Farm Sense - December 2017

December 2017

UAPB Small Farm Project

2017 County Farmers of the Year

Dates to Remember December 2017 – Census of Agriculture forms scheduled to arrive in mailboxes January 1 – deadline for growers of fall and spring greens to enroll in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) February 23 – deadline to apply for the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts scholarship February 28 – deadline to complete and return Census of Agriculture forms March 9 – Rural Life Conference

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By Carol Sanders, writer/editor UAPB

T

he Lawrence “Wink” Conyer family, Jefferson County, and the James Phillips family, South Arkansas County, were both selected as top 2017 Farm Families of the year from their respective counties. Both live in the Southeast District of Arkansas. Farmers are judged on their farm production, efficiency, management, family life and rural/community leadership.

The families are both row crop producers growing rice and soybeans.

Conyer returned to full-time farming after a successful 32-year career with the Department of Defense. Phillips, however, with the help of his brothers, began farming while teaching in 1980. Phillips taught school 28 years full-time and 10 years part-time.

The families are active participants in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Small Farm Program and Cooperative Extension Programs.

They participate in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). Both have used the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs.

Small farmers are encouraged to contact the UAPB Small Farm Program office at (870) 575-7246 for answers and/or assistance with any farm-related problems or questions.

“Wink” and Edna Conyer, Jefferson County.

James and Eddie Phillips, Arkansas County.

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UAPB Ready to Help with Financial Planning

By Dr. Henry English, director, Small Farm Program, UAPB

Farmers needing assistance in financial planning or with their U.S. Department of Agriculture direct loan application packages can once again get help from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Area Extension associates throughout the state are ready to help. Now is not too early to make an appointment.

Famers should submit their loan packages early as funding is on a first-come, first served basis.

If an application is denied for whatever reason, farmers will know early enough to successfully seek other options.

Associates will help farmers develop a balance sheet and the projected/actual income and expenses for their operation. To complete the balance sheet, a list of all debts and their amounts is needed along with a list of assets and their estimated value. Farmers should bring this information with them along with their expenses, income records and average yields from 2016, 2015 and 2014. These will be used to complete the pro-

UAPB Extension multicounty agent Stephan Walker (right) goes over a business plan with Marvin Parks, a producer.

duction and financial histories.

Associates will also go over the Farm Service Agency application package checklist with farmers to insure that application packages are complete. Once the application package is submitted, if an item is missing, the producer will be contacted and given 20 days to submit the requested information.

If information is not submitted after 20 days, the producer will be contacted again and given 10 days

to submit missing information.

Failure to do so results in the application being withdrawn, and the farmer must start over.

To schedule an appointment, call your local Extension associate or the Small Farm Program office at (870) 575-7246. Be sure to bring all financial records with you.

Marketing Plans and Strategies Workshop, Feb. 24

By Carol Sanders, writer/editor, UAPB

discussion, interaction and networking and will include homework.

Some topics include farm business planning; risk management: what every farmer needs to know; marketing principles; marketing for profit; including personal selling, internet marketing tips, promotion activities, wholesale market options, indirect and direct marketing; and crop insurance.

Enrollment is limited. Pre-registration is requested to aid in planning for adequate number of meals and materials. If you have special needs or to pre-register, contact Kellye Luckett at (870) 575-7226 or luckettk@uapb.edu.

The 1890 Extension Complex is located on the corner of L.A. “Prexy” Davis Drive and Oliver Road in Pine Bluff.

The first of three sessions of the Developing Marketing Plans and Strategies Workshop gets underway Saturday, Feb. 24, at the 1890 Extension Complex at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

The workshop is aimed primarily at producers of alternative crops and livestock.

Two additional structured sessions will follow approximately one month apart. Each will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

The workshop sessions will be led by Drs. Laurence Crane, vice-president – program outreach and risk management education, National Crop Insurance Service, and Dr. Albert Essel, associate dean for Extension, Lincoln University. Each session will consist of instruction, demonstrations, group 2

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Know the Average Arkansas Land Values and Rents

By Dr. Henry English, director, Small Farm Program, UAPB

“Arkansas Land Values and Cash Rents” is a table compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Services. It provides information on the average value of both irrigated and non-irrigated cropland and pastureland. The next update will be August 2018.

This information may be used as a guide as to the value of land and what it rents for in Arkansas.

Remember, the figures are only averages. Information from local real estate agencies is another source.

Your Extension associate also has copies of another table (not shown) of interest to growers. It is “Cash Rents by Land Type and County, 2017.” This table gives the average cash rents per county.

For example, in 2017, in District 90 that includes Ashley, Chicot, Desha, Drew, Jefferson and Lincoln counties, cash rents ranged from a high of $159 per acre of irrigated cropland in Desha County to a low of $129 in Lincoln County. Jefferson

Arkansas Cropland Values and Cash Rents Average Land Value Per Acre All Cropland

Irrigated Cropland

Non- Irrigated All Cropland Cropland

2,540 2,630 2,710 2,790

3,000 3,100 3,200 3,300

1,840 1,900 1,950 2,000

Year 2014 2015 2016 2017

Average Cash Rent Per Acre Irrigated Cropland

NonIrrigated Cropland

Dollars 102 106 104 106

125 128 128 132

50 54 47 43

Arkansas Pastureland Values and Cash Rents

Pastureland Value Per Acre

Pastureland Cash & Rent Per Acre

Dollars

Years 2014 2015 2016 2017

2,240 2,290 2,450 2,520

County rent for irrigated cropland was $138, and the average for the six counties was $145. The six county

18 18 20 18

average for non-irrigated cropland was $66 per acre.

Farmers Get Help with Food Safety Issues

By Dr. Henry English, director, Small Farm Program, UAPB

Vegetable growers seeking to become Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) or Good Handling Practices (GHP) certified through U.S. Department of Agriculture can now get help through the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Improving the Food Safety Capacity of Entities in the Specialty Crop Distribution Chain project.

GAP and GHP are voluntary audits that verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards. Many vegetable buyers and distributors require producers to be GAP certified.

The UAPB food safety project provides educational workshops and training on GAP certification, assistance in developing the required food safety manual and on-farm recommendations to help in passing the GAP audit.

The project is targeted to 10 counties in eastern Arkansas.

Contact Iris Crosby in Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips and St. Francis counties at (870) 295-3199 and Dr. Henry English in Jefferson, Lincoln, Desha and Drew counties at (870) 575-7246 for assistance in meeting GAP certification.

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An Agriculture Demonstration Outreach Center (ADOC) employee demonstrates the proper attire required for Good Handling Practice (GHP) Certification..

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Small Farm Outreach 1200 North University Drive Mail Slot 4906 Pine Bluff, AR 71601

Conservation Can Pay Off for High School Students

By Dr. Henry English, director, Small Farm Program, UAPB

High school sophomores, juniors and seniors planning on a conservation-related course of study at an accredited Arkansas college or university are eligible for a $1000 one-time Dave Ferguson scholarship awarded by the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts. The runner-up gets $500. Conservation related studies include agriculture, environmental science or conservation.

Deadline for applications to be received is Feb. 23, 2018. The 2017-2018 theme and criteria require a 2.5 GPA, a 750-word essay, and two letters of recommendation. The topic is “Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home.”

“Coming up with the 750 words for the essay is not as daunting as it may seem,” Dr. Henry English, member of the Jefferson County Conservation

District committee, said. “Including the requested four components will serve as a guide and take care of quite a few words.”

Entry forms and rules are available from your local conservation district which is located in your county USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) county office. Or contact the Small Farm Program at (870) 575-7246.

To be eligible for the $1,000 Dave Ferguson scholarship, the student must be a district and area winner. Criteria are the same; winning entries advance to the state level. District winners receive $250 and area winners $500.

Submit entries to the local conservation district located at the NRCS county office in your county.

UAPB SmAll FArm Project StAFF Muthusamy Manoharan, Interim Dean/Director Leslie Glover, Associate Dean for Outreach and Technology Transfer Henry English, Project Director – (870) 575-7246 Alexis Cole, Extension Associate - (870) 630-2005 Travis Collins, Extension Associate – (870) 355-7007 Kandi Williams, Extension Associate – (870) 774-0446 Stephan Walker, MultiCounty Agent – (870) 575-7237 Kellye Luckett, Extension Assistant Specialist (870) 575-7226

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The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is fully accredited

by The Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, 1-800-6217440/FAX: 312-263-7462. Issued in furtherance of Extension work, Act of September 29, 1977, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dr. Muthusamy Manoharan, Interim Dean/Director, 1890 Research and Extension Programs, Cooperative Extension Program, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The Cooperative Extension Program offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.