Faulkner County Agriculture Update
October 30, 2020
General Conditions
Weather

Rain dominated the weather this week. Most areas received over 3 inches of rain from the system that came through the early part of the week. Temperatures remained in the 50's which led to a chilly week. Next week looks like a good warm up and dry weather with the exception of Sunday and Monday morning. There is a chance of a freeze on Sunday morning, so be sure to read about frost on johnsongrass later in this update. The dry weather should help us finish up harvest and get any additional ryegrass planted.
Arkansas River

With all of the rain in Oklahoma and Western Arkansas, the river moved up to 265 feet. This isn't enough to flood any land, but another 5 feet could lead to some minor flooding along the Cadron. It looks like 267 is the crest and we should start seeing a decline this week back down to 250 feet by Tuesday.
Pesticide Collection
Don't forget about the Pesticide Collection on November 6th, 2020 at the County Road Department located at 65 Acklin Gap Road in Conway. This is a free service and no questions will be asked. Just bring your unused pesticide and they will collect it from 8:00 until 1:00. Remember this is pesticide only!
Row Crop
Harvest

The rain delayed most of the harvest this week. There was little to no progress. The producers I have talked to said we should start back up Sunday if the wind will blow.

Corn is 99%, rice is 93% and soybeans are 70% harvested.
Wheat

This rain really helped fill some holes on fields that were having germination issues. Wheat is not a big fan of wet feet so I am glad to see this dry week. Take this opportunity to evaluate fields for wet holes and standing water. Once it dries up, run drain furrows through those areas to aid in drainage.
Beef & Forage
Brucellosis Vaccinations

It is time for our fall brucellosis vaccination schedule. The dates for the fall schedule is November 18 & 20. It is highly recommended that if you are keeping heifers that you get them vaccinated for brucellosis. This is a free service from Arkansas Livestock and Poultry. Heifers need to be between 4 to 12 months of age.
 
Mr. Ebert McClure, from the Livestock and Poultry Commission will be giving the vaccinations. Adequate handling facilities and personnel are necessary. You, or someone to represent you, must be present to help the technician.

It is necessary that your heifers be up, separated and ready for the technician to administer the vaccine. Please remember to have these heifers either weaned or being weaned. The vaccine is a modified live virus and exposure to bred cows could cause abortion. 

If you want to be added to the schedule either call the Extension office at 501-329-8344 or email Mindy Beard at rbeard@uaex.edu by Thursday November 12.

We will need the following information:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Address of where the cattle will be
  • Phone Number
  • Number of Head
Use caution when grazing johnsongrass after frost

John Jennings
Extension Forage Specialist

Scattered frosts will be occurring across the state over the next few weeks and will increase toxicity risk when grazing pastures containing johnsongrass. When johnsongrass becomes stressed, it can produce prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid) which is very toxic to livestock. Prussic acid toxicity can kill cattle quickly, often before a producer has a chance to observe that the animal is under stress. The forages that are prone to prussic acid are johnsongrass, sorhgum/sudan, greengraze, grain sorghum, and forage sorghum. Freeze damage from fall frosts can cause these forages to become toxic. These forages should not be grazed following a hard frost until the plants become completely dried out and paper brown colored. Do not graze at night when frost is likely. To reduce risk even farther, don’t turn hungry cattle directly out on johnsongrass pasture. Make sure they have grazed other forages first or fill them up on hay.

Prussic acid dissipates as the plants dry out. Properly dried johnsongrass hay does not contain prussic acid and is safe to feed. Silage may contain toxic quantities of prussic acid, but it usually escapes in gaseous form while being moved and fed. If frosted forage is ensiled, allow fermentation to take place for at least six weeks before feeding.
What is the difference between Prussic Acid and Nitrate Toxicity in forage?
John Jennings, Extension Forage Specialist

Johnsongrass is a good quality forage, but when it becomes stressed from drought, it can produce prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid) or can accumulate nitrate, both of which are very toxic to livestock. Sorghum/sudan (including haygrazer, greengraze, sudangrass, and sorghum) also can develop prussic acid and accumulate nitrate. What is the difference in these toxins and can toxicity levels be measured?
 
Prussic Acid

It is difficult to predict how much prussic acid toxin may be present in the forage. There are no reliable field or routine laboratory for measuring toxic levels of prussic acid in forage. Lab tests can confirm prussic acid poisoning for dead animals, but the amount of toxin that results in death has not been established for any routine tests and field testing is not available. Consult FSA 3069 Prussic Acid for more information.
·        Hydrocyanic acid (HCN) or prussic acid is generally found in stressed johnsongrass or sorghum and is formed by enzymatic action on compounds called cyanogenetic glucosides. When these compounds are broken down in the rumen, the cyanide is absorbed and combines with the hemoglobin in the bloodstream. This prevents the red blood cells from releasing oxygen to the body tissues and suffocation occurs. One diagnostic symptom of prussic acid poisoning is bright red blood since it is full of trapped oxygen. Prussic acid poisoning occurs rapidly with affected animals dying in the field.
·        Johnsongrass and any plants of the sorghum family can develop prussic acid. Wilted leaves of wild cherry trees caused by storm damage or trimming/cutting also have high prussic acid potential.
·        Frosted, wilted, or drought stressed plants are most likely to develop prussic acid. During early drought stress, the grass may appear normal in the morning, but can wilt during afternoon heat which increases toxic potential.
·        Do not allow animals to remain in pastures with johnsongrass at night when frost is likely.
·        The amount of prussic acid is higher in young plants than in older ones, and the toxicity of leaves is higher than that of stems. Prussic acid poisoning potential is very high for johnsongrass forage that is short (less than 18” tall), wilted forage, or for a new flush of growth soon after a rainfall or after hay cutting. Prussic acid potential decreases as the plants become taller and more mature.
·        Many producers believe the white powdery substance commonly seen on johnsongrass stems in late summer is prussic acid residue, but it is only common powdery mildew fungus and is not considered toxic to livestock.
·        Prussic acid dissipates when the forage dries, so well-cured hay is considered safe. If johnsongrass patches are mowed before allowing animals to graze a pasture, make sure the cut johnsongrass is dried completely to allow the prussic acid to dissipate.

Nitrate

Laboratory and field tests can be conducted on fresh forage and hay for nitrate content. Nitrate concentration of 700 ppm of nitrate-nitrogen or less is considered safe. Field tests with a diphenylamine solution can be used to indicate presence of nitrate to help determine if lab testing is needed to confirm nitrate concentration. Consult FSA 3024 – Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle for information on toxicity levels.
·        Nitrates can accumulate to toxic levels in some plant species especially during drought stress. Plants known for accumulating nitrate include johnsongrass, sorghums (forage sorghum, sorghum-sudan, and sudangrass), pearl millet, corn, and pigweed. Drought, shade, and sometimes potassium deficiency can cause a reduction in the activity of a specific plant enzyme that functions in the conversion of nitrate to precursors of plant protein, which allows accumulation of nitrate.
·        Nitrate poisoning causes internal suffocation of the animal similar to prussic acid poisoning, however nitrate prevents the blood from picking up oxygen to carry to the tissues. A diagnostic symptom of nitrate poisoning is dark, chocolate-brown appearing blood which is a result of lack of oxygen.
·        High nitrates usually occur when forages have been heavily fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer, but can also occur after poultry litter application or in fields with a history of manure application.
·        High nitrate levels are most likely in young immature plants and decline as the plants mature. In cases of very high nitrate content, levels may remain high even in mature plants.
·        Nitrate levels are typically highest in the lower part of the plant stem/stalk.
·        High nitrate levels do not dissipate when hay is cut and remain high even in dry hay and in dry standing forage after a killing frost.
·        Nitrate levels may decrease by about 50% in silage/haylage during the fermentation process. Be reminded that this may not be enough to reduce very high nitrate forage to safe levels.
Winter Forages

This rain was perfect for ryegrass and winter forage mixes that have been planted. With warmer temperatures next week we should see some significant growth on fields that have already been planted. We still have time to plant ryegrass, so if you still have acres to plant you should be in good shape with the moisture we have in the ground.
Hay and Pasture Update

Fall and winter is the time I like to put out lime if it is needed. The one comment I hear most from Faulkner County producers is "I know I need to put out lime". My experience so far in Faulkner County has shown that actually very few fields actually need lime. The majority of the soil tests I get back on pastures and hay ground show a pH of 5.7 or better. Just applying lime because you think "I need it" is a very costly input when you don't need it. The only way to truly know if you need lime is to do a soil test. A soil test is free and could save you some money. I would rather see producers use that lime money on fertilizer in the spring and summer if that is what is needed.

The Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Fall Forage Conference will be virtual this year. There is a great lineup this year. Some of the information that will be presented on costs of growing hay is data that was collected here in Faulkner County. It should be a great conference! You can either scan the code below to register or just go to this website: https://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/animals-forages/pastures/
Livestock Market Report

The weekly livestock market report is available on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website.
Pesticide Applicator Training
There is a PAT training scheduled for November 19, 2020 at 2:30 at the community room of the Greenbrier Events Center located at 5 Lois Lane in Greenbrier.

This training is limited to 20 people. If you want to attend these trainings you MUST pre-register. I will only take the first 20 people.

To register you can call the office at 501-329-8344 or email my administrative assistant Mindy Beard at rbeard@uaex.edu.

Participants must wear a mask into the room, but once seated you may take off the mask. If you decide to get up and leave you will have to put your mask back on. This is a requirement to be able to hold this meeting.

The training will cost $20. If you bring a check please make it out to Faulkner County Extension Office.

The online course is still an option also. If you want to use the online options, the link is below. 
2020 Arkansas Ballot Issues
This year we have the opportunity to vote on 3 ballot issues. There were originally 6 issues but issues 4, 5 and 6 have been taken off the ballot. It is important to be an informed voter and one of the best sources of information on ballot issues is our voters guide. We have these guides at our office, the judge and clerks office and most of the city halls.

You can also download a copy. Click on the button below to download your copy of the 2020 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide.
Upcoming Events
Pesticide Applicator Training - November 19 at 2:30 pm at the Greenbrier Events Center, 5 Lois Lane Greenbrier. Open to the first 20 participants that register. To register call 501-329-8344 or email Mindy Beard at rbeard@uaex.edu.

Pesticide Collection - November 6 from 8:00 until 1:00 at the County Road Department on Acklin Gap Road.

AFGC Fall Forage Conference - November 10 at 6:30.
Contact Kevin Lawson, County Extension Agent–Staff Chair, Faulkner County | www.uaex.edu/faulkner