Faulkner County Agriculture Update
March 19, 2021
General Conditions
Weather

We had a good round of storms come through on Wednesday but luckily we avoided all the really bad stuff. I think we got approximately a half to three quarters of an inch around the county. It wasn't too bad of a rain actually. It helped incorporate some fertilizer on winter annuals and wheat fields and activated some herbicides. Looks like rain is possible again on and off all of next week. Tonight is predicted to get pretty cool. I would really like to avoid any freezes so I am hoping we stay above the freezing mark. Next week we get into better temperatures.
Arkansas River
The River took a big rise over this week. It seemed like one day we were at normal levels and within a day it was right at the banks at Toad Suck park. I am assuming the Corp decided to let some of the water out from Oklahoma with all of the rain that was predicted. According to the prediction from the Corp we will be at this level for a little bit.
Drought Monitor
Pesticide Applicator Training
I have scheduled two more Pesticide Applicator Trainings for March 30, 2021 at the Faulkner County Extension Office located at 844 Faulkner Street in Conway. Times will be at 2:30 and 5:30. Cost for the training is $20.

I can only have 9 participants per class so please call or email and register. Participants must wear a mask at all times during the meeting and they will be spaced out safely.

To register call the office at 501-329-8344 or email Mindy Beard at rbeard@uada.edu.
Row Crop
Arkansas Corn Market Report for March 8 - 12, 2021

by Bob Stark, Agricultural Economist and Jason Kelley, Professor and Extension Agronomist - Wheat and Feed Grains

2020 Crop Cash Market

The Arkansas Yellow Corn 2021 Crop Booking Market price pattern was more consistent than the old crop cash market and traded within a 6 cent span all week. Price rose 1 cent over the weekend and added 3 more cents on Tuesday before suffering a small loss on Wednesday that was essentially recovered and held to close the week (Figure 2). The market opened on Monday at a statewide average of $5.06, up 13 cents from the previous week's first trading day. Price rose to $5.09 level on Tuesday before falling 6 cents on Wednesday. The market regained half of that loss on Thursday and basically held steady to close the week. The new crop booking price on Friday stood at a closing statewide average of $5.05, just 1 cent under the previous week's closing mark. The high individual market quote of the week was $5.18 at Helena on Friday, the only price quote submitted from that market during the week. West Memphis had the next highest daily quote with $5.17 on Tuesday. The low individual quote of the week was $4.84 at Pine Bluff on Friday. Closing day prices from the five reporting markets ranged from the $4.84 low at Pine Bluff to the $5.18 high at Helena, a spread of 34 cents, 8 cents wider than the previous week. Four markets provided quotes each trading day with Helena only submitting a Friday quote. 
Arkansas Soybean Market Report for. March 8 - 12, 2021

by Bob Stark, Agricultural Economist and Jeremy Ross, Professor and Extension Agronomist - Soybean

2020 Crop Soybean Cash Market

The past week saw the 2020 crop soybean market start strongly with a double-digit weekend price gain followed by another gain on Tuesday. But the market suffered a major midweek loss and was unable to recoup any ground through the close of the week (Figure 1). Price rose 15 cents over the weekend and opened on Monday at a statewide average of $14.51, a huge 62 cents above the previous week's opening price. The market added 6 cents on Tuesday, but Wednesday had a 32 cent drop. The market could only recover 2 cents on Thursday and remained steady on Friday to end the week. The final day of trade left the Friday statewide closing average at $14.27, an overall loss of 9 cents from the closing statewide average of the previous week. The high individual market daily price for the past week was $14.72 at both West Memphis and Helena on Tuesday. The low individual daily price was $13.90 at Wynne on Wednesday. Seven reporting markets provided quotes for each trading day in the past week with Jonesboro, Pendleton, Des Arc, Wheatley, and Stuttgart completely dropping out. Closing price quotes on Friday ranged from a high of $14.45 at Helena to a low closing quote of $13.93 reported from Wynne. The range of 52 cents was 8 cents narrower than the previous week's price span on the last trading day. 

2021 Crop Soybean Booking Market

The new 2021 Crop Booking Market movements closely followed those of old crop soybeans after diverging over the weekend. Booking beans rose 6 cents over the weekend and added 8 more cents on Tuesday before declining 24 cents Wednesday. The market recovered 5 cents on Wednesday, but then went steady through the remainder of the week (Figure 2). The 6 cent weekend gain carried the booking market to a $12.65 Monday opening statewide average, 35 cents above the previous week opening price level. Price climbed to $12.73 on Tuesday before the Wednesday decline to $12.49. The modest Thursday recovery and steady Friday left the market at a Friday closing statewide average of $12.54, an overall loss for the week of 5 cents from the previous week closing average. The high individual daily market quote of the past week was $12.97 on Tuesday at Helena. Low individual daily market quote was $12.21 at Wynne on Wednesday as the week saw no individual market quotes under $12.00 for the second consecutive week. Closing booking price quotes on Friday ranged from a $12.26 low at Wynne to a $12.78 high at Helena. These quotes placed the state range at 62 cents, 4 cents wider than the previous week closing range. Reporting was strong this week as all twelve of the major individual markets provided quotes each trading day of the past week.
Training Links

Below are the links to the Enlist and Paraquat Trainings. Enlist training is required every year.
Beef & Forage
Bermudagrass Greenup

I continue to see several acres of bermudagrass greening up in pastures and hay fields. This is the time of year I get nervous with the weather forecast. It seems like years when we are at this stage we get a late freeze that really sets us back. I have my fingers crossed that we can make it through the next four weeks without a significant freeze event.

Now is NOT the time to fertilize bermudagrass. We need some more consistent temperatures before we invest in fertilizer for bermudagrass. Our recommendation is to fertilize in the spring when we have had a week of night time temperatures in the 60's. If you look at the forecast in the upper section you will see we are nowhere near that. Fertilizer is way to expensive to apply at the wrong time and not get 100% out of it. On average the first fertilizer should go out around the first week in May.
Breeding Soundness Evaluation

The effects of the deep south freeze on bull fertility is a lingering reminder of that frigid week. Extension agents are starting to receive reports of frostbite damage and failed breeding soundness exams (BSE). Schedule a BSE with your veterinarian.
Arkansas Cattleman's Association Area 7 Conference

The ACA Area 7 Conference will be held March 23 at the Conway Expo Center at 6 pm. This is a good chance to get out for an in person meeting. Come out and visit the Extension Booth and say hi to me and pick up some educational material. Check with the ACA magazine or Facebook page to RSVP.
This week is a look at COVID 19 Year over Year comparison.
Livestock Market Report

The weekly livestock market report is available on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website.
Upcoming Events
ACA Area 7 Conference - March 23, 2021 at 6:00 pm at the Conway Expo Center

PAT Training - March 30, 2021 at 2:30 and 5:30 pm at the Faulkner County Extension Office. Call 501-329-8344 to register or email Mindy Beard at rbeard@uada.edu.
Contact Information
Please make sure to change my email in your address book.

My new email is klawson@uada.edu.

The Extension webpage address is uaex.uada.edu.
Social Media

For more updates on upcoming events and to keep up with what's going on in agriculture in Faulkner County follow me on Facebook and Twitter
Contact Kevin Lawson, County Extension Agent–Staff Chair, Faulkner County | www.uaex.uada.edu/faulkner