Ofn dummy 9 11 17 by Eric Tietze

PRODUCTION SALE ISSUE • FARMFEST ISSUE

The Perfect Environment for Cattle SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 • 28 PAGES

VOLUME 11, NUMBER 10 • WWW.OZARKSFN.COM

Bill Brockett says better nutrition helped put more weight on his calves

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

The Path to Improved Genetics

From Lincoln Logs to Log Cabins

Diamond G Farm began utilizing registered Angus bulls after purchasing two in 2001

Retired veterinarian finds joy in the restoration and construction of rustic log cabins

Fall Pasture Preparedness Managing fertility and forages now can help keep pastures healthy Serving More Than 24,000 Readers Across Northwest Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma

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Ban advised: An Arkansas task force has advised the state to bar sprayings after April 15 next year of agricultural herbicides containing the chemical dicamba, which has been linked to crop damage across the U.S. farm belt, a state spokeswoman said. The recommendation aims to protect plants vulnerable to the chemical and, if adopted, would prevent most Arkansas farmers from spraying dicamba weed killers on growing soybeans, a key selling point for products manufactured by Monsanto Co, BASF and DuPont.

The Ozarks Most Read Farm Newspaper

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Tyson opens new facility: Tyson Foods Inc. has opened its Incubation Technology Center at the corner of East Huntsville Avenue and North Monitor Road in Springdale, Ark. The $31 million, 75,000-square foot center has been under construction for about a year and will supply chicks for its northwest Arkansas broiler chicken and Cornish hen operations. It will employ about 35 people. The Incubation Technology Center will replace the company’s hatchery in Lincoln, Ark. (Washington County) and the hatchery on Randall Wobbe Road in Springdale.

VOL. 11, NO. 10

JUST A THOUGHT

Shoulders honored: Kate Shoulders, associate professor of agricultural education in the U of A’s Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, has been honored with the national Educator Award by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. She received the award at NACTA’s annual conference at Purdue University. Shoulders teaches several classes in the agricultural education curriculum in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology. Scholarships awarded: Several students from the Oklahoma Ozarks were awarded scholarships at the recent Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show. All scholarships are administered by the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation. Dustin Kunkel of Bluejacket, Okla., was awarded a $500 Multimin USA Scholarship. Kunkel graduated from Afton High School and was the valedictorian of his class in 2016. He is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University and is pursuing a degree in agribusiness with a pre-law option. Christian Savory of Ripley, Okla., was awarded a $500 scholarship funded by Great Plains Kubota. Savory recently graduated from Ripley High School and has plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall. Her hope is to become a veterinarian. Darcey Hilburn of Welch, Okla., was awarded a $750 scholarship funded by the Trade Show Exhibitors that attended this year’s event. Hilburn recently graduated from Vinita High School. She attends Oklahoma State University and majors in agribusiness with a pre-law option. Morgan Pfeiffer, Ph.D. student at Oklahoma State University, was awarded the Richard Gebhart Leadership Legacy Scholarship of $2,500. This scholarship is offered to students who have already received a four-year degree and are enrolled in and/or pursuing a post-graduate degree. Pfeiffer obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science and agricultural communications and a masters of meat science at Oklahoma State University.

Jerry Crownover – What’s for dinner?

Jody Harris – The Harris kids hit the fair

Julie Turner-Crawford – A passion for agriculture

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS 7 Marion Killgore keeps her classroom and family ranch moving

10 12

Bill Brockett likes the Arkansas climate for raising cattle Retired veterinarian is far from retired

Eye on Agribusiness features the Boone County 4-H Center

Town & Country spotlights Gary Swanson

Diamond G Farm improves genetics with registered bulls

The Honeycutt family overcomes rough patches

Youth in Agriculture features Ryan Lane

FARM HELP 21 Rates and Relationships 22 Picking a replacement heifer 23 Black vultures pose a risk to livestock producers

OzarksFarm

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

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Proper management can keep fall pastures healthy

Using genetics to improve a commercial herd SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

just a

thought

What’s On Your Mind, Ozarks?

Life Is Simple

e f i L elpmiS si

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Administrative Eric Tietze, Vice-President Operations Kathy Myers, Marketing Manager Sandra Coffman, Accounting Advertising Pete Boaz, Display & Classified Sales Kathy Myers, Production Sales Circulation Stan Coffman, Circulation Editorial Julie Turner-Crawford, Managing Editor Jerry Crownover, Columnist Jody Harris, Columnist Production Amanda Newell, Production Contributors Larry Burchfield, Klaire Howerton, Ken W. Knies, Kristyn Richner, Jessica Thompson and Terry Ropp

About the Cover Bill Brockett, along with this brother Weldon (pictured at left), run a cattle operation not far from their childhood home. See more on page 8. Photo by Terry Ropp

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Ozarks Farm & Neighbor accepts story suggestions from readers. Story information appears as gathered from interviewees. Ozarks Farm & Neighbor assumes no responsibility for the credibility of statements made by interviewees. © Copyright Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, Inc., 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

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y wife and I are hosting another foreign exchange revostudent nworCfor yrrthe eJ yB school year and I’m always a bit apprehensive before their arrival. Will he be a good kid and enjoyJerry Crownover is able to live with for nine months…or will he be a difa farmer and former professor of Agriculture ficult guest who demands more focus than the typiEducation at Missouri cal teenager? Will he adapt to life on a farm that is State University. He is a 15 miles to the closest town when he is accustomed native of Baxter County, to living in a metropolitan area? Are we crazy for Arkansas, and an housing another adolescent when our own two sons author and professional drove us to the brink of insanity 10 to 15 years ago? speaker. To contact Jerry, Kornelijus is from Lithuania and, even though we go to ozarksfn.com and had communicated by email for a couple of months click on ‘Contact Us.’ before his arrival, and video chatted with him twice, one can never be sure until the student shows up. A week before he left his home country, Judy asked the young man what he wanted for his first supper upon his afternoon arrival. His reply was, “Anything is fine. I eat everything.” Pressing him further, Judy asked, “What is your favorite food.” When the young man replied, “I love steak,” I knew we had a keeper. After we picked him up at the airport and returned home, I fired up the grill and prepared him a big, thick, juicy steak and Judy had all the trimmings ready. When Kornelijus declared it the best piece of beef he’d ever eaten, and then asked, “Is all American beef this delicious?” I was certain he was going to fit right in here on the farm. Since then, we have found the young man from Eastern Europe to be smart, courteous, polite, helpful, fun to have around, and…more proficient in the correct use of the English language than the old man with whom he lives. Luck of the draw? Maybe. When luck of the draw is mentioned concerning exchange students, we usually think of the host family being lucky to get a good match for their home, but Ko-

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just a thought

Freshly Picked By Jody Harris

ne of my fondest memories of summer was our town’s Tri-County Fair. As a child, my sister and I worked hard to break dairy heifers to lead in order to show them at Jody Harris is a freelance the local fair. We recently took our own children communications specialist, to the fair in Benton County, Ark. We attended gardener, ranch wife and the fair with my brother-in-law. Our boys particimother of four. She and pated in a mutton busting event and afterward her family raise Angus beef we strolled through all of the exhibit buildings. cattle and other critters on Nathan’s brother regaled the kids with stories of their northwest Arkansas his past fair project entries. After looking at all of ranch. She is a graduate the entries, the kids decided they wanted to enter of Missouri State University. some things in our own Washington County Fair. To contact Jody, go to The next day, I went to the local feed store and ozarksfn.com and click on let the kids pick up a copy of the fair book. ‘Contact Us.’ They thumbed through the list of categories and our dining room quickly became an arts and crafts studio. The creativity and mess took over for a few weeks. On Saturday, my husband was out of town at a sales meeting. I loaded up our highlighted fair book, boxes of entries and four eager kids in my car and we headed to the Washington County Fairgrounds. The fair wasn’t set to start for a few more days but I was impressed with the number of volunteers who had turned out to take entries and set up this massive event. We started in the horticulture building and thankfully I ran into a dear friend who guided me through the entry process. We looked like a clown car unloading all of our stuff and it was nice to have a familiar face to direct us. The kids entered their cut flowers and garden vegetables, and I entered some pickles and salsa just for fun. We then headed to another building to enter sewing and art projects. The number of entry tables and categories was seemingly endless. There was a sweet volunteer at the head table who looked through each of the kids’ treasured entries. She patiently directed me on the division and class they could be entered into. I felt totally disorganized and a little bit embarrassed, but each volunteer was wonderfully gracious. After everything was entered and delivered, the kids wanted to walk around to see how their items would be set out for display for judging the following week. Once they were satisfied they’d seen everything they needed to see we headed out to grab lunch. By the day’s end, one of the sweet volunteers called me to tell me I had entered a quart jar of pickles. In their haste to enter them, they realized the fair only takes pints. She said they’d been admiring them all day and they looked delicious. She told me a blue ribbon would’ve paid $3 and she’d give me that if they could just pop them open and try them. I was cracking up laughing! I told her to open them up and enjoy them for all their hard work doing entries that day. I said I’d get my jar back on pick up day. I learned a lot for next year; I need to be more organized and read the fair book more closely prior to entry day! I sincerely appreciate the volunteers from our county fair who helped us navigate the process. It takes a village, neighbor.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

just a thought

Across the Fence

By Julie Turner-Crawford

assion. Passion has many definitions in the dictionary, most of which address emotion or strong feelings of desire. Julie Turner-Crawford Another meaning is an intense drivis a native of Dallas ing or overmastering feeling or conviction. County, Mo., where she Since coming to Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, I’ve grew up on her family’s had the privilege to meet countless people who farm. She is a graduate share a passion for agriculture and farming. Some of Missouri State are new to farming and/or livestock production, University. To contact while others have been immersed in agriculture Julie, call 1-866-532-1960 their whole lives. No matter how they came to be or by email at editor@ involved in agriculture, it is their passion. ozarksfn.com. On a farm visit a while back, a first-generation livestock producer shared a conversation he had with another new farmer. The men were discussing how farming was much harder, mentally and physically, then they ever imagined, and how they weren’t going to get rich from it. One of the men then asked the other what he would do with the money if he won a big lottery and never had to work again. “I guess I’d buy a bigger farm,” the man responded. Agriculture had become their passion. Many of us might have a similar response if asked that same question. Lottery winnings, for me, would mean more land, a nice group of cattle (really not sure which breed or cross yet because I like the attributes of so many, and I just can’t totally rule out a Jersey herd), and new fences, barns and equipment all around. Months-long trips around the world and jet setting off to tropical locations just doesn’t appeal to me. I’ve been to Jamaica, which was nice, but wasn’t everything I expected. After all, I’ve been to the American Royal (where me and two other girls won a collegiate hay hauling competition way back in 1989, the National Western Stock Show and the North American International Livestock Expo, so the Caribbean island was up against some pretty tough competition. I guess you could say agriculture is my passion. Farmers share a passion and goal, but they might do things a little differently than their neighbor. An organic or non-GMO producer is passionate about getting a — Continued on Next Page

dessert

Sweet Potato Pie

Submitted by: Christine Grigg, Huntsville, Ark. 1 can sweet potatoes, drained and mashed 1 tsp cinnamon 1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Cook all ingredients on top of the stove until it begins to thicken. Pour into an unbaked, 9-inch pie shell and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees and continue to bake until done (firm). Note: Pumpkin can be used instead of sweet potatoes. Know a Good Recipe? Send in your favorite recipe to share with our readers. Mail them to: PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753; fax them to: 417-532-4721; or email them to: editor@ozarksfn.com

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

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

just a thought Across the Fence Continued from Previous Page high-quality product to their customers without the use of certain medications, chemicals or feeds. A conventional producer is also passionate about producing a high-quality product, but uses a herbicide or pesticide and offer grain to their livestock. Both producers have the same goal, just a different approach. It’s unfortunate, but I see more and more debate among those involved in production agriculture about which is “the best” practice. It’s kind of like fighting over which is the best tractor; is there really a viable reason to argue? If you’re happy with one color and how it works for you and your operation, and your neighbor has a different colored tractor and it works well for their operation, is there really a reason to disagree? We have enough negativity revolving around agriculture, so bickering within

the industry only damages agriculture, as a whole. As farmers and ranchers we should not consider each other competitors, but allies. The only enemies we should have are those who are trying to destroy agriculture. The differences between us, many times, come down to a passion for what we do and for what we believe in. We all want what’s best for our farms, livestock, crops and families, so are our passions really that different?

Life Is Simple Continued from Page 3

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rnelijus was recently texting one of his friends from Lithuania that is placed in a home in the Southwestern U.S. The young lady is staying with a family that lives in one of those stereotypical artsy towns, and she was venting about her situation. They were visiting right after we had finished supper. “Oh, no!” Kornelijus exclaimed. “My friend had to eat grass seeds and soup for dinner.” “Are they vegetarians?” After more conversations between our boy and his friend, he said that the girl’s host family ate “ecologically sustainable and organically raised, free-range chickens” occasionally, but that her host parents “were trying to quit.” As he continued texting with her, he found out that for dessert that evening, his friend was provided with “coconut water with honey.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

When asked if she ever got to eat any normal food, she replied, “Yes, I sometimes get a salad, but the dressing is some kind of exotic oil.” She went on to add that her supervisor (all exchange students have a supervisor that visits monthly) had taken her out to lunch and she had gorged on pizza… and cried… because it tasted so good. Kornelijus was sad for his friend because he had just finished a supper of grilled beef kabobs, stuffed peppers and mushrooms and fresh-made bread. As we sat on the back porch and enjoyed a big helping of Judy’s homemade apple pie with ice cream, our new son pondered, “I wonder what my friend is doing right now?” “Oh, she’s probably sitting on her back porch, sipping fair-trade herbal tea, singing Kumbaya and dreaming about…a cheeseburger.”

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

meet your

neighbors The #1 Photos by Jessica Thompson

At Home In Class or on the Range

2004-2017!

By Jessica Thompson

Marion Killgore credits her husband Hank for her riding and training abilities.

Marion Killgore climbs aboard a horse at her family’s ranch after spending her day in the classroom When the first bell rings in the morning, Marion Killgore is in her classroom waiting to greet her high school students. When the afternoon bell rings she heads south on the notoriously curvy Highway 10 to her and her husband’s 1,120 acre ranch. Marian has been teaching for 32 years and she coached for 26 years. She taught 29 years in Northwest Arkansas and four years ago she started teaching at Kansas, Okla. Marian enjoys attending and working in her church and since being at Kansas, Marian has brought back the FCA (Fellowship of

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

D ealer in Missouri Sales $’s

Christian Athletes) club, which had not been active for several years. The Kansas huddle runs between 50 to 60 students each week. This was an easy venture for Marian because of her past coaching experience. She describes herself as a cheerleader for her students as they play sports and as they make their way through the challenges of being a high school student. Kansas, Okla. Her encouraging spirit towards the students also spills over into life on the ranch. As a lady ranch-

er, wife and mother, she can’t be faint at heart. Daily work can include checking cattle and rotating pastures on horseback (usually a colt she is training), doctoring, calving, mowing, hauling hay or running a D6 dozer. On most snow days teachers are snuggled up under a blanket reading a good book, not chopping ice from ponds and warming up newborn calves. Marian had always loved horses, cattle and country life, but never experienced it until she met her husband Hank. He taught her all about training and riding horses. As newlyweds, Hank and Marian lived in Hiwasse, Ark., but in 1995 they bought 1,120 acres along the Illinois River next to Hanging Rock Camp between Kansas and Tahlequah, Okla. The Killgores raise Longhorn/Corriente cattle crossed with Ankola Watusi. They got their foundation bull from the Wilmoth’s at the Gentry Safari. Ten years ago they started raising Brahman cross bucking bulls on a small scale (15 bulls in a calf crop). The rest of the cattle are Longhorns bred to Charolais bulls. One of the reasons they prefer raising the Longhorn cattle is because they are hardy and utilize the ground available to them, whether it is a deep hollow or a long ridge. Life on the ranch plus being a full-time teacher is not easy but Marian relishes every minute of both.

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The Perfect Environment for Cattle By Terry Ropp

Bill Brockett says better nutrition helped put more weight on his calves

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In 1957, Bill’s father Clifton purchased 40 acres very close to the current farm for $30,000. A Texas sharecropper, he traveled back and forth between the two states until he paid off the land and his family joined him in 1962. In 1972, Bill joined the Navy but was forced to

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Bill has two favorite grandkid memo- return two years later when his father ries. When four came to visit from Min- had a heart attack. Bill finished his nesota, Bill was tickled by one’s fascina- six-year commitment in the Reserves. tion with cow patties both in terms of Then his brother Weldon also had sesize and number. He also chuckles ev- vere heart disease and became disabled. ery time he thinks about Sebastian at Bill bought his first 40 acres to help his brother adjust. Now in much 6 years old figuring out he better health, Weldon feeds would have to walk about the cattle and whatever else half a mile to get back from Ozark, Ark. needs to be done at a pace moving a tractor with his that he determines day by grandpa. He looked up at day. Bill currently manages 700 Bill and said, “That’s okay Pa leased and owned acres with WelBill. You can leave me here. don working for a percentage. I’ll be just fine.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

meet your neighbors Bill owns Hillbilly Realty in Ozark but for them. The herds are checked daily is in the process of training someone to and rotated according to grass height, take over. the number of animals and the size of the “I talk about retiring, but I’m just fool- pasture. Except for fence row issues and ing myself because I like cattle, just spring broadcast spraying, the cattle do bought a new hay mower, and am think- the weeding. ing I want another tractor even though “Arkansas is an excellent environment I already have five,” Bill said. “I’m just for cattle because it’s not subjected to like my 70-year-old salesperson, Wilma the brutal cold of the north or the more Dickerson, who says she’s afraid if she frequent and severe droughts further slows down she’ll stop.” south,” Bill said. Bill began with a feeder operation but This year Bill is using four-way feed and switched to a cow/calf because of market chooses his feed in the fall for the entire conditions. Finding lenders less than co- year because he gets a better price. He puroperative, he purchased his first 47 heifers chases feed at the Co-Op because they do himself and has never borrowed for stock. not charge for feed he doesn’t use, which Early on, when Bill went is important when ordering to auctions, he saw his 80 to 100 tons a year. Cows calves didn’t look nearly receive 5 pounds every day as good as those selling for while heifers are fed daily. more money. He decided The cattle have free choice the main problem was a lack hay and used 900 of the of consistency in supplying Right now for 1,100 bales he harvested free choice minerals. Minerlast year. HR Farms als became a top priority. “Right now for HR “Now my calves grow Farms to make a decent to make a out faster and better and profit I need to sell calves are the ones to bring a bet- decent profit at 500 pounds for $1.50 a ter price seeming to sell for I need to sell pound,” Bill said. 10 to 15 percent more,” In the early 2000s, the calves at Bill said. immediate area was hit by Bill has four herds of tornado that took two 500 pounds apeople’s crossbred Angus cows lives and wreaked for $1.50 bred by seven commercial havoc with a number of Angus and one registered farms. Bill lost two barns, a pound. Hereford bull because his fencing and a few anipreferred calf is a black mals. Two weeks were rebaldie. He is developing – Bill Brockett quired to repair perimeter that particular calf befencing for containment cause, according to Bill, though cross fencing had the market exists and to be repaired as well. “they are pretty look at.” “I was luckier than Because Bill likes two most,” he said. “I replaced pay checks a year, he has the two barns with a metal both spring and fall calves. He weans one but had to repair rather than replace at six months and finds their crying for fencing because the amount FEMA paid their mommas his biggest challenge. Bull would not nearly cover the cost.” calves are castrated rather than banded Bill believes the tornado represented because he believes the process is quicker what is a universal challenge for farmers: and more certain. He dehorns and admin- insurance. He finds the price very expenisters two rounds of vaccinations to the sive and carries a heavy liability policy calves, with bulls and cows getting shots but is self-insured for most of the rest. once a year. He also prefers an injectable, “What I’ve learned is that farming, long-term wormer. The calves are creep friends and health are what’s imporfed which promotes growth and health tant,” he said. “Without those, nothing as well as making weaning less stressful else means much.”

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ozarks

roots

the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home Photo by Larry Burchfield

From Lincoln Logs to Log Cabins By Larry Burckfield

Retired veterinarian finds joy in the restoration and construction of rustic log cabins Upon meeting Steve Elliott the first time, the initial visual impression might be of a cowboy from an old western movie set. The natural question would be which cowboy: Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickock, or any number of well-known sidekicks from the “golden days of westerns.” However, don’t let the cowboy appearance fool you. He may look like a cowboy, but he loves rock and roll music from the 1960s and 1970s. That is “his kind of music.” He has been fortunate to spend his adult life involved in two things he loves – veterinary medicine and building log cabins. Born 1954 in Chickasha, Okla., Elliot is a “real son of a preacher man.” His dad was a gospel preacher. Steve grew up mostly in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. He attended Harding University, where he received his bachelor’s in biology in 1976. While in college, Steve worked construction jobs to help with college expenses. Those jobs provided him with experience that

would pay off years later. After graduating from Harding University, Steve had a goal of graduate studies in wildlife management. He heard Horace Greely’s call to “go west young man,” but found out it was very difficult, even impossible to be accepted as a non-resident. So, Steve went back to construction and drove dump trucks in Indiana where his parents were living at the time. Steve soon found himself back in Searcy, Ark., working for a custom home builder. He had a horse at the time that developed a very badly swollen leg from a snake bite. After nursing his horse for two months, veterinary medicine began to call. As fate had it, Elliott had almost all of the pre-vet requirements with his biology degree. He applied to Kansas State University, and was initially rejected. He was accepted later as an alternate when an opening became available. After graduating vet school in 1985, Elliot worked in Conway and Batesville, Ark. It didn’t take him long to see the handwriting on the wall and the desire to open his own

veterinarian clinic was strong. Doing his homework, Steve discovered three counties in Southeast Arkansas had no veterinarian. In 1987, Warren Animal Clinic was started on a shoestring budget, but there was still a desire to build. “I guess Lincoln Logs as a kid sparked my interest in log cabins,” Elliott explained. “I really became interested in log cabins while in college. I would find old standing cabins and wonder, ‘how did they do that?’ I was more interested in how they did it, than just looking at the primitive building.” The more he studied the more he realized it was pretty simple to build a cabin with a few basic tools. “If it had been difficult,” Steve said. “The pioneers would have found something simpler to build for a quick shelter.” The first cabin was another summer job while in vet school. Elliott built a hunting cabin for a dentist in Searcy, Ark., using cypress sawmilled timbers for the walls. The cabin had half dovetail corners and chinking between the cracks

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

and all the doors and simple windows were made by Steve. Since that initial cabin, he has built the doors, handles and latches for his cabins. The next project was a log kit home Elliott and his wife built. Professional burnout became noticeable in 2004 and when the opportunity to sell the vet practice presented itself, Steve took it and retired from that profession. Since that time, he has built three more log cabins, a large timber frame barn in White County, Ark., and numerous other “rustic” projects, including a reconstructed cabin in Green Forrest, Ark., that was originally a Canadian hunting lodge. Elliott’s throwback craftsmanship can be found along the Buffalo River where one of his cabins is used as a rental for canoe trip vacationers. His personal cabin in Long Rock is almost completed. Future construction jobs in the works include a mentoring project with a young man interested in building a cabin in Northwest Arkansas. SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

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Boone County 4-H Center Story By Larry Burchfield

Location: Harrison, Ark. County Chair: Nita Cooper History and Services: With the help of a modern office facility and a land donation, the Boone County Extension and 4-H Center in Harrison, Ark., is a premier example of the U of A Extension service fulfilling their mission. The physical facility is different from most offices. It is a stand-alone office complex located on 40 acres on a mountain top overlooking Harrison. Several agribusiness and community leaders had a vision for a center that would promote agriculture, foster learning, provide ample space and an opportunity for the public to learn more about agriculture and the numerous programs extension offers. The vision for the center received a huge boost when Joe and Esta Lee Pattie donated the 40-acre mountain top tract to the Boone County Extension. There was an old steel barn on the site which had been built back in the 1950s with steel pipe from the oil and gas industry, so it was solid. One of the first projects was to renovate the barn with new sheet metal and remodel some of the interior stalls to make it more conducive to modern day livestock handling. The livestock barn hosts several showings each year and provides 4-H members with hands-on livestock working. “The donation of the land by the Pattie’s was huge,” said Nita Cooper, Boone County Extension Chair. “It got the ball rolling and the community really came together with a vision for the new office complex. We have been in it four years now.” Once the land donation was complete, community organizations, working hand in hand with the Boone County Quorum Court started to work on the office complex. The dream of a new Extension office and 4-H center was about to become reality. “It was amazing to watch this unfold,” Nita said. “So many groups and individuals put so much time, money and effort into this project. Boone County Farm Bureau, Kiwanis Club, the Boone County 4-H Foundation, and of course the Quorum Court – I know I left out some – but they all came together and made this happen.” The 3,000 square-foot office building is equipped with a large conference room and the latest audio/visual technology for numerous presentations for family consumer science, leadership resources, health and fitness, as well as economic development, just to name a few. However, as impressive as the office building is, it is the vast outdoor resources that complement the center. In addition to the livestock barn, a picnic pavilion is located on the grounds. To facilitate the county’s 4-H shooting club a shooting range is located on the south end of the property. An archery range is currently under construction. A large outdoor classroom provides hands-on experience for 4-H members and Master Gardeners alike to improve their growing skills.

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

town &

country

BIG D RANCH BUILDING YOUR TOMORROW

in the field and in the office

Sarah Swanson Story and Photo By Terry Ropp

Family: Husband, Gary; children, Elli, Matt, Josh, Katherine and Julia; and 12

grandchildren.

Hometown: Highfill, Ark. In Town: “Although we first met while working at a department store, we began our relationship a few years later, the day after Gary had enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam era, and eventually married. In 2007, we moved to Arkansas to take care of aging parents. In 2012, we opened Swanson Heating and Air because construction firms wanted someone younger with fewer credentials and because heating and air was the easiest license for us to get considering Gary had a degree in construction science supported by much experience in that field. The Bentonville area was growing, and we felt the market was there. Our business has grown steadily, and we have two full-time employees including our son Josh. I have spent many years in ministry and believe integrity is essential in a healthy business. In addition, we want customers more than satisfied; I want them feeling secure and safe while paying reasonable prices.” In the Country: “In 2012 we also bought 12 acres in Highfill, Ark., near the Bentonville airport. We significantly improved the property including a cottage for my mother. Sarah and I decided we wanted to raise fully pastured poultry, hopefully as retirement income and because the investment was not nearly as expensive as cattle. We have since learned that our chickens are more of a lifestyle choice for children and grandchildren rather than a financial choice. In the field, we use hoop houses which are moved every day so the chickens have fresh grass and bugs and so the dung can decompose and eliminate any need for fertilizer. Our laying hens are able to roost in the barn where they also have laying boxes. Out in the pasture, the layers have shelter where they can escape from predators like hawks or use it for shade. We use well water with waterers in the barn and in the field using a font system. Non-GMO feed is always available both in the barn and in the shelter though the chickens often choose to eat more grass and bugs than feed. At one time we had 400 chickens, raising 2,000 in one year by running a seven-week broiler operation in addition to layers. We have just downsized and are currently selling our stock of frozen chicken to individuals. We sell whole chickens and parts including feet and livers. Our present laying operation consists of 80 chickens of various breeds producing 25 to 30 dozen eggs of various colors per week. We sell our eggs to two restaurants as well as individuals.” Future: “While our children are not interested in the chicken business, they love the

country life. Grandkids eagerly help with chores, gathering eggs and feeding our two steers. They also love going for tractor rides and mowing using the big mower. Sarah and I have decided as we get older to make another and more gradual transition to grass fed beef rather than layers because the process is far less labor intensive as we get older. We will very soon be getting our first commercial bred heifers as the first step in this transition.” SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

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

market sales reports

bulls

(Week of 8/27/17 to 9/2/17) Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Cleburne County Livestock County Line Sale - Ratcliff 67.00 † Decatur Livestock Auction

65.00-87.50 † 75.00-94.00 † 70.00-97.00*

Not Reported* Not Reported* 75.00-87.00 †

dairy cattle

73.00-93.50 † 62.00-84.50 † 78.00-97.00 † 80.00-96.00* 75.00-87.00 † 76.00-98.50 †

85.00-98.50*

slaughter

110

130

cows

(Week of 8/27/17 to 9/2/17) Arkansas Cattle Auction

45.00-68.00 † 40.00-70.00 † 46.00-74.50 † 50.00-70.00* 58.00-72.00 † 42.00-70.50 † Not Reported* Not Reported*

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

† 4 40.00-70.00 45.00-71.50 †

45.00-70.50 † 45.00-74.00 † 50.00-67.00* 39.00-70.50 † 55.00-77.00 † 52.00-68.50 † 45.00-77.00 †

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

Steers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

Bulls, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

Heifers, Med. & Lg. 1 300-400 lbs. 400-500 lbs. 500-600 lbs. 600-700 lbs. 700-800 lbs.

14 14

57.00-81.50*

Ark. Cattle Auction, LLC - Searcy 8/29/17 742

Ash Flat Livestock

3-12 Higher

100

8/30/17 1,384

Cleburne Co. - Heber Springs 8/28/17 320

County Line Sale Ratcliff 8/30/17 327

St-10 Higher

Uneven

3-12 Higher

Uneven

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

190.00-219.00 161.00-191.00 155.00-162.00 145.00-156.00 -----

155.00-196.00 148.00-185.00 145.00-169.50 132.00-157.60 132.00-147.25

167.00-212.50 154.00-167.00 145.00-156.00 140.00-150.00 142.00

175.00 140.00-180.00 149.00-163.50 140.00-154.00 -----

----145.00-167.00 135.00-150.00 128.00-136.00 -----

166.00 160.00-167.00 -------------

175.00-204.00 150.00-183.00 139.00-161.00 132.00-142.00 123.00-128.00

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

155.00-167.00 139.00-160.00 130.00-152.00 129.00-140.00 122.00-127.00

--------130.00-144.00 130.00-136.00 123.00-126.00

148.00-173.00 140.00-157.00 130.00-150.00 128.00-135.00 -----

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

151.00-160.00 139.00-153.00 132.00-142.00 127.00-135.00 127.00

145.00-166.00 135.00-151.00 128.00-143.00 120.00-134.50 118.00-132.50

147.00-171.00 130.00-155.00 129.00-138.00 125.00-130.00 -----

140.00-151.00 130.00-150.00 130.00-135.00 125.00-132.00 125.00

175.00-223.00 150.00-176.00 143.00-160.00 135.00-148.00 -----

National Sheep Summary

9/1/17

goats

stocker & feeder

120

Cattlemen’s Livestock*

9/1/17 597

Benton Co. - Siloam Springs 8/31/17 1,302

St-10 Higher

121( 5(3257('

Not Reported* 47.00-76.50 †

Slaughter Wool Rams: Good 1-2 225-290 lbs 60.00-96.00. Slaughter Hair Rams: Good 1-2 205-235 lbs 87.50-90.00. GOATS: Feeder Kids: Selection 1 25-37 lbs 220.00-245.00. Selection 3 34-43 lbs 170.00-190.00. Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 50-85 lbs 232.50-245.00. Selection 2 42-72 lbs 200.00-220.50. Selection 3 40-75 lbs 170.00-190.00. Replacement Does: Selection 1 65-150 lbs 150.00-185.00. Slaughter Does: Selection 2 98-100 lbs 112.00-115.00. Replacement Bucks: Selection 2 90-120 lbs 200.00. Slaughter Bucks: Selection 2 150 lbs 135.00.

Compared to last week slaughter lambs were steady to Springfield, Mo. • Springfield Livestock Marketing Center 8/22/17 sharply lower, except at New Holland, PA steady to 10.00 higher. Slaughter ewes were steady to 10.00 highReceipts: 556 er, except at Newell, SD steady to 10.00 lower. Feeder The supply and demand was moderate. There were 07 lambs were steady to 8.00 lower. At San Angelo,TX percent springer heifers, 17 percent bred heifers, 28 5334 head sold. No sales in Equity Electronic Auction. percent open heifers, 03 percent fresh and milking cows, Buffalo, Mo. • Buffalo Livestock Market 8/23/17 In direct trading slaughter ewes were not tested; no com03 percent bred and springer cows and 11 percent baby parison on feeder lambs. 5100 head of negotiated sales of Receipts: 877 calves. The balance was steers, bulls and slaughter cows. slaughter lambs were steady to 4.00 higher. 3,148 lamb Supply was good and demand was good with a full house Prices reported are on a per head basis and for Holsteins carcasses sold with all weights no trend due to confidenon hand. Feeder lambs were down about 10-15 cents 150 unless noted otherwise. tiality. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless on average while the remainder of the sheep markets Springer Heifers bred seven to nine months: Supreme otherwise specified. were mostly steady. Goat markets were also up 10-15 1400.00-1575.00. ind Jersey 1400.00, ind crossbred cents compared to last month. The supply made up of 74 Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 90-160 lbs: 1470.00, ind Milking Shorthorn 1300.00, Approved San Angelo: shorn and wooled 100-140 lbs 136.00-156.00. percent sheep, 70 percent being lambs, and 17 percent 1300.00-1375.00, crossbreds 1000.00-1150.00, Medium VA: wooled 110-125 lbs 200.00-210.00. goats. All prices are per hundred weight (CWT) unless 975.00-1175.00, Jerseys 900.00-1150.00, few crossbreds PA: shorn and wooled 90-110 lbs 210.00-230.00; 110-130 noted otherwise. 950.00-975.00. lbs 197.00-230.00; 130-150 lbs 185.00-210.00. SHEEP: Heifers bred three to six months: Supreme 1300.00Ft.Collins, CO: wooled 130-155 lbs 149.00-154.00. Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 Mostly hair a few 1375.00, ind Milking Shorthorn 1600.00, crossbreds wool 1-2 35-57 lbs 180.00-190.00. Medium and Large 1-2 South Dakota: shorn and wooled 110-165 lbs 151.001100.00-1200.00, Approved 1000.00-1280.00, ind Jersey 158.00; wooled 125-135 lbs 139.00-141.00. hair lambs 2-3 30-55 lbs 155.00-177.50. 1125.00, ind crossbred 1050.00, Medium 850.00-925.00, Slaughter wool lambs: Prime 2-3 64-95 lbs 180.00-190.00; Kalona, IA: shorn 125-160 lbs 149.00-154.50; wooled ind Jersey 725.00, crossbreds 800.00- 975.00, Common 110-135 lbs 150.00-168.00. 128-130 lbs 139.00-145.00. Good and Choice 2-3 61-90 550.00-760.00. Billings, MT: no test. Heifers bred one to three months: Supreme ind 1190.00, lbs 159.00-179.00. Missouri: no test. Slaughter Hair Lambs: Choice and Prime 2-3 60-90 lbs Approved 1110.00-1160.00, few crossbreds 980.00Equity Elec: no sales. 180.00-189.00; 105-125 lbs 130.00-155.00. Good and 1000.00, ind Milking Shorthorn 980.00, Medium 800.00Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 1-2: Choice 1-3 60-87 lbs 160.00-179.00. 925.00, Jerseys 750.00-920.00, crossbreds 810.00-850.00, Bred Replacement Hair Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2 83- San Angelo: 40-60 lbs 180.00-196.00, few 200.00-202.00; Common 550.00-760.00. 60-70 lbs 170.00-186.00, few 194.00; 70-80 lbs 170.00Open Heifers: Approved: 200-223 lbs 325.00-485.00, few 107 lbs 155.00-160.00; 125-144 lbs 110.00-115.00. 178.00; 80-90 lbs 170.00-174.00; 90-110 lbs 160.00Slaughter wool Ewes: Utility and Good 1-3 140-170 lbs Jerseys 400.00-420.00, crossbreds 210.00-335.00, 330-385 170.00, few 176.00. 45.00-65.00. lbs 475.00-500.00, ind Jersey 525.00, crossbreds 450.00Pennsylvania: 40-50 lbs 195.00-240.00; 50-60 lbs 190.00Replacement Hair Rams: Medium and Large 1 Couple 460.00, 420-500 lbs 335.00-480.00, ind 480 lbs 600.00, very nice 85-150 lbs 180.00-215.00. Madium and Large 1-2 235.00, few 257.00; 60-80 lbs 190.00-225.00, few 225.00few Jerseys 735.00, crossbreds 410.00-500.00, 505-592 257.00; 80-90 lbs 180.00-220.00, few 220.00-235.00; 120-195 lbs 100.00-115.00. lbs 510.00-710.00, crossbreds 460.00-570.00, 635-685 lbs 90-110 lbs 197.00-235.00. 620.00-750.00, pkg of 15 at 668 lbs 800.00, ind crossbred 640.00, 710-765 lbs 775.00-870.00. Medium: 607-683 lbs 510.00-550.00, 700-800 lbs pkg of 2

sheep &

80.00-91.50 † 76.00-103.00 † Not Reported* 80.00-99.00 †

Welch Stockyards

5 Area (Tx-Ok, Ks, Neb, Ia, Colo) Live Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 102.50-105.00; wtd. avg. price 104.57. Heifers: 103.00-105.00; wtd. avg. price 104.49. Dressed Basis Sales - Over 80% Choice Steers: 164.00-167.00; wtd. avg. price 165.30. Heifers: 164.00-167.00; wtd. avg. price 165.52.

68.00-92.00 †

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

cattle

Midwest - High Plains Direct Slaughter Cattle

at 773 lbs 600.00. Replacement Cows: Fresh and Milking Cows: Supreme 1475.00-1650.00, Approved 1200.00-1275.00, Medium 9/3/17 925.00-1100.00, ind Jersey 925.00. Springer Cows: Supreme ind 1375.00, Approved few 1125.00, few crossbreds 1125.00-1150.00, Medium ind 925.00, few Jerseys 700.00-825.00, ind crossbred 725.00, Common ind Jersey 640.00. Bred Cows: Medium few Jerseys 725.00-950.00, ind crossbred 975.00. Baby Calves: Holstein heifers 200.00-275.00, small 130.00-175.00, Holstein bulls 120.00-180.00, small 75.00110.00, Jersey bulls ind 80.00, crossbred heifers few 205.00, crossbred bulls 95.00-170.00, beef cross bulls 130.00280.00, ind 380.00.

Decatur Livestock*

Fort Smith Stockyards

---------

Farmers Livestock Springdale 9/1/17 428

-----

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

8/28/17 1,430

I-40 Livestock Ozark 8/31/17 890

Joplin Regional Stockyards 8/28/17 4,226

St-12 Higher

Uneven

St-11 Higher

St-5 Higher

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

175.00-181.00 155.00-173.00 154.00-155.00 147.00-148.00 -----

180.00-211.00 155.00-177.00 149.00-162.00 138.00-147.00 125.00-140.50

170.00-200.00 143.00-173.00 135.00-155.00 128.00-148.00 122.00-131.00

180.00-188.00 160.00-187.00 150.00-177.00 139.00-164.00 141.00-153.00

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

169.00-182.00 154.00-171.00 136.00-151.00 130.00-141.00 117.00-119.00

150.00-160.00 140.00-142.50 140.50-150.00 131.00-145.50 130.00-135.00

----141.00-153.00 133.00-148.00 128.00-138.00 122.00-131.00

172.50-205.00 142.50-157.00 135.00-161.00 130.00-139.00 -----

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

153.00-157.00 141.00-143.00 132.00-140.00 124.00-135.00 -----

149.50-169.00 132.00-152.00 124.00-140.00 123.50-138.00 119.00-126.50

143.00-180.50 132.00-154.50 125.00-140.00 129.00-138.00 -----

151.00-177.50 142.00-162.00 137.00-156.00 132.00-152.00 129.00-139.00

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

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

Nati

Che 1.54 and Flu Hou of m ong to l sugg prod stea yiel milk inta the taki ava is st long sho F.O 1.38 in t SPO BU $3.1

prices

Farmer’s & Ranchers Vinita, Okla.* ---------

127 5(3257('

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcyy

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

beef

72.50-89.00 †

127 5(3257('

slaughter

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Mi Stoc

170 155 142 137 130

150 142 130 124 120

Corn

9.45

Sorghum

9.59

9.35

ices

4.94

3.38

0 Blyt

le hevil

3.34

Hele

5.94 4.79

4.95

4.64

3.43

Elain

3.45

eola

Osc

Little

Roc

Joplin Regional Stockyards 8/28/17 4,226

Mid-State Stockyards*

11 Higher

St-5 Higher

8/28/17 508

Ouachita Livestock Ola, Ark. 9/1/17 249

Ozarks Regional West Plains 8/29/17 2,551

Steady

St-12 Higher

2-5 Higher

Uneven

St-8 Higher

192.50-193.00 169.00-179.00 161.00-172.00 151.00-161.00 137.00-155.00

179.00-194.00 155.00-187.00 145.00-162.00 140.00 134.00-139.00

177.50-189.00 164.00-180.00 153.00-170.00 145.00-158.00 139.00-150.00

----1.00-153.00 3.00-148.00 8.00-138.00 2.00-131.00

172.50-205.00 142.50-157.00 135.00-161.00 130.00-139.00 -----

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

180.00 154.00-182.00 152.00-158.00 128.00-138.50 124.00-133.00

192.50 -----------------

--------142.00-144.00 131.00-136.00 -----

170.00-176.00 152.00-166.00 143.00-158.00 137.00-138.00 -----

3.00-180.50 2.00-154.50 5.00-140.00 9.00-138.00 -----

151.00-177.50 142.00-162.00 137.00-156.00 132.00-152.00 129.00-139.00

150.00-172.00 142.00-156.00 130.00-145.00 124.00-138.00 120.00-124.00

155.00-166.00 143.50-157.00 136.00-148.00 130.00-137.00 127.00-128.00

----135.00-159.00 146.50-155.00 137.00-152.75 137.75-142.50

140.00-153.00 133.00-147.00 128.00-148.00 130.00-139.00 128.00

160.00-168.00 144.00-152.00 136.00-150.00 128.00-149.00 125.00-138.50

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

2000

132.08 135.07 140.12 134.49 143.57 145.35

160.73

* 144.00

153.29

1050.00-1300.00 †

145.96

885.00-1585.00 † 1200.00-1310.00 † 850.00-1275.00 * 1100.00-1450.00 †

143.98

Week of 8/13/17

138.34

155.07 ** 141.30 136.69

143.38 ** 131.50 124.97

146.30

130.98 134.67

145.27

131.03 142.17

147.74

140.23

159.91

* 160.00

1025.00-1575.00 † Not Reported * 1235.00-1375.00 †

145.00 132.91

147.40 154.00

2500

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

Tulsa Livestock Auction 8/28/17 1,722

Welch Stockyards*

-----

5-7 Higher

-----

141.95 161.21 148.43 144.25 149.50

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

175.00-200.00 160.00-192.00 150.50-163.50 130.00-147.00 121.00-134.50

150.00-182.00 148.00-173.00 130.00-159.00 130.00-150.00 110.00-130.50

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

158.50-168.50 139.00-165.00 132.50-146.00 125.50-139.00 116.00-126.00

160.00-189.00 140.00-155.00 140.00-155.00 135.00-146.00 125.00-134.00

145.27 130.93 131.44 139.51 133.10 133.97

149.58 **

133.21

145.68

8/29/17 919 170.00-187.00 160.00-177.00 155.00-167.00 145.00-166.00 145.00-150.50

139.96 129.62

145.25

139.01

154.61

148.34

163.96

203.00-216.00 172.00-198.00 150.00-165.00 143.00-158.50 128.00-142.50

128.46

1325.00-1685.00 †

2000

133.34

155.30

1075.00-1200.00 † 1050.00-1600.00 † 1100.00-1400.00 * 1400.00-1600.00 †

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

133.80 129.84

161.72

pairs

1500

Week of 8/6/17

148.20

2500

1040.00 †

1000

OKC West - El Reno, Okla. 8/30/17 5,180

180.00-200.00 162.00-188.00 152.00-166.00 143.00 140.00-142.50

1500

1050.00-1785.00 †

N. Ark. Livestock Green Forest 8/30/17 684

170.00-210.00 155.00-185.00 142.00-163.00 137.00-152.00 130.00-146.00

143.01

157.03 159.00

None Reported †

500

167.22

135.00 151.14

146.11

Not Reported * Not Reported * None Reported †

Welch Stockyards

I-40 estock Ozark 8/31/17 890

180.00-188.00 160.00-187.00 150.00-177.00 139.00-164.00 141.00-153.00

4.87

1075.00-1300.00 †

Mid-State Stockyard North Arkansas Livestock - Green Forest OKC West - El Reno 950.00 † Ouachita Livestock Auction Ozarks Regional Stockyards Stilwell Livestock Auction Tulsa Livestock Auction

139.80

144.29

910.00-1280.00 *

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

s 195.00-240.00; 50-60 lbs 190.0080 lbs 190.00-225.00, few 225.000-220.00, few 220.00-235.00; 00.

0.00-200.00 3.00-173.00 5.00-155.00 8.00-148.00 2.00-131.00

Soft Wheat

575.00-1375.00 † Not Reported *

Decatur Livestock Auction Farmer’s & Ranchers - Vinita

143.13 140.41

156.66

(Week of 8/27/17 to 9/2/17)

144.00

850.00-1025.00 †

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy Ash Flat Livestock Benton County Sale Barn Cattlemen’s Livestock Auctionn Cleburne County Livestock County Line Sale - Ratcliff

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

156.34

850.00-1850.00 † 900.00-1625.00 †

156.30

135.53 138.85

155.12 148.40 165.14 150.90 145.36 152.51 148.57

129.97 147.19 132.88 131.54 130.00 135.10

136.93

137.22 157.75

140.07

161.73 100

July 17 Aug. 17

heifers 550-600 LBS.

169.50

700.00-1210.00 *

1000

Apr. 17 May 17 June 17

660.00-1475.00 † 1075.00-1575.00 † 685.00-1660.00 †

cow/calf

Week Ended 8/31/17

Soybeans

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

1200.00-1375.00 †

500

Jan. 17 Feb. 17 Mar. 17

steers 550-600 LBS.

1000.00-1100.00 † 60.00-86.00 † Prices reported per cwt Not Reported* Not Reported *

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

avg. grain prices

ice and Prime 1-2: 180.00-196.00, few 200.00-202.00; 0, few 194.00; 70-80 lbs 170.000-174.00; 90-110 lbs 160.00-

Oct. 16 Nov. 16 Dec. 16

Week of 8/20/17

ice and Prime 2-3 90-160 lbs: wooled 100-140 lbs 136.00-156.00. s 200.00-210.00. 90-110 lbs 210.00-230.00; 110-130 150 lbs 185.00-210.00. d 130-155 lbs 149.00-154.00. nd wooled 110-165 lbs 151.005 lbs 139.00-141.00. -160 lbs 149.00-154.50; wooled .00.

Sept. 16

Week of 8/13/17

slaughter lambs were steady to t New Holland, PA steady to r ewes were steady to 10.00 highD steady to 10.00 lower. Feeder .00 lower. At San Angelo,TX les in Equity Electronic Auction. hter ewes were not tested; no coms. 5100 head of negotiated sales of teady to 4.00 higher. 3,148 lamb weights no trend due to confidenper hundred weight (CWT) unless

$80

700.00-1200.00 † 6 625.00-1275.00 *

Week of 8/20/17

9/1/17

$120

800.00-1150.00 †

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

Cheese: Barrels closed at $ 1.5200 and 40# blocks at $ 1.5400. The weekly average for barrels is $ 1.4995 (-.1625) and blocks, $1.5325 (-.1695). Fluid Milk: South Central contacts have relayed that Houston area bottling operations had begun taking on loads of milk midweek, even while evacuations and floods were ongoing. Milk output in most of the Eastern region is steady to lower. However, cool temperatures lead some contacts to suggest there are expectations of an upcoming uptick in milk production. Milk production in the Midwest has been fairly steady, following relatively mild weather conditions. Milk yields over much of the West are steady to lower. School milk intakes are reportedly up across the country. Cheese intakes have been steady in the Midwest and some areas in the West, as the pre-holiday week has some cheesemakers taking advantage of relatively available spot milk. Cream availability varies region to region. In the East, cream access is steady. In the Midwest, cream prices decreased ahead of the long weekend. In Texas, the storms have created some cream 0 shortages, but in most of the West, cream remains available. F.O.B. cream multiples for various uses range from 1.30 to 1.38 in the East, 1.20 to 1.28 in the Midwest, and 1.06 to 1.26 in the West. SPOT PRICES OF CLASS II CREAM, $ PER POUND BUTTERFAT F.O.B. producing plants: Upper Midwest $3.1350-3.3440.

$160

PricesPrices reported per cwt Prices reported reported per percwt cwt

59.00-95.00 † Prices reported per cwt

Arkansas Cattle Auction - Searcy

550-600 lb. steers

$200

Week of 8/27/17

lection 1 65-150 lbs 150.00-185.00. ion 2 98-100 lbs 112.00-115.00. election 2 90-120 lbs 200.00. ction 2 150 lbs 135.00.

National Dairy Market at a Glance

cows

(Week of 8/27/17 to 9/2/17)

127 5(3257('

1 25-37 lbs 220.00-245.00. Selec-190.00. on 1 50-85 lbs 232.50-245.00. 00.00-220.50. Selection 3 40-75 lbs

replacement

dairy sales

Good 1-2 225-290 lbs 60.00-96.00. Good 1-2 205-235 lbs 87.50-90.00.

12 Month Avg. -

$240

Week of 8/27/17

es reports

USDA Reported * Independently Reported

125 150 175 200 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

142.49 225

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

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

100 125 150 175 * No price reported in weight break **USDA Failed To Report *** No Sale

200

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

15 15

meet your neighbors

The Path to Improved Genetics By Terry Ropp

Diamond G Farm began utilizing registered Angus bulls after purchasing two bulls in 2001 50x100x16

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Rick and Susan Gurley met when Susan’s car broke down in Huntsville, Ark., as she was traveling home from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. “Cupid shot me immediately. She was about the prettiest thing I’d ever seen and still is,” Rick said with a laugh. Susan grew up a town girl but grasped her new life as a farmer’s wife knowing

“That’s when I learned about the Gardiner Ranch and the advantages of superior genetics,” said Rick. Not long thereafter, another friend sold Rick a Gardiner bull named Sleepy Easy. Known for low birth weight, Rick decided to use this bull on his heifers. The result was so exceptional that he and Susan went to their first Gardiner Angus bull sale. They watched the Lot 1 bull

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Rick and Susan Gurley have 600 acres where they run 250 head of commercial cattle. Photo by Terry Ropp

she had a lot to learn. Susan has been sell for $200,000. They simply looked at an educator for more than 21 years and the floor very unsure of what they were is currently the Huntsville Intermediate doing because they never heard of such School counselor. Rick, having strug- prices. Determined to improve their gled with back issues and arthritis, re- genetics, they stayed. Eventually, two tired from the Post Office two years ago, cosmetically imperfect bulls, one with no ears the other without a tail, came a career he began in 1983. Their family-owned farm consists of through the ring and they knew those 600 acres. Their focus is refining their were the two for them. Regardless of appearance, the bulls made sense commercial cattle herd of because their genetics were 250 females. The quest to geHuntsville, Ark. superior. After all, the Gurnetically improve their herd ley’s wanted good breeding began with a back surgery bulls, not show animals. in 2001 when he was houseUpon seeing the improvement bound for six weeks. A friend in his calves, Rick knew he wantbrought Rick Angus publicaed to pursue a genetics program tions to help pass the time. Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

that would get the end results he was looking for. “No Ears” and “No Tail” as they were fondly called, had done their job on Diamond G Farm. In 2004, Rick purchased a set of full brothers that were a product of embryo transplanting from one of GAR’s leading bulls, Grid Maker. While his cows were of a wide variety of breeds and colors, one of his goals was to increase calf sale price through color, uniformity, consistency and better genetics, with a secondary goal of producing a set of quality replacement heifers. Fifteen years of improved genetics led to the beginning of an AI program in 2012. By artificially inseminating, Rick was able to select semen from the Gardiner bull Prophet. Rick’s goal of producing half-sister heifers was underway. In 2013, Rick and Susan decided to AI the entire herd utilizing Select Sires. They achieved a 70 percent pregnancy rate. The remaining 30 percent were bred by their registered Gardiner bulls. “My biggest challenge is getting a calf that performs well in the feedlot from a cow that thrives in the Northwest Arkansas environment,” Rick said. “Through the years, I’ve had the opportunity to feed a few calves. I’ve learned that sometimes calves I thought looked the best at weaning, didn’t feed out well, and the calves I thought were just OK, sometimes performed the best in the feed lot. Our goal this year is to retain ownership of the steers calves from semen tank to rail at National Beef.” Health protocols are pretty much as expected with a couple exceptions. First, Rick routinely semen and trichinosis tests his bulls. Secondly, he vaccinates his cows for lepto, trich, blackleg and pink eye. He uses blackleg, pink eye and modified live vaccine on his calves. All bull calves are knife castrated. Fly spray is generally applied to his cattle in the pasture while feeding range cubes. Though not a health protocol in the strictest sense, Rick’s calves thrive under his weaning procedure. Thirty days before weaning, he introduces a creep feeder with Super Start, a grass/hay pellet. Once weaned, the calves are bunk fed a commodity blend for 60 days. Consequently, last year Rick did not adminSEPTEMBER 11, 2017

meet your neighbors ister a single antibiotic shot to any of his 180 calves. Rick and Susan have two grown children, Nicole and Heath. Through the years, they have all worked together to be good stewards of the cattle and land feeling blessed by God. Susan and Nicole clearly remember three years ago when ice and cold hit the area and the temperature dropped to 5 degrees. They went out to check for babies and found a calf in the water, almost frozen to death. They brought the calf back to the house and began the usual protocol: gas stove, heating pads,

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– Rick Gurley dry towels. The calf wasn’t responding so Susan called Rick at work. Rick explained they had nothing to lose and suggested putting the calf in the bathtub full of hot water. “I didn’t really understand what I was getting into when I married Rick,” Susan said. “After 30 minutes, they pulled the calf from the tub. The calf bawled and tried to stand. The ‘born-again’ calf thought Nicole was its mother and followed her around in the house until she was returned to her own momma later that day. That calf is now a 3-year-old momma named Jacuzzi. Rick and Susan know that they could never have built their operation to what it is today without God, great partnerships on leases, help of good neighbors and friends, and the love and commitment of family. SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

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My biggest challenge is getting a calf that performs well in the feedlot from a cow that thrives in the Northwest Arkansas environment,”

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Always Room for Improvement By Larry Burchfield

After a setback, the Honeycutt family moved forward

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Timothy Honeycutt found out early in life dairy farming was not an easy lifestyle. In 1995, Timothy’s parents, Tim and Flora Honeycutt, started their dairy operation with Arkansas Dairy Cooperative Association. Timothy was only 15 at the time but learned very fast the responsibilities of running a dairy herd and milking cows before and after school. A year later, Timothy bought his own cows with a small loan

(13) and Nathan (5) – operate a 560acre (78 acres owned, 482 rented) beef cattle and poultry operation in Clinton, Ark. The 200-plus cattle herd consists of Red Angus, Charlois, Hereford (all registered) and commercial crossbred cows. The Honeycutts have six large poultry houses which raise approximately 1,209,000 birds annually. Their dedication and perseverance has not gone unnoticed; they were recently selected as

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The Honeycutt family operates a beef cattle operation, as well as poultry houses. Pictured, from left, are Wesley, Tiffany, Minnie, Nathan, Timothy and Preston Honeycutt. Photo by Larry Burchfield

through the FFA program at Center Ridge the 2017 Conway County Farm Family High School. Timothy paid the $5,000 of the Year. Being a contract poultry grower has zero percent interest loan back in a few years, then bought more cattle with the not been without its challenges. Only help of Farm Credit in Morrilton. In 2006, two years after building the chicken Timothy sold his interest into the dairy houses, Pilgrim’s Pride announced they operation and transitioned in the chicken were closing the Clinton. Ark., facility. business with Pilgrim’s Pride as a contract It totally blindsided the Honeycutts and grower and began building his beef cattle presented a major cash flow problem. They had only grown seven herd. While out of the dairy batches of chickens after business, Timothy’s farm adbuilding brand new houses. joins his parents, and some of Clinton, Ark. Fortunately, the natural gas their farm operation overlap. exploration industry was just Fast forward to 2017, Timostarting in the area so the inthy, his wife Minnie, and come from wells and royalties their four children – Preston helped make the payments and (17), Tiffany (14), Wesley Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

Timothy returned to the dairy industry to help make ends meet. “Pilgrim’s Pride shutting down was a big lick,” Timothy reflected. “We got lucky with the oil and gas business, and thankfully I could help my parents in the dairy. Our three newest houses sat empty for two years. We learned a hard lesson about poultry contracts. Tyson out of Morrilton finally came in 2008 and we went with a contract with them.” With those rough patches behind them, Timothy and Minnie are moving forward and are continually looking for ways to improve their farm operation. One of their major improvements is making the chicken house more energy efficient. They have installed tube heat, LED lighting, better insulation and more efficient fans in three houses, and are also working with NRCS of Morrilton, Ark., on an energy audit to help finish the other three houses as well as spraying side walls with a foam barrier. An Ecodrum was installed this year to compost the mortality from the poultry houses. The poultry mortality is mixed with the shavings, the Ecodrum turns that into mulch, which is used in a variety of ways on the farm. The Honeycutts have an intensive hay programs, consisting of Bermuda and fall grazing tillage of rye and wheat. Operating six chicken houses, raising cattle, and helping Timothy’s parents certainly keeps the Honeycutt family busy. Yet, they maintain an active lifestyle off the farm as well. The children have been involved with 4-H and shown animals at the Conway County Fair. Preston, the oldest, graduated from Clinton High School in May and plans to attend University of Arkansas Community College in Morrilton and then on to Arkansas Tech. While Preston likes the farm life, he has his eyes set on a possible coaching career. He currently coaches the Center Ridge Little League team. It’s probably no coincidence his two brothers, Wesley and Nathan are on the team. They are also active in the Nemo youth basketball programs. Tiffany is a member of the school poultry judging team through the FFA.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

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“I like the people I connect with whether at junior nationals, FFA conventions or different cattle shows because we share common interests and learn from each other.”

Who is the most influential person in your life?

“My dad is the most influential because he’s taught me cattle showing and led me into shooting for the Ozark youth shooting team, which has given me a good work ethic and persistence. Equally important, though is that he has taught me how to interact properly and easily with people, a life skill not everyone learns.”

What is your current involvement in agriculture?

“I’m pretty busy. We have a Shorthorn show cattle farm in Maysville, Ark., though we have our house in Siloam Springs. I show and shoot, as well as help out daily on the farm doing chores. I not only wash, feed and water the cattle, but I also train their hair so they show the best.”

What are your future plans?

Our Flex-Wing cutters are designed for perfomance, reliabilty and value. With seven models to choose from and 50 years experience, we know how to make them durable enough for any use.

“Right now, I would like to get the best grades I possibly can so I can get college scholarships. My plan is to earn a degree in aviation before joining the Air Force and becoming a pilot. Later, I may return to farming because I love it.”

What is most memorable about your competitions?

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“People are the most memorable. We met Kevin and Michelle Rieff from Vaughn Community near Gravett at the Arkansas Junior Cattlemen Show. We have become friends with Kevin who helps us at a variety of shows. I am also vice president of the Arkansas Junior Cattlemen’s Association, where I work on fundraising to help support the state in putting on shows and providing scholarships.”

What advice would you give to someone younger wanting to start in 4-H or FFA?

“I would explain that participating in these programs is lots of fun but even more importantly offers opportunities for experience in a huge variety of areas, all of which teach life skills as well as specific skills. The variety ranges from shooting to showing to cooking and robotics.”

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

the professionals

By Ken W. Knies

hen it comes to borrowing money, we tend to think about interest rates first. It’s the “goto” discussion point. Most everyone seems to have a story to share regarding rates. Maybe it’s bragging rights on a great deal your neighbor received on his latest cattle loan. Perhaps you know someone who feels they received a rate that was too high. Like the weather, interest rates are discussed at home, at the office and at coffee shops everywhere. It’s understandable. The interest rate you pay on a Ken W. Knies is an loan is one of its most important factors and has agricultural and rural a direct impact on your payment and overall loan consultant. He has a cost. It is a critical part of the deal. bachelor’s degree in I would suggest that there’s another factor that agriculture from the can and often does surpass interest rates in terms University of Arkansas of overall importance in borrowing money. The and a master’s of busirelationship you develop with your lender, and ness administration his/her support staff over time, can be even more from Webster Univerimportant than the rate itself. A strong borrower/ sity in St. Louis, Mo. lender relationship will incorporate many attributes that relate to a producer’s long-term success. Some of these include: • Communication – A good relationship lends itself to a high level of communication. This works both ways. Good communication is more than a text or email – talking in person or over the phone is a great way to better understand and learn more about one another. • Timeliness – When we maintain in contact, we become “top of the mind” when specials or loan enhancements become available. Make it easy for your loan professional to think about you – in a good way. • Openness – A strong level of communication allows for trust and the ability to share honest information openly with one another. Many loan problems can be worked out to everyone’s satisfaction when there is a good relationship in play. Said another way, many loan problems occur or worsen because a strong relationship and a high level of communication did not exist. • Being Personable – As a relationship grows and develops, one gets to know more about family, friends and other more personal aspects within the relationship. This, too, can lead to a higher overall level of satisfaction and understanding between the two parties. A strong borrower/lender relationship will enhance your farming and business results through good communication, thereby minimizing surprises. Effective ongoing communication will foster better trust and can often bring to light some new information that will help your business. Work on your relationships and let that effort reward you over time – it may even lead to a better rate. SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

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farm

help

Making farming

a little easier

Danger From the Sky By Kristyn Richner

How to protect livestock from the ravages of black vultures The black vulture is a common resident in Ozarks and often creates angst for farmers and ranchers in the region. They typically nest in wooded areas and soar high in attempt to seek food. When vultures find food, they can form flocks of 20 to 50 birds and unfortunately can sometimes do damage in a hurry. Black vultures’ ranges are creeping up into the Ozarks, and they aren’t likely to retreat anytime soon.” Black vultures are related to the turkey vulture and typically eat carrion, or the decaying flesh of dead animals. They have a very poor sense of smell and typically follow turkey vultures in an attempt to eat the food they find. However, there has been a rise in vultures preying on young livestock, piglets and lambs, leading local ranchers to seek solutions on appropriate management techniques. Adult livestock animals are not always safe from this species either. Ranchers should use extra caution and protective measures for livestock that have recently given birth because the placenta or afterbirth may attract flocks of these vultures. While black vultures can cause landowners hardship, they do play an important ecological role in reducing disease by removing animal carcasses from the environment. They also have unbelievable digestive tracts. In fact, they are able to completely metabolize diseases like herpes, anthrax and hantavirus. Their ability to metabolize such diseases aids in prevention of spread to wildlife and livestock in comparison with consumption from other animals or decomposing where they lie. In the late 19th century, the species was being decimated due to marketing hunting and killing birds for their feathers. For such reasons, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects black vultures. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was instituted to make it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests or eggs of migratory bird species without a federally issued permit. It offers protection to these native North American birds, their nests, and feathers from destruction, making it very complex for ranchers to protect their livestock from such prey. Landowners cannot kill or

what do you say? What is a benefit of using bulls with EPD data?

“We use EPD data to genetically improve our Limosin herd and look most specifically for a body that is structurally correct though all of the data is important.” Kraig Withers Wagoner County, Okla.

harm the birds without proper federal permitting. Kendrick described a couple of different approaches ranchers can take to help keep damage to livestock herds at bay. Initially, if you have relatively few numbers of livestock, pen them in another location you see black vultures in the area. Young animals are the most prone to attack from such birds, but each flock stays in an area for a short number of days. It is also acceptable to stay near the livestock herd to scare away the birds. Another option would be to hang black decoy birds from visible trees to prevent the vultures from hanging around the area, as they may be kept away thinking the decoy is a dead vulture. Purchase a full-body goose decoy and paint it all black. Hang the black dummy vulture in a visible tree or other prominent location that allows the vultures to see it. Another effective option is utilizing a green or red laser to spook the flock. These lasers are easy to find but work best in low-light conditions. If all resources have been exhausted and farmers and ranchers are still experiencing losses, contact the local United States Department of Agriculture office and speak to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, wildlife service agent. This federal entity should be able to assist in obtaining a federal permit to destroy a bird. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also has permit applications listed on their website under the Migratory Bird Program. If required permitting is obtained and you are deemed eligible to shoot these birds, do not throw them away. Conservation officials say the vultures will see the dead birds, which may keep them from returning. While there is no “silver bullet” per se to alleviating harm from black vultures for local herdsmen, there are resources available to allow ranchers to protect their livestock.

“You can select for desired traits in the offspring and better predict the outcome of your calf crop.”

“EPDs allow for more selective purchases by comparing a deviation in qualities among animals. In other words, you can begin eliminating those factors, values, or qualities you don’t want and selecting, by choice, the optimal progeny outcomes for your herd.”

“EPDs give you the ability to tract your categorizing of your stock with a good probability of improving your herd through mixing and matching genetics.

Chrisie Smith Benton County, Ark.

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Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

farm help

Picking a Replacement

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Producers should consider traits of the dam before retaining a female In the cow/calf business, re- potential replacements? Many producers placement heifers play a vital “lean towards a heifer raised by a cow that role in the success and continu- calves every 12 months, breeds early in the season, seems to tolerate your enviation of a producer’s herd. According to the University of Arkansas ronment, is easy to handle and her calves Cooperative Extension Service, acquiring consistently rank in the top one-half of or raising high-quality replacement heif- your herd in dollars returned, whether ers is an essential and major investment they’re sold as breeding stock, feeder for the cow-calf producer. The replace- calves or beef hung on the rail,” said Cole. Things to avoid when seeking out rement heifer becomes the genetic building placements, according block for the cow herd. to Dr. Jim Gosey, Beef The producer hopes that Maternal factors Specialist and Professor a replacement heifer will to consider: Emeritus at the Univerbecome a fertile cow that sity of Nebraska-Linproduces a calf, annually, 4 Lean towards a coln, include heifers who for a long time. heifer raised by a were born late in the When it comes time to cow that calves season, came from cows pick out heifers to replenthat needed calving asish the herd, producers every 12 months sistance or that had big should select the girls that 4 The dam breeds teats, heifers who were best fit their needs for early in the season exceptionally small at their operation. weaning time, and heif“A producer first needs ers who have nervous or to have a plan for what 4 Seems to tolerate poor temperament. his future plans for those your environment Size is also a considerheifers will be,” said Eldon ation when selecting reCole, Livestock Specialist 4 Easy to handle placement heifers. “The for the University of Mis- 4 The dam’s calves biggest heifers may be the souri Extension. “Is he/ oldest, which can be an she a purebred seedstock consistently rank in asset come breeding time producer? Does he/she the top one-half of from a puberty standjust grow calves to wean- your herd in dollars point,” said Cole. “But if ing age then sell them as returned you’re satisfied with the feeder calves? Will he/she ever retain ownership all the way to the mature size of your cow herd, then selectpacker? These all need to be factored in the ing heifers from the middle of the herd on frame and growth would seem logical.” selection process.” Researching any and all available data Cole also advised that producers should “keep the customer in mind as on the herd your heifers come from will the heifers will develop into cows that be able to help you make appropriate need to produce calves that satisfy your decisions. Utilizing programs such as the Show-Me Select Heifer program (Miscustomers’ plans and wishes.” After you have determined your spe- souri) or the Cow Herd Performance cific production goals for your herd, Testing program (Arkansas), can help what should producers be looking for in the producer gather necessary data. SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

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farm help

Fall Pasture Preparedness By Klaire Howerton

Managing fertility and forages now can help keep pastures healthy As the season begins to turn towards fall, now is the time to prepare your valuable pasture-land for cooler weather. Soil fertility, forage management and management of livestock are all important things for the farmer to consider as autumn approaches.

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When someone talks about applying fall fertilizer, nitrogen is usually the first thing to come to mind. “The optimum application window for fall nitrogen in fescue pastures starts around Aug. 1, and response to fall-applied nitrogen decreases incrementally after Sept. 1,” said Jill Scheidt, Dade County, Mo., Agronomy Specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. “The average yield response to fall-applied nitrogen typically is less than response to spring-applied nitrogen. Depending on rainfall the fall nitrogen response can be quite variable. A favorable distribution of precipitation can lead to a large yield response.” She went on to note that research shows a positive response to rates of nitrogen of more than 100 pounds per acre, but the amount of response decreases at higher rates. Higher rates are also more likely to reduce legumes in mixed fescuelegume pasture.”

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The fall is also a good time to consider overseeding your pastures to improve forage quality and reduce weed competition. It is very important to get the seedlings established before it gets too cold. It is generally not recommended to seed later than early October. If you have stockpiled fescue to graze for the cool season, your decision to apply fall nitrogen comes into play again. “The argument supporting fall nitrogen applications is the high quality and high utilization of properly managed stock-

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

piled production. The ability to stockpile fall forage production and then strip graze it in late fall and winter ensures most farmers will make good use of any increased yield in response to applied nitrogen,” said Scheidt. “Through research, Rob Kallenbach (professor and State Extension Specialist, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri) has shown stockpiled fescue maintains quality through March while the toxic element of ergovaline in tall fescue decreases by half by mid-January.”

Livestock Management

Since fall forage quality and quantity is not as abundant as it is over the summer, producers must be very proactive about managing their herd’s cool season grazing on stockpiled fescue and other forages. Rotational or Management Intensive Grazing (MiG) is a useful and beneficial system to put in place. “Under rotational grazing, only one portion of the pasture is grazed at a time while the remainder of pasture “rests.” To accomplish this, pastures are subdivided into smaller areas (referred to as paddocks) and livestock are moved from one paddock to another, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Resting grazed paddocks allows forage plants to renew energy reserves, rebuild vigor, deepen their root system, and give long term maximum production. Experts caution against overgrazing, especially in the fall and winter when grasses take longer to replenish themselves. “Contrary to expectations, overstocked pastures decrease animal gain and forage production. Grazing forages close to the ground (i.e., less than 3 inches stubble height) decreases the amount of sugars and other nutrients left for pasture regrowth, thus reducing forage production in subsequent years,” Alex Rocateli, professor of Forage Systems at Oklahoma State University, has said. SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

farm help

Improving a Commercial Herd By Klaire Howerton

Selecting for specific traits can improve the future generations of your cow herd If asked, most commercial producers will say that they want to work towards improving their herd – birthing ease, growth rate, carcass weight and quality, etc. If you’re working with average or below average cattle, making those types of improvements can be a daunting task. It’s not an unobtainable goal, however, especially when you utilize genetic selection (the process by which certain traits become more prevalent in a species than other traits) as a tool to help you get there. “Genetic selection helps guide a cow/ calf operation towards their goal,” said Eldon Cole, Livestock Specialist for the University of Missouri Extension. “It is easily the most positive way to infuse above average genetics for traits such as growth and carcass, and finally feed conversion is getting some attention in the EPD and genomic realm so far as a selection tool.” He went on to say if producers are successful in raising the genetic level of their cow herd, they need to capitalize on that point in their marketing strategy. “Growth, feed conversion and top carcass quality places those cattle as being excellent candidates for retained ownership,” Cole said. “If the owner doesn’t choose to feed them out, they should share their genetic merit information with their marketer when selling as feeder calves. They can document this merit via the EPD profiles of the sires they’ve been using. Hopefully, the bulls will have genomic data factored into their EPDs.” EPDs are indispensable when a producer is using genetic selection to better their stock. According to the University of Arkansas Extension, the use of genetic prediction (EPSs) is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of the beef SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

cattle producer. It is dependent upon the producer’s ability to understand the use of EPDs in selecting breeding stock with superior genetic merit to increase the proportion of genes having the desired effect on traits of economic importance. The concept of an EPD is very easy to understand because it is truly the expected progeny difference in performance. EPDs are more valuable than individual performance records, within herd ratios or performance tests because all of these pieces of information are taken into consideration in calculating an EPD. Although the methodology is complicated and the initial contribution of time is substantial, EPDs are actually very convenient to use. A unique way to obtain post-weaning performance data that can be used for genetic selection later on is to participate in a feedout program. These programs allow participants to bring their steers to a feedlot where all the cattle are housed, fed, managed and harvested the same way; a panel of experts in the cattle industry will evaluate the steer’s gains, profit, carcass quality, etc. The owners of the steers then receive this data and can evaluate their current herd genetics, and use what they’ve learned from the feedout to make improvements. Cole said those types of programs can give the producer valuable data with low risks. The bottom line when it comes to making herd improvements with genetic selection is to use and study herd data, and to keep in mind that numbers don’t lie. “If you want to use the genetic approach to improvement, study your genetic lesson well and use objective data to the max,” said Cole. “Use artificial insemination sires with high accuracy EPDs. Don’t let physical appearance or show ring wins cause you to disregard objective data.”

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September 2017 11-16 White County Fair – Fairgrounds, Searcy, Ark. – 501-268-5394 11-16 Crawford County Fair – Fairgrounds, Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 12 Blackberry Weed Control Program – 6 p.m. – Hendrix Farm – 870-448-3981 12 Crawford County Hay Show – 6 p.m. – Van Buren, Ark. – 479-474-5286 12-16 Baxter County Fair – Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, Ark. – 870-425-2335 12-16 Pope County Fair – Fairgrounds, Russellville, Ark. – 479-968-7098 12-16 Boone County Fair – Fairgrounds, Harrison, Ark. – 870-741-6168 12-17 Rogers County Fair – Claremore, Okla. – 918-923-4958 12-10/11 4-H Shoe Drive – Extension Office, Russellville, Ark. – 479-968-7098 15 Deadline for Cleburne County Master Gardener Program – 501-362-2524 15-16 Sequoyah County Fair – Fairgrounds, Sallisaw, Okla. – 918-775-4838 15-23 Van Buren County Fair – Fairgrounds, Clinton, Ark. – 501-745-7117 16 4-H Yard Sale – Carroll County Fairgrounds, Berryville, Ark. – 870-423-2958 18-23 Faulkner County Fair – Fairgrounds, Conway, Ark. – 501-329-8344 18-23 North Arkansas District Fair – Fairgrounds, Harrison, Ark. – 870-741-6168 21 Beef Burger and Ice Cream Social – 6 p.m. – Sequoyah State Park, Hulbert, Okla. – 918-486-4589 21 Pesticide Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Benton County Extension Office, 1204 SW 14th Street, Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 22-10/1 AR/OK State Fair – Kay Rodgers Park, Fort Smith, Ark. 26 Conservation Practices and Funding for Your Property – Noon-1 p.m., lunch provided – Greenland, Ark. – 479-750-8007 28 Nutrient Applicator Training – 6:30 p.m. – Benton County Cooperative Extension Office, 1204 SW 14th Street, Bentonville, Ark. – 479-271-1060 29 Beaver Lake Watershed Symposium – 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. – 162 Doolin Drive, Elkins, Ark. – 479-750-8007

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calendar

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September 2017 9 Don Thomas & Sons Cadillac of Brangus Commercial Female Sale – at the Farm, Madison, Mo. – 660-263-4560 10 SW Missouri Meat Goat Producers Association Annual Production Sale – Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, Springfield, Mo. – 417-532-6056 16 Pollard Farms Angus Female Sale – Vinta, Okla. – 405-315-7258 16 Seedstock Plus Showcase Sale Xll 9th Annual Customer Appreciation Sale – Kingsville Livestock Market, Kingsville, Mo. – 877-486-1160 18 A Cross Ranch Dispersal – Perkins, Okla – 580-339-1919 23 Hudspeth Farms & Guest “The Gathering Sale” – Cattlemans Livestock Auction, Harrison, Ark. – 979-229-4472 23 Mead Farms Charolais Mature Cow Herd Dispersal – Mead Sale Headquarters, Versailles, Mo. – 573-216-0210 23 Gaston 7 Cross Ranch Fall Spectacular Inaugural Elite Feedstock Production Sale – Caledonia, Mo. – 573-513-0068 29 Jefferies Red Angus Annual Bull & Female Sale – Checotah, Okla. – 918-638-3317 30 2 S Angus Bull & Female Sale – at the Farm, Seneca, Mo. – 816-244-4462 30 Satterfield Charolais & Angus The Proof is in the Progeny 6th Annual Female Sale – at the Farm, Evening Shade, Ark. – 816-766-3512 30 Arkoma Bull & Famale Sale at Tulsa – Tulsa Stockyards, Tulsa Okla. – 918-232-7870 October 2017 2 Express Ranches Sale – at the Ranch, Yukon, Okla. – 405-350-0044 2 Red Alliance Bull & Female Auction – Sulphur Springs, Texas – 641-919-1077

Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Cattlemen’s Seedstock Directory

Angus 44 Farms - 501-940-0299 www.rosebudfeeders.com Bell Rule Genetics - Adair, Okla. 918-698-2993 - 536-299-7609 www.bellrule.com Cooper Ranch - Romance, Ark. 501-556-5263 Jac’s Ranch - Bentonville, Ark. 479-273-3030 Windy Acres Cattle - Rose Bud, Ark. - 501-412-4939 Balancers Bob Harriman Genetics - Montrose, Mo. - 660-492-2504 Hodges Ranch - Omaha, Ark. 870-426-4469 - 870-704-9450 Martin Cattle Company Judsonia, Ark. 501-278-7614 Brangus 4G Brangus - Gravette, Ark. 479-640-0282 Hatfield Brangus - Bentonville, Ark. - 479-273-3921 479-531-2605 Rose Bud Feeders - 501-940-0299 - www.rosebudfeeders.com TRO-GIN Brangus Ranch Booneville, Ark. 479-675-4420 Charolais Rose Bud Feeders - 501-940-0299 - www.rosebudfeeders.com Gelbvieh Hodges Ranch - Omaha, Ark. 870-426-4469 - 870-704-9450 Martin Cattle Company Judsonia, Ark. - 501-278-7614 Triple D Farms Mountain Home, Ark. 870-481-5603 Herefords Allen Moss Herefords - Vici, Okla. 580-922-4911 - 580-334-7842 - mossherefords.com Sim Angus Bob Harriman Genetics Montrose, Mo. - 660-492-2504 Simmental Lazy U Ranch - Haskell, Okla. 918-693-9420

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Vets

Machinery

Trade Website Design For Fresh Beef

USED TRACTORS

Gentle, Top Quality, Delivery Available

www.horseheadranch.net

918-695-2357

1/15/18

Livestock Equipment

• ‘09 Kioti DK55, 4 WD, cab, ldr. ......................................$24,999 • ‘67 Ford 2000, good, 2 WD, new Rhino 5’ cutter........$4,750 • ‘12 TS6.125, 4WD, cab, ldr. .... ......................................$55,000 • ‘12 Deutz Fahr Agro Plus 77.... ......................................$17,500 • ‘12 NH T5060, 4 WD, cab, Idr . ......................................$53,500 • ‘09 NH T6020, 4 WD, cab, Idr . ......................................$51,999 • McCormick X10-50H, 4 WD, w/ldr. & box blade.. ... $18,500 • NH TS.115, cab, 4 WD, w/ldr ... ........................................$69,500 • Kubota L3830D, 4 WD, w/ldr ... .................................. $13,999

ROUND & SQUARE BALES

1996 GMC Kodiak Top Kick 427 motor, Edwards canvas tarp rollover tarp, brand new, Muncie power takeoff pump, rear remote hydraulics for grain drill auger, 5 speed with 2 speed rear end, 2 hydraulic lift cylinders for hoist, great tires. Super clean truck inside and out, 162k miles.

$18,000 VINITA, OK

918-256-6232

9/11/17

RECENT TRADE-INs

• ‘13 NH BR7070, net.. $21,999 • ‘11 NH 7070, net..... $21,999 • ‘08 NH 7070, net..... $19,999 • NH 658, AW, 4x6 ...... $5,999

USED HAY TOOLS • ‘12 Krone EC320, 3 pt. mower . .................................... $8,999 • 348 JD sq. baler ....... $11,999 • ‘13 Krone EC3200, pull type, 2 pt ........................... $12,500 • ‘10 NH BR7060, net .. $16,500 • NH 575 .................... $11,500 • New Fella tedders ..... $7,750 • ‘04 BH 2615L.......... $10,999

Country Veterinary Service Tim E. O’Neill, DVM

479-267-2685

Farmington, AR countryveterinaryserviceinc.com

26 years of serving both farm and family.

Sell Your Farm Equipment with a classified ad for as low as $13.18 per issue! Call today for details!

866-532-1960 2014 NEW HOLLAND T4.115, Cab, H & A, 12 x 12 Transmission With Power Shuttle, 2 Rear Hydraulic Remotes, New Holland 665TL Loader...............$48,500

Hwy. 69 South Pryor, Oklahoma 918-825-2044 chuppimplement company.com

2015 JOHN DEERE 6115D, Cab, H & A, MFWD, 9 x 3 Transmission With Power Shuttle, 2 Rear Hydraulic Remotes, John Deere H310 Loader ...........$62,500

TFN

9/11/17

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

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

Since 1986 No Sunday Calls “Get More Out of Your Pasture”

Hostetler Litter Service

2005 NEW HOLLAND TS125A TRACTOR, 4wd, cab, heat, air Loader, Cab, Air, Heat, Transmission Type: Powershift, Differential Lock, Quick Hitch, Three Point Hitch, Remote Hydraulics: 5................................$47,500

417-322-4711 TFN

is for you!

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Add $7 per year for orders outside AR, OK, MO NAME __________________________________ PHONE ______________ EMAIL ____________________________________________________ ADDRESS ____________________________________________________

Williams Tractor

2501 Shiloh Dr. • Fayetteville, Ark.

CITY ____________________ STATE ______ ZIP ____________________

479-442-8284

www.williamstractor.com 9/11/17

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

If You’re Looking For A Website For Your Farm, Here’s Your Chance. I’m Looking To Do Some Trading For Fresh Beef. Turn-Key Package Includes Full Website Design, 1 Year of Hosting and 1 Year of Domain Name Registration.

If you eat, sleep, breathe, live and love farming then

OUR 65th YEAR

Louis Hostetler 870-438-4209 Cell: 870-423-8083

Website

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

Please mail this form & your check to: PO Box 6, Prairie Grove, AR 72753

THE TRUCK SPECIALISTS! We know what you want ... Big Selection + Low Prices!

We’re farmers, too! We know what farmers want, and we keep the most popular models in stock at the lowest prices you’ll find in North Arkansas! Family owned and operated for over 43 years!

Absolute Top Dollar offered on all trades!

See why we are the area’s #1 Truck Volume Dealer!

We’re BIG on Heavy Duty Trucks!

600 Highway 62-65 Harrison � 870-741-8211

WoodMotor.com

North Arkansas’ Volume Dealer! FINANCING AVAILABLE!

Call Mark Hanshaw: 870-715-9177 (cell) 870-741-8211

We stock the trailers farmers use most! Whether it’s a golf cart, a 4-wheeler trailer or one of the big boys, you’ll find it at Wood Motor Co. We’ll NEVER be undersold! Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017