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Faulkner County Agriculture Update
May 23, 2024
Welcome Jaely Pearson

We want to welcome Jaely as our new summer intern here at the Extension office. We are excited to have her on board to learn more about being a County Extension Agent.

A message from Jaely:
"My name is Jaley Pearson, and I am incredibly excited to be this year's Faulkner County Extension Intern. I am currently attending Southern Arkansas University majoring in agriculture education. I grew up around agriculture, showing livestock though Conway FFA and devoting my time to learning as much as I can about the agriculture industry and how I can participate. Agriculture has always been at the center of my life so being able to contribute back to my community through this internship is something that is incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to learning anything and everything I can throughout the summer. I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity and I hope to make the most of it."
4-H Pork Butt Fundraiser

Our 4-H'ers are now taking orders for our Annual 4th of July Pork Butt Fundraiser. Orders are due June 14th and the pork butts can be picked up either July 2 or July 3. For more information or if you want to put in your order please call the office 501-329-8344.
General Conditions
Weather

This was another week when we had rain predicted but we didn't get what was totally forecasted. We ended up getting a pretty good rain Thursday, and another one fell this morning. I am good with the rain we have gotten so far, now we need it to dry up and get back to field work. We had some really humid days and the night time temperatures are sneaking up into the low 70's which is really adding to growing degree days for grasses.
Rain chances are in the forecast for the next week, but for the most part the chances are low. We continue the higher night time temperatures with the highs in the 80's during the day.
Arkansas River
Drought Monitor
Row Crop
Rice

Rice is going to flood all over the county, while some finished up planting this week. We got several acres sprayed and fertilized in front of the rain, which was a close call. Luckily the rain held off enough to get it done.

Below is a link to Dr. Hardke's Arkansas Rice Update from last Friday and an article from him on preflood nitrogen into suboptimal conditions.
Herbicide Trainings

Anyone that applies Enlist, Dicamba, or Paraquat are required to go through additional education hours. The Enlist and Dicamba training is done online through the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Paraquat is done through the National Pesticide Safety Education Center and there is a $25 charge.

For Enlist and Dicamba follow the link to our Pesticide Training Page. On the left side of the screen there is a menu that links you to Enlist and Dicamba training. I have also added the link to the NPSEC website for the Paraquat training.
Soybeans

Soybeans that are up are getting the first round of post emerge herbicides this week. Enlist plus glyphosate has been the common choice so far for mostly grass and a few broadleaves. For soybeans about to be planted consider at least a dual application pre emerge for grass, or a dual plus metribuzen for grass and pigweeds. If you have STS beans and nutsedge, apply permit plus.

Make sure to check www.EnlistTankmix.com to find tank mix partners for Enlist. Also make sure to get your Enlist training.
Corn

Corn is either starting to really look good from fertilize applications and some dry weather or it has finally grown up enough you can't see the holes out in the field anymore! Seriously though, corn has taken up fertilizer and finally starting to look good. I have checked several fields and the herbicide applications worked well. I am seeing some grass being left behind, but that isn't anything to worry about now. We aren't far off from a pre tassel application of 100 pounds of Urea once we get up to V14 to V16.

We did much better this week on heat units. This was a more "normal" week. This week we accumulated 176.5 units which brings us up to 994 total heat units since April 1. That would put corn around V11.
Corn Earworm Moth Traps

Corn Earworm Moth Traps were checked this week and I was surprised at some of the numbers. I have one trap out on Schaefers Brothers Farm on the Cadron close to Lake Beaverfork. We didn't catch but 4 moths there. I also have traps at Lollie on Jill Edwards by the sand plant and on Schaefers and Collins farm near the pumpkin patch and we had numbers there of 103 and 55 moths respectively. Right now these numbers are elevated but not super high. I would keep an eye on small beans for defoliation, but we don't have to be too alarmed just yet. I will keep everyone updated weekly on numbers.
2024 Precision Crop Management Workshop

Jason Davis, Mike Hamilton, Aurelie Poncet, and Terry Spurlock will host the very first Arkansas Precision Crop Management Workshop. The program will feature a series of short breakout sessions and demonstrations.

The meeting is Wednesday, June 12 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jackson County Extension Center, 649 Jackson Rd 917, Newport, AR. In-person registration begins at 8 a.m. and training begins at 8:45 a.m. The program ends with free lunch at noon.
Beef, Small Ruminants, & Forages
Hay Forage Testing

As we get ready for first harvests on hay, I get questions on what to look for from the hay test if we take one. This chart gives you a quick look at the Crude Protein and TDN numbers required by beef cattle at different stages. When looking at the sample results, always look at the numbers on a dry matter basis. There is more information about this in the Test Hays for Nutrient Composition Before Feeding Fact Sheet listed below.
Spring Management Checklist
Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist

The commercial cow-calf business does not require intensive day-to-day management to the same extent of the other industry segments. That being said, timely management input is critical to maximizing forage production, shortening the calving season and creating profit potential. The key to capitalizing on the future value of cattle is to run your operation as a business. Managing your operation like a business means making sound financial decisions and concentrating management and labor into some of the critical control points through the annual production cycle.

As of May 2024, consider the following checklist.
-    Have I made a plan for weed control, fertilizer, rotational grazing and proper pasture management? Weed control, especially on improved grasses, insures that the grass we intend to grow is making use of the moisture and soil nutrients. Applying an adequate amount of nitrogen fertilizer to Bermudagrass pastures is essential to produce the amount of forage needed to sustain your cowherd.
-    Have my bulls undergone a Breeding Soundness Exam and do I have an adequate number of bulls on hand to get cows bred promptly?
-    Have I given pre-breeding vaccinations and dewormed my cow herd?
-    Are my replacement heifers of adequate age and target weight to breed up quick and early ahead of my mature cow herd?
-    Are my cows and bulls in adequate Body Condition for the onset of breeding season?
-    Based on that answer, do I need to continue with supplemental feed?
-    What is my hay and feed plan for next winter?
-    Have I castrated, dehorned, dewormed and given the first round of vaccinations to my spring born calves? Best management practices are to have this done by the time calves are two to four months of age.
USDA-ARS Katahdin Online Sale

The USDA-ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center in Booneville, AR, has announced its “Summer Katahdin Sheep Online Sale”. It will occur on June 4th.
You can see photos and get more information about the animals at https://www.wlivestock.com/auction/25160
Use the same website to bid. The buyer is responsible for picking up the animal by July 1st in Booneville, Arkansas.

Each animal has a link to the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) website, where you can find the Estimated Breeding Values (EBV). Remember that negative EBV for parasite resistance (weaning and post-weaning fecal egg counts) is desirable.
Faulkner County Cattlemen's Meeting

The Faulkner County Cattlemen's met on May 23 at Pruitt's Mid State Stockyards in Damascus. There was a great meal sponsored by Pruitt's followed by educational updates from ACA Executive Vice President Michelle Bufkin Horton, the Faulkner County Conservation District, the Extension Office and Lane Pruitt. The next meeting won't be until September, but the State Convention will be held in Hot Springs in July.
Here is this weeks Cattle Market Notes Weekly
Livestock Market Report

The weekly livestock market report is available on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website.
Upcoming Events
Contact Kevin Lawson, County Extension Agent–Agriculture, Faulkner County | Kevin Lawson