Farm Help

The grass is always greener on the other side. It is too dry. It’s flooding. We had too many hard freezes. If it’s not one thing it’s the other.

Intensive grazing paddock systems have rapidly grown in popularity over the last 15 years. That’s when University of Missouri research professor emeritus Dr. Fred Martz starting doing research on them. “I see, hear and read about various producers using that,” Martz told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “We can increase our carrying capacity, our stocking rate, by 30-50 percent, and the cost of doing that isn’t really great because modern fencing and water systems don’t cost that much to put in.” Most producers who try it, he added, don’t go back to conventional grazing.

Buying pipe fencing isn’t easy these days. Any Internet search for fencing returns tens of thousands of hits – most of them claim they have the strongest, longest-lasting and cheapest pipe in the nation. The big question, though, is which kind of fence will get the job done?

Cattlemen may hear about the shrinking beef industry and wonder about their role in the future. They can take heart in the expanding high-quality end of the business, however.

Intensive grazing paddock systems have rapidly grown in popularity over the last 15 years. That’s when University of Missouri research professor emeritus Dr. Fred Martz starting doing research on them. “I see, hear and read about various producers using that,” Martz told Ozarks Farm & Neighbor. “We can increase our carrying capacity, our stocking rate, by 30-50 percent, and the cost of doing that isn’t really great because modern fencing and water systems don’t cost that much to put in.” Most producers who try it, he added, don’t go back to conventional grazing.

Buying pipe fencing isn’t easy these days. Any Internet search for fencing returns tens of thousands of hits – most of them claim they have the strongest, longest-lasting and cheapest pipe in the nation. The big question, though, is which kind of fence will get the job done?

In recent years, a crop that has gained interest among producers is grapes – grown for food, juice, and wine. Patrick Byers is the regional horticulture specialist for the University of Missouri Extension in Greene County. He’s been working in fruit horticulture for 22 years. According to Patrick, “If you want to start growing grapes on your farm, the first thing to do is carefully decide where to grow the grapes.” Patrick suggested growing grapes closer to the house and not in a low lying area because the soil needs to be well drained.

How much insurance is enough? The answer depends on what you value and what the prospects are of losing it. When you buy insurance, you’re betting on a future incident – while your insurer is betting that incident doesn’t happen. Maybe you value your blue tick hound or a favorite trail horse. Could be a hay barn and your tractor.

Cattlemen may hear about the shrinking beef industry and wonder about their role in the future. They can take heart in the expanding high-quality end of the business, however.

Recently while most kids were sleeping in and just enjoying being out of school for spring break, a few western Arkansas 4-Hers comprised of youth from Sebastian, Crawford, Washington and Benton Counties had the opportunity to participate in the Beef Educational Experiences Forum (B.E.E.F) which took place at Lake Fort Smith State Park Lodge.