Faulkner County Agriculture Update

August 9, 2024

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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.

Faulkner Livestock


Use either the QR Code or this link:

https://slktxt.io/10lLe

Faulkner Ag (Faulkner Row Crops)


Use either the QR Code or this link:

https://slktxt.io/10lLc

Online Pesticide Applicator Training


I have had several calls about Private Pesticide Applicator Training. In person classes will begin again in the fall, but if you need to get certified now and can't wait, you can do the class online. The link is listed below and this training costs $20 just like the in person class. As soon as I get classes lined up for the fall and winter I will get them out to everyone.

Online Private Pesticide Applicator Training
General Conditions

Weather


Tuesday was one of the hottest days of the summer and being out in it you could feel it. But after that day we had a little bit of a cool down and this morning felt incredible. We have now reached the point where we could use a rain. Pastures and hayfields are starting to show stress.

Temperatures stay very mild until Wednesday when we get back into the high 90's. This is the first week we have had a little bit chance of rain, so hopefully we can catch a few showers.

Arkansas River

Drought Monitor
US Drought Monitor
Row Crop

River Valley Row Crop Tour


The River Valley Row Crop Tour will be held on August 13, 2024 starting at the Schaefers Grain Bins on Taylor Circle. We will meet there around 1:30 and drive down to the rice plots before traveling back to Lollie. Make sure to bring your boots!


1:30 - 1:45 Meet at Schaefers Grain Bins (35.1380, -92.4704)

2:00 - 2:30 Rice ARPT Plot (35.1473, -92.5005)

2:30 - 3:00 Travel back to Lollie

3:00 - 3:30 Corn Hybrid Trial (34.9991, -92.5613)

3:30 - 4:00 Syngenta Soybean Plots (34.9970, -92.5765)

4:00 - 4:30 Soybean Variety Trial (34.9883, -92.5838)

4:30 - 5:00 Spray Drones

5:00 - Sponsor Introductions and Dinner at Schaefers Barn at Lollie

Rice


Rice stink bug counts took a turn for the worse this week. We had a hatch of nymphs on some of the younger rice and with the other fields starting to turn, the stink bugs aren't leaving the field. We have no choice but to spray Tenchu on those fields since we have a few weeks to go before they are mature enough not to worry about. If you are close to being done and the numbers are close to the threshold of 10 stink bugs per 10 sweeps then I can see the case for using lambda cy to just get that number down enough to finish. You won't get a complete kill or any residual but it should finish you out and minimize stink bug damage.


Drain rice based on two conditions, time AND maturity:

• Rice crop should be 25-30 days past 50% heading (25 days for long-grain, 30 days for medium grain).

• AND on silt loam soils panicles should have 2/3 straw-colored kernels; or on clay soils panicles should have 1/3 straw-colored kernels prior to draining.

• For furrow-irrigated rice, irrigate at or slightly past typical drain timing for flooded rice to ensure adequate soil moisture to full maturity. Under dry environmental conditions, irrigate at least one additional time past typical drain timing.


Below is the link for last Friday's Rice Update from Dr. Jarrod Hardke.

Arkansas Rice Update 8/2/24

Soybeans


I didn't catch a lot of insects this week in sweeps. The corn earworm numbers seemed to be down. I have gotten some reports that west of us are spraying quite a bit, so keep on the look out. Our trap numbers in the Cadron trap are still high, while the two traps down in Lollie are still low. So anything around the Cadron and west need to scout close.


Remember to keep those pivots going as a lot of our soybeans are filling pods. Now is not the time to get behind with pivots. The weather is giving us a break with the high temperatures so take this opportunity to stay caught up with water.

Protecting Stored Grain From Insect Infestations

by Glenn Studebaker - IPM Coordinator, Row Crops


Corn harvest is around the corner and some growers plan on storing their grain on farm in bins. Stored grain pests can cause significant losses if left unchecked. There is a complex of insects that can infest grain stored in bins. There are several beetles as well as some caterpillars that will feed on grain during storage. Many of these species live for several months and some may live for up to 2 years. The maize weevil and rice weevil are considered to be the most destructive to stored grain. These species will attack and feed on unbroken kernels and can cause significant losses. Other beetle species such as the red flour beetle, confused flour beetle and sawtoothed grain beetle, prefer to feed on broken kernels and grain dust. All of these species have been detected in surveys of grain bins in Arkansas. The first line of defense against these pests is placing grain into a clean bin. 


For more information clink on the link below.

Grain Bin Insect Control

Corn Earworm Moth Traps


Trap was full again this week at Cadron while the two Lollie traps still haven't had many moths. Any soybeans located around the south Cadron probably needs to be scouted closely for corn earworms.

2024 County Trap Catches
Arkansas Crop Progress and Condition
Beef, Small Ruminants, & Forages

Armyworms, Stem Maggots and Sugarcane Aphids


Armyworm calls were down this week. As the hot dry weather hits and grass starts to dry up we will see less and less of them. If we do get a rain and another flush of tender grass comes up, we could see them back so keep watching.


Be on the lookout for bermudagrass stem maggots if you just harvested hay recently. Stem maggot numbers have built up over the year in bermudagrass stands and we saw some damage on a few fields this last harvest. Once you harvest a field, spray lambda cy within 7 to 10 days to get rid of the adult flies. They can do as much damage as armyworms so be vigilant.


There have been some issues with sugarcane aphids in sorghum sudan grass down south. I have seen some aphids in johnsongrass around here but I haven't noticed them in sorghum sudan yet. If you have some sorghum sudan, be on the lookout for a sticky substance on the leaves. If you see that, look on the leaf above and the aphids should be there. Let me know if you find them and we can discuss control options.

Sugarcane aphids on johnsongrass

Adult bermudagrass stem maggot flies

Is It Time To Wean?

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


As of August 1, 2024 the Mesonet Oklahoma Drought indicates over 69% of Oklahoma is abnormally dry. Of that percentage over 25% of our state is rated in moderate to severe drought. One potential management solution to dwindling forage resources in cow-calf operations is weaning calves. 


The average age of beef calves weaned in the United States is a little over 7 months of age. While calves can be weaned as early as 60 days of age, this comes with quite a bit of added management. Simply weaning calves one to two months early is a cost effective management strategy that saves body condition score (BCS) and allows thinners cows (falling below BCS of 4) to more easily recapture flesh before having their next calf. When the nutritional demands of lactation are removed by weaning there is significant reduction (15 – 20%) in the dietary energy needed by cows. Saving BCS on cows now comes with the potential benefit of improved cow productivity in the years that follow. Weaning earlier than normal is most beneficial in years when pasture forage is inadequate to support herd nutritional requirements. From the standpoint of range management, it reduces the risk of overgrazing and accordingly adds to the long-term health of the grazing system.


If you plan to wean earlier than normal to alleviate stress on cows and pastures, keep the following management practices in mind:


  • The first two weeks post weaning are a critical time for calves to overcome weaning stress, maintain health and become nutritionally independent by learning to consume feed.
  • Lower the risk of health problems and promote calf growth by giving proper vaccinations prior to weaning. Castrate and dehorn calves when giving pre-weaning vaccinations. This permits calves to deal with the stress of these management practices while still nursing.
  • Get calves accustomed to a feed bunk and water trough as quickly as possible (if not prior to weaning). Creep feeding calves for a few weeks prior to weaning will ease the transition and get calves accustomed to concentrate feed. Maintain access to good quality, clean water at all times.
  • Fence line wean if possible. This eliminates stress by permitting calves to remain in the same pasture where they are familiar with feed, water, shade, etc.
  • The feed ration is critical because feed intake is initially low after weaning. It needs to be highly palatable, nutrient dense, dust free and include a complete vitamin and mineral supplement.
  • After calves are over the stress of weaning they should begin to consume approximately 3% of their body weight in high quality feed each day. Feed intake variation or depressed appetite can indicate health problems.
  • Shade is important if weaning during summer heat.

Parasite Management Webinar


Join us for the Parasite management webinar on August 12th, 12pm. No registration is required. Watch live on our Facebook page Arkansas Extension Small Ruminants. We are promoting this webinar to address the severe coccidia outbreaks and barber pole worm infections we have experienced in Arkansas. After a presentation about prevention and treatment options, there will be an open Q&A session.

Webinar “Abortion and Respiratory Diseases in Sheep and Goats”


This webinar will be on August 27 (Tuesday) from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m (CT) promoted by the University of Missouri .


The guest speaker is Dr. Maggie Highland, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP.


The loss of lambs and kids due to abortion directly reduces the number of offspring, impacting the overall productivity and profitability of the flock. Respiratory diseases can impair productivity which translate into financial loss for the producer. Managing outbreaks of abortion and respiratory diseases often requires significant intervention, including diagnostics, treatments, and preventative measures.


Dr. Highland is the section head of pathology sciences, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison. She maintains a strong interest in small ruminant health and disease, particularly infectious disease processes and immunology.

This webinar is hosted/facilitated by Dr. David Brown (University of Missouri Sheep & Goats Specialist). 

Register for Webinar
Cattle Market Notes Weekly
Livestock Market Report

The weekly livestock market report is available on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture website.
ADA Livestock Market Report
Upcoming Events

Row Crop Field Day - August 13, 2024

Contact Kevin Lawson, County Extension Agent–Agriculture, Faulkner County | Kevin Lawson
uaex.uada.edu/faulkner