Faulkner County Agriculture Update

June 21, 2024

General Conditions

Weather


This week was more like a traditional Arkansas summer. Even though some of the high temperatures were only in the 80's it was very humid. We got a lot of field work done this week, but we have several of acres of fertilizer out there that now needs a rain. Summer is here!

Rain chances are back in the forecast for next Tuesday and Wednesday. I wouldn't mind an inch or less to keep things moving forward. Looks like highs all week will be in the mid to high 90's with nighttime temperatures in the 70's.

Arkansas River
Drought Monitor
US Drought Monitor
Row Crop

Rice


Several fields now have midseason fertilizer and are continuing to grow. I am seeing a few patches of grass here and there, but for the most part we have a really clean rice crop. It is time to start scouting for disease. Sheath blight and blast are the two main diseases I want to keep an eye on right now. I have inserted a picture of some blast from a field in Jefferson County. If you see any blast please get ahold of me so I can sample it and send it off to our Extension Plant Pathologist Dr. Camila Nicolli. She is asking for samples to research.


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

Arkansas Rice Update 6/14/2024
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.
UADA Pest Education and Training Page
NPSEC Paraquat Training

Soybeans


Soybean planting continues. I have talked to a few producers who are now completely planted, but I know there are several acres left to go. I have a group IV Enlist variety demonstration that should be planted next week. As soon as we get it planted I will list the varieties.


Insect pressure still remains low.

Corn


Corn irrigation should be started very soon if it hasn't already. Corn is using about 0.30 inches of water a day. That means close to an inch of water every 3 and 1/2 days. If you are wanting a deficit of 1.5 inches, that means every 5 days you need to be irrigating down the row. Sooner than that if using a pivot. Don't wait on a rain, even with a chance coming up on Tuesday, I would start the water.


This week we accumulated 194.5 heat units which brings us up to 1716 total heat units since April 1. That would put corn between R2 and R3.

Corn Earworm Moth Traps


Corn Earworm moth numbers continue to be low. I am anticipating a big flight anytime with the big worms in the corn ears moving on.

Beef, Small Ruminants, & Forages

Armyworms in Faulkner County


Doing sweeps this week we didn't find higher numbers of armyworms. We saw one or two, but no increase on the numbers.


The systems that came through the state last week came from the south, that usually pushes moths up our way. I know they have them down south and have been spraying. Continue to scout your fields and be on the lookout.


I know everyone wants to use Lambda Cy because it is cheap, but I would really want to think about adding Dimilin for some residual if it is not time to harvest hay and you have a mix of sizes. If you are close to harvesting the hay, you can get by with just a shot of Lambda Cy.


Please let me know if anyone is finding worms at treatment levels.

Fertility Demonstrations


We have several hay fertility research plots that we will be establishing this summer working with Dr. Bronc Finch our Extension Fertility Specialist. We got the first one put out today which is looking at different nitrogen stabilizers. These plots include:


  • Nitrogen Stabilizers
  • Sulfur Rates
  • High Nitrogen Rates
  • Nitrogen Rates


These results will be in our demonstration book at the end of the year.

Faulkner and Perry County Grazing Field Day


Save the date of Saturday July 13th for a joint grazing field day between Faulkner and Perry Counties. We have been working with the Natural Resource Conservation Services staff to come up with a field day to help producers needing an educational meeting for their EQIP contract. This field day will be open to anyone that wants to attend, it isn't just for EQIP producers. A formal agenda will be coming soon. The field day will be at the Jeff Owen Farm just north of Enola on Heffington Cemetery Road.

Horsenettle

Jaley Pearson - Faulkner County Extension Intern


Horsenettle, common in the state of Arkansas, is a weed most producers have seen or dealt with themselves. Horsenettle can be found in many places including gardens, pastures, cultivated fields, and along roadsides. Growing up to two feet tall, horsenettle is commonly and primarily spread by rhizomes. When it flowers the blooms can range in color from violet or white with yellow stamens protruding around the center. You’ll know its horsenettle by its distinctive prickly stem and alternate wavy-edged leaves. 



Recommended for control are Grazon P+D and Grazon Next HL. You want to time application to occur between bloom and fruit set. However, complete control will not be achieved with a single herbicide application. Spray for at least the two following consecutive years to reach the 90% to 100% control range.  

Sericea Lespedeza

Dr. Dan Quadros - Small Ruminant Specialist


Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a widely adapted, non-bloating, warm-season perennial legume that can be used for grazing, hay, or as a conservation plant. It is a deep-rooted plant that, although it does best on deep, well-drained upland soils, can be grown on a wide range of soil types and sites. It is particularly well adapted to acid, infertile soils commonly found in the Southern US. Sericea lespedeza is tolerant of aluminum-toxic conditions; therefore, it is especially valuable in soils with a pH below 5.0 where aluminum toxicity is problematic. Once known as "poor man's alfalfa" because of its ability to tolerate infertile, acidic soils and grow well on sloping land with minimal lime and fertilizer inputs, with recent research on the potential health and environmental benefits of including sericea lespedeza in the diet of small ruminants, it may be time to change the nickname to "wise man's alfalfa", according to Dr. Tom Terrill (www.wormx.info/wisemans).


There are different varieties of sericea lespedeza, with low, intermediate, and high condensed tannin contents. Learn more about varieties and establishment at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-3050.pdf


The AU Grazer is the most studied cultivar. It has intermediate condensed tannins content, thinner and pliable stems, and can tolerate grazing or more frequent clipping. The dry matter yield is 4 to 9 tons, depending on soil fertility.


Goats and sheep fed sericea lespedeza (grazing, hay, leaf meal, pellets, silage) decreased Fecal Egg Counts (FEC), larval development and worm burdens, showing potential to be used in an integrated parasite management program, particularly when dealing with barber pole worm. However, prolonged feeding (i.e., past six weeks) can lead to the binding of some trace minerals, reducing their availability to the animal. A recent paper written by Dr. Terrill described the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control investigations on the use of plant secondary compounds of sericea lespedeza for the control of sheep and goat parasites. This paper is available at: https://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/.../article/view/4542/2139


Besides the anthelmintic effects, condensed tannins in sericea lespedeza alter the fermentation products in the rumen, such as volatile fatty acids proportions and methane, which can increase feed efficiency. Methane, although necessary to remove the metabolic hydrogen in the rumen, represents energy loss in the digestion process and is an environmental concern as the most critical greenhouse gas related to ruminant production. A meta-analysis of the effects of dietary inclusion of sericea lespedeza on performance, digestibility, and rumen fermentation of small ruminants written by Andres Pech-Cervantes and others is available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../pii/S1871141321003152


According to these authors, dietary increase of sericea lespedeza linearly decreased total-tract digestibility and average daily gain, but also consistently decreased parasites in small ruminants, what means you need a balance to make the most of it. Based on that, the dose-response analysis revealed that lespedeza should not exceed 60% in the diet, which is a lot considering a regular diet. Not only sericea lespedeza has been proven to reduce barber pole worm but also coccidia (Eimeria spp.) in lambs and kids, according to Dr. Susan Schoenian (www.wormx.info/slcoccidia).



On the other hand, sericea lespedeza can be an unwanted species (classified as invasive) in some ecosystems. Unfortunately, this classification does not consider their economic value or usefulness in agricultural systems. Anyway, to get information on a commercial source of "AUGrazer" sericea lespedeza seeds and leaf meal pellets please visit: www.simsbrothers.com


Learn more about sericea lespedeza at: www.wormx.info/sl

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

Faulkner/Perry Grazing Field Day - July 13, 2024, 9:00 - 12:00 at Jeff Owen Farm in Enola.

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