doing this solar business? According to a press release from Direct TV, the company is going to expand into the solar business and wants to be a utility serving you. They have 200 million customers they could possibly sell to. I imagine they want in on the ground floor. There are others who want in, too. I would sure advise anyone considering putting such a project up on their house or field to talk to a successful user or two before you spend that much money. Sales folks can paint a pretty picture that may not end up being that good. Your utilities were set up to bring order and reliability to your electric needs. By law, electric companies are guaranteed only a small profit. They also have districts set up that are theirs, and only theirs, to serve. If a large amount of the population turns to solar, they will still need electricity. These investor-owned utilities and cooperatives have spent huge sums for power plants with long-term financing that customers will still need to pay for since they were built for future needs. This matter will come up down the line to haunt everyone when large amounts of solar electricity replace standard sources – if it ever does. Several large solar projects have gone into default. One big one recently folded in California at a cost of $50 billion to U S taxpayers. Each one of those companies that went down said that the units did not produce as much electricity as the supplier said they would. California is a sunshine state – put that under your hat too. I am not against solar, but anything that has to be heavily subsidized to get you to install it may not be the business you want in. Washington D.C. could decide any day to take that away – windmills faced that a few years back. God bless you, your family and America.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

APRIL 13, 2015

just a thought

Across the Fence By Julie Turner-Crawford

n my first “official” day as managing editor here at Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, I got a little mud on my boots and a little cow slobber on Julie Turner-Crawford my hands. is a native of Dallas It was good to be back on the farm. County, Mo., where she As most of you know by now, I’m the new kid on grew up on her family’s the block at Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. Being the new farm. She is a graduate “kid” is a little scary, but everyone here has welcomed of Missouri State me. It has been a great transition for me to OFN. University. To contact As Lynzee Glass wrote in her farewell column, Julie, call 1-866-532-1960 I might be new at OFN, but I’m no stranger to or by email at editor@ agriculture. ozarksfn.com. I grew up in Dallas County, Mo., just outside of Buffalo. Our family operated a commercial cow/ calf operation, which my father, Larry Turner, continues today. We also raised hogs for a number of years, and I worked for several years for a Dorset sheep producer. Some of my favorite memories are going to county fairs with my heifers and market hogs. I continued my love of fairs for many years, working as the Dairy Cattle chairperson for many, many years at the Dallas County Fair, and by working with the Missouri FFA Association while I was in college as a show chairman at the Missouri State Fair for various species. Today, I am more of a spectator at the shows as I watch my nieces and nephew. I hold a degree in agriculture communications from Missouri State University, and landed my first newspaper job in 1997 in Lexington, Mo., as a general assignment and sports reporter. — Continued on Next Page

main dishes

Breakfast Casserole

Submitted by: Annette Rowe, Gentry, Ark. 1 1/4 lbs. ground pork sausage 1 1/4 lbs. bacon 5 1/3 C milk 11 eggs

16 slices white bread, crust trimmed 2 Tbsp, plus 2 tsp. softened butter 4 small onions, chopped 8 slices processed American cheese

Place sausage and bacon into two large, deep skillets and cook over medium-high heat until brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. Butter one side of six slices of bread and place slices butter side up in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. In a large bowl, stir together cooked sausage and bacon with the onions and cheese. Place half of this mixture on top of the buttered bread, then add another six slices of bread without butter. Add remaining meat/ cheese mixture. Beat together milk and eggs and pour over the top of the casserole. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. The following morning, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bake covered casserole for 45 to 60 minutes.

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just a thought Across the Fence Continued from Previous Page After a few years there, I missed the hills of the Ozarks, and my family, and ventured back home to Dallas County. My husband, Bill, and I make our home just about 12 miles from where I grew up. Since leaving Lexington, I have continued my journalism career with weekly and daily newspapers, but I could never find enough time to write many stories relating to farming and agriculture. Each time I was able to write an ag story, I remembered how much I just wanted to talk to people about farming and what they were doing at their place. Farm-related stories were always so much more fun, and interesting, to me than writing stories about city council debates. I’d much rather spend two hours in a pasture than inside s city hall any day. Coming to Ozarks Farm & Neighbor has given me the opportunity to write stories about agriculture and those in-

volved in the agriculture industry each issue. For me, that’s pretty exciting stuff. There are more than 500 million family farms in the world and those familyowned operations produce about 56 percent of the world’s agricultural products. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to share with the world just how we do things here in the Ozarks. I look forward to what is ahead for me here at Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, and am thankful for the opportunity given to me to join the team here. I would like to encourage readers to contact me if they have any story suggestions, other questions or just to say “Howdy” to the new kid.

Life is Simple Continued from Page 3 The next day, the cow was just as protective and had obviously kept away any predators, so I once again left her alone. That afternoon, a second neighbor called to inquire about my knowledge of the goings-on at the north place. I thanked him for his call but told him I was aware. On the third day, after several more similar calls, I changed the answering message on my phone to, “Hello, this is

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Jerry, and I already know about the cow and her twins. I’ll get them moved soon – I think.” Now, a week later, everything is back to normal at that farm. While I feel fairly certain that I’m still the topic of conversation at the feed store and the coffee shop, I would still rather have neighbors who take the time to alert me to a problem, than those who would just drive on by.

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APRIL 13, 2015

meet your

neighbors

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It’s all about the pigs By Pam Fortner

Couple raises Berkshire pigs that are animal welfare approved Sean Bansley didn’t begin his working life as a farmer. He was a union carpenter who ended up having a small farm in Illinois, then a larger one in Iowa. He now has close to 300 acres near Harrison, Ark. Sean and his wife, Carol, are now both on the

One sow can usually take care of between 12 to 16 piglets, and the Bansleys’ average litter size is 8.5 pigs. However, if a litter is too large, the couple bottlefeed some of the piglets. Bottle feeding a piglet, Carol says, is the “cutest thing in the world.” The Bansleys have been

Photo by Jack Fortner

farm full time, and have worked with known to keep the bottle-fed piglets inside for about three weeks, until they’re Berkshire pigs for more than six years. The desire of the Bansleys is to go at able to go it on their own outside. The special thing about the Bansleys’ this “pig-raising thing” full boar. The farm is that it’s Animal Welfare Apcouple now has 10 sows and one boar. Sean and Carol said they try to have proved or AWA. “It’s a third-party certification,” Carol their pigs scheduled so they will farrow, explained. “They come and do an annual throughout the year. audit to see what we do with the “We really need to breed animals. It has to be humane. all year long so we have our Harrison, Ark. The animals do not get any product available throughby-products except whey. The out the year,” Sean said. benefit is that when you see that It would also be difficult we’re approved by a third-party orfor Sean and Carol if all ganization, it’s more convincing. It’s their sows farrowed at the important to our customers.” same time. APRIL 13, 2015

Central States Beefmaster Sale Sat., May 2, 2015

Carol further explained that what AWA means is the “polar opposite of confinement.” The animals can’t be in pens or crates, not even when they farrow. To further satisfy their customers, Sean and Carol have their meat processed by an AWAcertified processor, which is also a USDA-certified processor. The only type of confinement the pigs receive is a three-sided shelter in order to get out of the rain and cold wind. The pigs are able to tolerate summer heat as long as they’re kept well hydrated and have a place to wallow. Sean and Carol actually hose the pigs down from time to time in the summer moths. “We have lots of oaks, so they get lots of shade,” Carol said. “And then when the acorns fall, they love them. A lot of animals are finished on acorns, ones that are used for Prosciutto and Pancetta.” In addition to the Berkshire pigs, Sean and Carol also raise registered British White cattle. The cattle were shipped here from England in 1940. One bull and five cows were sent to the United States as seed stock in order to preserve the breed in case of a Nazi invasion. Initially, the Bansleys wanted to raise the British Whites because of the breed’s high-quality meat. Carol said the rib eyes, filet mignons and even the sirloin steaks are tender and delicious. They feed only pasture grasses, including alfalfa, to their cattle. Sean is also starting to grow his own red and white clover. “Our goal is to produce all of our own food here,” he said. “We’ve got a row crop planter and we want to plant our own corn.” Sean added that their plan is to double or triple their pig herd size, but they will have to improve fencing on all the property. At this time, only 10 acres is fenced for the pigs, usually with electric fencing. They utilize a lot of goat fencing on the property as well, but Sean said it mostly to keep dogs and predators out. They like their British Whites, but with the Bansleys, it’s mostly about the Berkshires. Like Sean said, “We enjoy the pigs.”

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Wayne Ford of Sallisaw, Okla., supports a substantial cow/calf operation on 600 acres spread out over 14 different locations with an additional 600 leased acres as hay ground. Wayne was raised in the country and went to a country school with only four teachers and a cook until the fourth grade. At that time his father had a few cattle on

er and also drove a school bus. Whenever he got a paycheck from driving the bus, he bought another cow. After 12 years he had to quit driving because he needed more time on the farm. “Later I got to retirement age and had to retire because the herd had become a full-time job,” Wayne said. Wayne believes the cattle industry is coming full circle. When he started, Herefords

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Wayne Ford stands with some of his herd. Wayne bought his first property in 1967 and began to purchase cattle, one cow at a time.

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the open range but then the family moved to town. Wayne kept close to his rural roots by helping and working for neighbors whenever he wasn’t in school. “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from an old man when I was a kid. He said that Christmas doesn’t come very often so you have to be aware and ready when it does,” Wayne said. “In other words, the market is full of peaks and valleys, and you have to be ready when the market is.” Wayne bought his first piece of land in 1967 and began buying one cow at a time. He was a teach-

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

*For commercial use. Offer subject to CNH Industrial Capital America LLC credit approval. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through June 30, 2015, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2015 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

were the preferred breed and that’s what he bought. He wanted good milkers so he bred his cows to an S243 bull and produced good milking cows. Then his son started a veterinary career in Kansas and worked with many Gelbvieh breeders and eventually talked Wayne into crossing his Herefords with Gelbvieh and later with Angus in order to get all black calves. To further the black coloring, Wayne also used Brangus and LimouSallisaw, Okla. sin bulls. He and has 10 Angus bulls and two black Limousin. The reason for bulls of two breeds is that APRIL 13, 2015

meet your neighbors a three-way cross produces stable genetic variety as well as vigor, Wayne said. “Preferences are changing again and now a white face is considered an indicator of hybrid vigor so commercial cattlemen are going back to the Hereford/ black cross and Hereford’s are making a comeback,” Wayne said. Wayne’s son AIs many of Wayne’s cattle, including 20 heifers every spring. The rest are bred naturally. One indication of Wayne’s breeding program’s success is that he has not pulled a calf in three years. Wayne also backgrounds his calves. When his backgrounded calves leave, they are ready for the feedlot having had

and also used the land for backgrounding calves. Wayne’s pastures have seven or eight different grasses including Bermuda, Fescue, Rye, Bahia, Bluestem Indian Grass and Lovegrass, as well as three kinds of clover. Two pastures are on a steeply sloped mountainside and are heavily seeded with Lovegrass because it grows well on slopes in dense clumps that the cattle will eat. Wayne makes sure none of his pastures have an overabundance of fescue in order to help his cattle tolerate heat better. Other heat-stress reducing measures include providing plenty of shade, salt and minerals. The land is supported by creeks and 30 ponds, most of which are spring fed.

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Inoc., Not Coated, 87% Red Clover, 12.5% Ladino, 5.5% Alsike

60 GAINER II MIX 60 KENSTAR

their shots and “bunk broke.” He earmarks his cattle in order to keep records of performance and genetics. “I know what momma is doing her job so I know which one to keep,” Wayne said. If the cow is a good momma, he will keep her for 15 years but will cull a cow if she is temperamental even though she breeds well or if she does not produce enough milk for her calf. When Wayne gets ready to sell his calves and has a semi-load full, he sells them in Oklahoma City. If, however, he has a partial load, he will sell in Stilwell, Okla. Selling times vary because Wayne sells calves year round. Wayne cuts his leased land hay ground twice, producing 1,500 big bales annually, APRIL 13, 2015

Wayne built all but two of the ponds and cleaned several 12 years ago, which was a tremendous help during a recent drought because he never ran out of water, but he had to reduce his herd size by 25 percent. He plans on rebuilding but not to his previous levels. “You need two things to stay in business,” Wayne explained. “One is keeping replacement heifers and the other is taking classes. Learning is a never ending process because of constant improvements in the industry. If you don’t keep up, you are out of business.” Wayne has two children and four grandchildren, all girls. Wayne said, “I’m going to get me a pair of dancing shoes.”

90%

1.88

90%

Forage, Inoc., Not Coated 50 KENLAND, Cert., Raw 50 MEDIUM RED, Raw 50 MAMMOTH RED, Raw

Bag Lb.

1.94

1.86

2.16 1.74 1.78

OTHER CLOVERS

50 LADINO, “JUMBO”

Inoc., Not Coated, Big Leaf, Excellent Re-Growth

Inoc., Not Coated

50 LADINO “ROYAL”

“Preferences are changing again and now a white face is considered an indicator of hybrid vigor so commercial cattlemen are going back to the Hereford/black cross and Hereford’s are making a comeback,” Wayne Ford said.

$ Lb.

90% 3.66 3.46

ALFALFAS

60 COMMON SENSE 90%

3.24

Inoc., Not Coated, Superior Blend (Liberty, Buffalo, 1035)

50 BUFFALO 90% 3.24 50 1035 VARIETY 3.34 50 HAYGRAZER, Inoc., Not Coated 3.88 50 CIMARRON, VL400, Inoc., Not Coated 3.88 50 America’s Roundup Ready® 7.36

GRAINS

Bu.

Bag

64 HAY MASTER, Spring Oats 9.65 19.30 50 BOB OATS, Winter Annual 16.40 48 BARLEY, Winter Annual 15.40 50 SOYBEANS, Laredo 36.65 50 SOYBEANS, Conventional Willcross 29.80 50 SOYBEANS, Willcross, R-Ready, No Contract 32.80 50 SOYBEANS, R-Ready Lewis, RR2473 42.40 80k CORN, R-Ready Lewis, RB110 178.00 80k CORN, Conventional 108 Day, A6395 176.00

GRAIN ADDITIVES

50 LITTLE GIANT SPRING PEA 50 HAIRY VETCH

.82 .62 1.78 1.58

Total Germ.

FESCUE

50 KY-31, Cert. & “Fungus Free”

Bag Lb.

91% 1.44

Only $10.00 Per Acre Difference!

50 KY-31 91% .94 50 KY-32, Fungus Free, Cert. 91% 1.44 50 FAST PASTURE MIX, Cattle/Horses 90% 1.44

Hulled Orchard Grass, Fungus-Free KY-31 Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass & Timothy 50 ESTANCIA, Ark. Release 90% 2.87

25 BAR OPTIMA E34 ASK 50 MAX Q II 90% ASK

ORCHARD GRASS

90% 3.94 3.74

50 WHITE CLOVER, “Nitro” 3.62 50 ALSIKE, Perennial 90% 2.68 25 DURANA, White Clover, ASK Coated, 65% Purity 50 SWEET, Yellow Blossom 88% 1.88 1.68 50 SWEET, White Blossom 82% 3.44 3.24 50 ARROWLEAF, Yuchi, Winter Annual 1.98 1.78 50 CRIMSON, Winter Annual 90% 1.16

Wt. Lbs.

Add A Legume!

50 50 50 50

ARID, Drought Tolerant 90% ARID, Shorts 85% POTOMAC, Unhulled, Disease Resistant 90% FAST PASTURE MIX 90%

Hulled Orchard Grass, Fungus-Free Fescue, KY-31 Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass & Timothy

FIELD GRASSES

50 ABUNDANT

92%

1.96 1.98 1.89 1.44

.62

Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass 50 BROME, Sow with alfalfa! 85% 2.16 Southland, “The high protein grass.” 50 TIMOTHY, For hay or pasture, horses 90% 1.48 50 REEDS CANARY, Palaton, Special Order 9.86 50 PERENNIAL RYEGRASS, Best-for Plus 92% .98 50 ANNUAL RYEGRASS, Common .58 50 MATUA, Prairie Brome 2.18

LESPEDEZA

50 KOBE, “Hay Type” 90% 1.24 50 KOBE/KOREAN MIX, Inoc. 90% 1.16 50 KOREAN 90% .94

SUDAN/MILLET

.52 Piper Cross = Low Prussic Acid 50 SWEET CHOW, “BMR” 6 Sudan .89 50 HYBRID PEARL, Millet, Sweet Graze 1.14 50 MILLET, GERMAN, Strain R .83 50 SAFE “T” GRAZE, Sudan

Nixa Hardware Company warrants to the extent of the purchase price that seeds sold are as described on the container within recognized tolerances. Seller gives no other or further warranty expressed or implied. Prices/Germination subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

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

ozarks

roots

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home

Preserving the Past By Terry Roop

The Murrell Home is the last remaining antebellum plantation home in Oklahoma Oklahoma history is inextricably intertwined with that of Native American history since Oklahoma was the official land of the Cherokee Nation, well before Oklahoma became a state. Concerted efforts have been made to preserve as much of that history and related sites and artifacts as possible. One site is the George Murrell Home in Park Hill, Okla. The museum was under the auspices of Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation from 1948 when the home left private hands until 1991 when the Oklahoma Historical Society took over. George Murrell was part of a prominent white Virginia family. Deciding to seek his fortune further west in 1808, he settled in Athens, Tenn., and went into a mercantile business with Cherokee Chief John Ross’s brother, Lewis. Later George married Lewis’s daughter Minerva and decided to move into Oklahoma with the Cherokee Nation’s forced migration on the Trail of Tears in 1839, settling in what is now Park Hill, Okla. The location was known as the “Athens of Indian Territory,” as well as the capital and social hub of the Cherokee Nation. According to tribal law, no individual ever owned land but did own the improvements on the land, including structures, fences, animals and crops. However, to do so the owner had to be Cherokee or a naturalized Cherokee citizen. While George and Minerva lived in a log cabin for the first two or three years, George and Lewis built up another mercantile business in their new location and the couple built a plantation-style mansion. When Minerva died in 1855 from malaria, George then married her younger sister Amanda, which maintained smooth family ownership even though George was an official Cherokee citizen. The plantation was home to 42 slaves who built the mansion and continued to work on the land. They were housed in nine cabins located on the expansive grounds. Unlike typical Southern plantations, this one did not have a main cash crop with income coming from the mercantile business. Nonetheless, the land contained large orchards, extensive gardens, the usual farm livestock, several out buildings and the mercantile store, a warehouse, a blacksmith shop, a saw mill and two grist mills. One of the grist mills was powered by oxen or mules while the other, set up in 1850, was steam powered. An expert lived on site for a year to teach everything needed to run and maintain the new equipment.

Four mercantile stores were located within a 2-mile radius of the Murrell home, but all were owned by a part of the Ross family. Stores carried a variety of items ranging from dishes and silverware to saddles, shoes and fabric. Especially popular were wool and bed ticking, which was used for men’s pants. The Murrell site contains a replica of the original store, including a loft where the storekeeper slept. Transactions involved bartering, credit and U.S. notes as the Cherokee Nation did not print its own money. In addition, items not available at the store were available by mail order so that everything for a comfortable life was available. The Civil War had a devastating effect upon the Park Hills community with almost all of the buildings being destroyed. The Murrell home survived even though it was raided by both sides, possibly because George had Southern sympathies while Chief John Ross supported the North. The house is unique because it is the only surviving antebellum plantation home in Oklahoma. The home remained in family hands until 1912 and when the home earned museum status, Jenny Ross Cobb – who had lived there in the 1870s – became the first curator. Her involvement was critically important because she knew what furnishings looked like and was able to get heirlooms and possessions back from the family. Three quarters of the furnishings are original to the family. The museum is under tremendous financial pressure, having lost 50 percent of its budget in the last several years. The Cherokee Nation is helping shore up the shortfall but support barely covers salaries for the four full-time employees and utilities. “In our long-term quest to save the valuable heritage of the Cherokee Nation, we are now researching the heritage crops and animals on the plantation,” site manager David Fowler said. Amanda Pritchett, one of the other full-time employees, explained, “We are currently using archaeological research to determine the location of the different historic structures and features so we can determine their original use in the 1850s.” The long term goal is to re-create the working plantation and to develop and provide educational programs with interpretations of research and development results. Part of the five-year plan is to renovate the house and move current offices and the gift shop out of the home as well as displaying artifacts in a museum setting. Of course, everything is contingent upon monies that become available through fundraising and donations.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

APRIL 13, 2015

eye on

agri-business meeting the needs of farmers

Cleaver Farm & Home

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.

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History: “After retiring as a pilot from Eastern Airlines, my dad decided to go in a different direction and opened the family business Cleaver Farm and Home in 1988,” Berry Cleaver said. “I graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1986 with a degree in agribusiness and initially worked out-of-state managing feedlots and grain elevators. After a few years, my wife and I decided to return to Arkansas, and I started working for my dad. I’ve been here ever since and have been fortunate enough to raise both of my kids to work in the store as well. My son Matt works in the poultry business and my daughter Leah has just completed her nursing degree.” Products and Services: “Our customer base is made up of both large and small farmers, as well as townspeople. Consequently we must carry a wide selection of products to meet their diverse needs. We have a full-line of Purina feeds, including regular and show livestock feed, as well as pet food. Herbicides, lawn and garden chemicals, as well as an array of fertilizer brands and types provide land care. Gates and fencing supplies are available as well. We carry Stihl chainsaws and weed eaters and provide an on-site certified technician for small engine repair. Propane and off-road diesel fulfill fuel needs, while a variety of lubricants support maintenance. Shelves are filled with electrical, welding and plumbing supplies, as well as general hardware. Portable buildings provide storage options. Finally, we have utility clothing and Red Wing, Muck and Bogg boots.”

Story and Photo By Terry Ropp APRIL 13, 2015

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.

Owners: Barry and Jeanette Cleaver Location: Huntsville, Ark. Business: Cleaver Farm and Home

Philosophy and future: “In a business such as ours, good customer service is critical. It needs to include not only knowing customers names and other personal information but also remembering their operations and needs. Another important feature of our business is offering many types of items at smaller quantities, which requires more frequent reordering but easier changes to inventory as our customer’s needs change. This is now especially important when hobby and weekend farming are on the rise.”

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meet your neighbors

Adding Value to Full-Time Farming By Terry Ropp

Family makes every dollar count on their Huntsville, Ark., poultry, cattle operation When most people are young, they earn money in order to spend it on a new car or truck or clothes. Both Shannon and Melissa Fancher of Huntsville, Ark., chose a different path – and it’s paying off. They now own 164 acres and have 10 broiler houses as well as almost 70 cows and 17 heifers to be bred next year.

Their three girls, 15-year-old Halle, 11-year-old Kathryn and 7-year-old Lauren, are involved in sports and school which is another focal point for Melissa. Nonetheless, Melissa is an active farming partner, serving as the business manager and bookkeeper and filling in whenever their full-time employee has time off on the weekend or for vacations, as well as when other needs arise.

Shannon Fancher and wife Melissa have both cattle and broiler houses at their farm near Huntsville, Ark. Photo by Terry Ropp

In order to begin accumulating their nest “I’ve been saving at least 15 percent of every paycheck since the day I gradu- egg, Shannon worked in sales and manated college and started working,” Shan- aged plants for Tyson. With the money non said. “For the last 15 years of our they saved, the couple began purchasing marriage, we had no vehicle payments, land and built the 10 broiler houses. Dirt work started three years ago in choosing instead to buy only what we could afford to pay for in cash. We want- April, with the birds for the first five houses arriving in August of the same year. By ed to invest in the farm life we love.” Shannon and Melissa met at the Uni- the time the second flock arrived, the last five houses were added. versity of Arkansas, where In nine months they saved both were majoring in poulenough money for litter try science. While Shannon Huntsville, Ark. equipment, including two litwas raised on a farm, Melissa ter trucks, a skid steer and a was not and had to adjust to litter conveyor for loading semis small-town culture, which efficiently. They have added value she did by being involved in by not only using the equipment for her church and community.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

APRIL 13, 2015

meet your neighbors themselves but also for seven other farmers. Five of those customers have Shannon clean their chicken houses and spread litter when needed. After buying litter from the two other customers, Shannon sells it to farmers in the area or in Kansas. The Fanchers also built two large barns for litter storage and composting. “Working with litter is a good added revenue stream and helps with budgeting because money from chickens does not always come when bills are due,” Shannon said. “The key is constantly staying committed to a budget and working with a good accountant in order to keep all of the financials organized.” While working for Tyson, Shannon also accumulated knowledge and a network of people, including from U of A Professor Susan Watkins and other growers that he unabashedly leverages for information and ideas. Susan was instrumental in Shannon’s attention to water quality and chemistry by providing him with the science and literature to support water quality influence on production performance levels. “The chicken business is highly competitive with a close margin, and you must create advantages wherever you can if you are going to be successful,” Shannon said. Shannon also runs a closed commercial cattle herd with his cows being second, third and fourth generation. The cows are Angus influenced with some Brangus and Charolais for hybrid vigor, conformation and milkablity. “I like my cows to have a moderate frame, good bone structure, round hips and some length,” Shannon explained. “Currently we have two Angus bulls, but usually have three and will get another for our heifers when the time comes.” Shannon believes that Angus are the most marketable and right for his operation because he simply hates pulling calves. He keeps heifers but only the best of the best in terms of physical characteristics and temperament. At this time, the Fanchers sell their calves when they are weaned, sending them to market having had one round of shots and castrated as needed. Haying was not a part of the operation last year because hay was so cheap, but Shannon often hays 40 acres of mixed APRIL 13, 2015

grasses. For the Fanchers, time is a critical factor and hiring more help would upset the financial balance. Shannon and Melissa find the future rich with possibilities for expansion. They are considering backgrounding calves and selling them according to the market prices rather than a specific weight. Melissa is also considering the marketing

of grass fed beef because they are inundated with requests for their cattle. In 10 years, the couple hopes to add another four to six broiler houses and increase the cattle herd to 150 cows as land becomes available. “Right now land is scarce and high, and I can’t find any close enough to lease but plan on buying more in the future

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

when it becomes available and we are financially ready,” Shannon said.

meet your neighbors

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Call Toll Free 1-866-532-1960 14

Mike and Jill Hargis share a love of farming, raising cattle

Photo by Terry Ropp

Mike and Jill Hargis live on 240 acres outside of Huntsville, Ark., and lease another 2,500 acres from Mike’s mother and aunt, part of a larger land track that has been in the Hargis family since the turn-ofthe-century. The couple runs 120 commercial black cows with a strong Brangus influence serviced by four bulls: one Angus, two Brangus and a Black Baldy. The cattle are divided into three groups, with the two Brangus bulls staying with the same group. Mike and Jill met through an online dating service and have Mike and Jill Hargis run a 120-head five, children ages 9 through commercial cow-calf operation near 21, combined. Both were Huntsville, Ark. raised with cattle and love farming life. Mike also worked with his dad in the lumber industry for 30 a week before being moved for working. years and inherited the business. Jill, on Mineral blocks are always available, and the other hand, came from the Springfield, if the cows show a definite preference for Mo., area and sold insurance. Her educa- one type, other supplements are added to tional background includes both a degree their diet. An ideal vaccination protocol for the in English and nursing training, but her love of animals comes from being with her Hargis operation is administering a fivegrandparents who raised cattle. In order to way injection in both spring and fall. Jill accommodate a new business expansion, is the nurturer and does most of the herd the couple was recently forced to downsize healthcare, including administering their herd from 300 mommas and to sim- medication, especially penicillin and a scour pill since scours are always a big plify their cattle operation. Part of the simplification involves op- concern with calves. The couple tries to prevent the issue by making sure the timal usage of their pasture. feed balance stays unchanged “With this much pasture, during the winter months to supplementing with grain promote milk consistency. is unnecessary because the Huntsville, Ark. “I talk to them and pet them, cattle always have access to even one bull who is more temfresh grass,” Mike said. peramental,” Jill explained. “He However cubes and grain make the cattle easier to work so they are given grain — Continued on Page 19

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

APRIL 13, 2015

town &

country

in the field and in the office

Bryan Beshear Family: Bryan Beshear lives in Cameron, Okla., with his wife Amanda and their children Paisley, 8, and Kashen, 5. In Town: “My wife Amanda and I are both Ag teachers. I have taught for 16 years, 12 at Poteau High School. I teach grades nine through 12 with courses ranging from basic agriculture, Ag science, communications and advanced animal science to an Ag shop class. Amanda was our county extension agent for five years and has been teaching Ag in Cameron, Okla., grades eight through 12, for three years. Her program is similar but has the addition of horticulture.” Country Life: “We have 15 acres in Cameron, Okla., which are cross-fenced into padlocks for a rotational grazing base. We had 30 Boer cross show goats but are now down to four, which we AI because that is more cost efficient than buying a buck. We also decreased the numbers because our children are starting to show almost every weekend including rabbits, mainly Mini Rex and Lionheads, at the county fair. Last June we added Dorper sheep and have bred five ewes we bought in central Texas. In this case, we leased a ram to get the best show genetics at the best cost. The sheep are much less time-consuming and make sense for our busy lifestyle. The combination of goats and sheep also makes sense for us because they graze oppositely, with the sheep eating the grasses and the goats the weeds and broadleaves. We simply rotate and all foliage is consumed so much so that when we had a couple of acres hayed, the man doing the haying asked if we did a lot of spraying because he saw no weeds. We supplement with alfalfa hay and MoorMans show feed. In addition, Amanda and I conduct all MoorMans goat and half of the sheep seminars in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. We do seminars on feeding and fitting, that is preparing for shows. Ag is all we do. We show, teach and go to school agricultural activities. Our children enjoy our lifestyle, and we are looking forward to them continuing to show and perhaps winning titles at the Oklahoma Youth Expo someday. At this point, our winnings pay for feed but not much more. Nonetheless, we sell show quality wethers, does and sheep hoping to expand our reputation through doing well in competitions whether those wins come from animals we sell or those our children show themselves.” Story and Photo By Terry Ropp APRIL 13, 2015

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

market sale

steers 550-600 LBS.

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

slaughter

(Week of 3/29/15 to 4/4/15)

281.56

258.30 Week of 3/8/15

263.94 271.67 272.91 253.05 257.58 253.56 272.85 278.65

261.09 268.91 261.64

120.00-151.00 † 121.00-155.00 † 122.00-145.00 † 118.00-150.50 † 120.00-150.00* 120.00-150.00 †

110

130

Week of 3/15/15

264.18

slaughter

** *

150

170

cows

(Week of 3/29/15 to 4/4/15)

245.68

86.00-115.00 † 8

Ash Flat Livestock

77.00-120.00 † 7 USDA Failed to Report †

Benton County Sale Cattlemen’s Livestock Cleburne County Livestock County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction

260.45 261.40 275.00 272.33

90.00-122.00* 95.00-117.00 † 94.00-126.50 † 9 105.00-134.00* 95.00-127.00* 87.00-130.00 † 83.00-118.50 † 84.00-115.50 † 88.00-130.00 † 82.00-122.00* 92.00-133.50* 85.00-122.00 †

Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Livestock Ft. Smith Livestock I-40 Livestock Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards Mo-Ark - Exeter North Arkansas Livestock

* 278.72 262.82 263.85 252.28

91.00-124.50 † 84.00-117.00 † 83.00-131.50 †

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

266.35 272.50 263.66 265.00 266.12

Arkansas Cattle Auction

100.00-130.00* 95.00-132.00 †

100

120

140

975.00-1170.00, Common ind 1070.00, few Jerseys 850.00875.00. Baby Calves: Holstein heifers 170.00-350.00, Holstein bulls 4/5/15 110.00-430.00, Jersey heifers ind 260.00, Jersey bulls 160.00180.00, Crossbred heifers 270.00-380.00, small 110.00-170.00, Crossbred bulls 150.00-390.00, Beef cross heifers 490.00570.00, Beef cross bulls 280.00-540.00.

sheep &

dairy cattle

124.00-160.00 † 110.00-144.00* 134.00-151.50*

* *

5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 164.00-170.00; wtd. avg. price 167.64. Heifers: 165.00-169.00; wtd. avg. price 167.58. Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 262.00-267.00; wtd. avg. price 265.27. Heifers: 263.00-271.00; wtd. avg. price 265.24.

121.00-146.50 †

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

cattle

Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle

118.50-156.00* 123.50-139.00 † 120.00-145.00 † 110.00-142.00* 118.00-142.00* 121.00-158.00 † 120.00-137.00 †

Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Livestock Ft. Smith Livestock I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards Mo-Ark - Exeter North Arkansas Livestock

260.00

257.97

108.00-147.00 † USDA Failed to Report †

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

271.31

beef

117.00-146.00 †

Arkansas Cattle Auction

252.06

Week of 3/22/15

bulls

Norwood, Mo. • Producers Auction Yards

3/24/15

Receipts: 753 The demand was very good. The supply was heavy but included a large number of steers. There were 06 percent springer heifers, 12 percent bred heifers, 20 percent open heifers, 06 percent fresh and milking cows, 02 percent bred and springer cows, and 11 percent baby calves. The balance was steers, bulls and slaughter cows. Prices reported on a per 190 head basis and for Holsteins unless noted otherwise. Springer Heifers bred seven to nine months: Supreme 1775.00-2200.00, Approved 1575.00-1700.00, crossbreds 1440.00-1475.00, Medium 1225.00-1450.00, crossbreds 1025.00-1325.00, Common 900.00-1000.00. Heifers bred three to six months: Supreme 1750.00-2135.00, Approved 1400.00-1735.00, crossbreds 1425.00-1575.00, Medium 1250.00-1390.00, few Jerseys 1000.00-1010.00, Few crossbreds 1000.00-1225.00. Heifers bred one to three months: Supreme 1675.00-1710.00, Approved 1450.00-1475.00, Medium few 1025.00-1085.00, few Jerseys 1100.00, few crossbreds 1000.00-1100.00. Open Heifers: Approved 185-285 lbs 550.00-630.00, crossbreds 460.00-530.00, 308-385 lbs 630.00-750.00, ind Jersey 680.00, crossbreds 560.00-810.00, 400-497 lbs 730.00-950.00, few Jerseys 630.00, crossbreds 710.00-890.00, 503-600 lbs 800.00-950.00, lot of 3 at 578 lbs 1050.00, Jerseys 890.001000.00, crossbreds 840.00-910.00, 610-690 lbs 835.001020.00, lot of 2 at 640 lbs 1260.00, crossbreds 960.00-1090.00, Medium and Common Open Heifers were scarce. Replacement Cows: Fresh and Milking Cows: Supreme 2175.00-2375.00, Approved 1425.00-1750.00, crossbreds 1475.00-1675.00, Medium 1050.00-1375.00, few Jerseys 1025.00-1175.00, Crossbreds 1060.00-1225.00, Common 625.00-1075.00, crossbreds 900.00-1000.00. Springer Cows: Approved few 1250.00-1300.00, Medium few crossbreds 1000.00. Bred Cows: Approved few 1325.00, Medium few crossbreds

160

267.29 268.52 266.61 270.64

279.71 265.75 262.79 Week of 3/29/15

* 269.38 267.65 281.82 *

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

Bulls, Med. & Lg. 1 252.04

** 268.29 269.93 275.14 200

224 248 272 296 320 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale - Weather

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

16 16

Steers, 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.

Ash Flat Livestock

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

4/3/15

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs -----

918

824

-----

St-5 Higher

St-20 Lower

295.00-362.50 270.00-320.00 245.00-275.00 222.50-245.00 -----

350.00-362.50 286.00-308.00 ----245.00 204.00-205.00

275.00-315.00 255.00-290.00 227.50-262.50 205.00-237.50 -----

320.00 260.00-306.00 232.00-250.00 229.00 -----

275.00-320.00 247.50-290.00 225.00-260.00 205.00-237.50 195.00-207.50

----258.00 -------------

Diamond, Mo • TS Whites Sheep and Goat Sale

4/02/15

Receipts: 1111 Sheep: Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 wooled, few nontraditional 57 lbs 240.00. Good and Choice 1-3 30-50 lbs 230.00; 70-80 lbs 190.00-210.00. Hair lambs non-traditional: Choice and Prime 2-3 40-55 lbs 225.00-235.00; 80-95 lbs 155.00-175.00. Mixed Good and Choice 2-3 18-38 lbs 200.00-220.00; 40-55 lbs 200.00-220.00; 60-75 lbs 200.00-225.00; 80-90 lbs 150.00-155.00; 100-160 lbs 100.00-130.00. Slaughter Ewes: Good 1-2 wooled 120-190 lbs 67.50-90.00, Choice 3 hair ind 115 lbs 105.00. Utility 1-2 62-75 lbs 85.00105.00; 80-125 lbs 75.00-90.00. Slaughter Rams: Aged wooled 225-305 lbs 65.00-75.00; few hair 150-245 lbs 80.00-105.00. Families: Medium and Large 1-2 with single or twin lambs at side 75.00-90.00 per head. Goats: Slaughter Classes: Kids Selection 1-2: 30-40 lbs 250.00290.00; 40-55 lbs 200.00-250.00; 50-60 lbs 260.00-295.00; few 55 lbs 300.00; 60-70 lbs 280.00-295.00; 65-75 lbs 300.00-320.00; 80-90 lbs 225.00-260.00. Selection 2-3 20-40 lbs 160.00-195.00; 40-55 lbs 105.00-180.00; 60-70 lbs 225.00270.00; 80-100 lbs 130.00-150.00. Nannies: Selection 1-2 50-105 lbs 100.00-130.00; 100-215 lbs 200.00-250.00. Billies: Selection 1-2 90-205 lbs 135.00-150.00. Replacement Nannies: Selection 1-3 several families with single and twin kids at side 70.00-90.00 per head. Koshkonong, Mo • Oregon County Goat and Sheep Market

3/28/15

Receipts: 71 Goats: Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 45-60 lbs 260.00; 61-80 lbs 230.00. Selection 1-2 81 lbs and over 135.00. Selection 2-3 dairy influence 165.00. Feeder Kids: Selection 1-2 20-40 lbs 100.00.

Buffalo, Mo • Buffalo Li

Receipts: 693 Sheep: Slaughter La 230.00-245.00; 40-60 190.00-207.50; few sm and Choice 1-3 hair 57 lbs 175.00. 75-95 l 165.00; 125-150 lbs w Slaughter Ewes: Uti 135.00; 90-120 lbs 90 170-210 lbs wooled 7 lbs hair 80.00-96.00; 50.00-65.00. 190-265 lbs hair 40.00-65.00; Slaughter Bucks: few Replacement Sheep: hair 145.00 per cwt. f 80.00 per head. Families: Medium an with single babies 205 lbs with babies 140.00 Goats: Kids: Selectio lbs 207.50. Selection 2-3 40-60 lbs 242.50250.00; 60-75 lbs 210 Does/Nannies: Selec pkg fancy 122.50 per 165.00; 80-100 lbs 12 Selection 3 80-90 lbs 170 lbs 90.00-100.00. Billies: Selection 1-2 80-100 lbs 115.00-13 Wethers: Selection 2 Families: Selection 1 babies 205.00-260.00 215.00; with individu Stocker/Feeder Kids Selection 2-3 20-40 l few 150.00-180.00. F

stocker & feeder

Decatur Livestock*

4/1/15

County Line Sale Ratcliff 4/1/15

1473

330

320

712

648

582

900

-----

St-5 Higher

2-7 Higher

Uneven

5-15 Higher

Steady

Uneven

St-10 Higher

St-10

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

300.00-355.00 300.00-333.00 260.00-294.00 235.00-256.00 217.00-225.00

310.00-360.00 275.00-330.00 260.00-279.00 ---------

320.00-330.00 305.00-325.00 270.00-277.50 240.00-252.50 235.00

340.00-410.00 305.00-340.00 260.00-285.00 220.00-241.00 205.00-222.00

325.00-378.00 295.00-325.00 262.00-295.00 228.00-262.00 205.00-228.00

347.50-365.00 292.50-322.50 260.00-279.00 261.00 -----

323.00-390.00 287.00-332.00 262.00-286.00 250.00-259.00 210.00-211.00

327.0 286.0 269.0 235.0 21

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

280.00-335.00 265.00-320.00 250.00-280.00 220.00-243.00 190.00-208.00

----250.00-290.00 227.00-271.00 229.00-238.00 191.00-203.00

290.00-293.00 270.00-272.50 240.00-250.00 215.00-217.00 190.00-200.00

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

322.50-377.50 276.00-317.50 236.00-279.00 218.00-239.00 -----

----270.00-290.00 260.00-265.00 237.00-245.00 192.00-208.00

28 277.5 250.0 240.0 20

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

270.00-325.00 240.00-286.00 220.00-256.00 205.00-220.00 185.00-213.00

275.00-317.50 250.00-300.00 220.00-252.00 210.00-262.50 237.50

290.00-320.00 265.00-275.00 252.00-260.00 237.50-239.00 -----

290.00-335.00 260.00-290.00 225.00-248.00 205.00-230.00 185.00-200.00

298.00-310.00 260.00-298.00 235.00-260.00 201.00-235.00 178.00-201.00

270.00-300.00 251.00-280.00 219.00-258.00 198.00 -----

300.00-327.00 262.00-294.00 239.00-265.00 217.00-227.50 212.00-218.00

305.0 266.0 246.0 221.0 200.0

3/31/15

Farmer’s & Farmers Ranchers Livestock Vinita, Okla.* Springdale 4/1/15 4/3/15

Cleburne Co. - Heber Springs 3/30/15

86'$ )$,/(' 72 5(3257

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy 3/31/15

goats

Slaughter Does/Nan tion 3 85.00. Slaughter Bucks: Se lbs 115.00. yearling b Sheep: Slaughter Lam under hair 175.00-20 Slaughter Ewes: Util

Ft. Smith Livestock 3/30/15

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

APRIL 13, 2015

ILives Oz 4/

ket sales reports

replacement

avg. grain prices

armers estock ringdale 4/3/15

prices

226.10

1375.00-2125.00 † 1400.00-2795.00 †

250.77

229.81 245.99

1170.00-2100.00 †

242.11

1400.00-2500.00 † 1250.00-3000.00 †

OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Ozarks Regional Stilwell Livestock Tulsa Livestock

1200.00-2300.00 †

214.95

2000.00-2500.00 * 1850.00-2300.00 †

1000

2000

3000

cow/calf

249.19

4000

pairs

(Week of 3/29/15 to 4/4/15)

1750.00-2350.00 †

Arkansas Cattle Auction 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

1000

219.87 222.69 235.17 237.29 ** 235.81 231.19

1710.00-2350.00 † USDA Failed to Report †

227.24

1700.00-2700.00 * 1500.00-2450.00 † None Reported † 2200.00-3400.00* 2 2400.00-3200.00 *

230.52 243.63 238.55

None Reported † 2500.00-3600.00 † 2050.00-2500.00 † 1875.00-2800.00 †

Ft. Smith Livestock I-40 Livestock - Ozark Joplin Regional Stockyards Mid-State Stockyards Mo-Ark - Exeter North Arkansas Livestock OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Ozarks Regional Stockyard Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction

235.59

5000

* 247.03 240.49

1475.00-2935.00* 1875.00-2700.00*

228.80

1550.00-2000.00 † 2100.00-2225.00 † 1600.00-3150.00 † 1800.00-2300.00 † 2500.00-3000.00* 2075.00-2850.00 †

2000

3000

4000

239.06 235.83 253.83 237.94 249.00

5000

233.03 238.35 228.86

Mid-State Mo-Ark Stockyards* Exeter, Mo.* 3/30/15

4/4/15

900

890

5823

668

-----

980

6770

1070

3726

1980

2393

Uneven

St-10 Higher

Steady

-----

Uneven

St-6 Higher

Uneven

St-5 Higher

Higher

Uneven

7.50-365.00 2.50-322.50 0.00-279.00 261.00 -----

323.00-390.00 287.00-332.00 262.00-286.00 250.00-259.00 210.00-211.00

327.00-400.00 286.00-323.00 269.00-299.00 235.00-255.00 215.00

307.50-350.00 285.00-355.00 256.00-310.00 230.00-270.00 216.00-237.00

300.00-402.50 270.00-334.00 246.00-299.00 233.00-258.00 204.50-329.00

295.00-353.00 288.00-345.00 275.00-305.00 233.00-266.00 217.00-233.00

337.50-362.50 284.00-354.00 260.00-316.00 249.00-262.00 215.00-225.00

375.00-402.00 322.00-345.00 268.00-311.00 232.00-261.00 207.50-233.50

321.00-393.00 290.00-335.00 265.00-292.00 244.00-261.00 210.00-220.00

325.00-367.50 301.00-340.00 270.00-304.00 244.00-263.00 210.00-234.00

320.00-385.00 280.00-330.00 260.00-295.00 230.00-262.00 200.00-221.00

333.00-349.00 295.00-325.50 268.00-293.00 234.00-252.50 203.00-216.00

2.50-377.50 6.00-317.50 6.00-279.00 8.00-239.00 -----

----270.00-290.00 260.00-265.00 237.00-245.00 192.00-208.00

282.50 277.50-293.00 250.00-274.00 240.00-241.00 201.00

325.00-327.00 255.00-315.00 237.50-277.50 220.00-242.00 -----

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

282.00-320.00 252.00-325.00 245.00-280.00 ----199.00-211.00

305.00-339.00 275.00-325.00 242.00-270.00 235.00-240.00 -----

----280.00-310.00 250.00-287.50 216.00-233.00 -----

289.00-300.00 281.00-286.00 269.00-277.00 233.00-243.00 198.00-211.00

----275.00-290.00 240.00-280.00 210.00-226.00 210.00-212.50

300.00-375.00 260.00-325.00 240.00-280.00 210.00-250.00 180.00-215.00

323.00-333.00 289.00-306.00 270.00-288.00 220.00-244.00 196.00-205.00

APRIL 13, 2015

247.35

222.39

3/30/15

275.00-315.00 240.00-292.50 229.00-269.00 210.00-238.00 197.50-221.00

237.66

1025.00-2250.00 † 1250.00-2600.00 † 875.00-2250.00 * 1210.00-2125.00*

582

305.00-334.00 266.00-294.00 246.00-256.00 221.00-239.00 200.00-201.00

233.82

228.80

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest 4/1/15

300.00-327.00 262.00-294.00 239.00-265.00 217.00-227.50 212.00-218.00

Joplin Regional Stockyards 3/30/15

234.38

900.00-2275.00 * 1250.00-2000.00 † 1400.00-1800.00 † 1750.00-2800.00* 1900.00-3100.00 *

I-40 Livestock Ozark 4/2/15

0.00-300.00 1.00-280.00 9.00-258.00 198.00 -----

Ft. Smith Livestock

Mid-State Mo-Ark - Exeter North Arkansas

229.00

1325.00-2175.00 † 13 USDA Failed to Report †

Week of 3/8/15

goats

Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Cattlemen’s Cleburne County County Line Sale Decatur Livestock Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Livestock Ft. Smith Livestock I-40 Livestock Joplin Regional

Week of 3/15/15

4/3/15

251.01

1325.00-1975.00 †

Arkansas Cattle

Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.5950 and 40# blocks at $1.5800. The weekly average for barrels is $1.5888 (+.0738) and blocks, $1.5763 (+.0438). Buffalo, Mo • Buffalo Livestock Market 3/24/2015 Fluid Milk: Fluid milk production levels are steady to higher due to favorable weather conditions and feed pricing levels. Receipts: 693 Supplies are sufficient for current needs. Bottling demand is Sheep: Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 30-45 lbs hair mixed to higher as spring breaks are ending at educational 4/02/15 230.00-245.00; 40-60 lbs hair 200.00-220.00; 60-70 lbs hair institutions. Higher intakes have some manufacturers 190.00-207.50; few small pkgs 80-95 lbs 172.00-185.00. Good concerned as the spring flush approaches as to regional and Choice 1-3 hair 30-40 200.00-215.00, ind 220.00; pkg handling capacity. Cream demand is active while supplies are wooled, few non57 lbs 175.00. 75-95 lbs 165.00-172.00; 100-110 lbs 147.50tight. Class II demand is pulling heavy for ice cream, sour cream e 1-3 30-50 lbs 165.00; 125-150 lbs wooled 100.00-110.00. and other type products. Slaughter Ewes: Utility and Good 2-3 hair 87-95 lbs 120.00SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER rime 2-3 40-55 lbs 135.00; 90-120 lbs 90.00-105.00; 150-175 lbs hair 60.00-78.00; POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Mixed Good and 170-210 lbs wooled 70.00-80.00. Cull and Utility 1-2 65-95 lbs 200.00-220.00; lbs hair 80.00-96.00; 100-120 lbs hair 65.00-76.00; 125-150 lbs Midwest - $2.0394-2.1414. 155.00; 100-160 lbs 50.00-65.00. 190-265 lbs wooled few 50.00-65.00. Cull 1 70-80 lbs hair 40.00-65.00; 110-120 lbs hair 51.00-55.00. 0 lbs 67.50-90.00, Slaughter Bucks: few 125-225 lbs few 60.00-75.00 ind 82.50. 0 -2 62-75 lbs 85.00Replacement Sheep: Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 pkg 149 lbs Week Ended 4/7/15 hair 145.00 per cwt. few young shorn ewes 185-225 lbs 75.00Soybeans Soft Wheat Corn Sorghum s 65.00-75.00; few 80.00 per head. 20 Families: Medium and Large 1-2 younger ewes 125-150 lbs hair le or twin lambs at with single babies 205.00-210.00 per family; thin ewes 70-130 16 lbs with babies 140.00-165.00 per family. Goats: Kids: Selection 1 few 45-60 lbs 275.00-315.00; 70-75 12 9.96 9.94 9.96 9.61 40 lbs 250.00lbs 207.50. Selection 2 few 40-70 lbs 260.00-270.00. Selection 8.27 8.63 8 5.40 260.00-295.00; 2-3 40-60 lbs 242.50-265.00. Selection 3 45-50 lbs 235.005.40 5.22 5.35 5.40 5.05 ; 65-75 lbs 250.00; 60-75 lbs 210.00-215.00. 4 election 2-3 20-40 Does/Nannies: Selection 1-2 few 35 lbs 85.00-90.00 per head 3.93 3.93 3.95 3.58 0; 60-70 lbs 225.00pkg fancy 122.50 per head. Selection 2-3 50-65 lbs 140.000 f e la le elena ta 165.00; 80-100 lbs 120.00-145.00; 100-150 lbs 110.00-115.00. il s in o v u e la Bluf e c g E h H Os Au Pine Blyt 130.00; 100-215 lbs Selection 3 80-90 lbs 90.00-110.00; 110170 lbs 90.00-100.00. 0.00. Billies: Selection 1-2 80-100 lbs 130.00-150.00; Selection 2-3 ral families with 80-100 lbs 115.00-135.00. head. Wethers: Selection 2 few 75-80 lbs 170.00. Families: Selection 1-2 Several young nannies with nanny p Market 3/28/15 babies 205.00-260.00. Selection 2-3 several with twins 185.00215.00; with individual kids 120.0-175.00 all priced per family. lbs 260.00; 61-80 Stocker/Feeder Kids: Selection 1-2 20-40 lbs 240.00-275.00. 35.00. Selection 2-3 Selection 2-3 20-40 lbs 180.00-237.50. Selection 3 20-40 lbs few 150.00-180.00. Few bottle babies 20.00 per head. 00.

feeder

241.46

(Week of 3/29/15 to 4/4/15)

dairy sales

National Dairy Market at a Glance

cows

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

Week of 3/22/15

00, Holstein bulls ersey bulls 160.00mall 110.00-170.00, heifers 490.00-

Slaughter Does/Nannies: Selection 1-2 100.00-115.00. Selection 3 85.00. Slaughter Bucks: Selection 1-2 115.00. aged wethers over 100 lbs 115.00. yearling bucks any grade 135.00. Sheep: Slaughter Lambs: Good and Choice 2-3 80 lbs and under hair 175.00-205.00. Slaughter Ewes: Utility and Good 1-2 60.00.

heifers 550-600 LBS.

260.00-321.00 248.00-286.00 223.50-270.00 205.00-234.00 185.00-204.00

299.00-322.50 255.00-293.00 235.00-258.00 220.00-230.00 -----

287.00-328.00 255.00-300.00 225.00-254.00 ----208.00

OKC West - El Reno, Okla. 4/1/15

Ouachita Livestock Ola, Ark. 4/3/15

Ozarks Regional West Plains 3/31/15

Stilwell Livestock Auction* 4/1/15

Tulsa Livestock Auction. 3/30/15

277.50 285.00-327.00 240.00-270.00 213.00-242.00 195.00-219.00

310.00-342.00 273.00-294.00 250.00-264.00 239.00-247.00 200.00-219.00

290.00-321.00 265.00-290.00 237.00-266.00 215.00-235.00 200.00-217.00

280.00-335.00 260.00-305.00 225.00-257.00 210.00-234.00 185.00-222.00

290.00-318.00 270.50-314.00 241.50-266.00 227.00-244.00 193.00-202.00

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

237.21 241.01

* 247.48 240.75 227.39 229.32

Week of 3/29/15

w Jerseys 850.00-

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

238.98 256.48 249.25 * 236.47 ** 232.04 242.88 238.42

195

212 229 246 263 280 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale - Weather

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

17 17

Hogan Equipment U.S. Hwy 69 North • Muskogee, OK

918-687-0968 • 800-657-5718

Financing as low as 3.70%/5 yrs.

w.a.c.

NEW!!! 2014 JD 469 Silage Special, 540 RPM Hookup w/ slip clutch, 21.5-16.1 10 PLY tires, pushbar, coweredge surface wrap............................................... $38,500

2013 JD 6125M, 54 hrs., 24 spd. PQ, 2hyd., 480/70R38, 30 gal. hyd. pump, air seat, mirrors.................................. $82,500

2012 JD 6170R, 812 hrs., PQ, 3hyd., 480/80R46, A/T ready, dlx. cab, prem. sat. radio, inst. seat, mirrors, 110” axle............ .....................................................$102,000

2013 JD 6140M w/JD H360 ldr., 410 hrs., PQ, 2hyd., 460/85R38. mirrors, air seat, 3 funct. joystick, . ...............................$94,000

2010 JD 7230 w/ JD 740 ldr., 1581 hrs., PQ, 3hyd., 18.4R38, air seat, dlx. exhaust,.. ........................................................ $77,500

2012 JD 7130 Premium, 672 hrs., PQ, 2hyd., 420/80R46, panoramic doors, air seat, dlx exhaust, 96” axle, dlx. lighting, warr.,................................................$76,000

2008 JD 7130, 3941 hrs., PQ, 2hyd., 18.4R34, air seat,.......................... $56,000

2013 JD 6125M w/JD H340 ldr. 197 hrs., 24 spd. PQ, 2hyd., 480/70R38, 30 gal. hyd. pump, air seat, mirrors,.......... .................................................$90,000

2012 JD 6125R, 1613 hrs., 24 spd. AQ, 2 elec. hyd., 460/85R38, Premium cab, pano. doors, 3 spd. PTO, mirrors..............$77,500

2007 JD 6430 Premium w/JD 673 ldr. 3480 hrs., PQ, 2hyd., 18.4R38, mirrors, inst. seat, rear fenders ext...........$62,500

2011 JD 7130 Premium w/740 ldr., 1400 hrs., PQ, 3hyd., 14.9R46, grapple bucket, panoramic doors, air seat, dlx. exhaust, Greenstar rdy................................ $84,500

2013 JD 6140M, 1282 hrs., PQ, 3hyd., 460/85R38, air seat, mirrors, frt. fenders.. ....................................................... $77,500

(2) 2014 JD 6115M’s, 50 hrs., PQ, 2hyd., 460/85R38, 30 gal. hyd., pump, mirrors, air seat, joystick......................... ......................................... $74,000/ each

2011 JD 7130 Premium, 2535 hrs., PQ, 3hyd, 480/80R42, Greenstar rdy., 96” axle, air seat, dlx. exhaust, panoramic doors,..... ....................................................... $65,000

2011 JD 5083E w/JD 553 ldr., 273 hrs., 2hyd., 16.9x30, 3 function joystick,............ .......................................................$45,500

2010 JD 6430 Premium, 1601 hrs., PQ, 2hyd., 18.4R38, air seat, dlx. exhaust, frt. fenders, inst. seat, mirrors, R&P axle,..... ...................................................... $62,500

2013 JD 6150R w/JD H360 ldr., 1326 hrs, grapple rdy., 20 spd. AQ, 3hyd., 18.4R42, A/T ready, prem. radio, 110” axle, quick hitch......................$106,000

2011 JD 5101E w/JD 553 ldr., 912 hrs., 18.4x30, 2hyd., mirrors.................$46,000

2011 JD 6430 Premium w/JD 673SL ldr., 1016 hrs., 24spd. AQ, 3hyd., 18.4R38, 3 spd. PTO, mirrors, inst. seat, roof hatch, cold start pkg., panoramic doors.$75,000

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meet your neighbors Simplification Makes Sense Continued from Page 14 lets me touch his nose. We also have a bottle calf named Buddy who comes running like supplemented by both red and white clovers. The Hargis’s spray as needed but dig a happy dog every time I call him.” thistles. Jill said, “I am not a happy camper when I have to dig for thistles. I get Mike loves the cattle just as much and refuses to sell old cows just as his father did. blisters for a week.” Mike also prefers banding because it is easier, smoother and less painful. His earliThe Hargis business is Hargis and Son Logging and Lumber. Three separate opest memory with cattle is being only 3 erations are run under the same name. years old when his father was castrating First is a lumbering business where agreecalves. Mike said, “I remember thinking “One thing I learned from downsizing is the advan- ment is reached with land owners and I was glad it wasn’t me.” trees are harvested. Second is a new mill tages of limiting the number of cattle,” Mike Hargis To keep the cattle comfortable year which then processes the wood. Last is round, Mike added sheds to the pastures’ a delivery system that transports wood explained. “When our new business has settled into natural tree shelter so cattle are better products to retailers, which also includes a workable routine, I will increase my herd only to protected during weather extremes. a gravel truck. Mike said, “We can offer 200 so the natural processes can still work.” Another operational simplification is higher prices to the land owners because not fertilizing. we own the logging operation, the mill Pastures with fresh grass are always availand the delivery system and want to pass able because they are underutilized. Mike believes cattle manure and plant disintegra- some of the savings to them. We try to sell every part of what we harvest from tion is not only simpler but also better for him, the land and the cattle. lumber to wood pellets to sawdust and would someday like to purchase a grinding “One thing I learned from downsizing is the advantages of limiting the number of machine so land owners don’t have treetops and brush debris when we leave. Just as cattle,” Mike explained. “When our new business has settled into a workable routine, in farming, efficiency and environmental sensitivity are important.” I will increase my herd only to 200 so the natural processes can still work.” For the Hargis’s logging is a business and cattle are a way of life. Mike hopes to pass The Hargis’s set aside 1,000 acres for hay which they harvest once a year. Har- the business on someday and enjoy retirement by farming fulltime. gis pastures are mixed grasses, predominantly Fescue, Bermuda and Orchard Grass “Jill and I can’t imagine a life without at least a few cattle to play with,” Mike said.

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Happy Chickens are Profitable Chickens By Terry Ropp

Size, complexity of Marley Family Farms requires efficiency While the green movement has focused more attention on environmental-friendly farming issues, farmers have always been environmentalists because their livelihood depends upon environmental sustainability that provides healthy land and healthy production. An example is Marley Family Farms, which organized into a limited partnership five years ago in Elkins, Ark. The farm has

plained. “First I would have scientific data to support my best management practice guesses and second, I could become an important ambassador for the chicken industry which is plagued by public misconceptions.” While data is still being analyzed, initial results show grass absorbs far more moisture from the chicken houses than predicted and dust levels from the houses’ litter are lower than expected.

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Bus tours frequent the farm and many 10 broiler houses and 2,100 acres of land poultry industry detractors leave amazed with an additional 600 leased acres. Jeff Marley planned out and built new by the level of comfort and care chickens chicken houses, taking the nearby White received during their eight-week stay. Most of the time the problem is a lack River headwaters, which provides water for 425,000 people, into consideration. of understanding that healthy, happy Then an Extension agent called and in- chickens promote profit and sustainabilvited Jeff and Marsha Marley to become ity, Jeff said. Jeff said he hadn’t planned to a Discovery Farm or station go into farming in his youngfor continual and automated Elkins, Ark. er years, but fate brought measurements of how effechim back to his roots. tively Jeff’s management plan “I went to college to get out worked in real life. of farming but ended up right “After investigating the back in it because when I graduopportunity, I found two ated in 1979, the job market was important benefits,” Jeff ex-

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APRIL 13, 2015

meet your neighbors poor and farming was the smartest thing to do,” Jeff said with a laugh. Jeff began by building two chicken houses under a government program initiated by the Carter Administration for beginning farmers. Years later, Tyson offered an upgrade program that Jeff initially declined because profit margins were too small. Adjustments were made to the program and Jeff built his new houses. Each house holds 24,000 birds for 51 days and produces 7.25-pound chickens, which are designed for white breast steak cuts. Since chicken feet have become a desirable commodity in the Asian market, perfect feet or paws without blisters are also necessary and are highly profitable for Tyson. Jeff identifies litter as his biggest challenge. Because he has a large operation with both chickens and cattle, keeping labor costs and record keeping to a minimum are high priorities. Consequently, he sells his litter and uses naturally occurring manure from the cattle, along with commercial fertilizer, on his own fields. The chicken litter is then resold by the buyers to areas with greater soil nutritional needs in Missouri and Kansas. The most difficult issue for the chicken operation is removal of dead chickens. Jeff researched the Internet for a solution and settled on a little-known system that is comprised of a 10-inch trough and an 8-inch belt running down the middle of each house that is powered by a motor strong enough to handle the heavy chickens. The custom system’s control box was originally inside the houses but proved susceptible to high humidity. When Jeff moved the boxes to

the control rooms, the issue disappeared and Jeff’s employees handle removal easily and efficiently. Jeff said, “Now my mom could help me.” The Marley cattle operation consists of 300 commercial cows with a predominant mixture of Gelbvieh and Balancers so calves benefit from good maternal traits. Jeff keeps replacement heifers and has 12 bulls to produce winter and summer calving seasons. Calves are sold at 450 to 650 pounds at the Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri after having been tagged, castrated, wormed, implanted and administered two rounds of shots. Jeff prefers injectable wormer even though it is slower, but generally uses pour-on wormer because it is safer and faster. Pastures are a mixture of warm Bermuda and clover for summer grazing, and fescue and clover for fall with drilled wheat augmenting winter forage. The first cutting of hay fields is predominantly annual ryegrass. Because Jeff’s land has a naturally elevated phosphorus level, he fertilizes with nitrogen and uses chicken litter only every three or four years. Needs are determined by annual soil testing. The size and complexity of the Marley operation requires efficiency in order to make a profit. Jeff’s attitude toward farming and the chicken business are simple, “Happy chickens are profitable chickens. The houses are full of brothers and sisters with perfect food, perfect water and perfect temperature for eight weeks. Farmers are humane and environmentally conscious as a natural extension of the business they are in,” he said.

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What is your favorite aspect of agriculture? “What I like best is taking care of the animals. I’ve had animals all my life and I love to go out and mess with them and play with them and feel like they’re part of the family.” Who is the most influential person in your life? “My grandpa Tony because he has given me so many experiences and drives me every day. He is one of the tough-love people and says you have to do what you love and you give it 150 percent.”

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What is your current involvement in agriculture? “I currently take care of the animals and spend a lot of time in our chicken houses. However, I probably spent most of my time in the fields because that’s a more time intensive process.” What is your favorite agricultural memory? “My earliest memory is riding in the hay truck with my dad while still being in a car seat, but my favorite is the first time I drove a tractor. That’s probably when my love for engines really started.”

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What are your future plans? “Right now I take two classes in the morning at Siloam Springs High School and then spend my afternoons at Northwest Technical Institute, a technical college in Springdale (Ark.) While I have taken a lot of ag classes at Siloam, I am going to NTI for automotive training because I want to become a service technician. The process really works out because I get credit for both high school and my NTI degree at the same time.” What is most memorable about your competitions? “I always loved showing and showed quite a bit when I was in 4H but it became too expensive and I got interested in motors. I do remember one time my first year showing when I entered the bovine beauty contest at the county fair and dressed my cow as Hannah Mootana.” Story and Photo By Terry Ropp APRIL 13, 2015

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Farm Finance By Jessica Bailey

s I write this article, we are right in the middle of FFA contest season, as our high school students prepare for district competitions. Since my days as a Crowder College Jessica Bailey is an agricultural lender at Aggie, I have helped judge at the Crowder Aggie Hometown Bank in Day each year, in areas from landscaping to poultry Neosho, Mo. A resident to, this year, employment interview. It has been a of Newton County, she pleasant experience to observe how well many of also raises cattle on our young FFA students are being prepared for the her family’s farm and professional world. is an active alumni of Through my judging experience this year, I’ve the Crowder College seen how many areas that these students are judged Aggie Club. on have application in the real life world of our farms and ranches. One substantial area we judge these students on is presence. How do they carry themselves? Are they timid or overpowering? Friendly or stand-offish? Respectful or not? What message are they sending with their body language? Is it in sync with their verbal communication? As we market our operations and the products of those operations, our presence can have a direct effect on our marketing efforts. One’s product can be the best of the best, but if our verbal and non-verbal communication is not compatible with the product, we are not realizing our operations’ full potential. As farmers and ranchers, we are not marketing our products only but our operations and ourselves as well. Secondly, students are judged on consistency. Is the resume consistent with the application, and does the in-person interview support both? The same can apply to our day-to-day operations on our farms and ranches. Does what we say about our operation line up with how we actually operate on our farmers and ranches? Or is it a case of “Do what I say, not what I do”? If we believe we are producing quality products, let us make sure our operations reflect that pride every day. Consistency in our industry is our best friend – consistent products, consistent operation and consistency between the two. Finally, a good interviewee is always prepared. They have multiple copies of the required paperwork in hand, knowledge of the position and/or industry, and are prepared to give an answer to any question put to them. These practices extend far outside the job interview. For instance, when questioned about industry practices by those with no first-hand knowledge of the industry, we need to be able to give well-informed, articulate answers. Or, a familiar situation for many of us, be prepared with your request, financial information and goals when talking with your loan officer. In each instance, you, the farmer/rancher, are selling your industry, your operation, yourself and your goals and dreams, to your interviewer, whether it be the public or your loan officer. We are living in the best industry out there, agriculture. Let’s all put our best foot forward and ensure agriculture is seen by all to be the best industry in each and every aspect and show our deserved pride in being today’s farmers and ranchers.

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By Klaire Howerton

Advice for farmers entering the world of sustainable agriculture The word “sustainable” is cropping up more and more in agricultural conversations these days, and many folks are beginning to turn their farm practices in a “sustainable” direction. The word sustainable, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as “capable of being sustained” or “relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.” The idea of sustainable agriculture is not new – but in an industry heavily dominated by corporate, unsustainable monoculture for decades, the notion of giving back more resources than you take was deemed as irrational and unprofitable. In recent years, more and more research is showing that in order for humans to keep feeding future generations, farming practices must become more sustainable. A study by Stony Brook University states that in a comparison of sustainable and conventional agriculture, organic farming methods are shown to perform much better for a number of indicators. Sustainable agriculture, the study continues, consumes less water and energy, enhances soil composition and forgoes synthetic chemical input. Conventional agriculture cannot meet the needs of the current population without compromising the integrity of the environment. After many years, being sustainable is finally coming back into fashion. So what can farmers who wish to manage their lands sustainably do to get started? Do Your Research: As with anything, sustainable farming is easier to get a grasp on if you’ve done your research. There are a number of books published on this subject, such as “Salad Bar Beef” by Joel Salatin, “Management Intensive Grazing” by Jim Gerrish and “Ranching Full Time on Three Hours a Day” by Cody Holmes. The Internet is another great tool for finding information on sustainable practices – websites, social media pages and blogs provide an almost endless array of concepts and ideas about sustainability. One of the best ways, though, to learn about sustainable farming methods, is to visit other people’s farms; then you can get a first-hand look at how using techniques like multi-species grazing and natural pest management can reduce your inputs and help you get more grass to the acre. Apply for a Grant: If you are working your way into ecologically aware farming and have an idea or a concept you want to explore in detail to help further sustain-

what do you say? What green farming techniques have you incorporated on your farm?

APRIL 13, 2015

“All surplus chicken litter that I don’t use on my own farm, I sell to a company who then resells it to crop farmers in Missouri where soil nutrition needs are much greater.” Kou Thoa Benton County, Ark.

able agriculture, you might consider applying for a grant. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Grant Program is an excellent resource for this. The SARE mission is “to advance – to the whole of American agriculture – innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education.” SARE accepts proposals from farmers like Wes Hunter, from Seymour, Mo., to carry out their mission – Wes received a grant for a project comparing the growth rates, feed efficiency, and overall profitability of a variety of heritage breed chickens. “It went a long way toward funding the research that we felt was needed for gaining information about raising heritage breed chickens for meat, since there is very little current information available elsewhere,” said Wes. The research from SARE grant recipients like Wes is then posted online, so that other farmers have access to the study findings. SARE promotes outreach as well as cooperation through their grants – “SARE likes partnerships and collaborations, so identify who or what partnerships can make your project more successful,” said Heather Friedrich, University of Arkansas Southern SARE PDP Program Assistant. Get Involved: As with any other occupation, sustainable farming is often best enjoyed in the company of like-minded people. If you want to farm environmentally friendly, stay in touch with other farmers, and begin making a profit off of your farm too, consider joining a food hub. A food hub is a group of growers and producers combining their resources and their products under one label to sell enough goods to meet public demands – like the Real Farm Foods Hub in Norwood, Mo. Cody Holmes, the Food Hub director, is working with many small-scale sustainable farmers to grow enough products to supply local stores, hospitals and schools with healthy, nutrient dense food. The fruits and vegetables produced by the farmers are purchased by the hub, and are then resold under the Real Farm Foods label. “Food hubs remove the disassociation between the consumer and the grower,” said Cody. His inspiration for continuing to grow the hub stems from a desire to rebuild rural economies, create local jobs, and put the sustainable small farmers where they belong. “My objective is to put farmers back on their farm. That’s what it’s all about,” Cody said.

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Advantages of Haylage By Gary Digiuseppe

The technique is becoming a common practice in many operations Haylage is forage that is wetter and, if preserved properly, it could be better. Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri Extension regional agronomist, said haylage – also called balage, wrapped balage or round bale silage – is typically cut at 50 to 60 percent moisture, instead of the normal 18 percent for hay. “Haylage traditionally has been forage that is chopped and blown into a silo or a silage pit,” he told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “Probably the most common way to do it in our area is to bale up round bales, and then individually wrap or stuff them into a bale wrapper or a tube liner.” Schakenberg said the technique is often used by larger producers and is becoming more common. “The big advantage to this is that they have less harvest losses,” he said. “When you’re harvesting one day and getting it baled the next day or within the same day, and getting it wrapped up, there’s less opportunity for rain to ruin it. In a wet condition there’s less leaf loss, particularly with legumes and you’re in and out of the hay field in 24 hours.” He compared it to having a “hay barn in the field,” with the forage being stored in an airtight container. Not everybody can adapt to this method. “If you like to cut down 50 to 60 acres of hay in a day’s time, it’s probably not for you,” Schakenberg warned. “You need to allow time to wrap it, and it needs to be wrapped very quickly after it’s been baled. It needs to be put in that bag in very airtight conditions so that it can properly ensile, or turn into silage. Producers really have to watch the moisture level so it doesn’t get too low or too high.” There’s also a significant up front investment. Wrapping equipment can cost between $27,000 and $30,000 – but that’s far less than a silo.

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Harvesting haylage is a way to beat the weather. Dr. Shane Gadberry, professor of animal science at the University of Arkansas, told OFN the ideal target for cutting cool season grasses to obtain both maximum yield and optimal quality would be around late boot stage. “Depending on whether it’s fescue or a cool-season annual grass, that generally is going to fall anywhere from about the middle of April to the early part of May,” he said. “Unfortunately, many times we don’t see those cool season grasses being harvested until the end of May, and in doing so they tend to be more mature and of lesser quality.” If after being cut the hay is immediately rained on and then dries down, there’s not much negative impact on quality, but said Gadberry said if the hay is almost cured, there could be an issue. “If we mow it and then, at that point where it’s almost cured, we have rain moving in that wets the material we get a lot of leaching and breakdown in plant material with the residual sugars that were left,” he explained. An early harvest may also help with the later schedule when warm-season grasses like Bremudagrass are ready for cutting. “Some years it may open up a window of opportunity to come in and have a second harvest,” Gadberry explained. He added that samples of hay submitted to a diagnostics lab for nutrient analysis tend to average in the low-to-mid 50s on total digestible nutrients (TDN). “Many producers’ target may be something like 60 percent TDN, which is hay that would be of sufficient quality that cattle wouldn’t need supplemental feed,” Gadberry said. “The differential between that 52 to 55 and 60 would suggest that we’re probably waiting three weeks, or slightly longer, too long to get into the field.” APRIL 13, 2015

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Where organic farmers can find financial assistance With organic fruits, vegetables and meats commanding a premium price in today’s market, it is no surprise that farmers are turning towards organic and alternative methods of farming to produce their goods. “Organic” means grown or made without using artificial chemicals – so organic farming methods are often much better for the farmer, his customers, and his land than conventional methods. While the public loves organically grown food, becoming a full-fledged organic farming operation, or maintaining an organic operation, can be a costly process. But luckily for organic farmers, there are a number of organizations that offer financial assistance and grant funding to those who pursue these agricultural practices.

Organic Farming Research Foundation

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is an organization dedicated to the research of organic farming. OFRFs mission is ‘To foster the widespread adoption and improvement of organic farming systems.” They work to build infrastructure that supports the success of organic farmers and focuses on policy, grantmaking, education and community. OFRF accepts grant proposals and awards funding to organic farmers who submit proposals and applications through their website.

Research and Education

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Grant Program is an organization that uses grants to promote the “Three Pillars of Sustainability”: Profit over the long term; stewardship of our nation’s land, air and water; and quality of life for farmers, ranchers and their communities. SARE grants are awarded across the United States to farmers, ranchers, students and agricultural educators who APRIL 13, 2015

have innovative ideas that can provide important research to the field of sustainable agriculture. “SARE is the best example of a program within the USDA that is dedicated to improving and implementing sustainable agriculture practices with projects that are grounded in farmer participation and leveraged by the resources of educators and researchers,” said Heather Friedrich, University of Arkansas Southern SARE PDP Program Assistant. She recommends that farmers who want to apply for a SARE grant research the Call for Proposals, and also determine what relationships might be created from the project. “SARE likes partnerships and collaborations so identify who or what partnerships can make your project more successful,” Heather said.

NRCS Organic Initiative

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has always had a clear mission: “We’re here to help people help their land,” Curt McDaniel, assistant state conservationist for the Missouri NRCS, said. The NRCS can help organic farmers with their land through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which is an umbrella program that encompasses several environmental initiatives. The goal of the NRCS with the Organic Initiative is to assist producers who are transitioning to organic certification, or to assist previously organic growers with improving their certification. The NRCS looks for opportunities to help producers to improve upon organic practices such as mulching for weed control, providing pollinator habitats and planting beneficial crops that can aid in pest control and nutrient distribution. If you are interested in applying for an Organic Initiative grant for your farm, the best way to get started is by visiting your local USDA Service Center or field office, said McDaniel.

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Cover Crops Serve Several Functions By Gary Digiuseppe

Organic crop producers have found that cover crops aid with disease, pest control Organic crop farmers have traditionally relied on cover crops to address a number of resource concerns. John Lee, agronomist with the Arkansas state office of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, said they serve multiple functions. “Pest management is one of those, with respect to controlling weeds,” Lee told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, “but they are also using cover crops to deal with different types of pathogens that are in the soil. There are cover crops that can help reduce some of the disease causing pathogens that you can find in the soil. Also, they can be used as a trap crop to attract beneficial insects, which also help to control pest problems related to insects.” In Arkansas, Lee said the main crops sown for cover are the grasses used for erosion control; wheat is number one, followed by ryegrass. A number of farmers have also turned to the “tillage radish,” Raphanus sativus, also known as the daikon or the Japanese radish. It has fast-growing leaves and a very large taproot that helps retain soil moisture and breaks up shallow layers of compacted soils. When they break down, they add to the winter stores of nitrogen in the soil. Those have been the traditional roles of cover crops in organic farm plans, with the crops plowed under as the planting season approaches. However, Kerry Clark, organic row crop specialist at the University of Missouri Bradford Research Farm at Columbia, Mo., said they’re now also being used in organic no-till. She explained to OFN, “In organic no-till, you grow the cover crop until it gets reproductive so it would be fairly large, and then you crimp it with a roller-crimper. The crimper kills the cover crop, but it leaves it on top of the ground as a mulch. It’s usually about 3 to 4 inches thick, and that helps stop the weeds.” Organic matter left on the surface breaks down slower and builds up faster

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than residue that’s cut or tilled into the soil, so more of it is retained. Clark said the roller-crimper method was pioneered by Pennsylvania’s Rodale Institute. On the other hand, the Missouri researchers are finding the weeds do eventually come through the cover crop. “You have to have so much biomass out there in the cover crop that if you don’t have a good growing winter it won’t hold the weeds back,” she said, “The other thing is that as it starts to break down over the season, you’ll also get some later weed germination and growth.” Researchers have begun looking at a number of different approaches to weed control in organic crops. In one, once the cover crop is crimped, a hot water spray is applied. In another, they mow between rows and in a third, they mow and till in the cover crop, and then control weeds through flaming, which is directing a flame below the crop’s leaves toward the weeds, and cultivation. Clark is working with organic no-till corn, soybeans and wheat and said wheat works the best. The cover crop is grown in the summer instead of double crop beans, and since the soil is left untilled it rapidly increases the organic matter. “You can’t do organic no-till in front of double crop beans – you wouldn’t have a cover crop to crimp,” she explained. The summer cover crop also provides up to 90 percent weed control. Soybeans get a little more early weed growth than corn because they don’t canopy as quickly, but once they do canopy the weed control is better. However, Clark said she is seeing problems with organic no-till corn. “Because the corn population planting rate is lower than soybeans, it’s hard to get good seed-to-soil contact in organic no-till.” That’s led to reduced stands, but in soybeans and wheat they’ve gotten higher yields in organic no-till than with conventional tillage and no cover crops. APRIL 13, 2015

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By Klaire Howerton

Have you considered adding forage soybeans to your pasture? When some folks plant forage soybeans, they are using them to seed food plots to attract deer for hunting season. Forage soybeans are nutrient dense and rich in protein, which is why deer are drawn to them. But these power-packed legumes are not just appealing to deer. Cattle, small ruminants and even bison can benefit from grazing on forage soybeans.

Sow and Grow

Prior to sowing forage soybeans, all fields to be planted should have a soil test. “Plants are nutrient transfer agents,” said Dr. Grant Woods, wildlife biologist and avid soybean plot researcher from Reed Springs, Mo. “Do a quality soil test annually.” This will determine what is needed for the soybeans to grow successfully, and transmit their benefits to your livestock. The soil pH should be neutral, and greater than 6.0. Soybeans also require large amounts of phosphorous and potassium to reach optimum nutritional quality. Nitrogen is not typically needed to produce forage soybeans, since they are legumes and produce their own through a nitrogen fixing bacteria called Bradyrhizobium. Forage soybeans should be sown onto a well-prepared planting surface; the soil should be smooth and free of large clods. Adding organic matter back to the soil where the soybeans are to be planted can aid in a well aerated seed bed. If a producer wishes to incorporate a no-till planting system into their soybeans program, there are other methods of breaking up the soil for planting. Joshua Jones, marketing director for the Hickory Ridge Hunting Ranch in Lamar, Okla., recommends planting cruciferous vegetables to aid in this process. “Radishes and turnips can break up the soil so it’s not as hard and they add nutrients back,” Jones said. The beans can be planted from mid-April through APRIL 13, 2015

June, to ensure that any danger of frost has passed, and so that the legumes can be ready for mid-summer grazing. Forage soybeans should be allowed to reach their second reproductive stage (R2) before turning livestock out to graze them.

Graze and Hay

Growing forage soybeans gives the livestock producer flexibility for feeding options. Soybeans are hardy enough to withstand multiple periods of grazing, or being grazed and then cut for hay or silage. Rebecca Atkinson, beef forage specialist at the Southern Illinois University stated in an article for Hay and Forage magazine that silage made from the legume is “very comparable to alfalfa silage” and goes on to state that “three or four grazings are possible in an intensive rotational grazing system if rainfall is sufficient and they’re grazed no shorter than 10 inches.” The protein content of forage soybeans makes for ideal weight gains in livestock. With a crude protein level of 15 to 20 percent, soybeans provide excellent finishing forage. As with any forage, soybeans regenerate best when they are grazed rotationally; two or three grazings in a season can be expected from one field of forage soybeans with proper management. Post grazing, the protein-packed legume can be harvested for hay or silage. The process of making soybean silage is similar to alfalfa haylage – 60 to 65 percent moisture is the ideal range for soybeans. Forage soybeans can also be harvested for hay. Since forage soybeans is a high-protein and lowfiber feed source, it is ideal for the winter months. Legumes should be allowed to dry in the field, and should be harvested just before the seventh reproductive (R7) stage. As with any hay, dried and baled forage soybeans should be stored out of the elements.

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April 2015 13 Gardening 101 – 6 p.m. – PO Mansion Museum, Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 13 Pesticide Applicator Training – 1:30 p.m. – Fairgrounds, Harrison, Ark. – 870-741-6168 18 Poultry and Rabbit Workshop – Gloria Perry Building, Magazine, Ark. – 479-675-2787 18 Spinach Festival – Alma, Ark. – 479-632-2254 18 Annual Cherokee County Turtle Race – 11 a.m. – Murrell Home Creek, Tahlequah, Okla. – 918-456-6163 18 North Arkansas Meat Goat Association Meeting – 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. – Topic: Goat Health – Fairgrounds, Harrison, Ark. – 870-741-6168 20 Boone County Spring Livestock Show – Fairgrounds, Harrison, Ark. – 870-741-6168 20-22 Cow-Calf Event – Cost $100, Limited to 50 – Claremore, Okla. – 918-923-4958 21 Protected Agriculture Workshop – 2 p.m., light meal will be offered – North Arkansas College, JPH Center, Harrison, Ark. – 879-741-6168 21 Beef/Forage Field Day – Livestock & Forestry Research Station, Batesville, Ark. – 501-671-2126 23 Eastern Oklahoma Ag Trade Show – 9 a.m.-3 p.m.– Le Flore County Fair Grounds, Poteau, Okla. – 918-647-8231 23 Delaware County Cattlemen’s Association Dinner – 6:30 p.m. – Jay, Okla. – 918-253-4332 23 Le Flore County Trade Show – 9 a.m. – Le Flore County Fairgrounds, Poteau, Okla. – 918-647-8231 23-25 Sequoyah County Quilt Show – Sallisaw, Okla. – 918-775-4838 24 2015 Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council’s Spring Bus Tour – registration opens at 8:30 a.m., buses depart at 9:30 a.m. – Cost: $25 per person, $10 for students (includes lunch) – Pocahontas Livestock Auction, Pocahontas, Ark. – 501-671-2350 24 One-Day Certification Class for Private Blood Testing Licenses – registration 9:30 a.m., class 9:40 a.m. – University of Arkansas Livestock & Forestry Research Station, 70 Experiment Station Dr., Batesville, Ark. – Dr. Brandon Doss 501-907-2254, Jane Elrod 501-907-2446, Faye Ratthasombath 501-907-2258, Amanda Condry 501-907-2447 25 Berryville Lawn and Garden Show – 9 a.m.-4 p.m., vendors need to complete an application by April 15 – Berryville Community Center, Berryville, Ark. – 870-654-7169

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April 2015 14 Sydenstricker Genetics Influence Sale – Mexico, Mo. – 573-581-5555 15-16 Dismukes Ranch Spring Online Sale – at the ranch, Checotah, Okla. – 916-995-3549 18 Missouri Red Angus Association Round up Auction – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 417-962-0181 18 Pinegar Limousin Road to Tulsa Heifer Sale – Springfield, Mo. – 1-877-PINEGAR 18 McBee Roundup Braunvieh Sale – at the ranch, Fayette, Mo. – 573-696-2517 18 East Central Angus Assn. Spring Sale – Cuba, Mo. – 314-393-2885 18 Diamond and Spurs Simmental Sale – Owen Brothers Cattle Co. – 417-830-8180 19 Great American Pie Limousin Sale – Laclede County Fairgrounds, Lebanon, Mo. – 417-588-6121

25 25 25

Master Gardener Plant Sale – 9 a.m. – Baxter County Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, Ark. – 870-425-2335 Van Buren County 4-H Orama – Fairgrounds, Clinton, Ark. – 501-745-7117 North Arkansas Junior District Spring Livestock Show – Baxter County Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, Ark. – 870-425-2335

May 2015 1-3 Hanging Judge Cutting Horse Show – Kay Rodgers Park, Fort Smith, Ark. – 2 Strawberry Production Field Day – 9 a.m. – North Arkansas College, Harrison, Ark. – 870-741-6168 2 Ag Day – Fairgrounds, Greenwood, Ark. – 479-996-4131 2 Northwest Arkansas Largest Yard Sale – Washington County Fairgrounds, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-444-1755 6-8 Fulton County Brucellosis Vaccine – Salem, Ark. – 870-895-3301, deadline is April 29 7 Pesticide Applicator Training – 9 a.m. – Jasper, Ark. – 870-446-2240 7 One-Day Certification class for Commercial Blood Testing Licenses – registration 12:45 p.m., class 1 p.m. – Cooperative Extension Service Auditorium, 2536 N. McConnell Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Dr. Brandon Doss 501-907-2254, Jane Elrod 501-907-2446, Faye Ratthasombath 501-907-2258, Amanda Condry 501-907-2447 8 One-Day Certification Class for Private Blood Testing Licenses – registration 8:20 a.m., class 8:30 p.m. – Cooperative Extension Service auditorium, 2536 N. McConnell Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark. – Dr. Brandon Doss 501-907-2254, Jane Elrod 501-907-2446, Faye Ratthasombath 501-907-2258, Amanda Condry 501-907-2447 9 Faulkner County Master Gardener Plant Sale – 8 a.m.-2 p.m. – Conway Expo Center, Conway, Ark. – 501-329-8344 9 Stilwell Strawberry Festival – parade starts at 10 a.m. – Stilwell, Okla. – 918-696-2253 9 Feral Hog Control Conference – 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Harrison, Ark. – 870-448-3981 9 Demolition Derby Spring Challenge – 7:30 p.m. – Tickets: $7 children 2-12, $12 Adults – Parsons Stadium, Springdale, Ark. – 479-756-0464 11 Gardening 101 – 6 p.m. – PO Mansion Museum, Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 12 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6 p.m. – Morrilton, Ark. – 501-354-9618 21 NRCS Forage Meeting – 6 p.m. – Baxter County Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, Ark. – 870-425-3527 or 870-425-2335

Fourth Annual Highland Cattle/registered, unregistered and crossbred Sale – Norwood Sale Barn, Norwood, Mo. – 417-369-0505

May 2015 2 Central States BBA Sale – Locust Grove, Okla. – 918-456-1199 2 Hall-Coyote Hills Ranch Anuual Female Sale – Chattanooga, Okla. – 580-597-3006 7 Wies Limousin Ranch Online Sale – Wellsville, Mo. – 573-684-2773 9 Magness Land & Cattle Female Sale – Miami, Okla. – 402-350-3447 9 Seven T Farms Angus Herd & Equipment Sale – at the Farm, Sullivan, Mo. – 314-225-9735 15 Show-Me Select Replacement Heifer Sale – Joplin Regional Stockyards, Joplin, Mo. – 800-311-0995

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