OFN July 6, 2020

Going to Golden Guernsey Goats JULY 6, 2020 • 28 PAGES

VOLUME 14, NUMBER 7 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Darla Grumbein specializes in the heritage breed and it’s rich milk

Back in the Goat Business

The Bergmans sold their goat herd, only to start a new herd for the next generation

Small Ruminant Health Programs Good flock/herd health benefits the animals and producers

Living the Dream The Bignar family produces show-quality sheep and goats at Roux Livestock

rumor mill

Farm families announced: Arkansas Farm Bureau announced the eight district winners in the 73rd annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program for 2020. Families from the Ozarks include Brad and Tara Peacock (White County) in the East Central District. The Peacocks grow soybeans and rice on 1,000 acres.

In their nine years of farming, Brad and Tara have worked closely with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service to continually improve their crop. They have a 1-year-old son, Silas. Shane and Ashley Mason (Cleburne County) in the North Central District. The couple own 300 acres where they, along with their children — Paige, Stormy, Ava, Talyn and Holden – raise cattle, hogs, chickens and dairy goats. The Mason family has been farming for 17 years.

The Stone Family (Carroll County) in the Northwest District. Mark Stone and his wife Leah raise cattle and poultry on 960 acres. The Stone family has been farming for 28 years and have three children, Garrett, Landon and Marlea.

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

JULY 6, 2020

Task force organized: Two Oklahoma state legislators have organized a task force to analyze problems in marketing and processing beef. State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, and state Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, have invited independent ranchers, meat buyers, meat processors, livestock auction owners and meat inspectors to convene and identify financial obstacles and structured solutions that will provide a process for long-term financial gain for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. The task force will file a final report with the Oklahoma Senate and House Agriculture committees, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

New director takes over: Bob Scott is the new director of Arkansas’ Cooperative Extension Service, the education outreach portion of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s land grant mission. Bob started the position on July 1, succeeding Rick Cartwright, who retired. Scott, who grew up on a family farm in Binger, Okla., joined the Division of Agriculture as an extension weed scientist in 2002. During his tenure, he also maintained a partial appointment within the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the division’s land grant research arm. In 2013, he picked up an administrative role as director of both the Newport and Lonoke Extension centers, a position he held until March 2018.

In April 2018, Scott was appointed director of the Rice Research and Extension Center, where he oversaw rice breeding and facility modernization on the 1,000acre facility near Stuttgart.

Arkansas Farm Bureau interns named: Two area Arkansas college students have been selected as interns for the Arkansas Farm Bureau. Macie Kelly, of Mountain Home, graduated in May from the University of Arkansas with a degree in agricultural communications and is preparing to begin law school in the fall.

Kelly currently serves as a state representative on the Arkansas FFA Alumni board.

Caleb Swears from Carlisle is a junior at the University of Arkansas studying agricultural business pre-law and crop sciences. He was raised on a six-generation rice farm. Swears is a National Ambassador for Agriculture Future of America. Both Kelly and Swears will be working with several departments within Farm Bureau.

OzarksFarm @OzarksFarm

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Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

VOL. 14, NO. 7

JUST A THOUGHT

3 Jerry Crownover – Summers with the sling blade

8

4

Jody Harris – Family road trip fun

5

Julie Turner-Crawford – County fairs and family traditions

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

7 Family gets back into the goat business

10 16

8

10

Golden Guernsey goats are the breed of choice for Darla Grumbein Museum offers some old-school history

12

Eye on Agribusiness features DT Construction

13

Town & Country spotlights Dillon Mizer

16

Family producers show-quality sheep and goats

18

Couple began a Hereford operation in 2006

19

Youth in Agriculture highlights Taylor Satterfield

FARM HELP 20 Getting used to the new normal

Know a Good Rumor?

Do you have a rumor you would like to share with our readers? Mail them to: PO Box 1514, Lebanon, MO 65536; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com

|

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21

When should a female enter the breeding program?

22

Managing feeder lambs and kids

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Good health benefits small ruminant production

Looking for a guard animal?

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JULY 6, 2020

just a

thought

PO Box 1514, Lebanon, MO 65536

Toll Free: 1-866-532-1960 479-846-1002 • Fax: 479-846-1003 E-mail: editor@ozarksfn.com

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

Eric Tietze

Life Is Simple

Publisher

Administrative Amanda Newell, Marketing Manager Eric Tietze, Accounting

e f i L elpmiS si

Advertising Pete Boaz, Display & Classified Sales Amanda Newell, Production Sales Circulation Eric Tietze, Circulation

By Jerry Crownover

A

s a kid, I used to dread this time of revonworC yrreJ yB year. By now we usually had all of the corn hoed, the second cutting of alfalfa hay was in the barn, and Jerry Crownover is the summer heat would begin to a farmer and former create little wavy patterns in the creek bottom professor of Agriculture air, enough to make one think that they were Education at Missouri looking at a mirage in the desert.

State University. He is a Just when I would begin to think we were native of Baxter County, “caught up” on the farm work, Dad would bring Arkansas, and an out the sling blade, look at me and say, “Those author and professional fence rows are starting to look like a sharecropspeaker. To contact Jerry, per’s farm. We need to get them cleaned up.” go to ozarksfn.com and And by “we,” he meant “me.” click on ‘Contact Us.’ The sling blade I used is referred to by different names by different people, but I looked up pictures of the device I toiled over, and saw it identified as a “hand-held sickle scythe.” It had a blade approximately 2 1/2 feet long, that my father would whet to the point of razor-sharpness. The handle was fashioned out of a curved piece of hickory, with two hand-holds attached to the handle with metal straps. Until all of the fence-rows were cleared of ironweed, poke stalks, milkweed and mullen, the scythe would be like a third appendage to my upper body.

Each morning, after regular farm chores, I’d put on my straw hat, grab the water thermos (a gallon jug filled with ice and water; wrapped in an old denim jumper) and head to the fence row. By mid-morning, one or two of my friends would ride by on their bicycle and stop to talk. The first day of the summer task, I could usually pull a Tom Sawyer and convince them how much fun it was, but they would usually ride on after about 10 feet, or so, of fun. The second day, they would just wave as they passed.

Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Jody Harris, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production Contributors Jordan Gloor, Erin Harvey, Klaire Howerton, Kaylea Hutson-Miller and Terry Ropp

About the Cover Darla Grumbein’s Golden Guernsey goats produce a high-quality milk for her customers.

Read more on page 8. Contributed photo.

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., 2020. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

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By Jody Harris

S

chools closed early. Baseball was canceled. Softball was canceled.

Dance camp was canceled too. As I looked at our June 2020 calendar, it was mostly blank. Our family had Jody Harris is a freelance planned to attend a cousin’s wedding in Iowa communications specialist, and then scheduled our nephew’s baptism the gardener, ranch wife and mother of four. She and day after. The wedding was canceled but the her family raise Angus beef baby dedication was still on. I told my husband cattle and other critters on we would never have a summer freer of kids’ their northwest Arkansas commitments and activities than this year. ranch. She is a graduate My husband loves the mountains and has always of Missouri State University. dreamed of taking our family on a Clark GriswoldTo contact Jody, go to style RV trip through some of the western United ozarksfn.com and click on States. Guess what? We took off in June and did it.

‘Contact Us.’ Let me just tell you, it was AMAZING! We took off early one Saturday morning with our kids already asleep in the motorhome from the night before. We arrived in Weston, Neb., and parked for the night. We enjoyed a visit with cousins and family while we celebrated our nephew’s baptism. From there we stopped and had supper with some muchloved aunts, uncles and cousins at our other family’s century farm in Remsen, Iowa.

We took off early on a Monday and headed north up through the South Dakota.

We made stops at the infamous Corn Palace in Mitchell, the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo and Wall Drug Store. We traveled through the beautiful Black Hills and Badlands to campout near Mount Rushmore National Park. I did not know what our kids would expect but it was exhilarating. What a beautiful American achievement of artistry. We took in a lesson from a local native American culture studies teacher while at the park. It was so amazing we went back at night too.

While in South Dakota we enjoyed the wildlife of Custer State Park, the Wind Cave National Park and the goldrush town of Deadwood. From there we traveled over to Devil’s Tower and hiked up to this national monument. More amazement from all of us. We went on from there to Buffalo and Cody, Wy. The rodeos had not started back up yet but we enjoyed all the cowboy culture. The land was beautiful and untouched.

The highlight of the road trip was Yellowstone National Park. I could have stayed there for a week taking in all the wildlife and natural wonders. My favorite was spotting a momma grizzly bear and her cub along the way. They do not allow me enough column space to describe the majesty of this national treasure. It was beautiful and there was so much to enjoy while visiting.

From there, we went on to Jackson Hole, Wy. and rafted on the winding Snake river.

We made stops in Glenwood Springs and Colorado Springs, Colo., and enjoyed Fish Creek Falls, the Garden of the Gods and the Cave of the Winds. Our final stop was in Pawhuska, Okla., to shop at the Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile and bakery.

We made it back to Fayetteville safely, my husband may be ready to sell the motorhome after driving over 4,000 miles. The thing I am still reflecting on is this, America is beautiful. There is so much to see and do. Most of the people here love our country and are proud of our history and achievements. I am thrilled to celebrate Independence Day this year. God bless America, neighbor.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

JULY 6, 2020

just a thought



A H E R I TA G E O F 

VA L U E A N D V E R S AT I L I T Y

Across the Fence

By Julie Turner-Crawford

I

n my family, we have only a few “traditions.”

Traditionally, we gather for holidays and kids’ birthdays. It might not be on the day of the holiday or the exact birthday, but Julie Turner-Crawford we try to get together when we can. With is a native of Dallas four generations, trying to get all schedules to County, Mo., where she jive can be difficult, but we make it work. grew up on her family’s Like many farm families in the Ozarks, our farm. She is a graduate county fair is one of our family traditions. My of Missouri State brothers and I showed at the fair in our younger University. To contact days, now their children and grandchildren are Julie, call 1-866-532-1960 hitting the show ring. Aunt Julie is always proud or by email at editor@ of them, no matter how they place. My Dad was ozarksfn.com. the hog chairman for decades, with my mom right there too. I was the dairy cattle chair many years and we all pitched in where needed, even if that meant my bothers spending a long, hot night loading and unloading concrete blocks on a sled for a horse pull.

Our fair also has a youth division for fine arts, home economics, horticulture and such. Kids are excited to walk into the building after judging is complete to see what they have won. Participants in those divisions don’t have to be from a farm to enter. Kids can enter drawings, pictures, flowers, even cookies and cupcakes.

Every child in our county has the opportunity to win a ribbon at our little fair, and get a few bucks for their work. Both of my sisters in law and my oldest niece are, or were, teachers, so it’s not unusual to hear, “Mrs. Turner (or Mrs. McCorkill)!

Come see what I did and my ribbon.”

— Continued on Next Page

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My family is prepping for yet another year at our county fair. I’m sure we will see some goats and maybe even a Hereford from my nieces and nephew, and everyone will likely have something in the youth building. I entered a few things in the youth division when I was a kid, but I quickly learned I’m not a great cook/baker, I can’t grow pretty flowers, I can’t draw, I can’t sew and any vegetables I might grow aren’t typically “attractive,” so it’s best if I stayed in the barns.

I don’t help out with the fair like I once did, but I am the “official photographer,” so I will be there for every show, trying to ramrod kids, animals, county queens and princesses, and sponsors all into one picture that not only makes the people look good but the animal as well. I’ll line up kids from the youth division with their ribbons and projects to take their pictures too.

My contribution isn’t much to our local fair, but I feel it’s the least I can do for an event I loved so much to participate in when I was a kid.

Many of our county fairs, as well as larger shows and community events/festivals, are canceled this year in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Even the World Dairy Expo is casualty to the crisis. I guess it’s better to be safe than sorry, but that doesn’t mean participants aren’t disappointed.

Experts say face masks and social distancing are here to stay, making it our new normal. It could also mean more community events will be altered in some way, or simply canceled, including livestock shows. That’s something I don’t want to think about because we need to continue with our old normal for as long as we can.

There have been only a few years over the last 35, 40 years when my family hasn’t shown at our small county fair or at least been at the fair doing something, so it would be hard to let go. It is, after all, a tradition.

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Life Is Simple Continued from Page 3 The brown jersey gloves that I wore did little to slow the blisters that appeared in that delicate part of skin between my thumb and index finger, but Dad assured me they would transform to calluses by the time I had finished.

They did.

I can also remember him sharpening the blade every afternoon when I came in to do evening chores, usually with a comment such as, “You’re supposed to be cutting weeds – not fence posts and rocks.” I always assured him that I’d be more careful the next day. I wasn’t.

In a normal summer, I usually had all the fence rows cleared by the time the third cutting of hay came around. If I

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

was lucky, the heat and dry weather made this task a once-a-year job, but with ample rainfall, I might have to do it all over again in the fall. Dad said clean fence rows were evidence of a good farmer.

Today, when I put the battery-powered sprayer in my UTV, filled it up with herbicide, to begin the much easier task of spraying my fence rows, I saw the same old scythe I used as a kid, hanging on a peg on the inside of my shop. It still has a broken handle, that one of my sons destroyed on his first day of “fence row” assignment. He said it was an accident, but he said it with a slight grin.

JULY 6, 2020

meet your

neighbors

Back in the Goat Business

By Kaylea Hutson-Miller

The Bergmans sold their goat herd, only to start a new herd for the next generation In December, Charlotte Bergman thought her days of raising goats were coming to an end when she sold off more than 40 head.

Her children were grown and married.

Retired from working full-time at Grove [Oklahoma] Public Schools, Charlotte and her husband Billy were considering the next phase of their farm.

Then their grandchildren spoke. With daughter Jennie moving back to the farm with her small family, and their son Zach’s daughters expressing an interest, the Bergmans operation will now extend into a third generation.

est of the three, Jennie would often go along with her mother and brothers on their ag trips. Goats were an animal she could handle as a young showman.

nances – regardless of living in a town or in the country.

In Grove, students are able to contract with ag department to keep their goats, Photo by Kaylea Hutson-Miller

How it began

Charlotte and Billy Bergman married 37 years ago. She was from Southwest City, Mo., he was born and raised on the farm located near Grove High School.

While their sons, Nick and Garrett, focused other aspects of agriculture, Jennie grew interested in raising and showing goats.

When Jennie faced selling her first show goat at market, the family made the decision to start a breeding operation.

Thus Bergman Boer Goats was established in 2008. Originally from Africa, Boer goats are raised to produce meat, rather than milk. The Bergmans raise primarily non-registered does and bucks which are geared toward 4-H and FFA show goats.

They work with genetic partners in southeast Kansas, friends who helped them get established initially and helps them continue to grow.

The Bergmans have a few Lamancha dairy goats, which serve as surrogate mothers when they have a multiple birth.

Charlotte credits Shane Johnson, a former ag teacher at Grove High School, for helping Jennie get established in the goat business. The youngJULY 6, 2020

The Bergman and Kragt cousins, the grandchildren of Charlotte and Billy Bergman, are among the next generation of Bergman Boar Goat showmen, coming up the ranks within the Delaware County Free Fair system.

“He took Jennie to get her first goat as a sheep and pigs at the school farm.

Starr 4-H member,” Charlotte recalled.

Last year, at the age of 2, granddaughter “Anywhere Shane would K.K. took part in her first show go, that 4-H kids could go, – the Delaware County Free Judsonia, Ark. we would tag along and JenFair. Charlotte joked she led nie would show.” her goat around “like a puppy.”

Charlotte likes goats as In addition to providing a project for students, begoats for her granddaughters, cause anyone can raise a Charlotte also sells her stock to goat – pending city ordiarea 4-H and FFA members lookThe Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

ing for show animals. She likes helping launch their show careers.

She runs two breeding cycles – winter breeding for December – born and spring breeding for March – born kids.

They always try to keep does back, so if something happens they always have something to show.

The family offers one-on-one show trainings as needed, and in the past have conducted camps for potential showmen.

The Bergmans feed a “good sweet feed” consisting of 16 percent protein and 4 percent fat. They include Monensin Sodium|Decoquinate, which protects against coccidiosis. They also include a worm regiment, alternating wormers at different times.

The Bergman’s farm consists of 185 acres, and they run black commercial cattle along with the goats. They also grow and raise their own hay and prairie hay.

“To have goats you have to be dedicated to taking care of it,” Bergman said.

“You can’t just buy it, put it in a pen, and not feed it or take care of it and expect to win,” Charlotte said.

Looking ahead, Charlotte and Jennie are making plans to build up the herd with improved genetics. Charlotte said they will keep going, as long as her grandchildren express an interest in showing.

“If they love it as much as Jennie, then I’ll do what I can,” Charlotte said. “We’ll keep following the trend to see what they are looking for in the show ring. What worked for a boar goat five years ago, is not what will win now.”

Jennie and Zack Kragt have two daughters Kimberlyn “K.K.” is 3, and Oklynn is 2. Nick and Megan Bergman three children: Riley, 7, Peyton, 4, and Coy who was born in mid May. Garrett and Shelby Bergman joke they are raising the next generation of ag students through his job as one of the FFA advisers at Adair County High School.

7

meet your neighbors

Going to Golden Guernsey Goats

By Terry Ropp

Darla Grumbein specializes in the heritage breed and it’s rich milk Rick and Darla Grumbein met during their middle years when a friend introduced them to each other because we were both in the livestock industry.

At the time, Rick was rodeoing and raising bucking bulls that he sold all over the country while Darla was working at what was the 10,000-acre Kelly Ranch, a large stocker operation with significant herds of goats and sheep.

Darla grew up in Southern California in Orange County where she was exposed to a exemplary FFA program. Part of that program was a facility that held 100 steers and 80 sheep. After graduating from high school, Darla then went to an agricultural college further north and made her living on the back of a horse, mostly working with cattle.

When a friend asked Darla to come for a visit to Oklahoma 23 years ago, Darla was immediately drawn to the land and people and moved there.

Darla bought three milk goats she kept at Rick’s. Like many cattlemen, he thought the purchase odd. Darla had back issues, so working with cattle was much less feasible than working with small ruminants like her dairy goats. Then Rick as injured in an accident at a cattle sale that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, their life changed dramatically.

“Rick (who has no memory before the accident and had to learn how to walk and talk again) had rehab eight hours a day in Tulsa,” Darla explained. “We got into a routine where I first hand milked two goats as he watched before driving him to Tulsa for rehab five days a week.

When we arrived, I would drop him off and wait to take him back home. I spent the time exploring Tulsa, reading and even working out in a gym.”

8

Darla Grumbein uses AI to maintain genetic diversity in her Golden Guernsey goats.

He got better and no longer thought of the goats as odd. He soon began to enjoy petting them. Before long every baby was his and not something to sell. Because small ruminants are both safer

Submitted Photo

Gore, Okla.

and easier to raise than cattle, what had been home to bucking bulls became home to dairy goats and sheep.

Goats often have

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

twins or triplets so Darla soon had a herd of 40 purebred La Manchas and a few Golden Guernseys, a heritage dairy goat breed from Guernsey Island known for high butterfat content just as Guernsey cattle are. In fact, Golden Guernsey milk has up to 9 percent butterfat. Like the Lipizzaner horses, a small group was saved from German extinction during World War II by being hidden away though it was listed as endangered in 2007 and as a minority breed in 2020.

Because the gene pool for the Guernsey breed is so small, Darla AIs her goats to maintain as much genetic diversity as possible. She also tries to do semen exchanges for the same reason. A slight adjustment may soon be made because a veterinary clinic in Blue Jacket recently added a veterinarian who specializes in AI. Darla found an outlet for her goat milk when she discovered some customers who purchased goats from her also had a Grade A goat dairy. Darla then changed her operation to Grade A. When that dairy went under, she found another creamery in Arkansas built in the 1940s that used old equipment. When equipment wore out, the creamery had to find other old, used equipment rather than the new computerized equipment so everything was compatible. That creamery had 25 goat producers, with Darla being the only one non-Amish producer. After four years, the Arkansas plant went out of business.

Because of the closure, Darla sold most of her LaManchas, but expanded her Guernsey herd. Now Darla has 35 breeding females, 20 of which she is currently milking by hand.

“I love milking by hand,” Darla said.

It is more personal, peaceful and a pleasure more than a job.”

The daily milk output of 20 goats is JULY 6, 2020

meet your neighbors approximately equal to one Holstein is a minimum of three weeks, though cow. She sells raw milk with most of six is best to break the parasite cycle. it going for human infants who can- Unlike goats, which are browsers, not tolerate formula since goat milk is sheep prefer broadleaf vegetation. In easier to digest. order to meet the nutritional needs of Darla also raises commercial sheep both species, detailed pasture managewith a herd of 95 ewes naturally bred ment is essential. Darla hays 16 acres by two rams. Her first sheep came from and pastures the rest using no fertilizer Kelly Ranch. Like goats, sheep are and no herbicide. According to Darla, highly prolific with a very high per- her pasture acreage would support 30 centage of twins and triplets. In this cows with supplemental hay in the year’s production, 80 percent of the winter. Darla still has to mow because births were twins with nine sets of trip- her combined herds are insufficient to lets adding to the crop. keep the pastures from becoming overSome ram lambs are sold to the His- grown. Darla’s hayfield is never grazed panic and Muslim communities. That and is 50 percent clover with added lescustomer base altered her breeding pedeza for the goats with her hay testschedule so lambs are born in Febru- ing close to 16 percent protein. ary rather than in the spring in order Maintaining nutrition for both rumito be ready for imnants requires a vaportant ethnic reliriety of vegetation, gious holidays. Some including grazing ewe lambs not used turnips; the leaves for replacements are are almost 20 percent also sold by private protein. Cold grazer treaty, with the rest rye snow peas must of the lamb crop gobe no-till drilled. ing to auction.

Grazer vegetation Darla sells her ram and peas are planted lambs privately. Bein the hayfield in cause of religious the fall so by midcriteria, the lambs April the vegetation are not castrated. is shoulder height.

Customers take the Darla also uses a hyram lambs to be ritubrid cereal rye. ally slaughtered by One of the most a priest. The ethnic influential people in – Darla Grumbein Darla’s life was Wally and religiously centered customer base Olson, her boss at provides a steadier Kelly Ranch. He market than the was an easy going, cattle market so financial management almost eccentric individual who used is easier. The rest of Darla’s lamb crop a day planner. He would think about is typically sold at auction in Leach, five things at a time, keep them all Okla., a with most of the lamp crop straight, and on top of everything else being consumed rather than purchased knew how to make money. Sometimes for finishing. when Darla would ask him a question, “Purebred goats pay for themselves she come back the next day only to find while sheep are the moneymakers,” Darla out he had signed her up for class, insaid. “They are highly-efficient creatures cluding 12 grazing classes. He was also needing little hands-on care if raised un- willing to experiment to find what was der intensive rotational grazing.” best and experimented with both rotaDarla has 100 acres and combines the tional timing and herd health. sheep and goats into one herd using What she remembers most, however, portable electric fencing to create small is his handling daily problems by askpadlocks. A complete pasture rotation ing, “Is it going to matter in 10 years?”

“

I love milking by hand. It is more personal, peaceful and a pleasure more than a job.”

JULY 6, 2020

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The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

9

ozarks

By Terry Ropp

roots

Old-School History

Boone County, Ark., museum is home to some very unique collections Taking a trip sometimes requires choosing between a big city attraction or a less urban location with the unfamiliar museums.

One often overlooked category of museums is county museums frequently operated by local historical societies. Such is the case with the Boone County Historical Museum in Harrison, Ark. Boone

County’s Heritage Museum opened in 1987 when the Younger brothers of nearby Beaver, Ark., were looking for a home for their extensive collection of railroad memorabilia at the same time the historical society began leasing the first statesponsored high school in Boone County which was founded in 1912.

The old, three-story school became home to a beehive of volunteer renovation activity headed by then–historical society president Fred Hudson. Classrooms converted to themed showrooms and collections which had been stored in various locations.

Curator Toinette Madison has worked as a small museum curator for 15 years.

Coming from a six-generation Boone County, Ark., family, a love of history was a natural.

Having served as the curator of the Newton County Museum, when asked to curate for

Submitted

10

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home

Boone County, she jumped at the chance.

“All three floors are chock full of wonderful stuff that tell the story of our area which, in many ways, tells the story of the early years of our entire region,” she explained. “Details of different areas, of course, are unique, but the feeling of the historical eras is genuine and universal.”

The M&N Railroad (Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad) opened headquarters in Harrison in 1911. Though the railroad was a short line, it ran 365 miles from Joplin, Mo., to Helena, Ark., and provided shipping to larger produce markets. The railroad had a colorful history and has many avid fans whose family members had been employed by the railroad since the beginning.

Railroad buffs are eager to see the extensive collection of personal items such as excursion car dishes, payroll lists and other records, as well as lanterns and other personal items most often lost to time that many museums don’t keep.

Another highly popular collection is in the Dogpatch Room, reminiscent of the Al Capp comic strip. The room contains many items from the local Dogpatch USA

theme park, which was open from 1968 until 1993, another significant area employer. Included in the collection are a restaurant table, souvenirs and the cape worn by the winner of the National Miss Dogpatch Contest, which was held in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Other room themes are a country store and house reminiscent of the late 1800s to 1900s, a medical room and the military room. The military room covers all U.S. wars and is highlighted by the curator’s favorite exhibit, a jacket from the Spanish-American war. The room also contains a Japanese rifle from World War II as well as saltpeter pots used to make gunpowder for Civil War weapons.

Most areas across the country have a larger-than-life folk “celebrity” and Harrison is no exception. Henry Starr was an Oklahoma outlaw who robbed his first bank on horseback and claims to have been the first to use an automobile. He ventured to Harrison, where he killed a U.S. Marshal and was sentenced

Photos

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

JULY 6, 2020

ozarks roots to be hung. However, his dapper mannerisms and pleas from friends earned him a pardon, and he headed to Hollywood to star in movies such as Debtor to the Law. Because the Hollywood venture was not lucrative, he returned home and started robbing banks again. In February 1921, he ventured into Harrison where he met his match in William Myers and was shot.

Henry’s dapper way can be glimpsed in the confession letter he reportedly dictated from his deathbed in Harrison.

Among the museum’s annual activities are a monthly speaker on some aspect of local and regional history, a Halloween Monday Bash and a dinner with living history characters portrayed by local actors.

When the 100-year anniversary of the building came around, the museum had a celebration, which included removing the cornerstone and opening a time capsule. Inside the capsule were records such as rosters of all the churches as well as memberships of civic groups and other organizations.

With the 100-anniversary year of Henry Starr’s death approaching, planning is beginning for another celebration.

The museum is home to a gift shop with an array of historical material.

Area historical and genealogy books are available, as are copies of their newsletter. Also available are CDs relating interesting stories from different time periods including one about Dogpatch.

Recently, the museum received a grant for renovating and upgrading their resource room. This grant makes possible for many of the museum archives to be digitized. Included are school projects done by children during the 1990s about family history as explained by grandparents, friends and neighbors. Many of these projects contain audio and video interviews.

“One of my favorite things to do is helping people find those interviews,” said Toinette. “They often don’t think about them until an interviewee passes away, and then they come here looking to see if there’s any chance that report is still around. I love seeing the joy on their faces when I am able to give it to them. Now I will be able to give it to them in an easily assessable format.”

JULY 6, 2020

F

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Harrison Harrison Green ForestGreen Forest Mtn. Home SiloamSiloam Flippin SpringsSprings Flippin 502 Hwy 62-65 N. 62-65 181 W. St.W. Main 1312St. E. 9th St.1629 E. 1629 502 Hwy N.Main181 MainE. Main 90959095 Hwy.Hwy. 62 E.62 E.30 870-741-9084 870-438-5184 870-425-5530479-524-3511 479-524-3511 870-453-4400 870-453-4400 4 870-741-9084 870-438-5184

Berryville • 344 Hwy. 21 North 870-423-4245 Yellville • 801 Hwy. 62 West 870-449-4966 Flippin • 9095 Hwy. 62 East 870-435-4400 Huntsville • 304 Labarge St. 479-738-6814 Green Forest • 181 West Main 870-438-5184 Harrison • 502 Hwy 62/65 N. 870-741-0855

Siloam Springs • 1629 East Main 479-524-3511 Imboden • 5564 Hwy 63 East 870-869-264

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Auctions on Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.

Special auctions to be announced.

304 West Main Street • Green Forest, AR 72638 Office (870) 438-6915 • Fax (870) 438-5223 www.northarkansaslivestock.com

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

11

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myaglender.com

agri-business meeting the needs of farmers

DT Construction

By Terry Ropp

Owners: Doug, Zach and Levi Tincher (pictured) Location: Gore, Oklahoma History: “My father started building barns in Gore when he was 22 and struck out on his own after five months, founding the business we have today while also working on the family cattle ranch,” Levi Tincher said. “My older brother Zach started college but soon decided where he really wanted was to be home building barns. He began as a subcontractor in 2006 and somewhat later took over the business in Kansas. I followed the same path for the same reasons and started in 2013. After six years working as a subcontractor, I shattered my ankle during Submitted Photo haying season and took over for my dad while he was haying. Pleased with how I had handled things, my dad moved me from subcontracting to taking over the state of Arkansas, with him retaining Oklahoma as his territory. All has worked out well because he needed us and we needed him with the under lying philosophy being God first, barns second.”

Products and Services: “We build barns from a 20-foot-by-40-foot or 20-foot-by-60 open-sided cow sheds, up to large pole barns sometimes called barndominiums. We construct a variety sheds, lean-tos and roofline extensions.

Each project is different. Different locations have different building codes which may change the depth of the poles or the gauge of the metal. Similarly, some customers have very special requests such as covering part of the working pens or using hurricane clips to attach trusses to the sidewalls. I often send customers to our Facebook page so they can see what our work looks like and as inspiration for what they may want. We offer 18 different colors ranging from shades of red, white, tan, and gray as well as blue. We insure the structure until it is completed to handle storm or fire damage. Though we do advertise in some print media, most of our business comes from word-of-mouth. Much of the time we are working for previous customers or their neighbors. It’s not unusual for us to have built 10 barns over 20 years on some of the larger ranches. While some projects are far from Gore, if the project is close enough, I go to the site to shake hands with the people I do business with. We run three crews in each of the three states. When a crew arrives, the materials are already there and a contract is presented to the customer with the supervisor going over all of the details.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

JULY 6, 2020

town & Photo by Terry Ropp

country

in the field and in the office

A group of horn flies is called a “business.”

Ironic, since they could be hurting yours.

A group of horn flies is called a “business.”

Ironic, since they could be hurting yours.

Dillon Mizer

By Terry Ropp

Animals speak louder than words.™ Consistent intake for fewer horn flies.

Family: Wife Brittany Mizer; and 3-year-old son Brady Hometown: Hindsville, Ark. In Town: “In 2013, I began working part-time for Fastenal while earning de-

©2017 Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. All rights reserved.

We can tell you more than this ad ever could. Or go to purinamills.com/minerals

grees in agribusiness/management marketing and animal science at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. After graduating in 2015, I became the manager of the Harrison, Ark., location. Then in October 2018, I was given the same position at the Fayetteville location. The company is a business-to-business distributor for industrial/construction supplies such as safety products, metalworking tools and fasteners. My wife Brittany began working with Cavender’s Western Outfitters in 2011 and was promoted to manager in 2016. When she is not working, she is devoted to taking care of our 3-year-old son Brady and the rest of our home needs.”

In Country: “We live on 3 acres in Hindsville and although the acreage is small,

we are able to raise commercial meat sheep. We have 18 White Dorper/Katahdin cross ewes bred by a purebred Dorper buck. We choose to run a Dorper buck because the buck is the most important in producing vigor Nutrition and a good product. ©2017hybrid Purina Animal LLC. meat All rights reserved.One of my practices is to remove a lamb if a ewe produces triplets or occasionally twins if the lambs are behind in their growth. Those lambs we bottle-feed. I sometimes sell the bottle babies to local people who want to raise out a lamb or have one for their children. I like the Dorper/Katahdin product because the ewes have good mothering traits, including milk production and protectiveness. When I changed my buck and bought my current one last August, the herd became synced so a few lambs were born in late March with most in April. The land is organized into three paddocks, and I rotate fairly often. Health protocols include worming twice a year with a drench and the lambs getting a mixed vaccine shot usually at weaning to protect from tetanus and over-eating disease. Timing is critical, so they receive the shot just before I put them on a mixed grain ration I often mix myself. Ewes hooves are trimmed twice a year, and I also administer LA as needed when wet ground makes their feet sore. We sell our 50- to 60-pound lambs at the Harrison Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction during their special sheep and goat sales which are on the third Friday of every month.”

JULY 6, 2020

Branch, Ark #8 Highway 41 N 479-965-2237 Decatur, Ark 252 N. Main 479-752-3399 Elkins, Ark 2049 Twin Oaks Dr. 479-643-2004 Fort Smith, Ark 201 South 10th St 479-783-8959 Greenwood, Ark 1235 West Center 479-996-4335

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

Lincoln, Ark 216 South Main St 479-824-3288 Lincoln, Ark (Fertilizer Center NWA) 820 Industrial Dr. 479-500-2050 Mena, Ark 318 Hwy 71 S 479-394-3373 Ozark, Ark 1100 Marts Dr. 479-667-3825 Prairie Grove, Ark 3026 E. Heritage Parkway 479-300-2120 Subiaco, Ark Highway 22 West 479-934-4207

Van Buren, Ark 2211 Industrial Park Rd 479-474-8051 Waldron, Ark 1942 South Main St. 479-637-5641 Poteau, Okla 204 North Broadway 918-647-2224 Sallisaw, Okla 2504 West Cherokee 918-775-5519 Springdale, AR. 410 East Huntsville Ave. 479-756-9337 Mena, Ark (Southwest Outdoor Center) 1167 Hwy 71 S 479-394-4899

©2017 Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. All rights reserved.

13

slaughter

market sales repo

bulls

beef

cattle

sheep &

goats

Replacement Goats: Nannies/Does - Selection 1: 190.00-300.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 2: 110.00-160.00.

6/29/20 Families - Selection 1 w/20-40 lbs kid: 330.00.

Demand was good with very active bidding and some new faces setting in the stands. Supply included: 0% Feeder Arkansas Cattle Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Lambs); 68% Slaughter Sheep/ † Ash Flat Livestock Lambs (13% Wooled & Shorn, 79% Hair Breeds, 2% Ew Not Reported Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle † 5% Hair Ewes, 2% Hair Bucks); 14% Feeder Goats (100 Benton County Sale Barn 70.00-109.00 Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo Livestock Market Sheep/Goat 6/23/20 5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Kids); 11% Slaughter Goats (60% Kids, 29% Nannies/D Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction 84.00-109.50* Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Receipts: 841 † 11% Bucks/Billies); 7% Replacement Goats (93% Nanni Cleburne County Livestock Auction 92.00 Steers: 94.00-100.50; wtd. avg. price 96.54.

Compared to last month, slaughter lambs and ewes sold steady Does, 7% Families).

County Line Sale - Ratcliff 93.00 † Heifers: 95.00-99.00; wtd. avg. price 96.51. to firm. Feeder goats were sharply higher while market goats Feeder Sheep/Lambs: Decatur Livestock Auction Not Reported* Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice were mostly steady. Supply was moderate to good with many Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2: 42.50-65.00.

Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita None Reported* Steers: 153.00-155.00; wtd. avg. price 154.62. high quality lambs and goats in the offering.

Demand was very Slaughter Sheep/Lambs: Farmers Regional Sale Barn 70.00-107.00* Heifers: 152.00-155.00; wtd. avg. price 153.59. good.

Supply included: 16% Feeder Sheep/Lambs (100% Hair Wooled & Shorn - Choice and Prime 1-3: 160.00-200.00.

Fort Smith Stockyards 61.00-100.50* Lambs); 69% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (10% Wooled & Shorn, Wooled & Shorn - Choice 1-3: 132.50-172.50.

Four State Stockyards 75.00-116.00* 78% Hair Breeds, 4% Ewes, 8% Hair Ewes, 1% Hair Bucks); Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3: 135.00-205.00.

I-40 Livestock - Ozark 67.00-100.00 † 4% Feeder Goats (100% Kids); 11% Slaughter Goats (80% Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3: 142.50-185.00.

Joplin Regional Stockyards 73.00-117.50 † Kids, 13% Nannies/Does, 5% Bucks/Billies, 2% Wethers).

Hair Breeds - Good 1-2: 150.00.

Mid-State Stockyards 102.00* Norwood, Mo. • Producers Auction Yards Sheep/Goat 6/27/20 Feeder Sheep/Lambs: Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3: 85.00-100.00.

North Arkansas Livestock Auction - Green Forest None Reported † Hair Lambs - Medium 1-2: 220.00.

Receipts: 908 Ewes - Cull and Utility 1-2: 62.50-85.00.

70.00-98.00 † OKC West - El Reno Hair Lambs - Small and Medium 1-2: 185.00-210.00.

Compared to last month, slaughter lambs traded 20.00-30.00 Hair Ewes - Good 2-3: 125.00-135.00.

Ouachita Livestock Auction 87.50-93.50 † Hair Lambs Small and Medium 2: 155.00. higher while slaughter goats traded 30.00-40.00 higher. SlaughHair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3: 92.50-125.00.

Ozarks Regional Stockyards 77.00-120.00 † Slaughter Sheep/Lambs: ter ewes, rams, does and bucks were not well tested however Hair Bucks - 1-2: 105.00-170.00.

Stilwell Livestock Auction Not Reported* Wooled & Shorn Choice 1-3: 123.00-180.00. undertones were higher.

Demand was good on a moderate supply Feeder Goats: Tulsa Livestock Auction 96.00-114.00 † of slaughter animals and a light supply of replacements. Supply Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3: 180.00-207.50.

Kids - Selection 1: 320.00-360.00.

Welch Stockyards 90.00-121.00* Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3: 155.00-195.00. included: 64% Slaughter Sheep/Lambs (8% Wooled & Shorn, Kids - Selection 1-2: 75.00-105.00.

Hair Breeds Good and Choice 1-3: 195.00-207.50.

89% Hair Breeds, 2% Hair Ewes, 2% Hair Bucks); 8% ReKids - Selection 2: 255.00-300.00.

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 placement Sheep/Lambs (68% Hair Ewes, 32% Families); 1% Hair Breeds - Good 1-3: 142.50-187.50.

Kids - Selection 2-3: 240.00-280.00.

Hair Breeds - Utility and Good 1-3: 92.50-115.00.

Feeder Goats (100% Kids); 24% Slaughter Goats (89% Kids, Kids - Selection 3: 190.00-230.00.

3% Nannies/Does, 8% Bucks/Billies); 4% Replacement Goats Ewes - Good 1-3: 105.00.

Slaughter Goats: Ewes Utility and Good 1-3: 80.00-87.50.

(88% Nannies/Does, 12% Families).

Kids - Selection 1: 300.00-370.00.

(Week of 6/21/20 to 6/27/20) Hair Ewes - Good 1-3: 107.50-122.50.

Slaughter Sheep/Lambs: Kids - Selection 1-2: 280.00-305.00.

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy 35.00-69.00 † Wooled & Shorn - Choice and Prime 1-3: 197.50-205.00. Hair Ewes - Utility and Good 1-3: 155.00.

Kids - Selection 2: 290.00.

Hair Bucks - 1-3: 145.00-150.00.

Ash Flat Livestock Not Reported † Wooled & Shorn - Choice 1-3: 170.00-175.00.

Kids - Selection 2-3: 240.00-270.00.

40.00-74.00 † Benton County Sale Barn Feeder Goats: Hair Breeds - Choice and Prime 1-3: 165.00-220.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 1: 190.00.

Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction 48.00-75.00* Kids - Selection 1: 215.00-305.00.

Hair Breeds - Choice 1-3: 140.00-190.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2: 170.00-230.00. † Cleburne County Livestock 35.00-69.00 Kids - Selection 1-2: 285.00.

Hair Breeds - Utility 1-2: 80.00-95.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 2-3: 145.00-175.00. † 20.00-66.00 County Line Sale Slaughter Goats: Hair Ewes - Utility 1-2: 65.00-100.00.

Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2: 185.00-265.00.

Decatur Livestock Auction Not Reported* Kids - Selection 1: 330.00-350.00.

Hair Bucks - 1-2: 70.00-125.00.

Bucks/Billies - Selection 2-3: 140.00.

None Reported* Kids Selection 1-2: 210.00-310.00.

Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Replacement Sheep/Lambs: Replacement Goats: Farmers Regional Sale 25.00-72.00* Kids - Selection 2: 210.00-265.00.

Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 1-2: 120.00-160.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2: 205.00-300.00.

35.00-75.00* Kids - Selection 2-3: 175.00.

Fort Smith Stockyards Hair Ewes - Small and Medium 2: 100.00-112.50.

Families - Selection 1-2 w/<20 lbs kid: 115.00.

Nannies/Does - Selection 1: 185.00-190.00.

Four State Stockyards 20.00-73.00* 2 Families - Small and Medium 1-2 w/20-40 lbs lamb: Nannies/Does - Selection 1-2: 180.00.

I-40 Livestock 20.00-66.50 † 2 200.00-405.00.

Joplin Regional Bucks/Billies - Selection 1: 210.00-240.00.

Feeder Goats: 12.50-78.00 † Mid-State Stockyards Wethers - Selection 1: 310.00.

Kids - Selection 1: 340.00.

72.00* † North Arkansas Livestock Auction - Green Forest Slaughter Goats: None Reported Diamond, Mo. • TS White Sheep/Goat 6/18/20 National Dairy Market at a Glance 6/26 † Kids - Selection 1: 305.00-355.00.

40.00-72.00 4 OKC West - El Reno Cheese: Barrels closed at $2.4000 and 40# blocks at $2.5750. The Total Receipts: 854 † Kids - Selection 1-2: 200.00-330.00.

Ouachita Livestock Auction 38.50-58.50 Compared to last month, prices for all classes of animals were weekly average for barrels is $2.3785 (+0.0705) and blocks, $2.648 Kids - Selection 2: 160.00-280.00.

Ozarks Regional Stockyards 38.00-83.00 † sharply higher. Supply was moderate and made up of mostly (+0.1185).

Nannies/Does Selection 1: 245.00.

Stilwell Livestock Auction Not Reported* several large groups of high quality lambs, other classes were Nannies/Does - Selection 2: 165.00-185.00.

Tulsa Livestock Auction 45.00-75.00 † not near as prominent and mostly smaller lots and singles.

Bucks/Billies - Selection 1-2: 200.00-225.00.

(Week of 6/21/20 to 6/27/20)

50.00-100.00 †

slaughter

cows

dairy sale

10

55.00-83.50*

30

50

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy✝ 6/23/20 775 Steers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs.

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

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

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

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

400-500 lbs.

500-600 lbs.

600-700 lbs.

700-800 lbs.

14 14

St-8 Higher 150.00-185.00 135.00-145.50 120.00-144.00 122.50-145.00 127.00-139.00 131.00-170.00 105.00-145.00 107.00-143.00 119.00-128.00 104.00-122.00 139.00-157.50 122.00-140.50 117.00-135.00 111.00-122.00 -----

70

90

110

stocker & feeder

Bucks/Billies - Selection 2: 155.00-180.00.

6/24/20 707

Cleburne County Livestock✝ 6/22/20 196

County Line Sale Ratcliff✝ 6/24/20 637

Uneven

St-3 Higher

St-5 Lower

Uneven

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

154.00-158.00 147.00-171.00 134.00-158.00 138.00-144.00 124.00-132.00

117.00-176.00 135.00-164.00 110.00-150.00 106.00-141.00 105.00-126.00

158.00-165.00 141.00-157.00 133.00-146.00 122.00-132.00 119.00

140.00-148.00 136.00-155.00 120.00-146.00 130.00-137.00 127.00

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

150.00-160.00 135.00-156.00 122.00-146.00 118.00-128.00 115.00-118.00

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

160.00-161.00 138.00-150.00 124.00-143.00 100.00-127.00 -----

--------126.00-134.00 120.00-123.00 110.00

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

130.00-157.00 125.00-152.00 121.00-142.00 115.00-125.00 111.00-112.00

115.00-148.00 110.00-139.00 105.00-138.00 90.00-120.00 90.00-114.00

130.00-145.00 110.00-136.00 100.00-129.00 114.00-117.00 99.00

129.00-137.00 122.00-134.00 123.00-134.50 115.00-120.00 115.00

Ash Flat Livestock✝

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

---------

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs✝ 6/25/20 1,312

-----

NONE NOTREPORTED REPORTED

0

---------

Farmer’s & Ranchers Vinita, Okla.* 6/24/20 516

Farmers Regional Sale Barn* 6/26/20 388

-----

-----

-----

-----

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

150.00-160.00 145.00-150.00 140.00-145.00 ---------

144.00-159.00 126.00-150.00 124.00-140.00 112.00-137.00 104.00-122.00

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

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

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

140.00-148.00 130.00-140.00 124.00-130.00 ---------

Decatur Livestock*

NOT REPORTED

Welch Stockyards

prices

Fort Smith Four State Stockyards* Stockyards Exeter, Mo* 6/22/20 6/23/20 1,240 1,484

I-40 Livestock Ozark✝ 6/25/20 703

Jop Reg Stock 6/22 5,7

Steady

Uneven

St-5 L

143.00-177.00 133.00-162.00 135.00-150.00 117.00-142.50 115.00-138.50

134.00-150.50 133.50-158.50 130.00-155.10 125.00-147.50 110.00-137.50

139.00-161.00 131.00-149.00 129.00-149.00 120.00-131.00 111.00

160 148.00 137.00 128.00 124.50

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

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

----130.00-156.00 121.00-146.00 117.00-130.50 104.00-117.00

--------99.00-139.00 94.00-121.00 91.00-103.00

-142 131.00 120 --

119.00-135.00 119.00-132.00 112.00-121.00 108.00-121.00 95.00

128.00-151.00 125.00-151.00 116.00-134.00 90.00-128.00 85.00-110.00

127.00-150.00 118.00-145.00 115.00-140.35 113.00-127.00 109.00-116.00

129.00-138.00 125.00-141.50 108.00-128.00 106.00-129.00 108.00-116.00

142.00 132.00 120.00 118.00 112.50

✝ USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

JULY 6, 2020

reports

.00-300.00. kid: 115.00.

Corn

airy sales

9 6

9.04

9.14

Sorghum

5.15

5.01

4.72

ces

I-40 estock Ozark✝ /25/20 703

Uneven

9.00-161.00 1.00-149.00 9.00-149.00 0.00-131.00 111.00

--------.00-139.00 .00-121.00 .00-103.00

9.00-138.00 5.00-141.50 8.00-128.00 6.00-129.00 8.00-116.00

3

3.59

3.49

3.67

3.32

0

ille thev

Bly

a elen

H

Mid-State Stockyards*

St-5 Lower

----142.00 131.00-140.00 120.00 ----142.00-146.00 132.00-143.00 120.00-138.00 118.00-131.00 112.50-125.00

JULY 6, 2020

E

ceola

Os

Little

k Roc

500

250

750

6/22/20 304

Ouachita Livestock Ola✝ 6/23/20 321

Ozarks Regional West Plains✝ 6/23/20 3,678

-----

Uneven

St-3 Higher

Uneven

St-9 Higher

--------------------120.00-172.00 108.00-144.00 95.00-144.00 95.00-124.00 90.00-113.00

145.00-167.00 136.50-153.00 117.00-143.00 120.00-128.00 104.00-115.00 139.00-144.00 129.00-140.00 122.00-134.00 113.00-130.50 106.00-122.00

pairs

----156.00-160.00 144.00-154.00 130.00-144.00 131.00-143.50 ------------------------134.50 127.50-132.00 129.50-130.00 116.00-123.50

1500

145.00-161.00 138.00-147.00 133.00-144.00 126.50-135.00 115.00-122.50 139.00-155.00 131.00-143.00 123.00-143.00 108.00-124.00 93.00-105.00 132.00-154.00 122.00-140.00 121.00-132.00 113.00-124.00 101.00-112.00

164.00-190.00 151.00-172.50 140.00-159.00 138.00-153.00 124.00-140.00 ----145.00-154.00 130.00-142.00 129.00-136.00 ----142.00-160.00 133.00-153.00 130.00-143.00 122.00-139.00 113.00-125.75

132.50 Week of 5/31/20

Week of 5/31/20

125.93

158.71 * 136.41

135.60 124.04 123.39 120.00 125.35 126.80 131.23 134.21

153.53

121.96

139.92 *

123.51

147.66

None Reported *

151.77 129.36 138.00 139.42

124.79

140.19

123.53 142.99 131.67

122.27

140.66

127.09

139.49 139.00

131.52 122.37

141.88

2250

Welch Stockyards*

-----

Uneven

-----

151.09 135.49 132.96 135.60

134.93 116.21 118.09 124.31 119.20

131.79

124.00

143.36

135.69

141.37

6/23/20 1,061 145.00-160.00 135.00-147.00 130.00-155.00 130.00-151.00 120.00-134.00 140.00-148.00 125.00-140.00 110.00-130.00 100.00-118.00 95.00-116.00

130.97

147.04

**

** 136.96

122.72

145.76

128.52

141.94

126.58

147.01 137.68 132.62 139.80

130.00-140.00 120.00-140.00 120.00-143.00 115.00-130.00 95.00-110.00

TheOzarks’ Ozarks Most Farm Newspaper The MostRead Read Farm Newspaper

132.05

129.78

151.97 121 152 183 214 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

118.97

122.60

144.64

90

130.57 123.97

122.73

137.53 143.51

135.00-148.00 129.00-142.00 124.50-135.00 121.50-132.00 107.00-116.00

123.71 123.61

150.75

Tulsa Livestock Auction✝ 6/22/20 2,028

148.00-154.00 138.00-147.00 131.50-142.00 110.50-128.50 -----

135.86 123.66

141.93

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

175.00-187.00 149.00-160.50 140.00-152.50 126.00-141.50 121.00-133.50

123.96

133.58

610.00-1290.00 * 600.00-1450.00 * 500.00-1270.00 * 925.00-1350.00 † 600.00-1225.00 †

1750

131.30

142.53

None Reported † Not Reported *

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

121.50

148.12

860.00 †

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

121.66

147.57

Not Reported † 725.00-1700.00 † 1700.00 *

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

139.92

140.50

1010.00-1180.00 †

1250

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

139.00

142.91

2000

Apr. 20 May 20 June 20

heifers 550-600 LBS.

144.38

None Reported †

OKC West - El Reno, Okla.✝ 6/23/20 7,576

154.00-188.00 147.00-165.00 135.00-157.00 132.00-145.00 125.00-134.00

1000

Jan. 20 Feb. 20 Mar. 20

153.08

Not Reported *

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest✝ 6/24/20 1,723

125.00-190.00 130.00-171.00 115.00-162.00 110.00-152.00 100.00-125.00

675.00-975.00 † 335.00-1350.00 † 650.00-1200.00 * None Reported † 600.00-1175.00 † 600.00-1275.00 †

Welch Stockyards

0

Joplin Regional Stockyards✝ 6/22/20 5,711 160.00 148.00-164.00 137.00-155.00 128.00-147.00 124.50-142.50

laine

700.00-910.00 * 320.00-1125.00 * 700.00-1200.00 *

None Reported * Mid-State Stockyards None Reported † North Arkansas Livestock Auction - Green Forest None Reported † OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Livestock Auction - Ola 1075.00-1570.00 † Ozarks Regional Stockyards 725.00-1400.00 † Stilwell Livestock Auction Not Reported * Tulsa Livestock Auction 700.00-1000.00 †

6/26/20

40# blocks at $2.5750. The 0.0705) and blocks, $2.6485

None Reported *

None Reported *

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

8.74

4.95

4.99

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

800.00-900.00 †

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock Auction County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Regional Sale Barn

12 9.14

steers 550-600 LBS.

50.00-68.00 † Prices reported per cwt Not Reported*

(Week of 6/21/20 to 6/27/20)

Daily Report 6/30/20

Soft Wheat

July 19 Aug. 19 Sept. 19 Oct. 19 Nov. 19 Dec. 19

1375.00 * 800.00-1000.00 †

475.00-1175.00 †

cow/calf

avg. grain prices Soybeans

$80

635.00-1060.00 †

Week of 6/7/20

0.

0. .00-230.00. .00-175.00.

00-265.00.

00.

Not Reported †

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

0

$120

700.00-1125.00 †

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

Week of 6/14/20

0.

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy

Week of 6/21/20

0.

$160

(Week of 6/21/20 to 6/27/20)

Week of 6/7/20

0-100.00.

-85.00. .00.

92.50-125.00.

550-600 lb. steers

$200

Week of 6/14/20

me 1-3: 160.00-200.00.

2.50-172.50.

-3: 135.00-205.00.

185.00.

cows

12 Month Avg. -

$240

Week of 6/21/20

1-2: 42.50-65.00.

replacement

Fluid Milk/Cream: Midwest current milk production is flat. Some have relayed May 2020 monthly output was significantly lower year to year. That said, production has increased farm to farm in spite of the summer weather. Warmer weather is expected later this week and into the weekend. Some expect milk yields to remain somewhat flat as a result. Dairy farmers continue to report component levels, namely protein, are lower year to year. Class I demand remains flat and well below this time last year. Bottlers are also expecting lighter intakes next week, as well. Cheesemakers are finding spot milk loads as low as $2 under Class. California milk production is unchanged from the previous week. The weather has not much impacted milk yield in recent days. Supplies are steady to tight. Class I and II demands are stable, but Class III intakes are strong due to increased cheese production. Ice cream makers continue to ramp up their production schedules. There is a good equilibrium between current milk demands and sales. Nonetheless, spot sales are limited. Arizona milk production is stable to slightly down. Component levels are dropping. The hot and dry weather conditions are uncomfortable for dairy cows. The monsoon season started last week, although there hasn’t been any rain yet. All milk supplies are being balanced within the state. Bottled milk requests are flat. In New Mexico, milk supplies are a bit up. Compared to last week, holdovers have increased, but remain manageable.

Northeast milk production is fairly level. In some areas, there are reports milk production is slightly increased. Midwestern spot milk prices ranged from -$2.00 - +$1.00 over Class. Cream is generally tight nationally, as ice cream producers continue at or near peak levels.

F.O.B. cream multiples are 1.33-1.52 in the East, 1.38-1.50 in the Midwest, and 1.13-1.39 in the West.

SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Midwest - $2.5557 - $2.7383.

NOT REPORTED

bidding and some new included: 0% Feeder ; 68% Slaughter Sheep/ % Hair Breeds, 2% Ewes, 14% Feeder Goats (100% Kids, 29% Nannies/Does, ent Goats (93% Nannies/

✝ USDA Reported * Independently Reported

132.66 245

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

95

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

200

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

15 15

meet your neighbors

Living the Dream

The Bignar family raises show quality lambs and goats at their Arkansas farm. Daughters Makayla and Rylie show at area fairs and are active in the operation.

Submitted Photos

By Jordan Gloor

The Bignar family producers show-quality sheep and goats at Roux Livestock Darren Bignar and his family, gleaned from working at the University owners of Roux Livestock, are of Arkansas for the past 12 years. His living the dream raising goats current position is manager of the Pauand sheep for show in Prairie line Whitaker Animal Science Center.

“I manage the science center and take Grove, Ark. Darren and his wife Denise and their care of all the teaching herds. We have children have won competitions all sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, horses, everyover the state, but they also sell ani- thing here,” Darrin explained. “That’s mals to 4-H Club and FFA kids inter- influenced me a great big deal on what we do at home.” In the past he has also ested in showing themselves.

The Bignars have been raising show worked as a teacher and a researcher animals for about 10 years, getting for U of A. Currently, the Bignars have about their start when their children became one acre for raising their animals. interested in competing.

“We moved two years ago. We’ve got “We started with one of my oldest daughters, Makenzie, when she was in a better barn and everything set up high school. Bought a couple of goats right now with little runs and things just to show,” Darren explained. “It for our show goats.”

At one point the Bignars had a total snowballed from there.” of 20 goats.

Daughter Makayla got “We’ve knocked our numinto it for a while as well, bers down so that we can and now youngest daughter Prairie Grove, Ark. take care of what few that Rylie has become dedicated we’ve got and do it right,” in raising and showing the Darren remarked. He reported Roux Livestock animals. they have eight mature Boer Much of their animal does, two Nigerian Dwarfs and care knowledge Darren has

16

two registered Hampshire sheep.

Rylie now does much of the training.

“She just turned 13 this year,” Darren noted. “She’s a big part of what we do.

She’s a really good showman.”

This year Rylie will be showing four Boer goats and five sheep.

Darren pointed out that Rylie handles her winnings responsibly and with future competitions in mind. “All the money she’s won from showing at jackpots and fairs and things she’s put back into it to buy does herself, so probably half the does she owns herself.”

Roux Livestock animals’ diet gets special attention from the Bignars.

“We try to feed the best possible feeds that we can and we are very strict on what we feed and always make sure to give them clean water,” Darren explained.

The Bignars plant and manage pasture foraging closely.

“When we can we try to provide things to eat that they want to eat,” Darren noted.

They also pay careful attention to where the animals are foraging.

“We try to rotate our animals around into different pastures to try to help with the parasite problems,” Darren explained.

He also takes a conservative approach to applying dewormers.

“I believe in trying to deworm when needed to where we don’t build up resistance in our herd to our dewormers,” Darrin said.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

The Bignars have bred their animals both through AI and natural cover, and they base their breeding schedule on showing season.

“The county fairs are around August,” he noted. “So we want babies to be born around February and March.”

To make that deadline, the Bignars will breed their goats September and October.

The goats’ genetic line is important for Roux Livestock as well. Darren explained.

“The original Boer goat that came over here from Africa, that is an animal that within three months you could have an animal that’s weighing over 100 pounds. As far as show type animals that’s not something we really want. We want something that’s gonna be moderate to slow growth that’s gonna put more muscle on than bone growth.”

Through all the work of raising the animals at Roux Livestock, Darren said his favorite part is the people he has met.

“All over this state, people in Missouri, people in Kansas, several people over in Oklahoma, just from showing a little goat at the county fair, we have made lifelong friends,” Darren said.

All in all, working with animals and seeing his children raise and show them with care and passion seems like the ideal life for Darren.

“I get to get up every morning and I live in kind of a dream land,” Darrin remarked.

JULY 6, 2020

John & Janet Massey Trust 13695 Hwy K • Aurora, MO 65605

ABSOLUTE ESTATE AUCTION

Saturday, July 11, 2020 • 9:00 a.m.

Parcel 1: house, cattle working facilities, two silos, one well, approx 160 acres of land, implement building (60x120), two hay barns (60x80 - open on two sides) and (40x60 - open on three sides) Parcel 2: approx 80 acres - two sides of road frontage, pasture ground Parcel 3: approx 80 acres - road on one side, pasture ground Parcel 4: approx 40 acres, well, open land Parcel 5: house, barn (half concrete floor), open land - approx 40 acres Must provide pre-approval letter from your lender or proof of funds the day of the auction for purchases (land, tractors, trailers and all other purchases). Terms: 10% down day of auction. Closing 30 days or sooner.

Photo I.D. Required!

DIRECTIONS: From Aurora, take Hwy K north. First farm north of Hwy F on the left side of road. From Hwy 174, head south on Hwy K approx.

2.5miles. Watch for sale signs.

This beautiful all-brick 2,879 sq. ft. home has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths; partially finished walk-out basement with mother-in-law quarters...It has an “open concept” Kitchen-Dining- Living Combo, formal dining room, library/ office, huge laundry room and sewing room. The Master Bedroom has a spacious walk-in shower that is handi-cap accessible and a walk-in closet.

The floor plan is split with the master on one end and the other 2 bedrooms on the other end. The fourth bedroom and third bath are in the basement.

There is another office off of the master bedroom, a 2 car garage and separate John Deere/mud room with overhead door for mowers, etc. Home was built in 1992. OPEN HOUSE: JULY 5, 2020 2:00-4:00 OR: call Jackie Moore @ 417-825-0948 for appointment!

TRUCKS, TRAILERS, EQUIPMENT & MISC ITEMS!

Questions, please call: Jackie Moore 417.825.0948 Skyler Moore 417.737.2615 Bailey Moore 417.540.4343 Jason Pendleton 417.437.4552

View sale information on www. joplinstockyards.com

meet your neighbors

Hooked on Herefords

By Terry Ropp

Clint and Cindy Emfinger began their Hereford herd in 2006 Clint and Cindy Emfinger run a Hereford breeding operation on 80 acres near Searcy, Ark. Cindy’s great-grandparents, Clyde and Mary Nicholson, first purchased the land after the war in the 1940s. Clyde and Mary had five children, although only two survived. One of those was Cindy’s grandfather.

“Knowing the history of the land somehow makes the tie stronger,” Cindy said.

Clint and Cindy live on the farm. Their house was built in 1983 by her grandfather and father who were carpenters. Her parents, Woody and Barbara, ran cattle all her life. Then in 2005, an EF 0 tornado stormed through their land and split the farm in half, taking out a barn her grandfather and great-grandfather had built, as well as one her father had built. The storm also made the land unfit for cattle because the fencing was severely damaged in some places and totally gone in others. Woody decided not to rebuild and sold his cows while deeding some of the land to Cindy.

“Clint and I recognized that maintaining the land would require a lot of bush hogging, so we started repairing the fence and went into the cattle business,” Cindy explained. “We were fortunate enough to have James and Barbara Bradley as mentors. They were patient and kind and willing to answer any questions. Clint had been raised in town, and we had a lot to learn but encountered many wonderful people who helped us on our way.”

Though Cindy was raised in a small subdivision, she spent much time at the farm.

The first big challenge for the couple was deciding what kind of cattle they wanted to raise. The most important criteria was temperament, which would increase the safety of their operation.

They chose polled Herefords partially because Mr. Bradley was a leader amongst the area’s Hereford farmers, and partially because Clint researched

18

and visited the Bradley farm and found them to be gentle and great mommas.

“Clint is the stronger rancher,” Cindy said, “He totally embraced the transition, which often morphed into a challenge for both of us. He is good at finding efficient solutions, handling the mechanics, and extensively researching before we make decisions.”

In 2006, after repairs were completed, the couple started with registered Here-

enjoys the tips and interesting stories of each potential customer. Also, it is a very satisfying experience when customers come back because they like what the farm produces.

The Emfingers run a 60- to 90-day calving season in the fall. They followed the advice of James Bradley who explained one reason for fall calving is fewer flies.

Customers want bulls of different ages. Some want them as soon as they

Submitted Photo

Cindy Emfinger lives on the farm that was started in the 1940s by her grandparents.

fords from James Bradley five bred heifers are weaned at 7 to 8 months and will and one cow/calf pair. They now have 22 often buy a pair that have been raised cows and one breeding bull, which they together. Others only want a bull that is change every two years, so they can re- ready to go to work. The Emfingers usutain some of the heifers. ally have both options to offer for sale.

Clint and Cindy believe One of the most stressful it’s important to invest in times for Cindy is waiting superior bulls. for cows to calve. Cindy They sell bulls and some is always excited when the Searcy, Ark. heifers by private treaty. young calves learn to run and Cindy very much apprecifrolic. She feels it’s as if they ates the private treaty syshave a “rocket powered tail.” tem, partially because she When females are ready to give Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

birth, they are moved to the farm’s “nursery.” This is especially important for first-time heifers, and the confined area eases stress for them and for Cindy.

Clint and Cindy rely heavily on vets Chad and Natalie Towns at the Honey Hill Animal Hospital. The herd is worked twice a year, in the spring and the fall, according to a protocol designed by the vets.

Clint and Cindy also use their recommendations on worming, alternating chemicals to prevent resistance. They use an injectable in the spring and an oral drench or paste in the fall.

Brian Haller, White County Extension agent, is another of their mentors. He has been helpful in pasture composition, rotation, and weed control. Consequently, soil is tested every other year with the pastures being mostly Bermuda and fescue, and are over seeded with winter wheat or rye.

Clint is also experimenting in a small area with an endophyte-friendly fescue.

The herd is mostly hay and grass fed and always has free choice mineral with the exact composition changing according to need and season. Protein tubs are put out in the winter and in the spring when the grass is new and does not yet have sufficient protein to promote healthy development. The Emfingers also occasionally use a co-op ration with 14 percent protein.

Clint and Cindy raise their own hay and custom bale hay on shares. According to Cindy, their biggest challenges are to make sure they have enough hay for the cattle and not to exceed the proper number of cattle for their acreage.

The Emfingers have two daughters who help with the operation when needed.

They also have two grandchildren, Ava who is 9 and Henry who is 4.

“The kids love the farm so much,” Cindy said. “They often go on great adventures on the farm so hopefully this will be a legacy for them. Making memories is the gift of grandchildren and one of God’s best blessings.”

JULY 6, 2020

youth in

agriculture tomorrow’s ag leaders

Taylor Satterfield

By Terry Ropp

Age: 17 Parents: Mark and Nancy Satterfield Hometown: Norfork, Ark. 4-H chapter: Norfork 4-H Leader: Elliott Golman What is your favorite aspect of agriculture? “I really

like ecology because it is the foundation of ag as well as the world. We need ecology and work off of that foundation. No matter Submitted Photo what a person’s position or job is, everybody depends on agriculture and agriculture depends upon good ecological practices.”

Who is the most influential person in your life? “The most influential people are my mom and my dad because they work hard and have instilled that ethic in me. It pays off with school because I don’t procrastinate and do my work thoroughly and with my goats because I do what they need 100 percent of the time.”

What is your current involvement in agriculture? “Generally, I help feed the cattle and also take care of the show goats. I feed them in the morning and, if the weather is nice, take them outside. There I bathe and groom them, in addition to practicing for shows by bracing and walking them. I am active in their healthcare by worming them once a month alternating wormers to prevent resistance and by sometimes administrating the shots they need to be healthy. We also take the goats Reprologix in Kansas for AI.” What are some of your agricultural memories? “When I was really little, like about 2, my grandparents, Loyd and Joanne, used to take me into the barn and put me in the hay when momma cows were having trouble birthing. They would pull the calf and I would watch, which I thought was really interesting but a bit gross too.”

What is most memorable about your competitions?

“We show goats in Fulton, Sharp and Baxter counties. I’ve won grand in all of them and go to jackpots as well. What I really enjoy about competing is seeing all the hard work pay off in about five minutes.”

What are your future plans? “I really would like to be a veterinarian. I think working with animals is the best way I can contribute to society while doing something that I love.”

JULY 6, 2020

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ho would have thought?

It doesn’t seem like too long ago I was writing my article urging you to get those “first of the year” financial things done and gear up for a great year.

Our economy was off to a good start and we had high hopes for crop and cattle prices. Fast forward almost four months and here we are.

Look at what we have been through.

First thing that comes to mind for me is obviously the global pandemic. We have seen Erin Harvey is a CRCM, world history be made. Our lives as we knew vice president at them were turned upside down in an instant. I Community quickly found myself working a flexible schedNational Bank & Trust ule with a mix of working at home and some in Lamar, Mo. She in office, as well as attempting to homeschool can be reached at my boys. Daily, we were glued to our televierin.harvey@ sions and social media as we viewed the world communitynational.net intently and as healthcare workers across our country jumped to the challenge.

While this column generally gives us a chance to provide expertise from our industry, this month I want to take this opportunity to shout out to all of the bankers.

As we watched the country and economy come to a screeching halt, the banks didn’t stop or close up shop. Bankers across our country were still going in daily to provide essential services. Our front line staff continued to process transactions and handle currency. If you have ever worked in a bank, you know that money is one of the dirtiest items on the planet and the level of exposure was at times frightening.

As the stimulus checks rolled out, we quickly met the needs of our customers to get their funds available and answer questions. I know many of us took on the PPP loans to try to get funds out to our customers as quick as possible. It seemed like each day new rules or guidance were posted and we adjusted accordingly.

Now, I don’t consider myself a cape wearing super hero but the situation I have witnessed over the last several months has put so much into perspective and made me realize why I do what I do. It was rewarding to watch as our staff came together to pick up the pieces and provide top-notch customer service. We love our customers and we love to watch as dreams come true for individuals and businesses. We want to help and provide the best possible financial products and guidance we can. This is what community banking is all about and I know I can speak for all of us, this is why we do it.

I am continually reminded of the famous Paul Rudd “Look at us, who would have thought” meme. I think many of us can sit back and say the same thing. Who would have thought all of this would have happened? As we all try to get back into the groove of things and find our new “normal” I urge you to stop by and see the bankers in your town. Talk to them, tell them your goals and get them involved.

We want to help and the reason we do it is for you.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

JULY 6, 2020

farm

help

Making farming a little easier

When is the Time Right?

By Klaire Howerton

Sheep and goat producers have several factors to consider before breeding a female for the first time The first round of breeding for a ewe or doe can be a little nerve wracking for the producer.

There are many considerations, such as age, weight, time of year and herd goals; fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately), there is no one right answer for first time breeding management. It requires research, observation, experimentation and a bit of intuition for the producer to make decisions that are right for their farm and their animals.

Sexual maturity will vary from breed to breed.

Generally, weight is a good indicator of breeding readiness. Dr. Elizabeth Walker, animal science professor at Missouri State University, explained hitting 50 to 60 percent of mature weight is a target with any breed of sheep or goats. Other common factors for first-time breeding considerations include gender, birth date and planned breeding dates.

“It all depends on when they were born, gender and weight – those are the big three, if you will. Most sheep and goats are seasonal breeders, so as day length becomes shorter, they start to go into estrus. If a female is born in August, then if that female kid/lamb reaches between 50 to 60 percent of her mature body weight by January, she could come into puberty and breed.

However, say a ewe has a lamb in January or February and her daughter hits that 50 to 60 percent mature body weight by 5 or 6 months of age, it will be July or August, when day lengths are long, therefore she will probably not come into puberty until 7-plus months of age,” Walker explained.

what do you say?

What is the greatest benefit of small ruminant animal production?

JULY 6, 2020

“The greatest benefit of small ruminants is they are safer and easier to handle, especially if you’re older and female.”

Darla Grumbein Craig County, Okla.

Some producers do select an ideal age for first time breeding that works for their program.

Lesley Million of Terrell Creek Farm in Fordland, Mo., likes to allow her dairy does to reach 18 months of age before their first breeding. She also works to get them to at least 100 pounds at this age.

“This helps ensure that a doe is both physically mature enough to kid and mentally and emotionally mature enough to be a good mother to her kids. Besides not caring for her kids, a doe that is bred too early may have difficulty giving birth or developing a decent udder,” she explained.

Producers may also consider performance records of the parents when making first time breeding decisions for the offspring.

Herd records and Expected Breeding Values or EBVs (similar to EPDs in cattle) can be utilized for breeding and selection.

Forage can play a role in when ewes and does cycle into heat for the first time. Walker explained that depending upon forage conditions, ewes and does may only have access to dormant grasses that have lesser energy and will not have that “flush” of energy, at least in fescue country, until later in the fall.

Consulting with the herd or flock veterinarian can help a producer make appropriate first-time breeding decisions. They can also recommend vaccinations, supplements, and other management practices to set new girls up for success.

“They are smaller and safer than our cattle for our children to show and a great alternative so they don’t compete with our cattle breeding stock customers.”

“They are a smaller animal and easier to show, as well as having a lower feed bill.”

Mark Satterfield Baxter County, Ark.

The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

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“The biggest benefit is having a low input with good profitability.”

Mason Ramey Washington County, Ark.

21

farm help

Managing Feeder Lambs and Kids

By Klaire Howerton

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For many small ruminant producers, selling feeder lambs and kids creates an additional product and income stream.

This endeavor, like any in agriculture, takes some research and effort, but when done well it can complement other herd and flock goals.

Creating a successful market for feeder lambs and/or kids first requires establishing your target market audience, explained Dr. Chelsey Kimbrough, specialty livestock/youth education epecialist with the University of Arkansas Extension.

“Sheep have both a traditional market and a non-traditional market (such as ethic, religious markets),” she explained.

Traditional markets consist of lambs that are late winter/spring born. Traditional market lambs will range in weight from 120 to 160 pounds and will usually be between 8 to 14 months old.

The non-traditional market prefers a lighter lamb. Kimbrough said, typically 50 to 90 pounds, making them much younger, generally 3 to 7 months old.

Since religious holidays are the peak times for non-traditional markets, these lambs are typically late summer/ early fall born. Goat kids also have the opportunity for niche markets.

“One is for hothouse kids. This consists of Easter and cabrito markets,” Kimbrough said. “For these markets, kids are typically 18 to 35 pounds. Another popular holiday market includes Ramadan, a month-long Muslim holiday. It is preferred that kids have all their baby teeth and weigh between 55 and 75 pounds.”

Kimbrough stressed the importance of researching and learning about the needs and desires of religious and ethnic markets to create a successful niche for feeder lambs and kids.

“When marketing to the Caribbean peoples, they prefer mature bucks while some prefer dark colored or black goats,” she explained, “Once you have established your marketing audience, you will better understand what restrictions, weight and time of year you are aiming toward as the different markets have varying end goals.”

A successful feeder program includes proper nutrition for developing lambs and kids. Every producer’s herd or flock will have different nutritional needs, so it is best to develop a program with the help of a local veterinarian, livestock nutritionist or Extension professional who is familiar with the animals. One common aspect of a nutrition program is providing mineral, but it’s important to remember that goats require a high amount of copper in their diet, whereas sheep do not, so producers will need to ensure they are putting out the appropriate mineral for their animals.

Along with nutrition comes a host of potential nutritional diseases producers need to be aware of. Many of these issues are triggered by the improper introduction of grain and concentrates, which are often utilized to get lambs and kids to target market weights.

Acidosis is related to a change from a forage-based diet to a high-concentrate diet. It is important to transition slowly to a grain-based diet while still incorporating roughages.

Enterotoxemia, also known as overeating disease, occurs when there is a sudden increase of bacteria in the small intestine commonly occurring in younger animals. Clostridum perfringins Type C and D naturally occur in the intestine, but a sudden increase in concentrates causes them to reproduce

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

rapidly and release a toxin. The best preventative is to vaccinate against enterotoxemia and to gradually increase concentrates in their diets.

Bloat comes in two different types: legume/pasture or frothy/grain. Legume/ pasture bloat can be caused from different legume forage species including alfalfa, ladino or white clover and Persian clover. Additionally, lush ryegrass or small grain pastures can also be the cause of bloat. Frothy/grain bloat occurs when high-grain diets are fed.

“Do not turn out hungry sheep or goats on lush legume or small grain pastures. They first need to be fed hay before turning out. When going from a forage-based to a grain-based diet, it is important to gradually introduce the grain,” Kimbrough advised.

Urinary calculi occurs when there is a calcium deficiency. Kimbrough stressed the importance of ensuring that rations have a 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio.

When the phosphorus level exceeds the calcium level, stones can form and can get stuck in the urethra, causing males difficulty when urinating.

Prussic acid poisoning occurs when plants are stressed and wilted, and become unsafe for sheep and goats to consume due to the hydrocyanic acid. Susceptible plants include grain sorghum, Johnsongrass, sorghum-Sudan grasses and many fruit trees.

Nitrate poisoning occurs when sheep or goats consume an excessive amount of nitrate or nitrite from grazing crops, hay, silage, weeds or water. When there has been an excess in fertilizer usage or stress, plants contain a buildup of nitrates. These nitrates alter the hemoglobin in the blood causing less oxygen to be carried through the bloodstream.

JULY 6, 2020

farm help

Small Ruminant Health Program

By Klaire Howerton

ers should consult with their veterinarian or nutrition specialist for this, as it will vary greatly from farm to farm, and by species.

One key item to bear in mind is that goats need high amounts of copper in their diet, and sheep do not. The amount of copper required by a goat could kill a sheep. If a producer has both, they will need to be fed and receive appropriate mineral separately. Both will benefit from having access to free-choice salt.

Producers should use their resources when it comes to developing a small ruminant health program. Veterinarians, nutrition specialists and area Extension professionals can help create a successful program that benefits both the producers and their herd or flock.

Good flock/herd health benefits animals and producers Keeping small ruminants in good health is imperative to the success of a goat or sheep operation. This is where establishing a herd or flock health program comes in.

Following a health program, created with the help of a veterinarian familiar with the herd or flock, allows producers an efficient way to stay on a routine vaccination and deworming schedule, identify diseases and other potential health issues quickly and administer treatment, and implement biosecurity measures for the safety of their animals, all of which keeps small ruminants fit and at optimum production levels.

The first step in creating a health program is finding a vet familiar with small ruminants, if a producer does not already have such a vet on call. Dr. Chelsey Kimbrough and Dr. Heidi Ward, with the University of Arkansas Extension explained sometimes a producer might need to assist their veterinarian in developing their small ruminant knowledge so they can assist in establishing an appropriate health program.

In some cases, you may have to select a veterinarian you like and allow him/her to gain experience with goats in your herd. The veterinarian has the training to provide a diagnosis or the means of obtaining a diagnosis when a disease occurs. The veterinarian should also be familiar with products for treating goats, as well as current regulations and health requirements for shipping animals.

Personal observation and record keeping are cornerstones of a health program. Observing normal behavior now will help a producer identify abnormal behavior later and will put them in a better position to quickly administer treatment or call the JULY 6, 2020

vet. Records, like with any agricultural enterprise, are a must. Producers should record their observations of any animals that are unwell, along with the frequency and type of treatment administered. Dates of routine vaccinations and deworming, animal identification numbers, Body Condition Score (BCS), frequency of maintenance tasks like hoof trimmings, etc., should also be recorded.

Each operation will vary somewhat in its vaccination needs and schedule, but some common vaccinations are CDT (an enterotoxemia vaccine for sheep and goats), BoSe (to prevent selenium deficiency, primarily given to goats), blackleg (sheep and goats) and sore mouth (sheep and goats).

Routine deworming is also a typical part of a health program. The herd/flock veterinarian can help producers determine what their animals need and when. Hoof trimming needs will also vary by operation but is a management practice that should ideally be implemented in some form or fashion.

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farm help

Livestock Guardians

By Klaire Howerton

Tips for the care, management of animals to protect livestock Predation of livestock has long been one of the main sources of conflict between humans and wildlife, resulting in control methods an attempt to reduce livestock losses.

Livestock guardian animals are a way for producers to bridge the gap.

Livestock guardians have been an effective form of predator control for farmers and ranchers globally for centuries.

Typically, most guardians oversee herds of goats and flocks of sheep and chickens, although they are not limited to these types of stock.

As with any animal who is required to perform a job well, there is training and management that will need to take place to set the dog, llama or donkey up for success. A well trained and wellkept guardian will provide years of dedicated service and peace of mind.

Livestock Guardian Dogs

Dogs are a popular choice as protectors.

When selecting a livestock guardian dog (LGD), do not select a herding breed.

Herding and guarding are two entirely different jobs. Herding dogs (such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Heelers) view livestock as something to move.

Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, Akbash and Bulgarian Karakachan view livestock as part of their pack and protect them from predators and other threats.

LGDs will stay very close to their stock, making them excellent travelers if herds or flocks are moved from pasture to pasture frequently. This is also an advantage should the animals escape a producer’s property; the dogs will go with them and continue to protect them.

A LGD will roam if not properly managed and trained, and a roaming LGD is not doing its job. Dogs that roam are also at risk to get injured or stolen, and often infringe upon neighbors and their property. Proper management requires a

24

good fence to keep the dog(s) on their person’s farm. If the fence is not dog tight, chances are it is not sheep or goat tight, so invest in appropriate fence.

Producers should help their dog bond with their animals. This is best accomplished by enclosing the puppy or dog in a small area with at least a few of the livestock so both parties become accustomed to being together. A common complaint when a producer brings home a puppy is that the puppy chases the livestock. Livestock need trained to accept the puppy just as much as the puppy needs trained to accept the livestock, so placing them in close quarters allows the puppy to get to know his or her new charges by sight and smell, and the livestock to have time to accept that the puppy is not a threat. It also allows the producer the opportunity to correct the dog for any inappropriate behavior.

“Getting them to bond with ‘their’ animals is key. Make sure that if you have to bond them with larger animals, like a puppy with mature goats, put in a space where the dog can escape in case you have a goat or sheep that gets aggressive with them. They can really injure a puppy or make them so afraid that they won’t bond,” Dr. Elizabeth Walker, animal science professor at Missouri State University, explained.

Older, mature LGDs are wonderful trainers for a puppy. Walker said one of her favorite methods for training an LGD is to place a 4- to 6-month-old puppy with an experienced dog of about 3 to 4 years.

Many people assume because LGDs have natural guarding instincts, they will not have to train the puppy or dog. This is not a wise assumption to make, as it will set back both the producer and the dog.

Always reward the dog for performing a task well and for displaying desired behavior; correct what is inappropriate and guide them to a different action.

While each LGD breed shares a job,

there are many specific traits and needs within each breed. Do ample breed research to ensure the right breed for the operation is chosen. Many producers have made the mistake of trying to treat a guardian dog like a pet or companion. This is one of the quickest ways to prevent them from bonding with livestock. While LGDs should absolutely be trained and accustomed to being handled by producers for grooming and veterinary care, their job and home is with the animals, not in the house.

Donkeys

Some producers might choose to utilize a donkey as a livestock guardian animal.

Walker noted they can eat what sheep and goats do, which is a nice convenience.

If a producer has a coyote or stray/wild dog problem, a donkey might be a good choice as they tend towards aggression when it comes to canines. Donkeys cannot handle the same types of predators to livestock that LGDs can, such as mountain lions or bears, but they can deal some damage through kicks and bites to smaller predators.

Donkeys are territorial and are motivated to fight to protect their boundaries, rather than out of devotion to the livestock. They tend to live as part of the herd until a threat presents itself. Ideally, the best way to train a donkey is to raise it from a foal with the livestock, although it is possible for older jennies and gelded males to be acclimated to a new career as a guardian. Producers need to be very observant with guard donkeys.

“A donkey can work, but I have seen them be aggressive towards livestock and try to ‘play’ with them, which resulted in death of the livestock – especially the babies,” Walker cautioned.

If a producer chooses to invest in a donkey as a livestock guardian, they need to research and understand their care and training. Donkeys’ veterinary

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

and maintenance needs differ from their companions and will also require training such as halter breaking so that they can be safely led and handled.

Llamas

A llama has the potential to serve as both a livestock guardian and can be a fairly low-maintenance security system.

A llama is naturally social and if he is the only llama in the area, he will usually stay with his pasture mates.

After a careful introduction to each other, llamas usually bond fairly quickly to their companions. There is no need for the extended training period you might have with a LGD. Some stock are frightened or skittish around dogs but will accept a llama. Llamas are able to guard sheep, goats, cows with calves, deer, alpacas and poultry. Foxes, coyotes and dogs can be deterred with a llama or two, and they have close to the same nutritional and shelter requirements as sheep or goats, making them a convenient choice of guardian.

Llamas also tend to be respectful of fencing better than other guardians might be.

While they might not challenge a fence to escape, they do sometimes insert their head and necks through it, so a producer would need to be thoughtful with their fencing materials. Llamas have a calm demeanor, which is appealing to producers who have frequent visitors. They do require training and handling so they can be haltered, sheared, have their hooves trimmed and receive veterinary care. Llamas can also provide a product, not just a service. Many fiber artists appreciate their fleeces.

With training and management, livestock guardians can provide benefits for their charges and the producer. Researching different types and breeds, visiting with breeders and talking with folks who are successful with guardian animals will help get a producer’s guardian of choice off to a strong start on a lifetime of service.

JULY 6, 2020

JULY 6, 2020

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Connecting Buyers and Borrowers with a Quality Bank

Ken W. Knies

479-426-9518 kenknies1@gmail.com “Your First Call for Ag Financing”

Sell Your Farm Equipment or Livestock with an Ad in Our Classified Section!

Be Sure to Ask About Our Rate Discounts!

Don’t Delay! Call Today!

Reach More Than

24,000 Readers

Who Are Primarily Livestock Producers,

By Placing Your Ad In the Purebred Corral, Call Today!

532-1960

1-866-

JULY 6, 2020

Toll Free: 1-866-532-1960 ads@ozarksfn.com The Ozarks’ Most Read Farm Newspaper

27

WELCOME TO

Wood Motor Company is constantly working and sanitizing to ensure a safe environment.

WITH OUTSTANDING INCENTIVES, NOW IS THE TIME TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR OR TRUCK. So for a safe, sanitized sales experience come, call, email or text.

WE ARE OPEN AT ALL LOCATIONS!

WE’LL DELIVER TO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS! MISSOURI ARKANSAS

Super Duty 2020 Ford F250 XLT aded 6.7L Diesel Lo

2020 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Cummin s Diesels DewEze Hay Bed Ready!

ckage, 2020 3500 HD Work Truck Pa n iso All d Durmax Diesel, an Transmission

We have a Large Selection of Heavy Duty Trucks Ready to Upfit to Your Specific Needs with Several Cab and Chassis Models to Choose From and More Arriving Soon!

— WOOD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR CUSTOMERS FOR A RECORD MONTH AT BOTH LOCATIONS! —

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE DAILY, WE JUST ADDED 70 USED CARS AND TRUCKS WITH MORE ON THE WAY

JUST IN 3 K 24’ GOOSENEC TR AILER! E! CALL FOR PRIC

Wood Motor Company has been a Gooseneck Brand dealer for over 30 years, we stock the trailers that you want to buy and We will not be under sold on a Gooseneck brand livestock trailer – Period!

Email or Call Mark Hanshaw with your Specs for a Quote! mhanshaw@woodmotor.com or 870-715-9177 Financing Available!

A SOLID NAME YOU CAN TRUST

WOOD MOTOR CHEVY • 877.203.6897 • 600 US-62, HARRISON, AR 72601 WOOD MOTOR NISSAN • 888.202.2709 • 600 US-62, HARRISON, AR 72601 WOOD MOTOR FORD • 417.952.2992 • 94 HIGHWAY 00, JANE, MO 64856 WOOD MOTOR CDJR • 417-708-5746 • 94 HIGHWAY 00, JANE, MO 64856

Check Out More Of Our Inventory at WoodMotor.com