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4th Quarter 2018

County Agent Comment

“THE RIGHT TO VOTE”-SECURES ALL RIGHTS” American citizens “Farm or Non-Farm” have been vested by the constitution with certain inalienable rights. In recent history, many of those rights or freedoms have been sacrificed in the name of personal safety and the security of the nation. We all wish to be safe, and our families secure, but in these times it seems that these changes have occurred because a very loud, politically active, minority of citizens control the leaders we have elected to serve our needs. If this trend continues, we will soon find that we no longer control the way we choose to farm in America. People with little or no understanding of the production of food and fiber, but a strong “Social Conscience” will determine how we farm. The only civil response to this future, is for those with knowledge and farm experience to go to the polls and “Vote” for laws and leaders that will strongly defend America’s “Right to Farm” and live free to choose the farming life. Many of the problems we see in America today are created by the ignorance of people who simply never worked on a farm, or learned the responsibility that comes from caring for something besides yourself. At the County Fair each year we witness the quality of young people who have learned how to care for an animal or a garden, or created a craft by their own hands. The visitors to the barn are amazed by these young people and their knowledge and skill. It is the farm or farm values that create this effect. Preserve this wonderful effect by the one certain way that is guaranteed to us as Americans. “VOTE” Early voting begins on October 22nd. Protect your rights, and keep farming. Robin D. Bridges County Agent

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USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Accepting 2019 EQIP Applications

LITTLE ROCK, Sept. 27, 2018 – Farmers and landowners in Arkansas have until Nov. 2, 2018, to submit applications to receive financial assistance to implement conservation activities through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2018 program year. Applicants can sign up at their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service field service center. A Nov. 2, 2018, deadline is set for:

Conservation Activity Plans High Tunnel Systems National Organic Initiative National On-Farm Energy Initiative Working Lands for Wildlife (available in Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Carroll, Drew, Faulkner,

Fulton, Hempstead, Logan, Marion, Nevada, Newton, Pulaski, Randolph, Searcy, Sebas-tian, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone and Yell counties)

Buffalo Slough-Cache River National Water Quality Initiative (portions of Greene and Lawrence counties)

StrikeForce (Arkansas, Bradley, Chicot, Clark, Colombia, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Hempstead,

Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Phillips, Randolph, Searcy, Sevier, St. Francis, Woodruff, Ashley, Clay, Con-way, Craighead, Crittenden, Franklin, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Madison, Miller, Montgomery, Poinsett, Polk, Scott, Sebastian, Sharp, Stone, Union, and Van Buren counties)

StrikeForce Keeping it in the Family (Columbia, Hempstead, Howard, Little River, Nevada,

Ouachita and Union counties) Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative

Caney Creek (portion of Cross County) Middle Strawberry (portion of Sharp County) Upper Bay Macon (portions of Desha and Lincoln counties) Cache Willow/Podo (portions of Craighead, Jackson and Lawrence counties)

Individuals and other entities actively engaged in agricultural production are eligible to partici-pate in EQIP. EQIP offers a continuous application sign-up. However, to be considered for funding under the 1st batch period, sign-up applications must be received by Nov. 2. An applica-tion deadline for other EQIP inititiaves, will be announced soon. All applications will be evaluated for funding based on a state and nationally developed proce-dure to optimize environmental benefits. Applications ranking highest in a funding category will be funded according to priority and is subject to availability of program funds. For more information, visit http://www.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/ or contact the local USDA/NRCS field service center.

For more information contact: The Ouachita Union NRCS Representative—Pam Billingsly at 870-836-2089

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General Cattle Tips:

Observe cattle closely for signs of Anaplasmosis. Extreme caution should be taken when approaching these cattle due to their tendency for aggression. Also, stress must be kept to a minimum when trying to administer treatment to prevent collapse and sudden death. Early detection is essential. Monitor cattle closely for any signs of lameness. Fall is a very common time for foot rot and interdigital dermatitis. Foot rot can extend deep into the tissues and, therefore, early treatment is critical for recovery.

Tips for Spring Calving Herds:

Weaned feeder calves can be implanted and all retained calves given access

to supplements fortified with Bovatec, Gainpro or Rumesin to improve weight gain. These products work independently from the implants and each result in a 10% or more increase in growth performance.

Now is a good time to sort cows into winter feeding groups. Cows should be grouped according to stage of production and/or body condition score (BCS). Cows in thin body condition will require additional supplementation to make sure they are in a BCS 5 to 6 by calving. Average quality hay in Arkansas (12% protein and 54% TDN) is adequate in nutrient composition for non-lactating cows that are in moderate to good body condition. Plan replacement heifer development program. Heifer should be fed to achieve 55 to 65% of mature weight by breeding. Estimate mature weight can be from cow size records or heifer frame size (frame size x 75 + 800 = estimat-ed mature weight).

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Purebred breeders should consider bull development programs to aid in year-ling performance evaluation. On-farm bull test or bull station performance test can provide growth data and possibly feed efficiency data for a contemporary group of bulls that will aid in genetic selection. Pregnancy test cows. It is very expensive to feed an open cow. Vaccinate heifers for Brucellosis. Forage test hay to determine nutrient value. This will provided much needed information when determining the proper supplementation program. Provide free choice mineral and fresh water. Cull open, old and non-performance cows and heifers.

Musk and Bull Thistle Control – Fall Treatments Treatment Date: Marion County December 4, 2017 White County December 18, 2017

Treatment Rate/ac Marion White Avg% Musk and Bull Thistle Ratings (May)

2,4-D 1 qt 100 100 Metsulfuron 0.3 oz 80 100 90 Weedmaster 1 qt 100 100 100 Grazon P+D 1 qt 100 100 100 GrazonNext 1 qt 100 100 100 GrazonNext Impregnated Fert 1 qt 70 50 60 (200 lbs/ac) Application 15 gpa 0.25% Non-ionic surfactant all treatments Musk and bull thistles are perennial forage weeds that emerge in the fall as a rosette and form a seed head in late spring. Thistle is considered by many producers to be very difficult to con-trol. Two late fall treatment demonstrations were conducted on thistles. Visual evaluation ratings were conducted on a scale of 0-100% control. The ratings were observed 5 ½ months after treatment. Conclusion: Due to the dry fall the thistle was slow to emerge. Both fields had a heavy infes-tation of a mix of musk and bull thistles. Thistles can be effectively controlled with a fall foli-ar application of any of the common forage herbicides marketed in Arkansas. GrazonNext impregnated fertilizer applied in the fall gave poor control of thistle.

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PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TRAINING

WHERE: Union County Extension Office—307 American Road, El Dorado DATES: December 11, January 8, February 12, March 12, and April 9 if necessary TIME: All classes begin at 5:30 p.m.

COST: Cost for the class is $20.00 per person Please call 870-864-1916 to register. Anyone needing to apply restricted use chemicals in the production of an Agriculture commodity.

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NEW NON CHEMICAL METHOD FOR MANAGING ARMY WORMS IN FORAGE CROPS TO BE TESTED IN 2019!!!

SAFER FOR THE PRODUCER SAFER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND LESS EXPENSIVE!!!

CATTLEMEN’S MEETING

Union County Cattle Producers Association will hold their 4th quarter members meeting Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Activity Building at the Union County Fairgrounds. County Agent Robin Bridges will present the latest information on Army Worm Management. Youth who exhibited beef at the Union County Fair will be celebrated and a good meal will be had by all. If you plan to attend, please contact the Union County Extension Office at 870-864-1916 to make your reservations.

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Robin D. Bridges County Extension Agent Staff Chair Union County UofA Cooperative Extension Service 307 American Road Suite 101 El Dorado, AR 71730 Ph: 870-864-1916 Fax: 870-864-1919

All meetings and activi-ties announced in this newsletter are open to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, na-tional origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally pro-tected status. Persons with disabilities who re-quire alternative means for communication of program information (large print, audiotapes, etc.) should notify the county Extension Office as soon as possible prior to the activity.

NON-PROFIT ORG. PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE PAID El Dorado, AR 71730

PERMIT NO. 8