Ofn dummy 8 17 15 by Eric Tietze

Hooked On Goats AUGUST 17, 2015• 36 PAGES

VOLUME 9, NUMBER 9 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

John & Sharon Pickering have quickly built a solid reputation in the show ring

AUGUST 17, 2015

The Road Less Traveled The Lucky Star Farm lets the animals do some of the work

Prepare Now for Fall Calving

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Website about Question 777: The Oklahoma Farm Bureau has announced the launch of a website to field questions about the upcoming Question 777 that will appear on the state’s ballots in November. Q 777, or the Right to Farm, is a state constitutional amendment to protect Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers from unreasonable government interference and attacks by out-of-state special interests, according to the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Benton County’s Lockhart named 4-H Governor’s Award winner: Joshua Lockhart, 19, of Gravette, Ark., the son of Ross and Brenda Lockhart, has been selected as this year’s winner of the Governor’s Award, the highest honor in Arkansas 4-H. The award was presented by Phyllis Bell of the Governor’s office. She presented Lockhart with a commemorative silver tray in a ceremony in late July. “Joshua exemplifies the ideals 4-H seeks to instill in its members,” said Anne Sortor, associate director-extension for the 4-H Youth Development Program. “It’s wonderful to have our Governor’s Award winner and finalists as role models for our program.” Lockhart, is a freshman poultry science major at the University of Arkansas. Lockhart’s community service project was the development of a care package system that was mailed to families in need following a devastating tornado in Moore, Okla., in 2013. Lockhart’s co-finalists were Lauren Cheevers of Fayetteville and Stephanie Williams of White County. Scholarship winners from the Ozarks: Winners of the 2015 Arkansas Junior Cattlemen’s Association Scholarships are: Kylee Sigmon of Berryville, Ark. ($1,800); Will Clark of Rogers, Ark. ($1,800); Wyatt Mosher of London, Ark. ($1,300); Shaina Manning of Ash Flat, Ark. ($1,000); Dakota Williams of Ash Flat ($1,000), Hunter McClellan of Greenwood, Ark. ($700); and Rebecca Sterner of Mena, Ark. ($700). Wyatt Mosher was also awarded the MultiminUSA® $500 scholarship. Oklahoma Crop Weather Summary: The Oklahoma Crop Weather Summary for August found at the top of the report dated August second. State Statistician Will Hundl and his staff wrote “No areas of the state were experiencing drought, compared with last year at this time when 76 percent of the state was in some category of drought.”

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AUGUST 17, 2015

8 14

VOL. 9, NO. 9

JUST A THOUGHT 3 Jerry Crownover – Trading places 4 Jody Harris – County neighborhoods 5 Julie Turner-Crawford – The battle MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS 7 Arkansas Cattle Auction focuses on honesty

10 12

Withstanding the test of time

14 24

Town & Country features Jeremy Wilhite

Teen starts Foster Ag Services with drone technology

Youth in Agriculture spotlights Terin Fletcher

The Pickerings believe in breeding for show-quality animals Eye on Agribusiness spotlights Georgia Poultry Equipment The Lucky Star Farm lets the animals do some of the work

FARM FINANCE 15 The importance of having a business plan in place

24 26

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Don’t forget to talk to your children about money

17 20 21 22

Tips to protect your identity Investing for returns Discovering the value of your farm Hiring help? Adding an employee brings additional liabilities, legal requirements

FARM HELP 30 Backgrounding feeder cattle 32 Don’t bug me! Ways to control flies 33 Prepare now for the fall calving season

AUGUST 17, 2015

just a

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ave and I were in school together revoago, nwoand rC yeven rreJ yB a long, long time though we both were majoring in agriculture, we took very different Jerry Crownover is career paths upon graduation. a farmer and former While I taught for several years before becomprofessor of Agriculture ing a full-time farmer, Dave worked his way Education at Missouri through the ranks of business and finance and is State University. He is a now at the top level of his industry, working in native of Baxter County, the largest city in America. Arkansas, and an I always liked Dave, and we have kept in conauthor and professional tact through the years. We frequently correspond speaker. To contact Jerry, through email and a recent communication cengo to ozarksfn.com and tered on that fork in the road that each of us took click on ‘Contact Us.’ over 40 years ago. Dave suggested that each of us compile a journal for a day and compare the similarities (or differences) in our daily life. I agreed, and I now provide you with a portion of that comparison. DAVE: Arose at 6 a.m., showered, dressed in business suit, and headed out for an almost two-hour commute to the office by taking two trains and the subway. ME: Arose at 6 a.m., showered, put on a shirt, blue jeans and boots. Grabbed my old, sweat-stained cap, and took a less than two-minute walk to the machine shed, where I got in the truck. DAVE: Stopped by a coffee shop on the walk from the subway to the office; had to get rude with some panhandlers and beggars outside the coffee shop. Same bunch every morning. ME: Drove the truck to the quick shop to get coffee and a newspaper. All the locals try, every day, to get each other to pay for their coffee. No one ever does. Same bunch every morning.

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Administrative Eric Tietze, Vice-President Operations Kathy Myers, Marketing Manager Sandra Coffman, Accounting Advertising Pete Boaz, Display & Classified Sales Kathy Myers, Production Sales Circulation Stan Coffman, Circulation Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Jody Harris, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production

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About the Cover Sharon Pickering, along with her husband John, focus their breeding program on producing highquality show goats. Read more on page 9. Photo by Terry Ropp Ozarks Farm & Neighbor accepts story suggestions from readers. Story information appears as gathered from interviewees. Ozarks Farm & Neighbor assumes no responsibility for the credibility of statements made by interviewees. © Copyright Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, Inc., 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

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Freshly Picked By Jody Harris

ur oldest daughter once asked me if we lived in a neighborhood. Jody Harris is a freelance Many kids at her school live in communications specialist, town and are closely knit into gardener, ranch wife and subdivisions where they reside. mother of four. She and I’m sure “where you live” and “who you play her family raise Angus beef with” is a hot topic at elementary school. cattle and other critters on I explained to her that yes, indeed, we do live their northwest Arkansas in a neighborhood. Then I had to explain to her ranch. She is a graduate how country neighborhoods work. of Missouri State University. I had to think for a moment. What are the dyTo contact Jody, go to namics of a country neighborhood? We certainly ozarksfn.com and click on aren’t governed by subdivision covenants. Yet, ‘Contact Us.’ somehow there are several unwritten rules for maintaining a sense of community in the country. At least by our family’s standards, there are. First, when someone moves in, my husband likes to be the first one to roll up their driveway in his RTV to make an introduction. We can’t see any of our neighbors’ homes from our house, so visiting requires a drive or a long hike up or down the hill. Since moving to the country, I have dubbed my husband the “Mayor” of our road. When we moved out here, the private county road was a narrow path of dirt leading to our house. Any time it rained, you were out of luck if you didn’t have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to get out of our driveway. He has coordinated with all of our neighbors to add gravel, grade the road and even scrapes off snow and ice. Everyone pitches in to take care of the common road, no questions asked. Garbage service is another complication living in the country. After trying to maintain a country trash service that limited every bag we needed picked up, we sought another solution. We formed a “trash coop” among several neighbors a couple of years ago. Everybody pays for their share and we have a community dumpster. Problem solved. There’s an informal phone tree that goes off and rings neighbor-to-neighbor when livestock (or turkeys) are loose on one of our adjoining county roads. We’ve been on the receiving end of a phone call from the county sheriff’s office for having cattle out on the road. Somehow there is always a neighbor close by when you need help gathering cattle, moving a piece of equipment or even to give a second opinion on a mechanical problem. We have happily fed dogs, cats and chickens for neighbors that head out of town on vacation and the favor is always returned. We’ve shared vegetables, pickles and jelly at Christmas time. Our neighbors always buy a box (or 10) of Girl Scout cookies from our daughters. When someone can’t get home to meet their kids at the school bus on time, there is always a neighbor you can call to meet them. It takes a village, right? A few times over the years we’ve had neighbors experience long-term illnesses. In those days we’ve made it a point to stop and visit and offer encouragement and help where we can. When someone passes, everyone gathers for the funeral and bereavement casserole dishes are dropped off in abundance. A loss is a loss to our entire community. I’m not saying there are never disputes in a country neighborhood, there are. They are easily resolved by working together toward a common goal – making it on the farm. Some say good fences make good neighbors. We like what the Bible teaches, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It works for us in our neighborhood, no governance required.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

AUGUST 17, 2015

just a thought

Across the Fence

By Julie Turner-Crawford

ocial media. Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay. Social media is a great way to reconnect with old friends, and it is a quick Julie Turner-Crawford way to let lots of people know about is a native of Dallas changes in your life, like the birth of a child, a County, Mo., where she new job or a marriage. Nothing better than tellgrew up on her family’s ing 1,000 people your news at one time with just farm. She is a graduate a few stokes on the keyboard. of Missouri State I like to post things on social media about the fun University. To contact times at the Crawford Ranch, be it Bill saying or Julie, call 1-866-532-1960 doing something that makes me laugh or the antics or by email at editor@ of our dog, Nell. I like to laugh, so I want people to ozarksfn.com. laugh and trust me, Bill and Nell are pretty comical. However, social media has it’s downfalls, and people have the tendency to believe everything they read – no matter how outrageous it might be. Anti-agriculture organizations have harnessed the power of the web to spread misinformation – and the public is listening. PETA’s Facebook page has 3.3 million followers and a photo of a dairy animal as its cover photo. The photo description says “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any way.” There are some bad guys out there, but the vast majority of farmers and livestock producers have hearts, big hearts, and spend countless hours ensuring their animals are well cared for. What many of these organizations don’t share with their social media followers is exactly how few of the donated dollars they receive actually go to caring for animals. For example, according to HumaneWatch, a not-for-profit organization that monitors the Humane Society of the United States, the HSUS doesn’t actually operate a single animal shelter. Also, less than 1 percent of its more than $100 million annual operating budget even goes to shelters in the form of grants to help provide for the care of animals. — Continued on Next Page

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just a thought Across the Fence Continued from Previous Page The Humane Society of the United States generally responds to the criticism by saying that it focuses on the larger, systematic issues affecting animal welfare, but that is also misleading. The HSUS spends millions on lobbying, including ballot initiatives that target family farmers. We’ve seen that right here in the Ozarks. The organization also has a farm animal protection campaign that targets farmers, so it’s not just about dogs and cats, despite the majority of their TV commercials showing pets. But will these organizations actually pitch in when it comes to helping to care for livestock? There are rescue organizations that will take in mistreated horses and other livestock, but when faced with a large crisis situation, do the organizations really think of all animals?

I know first-hand that the answer can be “Sorry, we can’t help you.” To those who think their $19 a month is going to help animals in need, think again. Not all animal welfare organizations are against farmers. There are many in the Ozarks that do wonderful things and help animals in need, but be very particular when selecting an organization to give to. Next time you are on social media, seek out pro-agriculture organizations and show your support for family farms by simply clicking the “Like” or “Follow” button. Let’s show that we have a voice on social media as well.

Life Is Simple Continued from Page 3 DAVE: Started the day with a thirtyminute strategy meeting with department heads. Asked for input, and then devised some plans. ME: Visited with the guys at the quickshop for about thirty minutes. We solved most of the world’s problems – if the politicians would only listen to us. DAVE: Went out on the balcony for some fresh air, mid-morning. Air quality is terrible in the city today, so didn’t stay long. ME: Rolled down the window while checking cows and, either something died, or the neighbor is spreading poultry litter on his pasture. DAVE: Had lunch catered in, today; too much work to take our normal lunch out. ME: Skipped lunch today. Hay had to be raked and baled before it gets too dry; 96 degrees with blistering sun and high humidity. DAVE: Worked late and missed my 6:00 train. Didn’t get home until 9 p.m. Wife wasn’t a happy camper.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

ME: Got the hay baled about 8:30, and it was almost 9:30 before I got everything put up and made it home. Wife is used to it. DAVE: Tried to relax out on the patio, after dinner, but couldn’t stand the noise of the sirens. Must have been a major wreck on the freeway. ME: Sat on the back porch, after supper. Crickets and tree frogs were the only sounds I heard. DAVE: Want to trade places for a few weeks? I know Dave well enough to know that he earns about 20-30 times what I do in a given year, depending on weather and cattle prices. Even if I could do his job and assuming that he was capable of doing mine, I wouldn’t have the least bit of interest in trading places with him. I’m pretty sure that Dave is happy that he took his fork in the road forty years ago, and I’m absolutely certain that I did.

AUGUST 17, 2015

meet your

neighbors

Focusing on Honestly

By Gary Digiuseppe

Arkansas Cattle Auction draws sellers, buyers from around the state and beyond Although it’s in the middle of the White County town of Searcy, Ark., the sign over the barn reads, “Arkansas Cattle Auction.” “We were just going to reach out, and hopefully have this good central point for a livestock auction. We have reached out several miles, and brought a lot of cattle

from local farmers, in about a 100-mile radius. We just focus on honesty, and try to work for the farmers and do a good job marketing their cattle.” Goodman came to the stockyard with 30 years’ experience in the cattle business. “I’ve always been in the cattle business, and I’ve kind of enjoyed cattle

Randy Goodman, left, and his wife, Melissa, purchased Arkansas Cattle Auction in 2007. Photo by Gary Digiuseppe

into central Arkansas here,” owner Ran- trading and raising, all of the above, and dy Goodman told Ozarks Farm & Neigh- ventured off into cattle marketing and stayed there,” he said. bor about the livestock market’s name. Goodman co-operates the auction with In fact, in 2014 the sale barn attracted a record number of cattle – over 44,000 head. his wife, Melissa, who told OFN she does Goodman said after they acquired the “a little bit of everything.” “I do work in the office a good bit durauction in 2007, they remodeled the old ing the week, and on sale day for sure,” she barn and have had good runs since. “We have a capacity of 2,000-plus head said. “Whatever Randy needs me to do, I just enjoy working with him.” of cattle here, and have The Goodmans also have seen almost that many here their own cow/calf and stockto test it,” he said. “In our Searcy, Ark. er cattle herd. business, we strive to sell The weekly sale at 1 p.m. on fresh cattle. We don’t have a Tuesdays attracts eight to 10 buyers, lot of ‘jockey’ cattle (brought along with local farmers who need in from another sale barn) to restock their herds or are looking here; all these cattle come in AUGUST 17, 2015

for stockers. In addition, Arkansas Cattle Auction conducts preconditioned calf and yearling sales about every three months, several special cow sales and Saturday sales throughout the year. Randy is a member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, which sponsors his bred heifer sales. Sales can be seen live on the Internet, through the web site CattleUSA.com. Customers can register and even buy online. Randy said they’ve had participants as far away as Nebraska, but most of the online buyers are “older farmers that like to buy a few stock cows; they like to look on line and see what these calves are bringing, and bring their cattle to market when it’s good.” “The on line sales have actually encouraged people to bring their cattle here to market with our barn, because they’re able to watch things on line,” Melissa added. “They like what they see as far as the prices, or the way we operate the business. We’ve had several new customers come on board just because of that, so it’s been a good asset for us.” Bob Smith is a satisfied customer. The Searcy rancher, who runs 180 mixed breed cows and calves, told OFN, “I bring everything I have here. Randy’s a good guy and treats everybody fair, I think. I like coming here, and he’ll help you out any way that he can. I think it’s as good a market as there is anywhere.” Randy Goodman is the ring man at the sale, and sets the opening price for the cattle. He said barring a flaw, they never go backward. “I’m willing to take the risk if there’s not someone here to buy the cattle at that price,” he said. “We actually own, and don’t go backwards until someone raises their hand. The farmers like that; they don’t like it when their cattle are set in their price, and run back $20 a hundred.” Numbers in 2015 are down a bit from last year’s record. Goodman attributes that to cattle being held back to fill on this season’s good grass, and is hoping for a good fall. Randy believes his type of operation is here to stay. “I think you’ve got to focus on the farmer first, and being here for the farmer when he needs you,” Randy said. “I plan on staying here for a long time, until I retire. I’m not going anywhere.”

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Sharon Pickering and her husband, John, focus their goat operation on producing show-quality goats.

Photo by Terry Ropp

Grove, Ark., they bought the whole herd, bringing back 20 does and a buck. John’s thousands were homeless. The couple construction skills were immediately put to decided that was enough warning and use building the necessary goat barn. Ever moved back to Arkansas, just outside of resourceful, John bought a fancy surplus Gravette. Retired from construction, John glass and wrought iron door from Habitat became the local handyman while Sharon for Humanity for the “people” entrance. Soon, a youngster bought one of their taught school in Gentry for eight years before changing to teacher professional de- goats and won Grand Champion at the county fair. The Pickerings took velopment. notice and decided to switch to John and Sharon purGravett, Ark. show goats. chased 60 acres and then At the 2014 Little Rock tried to figure out what they State Fair, they won Percentcould do with the land. Shaage Grand Champion Doe, and ron’s first thought was to wins like that quickly build a solid raise blueberries, but their reputation, bringing customers to banker suggested looking at

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

AUGUST 17, 2015

meet your neighbors their website and Facebook page as well as the front door of Pickering Farms. Another marketing technique is an annual farm auction at the end of April hosted by a professional auctioneer and attended by people from as far away as Texas and Illinois, though most are sold locally in Arkansas and Oklahoma. To accommodate the five-month gestation period, breeding starts at the end of July with most babies born in January, February and March. Fifty does and eight bucks are organized into herds, which changes year-by-year in order to produce the best show-quality kid. The Pickerings use milk replacer only if absolutely necessary and to help ensure that this necessity does not arise, they keep one Nubian nanny that produces enough milk to support three kids. Any extra milk is frozen for the next year’s bottle babies. Nutrition is a concern for any livestock producer, but especially for those producing show stock. Pregnant goats are fed 17 percent grain mix. After kidding, the Pickerings up both carbohydrate and protein content using sweet feed, highprotein grain and alfalfa hay, which they purchase from a nearby dairy. According to Sharon, the kids start nibbling grain and hay at 2 weeks but are not weaned until 3 months of age because they’re eating enough grain to be full. Then, the mothers and babies are separated only by a fence line so that they can lie next to each other at night. Sharon grinned and said, “It’s good for them and good for us because they’re not so noisy.”

The Pickering health regimen includes a CDT vaccine once a year, with babies receiving one dose and then a booster three months later. Sharon and John differ in timing castration. “I like to coddle babies and prefer early castration and easier healing while John prefers making money due to additional weight gain from later castration,” Sharon said. John and Sharon work closely with a veterinarian and University of Arkansas experts and have found worming as needed, rather than doing the whole herd, helps prevent wormer resistance. John does morning chores while both work with the animals in the afternoons. In addition to caring for goats, the couple also has 25 laying hens and sell their eggs to the Hive Restaurant in Bentonville, Ark., which loves the dark orange yolks of free range chickens. While the Pickerings plan to increase the flock with another 20 hens this summer after building a new and larger coop, they are satisfied with the size of their goat herd. “The herd size and land match well because I can produce enough hay,” John said. Pleasure comes when their nine grandchildren, who still live in Texas, stay for a week in the summer being transported by their parents who also get an opportunity to enjoy country life. The kids loved working with the animals and like whatever grandma has them help cook. “We live out in the country and don’t have a McDonald’s nearby so they have learned to enjoy preparing and eating real food,” Sharon said.

History of Boer Goats

Boer goats were developed by Dutch stockmen in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. During the early years of the 20th century, they crossed native African goats with European dairy breeds, selecting for size, meatiness, early maturity and rapid weight gain. Boer, in Dutch, means “farmer.” In 1986, frozen Boer goat embryos were taken from Europe to Australia and New Zealand and implanted into recipient does. Later, frozen embryos from Africa and New Zealand made their way to Olds College in Canada. In 1993, the first North American-born Boer goats were released from quarantine and dispersed throughout Canada and the United States. Additional South African genetics were introduced in 1994 when exotic importer Jurgan Shultz, of Camelids of Delaware, imported 400 prime South African goats. The Boer goat is a developed breed of goat, not an existing species; therefore, it is possible to have spotted and dappled, full blood Boer goats.

Wholesale Seed Division

417-725-3512 • 1-800-648-7379

Wt. Lbs.

Total Germ.

$ Lb.

Bag Lb.

RED CLOVERS

60 GAINER III MIX, Not Coated 90% 1.96

Inoc., 80% Red, 121/2% Ladino

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

60 GAINER II MIX 60 KENSTAR

90% 1.89 92% 1.89

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

90% 2.16 1.79 50 MAMMOTH RED CLOVER, Raw 1.78

90% 3.96 3.74

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

50 LADINO “ROYAL”

90% 3.76 3.54

Inoc., Not Coated 50 ALSIKE, Perennial 90% 2.68 50 WHITE CLOVER, “Nitro” 3.96 3.76 25 DURANA, White Clover, ASK Coated, 65% Purity 50 SWEET, Yellow Blossom 88% 1.88 1.68 50 SWEET, White Blossom 82% 3.44 3.24 50 ARROWLEAF, Yuchi, Winter Annual 1.78 Coated, 65% Purity 50 CRIMSON, Winter Annual 90% 1.29 1.06 50 BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL, Norcen 4.18 3.92

ALFALFAS

60 COMMON SENSE

90%

3.44 3.24

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

50 1035 VARIETY 90% 3.54 3.34 Disease Resistant 50 VERNAL,Winter Hardy, Cert. 3.18 50 HAYGRAZER, Inoc., Not Coated 3.88 50 CIMARRON, VL400, Inoc., Not Coated 3.88 50 America’s Roundup Ready® 7.36 Coated 35%

GRAINS

Bu.

Bag

50 COLDGRAZER RYE 17.95 Strain Cross, Grows to 40 Degrees! 50 TRITICALE 18.96

Tamacale 5019, Rye x Wheat Cross

50 WHEAT, Forage Maxx, “Grazing Wheat” 13.65 50 WHEAT, Cover Crop 12.65 50 WHEAT, Cert. Bess, Sept. 14.45 50 BOB OATS, Winter Annual 16.45 48 BARLEY, Winter Annual 15.80

GRAIN ADDITIVES

50 WINTER PEA, Austrian 50 HAIRY VETCH, Winter Legume 50 TURNIPS, Purple Top 50 TURNIPS, 7-Top 50 RADISH, Daikon SAVE YOUR SEED SAMPLE

.84 .64 1.78 1.58 1.94 1.48 1.94 1.64 1.84 1.54

SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE

Total Germ.

FESCUE

50 KY-31, Cert. & “Fungus Free”

Only $10.00 Per Acre Difference!

Bag Lb.

91% 1.54

50 KY-31 91% 1.12 50 KY-32, Fungus Free, Cert. 91% 1.54 50 FAST PASTURE MIX, Cattle/Horses 90% 1.58

Hulled Orchard Grass, Fungus-Free KY-31 Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass & Timothy 50 ESTANCIA, Ark. Release 90% SEPT. 25 BAR OPTIMA E34, Soft Leaf SEPT. 50 MAX Q II, Endo. Friendly 90% SEPT.

OTHER CLOVERS

50 LADINO, “JUMBO”

ORCHARD GRASS Add A Legume!

50 ARID, Drought Tolerant 90% 2.38 50 POTOMAC, Disease Resistant 90% 2.28 50 FAST PASTURE MIX 90% 1.58

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

FIELD GRASSES

50 ABUNDANT 92% .59

Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass

50 BROME, Sow with alfalfa!

2.38

Southland, “The high protein grass.” 50 TIMOTHY, For horses 90% 1.48 50 PERENNIAL RYEGRASS, Best-for Plus 92% .98 50 ANNUAL RYEGRASS, Gulf Type .58 50 REEDS CANARY, Palaton 8.64 50 RED TOP, Limited 6.95

DEER PLOT

Bulk Lb.

Bag

60 DEER PLOT MIX 1.36 1.16

1 Bag Plants 1/2 Acre: Coldgrazer Rye, Winter Oat, Alfalfa, Clover, Turnips, Radish, Chicory 50 CHICORY, “6 Point” Peren. 4.92 4.72 60 ALFALFA, Common Sense 3.34 3.24 50 BUCKWHEAT, Apr.-Aug. 1.17 .97 50 PEAS, Winter .84 .64 50 RAPE - BRASSICA, Canola 1.30 1.10

50 RADISH - DAIKON 1.84 1.64 50 TURNIPS, Purple Top 1.94 1.48 50 TURNIPS, 7-Top 1.94 1.64 50 TURNIPS, Barkant 3.14 2.94 50 PEREDOVIK SUNFLOWER 1.07 .87 50 SUGAR BEETS 6.46 6.26 50 JAPANESE MILLET 1.14 .94 50 COWPEAS, Red Ripper, Limited 1.38 1.18

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

Nixa, Missouri

nixahardware.com

Your Ag Chemicals Headquarters No license req’d to buy 2,4-D or GrazonNext!

– Source, hobbyfarms.com AUGUST 17, 2015

Wt. Lbs.

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

ozarks

roots

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home

Withstanding the Tests of Time By Terry Ropp

Historic mansion has withstood two Civil War battles, natural disasters Folks in the Ozarks take a great deal of pride in their family histories and the communities they call home. Such is the case in Newtonia, Mo. According to Mayor George Philliber, Newtonia was the first real town in Newton County and an important commerce center with a population of 800 in the 1850s. However, by the turn-of-the-century, the arrival of the railroads and their locations decreased Newtonia’s importance in favor of nearby Neosho, which became and still is the county seat. Nonetheless, Newtonia’s importance as the site of two Civil War battles, one in 1862 and the other on Oct. 28, 1864, is undeniable. The Ritchey Mansion was built to withstand violent weather, meaning that each room was supported to stand on its own should the room above or next to it be destroyed by a tornado. Extra support included metal bars in the wooden floors. Ironically, a tornado did destroy everything across the street from the solid house in June 2005. The mansion also stood strong in May 2008 when a deadly tornado ripped through Newton County. Without the efforts of many local citizens, the two story brick Ritchey Mansion and much of the battles’ history would have been lost. Except for being vacant for a few years after World War II, the Ritchey Mansion remained occupied and in private hands until 2002. In the 1990s, a California family bought the mansion and added a more modern addition to the back of the house and electricity to the downstairs rooms with the intention of turning the mansion into a bed and break-

fast. That plan never materialized though the addition now houses the live-in caretakers. In 1994, a group called the Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association (NBPA) was formed to preserve local Civil War history. The original preservation site consisted of eight battlefield acres donated by the David and Charys Weems who were members of the

Pictured L to R: Tom Higdon and Mayor George Philliber Photos by Terry Ropp

founding group. In 2004, the NBPA was instrumental in getting Newtonia’s two battlefields added. The house and an additional 11 acres were purchased in 2002 through a matching grant from the National Parks American Battlefield Preservation Program for 50 percent and a matching loan from a local businessman, who later on paid off the loan himself. The mansion and battle sites are interesting tourist attractions. Various fundraising activities to foster resOzarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

toration include the sale of souvenirs and an annual fall fundraising living history festival, which includes Civil War era troops and maneuvers and other historically accurate touches such as a hospital tent. One media format for sale at the home is a 2011 PBS movie sponsored by Newton County Tourism and paid for the Quapaw Indians who own the Downstream Casino in Joplin, Mo. Because the tribe wanted to promote a better understanding of the role Native Americans played during the Civil War, the Quapaws sponsored the movie to highlight the fact that the Newtonia battle of 1862 was the first and one of only a few in which Native Americans fought on both sides of a Civil War battle. The Ritchey Mansion was built prior to the Civil War and occupied by owner Matthew H. Ritchey in 1852. The Ritchey Mansion still retains a brick corner gouged and scarred by a Civil War cannonball. It also has a hidden compartment where slaves were hidden as they traveled the Underground Railroad to freedom or locals trying to escape groups like Quantrill’s Raiders. Legend has it that Mrs. Ritchey hid two young black children under her voluminous skirts when raiders came hunting runaway slaves. One of the bedrooms upstairs is called the hospital room because of the mansion’s history as a Union Civil War hospital during both battles. The upstairs rooms contain original wooden flooring and the extra supports Matthew Ritchey insisted upon. Interestingly, the flooring in one of the upstairs bedrooms is painted black reputedly to hide bloodstains incurred during its service as a hospital surgery room. AUGUST 17, 2015

Some Say it’s Better to Be Lucky Than Good…

We Think it’s Better to be Good and Lucky.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor was recently awarded

First Place General Excellence – Newspaper at the National Ag Media Summit in Scottsdale, Az. If you need to reach farmers and livestock producers in the Ozarks, why would you choose anyone else?

www.ozarksfn.com | 417.532.1960 or 1.866.532.1960 | ads@ozarksfn.com

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agri-business

Georgia Poultry Equipment Owners: Hog Slat Corporation Location: Hindsville, Ark. History: “Georgia Poultry Equipment Company was founded in 1995 when the parent company Hog Slat, Inc., bought out and renamed a Georgia company and its eight locations,” Carl Sloan, outside sales representative, said. “We now have numerous stores across the United States and additional outside sales representatives to meet customer needs. Current locations include four in Arkansas counties (Washington, Johnson, Madison, and Carroll) and two in Missouri.” Products and Services: “We are a full-service company offering consultation prior to sales and installation, as well as continuing service after sales to insure barns are safe, efficient, and profitable. On site at the Hindsville facility are a store manager and also a service manager who is in charge of all service personnel for Arkansas and Missouri. I am an outside sales representative who provides initial consultation, quotes, and oversight of contracted construction crews and equipment installers. We also retrofit upgrades so our customers always have the latest technology available to them.”

26 Years Strong 1989-2015

Owned & Operated By Farmers Working to Help the American Farmer

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Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Philosophy and future: “Georgia Poultry Equipment Company believes the best way to serve customers is to provide experience, the most advanced technology available, and hands-on assistance to all sizes of turkey, pullet, breeder and broiler operations. This means staying on the cutting edge of technology and offering it to our customers at an affordable price. Toward that end, we are constantly moving forward by designing and manufacturing our own line of equipment called Grower Select in order to streamline marketing and to enhance quality and affordability for our customers.” Story and Photo By Terry Ropp AUGUST 17, 2015

Some Say it’s Better to Be Lucky Than Good…

We Think it’s Better to be Good and Lucky.

We should also mention Ozarks Farm & Neighbor was awarded

First Place for Producer/Farm/Ranch Profile at the National Ag Media Summit in Scottsdale, Az. If you need to reach farmers and livestock producers in the Ozarks, why would you choose anyone else?

www.ozarksfn.com | 417.532.1960 or 1.866.532.1960 | ads@ozarksfn.com

Big D Ranch Bull Sale 10.10.15

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173 Miller Lane Center Ridge, AR Phillip 501-208-6119 BigDRanch@att.net

Luke Mobley Auctioneer / Livestock Marketing 205-270-0999 ARlic. 2291 LukeMobley.com

Jeremy Wilhite Family: Wife Lauren Wilhite; children Stella, Sadie and Sophie

Bull Videos & Sale Catalog @ BigDRanch.net

Offering Herd Sire Prospects with Proven Genetics, Carcuss Value & Growth Thank you for taking the time to visit Big D Ranch operation... We look forward to working with you

country

in the field and in the office

1 5/16" New Pipe 49¢ per ft. (bundle price) comes in 20' and 24' length

Pre-Cut Posts

I-44 at Exit 22, 1/4 Mile West of Joplin Stockyards • Delivery Available

417-358-5555 www.superiorsteelsales.com

Profit

Need More From Your Production Sale?

Town Life: “I work for American National Insurance in Tahlequah, Okla., and have done so for about 1 ½ years having previously worked in various agriculturallyrelated jobs. Insurance is a perfect fit because I know farming and agriculture, which means I know what people need to protect the most and how to help them save a dollar while doing so. Most of my business is farm, auto and life insurance but we also offer business insurance and investment planning. Additionally, I work at the local sale barns as a sorter and tagger as needed. Finally, I have been a volunteer firefighter for a year after a friend asked me.” Country Life: “My wife Lauren and I own and rent 460 acres where we run 135 mixed Angus mamas and three Angus bulls. If I want to make money black is where it’s at. Besides, the heavy Angus’s influence provides good mommas, as well as my not having to pull any calves. We run two 90-day breeding seasons and sell our weaned calves at the local sale barns when they reach 700 pounds. Bull calves are castrated, and we give two rounds of shots. I do my own preg checks and very seldom use a vet because I have raised cattle all my life and know how to push them to their productive limit with good care. I support their grazing with a 16 percent protein commercial feed and with hay I harvest from 100 acres. My land is mostly fescue, Bermuda and red clover and drill wheat mixed with red clover, seed for better winter forage.

The quickest way to increase your profit is to have more buyers at your sale. The best way to get more buyers is by advertising in the Ozarks’ most read farm newspaper. Call today to place your ad in our Upcoming Production Sale Issues. ARKANSAS/OKLAHOMA: September 7 • September 28 • October 19 Missouri: August 31 • September 21 • October 12

PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753

Story and Photo By Terry Ropp

1-866-532-1960 • ozarksfn.com

Together: “The combination of insurance and farming is perfect for me, my wife, and our three daughters. Because I am my own boss in both jobs, I have excellent time flexibility. This means I can plan my work week according to current needs. I prioritize and schedule my days and weeks accordingly. Working at the sale barn also works because I work when I can when I am asked. My ultimate goal is to someday farm full-time.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

AUGUST 17, 2015

FARM FINANCE A Business Map By Gary Digiuseppe

The importance of a business plan is often overlooked by many producers A business plan is essentially a road map. Dan Childs, economist and senior agricultural consultant with the Samuel R. Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Okla., told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor a financial plan most often takes the form of a cash flow budget that lists expected expenses. “This cash flow budget would estimate expenses by the month for farm expenses like feed, seed and fertilizer and when revenues would come in,” he said. “It would predict when deficiencies would occur and when surpluses would become available for the coming year.” The producer needs to decide whether the plan should be limited to the business, or also include family living and off-farm expenses. For example, if one spouse runs the farm full time while the other has a job in town, expenses could include groceries, insurance and home utilities. But the producer could also decide off-farm income takes care of family living expenses, and only include farming operations in the plan. Childs said the plan will include projected revenue; if you have a spring calving cow/calf enterprise, that would include separating the calves in the fall. He said, “If you have 100 cows, you’ll have 85 to 90 to sell and will keep so many for heifers; you’ve got 10 percent cull cows that you’re going to sell certain times of the year and maybe one cull bull. Then, we estimate what the calf sales will be in the fall of the year, and you may have some additional hay sales projected in your cash flow and some government payments coming in.” Expenses would include automobile costs like gas, oil, insurance and tags. These are cash expenses, while the cost of the vehicle itself is subject to depreciation; that’s a balance sheet but not a cash flowable issue, because you don’t write a check for depreciation each year. Said Childs, “We lean on the categories that are the same as those listed on IRS Schedule F, ‘Profit or Loss From Farming,’ as a guideline for items where expenses will occur, like land rent, supplies, repairs, hired labor and fuel.” According to Dr. Gordon Carriker, a University of Missouri Extension regional agriculture business specialist based in Christian County, Mo., while AUGUST 17, 2015

many long established producers would argue a business plan is not needed since they’ve been in business for a while, “I’d suggest that writing a business plan for an established farm/ranch is easier because many of the detours and bumps in the road, to keep with the road map analogy, have been experienced,” Carriker told OFN. While a business plan does not have to be complicated, Carriker said it should not be viewed as a document that will be put on the shelf; it should be reviewed periodically to evaluate business progress, and revised accordingly. They’re frequently written for the first time when the producer needs to secure capital, and many lenders now require them. Carriker said even if an established producer is looking to expand the operation, a business plan is a useful tool that can assist with the decision-making process. Carriker recommended a couple of online sites where producers can find the tools they need to draft a plan. www.cffm.umn.edu offers AgPlan, online business plan software at no charge, and the University of Missouri Farm Accounting Resources website, http://agebb.missouri.edu/mgt/mofar/, provide several additional tools. He suggested producers develop a budget for each enterprise in the operation. “For example,” Carriker said, “if a producer is running a cow/calf operation and a backgrounding operation, the expenses and revenues for each should be budgeted accordingly to evaluate the efficiency of each resource in the enterprises.” Both Childs and Carriker stressed the importance of keeping good records. Childs said, “We really like to start with historical, past actual revenue streams and actual costs for these different items, and then adjust that for what we think the future will be...When producers have good records, where they know what they spent – and sometimes tax returns are not good references, because they can be manipulated based on tax management decisions – we can provide a good starting place.” Carriker added. “It is just as important to know the physical efficiency of the operation as the financial efficiency, and that can only be achieved when good records are kept.”

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farm finance

Having ‘The Talk’ By Robert Gray

What parents need to tell their kids about money Money, family finances and inheritances – these are topics many parents prefer not to discuss with their children. Often it’s because they don’t want their children to know their net worth. Sometimes, they fear the choices their children might make if they knew how much they will inherit one day. While these concerns are understandable, they are small change compared to the troubles that can arise when parents don’t discuss their wealth and prepare their children to manage it. There are ways of approaching the subject without sharing your financial records and providing a detailed breakdown of how you intend your estate to be dispersed. Here are a few of them:

1. Actions speak louder than words

Children learn by example. You can teach them about wealth management from an early age by simply using your money in ways that demonstrate your values. If you wish to teach your children to be charitable, for example, model that behavior yourself, and talk to them about what you hope your financial gifts will accomplish.

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Let Agri-Services Agency, a cooperative based insurance agency, handle your health insurance needs for you. All of our plans are in line with health care reform. On or off the marketplace, we’re here to find the best option for you. We’ve been working with farmers for over 30 years and are here to help you!

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Educating children about money isn’t a one-day seminar, but a lifelong course. It typically begins with a weekly allowance tied to a child’s success in completing simple chores. It continues with regular discussions in which you reinforce the values of work and money management as your children grow. When your children want you to purchase an item for them, allow them to experience the self-satisfaction that comes with saving for it and buying it themselves. Teach them the importance of sharing by encouraging them to donate a portion of their allowance to charity. When discussing family finances, there is one topic – inheritances – that parents should think twice about discussing, at least until you believe your children are old

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

enough and financially responsible enough to think about it in a mature way. That may not be until they are ready to purchase their first home or have their first child.

3. Under-promise, over-deliver

It’s better to leave a child MORE than they expect rather than less. So be conservative in explaining the size of your estate and your plans for distributing it. And don’t forget to talk about your plans for disposing your personal property. If there is a chance you may outlive your money, children should be made aware of that possibility, too. In any case, don’t feel obligated to provide hard numbers. A rough estimation should suffice. It’s generally not a good idea to share a copy of your actual estate plan with your children, except for a living will with a healthcare power of attorney that outlines your wishes in the event of incapacitation.

4. Be fair

That does not necessarily mean to divide your assets equally. A child or grandchild with special needs may require a larger share, for example. Unexplained favoritism, however, can be hurtful and feelings of rejection can impact sibling relationships long after you are gone. If you do choose to leave one child more than another, make your wishes crystal clear in your will to minimize disputes later. To be truly upfront, consider making gifts to your beneficiaries while you’re still alive. Generally, children can each receive up to $14,000 tax-free annually. And there is no limit on the number of people you can give such gifts each year. The bottom line: You’ve worked hard to accumulate your wealth, and you want it to be used wisely. The best way to ensure that happens is by talking to your children early and giving them the tools to make good choices. Robert Gray is the senior vice president & director of Private Banking of the Commerce Trust Company. AUGUST 17, 2015

farm finance

Protecting Your Identity

By Adam Wolfe

Guarding your personal, financial data can shield you from scams A trend in our national news over the last several months has been cases of identity theft and their increasing frequency and severity. Major American corporations have seen their human resources databases hacked, retailers have unwittingly turned over financial information to criminals overseas, and the Office of Personnel Management (an independent agency of the US Government) recently disclosed that confidential personal information was stolen for millions of current and former federal workers and contractors. Our tendency might be to think that we are too small to be targets of this activity, but that’s simply not true. A recent spike in phone calls placed to unsuspecting taxpayers, from parties claiming to be the IRS, should have you on high alert that thieves can, and do, target small businesses and individuals. These fraudulent phone calls sound completely credible, and may or may not be automated – but they contain threats of police arrest, deportation, and revocation of various licenses and permits, unless you pay an “outstanding” tax bill immediately. Make no mistake about it, though, if you get a call like this, someone is trying to steal your money. According to the IRS Commissioner, “if someone calls unexpectedly, claiming to be from the IRS, with aggressive threats if you don’t pay immediately, it’s a scam artist calling.” The IRS has a well-defined system in place to collect tax, make inquiries, and communicate with taxpayers, and it always begins with a letter in the mail. So if you have not received any paper notices before you receive a phone call, do not share any information – hang up! Scammers can manipulate caller IDs to appear even more credible; they might AUGUST 17, 2015

even claim you are entitled to a refund if you’ll simply give them your banking information. By these measures, they steal millions of dollars from innocent people each year. Recently, guidance was provided to help spot scammers. In that guidance, the IRS pointed out that it will never call to demand immediate payment, or call about taxes owed, without mailing you a bill first. IRS will also never demand that you pay taxes without giving you a chance to appeal the amount they say you owe. They won’t require you to use a specific method to pay your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card; they won’t ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; and the IRS will not threaten to bring in local police, under any circumstances. In addition, the IRS does not use email, social media, or text messages to discuss your tax situation. These are all telltale signs of thieves, and you should always hang up the phone to protect yourself. If you remember these pointers and guard your personal and financial data carefully, you can shield yourself from scams and identity theft. Spread the word and help family and friends do the same. If you receive a threatening or suspicious call, report the incident to TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484 or at www.tigta.com. Adam Wolfe, CPA is the Partner & Tax Director of Bobby Medlin, CPA and works in the firm’s Lake Ozark branch. Adam has worked at the firm’s Lake Ozark branch since 2010.

GRAND OPENING 5178 W. Sunset Ave., Springdale

Saturday, August 22 Come celebrate the newest Today’s Bank location! Stop in at Ozark Center Point Place in Springdale located at the corner of I-49 and Highway 412 from 11 am – 2 pm for a cookout and Grand Opening celebration.

There will be drawings for GoPros, FitBits, Apple TVs, and more!*

FOOD DRIVE Today’s Bank has partnered with Samaritan Community Center for a food drive through September 7th. Bring a non-perishable food item to the new Springdale location.

todaysbank.com Fayetteville

479-582-0700 300 N. College Ave. 2971 N. College Ave.

Springdale

479-751-9260 5178 W. Sunset Ave.

Huntsville

479-738-2147 432 Harmony Rd. 312 W. Main St.

*Simply register at our Springdale location, no purchase is necessary to win. Must be at least 18 years of age to enter.

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

NML#341187

market sale

steers 550-600 LBS.

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

(Week of 8/2/15 to 8/8/15)

258.08 250.22 Week of 7/12/15

236.53 264.71 233.42 231.61 * 235.80 * 241.61 242.38 260.36

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85.00-145.00 † Not Reported* 129.00-146.00 † 115.00-150.00* 130.00-141.00 † 125.00-137.50 †

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

111.00-140.00* 126.00-138.00 † 132.00-142.00 †

238.71 242.49

Week of 7/19/15

255.24

122.00-144.00 † 120.00-149.00 † 125.00-150.00* 131.00-154.00 †

130

150

170

cows

(Week of 8/2/15 to 8/8/15)

Arkansas Cattle Auction

87.00-120.00 † 8 75.00-122.50 † 7 Not Reported* 92.00-117.00 †

Ash Flat

233.65

Barry County Regional Stockyards Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Cleburne County Livestock County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction

** ** 248.00 254.93

88.00-127.00* 92.00-108.00 † 101.00-114.50 † 95.00-119.00* 30.00-167.00* 87.00-119.00 † 79.00-116.50 † 70.00-115.00 † 87.50-123.00 † 90.00-118.00* 96.00-127.00 †

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

239.00 232.43 * 224.87 239.00 230.00 *

227.78

85.00-125.00 † 93.00-109.00 † 88.00-125.00 †

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

252.82

90.00-125.00* 85.00-124.00 †

110

130

235.60

243.77 * 242.01 * Week of 8/2/15

253.56 233.00 230.98 252.16 226.16 233.40 240.59 244.00 257.72

200

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

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

18 18

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.

Ash Flat Livestock

829

525

St-5 Higher

St-20 Higher

285.00-325.00 235.00-300.00 220.00-242.50 208.00-226.00 208.00-218.00 ----226.00-272.50 210.00-235.00 185.00-211.00 185.00-192.00 235.00-280.00 225.00-250.00 210.00-231.00 195.00-210.00 193.00-199.00

8/7/15

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

Barry Co. Regional Stockyards* -----

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs 8/6/15

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

sheep &

-----

458

-----

County Line Sale Ratcliff 8/5/15

Decatur Livestock*

8/5/15

Cleburne Co. - Heber Springs 8/3/15

458

257

110

559

488

563

3-25 Higher

St-14 Higher

St-15 Higher

St-7 Higher

-----

Steady

Uneven

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

310.00-316.00 270.00-271.00 229.00-250.00 ---------

250.00-334.00 240.00-309.00 225.00-255.00 190.00-234.00 -----

287.50-323.00 235.00-300.00 228.00-237.50 214.00-225.00 -----

----252.50-255.00 250.00-272.50 220.00-235.00 209.00-212.50

270.00-388.00 255.00-301.00 253.00-273.00 215.00-263.00 205.00-224.00

299.00-330.00 260.00-299.00 228.50-260.00 160.00-228.50 -----

317.50-367.50 247.50-305.00 230.00-265.00 214.00-245.00 -----

250.0 235.0 21

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

293.00-311.00 250.00-285.00 217.00-248.00 211.00-220.00 -----

262.00-286.00 240.00-281.00 220.00-250.00 200.00-225.00 -----

----205.00-240.00 207.00-227.00 185.00-210.00 -----

257.50-282.50 240.00 220.00-230.00 205.00-215.00 202.50

255.00-375.00 250.00-287.00 215.00-260.00 190.00-225.00 185.00-208.00

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

335.00-352.50 252.50-290.00 220.00-250.00 207.50-237.00 190.00

250.0 220.0 23 200.0

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

250.00-267.00 230.00-259.00 220.00-235.00 205.00 -----

225.00-287.50 200.00-234.00 190.00-228.00 195.00-217.00 -----

242.50-260.00 225.00-257.50 205.00-230.00 208.00-214.00 -----

----230.00-237.50 217.50 221.00 -----

265.00-305.00 228.00-285.00 225.00-248.00 195.00-226.00 190.00-207.00

275.00 230.00-275.00 209.00-230.00 179.00-209.00 -----

287.50-300.00 240.00-275.00 215.00-244.00 213.00 -----

250.0 232.0 216.0 205.0 -

127 5(3257('

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy 8/4/15

121( 5(3257('

270.00

goats

Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo L

stocker & feeder

150

* *

Bucks: Several repla Head. Selection 1 75 85-210 lbs 130.00-1 117.50. Few Families with si

dairy cattle

115.00-142.50 † 118.00-146.00 †

110

Bred Cows: Scarce. Baby Calves: Holstein heifers 300.00-360.00, small 110.00140.00, Holstein bulls 250.00-430.00, small 100.00-160.00, 8/9/15 Jersey bulls few 110.00, crossbred heifers 220.00-290.00, crossbred bulls 210.00-325.00, small 110.00-150.00, beef cross heifers few 250.00-350.00, beef cross bulls few 510.00-520.00.

Receipts: 465 Supply was good and standing room only c were steady while ki Diamond, Mo. • TS Whites Sheep and Goat Sale 8/6/15 made up of 35 percen Receipts: 1496 ewes and rams, 26 p Supply was very good and demand was also very good. All and bucks. All prices prices steady to lower. Supply included 12 percent slaughter otherwise. Springfield, Mo. • Springfield Livestock Marketing Center 7/28/15 Ewes and Rams, 22 percent slaughter lambs, 43 percent Slaughter Lambs: Ch slaughter goats, 18 percent Bucks and Does. All prices per 170.00. Receipts: 489 hundred weight (CWT)unless noted otherwise. New Crop hair lamb The demand was good. The supply was light, probably due SHEEP: 220.00. Good and Ch to the hot humid conditions. There were 13 percent springer Feeder Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 29-39lbs 170.00-190.00. lbs 152.50-170.00; 73 heifers, 16 percent bred heifers, 36 percent open heifers, 04 Slaughter Lambs: Wool lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 45-72 Slaughter Ewes: Goo percent fresh and milking cows, 01 percent bred and springer lbs 167.00-182.50, 84-134 lbs 150.00-168.00. Utility-Good 1-2 105 cows, and 13 percent baby calves. The balance was steers, Hair lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 40-95 lbs 170.00-192.50; Slaughter Rams: few 190 bulls and slaughter cows. Prices reported are on a per head 100-132 lbs 140.00-165.00. Good and Choice 1-3 60-95 lbs Feeder Kids: Selectio basis and for Holsteins unless noted otherwise. 140.00-162.50. 2 33-37 lbs 195.00-21 Springer Heifers bred seven to nine months: Supreme Slaughter Ewes: Wooled: Utility and Good 1-2 90-170 lbs Slaughter Kids: Sele 1800.00-2100.00, ind crossbred 1875.00, Approved 1500.0075.00-95.00. 170.00-195.00. Selec 1775.00, few crossbreds 1525.00-1775.00, Medium 1225.00Hair Ewes: Choice and Prime 2-3 81-124 lbs 130.00-150.00. 3 48-65 lbs 125.00-13 1450.00. crossbreds 1125.00-1300.00. Good and Choice 2-3 90-155 lbs 100.00-125.00. Culls to Good Slaughter Does: Sele Heifers bred three to six months: Supreme 1750.00-2150.00, 1-3 82-152 lbs 75.00-95.00. Selection 2 60-150 lb Jerseys 1725.00-1800.00, ind crossbred 1900.00, Approved Rams: Few Replacement Hair Rams: Medium and Large 1-2 80.00-110.00. 1400.00-1720.00, Jerseys 1300.00-1500.00, few crossbreds 200.00-230.00 Per Head. Bucks: Replacement 1500.00-1675.00, Medium 1200.00-1375.00, Common 925.00Slaughter Rams: Wooled Rams Good and Choice 3 200-220 Slaughter Bucks: Se 975.00. lbs 75.00-87.50. Selection 2 80-130 lb Heifers bred one to three months: Approved 1475.00Hair Rams: Choice and Prime 2-3 110-135 lbs 100.00-130.00. 1600.00, few Jerseys 1580.00-1625.00, crossbreds 1400.00Koshkonong, Mo. • Oreg Good and Choice 1-2 165-200 lbs 80.00-90.00. 1500.00, Common 585.00- 885.00, ind crossbred 650.00. All goats and sheep GOATS: Open Heifers: Approved 200-300 lbs lot 12 head 235 lbs Feeder kids: Selection 1 20-31 lbs 285.00-302.00. Selection 2 Graders and bough 680.00, few crossbreds 370.00-500.00, 308-378 lbs 660.0029-36 lbs 240.00-265.00; 28-35 lbs 200.00-230.00. Selection 3 buying station. Offe 690.00, pkg 2 crossbreds 360 lbs 490.00, 404-485 lbs 750.00goats and 26 percen 22-38 lbs 150.00-175.00. 940.00, lot 8 head 488 lbs 990.00, ind Jersey 1050.00, lot 7 will be Saturday, A Slaughter Classes: Selection 1 42-85 lbs 260.00-280.00. crossbreds 490 lbs 950.00, 500-600 lbs pkg 520 lbs 950.00, pkg to accept goats from Selection 2 40-105 lbs 200.00-250.00. Selection 3 40-85 lbs 4 Jerseys 540 lbs 1280.00, crossbreds 1140.00-1220, 643-700 per cwt. 150.00-192.50. lbs 1000.00-1150.00, lot 8 Jerseys 643 lbs 1380.00, crossbreds GOATS: Does: Few Replacements: Selection 1-2 140.00-225.00 Per 950.00-1240.00, 700-891 lbs lot 5 head 891 lbs 1540.00, Slaughter Kids: Sel Head. crossbreds 1200.00-1240.00. 1-2 81 lbs and over Slaughter Does: Selection 1 65-110 lbs 160.00-180.00. Medium: 200-300 lbs pkg 4 head 230 lbs 370.00, 430-475 lbs Selection 3 45-60 lb Selection 2 45-138 lbs 130.00-152.50. Selection 3 85-145 lbs ind Jersey 560.00, few crossbreds 780.00-810.00. influence 170.00. 115.00-125.00. Replacement Cows: Fresh and Milking Cows: Approved1300.00-1770.00, Medium 1070.00-1170.00. Springer Cows: Approved few 1710.00-1775.00, Medium ind 170 crossbred 1075.00.

125.00-146.00 † 110.00-141.00*

slaughter

5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 147.00-153.00; wtd. avg. price 150.76. Heifers: 147.00-153.00; wtd. avg. price 151.31. Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 234.00-238.00; wtd. avg. price 237.55. Heifers: 234.00-241.00; wtd. avg. price 237.45.

120.00-142.50 †

235.04

cattle

Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle

120.00-146.75*

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

beef

115.00-145.00 †

Arkansas Cattle Auction

242.45

Week of 7/26/15

bulls

slaughter

8/4/15

Farmer’s & Farmers Ranchers Livestock Vinita, Okla.* Springdale 8/5/15 7/7/15

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

AUGUST 17, 2015

Ft. S Live

ket sales reports

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

replacement

avg. grain prices

feeder

prices

Ash Flat Livestock 1150.00-2100.00 † 11 Barry County Regional onal Stockyards y Not Reported* Benton County Sale 1200.00-2100.00 † 12 Cattlemen’s Live 1150.00-2250.00 * 105.00-160.00 † Prices reported per cwt Cleburne County Livestock County Line Sale - Ratcliff 1800.00 † Decatur Livestock 1250.00-2350.00* Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita 1800.00-2300.00* Farmers Livestock 1450.00-2325.00 † Ft. Smith Livestock 1825.00-1850.00 † I-40 Livestock 1300.00-2100.00 † Joplin Regional 1300.00-2550.00 † 1200.00-1850.00 * Mid-State Stockyard North Arkansas 1000.00-2125.00 † OKC West - El Reno 1500.00-2175.00 † Ouachita Live 900.00-1375.00 † 1500.00-2350.00 † Ozarks Regional 1500.00-2500.00 * Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction 1475.00-1810.00 †

1000

2000

3000

cow/calf

219.77 *

222.71 218.87 * 233.38

* 230.00

4000

241.00

5000

pairs

1675.00-2075.00 †

Barry County Regional Stockyards Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Cleburne County Livestock County Line Sale - Ratcliff Decatur Livestock Auction Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita Farmers Livestock - Springdale

* 219.66

(Week of 8/2/15 to 8/8/15) Arkansas Cattle Auction Ash Flat Livestock

225.51 223.63 220.00

** * 230.65 ** ** ** 213.84

1200.00-2350.00 † Not Reported* 1500.00-3125.00 †

** **

1750.00-2850.00 * None Reported † None Reported †

244.43 229.80

1600.00-2975.00* 2000.00 *

2000.00-2650.00 † Ft. Smith Livestock None Reported † I-40 Livestock - Ozark 1375.00-1700.00 † Joplin Regional Stockyards 1800.00-2600.00 †

Mid-State Stockyards North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest OKC West - El Reno Ouachita Live 900.00-1375.00 † Ozarks Regional Stockyard Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction

1000

2000

* 230.51 213.00 212.12

1650.00-2800.00 * None Reported † 1950.00-2800.00 † 2000.00-3300.00 † 2500.00-3500.00* None Reported †

3000

4000

215.73 224.87 * 215.00 *

5000

216.77 211.63 223.10

8/3/15

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest 8/5/15

488

563

310

685

2009

307

412

2896

340

1340

946

1216

Steady

Uneven

St-10 Higher

St-5 Higher

St-7 Higher

St-1 Higher

3-40 Higher

St-7 Higher

Uneven

St-4 Higher

216.40

317.50-367.50 247.50-305.00 230.00-265.00 214.00-245.00 -----

----250.00-267.00 235.00-243.00 ----212.00

279.00-297.00 260.00-278.00 228.00-238.00 219.00 -----

----260.00-289.00 242.00-285.00 225.00-253.00 203.00-228.00

270.00-355.00 245.00-295.00 230.00-255.00 213.00-238.00 -----

297.50-299.00 286.00-305.00 240.00-254.00 225.00-236.00 -----

318.00 ----235.00-251.00 220.00-235.00 211.00-225.00

309.00-382.00 273.00-281.00 230.00-254.00 ----207.00-214.00

315.00-337.50 275.00-325.00 252.50-285.00 223.00-255.00 215.00-223.00

300.00-385.00 250.00-295.00 225.00-267.50 200.00-228.00 190.00-215.00

365.00-373.00 305.00-319.00 244.00 229.00-237.00 207.50-216.00

215.64

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

275.00 0.00-275.00 9.00-230.00 9.00-209.00 -----

Joplin Regional Stockyards 8/3/15

Mid-State Stockyards*

OKC West - El Reno, Okla. 8/5/15

Ouachita Livestock Ola, Ark. 8/7/15

Ozarks Regional West Plains 8/4/15

Stilwell Livestock Auction* 8/5/15

Tulsa Livestock Auction. 8/3/15

I-40 Livestock Ozark 8/6/15

9.00-330.00 0.00-299.00 8.50-260.00 0.00-228.50 -----

Ft. Smith Livestock

Arkansas Cattle

335.00-352.50 252.50-290.00 220.00-250.00 207.50-237.00 190.00

----250.00-260.00 220.00-240.00 230.00 200.00-201.00

----250.00-254.00 220.00-228.00 208.00-214.00 -----

272.00-312.50 264.00-275.00 230.00 192.50-235.00 -----

----240.00-280.00 218.00-245.00 200.00-220.00 165.00-200.00

290.00-299.00 248.00-286.00 229.00-244.00 223.00-235.00 -----

----251.00-267.50 -------------

278.00-284.00 264.00-270.00 214.00-230.00 200.00-215.00 197.00-198.00

290.00-322.50 262.00-300.00 232.50-265.00 214.00-227.00 -----

280.00-375.00 240.00-280.00 210.00-255.00 190.00-217.00 180.00-207.00

315.00-320.00 279.00-315.00 229.00-259.00 200.00-216.00 -----

287.50-300.00 240.00-275.00 215.00-244.00 213.00 -----

250.00-257.00 232.00-245.00 216.00-227.00 205.00-206.00 -----

252.00-285.00 231.00-260.00 216.00-229.00 ----198.00-207.00

250.00-267.50 239.00-252.00 213.00-236.00 203.00-233.00 193.00-202.00

255.00-300.00 220.00-260.00 206.00-231.00 194.00-215.00 -----

----230.00-242.00 215.00-235.00 210.00-218.00 203.00-204.00

----234.00-238.00 218.00-237.50 210.50-227.00 195.50-210.00

253.00-279.00 233.00-257.00 217.00-231.00 210.00-220.00 189.00

267.50-295.00 235.00-275.00 220.00-237.50 202.50-235.00 201.00-208.00

230.00-277.50 200.00-250.00 190.00-235.00 180.00-218.00 180.00-210.00

273.00-327.00 251.00-275.00 230.00-236.00 210.00-220.00 184.00-193.00

AUGUST 17, 2015

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

221.05

* 218.00 218.34 225.14

Week of 8/2/15

rmer’s & Farmers anchers Livestock ta, Okla.* Springdale 8/5/15 7/7/15

241.71

1400.00-1875.00 †

Week of 7/12/15

dairy sales

(Week of 8/2/15 to 8/8/15)

Week of 7/19/15

goats

cows

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

Week of 7/26/15

Feeder Kids: Selection 1-2 20-44 lbs 190.00. 00, small 110.00Slaughter Does/Nannies: Selection 1-2 115.00. Selection l 100.00-160.00, 3 85.00. yearlings 135.00. 20.00-290.00, Slaughter Bucks: Selection 1-2 115.00. 0-150.00, beef cross SHEEP: ew 510.00-520.00. Slaughter Lambs: Good and Choice 2-3 hair mostly under Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo Livestock Market 7/28/15 80 lbs 140.00-160.00; over 80 lbs 120.00. Slaughter Ewes: Cull and Utility 1-2 55.00. Receipts: 465 Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 hair under 50 lbs Supply was good and demand was very good with a near 75.00. standing room only crowd on hand. Lamb and sheep prices were steady while kid goat prices came in lower. The supply 8/6/15 made up of 35 percent slaughter and feeder lambs, 9 percent ewes and rams, 26 percent kid goats, and 24 percent does so very good. All and bucks. All prices per hundred weight unless noted National Dairy Market at a Glance 7/7/15 2 percent slaughter otherwise. mbs, 43 percent Cheese: Barrels closed at $1.7175 and 40# blocks at Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 wooled 57-83 lbs oes. All prices per $1.7500. The weekly average for barrels is $1.7015 170.00. rwise. New Crop hair lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 25-52 lbs 200.00- (+.0260) and blocks, $1.7365 (+.0390). 220.00. Good and Choice 3-4 35-60 lbs 175.00-195.00; 57-83 Fluid Milk: Farm level milk production is trending lower 39lbs 170.00-190.00. lbs 152.50-170.00; 73-93 lbs 132.50-145.00. across the nation as the summer advances. Milk haulers nd Prime 2-3 45-72 Slaughter Ewes: Good-Choice 1-3 92-137 lbs 102.50-117.50. report higher volumes of milk are crisscrossing state borders 00. to reach bottling plants serving various school pipelines. Utility-Good 1-2 105-165 lbs 85.00-90.00. bs 170.00-192.50; Slaughter Rams: few Wooled Utility 53-110 lbs 130.00-145.00. Many K-12 school districts have in-service days and/or the oice 1-3 60-95 lbs beginning of the class calendar scheduled for in the coming 0 Feeder Kids: Selection 1 28-38 lbs 220.00-250.00. Selection 2 33-37 lbs 195.00-212.00. Selection 3 32-36 lbs 160.00-185.00. weeks. Class II demand for condensed skim and cream is od 1-2 90-170 lbs Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 40-63 lbs 205.00-227.50; 68-90 lbs unchanged to lower. Ice cream producers are awaiting an 170.00-195.00. Selection 2 40-63 lbs 160.00-185.00. Selection increase in cream supplies in the near-term as fluid milk lbs 130.00-150.00. demand and standardizing activities increase. 3 48-65 lbs 125.00-130.00. 25.00. Culls to Good Slaughter Does: Selection 1 40-125 lbs 142.50-157.50. SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Selection 2 60-150 lbs 112.50-137.50. Selection 3 70-90 lbs dium and Large 1-2 80.00-110.00. Midwest - $2.8437-2.9985. Bucks: Replacements Selection 1 65-145 lbs 170.00-195.00. Choice 3 200-220 Slaughter Bucks: Selection 2 90-165 lbs 122.50-145.00. Selection 2 80-130 lbs 100.00-110.00. 5 lbs 100.00-130.00. Week Ended 8/11/15 Koshkonong, Mo. • Oregon County Goat and Sheep Market 7/25/15 0.00. Soybeans Soft Wheat Corn Sorghum All goats and sheep graded by MO Dept of Ag-USDA 20 302.00. Selection 2 Graders and bought per cwt. based on in-weights at the 230.00. Selection 3 buying station. Offerings were made up of 74 percent 16 goats and 26 percent sheep. Next scheduled market date will be Saturday, Aug 29th. The station will be open 12 60.00-280.00. 9.82 9.42 9.49 to accept goats from 9:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. All prices ction 3 40-85 lbs 7.37 7.01 8 6.30 per cwt. 7.01 4.98 5.06 4.41 5.08 4.98 GOATS: 40.00-225.00 Per 4 3.61 Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 45-60 lbs 230.00. Selection 3.62 3.58 3.77 3.20 1-2 81 lbs and over 135.00. Selection 2 45-60 lbs 215.00. 0 0.00-180.00. f a a e la le t n il s in o Selection 3 45-60 lbs 140.00. Selection 1-3 45-60 lbs dairy v le u e ction 3 85-145 lbs Bluf Ela he He Osc Aug Pine Blyt influence 170.00. Bucks: Several replacements: Selection 10-2 75.00 Per Head. Selection 1 75-140 lbs 185.00-210.00. Selection 2 85-210 lbs 130.00-170.00. Selection 3 50-200 lbs 95.00117.50. Few Families with single kids at side: 40.00-70.00 per head.

heifers 550-600 LBS.

219.29 220.00 217.50 219.54 * 216.98 * 226.59

195

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

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

19 19

farm finance

Investments of the Highest Caliber By Jessica Bailey

An investment of the resources of farms and ranches should have returns

Investment. It’s a term that is being heard more and more often by myself and others in the banking industry. How can I invest my time, my money, my resources so that I can enjoy this lifestyle that I’ve chosen now, and still leave a legacy for the following generation? I’m not a financial investment expert, but I would like to address investing your resources. First, let’s define resources. The MerriamWebster Dictionary defines it as “a source of supply or support; a natural source of wealth or revenue; computable wealth; or a source of information or expertise.” Most of us look to the first definition when thinking of our resources. We think of something tangible: money, land, equipment, cattle, buildings, crops, supplies, etc. Sometimes, we think of receiving advice or knowledge as using our resources. How does that translate to investing your resources? Merriam-Webster defines the term as “to commit money in order to earn a financial return; to make use of for future benefits or advantages; or to involve or engage especially emotionally.” In other words, to invest is to give with an expectation. For us to invest the resources of our farms and ranches means we are giving of these resources with the expectation of a return. For those of us in the agricultural industry, the best return we expect is that we have left something of us, of our dreams and lifestyle, for the next generation. So how do we invest our resources? In regards to the tangible assets (as listed above), that is a question that is best decided between yourself, your financial advisor and your family. Each and every situation is unique and each of us has a different goal set for the use of those tangible assets. Some of us, Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

it means investing into an LLC or a trust to ensure the farm is passed to the next generation. For others, it could be that the current operator uses his/her net worth to make the purchases needed to grow the farm for when it is passed to the next operator. To some, it might mean changing the farm’s operation to accommodate the future goals of the farm. The best investment of your resources, the highest caliber you can reach, is to invest yourself, your time and your wisdom in the upcoming generation. For some that is father to son, for others it might be grandparents to granddaughter, uncle to niece, or even a retiring farmer to an unrelated beginning farmer. It has been hammered into us time and again that the average age of the US farmer is only getting older and that fewer and fewer of our children are stepping up to take the reins. Let us look outside the box, past the usual expectation of passing down the farm. Invest in our children, at the fairs, in FFA and 4-H, at our community and four-year colleges. Embrace their additions to and ideas for the industry in the future without letting the wisdom gained from our years in agriculture be lost in the process. Open up dialogue not only with family members but those outside the family, outside the industry. After all, we live and breathe agriculture every day of our lives. Ensuring that this legacy gets passed to the next generation is the highest and best investment we can make. Jessica Bailey is an agricultural lender at Hometown Bank in Neosho, Mo. A resident of Newton County, she also raises cattle on her family’s farm and is an active alumni of the Crowder College Aggie Club.

AUGUST 17, 2015

farm finance

Discovering the Value of Your Farm By Mark W. Jenner

The utilization of a balance sheet can give you a financial snap shot of your business What is your business worth? Is it worth a million dollars? It may be, but to know you must discover the net worth of your farm or business. That may sound ridiculous, but it is possible. If you own 340 acres and that land is worth $3,000 per acre, your land assets are worth more than $1 million. Hopefully, the undiscovered net worth of your operation is at least positive. A more compelling question is whether your business net worth is growing or shrinking. Hopefully it is growing. But too many farmers have borrowed enough money that the interest payments on that debt don’t allow their equity to grow – even when the farm is making all its payments. There is an easy tool for taking a financial snapshot of your business called a balance sheet. The mere mention of a financial tool, like a balance sheet, can be intimidating. The balance sheet is simply a list of one’s assets and liabilities, or debts. The most difficult part of a balance sheet is getting started. Listing current, intermediate, and longterm assets and liabilities each year at the same time, provides the farm business with a record of change over time. It is like taking a photo each year of how your kids change and grow over the years. Well, maybe not quite the same, but you get the picture. Balance sheets play an important role for helping beginning farmers, farms expanding into new enterprises, and assisting individuals with retirement and estate planning. They impact a business from beginning to end. The benefit of listing the current and long-term assets and liabilities is in the calculation of the net worth. The net worth is the assets minus the liabilities. There are some important things to know about building balance sheets. Pick AUGUST 17, 2015

a time of the year that is easy to remember, like January 1. Then make sure that as January 1 approaches you hold true to that date. While that date is easy to remember, another date may serve your business better. Consistency of building a balance sheet at the same time each year is a greater priority than the specific date. There is more than one way to value your assets. The two most common methods are the market value and the cost value. The market value reflects the value the assets if sold. The cost value is the value of what has been paid for that asset. These two values can be quite different for assets such as equipment that has been depreciated or replacement heifers that were raised on the farm. Take care to use the same method from year to year. The market value approach is best if there is a need to understand the solvency of the business. This also plays a greater role in valuing an estate for distribution among the heirs. The cost value on the other hand can provide a greater view of the profitability of the business over time. This method also requires access to better business records for accuracy. Both methods are important. Just pick one to get started. Iowa State University Extension Guide on, “Understanding Net Worth,” is a nice summary. It can be found at https://www. extension.iastate.edu/agdm/wholefarm/ html/c3-19.html Whether you are thinking about beginning to farm, or wondering how to divide up your estate for your kids, balance sheets are a vital part of successful business management. You may even discover your farm is a $1 million operation. Mark W. Jenner is a University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialist.

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Adding an employee increases liabilities, legal requirements

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Adding an employee brings a number of additional responsibilities, liabilities and legal requirements. Some regulations apply to all employers, while others exempt small employers or various types of employment. The number of different government agencies that enforce laws and regulations makes it difficult to ensure that all have been complied with.” All employers are required to get both a federal Employer Identification Number and a state Tax Identification Number. They also have to withhold state and federal income taxes, along with Social Security and Medicare taxes, from employee wages. Employees must complete IRS Forms W-4 and state W-4 forms so that withholding amounts can be determined, and in order to meet Federal New Hire Reporting requirements. Annual employer state and federal tax returns are also required. Employers with 10 or more farm workers, or those who pay $20,000 or more in wages during a quarter, are subject to the Federal Unemployment Tax; they may also be required to advance IRS Earned Income Credit if qualified employees want it. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also involved. While only employers with 10 or more workers are subject to OSHA inspections, all are covered by the agency’s safety regulations. Also, the EPA has established Worker Protection Standards that apply to employees who mix, load, apply or otherwise might be exposed to pesticides. The minimum wage law applies to employers with more than 500 days of agricultural labor in any calendar quarter, while child labor laws restrict the types of jobs that can be performed by employees under the age of 16, Steve Swigert, economist and agricultural consultant with the Samuel R. Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Okla., said in most cases compliance records have to be retained for at least three years.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

While a written agreement with the employee is not necessary, Swigert told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, “I would strongly recommend that there be a written job description, and a written description of the compensation for that employee.” In addition to the tax documents, all employers have to fill out a Department of Homeland Security I-9 form, which verifies employment eligibility, for each employee. “The Immigration Reform and Control Act created the I-9 form, and it keeps employers from getting into trouble with the federal government over whether they’re hiring a U.S. citizen or not,” Swigert said. It may also be prudent, he said, to use the federal Social Security matching system, eVerify, and to verify the history of the employee to determine whether there have been legal issues in the past. The employer may have to decide whether the worker is an employee or an independent contractor. Swigert said there’s a gray area in the law with regards to agricultural workers, but IRS provides guidelines. “It basically comes down to how much control you have over the employee, and whether the worker is himself a business that makes a profit or loss,” he said. “Also, the duration of the relationship – is it a couple of months’ job building fence, or do they stay on to take care of the cattle – and how much skill it takes.” To guard against future tax challenges, he recommended the employer keep records of the jobs being done by an independent contractor, whose equipment they used, and whether they moved on immediately to other jobs on the ranch. Most employees will be covered under the ranch’s liability insurance, but Swigert recommended putting new hires through a training process in order to satisfy the insurance terms in the event an employee is injured on the job.

AUGUST 17, 2015

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The Road Less Traveled By Pam Fortner

The Lucky Star Farm lets its animals do some of the work

Photo by Pam and Jack Fortner

Finding David Mervis and Donna MusarraMervis’s Lucky Star Farm is a reminder of the old Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken.” What locals call the Old Rush Road leaves State Highway 14 south of Yellville, Ark., and meanders for several miles eastward toward the Buffalo River. Take the wrong “Y” and it’s easy to end up at the Buffalo River – or somewhere else – instead of at the farm. Sometimes during big rains, both the Buffalo River and nearby Clabber Creek can bring solitary confinement to the farm. Nudged up next to Buffalo David Mervis and National Park, David and Donna Musarra-Mervis Donna purchased their 170own Mervis’s Lucky Star acre farm several years back. Farm near Rush, Ark. But employment and life kept them from moving onto the property permanently we’ll let them go in there and eat all that. until two years ago. They’ve cleared nine acres and have filled it with With all the bugs they eat, their eggs are a myriad of trees, animals, fruits and really rich, the yolks are really dark, comvegetables. They prefer to call their farm pared to just eating feed all day.” Knowing it would take the longest for an “organic, permaculture homestead.” trees to mature and produce fruit, David Donna explains exactly what that is: “Permaculture is a system of letting and Donna planted them first. They have your animals do some of the work for peach, apple, cherry and pawpaws. The you. They fertilize everything, and then garden has such a variety that trying to in turn they eat the dropped and rot- name everything in it would take up half ted fruit, which helps keep bugs down. a page. To name a few, there are asparagus, We’re in the process of planting a little sunflowers, tomatoes, basil, watermelon, green beans, blueberries, blackgarden just for them of elberries, peppers, eggplant, derberry bushes and comfrey Rush, Ark. corn, sorghum and onions. and things they’ll eat. Then The fruits and vegetables they can use that to hide in are protected by a fence that and for shade. It’s a real symis high enough and electrified to biotic relationship of animals keep critters out. Most produce is to your fruits and vegetables. grown out in the sunshine, but the When the garden is dormant,

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

AUGUST 17, 2015

meet your neighbors Mervises do have a high tunnel. It’s not a greenhouse. Those are heated and cooled. This isn’t. David calls it a season extender. He said, “I can control how much water it gets. If it rains a lot outside, it ruins the tomatoes and peppers. The tomatoes inside the high tunnel actually look better than the ones outside…We’ll start putting broccoli and kale in there within the next month.” Inside the high tunnel, David has also planted buckwheat as a cover crop. Donna said, “It’s like green manure. David’s big deal is using cover crops all over the garden. Where we don’t have vegetables growing, we’ve got cover crops.” He added, “The only fertilizer we have is the chickens pooping there in the winter and the cover crops putting nitrogen back in the soil…It’s all about organic matter.” David and Donna try to grow between 70 and 80 percent of what they eat. This requires lot of work and they could do it on their own, but they have chosen another route. They rely on people called WWOOFers for extra help. The acronym stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. The couple had previously been involved in an organization where they met people from all over the world who were organically minded. But they thought Rush was a bit remote to be inviting people from other countries. Then they discovered WWOOFers. They have found that people don’t mind coming from around the world to help them on their farm in exchange for room, board, knowledge and hands-on experience. That’s why David and Donna have built a bunkhouse and an additional apartment above their workshop and Donna’s art studio. They currently have a young lady named Cat Bahn who has been staying with them since February. Donna said, “A lot of times people have jobs or they’re students and they come during the summer. Some of them use the program to travel around the world. Mostly it’s young kids whose only connection to food is buying it in the grocery story. There’s a lot of young people who feel that’s not enough, that they need more of a sense of where food’s coming from and what it takes to grow food.” Cat has already earned a degree in journalism, but now wants to expand her AUGUST 17, 2015

knowledge about organic food. Growing up near Jonesboro, Ark., she received inspiration from her grandfather who, by necessity, knew everything about growing a garden. However, he chose not to pass that on to his children because of the stigma that went with having to grow their own food to get by. But his granddaughter thinks sustainable agriculture is a worthy endeavor and wants to continue the heritage.

Cat recently worked for a nonprofit on the Arkansas Delta. She said, “My goal is to go back to the Delta and grow food. I’d like to work with children and use what I’ve learned to empower and help the children.” David enjoys having the young people around, too. He said, “The help is one thing, but I’m also compassionate about growing organic produce and I like talking about it. I will talk about soil science until they cry.”

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David and Donna deeply believe in sustainable farming. America was established by independent farmers. David said, “Now it’s almost derogatory to grow your own food in certain circles.” David is still a stockbroker, but Donna has left her graphic arts teaching job at Loyola University. Sometimes the road less traveled is truly the way to go.

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By Katrina Hine

There is no doubt that times are a changing. Technology is rapidly invading every aspect of daily living. This shift begun to change the face of farming and ranching from manual field monitoring to what one high school student hopes will change once labor-intensive activities to a more cost effective and time efficient process. For Labette County high school student, Deven Foster, being in the right place at the

Deven Foster, left, started Foster Ag Service and Technology, LLC., and utilizes a drone, which was loaned to him by the Kansas Education Center at Greenbush. He is pictured with Mike Fischer.

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father, Ken Foster, along with his brother, John and father, Jim, currently farm and run a cattle operation spanning 7,000 acres. Becoming a business owner in high school is not the norm. Deven already was collecting soil samples as a subcontractor for AgChoice and spreading lime with his grandfather’s spreader truck for farmers in the area. Soon Lisa Blair with Southeast Kansas Education Cen-

Photo by Katrina Hine

right time means unlimited potential for advancing the cause of precision farming. An active teen playing football, baseball and in FFA, Deven participates in the school’s vocational agriculture program, where he was introduced to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones. The program utilizes a quadcopter for instructional purposes and, with the city of Altamont’s approval, inspection of the city’s water tower. Deven is no stranger to farming or ranching, in fact, he and his brother Zach are fifth generation, with the original family farm still located near Ponca City, Okla. His

ter at Greenbush approached Deven. The center had an AgEagle fixed wing drone used primarily for demonstrations at schools but never in the capacity that it was designed for, crop monitoring. With the new opportunity to practice actual crop monitoring with loan of Greenbush’s drone, Deven saw another door of opportunity open. Family support soon Bartlett, Kan. followed and Foster Ag Service and Technology, LLC was born. AgEagle, based in Neodesha, Kan., provided Deven with the train-

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

ing necessary to operate the $13,000 drone. This early version had its quirks, one of which required the operator to “stitch” the photos, taken in two-second increments, together to make a complete image. However, according to Tom Nichol, with AgEagle, the technology has already advanced to allow the software to stitch crop images seamlessly together at the completion of the flight. “I predict that as safe operations of small UAV’s, flown in agricultural survey settings…the (FAA) rules will be revised and not as restrictive,” Nichols states. While UAV’s get some negative press, the benefits for agriculture and the environment are far outweigh what is discussed in the media. “The ease of use and the advancement of more reliable platforms and flight software will make the software more attractive each year,” Nichol said. The newest AgEagle UAV weighs less than 4 pounds and operates on electric rather than fuel and is capable of mapping 400 acres in 40 minutes. Drone imagery assists with variable rates when applying chemicals or fertilizers only where needed, “reducing costs, increasing yields and profits,” Nichols adds. Drone technology’s potential to increase a farmers return on investment encourages developers to enhance ag technology to follow suit. One such farm tech tool is the ROI (Return On Investment) calculator software. In a Precision Ag article by Matthew Grassi, he highlights a study that states that drone use “enhances crop scouting, ROI is $12 per acre for corn, $2.60 per acre for soybeans and $2.30 per acre for wheat.” Drone technology in the field not only saves wear and tear on farm equipment but precision farming techniques also have positive impacts on the environment. “If a farmer knows what spots of the field need more fertilizer, the mapping program helps them develop a variable rate application plan. Chemicals are less likely to leech out into creeks or nearby fields,” Ken states. AUGUST 17, 2015

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Age: 17 Family: Mother Lori; sister Tosha; and brothers Tyler and Tanner Hometown: Stilwell, Okla. FFA Chapter: Stilwell FFA Advisors: Marty Horn and Jeff Hudgins What is your favorite aspect of agriculture? “What I like best is raising goats because they have so much personality and have taught me a sense of responsibility because their lives depend on me. I have up to 12 goats at one time with more in the future because I am keeping some for breeding and have a bred nanny.” Who is the most influential person in your life? “I have been fortunate enough to have several really influential people. I learned cooking from Granny, shooting from grandpa, crafting and creativity from my mom and becoming involved in FFA from my ag teacher Marty Horn.”

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What is your current involvement in agriculture? “This year I am secretary of my FFA chapter and hope to take one of the higher positions next year which are usually left for upperclassman. I am also very busy taking care of my goats which sometimes is really time intensive because I compete so much in a variety of FFA areas.” What is your earliest agricultural memory? “When I was 3 or 4, I started showing Hampshire pigs at the fair and have never forgotten it.”

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Awards “OJAM is a competition whose intent is to preserve the heritage of primitive archery including making or using handmade bows. I recently won the selfbow and overall high score competition with a selfbow made by my poppo. I was also the Oklahoma Scholastic Shooting Sports High School Female Champion and had the grand champion breed goat the Adair County Fair. In addition, I am a member of a national championship archery team.” Story and Photo By Terry Ropp AUGUST 17, 2015

the ofn

ag-visors

Advice from

Cash Flow

the professionals

In the past several years, many grain producers had the opportunity to build up and protect working capital when prices were running at their historical highs. Unfortunately, the temptation to By Joel Maneval use this “excess” cash to purchase equipment or real estate was too n the agricultural economy, producers are experiencing varystrong for many. And, as a result, working capital was depleted. ing levels of success across the broad spectrum we have in the Cattle producers are facing similar temptations to expand their opOzarks. Two extreme examples are seen in the cattle and crop eration by purchasing additional cattle, equipment or land with “exsectors. Cow-calf producers are seeing strong margins with cess” cash. While this could be a prudent move resulting in enhanced continued support in the cattle futures and lower feed costs. profitability, producers can’t predict when a down turn in cattle prices Meanwhile, crop producers have seen profits reduce significantly due may come. So, producers should consider reducing or eliminating deto lower prices following the large fall harvest of 2014 and significant pendence on accounts payable or lines of credit before paying cash for inventory carryover. This is the nature of agriculture. capital purchases. Doing this will help ensure that there are enough Joel Maneval is the Cash flow is directly tied to the profitability of a given producer in working capital reserves to shore up weaker margins in the future. Agricultural/Commercial any industry. When margins are strong, cash flow is strong. When Having said this, not all working capital is created equal. A posiLender at Arvest Bank margins are weak, then cash flow follows suit. Successful producers tive working capital number does not automatically mean they in Joplin, Mo. He and his anticipate these fluctuations and prepare accordingly. While there wife, Tami, have a small won’t have problems with cash. For instance, if the majority of a farm with their two sons are a number of financial areas that need to be evaluated, the most producer’s assets are in marketable inventories (calves, crops, etc.), near Jasper, Mo. important one in times of thin profits is working capital. then the timing of when these products are sold comes into play. Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabiliTo help anticipate when shortages may occur, it might be benefities. Current assets (cash, receivables, inventories, prepaid expenses, cash invested in cial to use a calendar to “map” out when expenses and payments are scheduled and growing crops, etc.) are the items that are cash or can be converted to cash within 12 compare this to when inventories will be marketed. Many producers track these months. Current liabilities are the obligations that must be paid within the next 12 things in their head – which works well enough when margins are strong. However, months. So, working capital provides a quick look at what resources a producer has when profits are tight, there will be less excess cash flow being generated from the to meet their obligations in the near term. And, it serves as the primary backstop for periodic sales. So, it becomes vitally important to keep track of when the potential weak cash flow. shortfalls could occur and to plan accordingly.

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Making farming

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Backgrounding Feeder Cattle By Gary Digiuseppe

Several variables should be taken into consideration Some cattle producers in this region background their feeder cattle – but not many. Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension regional cattle specialist at Mount Vernon, Mo., ticked off the reasons. “A lot of it depends on feed, and in southwest Missouri the feed supply that we have is usually fescue pasture, which isn’t a very good backgrounding environment later in the year,” Cole told Ozarks Farm & Neigthbor. “Because of our wetness this year, we’ve got pretty good pasture, but cattle still aren’t going to gain on it like they might on a higher-quality roughage and some supplementation. And with the price of feeder cattle being as good as it is, I think most of them aren’t going to want to give a second thought to backgrounding.” If you do background, it would be good to have a warm season grass like Bermudagrass. “I would probably utilize that before our cool season fescue or Orchardgrass,” Cole said. “Whether it’s a warm season or cool season, though, these freshly weaned calves who are without their mamas for the first time will benefit from some highquality concentrate feeds. That’s something we just can’t ignore, not so much for the protein benefits as the energy. Something in the neighborhood of 0.75 to 1 percent of the calf’s body weight should be given to them as a concentrate feed.” Dan Childs, economist and senior agricultural consultant with the Samuel R. Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Okla, said the producer should calculate the potential return from backgrounding, and that starts with the futures market. “It adjusts daily, but today it is offering you a price for November, for instance, and you have to decide whether it’s something you want to take or not,” he said. “That’s the best reference for what future prices will be, and it’s the only one that we can lock in.” From the anticipated future price, deduct the additional costs. Childs said, “We’re going to vaccinate and deworm them; we may have to put fly control on them if it’s not late in the wintertime. You may have to hire some labor; you may haul them to a vet and have the vet do it. Then, it’s going to take some feed; do we have pas-

what do you say? How do you precondition your calves before the sale?

“At 6 or 7 months it’s time for the calves to be weaned and I take them straight to the sale barn seldom preconditioning them.” Harold Sargent Washington County, Ark.

ture available that will put gain on the calves, or are we going to need some hay or supplemental feed to do that? Are we going to have to put in a dry lot so they can be fed everything?” A cow/calf producer will not consider retained ownership of his calves unless it would be for at least 45 days, which is the minimum time period from weaning – the industry is trending toward 60 days – that defines preconditioning. So the producer has to project those costs for 45 days. If you did haul them to the sale, Childs noted, you could gain from marketing preconditioned calves “that know how to eat from a trough and drink from a water source, and would not present much risk to the buyer of getting sick.” The preconditioning expense is then compared to what the futures market indicates the animal will be worth in 45 to 60 days. If the potential value is higher than the potential cost, it’s worth the expense. After 45 to 60 days, the producer can decide whether the availability and price of feed and grass make it worth holding the animal and putting another 200 to 300 pounds on it. “We would again look to the futures market to give us a prediction of what the price is going to be,” Childs said. “We have to estimate what the calves are going to gain per head per day, so if in 150 days that calf’s going to weigh 700 pounds instead of 500 pounds at weaning, what will be the value of that 700 pound calf, and what will it cost us to get that calf to that weight?” Again, there will be marketing options at that weight, and Childs said producers who can market cattle by the truckload can develop a relationship with a buyer for a feedyard. You can get a quote on how much the order buyer would pay in the fall for the calves when they reach 500 pounds, and again at 700 pounds; those quotes are based on the futures market, minus a margin for the buyer to compensate for risk. The producer could also sell through a video auction, which is more flexible in that they’ll accept mixed gender lots; however, the video sale would also want truckload lots. With fewer animals to sell, the local auction is more viable.

“The only pre-conditioning I do is to wean at about 500 pounds, right when I sell them.”

“I sell right off the cow because I see no difference in price and save the cost of extra feed if I wait.”

Robert Edgmon Newton County, Ark.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

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farm help

Don’t Bug Me! By Klaire Howerton

Four ways to keep flies at bay around your livestock Farmers and ranchers are not strangers to battling flies. The hot, humid months of summer promise to bring winged pests that can aggravate and even injure livestock. Having a good pest management system in place and controlling the flies is critical to the well-being of farm animals. Reducing the number of blood feeding flies can keep performance levels high, lead to better weight gain in growing animals, and healthier performance in calves. Horn flies are one of the more common blood feeding pests; they are the small flies that are present on the back, sides and underbelly of animals. If you notice large amounts of these flies, it is time to take action. “Normally, growing cattle gain an extra 1.5 pounds per week when horn flies are controlled below the 200 flies per animal threshold,” said Dr. Justin Talley, an Extension Livestock Entomologist at Oklahoma State University. Horn flies are not the only troublesome pests on a farm or ranch – stable flies, face flies and ticks can all lead to stressed animals, and can carry pathogens like pinkeye. Luckily for the farmer, there are means of controlling these pests. Cattle Rubs: Also referred to as a “back rubber” or “fly wipe,” a cattle rub is one of the most effective ways to control horn fly populations on cattle. A cattle rub is a long, sausage-shaped roll of material that is soaked with a fly repellent solution and hung in a pasture at a level that cattle can rub on it, transferring the repellent solution to their skin. Cattle naturally seek places to scratch, making the rub very effective at controlling flies. Talley suggests implementing a “forced use system” with cattle rubs – this means placing the rub somewhere that each animal goes underneath it every day. Putting the rub near water access can achieve this. Insecticide Treated Ear Tags: Ear tags that have been treated with an insecticide are a good option for controlling both horn flies and face flies. These tags

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

can be placed in one or both ears on cattle. While this is a fairly low maintenance option for fly control, the treated ear tags do need to be replaced periodically when the insecticide wears off. Certain treated ear tags can also be used on sheep. Sprays, Drenches and Powders: Livestock can also be treated for flies using a variety of sprays, drenches and powders. Horses, for example, can be treated with a spray containing pyrethroids, or even natural essential oils such as citronella and eucalyptus. Ivermectin is often used as an effective pour-on drench in cattle; cattle can also be sprayed with the farmer’s choice of fly spray. VetGun: The VetGun paintball system from SmartVet is a new and innovative way to make treating flies as low stress for livestock as possible. The VetGun system uses a modified paintball gun with a CO2 cartridge that fires a small, soft gel capsule called a VetCap. The VetCap is filled with liquid parasiticides. When a VetCap is fired from the VetGun, the capsule bursts upon hitting the animal, coating them with the solution. This system is designed for minimal fear or discomfort to the animal. When a positive reinforcement (like range cubes or grain) is provided during the application process, animals learn to associate being hit by a capsule with good things. VetGuns and VetCaps can be used with beef or dairy cattle. Rotating pastures can also be an excellent way to keep fly populations under control – by using Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) practices that include frequent pasture rotation, you can prevent manure buildup, which is one of the number one fly attractants. Eldon Cole, Livestock Specialist at the University of Missouri Extension, advises to “watch for fly problems on newborns.” Treating fly infestations on newborns right away ensures better performance down the road. With a little research, and some preventative methods, you can keep your animals protected from flies all summer long. AUGUST 17, 2015

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By Klaire Howerton

Getting ready for new calves before calving season can save time, reduce stress Here in the Ozarks, it is not uncommon for farmers and ranchers to breed their cows for a fall crop of calves. Some cattlemen prefer fall calves to spring calves due to the lighter birth weights, which make calving a little easier on the cows. Experts from the Extensions of both the University of Oklahoma and Missouri advise cattle producers that making plans before the calving season can save time and reduce stress. The blood flow pattern of cows in hot weather changes to disperse heat from the body – this creates less blood flow in the cow’s inner core, and this in turn leads to a lighter calf. But keep in mind that lighter fall calves can sometimes be weaker than their heavier spring counterparts – so you’ll want to monitor your fall calves closely to ensure that they are receiving proper nutrition and care from the cows, and yourself. If you are expecting fall calves, here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for calving season.

Shade

Fall is typically considered a cool time of year. But if your cows are calving during “early” fall, temperatures can often still be high enough to warrant some shade. “Shade or cool areas may be needed in early fall calving,” said Jeff Parmley, Oklahoma State University Extension Ag Educator. “Sometimes man made shelters block air movement, so trees and shade areas are more beneficial in the early fall providing cool areas.” If possible, house your cow herd in a pasture with some large trees to provide a reprieve from the heat until the true cooler autumn temperatures move in. There are other benefits to fall calving. “Fall-calving females tend to have lighter birth weights on their calves due to AUGUST 17, 2015

the hot weather they’ve experienced,” said University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist Eldon Cole.

Equipment

When you are preparing for fall calving season, it is critical to make sure your calving kit is properly stocked. If your herd will be calving in early fall, you’ll want your kit to be ready for action a week to ten days prior to your first calving date – cows bred for early fall calving (August-September) will often go into labor four to six days earlier than cows bred for late fall calving (October). Your calving kit should include items like obstetrical chains and handles, lubricant, towels, colostrum, electrolytes, bottles with rubber nipples, syringes, penicillin, and oxytocin for a clean-up shot. All your equipment should be stored in a clean tote or bucket with a lid. A veterinarian and/or your local feed store should carry the majority of these supplies.

Forages

If you will be rebreeding in the fall, there are some things to consider about the forages that are available at that time. “With fall calving, the cows will be rebreeding with grazing a cool season grass like fescue, wheat, rye, or strictly on hay. If feeding a low quality forage or hay, then supplement will be needed,” Parmley said. Supplemental feed can come in the form of a grain mix, or breeder cattle cubes. Liquid mineral or hard lick mineral tubs formulated specifically for cattle can also be provided for extra groceries during fall rebreeding. Doing your homework and preparation, and gathering your supplies before your fall calves start hitting the ground can help ensure a healthy and successful calving season all the way around.

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calendar

August 2015 17-22 116th Annual Johnson County Fair – Clarksville, Ark. – 479-754-5050 20-29 North Franklin County Fair – Ozark, Ark. – 479-667-3720 20 Horticulture Fair Judging Training – 9 a.m.-noon – Bater County Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, Ark. – 870-425-2335 20 L-Anguille Watershed (Water Quality Stakeholder Forums) – 5-8 p.m. – Counties in the watershed: Craighead, Cross, Lee, Poinsett, St. Francis, Woodruff – Wynne Fire Station, 1111 N. Falls Blvd., Wynne, Ark. – 501-671-2228 22 18th Annual Buckin’ in the Ozarks – Springdale, Ark. – 479-756-0464 24 Illinois River Watershed (Water Quality Stakeholder Forums) – 5-9 p.m. – Counties in the watershed: Benton and Washington – Washington County Cooperative Extension Service, 2536 N. McConnell Avene, Fayetteville, Ark. – 501-671-2228 25 Beaver Reservoir/Upper White Watershed (Water Quality Stakeholder Forums) – 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Counties in the watershed: Benton, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Madison, Newton and Washington – Clifty Community Center, 182 Madison 8248, Huntsville, Ark. – 501-671-2228 25-29 Sebastian County Fair – Greenwood, Ark. – 479-996-4131 28 Wagoner County 4-H Banquet – 6 p.m. – Wagoner County Civic Center, Coweta Okla. – 918-486-4589 29 4-H Family and Registration Carnival – Jay, Okla. – 918-253-4332 29 Sheep and Goat Workshop – 9-noon – Fulton County Fairgrounds, Salem, Ark. – 870-895-3301 29 4-H Pullet Sale – Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 29-9/5 Carroll County Fair – Berryville, Ark. – 870-423-2958 September 2015 8-12 South Logan County Fair – Booneville, Ark. – 479-675-2787 8-12 Searcy County Fair – Marshall, Ark. – 870-448-3981 8-12 Marion County Fair – Yellville, Ark. – 870-449-6349 8-12 Delaware County Free Fair – Jay, Okla. – 918-253-4332 9-12 Cherokee County Fair – Tahlequah, Okla. – 918-456-6163

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October 2015 1-11 Tulsa State Fair – Tahlequah, Okla. – 918-456-6163 10 Denim and Diamonds Gala – 6 p.m. – Parsons Stadium, Springdale, Ark. – 479-756-0464 12 Gardening 101 – 6-7 p.m. – Peel Mansion Museum & Heritage Gardens, 400 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 or 479-254-3870 November 2015 3-5 Better Process Control School – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. – 479-575-4450 9 Gardening 101 – 6-7 p.m. – Peel Mansion Museum & Heritage Gardens, 400 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 or 479-254-3870

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August 2015 21-22 Express Ranches “Big Event Limousin Sale” – at the Ranch, Yukon, Okla. – 800-664-3977 September 2015 5 Utopia Charolias Dispersal – Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, Springfield, Mo. – 785-672-7449 6 Dwyer Cattle Services 19th Annual Foundation Female Sale – Rosevile, IL – 309-337-6404 7 22nd Annual Autumn in the Ozarks Charolais Sale – Chappell’s Sale Arena, Strafford, Mo. – 405-246-6324 12 Don Thomas & Sons Brangus Sale – at the Farm, Madison, Mo. – 660-263-4560

10-13 Mayes County Fair – Pryor, Okla. – 918-825-3241 10-12 Wagoner County Fair – Wagoner County Fairgrounds, Coweta, Okla. – 918-486-4589 11-12 Sequoyah County Fair – Sallisaw, Okla. – 918-775-4838 12 4-H Poultry Auction – 1 p.m. – Fairgrounds, Booneville, Ark. – 479-675-2787 12 4-H Horse Show – Fairgrounds, Booneville, Ark. – 479-675-2787 14 Gardening 101 – 6-7 p.m. – Peel Mansion Museum & Heritage Gardens, 400 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 or 479-254-3870 14-19 Crawford County Fair – Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 15-19 Baxter County Fair – Mountain Home, Ark. – 870-425-2335 15-19 Pope County Fair – Russellville, Ark. – 479-968-7098 15-19 Rogers County Fair – Claremore Expo Center, Claremore, Okla. – 918-923-4958 17 Pesticide Applicator Training – 1 p.m. – Carroll County Extension Office, Berryville, Ark. – 870-423-2958 or 479-738-6826 22-26 Faulkner County Fair – Conway, Ark. – 501-329-8344 25-10/3 Arkansas/Oklahoma State Fair – 918-456-6163 ? 26 Fall Demolition Derby – Tickets: $7 children 2-12, $12 Adults – Springdale, Ark. – 479-756-0464

13 19 19 25 26 26

7th Annual Southwest Missouri Meat Goat Producers Production Sale – 1 p.m. – Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, Springfield, Mo. – 417-532-6056 Arkansas BBA Fall Classic Sale – Conway, Ark. – 210-648-5475 Seedstock Plus Showcase Sale X & 7th Annual Customer Appreciation Sale – Kingsville Livestock Market, Kingsville, Mo. – 877-486-1160 Jeffries Land & Cattle Red Angus Bull & Female Sale – at the Ranch, Checotah, Okla. – 918-638-3317 Missouri Shorthorn Assn. State Sale – Sho Me Sale Facility, Columbia, Mo. – 816-716-4614 Hudspeth Farms The Gathering Sale – Cattleman’s Livestock Auction, Harrison, Ark. – 979-229-4472

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

AUGUST 17, 2015

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FARMFEST ISSUE Be sure to get your classified ad space reserved for this issue today! Ad Space Deadline is September 11th. Call Today for More Details!

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