2024 Faulkner County Agriculture Demonstration Summary

The 2024 Faulkner County Demonstration summary is a collection of on-site demonstration results conducted in Faulkner County by local County Agents. Demonstrations are the cornerstone of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service’s mission which is:

“We strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices.”

On-site demonstrations allow producers and homeowners to see firsthand how Extension recommended varieties and best management practices work in their counties and surrounding area.

We have a few hard copies at the office if anyone is interested or you can view it online. I have attached a link in the button below.

Weather

We received a big rain the end of this week. I have heard amounts from 2.5 inches up to 3.5 inches. Anyway you look at it, that was a lot of water. I have attached the graph for the Arkansas River and you can see the significant rise with the expected crest on February 1. That is the highest the river has been in a long time. It will fall out about as fast as it came up.

Rain chances are in the forecast for most of next week with the highest chances next Thursday. Temperatures are predicted to be in the 70's for a few days next week.

Arkansas and Mississippi River

Structure of the USDA-FSA Farm Loan Program

Ryan Loy, Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, University of Arkansas

Evan Ware, Program Associate, Agricultural Economics, University of Arkansas

Given the uncertainty surrounding current monetary policy decisions, it is important to also highlight an alternative, low-interest borrowing option for farmers: the USDA-FSA Farm Loan Program. The following outlines the structure of these programs to help determine eligibility and identify the most suitable option for your farming enterprise.

Direct Farm Loans

Direct Loans are issued and serviced directly by the FSA. The FSA Direct Loan Program offers low-fixed-interest assistance to farmers in establishing and maintaining farming operations, especially for those who face difficulty qualifying for commercial credit, such as beginning farmers with limited credit history or those recovering from financial setbacks. A range of loans are offered to help farmers establish and sustain a profitable operation. Farmers can apply for direct loans at their local FSA office or online through the Loan Assistance Tool. Interested applicants may also apply in person at a local FSA service center. To find a local FSA service center, visit farmers.gov and input your state and county information.

Guaranteed Farm Loans

Guaranteed loans are also an option for farmers who may meet minimum loan qualifications from a commercial lender but lack the credit history to obtain a loan without an FSA guarantee. Guaranteed loans are issued and serviced by USDA-approved commercial lenders such as banks, Farm Credit System institutions, or credit unions, with FSA backing the loan against potential losses. In the case of guaranteed loans, the lender is FSA’s customer, not the loan applicant. Guaranteed loans are the property and responsibility of the lender servicing the loan. Loan terms and interest rates are negotiated between the lender and the applicant. Typically, FSA guarantees up to 90 percent of the loan amount or up to 95 percent in special cases. The commercial lender will originate and service the loan, but FSA approves eligible guarantees and oversees lender activities to ensure compliance. Farmers can contact their local FSA office for a list of participating lenders.

Examples of Farm Loans

Farm Ownership Loans

Farm ownership loans offered by FSA can be used for the purchase or expansion of a farm, the construction or improvement of farm buildings, closing costs, and the implementation of soil and water conservation practices. Direct farm ownership loans are available up to a maximum of $600,000, with microloan options also offered for smaller-scale needs. FSA will guarantee loans through commercial lenders for amounts up to $2,251,000. Both direct and guaranteed farm ownership loans have a maximum repayment term of 40 years.

Farm Operating Loans

Farm operating loans are available for operating expenses, machinery and equipment purchases, minor real estate repairs or improvements, and debt refinancing. Direct operating loans can be for amounts up to $400,000, with microloan options also offered. FSA will guarantee operating loans through commercial lenders for amounts up to $2,251,000. Repayment terms may vary based on the loan purpose but cannot exceed seven years, with annual operating loans typically repaid within 12 months or upon the sale of the commodities produced. To qualify for direct operating loans, applicants must demonstrate sufficient education, training, or at least one year of experience managing or operating a farm or ranch within the past five years.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for FSA farm loan programs, borrowers must: be a family farmer; have acceptable credit history; be a citizen of the United States (including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Marshall Islands) or a U.S. non-citizen national or a qualified alien under federal immigration law; be unable to obtain credit from other sources at reasonable rates and terms to meet needs; have the ability to assume obligations of the loan legally; have no outstanding unpaid judgments against them issued by the U.S. in any court, except for judgments filed in U.S. Tax Courts; not be delinquent on a federal debt; not have provided FSA with misleading or false documents or statements in the past; not have been convicted under federal or state laws of planting, cultivating, growing, producing, harvesting or storing a controlled substance within the last 5 crop years; not have received debt forgiveness from FSA (certain exceptions apply); and be within the time restrictions as to the number of years they can receive FSA assistance.

Entities such as corporations, cooperatives, joint operations, partnerships, trusts and limited liability companies are also eligible to apply for loans through FSA. To qualify, all members or stockholders of the entity must be authorized to operate a farm or ranch in the state where the farm land is located. Socially disadvantaged members need to hold a majority interest in the entity in order to be eligible for any targeted funding.

Wheat

The wheat I walked earlier this week was looking pretty good. Some of the earlier planted wheat was showing effects from the really cold temperatures we saw last week, but with the warmer temps this week I can already see some new growth starting.

I haven't been to look at fields since the rain, but hopefully everything will drain fast and water won't stand too long. One thing wheat hates is wet feet.

River Valley Rice Meeting

The River Valley Rice Meeting will be held on March 4, 2025 at Brown's Catfish Restaurant in Russellville. Agenda will be coming out soon!

What is a Good Bull Worth in 2025?

Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist

The spring bull buying season is here it’s time to revisit the age old question. The question has been asked forever, or at least as long as we have been breeding cattle with a notion of trying to make the next generation better. It is a classic and timeless question. It is an important question. At this time of year, when many bulls are being marketed and we are planning ahead for spring breeding season, it is a question that is asked a lot!   

The Answer

I remember first hearing the answer nearly 40 years ago as a student at OSU. “A good bull is worth the value of five calves he sires.” I’ve heard that answer again many times over the years. It is a good answer and a good rule of thumb to follow, the problem is it doesn’t exactly narrow down the range. If we do a little “cowboy math,” this answer may in fact lead to more questions. Such as ………

What is considered a “Good Bull”?

For this discussion, qualifications to meet “Good Bull” status are:

• A bull that sells with a registration paper which includes pedigree information and a complete set of genetic values (including EPDs and Bio-economic indices) to be considered in the selection process.
• A bull that has passed a Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) and selling with a breeding soundness warranty (terms will vary).

When are we marketing our Calves? What is their Value?

According to the most recent (January 21, 2025) Oklahoma Market Report:

524 lb. weaned steer calves (Large, 1) are worth about $3.50/lb. for a value of approximately $1,834 per head. Therefore, if my future marketing plan is to sell weaned steers, $1,834 x 5 = $9,170 is the answer.

912 lb. yearling steers (Large, 1) are worth about $2.53/lb. for a value of over $2,300 per head. Therefore, if my future marketing plan is to sell yearling steers, $2,300 x 5 = $11,500 is the answer.

1,500 lb. finished beef steers are worth $2.00/lb. live for a value of $3,000 each. Therefore, if my future marketing plan is to retain ownership through finishing and sell fed cattle on a live weight basis, $3,000 x 5 = $15,000 is the answer.

So, in the current market, a good bull is worth somewhere between $9,000 - $15,000 to a commercial cow-calf operation. Where exactly in that range depends on your marketing plan and the market conditions at that time. Not an exact number because there are many variables in play. One key point illustrated here is that the longer you own the offspring before marketing, the greater the value of the bull to your operation. Retained ownership gives you more time and opportunity to capture the value of your investment in genetics. It is noteworthy that we haven’t considered the value added to replacement females a bull will sire. Bulls used to sire the next generation of cows have an even greater long-term economic impact on the profit potential of your operation and should be valued accordingly.

I encourage cow-calf operations to consider their production system and marketing plan. Doing so should dictate where to apply selection pressure. Genetic values pay when you purchase bulls capable of improving genetic potential for the specific traits that will translate to added value at your intended marketing endpoint.

Keep the following chart in mind as another way to evaluate ownership cost of bulls on a per calf sired basis.

Hay Feeding Management to Reduce Losses

Kenny Simon, Instructor – Forages

Maggie Justice, PhD- Extension Beef Cattle Specialist- Assistant Professor

In addition to evaluating hay storage practices to reduce hay losses, cattle producers should evaluate their feeding practices as well. The most common method of feeding hay is delivering the hay from the hay lot or barn to the cattle. It is up to the producer to decide: 1) how much hay should be offered, a one-day supply or up to a week’s supply, 2) how will the bales be fed, in rolls or by unrolling the hay, and 3) whether to use a hay feeder.

Research has shown that cows can consume most of their hay intake during the first few hours of access. Limiting access to hay to 5-6 hours per day can potentially reduce hay waste. However, this should only be done with hay that meets the nutritional needs of the cow. Limit-time feeding with poor quality hay will cause under nourishment and production losses.

Other options include different feeding methods. Feeding hay in rings can cut feeding waste by half compared to unprotected access. Ring feeders with a metal skirt around the bottom reduce waste more than pipe feeders. Hay feeders can also be a less wasteful method than manger type feeders. Unrolling hay can increase waste if more hay is offered than consumed in a short time. Grinding or processing hay can increase consumption and reduce waste to less than 1 percent if fed in large feeders, such as recycling heavy equipment tires or large troughs. Research has shown that processed hay fed on the ground was just as wasteful as other methods.

Hay feeding demonstrations were conducted to evaluate temporary electric fence, placed 32” above ground, to control trampling of unrolled hay. Large round bales were unrolled, and an electrified poly wire was stretched down the middle of the length of the unrolled hay. Initial results indicated that the cows lined up along the hay line and did not trample or lay on the unrolled hay. In one demonstration, hay was fed to supply the daily pounds of total digestible nutrients required for the herd; hay utilization increased 6% by protecting the unrolled hay with an electric fence compared to the unrolled hay. Hay utilization was 85% with a range of 84-87% when unrolled and fed unprotected, figure 1. Hay utilization was 91% with a range of 86-95% when unrolled hay was protected with electrified poly wire, figure 2. A six-percentage unit increase in utilization saved the producer $3/bale or $90 for 30 bales. Based on the results, strip-feeding can reduce feeding losses and should be considered when hay is in short supply. One method of strip-feeding is illustrated in Figure 3. Strip feeding hay uses the same concept as strip grazing dormant forage. Stage hay bales along the edge of the feeding area. Start feeding at the end of the field closest to the water source. Unroll the hay and place an electric fence wire over the unrolled line of hay. Position the wire close to the edge of the unrolled hay line so cattle have to reach under the wire to eat. This forces the animals to line up, much like eating at a trough. Allow cattle to have access to the hay from only one side. Once the bale is consumed, the next bale is unrolled, and the electric fence moved. This method allows the hay to be unrolled on fresh, undisturbed ground and therefore improves utilization.

The amount of hay needed for the feeding season will vary depending on the feeding method. Each livestock operation is unique and therefore the preferred hay feeding method will vary from farm to farm.  An effort should be made to minimize losses associated with hay feeding. Minimizing hay feeding demonstrations have been conducted as part of the University of Arkansas 300 Day Grazing program. A summary of the hay feeding methods and the amount of hay wasted with each method is shown in Table 1.             

Figure 1: Unrolling hay

Utilization 85% (range 84-87%)

Figure 2: Unrolling and protecting hay

   Utilization 91% (range 86-95%)

Figure 3: Strip-Feeding Hay

Upcoming Beef and Forage Meetings

Farmers Market 101

We will be holding a Farmers Market 101 meeting on February 11 at the Faulkner County Extension Office from 5:30 - 7:30. This meeting will consist of the basics of becoming a farmers market vendor.

Nutritional Strategies for Small Ruminant Gastrointestinal Nematode (GIN) Management

By Dr. Dan Quadros UA Division of Agriculture Small Ruminant Specialist and Dr. Joan Burke USDA-ARS Dale Bumpers Research Animal Scientist

Managing gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) is a critical challenge for small ruminant producers. These parasites impact health, productivity, and overall farm profitability. It also creates welfare concerns and severe economic losses related to reduced productivity, cost of treatment, and, eventually, mortality.

While traditional approaches often rely on chemical dewormers, integrating nutritional strategies into management plans offers a sustainable and effective alternative.

For more information please click the link below.

Livestock Market Report

The weekly livestock market report is available on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website.

Pesticide Applicator Trainings

This is the Pesticide Applicator Training Schedule for Faulkner, Perry and Conway County.

Cost for the certification training is $20 that is payable at the training. It is a good idea to call and register for the class or if you have any questions, feel free to call and ask. Office numbers are located below. Anyone can go to any of these trainings. You don't have to just go in your county.

Faulkner County call and talk to Mindy Beard at the office at 501-329-8344 or email at rbeard@uada.edu

Perry County - 501-889-2661

Conway County - 501-977-2146

You can also get certified online. It also costs $20. The link to the online training is listed below.

Sign up for Text Alerts

You can now sign up for text alerts from me throughout the year. I have two areas you can sign up for which includes Faulkner Livestock or Faulkner Ag (Row Crop Updates). To sign up you can follow one of these links or use the QR Codes below.

January 9 - River Valley Soybean and Corn Production Meeting - Morrilton

February 13 - River Valley Beef Conference - Morrilton

February 19 - KOMA Beef Conference - Ft. Smith

February 21 - Little Red River Beef Conference - Heber Springs

March 4 - River Valley Rice Meeting - Brown's Catfish Russellville