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Faulkner County Agriculture Update
May 31, 2024
Pesticide Applicator Training

There is one last chance to attend an in person PAT training coming up on Monday June 3 at 6:00 pm at the First Electric Building in Perryville, AR. This one will be conducted by the Perry County Agent and if you have questions you can call the Perry County Extension Office at 501-889-2661.
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

Things were starting to get dry in some areas of the county so the rain this morning was really very timely. I know there is still some hay down and we could have used a few more dry days but we will take what we can get. Temperatures have been in the high 80's and mid 60's for most of the week.
It looks like rain chances stick around for the majority of next week. Hopefully this will change so we can get back to field work. Night time temperatures are predicted to get up into the 70's next week with day time high's hovering close to 90.
Arkansas River
Drought Monitor
Row Crop
Rice

Last week we were looking at the rice that was going to flood and needed the preflood nitrogen. Now the first planted rice fields are getting close to midseason. So make sure to check the DD50 and cut some plants. We need to apply midseason nitrogen a minimum of 3 weeks after the preflood nitrogen application and internode elongation has started. We need to meet both of those conditions to get the maximum benefit of midseason nitrogen.

Below is a link to Dr. Hardke's Arkansas Rice Update from last Friday.
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

There was several acres of soybeans planted this week and the early planted soybeans were sprayed for weeds. I swept a few beans just to see what was out there and I found a few defoliators but that is about it. There isn't much defoliation going on so we are good right now on insects. Some of the earlier beans are starting to flower.
Corn

The first planted corn is starting to tassel and move into reproduction stage. Now is the time to apply an additional 100 pounds of urea if you are adding a tassel application. If you are row watering corn, now is a good time to get your poly pipe run and be prepared to start irrigation. If you are running pivots, have them ready to go because you don't want to get behind on pivots if it does stop raining.

Heat units were up again this week as we accumulated 178 units which brings us up to 1172 total heat units since April 1. That would put corn around V13 to V14.
Corn Earworm Moth Traps

We had a big jump on corn earworm moths this week. The biggest jump was on the field in front of the sand plant. We went from 103 moths last week to 263 this week. The trap at the pumpkin patch was consistent with 71 moths. The trap on the Cadron went from 4 to 34.

We established a southwestern corn borer trap this week on a non Bt field so we will have numbers for it next week.
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
Thistle
Jaley Pearson - Faulkner County Extension Intern

Thistle is an aggressive weed that infests pasture and rangeland. It is something that most are familiar with, because of its prolific seed production and lack of natural enemies, it spread rapidly throughout much of North America. Most common to Arkansas is musk thistle, musk thistle plants grow from two to more than six feet in height, leaves, stems and branches of musk thistle plants are covered with sharp spines. There are many ways to help prevent or control the spread of thistle. Mowing can reduce the amount of seed produced. Digging and hand pulling are also very effective for controlling light or scattered infestations of thistles. Good forage management practices are important in preventing serious musk thistle infestations. Overgrazing and improper soil fertility management reduce the vigor and competitiveness of the forage, allowing musk thistle seedlings to become established. A pasture program that makes use of soil testing and improved grazing management can greatly reduce the potential for thistle to become established. Musk thistle plants reproduce only by seed. Mature plants die after seed is produced. Quick action is needed for a thistle problem, to identify and control thistle before it becomes an issue refer to the link provided for more information.
Clarification of USDA’s Electronic Identification Rule
Maggie Justice, PhD- University of Arkansas Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

There are still several questions regarding the USDA’s Electronic Identification Rule released last month. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is putting into place tools to better trace disease outbreaks. The final rule announced by APHIS on April 26, 2024 will amend the animal traceability rule enacted in 2013. That rule requires “official identification” on certain cattle and bison moved in interstate shipment for the purpose of animal disease traceability. Under the 2013 rule, “visual” ear tags are a form of official identification, in addition to certain pre-approved brands and tattoos and group lots.

The new final rule, originally proposed in 2022, will expand the requirements for ear tags used as official identification. For animals tagged after the rule’s effective date, the ear tags “must be readable both visually and electronically (EID).” The EID rule will continue to apply ONLY to these types of cattle and bison when shipped across state lines:
·       Sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older
·       Dairy cattle
·       Cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreation events, shows, or exhibitions.

What Types of ID are approved?
·       An official identification ear tag will be required to be both visually and electronically readable.
·       Brands, registered with a recognized brand authority and accompanied by an official brand inspection certificate, when agreed to by the shipping and receiving state/Tribal animal health authorities.
·       Tattoos and other identification methods acceptable to a breed association for registration purposes, accompanied by the breed registration certificate, when agreed upon by the shipping and receiving state/Tribal animal health authorities.
·       Group/lot identification when a group or unit of animals is managed together as one group throughout the pre-harvest production chain.

If your animal has been tagged with a visual only official identification tag prior to the rule’s effective date, you are not required to apply an electronically readable tag to the animal. All visual only official identification tags applied to cattle and bison prior to the date the rule is effective will be considered official identification for the lifetime of the animal.

Effective Date of the rule: The EID requirement is not yet effective. This final rule will take effect on November 5, 2024.

Funding for EID Tags: Before the rule was finalized, Congress approved funding to help producers voluntarily obtain EID tags. The Consolidated Appropriations Act passed in March of 2024 allocated $15 million for EID. Arkansas producers can contact our State Veterinarian’s Office for more information on obtaining tags. The big kicker here is that they will need to assign a premise ID in order to obtain the tags first. Please contact Cindy Taylor (501-823-1709) with the Department of Ag to begin that process. 
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.
Coccidiosis in Sheep and Goats

Coccidiosis is a common gastrointestinal disease among sheep and goats with young animals between 1-4 months of age being the most susceptible. The disease is caused by a tiny single-celled parasite that is not to be confused with intestinal worms. In small ruminants, coccidiosis is caused by organisms from the Eimeria genus. Coccidial organisms are host-specific, meaning they do not cross species, so Eimeria species that infect goats will not infect sheep and vice versa.

Coccidia oocysts (eggs) are passed through the feces. Once outside of the animal, they sporulate and become infective. Coccidia thrive in warm, moist environments making weaning an ideal season for lambs and kids to become infected. Sheep and goats ingest infective coccidia via udders and/or teats, feed, forages, hay, drinking water, bedding, and/or feeders that have been contaminated with infective feces.

For more information on coccidiosis click on the link below.
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