Ozarks Farm & Neighbor Newspaper – written for, by & about farmers

Hay harvest has been challenging for hay producers this year due to the abundance of sporadic rain events and cloudy weather.

With the arrival of the summer months the idea of maximizing forage potential is on the minds of livestock producers. Utilizing a Management Intensive Grazing system (or MIG) is the most effective way to use pasture. Often called “rotational grazing” the system is designed to divide existing pastures into smaller paddocks and frequently rotate the animals between them. This method allows forage in each paddock enough time to re-grow before it’s grazed again.

Fair season is right around the corner, and now is the ideal time when exhibitors need to be aware of biosecurity precautions for their animals. According to Amanda Marney, agriculture preparedness specialist, University of Missouri Extension, FFA and 4-H members understand the preparation and hard work it takes to bring home Grand Champion honors. However, they may not be aware that they need to be observing some basic biosecurity measures.

When Jerry Hunton was nine years old his family got their first chicken barns. His mom, Jessie, and dad, Floyd, met during  World War II, and then married and  moved back to Arkansas to make a life farming in the Arkansas Ozarks. Jessie, who was an integral part of the farm up until the past few years, was simply grateful to not be in the cotton fields of her native Oklahoma anymore. A life tending chickens and cows seemed to suit her better. What started for the Huntons on 220 acres grew as the family was able to purchase neighboring land. With the addition of Jerry and his wife Karen’s six children, (“five of the six still in arms reach,” Jerry smiled,) and 12 grandchildren, the family has kept the 600-acre farm up and running over the years.

Stevie Haller is passionate and knowledgeable about livestock farming. The owner of 350 head of purebred Gelbvieh and another 100 crosses, 48 of them the promising Gelbvieh/Angus Balancer cross, Stevie, his wife Brenda, a registered nurse, and their two sons’ families operate Haller Farms. They also recently opened Haller Motorworx, a Branson Tractor farm equipment business.  Stevie modestly claims that the secret to his many successes is “to always try to listen to people who know more than I do.” At this point in his career, though, most people are keen on listening to what Stevie has to say.