Livestock & Forestry Research Station - Univ. of AR Division of Agriculture

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

05/19/2026

❗🐄 Theileria has now been confirmed in 15 Arkansas counties, and the Asian longhorned tick that carries it in 10. Left unchecked, this tick-borne pathogen can cause weight loss, anemia, reproductive losses, and suppressed milk production in cattle, symptoms that can look a lot like anaplasmosis, making it easy to miss. 🔎

Our extension entomologist Kelly Loftin and animal health specialist Kirsten Midkiff will be hosting a free webinar this Friday, May 22 covering the latest county-by-county spread, infection rates among Arkansas cattle, tick and cattle management strategies, and the importance of testing and reporting + a live Q&A with veterinarians sharing their real-world experiences with theileriosis.

🗓️ Friday, May 22, 2026
⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
🔗 Register here: bit.ly/ALT-webinar-26

Read more about Theileria here 👉 https://bit.ly/Ark-theileria-ALT-webinar



Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Arkansas Extension Beef Systems

05/18/2026

Last week certainly was a busy one here at the station.
- We weighed the calves on our fescue project.
- Cut and baled about 70 acres of hay
- Planted our the soybeans for year 1 of the integrated crop/ livestock project
- Hosted the third installment of the Little Red River Beef Conference series talking about animal health

Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

05/11/2026

Don't miss this great opportunity to learn more about cattle health as well as controlling fire ants. Looking forward to hosting this great event!
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

Cattle producers, don’t miss the next Little Red River Beef & Forage Conference program on May 15 at the University of Arkansas Livestock & Forestry Research Station in Batesville!

This session will focus on important animal health topics impacting cattle producers, including:
• New World Screwworm
• Asian Longhorn Tick concerns in beef cattle
• Vaccination protocols and proper injection methods
• Fire ant control in pastures

Participants will also have the opportunity for hands-on chute side activities including:
• Tick collection
• Tail and neck bleeding
• Proper injections

📍 UA Livestock & Forestry Research Station
70 Experiment Station Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

🗓 Friday, May 15, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

🍽 Lunch will be provided.

⚠️ Please register by May 13 by calling the Independence County Extension Office at (870) 793-8840.

We appreciate Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas for sponsoring this program and helping support educational opportunities for local producers.

05/07/2026

Yesterday we were happy to host the state 4-H Grassland Evaluation contest. This contest consists of 4 separate parts; wildlife habitat, grassland condition, soil interpretation, and plant identification. The weather was a little cool, but overall it was a great day for the contest and we enjoyed having all of the participants and volunteers at the station.
Arkansas Extension Forages
Arkansas 4-H
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

05/07/2026

Interested in learning more about sheep and goats but not sure where to start? Join us for Small Ruminants Made Simple on May 20 at the UACCB Farm in Batesville!

This workshop will include both hands-on demonstrations and classroom instruction covering:

• Hoof health
• Fencing
• Forage management
• Nutrition

📍 UACCB Farm
2210 E Main Street
Batesville, AR 72501

🗓 May 20, 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
💲 Cost: $15
🍽 Lunch will be provided.

⚠️ Pre-registration is required by May 18 so we can plan for meals and materials. Please call 870-793-8840.

Whether you are just getting started or already have a few animals at home, this workshop is designed to provide practical, research-based information you can use right away. We would love to have you join us!

05/05/2026

🌱 May Forage Guide 🌱
May is the time to get your warm-season forages established and your pastures in shape for a productive season!

🌾 Plant:
Browntop millet, crabgrass, foxtail millet, pearl millet, sorghum-sudangrass, corn, bahiagrass, bermudagrass, native warm-season grasses, Old World bluestem, and dallisgrass

🌿Spray:
Control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds, apply brush control herbicides, and manage foxtail

🐄Harvest & Graze:
You’re utilizing almost everything, make the most of your forage!

Have questions about what works best for your pasture? Reach out to your local Extension office, we’re here to help!

05/04/2026

Looking forward to hosting this event next week!

Join us for a hands-on beef cattle program on May 15th at the University of Arkansas Livestock & Forestry Station in Batesville. Livestock & Forestry Research Station - Univ. of AR Division of Agriculture Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Arkansas Extension Beef Systems

04/27/2026

The past 2 weeks have seen us start two separate research projects. First, we put our weaned steer calves on tall fescue, hopefully through early July. Then, last week, we started the first year of a multiply year project evaluating integration of livestock into crop production. For this project we are going to be planting soybeans for the summer followed by one of a few options of winter cover crops. Part of the cover crops will be grazed this winter and part will not. Dr. Trent Roberts and his team came to the station last week to collect initial soil samples for the project.

04/15/2026

Dr. Kubesch and I discussing the drought situation on-site at LFST.