University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture-Calhoun County

06/16/2026

06/12/2026

Reminder: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2026 Arkansas Century Farm Program. This program honors families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years, recognizing their contributions to Arkansas’ agricultural heritage.

There is no cost to apply, and participation is completely voluntary. Accepted farms receive a personalized Century Farm certificate and metal sign.

Applications are due online by July 31, 2026.

Learn more and apply here: https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/resources/programs/arkansas-century-farm-program/

06/11/2026

Check out these Calhoun County 4-H Skillathon participants, they showed up for our Dairy Cattle Terminology, Characteristics and Breed Identification Workshop on Monday with Mr. Hammack and assisted Ms. Shaney and Ms. Kalli with a community beautification project for the 250th Anniversary Celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
🍀”My hands 🙌🏻 to larger service…
for my club,
my community,
my country
and my world.”🍀
Calhoun County 🍀 Proud!!
Agriculturally yours,
Shaney

06/11/2026

🍀🍀🍀🍀Attention 4-H Members!!
I’m resharing this validation post from the Calhoun County FB on April 15th.
We had our Calhoun County Fair Board Meeting last night and I wanted to remind you of a few changes made last year.
1. All animals have to stay on the fairgrounds during the entire show to participate in the livestock auction.
2. All members participating in the livestock auction must show beyond the Calhoun County Fair and participate in either the Southeast AR District Fair livestock show, Arkansas State Fair livestock show or the Arkansas Youth Expo livestock show to receive their auction checks.
Please direct any County Fair Livestock Show questions to the Calhoun County Fair Livestock Show Manager, Mrs. Shana Morris.
For up to date information on the Southeast District Livestock Show, Arkansas State Fair Livestock Show, or the Arkansas Youth Expo Livestock Show, please follow their FB Pages.
I will post what the pages look like in the comments of this post.
If you have not already done so, you need to be working on this!
Please make sure to read your Calhoun County Fair Livestock Rule Book carefully before you sign it.
Agriculturally yours,
Shaney

06/10/2026

Kalli and I had a great day at the Ouachita District O’Rama in Malvern with W***y Dunn and Jayden Rushing representing Calhoun County 4-H in the BB Gun, Bait Casting and Sports Fishing competitions. Congratulations to both boys!!!!
Calhoun County 🍀 Proud!!
Agriculturally yours,
Shaney

06/05/2026

The more you know 🧐🧐

🌾 Forage Friday 🌾
It’s that time again, Forage Friday! Whether you’ve been raising cattle for decades or just wondering what that tough little grass is in your pasture, we’re here to bring you bite-sized forage facts you can use.

📸 This week’s feature:
👉 Bahiagrass
🔍 Bahiagrass is a survivor, tough enough to handle poor fertility and droughty soils
📍 Most commonly found in the southern half of Arkansas
💬 For more information check out fact sheet:https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/fsa-2139.pdf

🌱 It may not be fancy, but Bahiagrass gets the job done. Got some growing in your pasture? Let us know below!

06/04/2026

The first detection of New World Screwworm (NWS) has occurred in Zavala County, Texas, on a 3-week-old calf in the umbilical area. This detection was confirmed yesterday by USDA-APHIS.

Want to learn more about the pest and the current response? Here are some links to some helpful links:

🔘Official APHIS announcement of NWS case: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

🔘Unified Government website for most accurate and up to date NWS information: screwworm.gov

🔘USDA New World Screwworm Playbook and Supplemental materials: www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/nws-response-playbook.pdf

🔘U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Animal Drugs for New World Screwworm: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/new-world-screwworm-information-veterinarians

🔘USDA APHIS Pesticides for Control of New World Screwworm: www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/pesticides-for-nws.pdf

🔘NCBA resources including posters and handouts (will be updated in coming days): www.bqa.org/screwworm

🔘NCBA Cattlemen’s Webinar on “New World Screwworm - Regulations, Readiness & Response”: https://youtu.be/Xv6TfIoUEfM?si=iejH3ZmG9LUpCnL1

06/04/2026

NEW WORLD SCREWWORM DETECTED ON U.S SOIL!

We need producers need to remain vigilant but not panic. On June 3, 2026, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of the detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in Zavala County, Texas in a newborn calf. The best thing that livestock producers and animal owners can do to prevent infestation is to put eyes on their animals as often as possible, remain vigilant by implementing enhanced management practices to avoid creating wounds, and promptly address any wounds. Utilizing external parasite control programs, preventing wounds and acting swiftly is the best prevention.

Current recommendations:
-Avoid procedures such as dehorning, castration or branding.
-If procedures are required utilize parasite control protocols set forth by your veterinary healthcare team.
-Cover wounds and treat then accordingly.
-Monitor cattle daily for wounds, scrapes, and even infected mucous membranes such as the eyes or the nose.
-If NWSW is suspected collect larvae for laboratory confirmation from the deepest part of the wound.

06/04/2026

Calhoun County Proud 🍀❤️

🎊 Calhoun County Fairgrounds Beautification Project 🎊

We are excited to announce the launch of a Beautification Project at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds aimed at enhancing the overall experience for visitors, families, exhibitors, and community members who attend events throughout the year.

As part of this effort, we will be restoring and improving the exterior of the Fair Barn and Exhibit Building, two facilities that serve as the heart of many community events. These buildings host the Calhoun County Fair, livestock shows, festivals, youth activities, and numerous community gatherings, making them an important asset to our county.

Maintaining and improving these facilities is essential to ensuring we continue to provide a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environment for generations to come.

We are honored to announce that Generations Bank has generously contributed $12,000 toward this project. Their support will play a significant role in helping us complete these much-needed improvements and continue investing in our community.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Generations Bank for their commitment to Calhoun County and for helping make this project possible. Their continued support of local organizations and events helps strengthen our community and improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Calhoun County home.

Thank you, Generations Bank, for partnering with us as we work to preserve and improve the Calhoun County Fairgrounds for years to come.

06/03/2026

I’m a little late on posting but here are the Calhoun County Extension May Highlights.
During the month of May, beef producers participated in a two county Bull Soundness Producer Days at Randy Duncan Farms. Calhoun County Cattlemen met and were presented a program on “Fertilizer and Optimizing Calf Crop Value” by our guest speakers, Mr. Kenny Morphew - The Farm Store and Mr. Buck Pendergraft- Purina. Our Calhoun County Farm Family, Mr. James LaBeff and Family-Lazy L Farms were recognized at our Cattlemen’s Meeting. UADA County Agents gathered in Calhoun County for a Farm Pond Management In-Service and Pond Electro-Shocking demonstration at a producer pond with Scott Jones, our UAPB Small Impoundment Extension Specialist. 300 okra seeds were planted in transplant trays for our statewide okra demonstration at Woody’s Peach Orchard. Five Spongy Moth traps were deployed countywide to monitor for the devastating forest defoliators. We also gathered at Dr. Rhine Park for the county Quorum Court Meeting and gathered at the Calhoun County Courthouse on Memorial Day for a program.
The Diamond Trial Statewide Horticulture demonstration was planted and Kim Rowe, Hempstead Extension Ag Agent, and I started collecting data in Hope at the Southwest Research and Extension Center.
🍀🍀🍀🍀
4-H highlights for May included two 4-H Skillathon Workshops where 4-H members learned about swine terminology and breed characteristics, goat terminology and breed characteristics and reviewed beef terminology and breed characteristics.
3 4-H members signed up to attend District 4-H O’Rama in Malvern in June and we welcomed our new 4-H/FCS Extension Agent, Miss Kalli Smith.
Our 4-H members are getting animals for the county fair and we made a few 4-H farm visits as well. We bled a few pigs but I won’t post those pics.
Enjoy the pictures……
Agriculturally yours,
Shaney