Neighbors

Life in Southwest Missouri provides many opportunities to be part of the local agriculture.

Ken and Charla Myers live southeast of Siloam Springs, Ark., where Ken is a full-time farmer and Charla an elementary education and ESL teacher in Fayetteville, Ark., with 29 years of experience behind her. The couple lives on 120 acres and farms another 80 acres of Ken’s grandmother’s estate. They run two cattle herds, a commercial herd of 33 Black Baldie and Charolais/Angus mommas and a 50 plus registered momma Hereford herd.

The modern definition of homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency.

Winter forage quality can effect the health of a herd by limiting the source of feeding, especially if the mineral content of the forage is unknown. Supplementation is required when tested forage lack in essential macrominerals. Lacking in the required macrominerals can cause a metabolic disorder in cattle known as grass tetany or grass staggers. With the cold season already in full force, ranchers and farmers alike do not expect winter tetany, which can pose a problem for them if they are not aware. The low-yielding cows or negative energy cows that milk entirely off of grass are prone to tetany. The metabolic disorder also occurs from lush forages, alfalfa or annual cereal forages.

Seven years ago Rick Kelley, of Mansfield, Mo., stepped into a volunteer role that would have a huge impact on the production of his farm.