Farm Help

Jon Fitch says Arkansas' cattle herd went from being declared free of brucellosis in the 70's, to nearly being quarantined for the disease in 1985. And the director of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission doesn't want that to happen again.

Professor John Ikerd has traveled through 16 states and three provinces of Canada listening to both sides of an argument. Though the communities and companies involved vary, the promises and the results are the same.

You see them everywhere in the Ozarks:  little one-to-three-acre “ranchettes” with a couple of horses “grazing” on bare-dirt stubble. Chances are the folks who own those horses don’t realize how much acreage it takes to support a horse.

Much of the vitamin A cattle consume comes from lush, green forages such as alfalfa and clover, but with winter in full swing and less and less green grass available, it is appropriate for producers to consider their cattle’s vitamin A stores and decide whether or not to provide a supplement.

Today's Bermuda grass hay has nothing on the results grandpa produced. Talk from the coffee houses to the show rings further broadens our region's reputation as a source of quality Bermuda grass that makes nutritious hay for winter when livestock owners demand it most. That nutritional value is the main point sellers emphasize when producers market their product to hobby horse owners and where drought conditions boost demand. One hundred percent of Bermuda hay is edible and has a better balance of proteins and minerals than other varieties because it has more leaf than stem.

Multi-species grazing is a method of production that allows several different species of livestock to graze on the same pasture simultaneously. Jack Boles, the County Extension Agent for the Arkansas Newton County Extension office said, "Because they are browsers, goats work well with grazers such as horses or cows. But you need to be careful grazing goats with sheep, because they are affected by many of the same internal parasites."

Electric fencing is rapidly replacing barbed wire and other forms of traditional fences found in and around Ozarks farms. It has many benefits over the traditional fence such as it is more cost efficient and versatile. Typically, traditional fencing is still the best when it comes to the perimeter of the farm but for areas set aside for grazing purposes, electrical is the best option for area farmers.

Consulting the experts for tips on Living Safely in Cold Weather

Determining your cow's body condition score for optimum production and vigor

Utilizing fall soil tests to make appropriate phosphorus and potassium applications