Bird flu detected in cattle in eight states; Arkansas Ag Department restricts transport into state

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — As highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is detected in cattle in a growing number of states, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture has issued an order restricting livestock exhibiting symptoms or testing positive for the virus from entering the state.

CURRENT SITUATION — As of April 15, USDA’s Animal and Plant Inspection Service reported confirmed cases of HPAI in cattle in eight states, including Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina. All of the reported cases have been in dairy milking cattle. (Image courtesy USDA.)

Dustan Clark, extension poultry health veterinarian for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said Arkansas has seen no reports of cattle infected with the virus within its borders. Additionally, there have been no reports of bird flu in Arkansas commercial poultry production facilities or backyard “hobby flocks” since December 2023.

“So far, we’re doing quite well,” Clark said. “I won’t say we’re safe. We need everyone to maintain good biosecurity practices.”

Clark is also the associate director of the Division of Agriculture’s Poultry Center.

Per an April 5 letter from Arkansas State Veterinarian John Nilz:

• No dairy cattle exhibiting symptoms of or testing positive for HPAI shall be allowed to move into Arkansas.

• No dairy cattle from states with impacted herds shall be allowed to move into Arkansas.

• Livestock moving into Arkansas found to be in non-compliance with this order shall be quarantined to the nearest facility until all requirements are met on said animals to meet specifications.

“This is still an unfolding issue,” Clark said. As of April 15, USDA’s Animal and Plant Inspection Service reported confirmed cases of HPAI in cattle in eight states, including Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina. All of the reported cases have been in dairy milking cattle.

Clark said that since February 2022, more than 90 million birds in the United States have been affected by the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

“It’s been detected in about 480 commercial flocks and 645 hobby flocks,” Clark said.

According to an April 16 U.S. Department of Agriculture report, more than 8.5 million birds had been affected within the previous 30 days. While HPAI has been detected in 48 states over the last two years, it has only been reported in eight states — Michigan, Florida, New Mexico, Minnesota, Kansas, Texas, North Carolina and Maine — during that 30-day period.

“Two of the largest of those were table egg flocks in Michigan,” Clark said. “One with more than 2 million birds, the other slightly less than 2 million birds. Then there was a commercial table egg flock in Texas that was more than 1.8 million birds. Those were the biggest in the last 30 days.”

Clark said that while USDA and the state veterinarian outlined clear biosecurity guidelines for the transportation of poultry for both commercial producers and backyard hobbyists, one factor that can’t be controlled is the presence of wild birds.

“Don’t expose your hobby flock birds to wild waterfowl,” Clark said. “Keep them penned up at this point in time, while the migration is still going on. Don’t let them range and keep them away from water sources that may have had wild waterfowl on them, such as a pond.

“If you go somewhere such as a park and there’s a pond there, stay away from it,” he said. “When you go home, clean and disinfect your shoes and change clothes before you visit your own poultry.”

Many public resources are available to help individuals establish good biosecurity measures and assess the possibility of an infected herd or flock, including the USDA’s HPAI biosecurity factsheet, the Division of Agriculture’s biosecurity resources page and the Arkansas Department of Health’s HPAI page. Individuals who think they may have an infected bird should consult their veterinarian or call the Arkansas Department of Agriculture at  501-823-1746.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

A long-term strategy for avoiding muddy pastures

By the U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The past winter in Arkansas has been cold and wet, with cycles of freezing and thawing that have often resulted in muddy pastures and access roads for many producers. This can put a strain on both livestock and equipment.

MUDDY DAYS AHEAD — Proper pasture management can help reduce the worst of muddy days in Arkansas. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Despite the near-perennial nature of this recurring situation, once spring has sprung, it’s often all but forgotten until the next hard winter comes around.

Dirk Philipp, associate professor of forage agronomy for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said there are several things, however, that livestock producers can do to alleviate this situation over the long term.

“Soil types and textures are diverse, and many farms feature multiple soil series, each with its own hydrology,” Philipp said. “Learning about these features and finding information is important to water resource management.”

A good start, Philipp said, is the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Web Soil Survey, which provides information on soil hydrology and the original native vegetation that covered the area. The NRCS data can be used to establish forages in the long-term that can cope with various conditions, be they wetter or drier.

“Eastern gamagrass and switchgrass work well for wetter areas and along creek beds,” Philipp said. “These can be extended at the desired widths and grazed, hayed, or both. Tall fescue can be used in somewhat wetter conditions as well, and orchardgrass in shaded environments.”

Philipp said that along former and existing creek beds, trees can be reestablished, but should be spaced to allow enough light for forages to grow underneath.

The other obvious key to taming a muddy pasture is good grazing management. Given the high rain intensity frequently seen in Arkansas, as well as the prevailing soil types in the region, mud cannot entirely be avoided.

“But there are a few management principles that help keep pastures healthy,” Philipp said.

If needed, assign a pasture for hay feeding during winter. The area should be large enough to move feeders around and place bales strategically to avoid excessive trampling.

“The sacrifice pasture should have good drainage, be on higher ground and placed strategically so that if runoff occurs, you can capture the nutrients in another pasture,” Phillipp said. “Your prime perennial cool season and warm season forages should not be stocked for long periods during winter, unless you plan to graze off senesced material.”

Moist soil compacts rapidly, Philipp said, with long-term implications for weed control as many undesired species are able to out-compete forages on disturbed ground. Incorporating good grazing management with the appropriate grazing methods, such as rotational stocking, creep grazing and strip grazing, will help producers avoid the downsides of overstocking.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

Four States Ag Expo set for Feb. 8

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

TEXARKANA, Ark. – Growers and producers from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma will find the latest research-based information on row crops, livestock and forages, forestry, horticulture, integrated pest management, pollinators, mushrooms and more at the Four States Ag Expo on Feb. 8.

EXPO TIME — The Four States Ag Expo in Texarkana brings together ag industry professionals from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. (UADA graphic)

The expo is scheduled from 8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m. at the Four States Fairgrounds, 3700 E. 50th St. in Texarkana. The event is a joint project of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Experts from both agencies will host workshops throughout the day.

 “We’ll be offering a variety of educational sessions to help our growers and producers learn best practices for their operations,” said Jennifer Caraway, Miller County extension staff chair and one of the organizers. “It’s also a great time to network with others in the agriculture industry.”

Organizers are expecting 350 attendees, Caraway said. She and Arkansas extension agents in Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Sevier, Polk, Howard and Hempstead counties served on the expo planning committee along with agents from Bowie, Morris, Cass and Red River counties in northeastern Texas.

“We’re proud to partner with Texas A& M AgriLife Extension on this event that has been growing in scope for the past several years,” said John Anderson, director of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. “Our collaboration helps us both of our agencies get research and resources for best practices into the hands of those who make their living in the agriculture industry.”

The expo is free, open to the public and includes a hamburger lunch. Texas Restricted Use Applicators can obtain up to five continuing education units (CEUs) at the expo.

Concurrent sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. and include the following topics and speakers:

8:30 a.m.

• Controlling Biting Flies through Cattle Minerals containing IGRs — Dr. Shane Gadberry, Livestock and Forestry Station director, UADA

• Managing Common Household Pests around the Farmstead — Dr. Jon Zawislak, entomology and plant pathology instructor, UADA

• Native Plants for Pollinators — Phyllis Ballard, Texas Master Gardener

9:45 a.m.

• Growing Cucurbit Crops — Dr. Joe Masabni, assistant professor and extension horticulturist (vegetables), Texas A&M

• Easy Cattle Forage Calculator, Dr. Shane Gadberry, Livestock and Forestry Station  director, UADA

• Corn and Wheat Insect, Disease and Weed Updates — Dr. Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist, UADA

11 a.m.

• Oak and Loblolly Pine Tree Decline, Dr. Vic Ford, associate vice president of agriculture and natural resources, UADA

• Controlling External Parasites of Livestock — Sonja Swiger, professor and extension Entomologist, Texas A&M Greenhouse Management

• Joe Masabni, assistant professor and extension horticulturist, Texas A&M

1 p.m.

• Mushrooms in the Wild — Dr. Vic Ford, associate vice president of agriculture and natural resources, UADA

• Reversing Declining Forage Stands — Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, professor and extension forage specialist, Texas A&M

• Controlling House Flies around Livestock Barns — Sonja Swiger, professor and extension Entomologist, Texas A&M

2:15 p.m.

• Following the Pesticide Label to Ensure Applicator Safety — Ples Spradley, pesticide assessment specialist, UADA

• Arkansas Restricted Use Pesticide Applicator Training — Jennifer Caraway, Miller County extension agent, UADA

• Texas Auxin Training — Dr. Brian Triplett, Red River County agent, Texas A&M

For more information, visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/4-states-ag-expo.aspx.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

2023 Arkansas net farm income down nearly $1B, but still higher than 2021

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Declines in crop and overall livestock receipts and direct government payments add up to a nearly $1 billion decline in Arkansas net farm income for 2023 from the previous year, the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center said.

LOW MISSISSIPPI — The shrinking Mississippi River has broader "beaches" as drought continues to plague its basin. taken near the Bridgeport exit of I-55 in West Memphis, Arkansas.  (Division of Agriculture photo.)

The center, working with agricultural economists from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said in its “Fall 2023 Arkansas Farm Income Outlook” that Arkansas’ farm income totaled $3.3 billion.

“Arkansas 2023 net farm income is projected to decrease from the record set in 2022,” said Hunter Biram, extension economist with the Division of Agriculture.

The report said that total farm receipts declined $1.4 billion — with farm-related receipts offsetting a $1.5 billion decline in crop and livestock receipts — while production expenses decreased by $3 million and direct government payments fell by $60 million.

The decline in corn receipts is attributed to lower crop prices received despite seeing a 20 percent increase in planted acreage relative to 2022. Corn prices fell 28 percent to $4.75 from $6.65. Biram said the decline “is largely attributed to higher national planted acreage and weaker cash prices received at grain elevators near the Mississippi River driven by record-low river levels.

“Soybean receipts fell 25 percent on lower planted acreage and lower crop prices,” he said.  Cotton receipts fell 8 percent on lower planted acres despite relatively higher crop prices received compared to the 2022 harvest season, while rice receipts increased 11 percent on 330,000 more planted acres compared to 2022.”

Biram said government payments are expected to decline year-over-year from $460 million to $400 million due to Emergency Relief Program Phase 2 payments being $150 million less than ERP Phase 1 payments received in 2022.

“This is also despite Arkansas rice farmers receiving payments from the Rice Production Program, or RPP, which was authorized in the 2022 omnibus package,” Biram said.

Additionally, production expenses remained flat over 2022 despite key operating expenses such as seed, fertilizer, pesticides and fuel falling $177 million. Interest, labor, and rent to landlords increased by $143 million.

“This combination results in a 21 percent decrease in net farm income,” said Biram.

On the bright side

However, the good news is that “despite a decrease from 2022 to 2023, Arkansas net farm income is still above 2015-22 averages,” he said.

The report indicates that despite a decrease in 2023, Arkansas net farm income remains higher than levels seen in 2021. Arkansas is expected to see a 21 percent decline in net farm income, compared to a projected 23 percent decline in U.S. net farm income.

Other key findings from the report include:

• Planted area of the state’s top seven crops, plus hay harvested, grew to 7.2 million acres in 2023. Soybeans, the state’s top field crop by area, saw a decrease in 2023 planted acres. Crop receipts for 2023 decline a combined $600 million.

• Poultry and egg receipts decline a combined $1.1 billion in 2023, largely due to lower prices. Cattle receipts grow by $233 million, while hog receipts decline $9 million.

• Egg receipts decline on lower prices which reflects the industry recovering following Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak that affected 44.43 million birds in commercial egg operations, which reflects approximately 14.5 percent of Jan. 1 layer inventories.

• Poultry production is 2.4 percent higher through August and the national composite broiler price is tracking 13.6 percent below 2022. Both lead to lower cash receipts in Arkansas.

• Cattle receipts are higher on cyclically high prices following three consecutive years of contraction in the industry.

• Fertilizer, feed and fuel expenses decrease by 0.03 percent in 2023, with a projected additional 6 percent decrease in 2024.

The fall 2023 farm income outlook is co-published by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the RaFF at the University of Missouri, which provides objective policy analysis and informs decision-makers on issues affecting farm and rural finances. The center collaborates with a number of states to develop farm income projections with local expertise.

“Insights developed through our partnership with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture help us better understand the uniqueness of farm income factors regionally,” said Scott Brown, interim director of RaFF. “State-level analyses like the Arkansas farm income report can help producers, policymakers and stakeholders alike be equipped with information to make sound decisions that impact agriculture.”

See the full report and data tables.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

‘Surviving drought’ topic of University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture free webinar for cattle producers

‘Surviving drought’ topic of Division of Agriculture webinar for cattle producers

LITTLE ROCK — Experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host a free webinar July 21 to offer guidance to Arkansas cattle producers struggling with drought.  

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Fast Facts:

• Webinar set for July 21 from 6-8 p.m. via Zoom

• Webinar offers management strategies and recommendations for cattle producers struggling with drought

• No cost to attend; register at https://bit.ly/drought-webinar

LITTLE ROCK — Experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host a free webinar July 21 to offer guidance to Arkansas cattle producers struggling with drought.  

“Our cattle producers statewide are struggling right now to survive this drought, and many of them face some tough decisions,” Vic Ford, extension’s associate president for agriculture and natural resources, said. “We can provide resources in management strategies and research-based recommendations for forage, beef and pest management that we hope will help our cattle producers through this drought.”

The free webinar will be offered 6-8 p.m. July 21 via Zoom. Registration is required and available at https://bit.ly/drought-webinar.

A recording will be made available later for those unable to attend.                                                                                    
Topics and speakers include:

• Livestock economics - James Mitchell, livestock economist

• Forage management - John Jennings, forage agronomist

• Beef management - Daniel Rivera, director of the Southwest Research and Extension Center

• Fall armyworm and stem maggot control - Kelly Loftin, entomologist

• Farm and farm family stress - Brittney Schrick, family life specialist

Resources for managing cattle during drought are available on the Cooperative Extension Service website at https://bit.ly/managing-cattle.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. 

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.  

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

###

Media Contact:
Tracy Courage
Director of Communications
U of A System Division of Agriculture-Extension
501-658-2044

Arkansas cattle producers facing ‘disaster’ as record drought conditions worsen

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Drought conditions in Arkansas continue to worsen and it’s starting to have an impact on the state’s largest economic sector, agriculture. The impacts to row crops won’t be known for a while, but the cattle industry is in peril.

There are growing reports that cattle farmers are selling off livestock to cut their losses. Farmers in this industry rely on grass fields and hay to supplement costlier feed. The withering conditions are affecting pasture performance statewide.

Parts of Arkansas haven’t had any measurable rain since late May. The National Agricultural Statistics Service’s weekly crop report indicates that 43% of pastures are in poor or very poor condition.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/07/arkansas-cattle-producers-facing-disaster-as-record-drought-conditions-worsen/

Sizzling Summer Beef Demand Pushes Prices Higher

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

Beef prices typically increase following Memorial Day with more summer grilling demand but prices this year are trending higher than a year ago, according to Derrell Peel, livestock marketing specialist with Oklahoma State University Extension.

Peel said the seasonal increase in boxed beef cutout prices is higher than usual this year, with the weekly average “Choice” boxed beef prices rising 63.8% from early January to early June. Prices were higher across the board with loin cuts increasing 93%, rib meat up 60%, round rising nearly 44% and chuck cuts up 39% from the same period last year.

Year-to-date, values range from a 17% increase in rib meat for cuts like cowboy steaks and prime rib roasts to a 110.8% rise in short plate meat which includes skirt steak used in fajita and short ribs. Peel said the slight decrease in prices toward the end of June do not indicate weakening demand, but rather that food service operators had largely replenished their supply by early June.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/07/sizzling-summer-beef-demand-pushes-prices-higher/

Wholesale “choice” boxed beef prices are up 40.7% through the end of June, compared to a year ago. (photo courtesy of Oklahoma State University Extension)

Pandemic Assistance Promised for Arkansas Poultry Growers, Other Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday (June 15) it plans to provide roughly $6 billion in additional aid to farmers, ranchers and others who make their living in the agriculture industry.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said there is $6 billion in available funds through the Pandemic Assistance Program to support a number of new initiatives or to modify existing efforts. He said the funds will be doled out over the next 60 days in an effort to fill the gaps in the previous round of assistance aimed at helping small and medium-size farmers who need the most support. The  Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments will provide aid to producers and businesses left behind.

The release did allocate some of the funds toward the following agri sectors.
• $200 million: Small, family-owned timber harvesting and hauling businesses
• $700 million: Biofuels producers
• Support for dairy farmers and processors to include $400 million for a new Dairy Donation Program to address food insecurity and mitigate food waste and loss, additional pandemic payments targeted to dairy farmers who have demonstrated losses that have not been covered by previous pandemic assistance, and approximately $580 million for supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage for small and medium farms.
• Assistance for poultry and livestock producers left out of previous rounds of pandemic assistance to include contract growers of poultry and livestock and poultry producers forced to euthanize animals during the pandemic (March 1, 2020 through Dec. 26, 2020).
• $700 million: Pandemic Response and Safety Grants for PPE and other protective measures to help specialty crop growers, meat packers and processors, seafood industry workers, among others
• Up to $20 million: Additional organic cost share assistance, including for producers who are transitioning to organic

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/06/pandemic-assistance-promised-for-arkansas-poultry-growers-other-farmers/

De Queen FFA Show Team at District Livestock Show

Press Release: 4/12/21

De Queen FFA Show Team does well at the District Livestock Show. On Saturday, April 10, three members of the De Queen FFA showt team exhibited their livestock projects at the Southwest District Spring Livestock Show held at Hope Ar. The members in attendance were Tristan Whisenhunt, Olivia Cooley, and Katie Cooley.

Whisenhunt exhibited a Chianina bull and won Grand Champion honors. He also had a steer who placed second in his class. Katie Cooley presented her Hereford heifer and brought home a Reserve Grand Champion placing for the team. Olivia Cooley showed a Simmental heifer and placed first in her class.

Congratulations to these De Queen FFA students who did a great job with their cattle exhibits. They have plans to exhibit at more shows later this spring.

Cattle Markets Face Crought, High Feed Costs in 2021

The cattle industry, like the rest of the world, is ready to move beyond 2020, but there will be numerous factors shaping the industry in the first few months of 2021, according to Derrell Peel, livestock marketing analyst with Oklahoma State University.

He said markets face a mix of opportunities and challenges as 2021 gets underway. The continuing pandemic is expected to pressure the food service sector and create more challenges in food product markets in the first quarter of this year, Peel said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/01/cattle-markets-face-drought-high-feed-costs-in-2021/