From the March, 2024 Issue of our Newsletter:
It has been a chilly winter but the time to start spraying weeds and brush and reseeding your pastures and fields is upon us, not to mention all those spring projects. As always, we recommend you contact the Co-operative Extension Office to get an updated soil test. A soil test can tell you what nutrients are lacking and help save money by recommending only what nutrients you need. You can improve the soil quality of acidic soils by liming to adjust pH to the levels needed. Benefits of liming include increased nutrient availability, improved soil structure, and increased rates of infiltration.
For you beekeepers, time to start thinking about swarms and swarm traps. Hopefully, you spent the winter getting your hives and equipment ready. Nucs and packages should start to be available from local beekeepers. Check on food stores and feed if necessary. It is also time to start thinking about medicating for Varroa so treatments are completed before the honey flows.
The Baxter County Conservation District has two pull type 300-gallon sprayers, an 8’ ground roller and two 10’ no-till drills for rent. If you are interested in renting any of the above equipment, give us a call at (870) 425-3527, Extension 3.
For you beekeepers, time to start thinking about swarms and swarm traps. Hopefully, you spent the winter getting your hives and equipment ready. Nucs and packages should start to be available from local beekeepers. Check on food stores and feed if necessary. It is also time to start thinking about medicating for Varroa so treatments are completed before the honey flows.
The Baxter County Conservation District has two pull type 300-gallon sprayers, an 8’ ground roller and two 10’ no-till drills for rent. If you are interested in renting any of the above equipment, give us a call at (870) 425-3527, Extension 3.
From the December, 2023 Issue of our Newsletter:
With the cold season upon us it is time to plan for the improvements we want to make on the farms for the upcoming year. As the temps drop remember to make sure that your watering tanks are set to go. And be careful with frozen ponds. Now is also a good time to service your equipment so that it is ready to go for this spring. Make sure to double check that your sprayer pumps are cleaned and liquid free so they turn freely and do not freeze and break (I lightly oil the districts). Grease equipment to drive any moisture out of bearings and make sure they are protected from rust. It is also a good time to conduct controlled burns and get rid of the underbrush.
Unrolling hay in different areas will help to spread nutrients and organic matter and helps reduce muddy areas. If using hay rings rotate the areas you feed at so you are not creating any bare ground. The less ground cover present, the more erosion runoff that will occur. Maintaining ground cover and reducing runoff and erosion is important to improving water quality in the watershed.
Come into the Baxter County Conservation District and NRCS Service Center to see if there is funding to help in some of the projects you need done around the farm. The current Bull Shoals White River Watershed 319 program will end in September but the district has applied for a new 319 project area for different part of the county, and when these funds become available land owners in that watershed can apply for cost share for allowed projects to improve the water quality and their properties.
The District has both drills ready to go in preparation for the spring season. As a reminder the District has 2 No-Till Drills, 2 300-gallon boomless sprayers and a tow behind field roller for rent to Baxter County residents.
Unrolling hay in different areas will help to spread nutrients and organic matter and helps reduce muddy areas. If using hay rings rotate the areas you feed at so you are not creating any bare ground. The less ground cover present, the more erosion runoff that will occur. Maintaining ground cover and reducing runoff and erosion is important to improving water quality in the watershed.
Come into the Baxter County Conservation District and NRCS Service Center to see if there is funding to help in some of the projects you need done around the farm. The current Bull Shoals White River Watershed 319 program will end in September but the district has applied for a new 319 project area for different part of the county, and when these funds become available land owners in that watershed can apply for cost share for allowed projects to improve the water quality and their properties.
The District has both drills ready to go in preparation for the spring season. As a reminder the District has 2 No-Till Drills, 2 300-gallon boomless sprayers and a tow behind field roller for rent to Baxter County residents.
From the September, 2023 Issue of our Newsletter:
The time to plant is upon us. The drill reservations are starting to fill up so if you need to reserve one, please let us know sooner rather than later. Don’t forget to get your soil samples in to Brad Runsick at the Co-op Extension Office to see what nutrients your grasses and soils may need.
The Bull Shoals – White River 319 watershed program is still in progress. If you are in the project area, come chat with me and we can see what we can do. I have some funding left to cost share projects.
We have multiple programs that cost share with pasture, field, wildlife and forest improvement, plus cross fencing, waterers and heavy use areas, ponds, plus so much more. So, if any of this interest you then please come in and talk to me and we can get you started.
For you new beekeepers remember for first year hive to leave plenty of capped honey for your bees. Each colony will need about 50-60 pounds of honey for winter. Fall medication should be started now for the prevention of foulbrood and the control of Tracheal and Varroa mites. If you are planning on requeening this fall then it is also time to do that. Requeening can temporarily break the brood cycle encouraging good egg-laying by new queens for the upcoming spring season. You may also want to join the Baxter County Beekeepers Association https://www.facebook.com/groups/2133970273501702/
The Bull Shoals – White River 319 watershed program is still in progress. If you are in the project area, come chat with me and we can see what we can do. I have some funding left to cost share projects.
We have multiple programs that cost share with pasture, field, wildlife and forest improvement, plus cross fencing, waterers and heavy use areas, ponds, plus so much more. So, if any of this interest you then please come in and talk to me and we can get you started.
For you new beekeepers remember for first year hive to leave plenty of capped honey for your bees. Each colony will need about 50-60 pounds of honey for winter. Fall medication should be started now for the prevention of foulbrood and the control of Tracheal and Varroa mites. If you are planning on requeening this fall then it is also time to do that. Requeening can temporarily break the brood cycle encouraging good egg-laying by new queens for the upcoming spring season. You may also want to join the Baxter County Beekeepers Association https://www.facebook.com/groups/2133970273501702/
From the March, 2023 Issue of our Newsletter:
Spring is almost here. Time to start spraying winter annual weeds and thistles. The cooperative extension recommends a rate of 1 quart of 2,4-D amine per acre at temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to knock them down. And 1 quart glyphosate plus a 1/2 an ounce metsulfuron per acre to remove cool season grasses and weeds. This should be applied before the middle of March. We recommend you contact the cooperative ext. office to get an updated soil test and for any other herbicide treatments. Soil tests can tell you what nutrients and minerals your Fields might be lacking and will help save you money by recommending those fertilizers that only contain the nutrients and minerals you need.
We still have cost share money for the bull shoals white river project area. If you would like to see if there is anything we can help you with please call or stop and see me.
The Baxter county conservation district has two pull type 300 gallon sprayers and two no till drills 10 1/2 ft wide and an 8 foot field roller. If interested in renting them call the office 870 425 3527 ext. 3. . In addition, if you find yourself with a feral hog problem. Baxter, Marion and Izard Counties have 2 feral hog Technicians to help you deal with them.
We still have cost share money for the bull shoals white river project area. If you would like to see if there is anything we can help you with please call or stop and see me.
The Baxter county conservation district has two pull type 300 gallon sprayers and two no till drills 10 1/2 ft wide and an 8 foot field roller. If interested in renting them call the office 870 425 3527 ext. 3. . In addition, if you find yourself with a feral hog problem. Baxter, Marion and Izard Counties have 2 feral hog Technicians to help you deal with them.
From the December 2022 Issue of our Newsletter:
Hello Baxter County. The Bull Shoals-White River Watershed project still has funding available to help cost share if you are located in my project area. We cost share on waterers and livestock pipelines, fencing, forage and biomass planting, spraying for undesirable vegetation or heavy use protection areas. The District has 2 Haybuster 107c No-Till Drills, 2 500-gallon sprayers and a tow behind roller for rent to Baxter County residents. If you are interested in my project programs or need to use the equipment, please come see us at 406 W. Wade Ave, Mountain Home, or call at (870) 425-3527 ext. 3.
As the temps fall below freezing, we need to make sure we keep up on livestock waterers, ponds and other system providing water to our animals. Check them to make sure that they are not frozen or nonoperational, as always be careful if you are breaking ice on ponds. Make sure your equipment is ready to go for the spring. It is a good time to grease your equipment and check the fires. Pay especial attention to your sprayers, you don’t want to fill your sprayer just to find the pump has cracked due to freeze damage, or is rusted solid. Here at the District, we pull the pumps and place them in a heated space with a light coat of olive oil run through them to keep them freed up. Now is also a good time to start thinking of controlled burns. Clearing out the underbrush and excess leaf matter will help native grasses to sprout.
NRCS does offer a program through EQIP to help you with burning, come in and talk to us and even if we can’t cost share with you on it, we can offer advice to help you to do it safely. You can also start thinking about planting pollinator fields to increase the pollinator population which will create better yields for your crops whether it’s hay or otherwise.
I hope you all take this time to enjoy the company of your families. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Happy Holidays!
As the temps fall below freezing, we need to make sure we keep up on livestock waterers, ponds and other system providing water to our animals. Check them to make sure that they are not frozen or nonoperational, as always be careful if you are breaking ice on ponds. Make sure your equipment is ready to go for the spring. It is a good time to grease your equipment and check the fires. Pay especial attention to your sprayers, you don’t want to fill your sprayer just to find the pump has cracked due to freeze damage, or is rusted solid. Here at the District, we pull the pumps and place them in a heated space with a light coat of olive oil run through them to keep them freed up. Now is also a good time to start thinking of controlled burns. Clearing out the underbrush and excess leaf matter will help native grasses to sprout.
NRCS does offer a program through EQIP to help you with burning, come in and talk to us and even if we can’t cost share with you on it, we can offer advice to help you to do it safely. You can also start thinking about planting pollinator fields to increase the pollinator population which will create better yields for your crops whether it’s hay or otherwise.
I hope you all take this time to enjoy the company of your families. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Happy Holidays!
From the September 2022 Issue of our Newsletter:
The Bull Shoals – White River 319 watershed program is still in effect and I have funds still available for cost sharing. The project is a water quality improvement project designed to improve the water quality of severely impacted waterways. If you fall within the project area, give me a shout and I can come by and talk to you about pasture fencing, water lines, tanks and heavy use areas, reseeding over grazed pastures, brush management and more.
Deer season is fast upon us and we have programs at our NRCS office that cost share with landowners to do prescribed burn if approved and funded. The programs cost share to create firebreaks and burn off the underbrush in your woods which will be more attractive to wildlife not to mention will be beneficial to your land allowing for better growth native plants. So, if any of this interest you then please come in and talk to us and get your application filled out. Also, don’t forget it’s also the time to start planting winter grasses. We have our 2 no-till drills, 2 sprayers and roller for rent, and the scheduling calendar is starting to fill up.
For you new beekeepers remember for first year hive to leave plenty of capped honey for your bees. Each colony will need about 50-60 pounds of honey for winter. Fall medication should be started now for the prevention of foulbrood and the control of Tracheal and Varroa mites. If you are planning on requeening this fall then it is also time to do that. Requeening can temporarily break the brood cycle encouraging good egg-laying by new queens for the upcoming spring season.
Deer season is fast upon us and we have programs at our NRCS office that cost share with landowners to do prescribed burn if approved and funded. The programs cost share to create firebreaks and burn off the underbrush in your woods which will be more attractive to wildlife not to mention will be beneficial to your land allowing for better growth native plants. So, if any of this interest you then please come in and talk to us and get your application filled out. Also, don’t forget it’s also the time to start planting winter grasses. We have our 2 no-till drills, 2 sprayers and roller for rent, and the scheduling calendar is starting to fill up.
For you new beekeepers remember for first year hive to leave plenty of capped honey for your bees. Each colony will need about 50-60 pounds of honey for winter. Fall medication should be started now for the prevention of foulbrood and the control of Tracheal and Varroa mites. If you are planning on requeening this fall then it is also time to do that. Requeening can temporarily break the brood cycle encouraging good egg-laying by new queens for the upcoming spring season.
From the June 2022 Issue of our Newsletter:
Hello Baxter County. Summer is here and most of us are finishing up spraying and getting busy in the hay.
The Bull Shoals White River 319 Project is going strong and I am accepting applications for cost sharing for those in the effected watersheds. The listed watersheds are Dry Creek, Fallen Ash Creek, Gully Springs Creek, Hightower Creek, Outlet Bull Shoals Lake, Sister Creek and Howard Creek. The Best Management Practices are cross fencing, water pipelines, watering fountains, ponds, spraying for brush management, pasture seeding and heavy use areas. These best management practices are a beneficial way to increase production on your farm and help improve the water quality for our community. This project requires very little paperwork and approval is usually within a few days. If you think you might be located in this area, you can come by our office at 406 West Wade Ave. or give me a call at 870-425-3527 ext. 3. If your farm is not located within these watersheds, go ahead and come by and check out all the other programs and services we have to offer.
The Conservation District is with cooperation with Mountain Home Parks and Recreation and the Cooperative Extension Office helping design and fund a Rain Garden Project at Keller Park here in Mountain Home, come by and see the progress. Stay tuned for the Grand Opening date.
The Conservation District has 2 No-Till drills, 2 boomless sprayers and a ground roller for rent if needed and we not carry the geotextile for heavy use areas for sale.
The Bull Shoals White River 319 Project is going strong and I am accepting applications for cost sharing for those in the effected watersheds. The listed watersheds are Dry Creek, Fallen Ash Creek, Gully Springs Creek, Hightower Creek, Outlet Bull Shoals Lake, Sister Creek and Howard Creek. The Best Management Practices are cross fencing, water pipelines, watering fountains, ponds, spraying for brush management, pasture seeding and heavy use areas. These best management practices are a beneficial way to increase production on your farm and help improve the water quality for our community. This project requires very little paperwork and approval is usually within a few days. If you think you might be located in this area, you can come by our office at 406 West Wade Ave. or give me a call at 870-425-3527 ext. 3. If your farm is not located within these watersheds, go ahead and come by and check out all the other programs and services we have to offer.
The Conservation District is with cooperation with Mountain Home Parks and Recreation and the Cooperative Extension Office helping design and fund a Rain Garden Project at Keller Park here in Mountain Home, come by and see the progress. Stay tuned for the Grand Opening date.
The Conservation District has 2 No-Till drills, 2 boomless sprayers and a ground roller for rent if needed and we not carry the geotextile for heavy use areas for sale.
406 W. Wade Avenue, Suite 2
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