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Passing it Down By Terry Ropp
The Feather family is working to pass down their family farming legacy to future generation Feather Farms was started by Floyd began precision grading (leveling) which and Jeanette Feather after they re- is done using lasers or GPS. That system turned to Arkansas from a venture recycles 85 percent of the water used on to Chicago, where Floyd realized the farm through a tailwater recovery sysworking in a factory did not suit him. tem that picks up and pumps water back When they returned, they found a farm into one of four reservoirs. Before installaonly 2 miles from the farm where Floyd was tion, 100 percent of the water for the farm raised. Today, Floyd’s son Keith and grand- was groundwater. Now 65 to 75 percent of son Jacob are partners on what has grown to the farm’s crop water is surface water that be 1,200 productive acres with another 200 is reused. The water runs between the rows in the corn and soybean fields, and floods in timberland. Son Koby works for Gym Masters, a com- the rice fields. “In today’s world, irrigation is a necessity pany Keith is part owner of that builds and resurfaces gymnasium floors, and Jacob, for a crop farmer,” Keith explained. “We who is in partnership with Keith, works added acreage through the years and now on their crop farm. Keith and Tammy have have 20 miles of underground pipe which two granddaughters and two grandsons, saves water loss from evaporation, runoff with the grandsons living in a house on and absorption where water is not needed. the farm and always eager to be out in the We are lucky in Arkansas because we have water and not every place does.” fields. Another important advantage of having Keith was a teenager when he figured out that whenever he learned to operate a new an irrigation system is different crops have piece of equipment, using that equipment be- different water needs at different times. Obviously, water control is critically important. came part of his responsibilities on the farm. After learning how to run a combine when Although Mother Nature is always an unhe was 15, he was expected to be operat- controllable factor, irrigation allows greater ing the combine every minute he wasn’t in control and profitability. Keith clearly reschool during harvest time. One time, Floyd members his father explaining that irrigaand Keith, along with a nearby neighbor tion was a two-edged sword because corn and son, were working together to harvest and soybeans need good drainage but also soybeans all night long. The only difference need water when the land dries up during was Keith had to go to school the next morn- summer months. “Putting in an irrigation system, even a liting, but the other young man did not. Keith learned his work ethic from his father and tle at a time when affordable, is an expensive saw the importance of passing it down to his operation,” Keith said. “But my dad taught me that livestock and crop production have children. Feather Farms produces soybeans, field one thing in common: you can’t starve it and corn and rice, with a 70-acre pecan tree make a profit.” Previously, the order of planting grove needing another five was corn, rice and then soybeans. years of growth before producThis year, however, Keith and ing nuts. Griffithville, Ark. Jacob are planning soybeans first The heart of the Feathers’ opbecause they seem more productive eration is an expansive irrigawhen planted earlier. According to tion system that started in the Keith, an important part of any agri1980s when Keith was 20 and cultural operation is paying attention working with his father. They APRIL 26, 2021
Keith Feather is the second generation of the Feather family to run Feather Farms. The third and fourth generation is also involved in the soybean, corn and rice farm.
to everything that’s going on, continually refining and/or altering processes according to changing conditions whether those conditions are weather, hybrid alterations, or new technologies. Fertilizing for the three crops requires different patterns. Soybeans are fertilized at planting, with the fields being fertilized again after harvest, using chicken litter from neighbors. Corn and rice receive some fertilizer during spring planting, with other applications in the middle of the season and as needed. Because of the levees and flooding in rice fields, fertilizer is applied by plane. Herbicides require different procedures as well. Rice fields are sprayed by plane right before flooding, then the floodwater will maintain control the of weeds. Soybeans and corn receive herbicide application
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through ground spraying. Both pre- and post-emergence spray is applied, with additional applications as needed. Technology has changed in crop production. One of the most important is the development of modern, closed tractors. While comfort is important, health benefits from not having to breathe dust, greater safety features and GPS guidance have been an important boon to the crop industry. Just as in livestock, the development of better and more productive varieties has caused average yields to increase. “An important alteration in herbicide technology is that modern varieties have an improved resistance to the chemicals that kill the weeds. State yield averages have improved helping us feed a world with an exploding population,” Keith said.
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