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Clark County Spring Beef/Forage News
March 2017
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Thank you for subscribing to the Clark County Beef/Forage Newsletter.
In these emails we hope to give you timely information
on managing your livestock in our area of the state.
Our phone number is 870-246-2281. Our address is 640 S. 6th, Arkadelphia.
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Upcoming Beef & Forage Events
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Clark County Field Day
Wednesday, March 29
th -
2:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Jim & Debbie Blanton's Farm, 422 Hwy 182W, Okolona
Topics:
Calibration and Nozzle Testing (Bring your spray nozzles to test).
Freeze and Hot Branding Demonstration
Winter Weed Control Demonstration
**Call the Extension Office to sign up
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Southern States Forage Conference
Friday, March 31st
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Four States Fairgrounds, 3700 E 50th St., Texarkana, AR, 71854
Registration: $20/person (Early), $30 @ door (SEE FORM ON NEXT PAGE)
$30/couple (Early), $50 @ door
Early Registration Deadline = March 17, 2017
Topics:
Leasing Property
Producing Baleage
Management to Extend Grazing Season
Annual Warm Season Legumes
Alfalfa
Wildlife Nutrition & Potential Benefits of Forage
Trade Show
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Southwest Arkansas Grazing School and Field Day
Friday, April 7, 2017
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Southwest Research and Extension Center, 362 Hwy 174 N, Hope, 70801
Registration: $10/person (Early - deadline for early registration is March 31st)
$15/person (April 1-registration at the door)
SEE REGISTRATION FORM BELOW
Topics:
300 Days of Grazing
Soil Fertility & Forages
Electric Fence Demonstration
Conservation District Programs
Winter Annuals Harvest Data
Field Observaton of Winter Annual Plots
Establishment Techniques - No-Till vs. Broadcast & Seeder Calibration
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Pesticide Applicator Training
6:00 p.m.
Henderson State University Community Education Center's ALCOA Room (same building as the Extension Service).
Register by calling the Extension Service office at 870-246-2281.
$10 fee paid at the door.
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Upcoming Pesticide Collection in Clark County
The State Plant Board will be at the Clark County Fairgrounds on Thursday, March 16 from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for a Pesticide Collection. This happens about every 5 years in our county. This will be your chance to dispose of old, outdated, unusable pesticides from your farm free of charge and in complete confidentiality.
They will accept: both known and unknown wastes, including outdated, discontinued, or unwanted agricultural pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides); of particular interest are older pesticides known to be more toxic, such as arsenicals, DDT, silvex, heptachlor, dieldrin, lindane, toxaphene, and 2,4,5-T.
The will not accept: explosives and ordinance; petroleum products, paints, medical wastes, radioactive substances, household pesticides and chemicals.
This is a confidential process. Holders of old pesticides who plan to participate must fill out an inventory form to register for the collection. The forms are for planning purposes only and strict confidentiality is maintained. Inventory forms are available at the County Extension office and Farm Bureau office. Completed forms should be returned to the county Farm Bureau.
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Upcoming Pesticide Collection in Clark County
The State Plant Board will be at the Clark County Fairgrounds on Thursday, March 16 from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for a Pesticide Collection. This happens about every 5 years in our county. This will be your chance to dispose of old, outdated, unusable pesticides from your farm free of charge and in complete confidentiality.
They will accept: both known and unknown wastes, including outdated, discontinued, or unwanted agricultural pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides); of particular interest are older pesticides known to be more toxic, such as arsenicals, DDT, silvex, heptachlor, dieldrin, lindane, toxaphene, and 2,4,5-T.
The will not accept: explosives and ordinance; petroleum products, paints, medical wastes, radioactive substances, household pesticides and chemicals.
This is a confidential process. Holders of old pesticides who plan to participate must fill out an inventory form to register for the collection. The forms are for planning purposes only and strict confidentiality is maintained. Inventory forms are available at the County Extension office and Farm Bureau office. Completed forms should be returned to the county Farm Bureau.
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Upcoming Pesticide Collection in Clark County
The State Plant Board will be at the Clark County Fairgrounds on Thursday, March 16 from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for a Pesticide Collection. This happens about every 5 years in our county. This will be your chance to dispose of old, outdated, unusable pesticides from your farm free of charge and in complete confidentiality.
They will accept: both known and unknown wastes, including outdated, discontinued, or unwanted agricultural pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides); of particular interest are older pesticides known to be more toxic, such as arsenicals, DDT, silvex, heptachlor, dieldrin, lindane, toxaphene, and 2,4,5-T.
The will not accept: explosives and ordinance; petroleum products, paints, medical wastes, radioactive substances, household pesticides and chemicals.
This is a confidential process. Holders of old pesticides who plan to participate must fill out an inventory form to register for the collection. The forms are for planning purposes only and strict confidentiality is maintained. Inventory forms are available at the County Extension office and Farm Bureau office. Completed forms should be returned to the county Farm Bureau.
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Musk Thistle Control
adapted from UAEX fact sheet FSA3054 and MP44
Thistles are aggressive weeds that invade our pastures and hay fields. They are prolific seed producers and spread rapidly, and in doing so can greatly decrease the quality of our forages. A musk thistle plant produces an average of 3,500 seeds, but large plants can produce up to 10,000. The seeds are usually spread by wind can also be spread by contaminated hay or farm equipment.
Controlling thistles is best achieved by using a combination of chemical, mechanical, and cultural control:
Chemical: Herbicides should be applied when the musk thistles are in the rosette stage, before the flower stalk appears, during fall or early spring. Applications made after the plants begin to flower are too late to provide adequate control. Plants treated with herbicide after the onset of flowering may still produce viable seed. Thistles are readily controlled with a properly timed application of 2,4-D amine at 1.5 qt/A. Spring applications should be made from late February to early March. Fall applications from late October through November will enhance a thistle control program. Grazon P+D, GrazonNext HL and dicamba + 2,4-D also provide excellent control of thistles at 1 qt/A.
Mechanical: Digging and hand pulling are very effective for controlling light or scattered infestations of thistles. Plants must be cut off under the rosette or crown for effective control. If leaves or the crown bud are left attached to the root, the plant can still regrow and produce seed. You can pile and burn any blooming plants you have pulled or dug in an attempt to destroy potentially viable seed.
Mowing can reduce the amount of seed produced, but usually enough stem remains intact with the crown to produce flowers and seed. Mowing within two days after the terminal flower head blooms effectively inhibits seed production. However, thistles do not all mature uniformly, so mowing will need to be repeated to prevent seed production.
Cultural: Over-grazing and improper soil fertility management reduce the vigor and competitiveness of the forage, allowing musk thistle seedlings to become established. Soil testing and following the subsequent soil fertility recommendations is important in improving your grazing management.
Be on the lookout for the rosettes now and dig them out and/or spray soon to help reduce your thistle population.
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Quick Reference Chart: Controlling Face and Horn Flies
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