Faulkner County Agriculture Update
April 26, 2024
Vacation

Just a reminder, I will be on vacation next week from April 29 through May 3. If you need something that can't wait until I get back, please call the office and leave a message and we will get another agent to give you a call. Also there will not be an update on May 3.

Thank you!
General Conditions
Weather

The rain finally came in this week. It looks like we got about 1.5 inches yesterday from the downpours and storms. Once the storms went through, we instantly cooled off. Earlier in the week we got down to 37, so a little cooler than weeks past.
Rain chances and chances for storms continue the next few days. It looks like we could have a wet one all week. Temperatures are back up though with 60's back in the forecast for nighttime lows.
Arkansas River
Drought Monitor
Row Crop
Rice

Rice is coming up fast and furious around the county. We finally received the rain that we needed to keep our residuals activated and to help with emergence. We need to keep an eye out for grass breaking through our command now.

I have heard about some true armyworms being found across the river. Usually they don't do much harm to wheat, but if they are in wheat or grass in pastures or ditches they have been known to make their way into rice fields and eat small rice. Be on the lookout for these armyworms because they can eat a lot really quickly.
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.
Faulkner County Farm Roundup

We held our annual Farm Roundup on April 23 and 24 at the Expo Center in Conway. 700 second graders from all over the county went through several stations to learn about agriculture in Faulkner County. I got to man the commodities station, so I talked to them about Faulkner County rice, corn and soybeans. The youth really loved it and it is important that we continue to educate our kids on agriculture and where their food comes from. Thanks to all the volunteers that helped. It is a huge event and we couldn't do it without you!
Corn

Corn is looking good across the county. The first planted corn is around V4 and we should be looking at applying herbicide and fertilizer. I found these pigweeds in a field earlier this week and was floored at how big they were. So get ready to apply Halex GT and add 1.5 quarts of Atrazine for enhanced control. If you have nutgrass make sure to add Permit Plus.

I have added a heat unit chart this week. I went with an average planting date of April 1. This weeks cooler weather slowed down the heat units. We only accumulated 78 this week but are up to 368 total since April 1. This puts corn planted then around V3.
Wheat

Wheat is moving along as most of it has flowered and is now filling the seedhead. Hopefully we don't see any cold weather for the next few weeks. Like I said earlier, I have checked fields for true armyworms and I can't find any on this side of the river. Unless they are clipping heads, they usually aren't a problem in wheat, but I do get concerned about them moving into rice.
Arkansas Soybean and Corn Cash and Booking Market Reports

The two links below take you to reports by Brian Deaton, Extension Economist with contributions by Jeremy Ross - Soybean Specialist and Jason Kelley - Corn Specialist.
Beef, Small Ruminants, & Forages
Hay Verification Field

The bermudagrass in our hay verification field is really moving along. I stopped and looked at it today and we are looking good. I wish we had gotten better control on the ryegrass, but we did stunt it pretty good with our glyphosate, metsulfuron, 2,4-D mixture. We may look at some Rezilon this fall to control it. The field is ready to fertilize and we are on the list when it dries up. I am hoping we can get it out between the rains this week. Remember to try and keep fertilizer out of standing water. It is okay if it is a little wet and a rain is coming, but standing water is not good.
Quantifying the Value of Good Management
Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist

In comparison to the Purebred Seedstock, Stocker or Finishing segments of beef production, the Commercial Cow-calf sector shouldn’t require as much day-to-day management and labor input. Well managed cow-calf operations can concentrate these inputs into short time frames focused on critical control points of production. The critical control points focus on improving herd health, reducing parasites, pregnancy checks to make sure the cost of cow maintenance is rewarded in the form of a weaned calf, and management to improve the value of calves produced. 

The April 16, 2024 Oklahoma Market Report shows that 520 pound steers sold at an average value of $315/cwt, translating to a per head value of $1,638. A price which should result in a good profit margin beyond the annual maintenance cost of the cow that produced the calf. Historically low current US cowherd inventories and limited evidence of heifer retention indicates the robust markets we currently enjoy should be sustained for at least the next couple of years. In such times, it can be easy to overlook the critical control points which result in improving the value of calves. 

Control What You Can/Manage the Manageable
The value of good management has never been higher. Consider the following:

  • The cow that breeds one heat cycle earlier and calves 21 days earlier will yield a calf approximately 40 pounds heavier the day you wean. At current prices, that is an extra $125 per cow.
  • Castrated steers bring $5 – 10/cwt more than bulls. The bigger the bull calves get, the larger the discount. The earlier in life bull calves can be castrated, the less stressful it is to the calf. Testosterone production in intact bulls is very low until puberty. Weaning weights of intact bulls are not heavier compared to steers.
  • Dehorned or naturally polled calves sell at a $5 – 10/cwt premium over calves with horns.
  • Growth implants can increase gains by 10 – 20%. For the expense of approximately $2 per implant resulting in an extra 18 pounds of added pay weight, this equates to over $55 of additional value per head. Weaning weights of growth implanted steers are often heavier than intact bull calves.
  • Preconditioning typically bundles the best management practices of castration, dehorning, deworming and bunk training with a nutritional program to accommodate a 45-day on ranch weaning period. Two rounds of vaccinations (respiratory and blackleg) which can be documented as a marketing tool. The most optimum time for castration, dehorning and the first round of vaccinations in order to meet the specifications for preconditioned calves is two to four months of age. 
Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Spring Conference

The Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Spring Conference will be held Friday May 17 in Jonesboro. Registration information is listed in the flyer.
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.
Pesticide Applicator Training
There are two PAT trainings scheduled for Faulkner County. All trainings will be held at the Extension Office located at 844 Faulkner Street in Conway.

The dates are:
May 14, 2024 - 2:00 pm

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

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.

If you happen to miss ours, I have a flyer below with the dates and places of the ones in Conway and Perry County also.
Upcoming Events
Pesticide Applicator Training - May 14, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Faulkner County Extension Office, 844 Faulkner Street Conway. To register call 501-329-8344 or email Mindy Beard at rbeard@uada.edu.
Contact Kevin Lawson, County Extension Agent–Agriculture, Faulkner County | Kevin Lawson