It is not too late to sign up for the next AARP Driver Safety course at ASUN. The course will be conducted in the Student/Community Center in the ASA room Monday, Nov. 8 from 5:30-9:30 pm. Fee for the course is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. The fee covers the cost of a student workbook and other materials. No tests will be given and refreshments will be served. All who complete the four-hour course will receive certificates to take to their own insurance companies to request a discount. Participants will need to bring their drivers’ license and AARP card (if a member) to the class.
We ended up getting more wheat planted than I ever would have thought we would back in late October and much of it has come up to a good stand. I have gotten a few calls regarding germination and emergence of the latest planted wheat.
Tremendous progress has been made in soybean harvest over the past 10 days.
Soybean harvest has finally gotten going this week and it feels odd to make that statement in November.
I think we’re finally down to the final 10 percent of the rice crop. I saw planes applying sodium chlorate to some of the late rice on Monday, and that is another odd statement to make in November.
This week I’d like to discuss Brucellosis and our upcoming Brucellosis vaccination schedule with our beef cattle producers.
We were able to string a few good harvest days together this week before the rains hit again, but there’s still a long way to go.
This week I want to take time to update how the harvest is going and discuss the impact of the weather a little more.
I got a call last week from a soybean producer wanting me to look at some spots in a soybean field that were turning brown and defoliating earlier than the majority of the field. His main concern was to find out if soybean rust was causing the premature browning and defoliation.
The weather over the past few days has been more like it and a lot of harvesting has taken place, but we are still feeling the effects of all of the rain and cooler temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, as of Sunday the reporting station at Newport has received 56.94 inches of rainfall for the year, which is 23.70 inches above normal.
I opened my Facebook account a couple of weeks ago and found a status post written by a friend with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management containing the question “are you ready?”
A Soybean Rust Spray Advisory was issued for all soybean growing counties in Arkansas last Friday. This was based on the continued spread and development of the disease across the Delta to all counties south of here. On Monday afternoon, soybean rust was confirmed in Jackson County in a couple of fields within a mile of the Newport Research Station.
The soybean rust situation is getting interesting again this year and we need to be on our toes and ready to react if and when needed. Some soybeans have already been sprayed in Jackson County while most are in a wait and see pattern.
This is part one of a two-part series that will explore health tests that are important for females at various stages of life.
I want to thank everyone who attended our Jackson County Extension Service Field Day last Friday. We had a good crowd, a great meal, and a lot of good information was presented. I have had many favorable comments from those in attendance. I think most everyone was impressed with the quality of research going on at the Newport Research Station. Hopefully the quantity will continue to grow in future years.
The 2009 Jackson County Extension Service Field Day will be held Friday, Aug. 28 at the Newport Research Station and Jackson County Extension Office.
As yet another issue of the Newport Independent is put to rest, I am satisfied to know that Jackson County citizens have had the opportunity to be educated about a serious condition haunting each and every home, the grave condition of the county’s finances and the impending doom looming over the Jackson County Detention Center. But that is just one concern of many that weighs heavy on my mind.
I have started getting a few calls on rice draining this week and some of the earlier rice has been drained. The decision on when to drain rice for harvest is often a difficult one. The tendency is to pump too long and drain too late.
This week I want to touch on Asian Soybean Rust, soybean insects, and rice blast as the weather continues to make for a very interesting year.
The unbelievable year continues. I’ve heard rainfall amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches around the county out of this last one. On the bright side is the savings on pumping costs for many since July 12th and on the negative side is the overall damage to the soybean crop including the inability to get fields sprayed.
The Northeast Arkansas Rice/Soybean Field Day will be held on Friday, Aug. 7 in the Weiner area. This field day will highlight University of Arkansas research that applies specifically to rice and soybean production in northeast Arkansas. The rice research is located southwest of Weiner near Lake Hogue and the soybean research is located northeast of Weiner on the Scott Matthews farm.
With the dog days of summer and warm-weather sports in full swing, it’s important to pay special attention to cuts, bruises and rashes that occur along with the fun. Staph – one of the most common skin infections in the United States – is responsible for 12 to 14 million health care provider visits each year.
