University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture-Calhoun County

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.
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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

06/02/2026

Reminder to all of our 4-H Livestock Skillathon Workshop attendees. Our next workshop date will be Monday, June 8, 2026.
We can’t wait to see you!!
Agriculturally yours,
Shaney

05/31/2026

Edit: Links to information about the Food Freedom Act are updated but someone called our attention today (Sunday) to how we overlooked updating a sentence involving raw milk sales! We will update the fact sheet asap! See comments for a link to current raw milk info.

UPDATED FACT SHEET: Two important websites recently changed for Arkansans interested in making and selling homemade food. The Arkansas Health Department released an updated food guide last week and the Agriculture Department has a new link for applying for a business ID for product labels.

Find both new links in our updated fact sheet on the Arkansas Food Freedom Law:https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSPPC318.pdf

05/27/2026

Join me in welcoming our new 4-H/FCS Agent, Kalli Smith, to Calhoun County! Kalli started this morning and she’s off and running getting her computer set up and meeting the great folks and extension collaborators we are blessed to work with in Calhoun County. She comes to us from Grannis, AR and is a recent graduate of Southern Arkansas University with a degree in Agriculture Business. Kalli is no stranger to the extension mission as she was an active 4-H member and interned with the wonderful staff at the UADA Sevier County Office over the summer.
Kelly and I are excited to have her join our team here at the Calhoun County Extension Office!
If you see her out in the county, be sure to tell her hello and welcome her to Calhoun County.
Agriculturally yours,
Shaney

05/27/2026

To say the month of May has been exciting is an understatement. After we make a big announcement tomorrow, I will post pictures of our May activities. Be on the look 👀 out……
But for now, enjoy these pics from our 4th Livestock Skillathon Workshop held today. We had 8 4-H members and were missing 4 today but those 8 came prepared for battle. Trivia buzzers were going off like fireworks 🧨 on the 4th of July. We are so thankful for Mr. Zach Hammack sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with our 4-H members and for our parent volunteers who show up to assist for our workshops. Shout out to Mrs. Shana Morris, Mrs. Lauren Hammack, Mrs. Kristen Dunn, Mrs. Jenni Nutt and Mrs. Jessica Bell. Teamwork makes the dream work!! We have a great team of parent volunteers!!!
Calhoun County 4-H 🍀Proud!!

05/26/2026

05/22/2026

The Calhoun County Extension Office will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026 for the observance of Memorial Day. Our office will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 8:00am.
Join us on Monday, May 25, at 11:00am at the Calhoun County Courthouse for our County Memorial Day Program to Honor The Fallen. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

🌾 Forage Friday 🌾
Some forages get a bad reputation as “weeds,” but this one has proven it can pull its weight in the pasture. It’s hardy, productive, and doesn’t mind less-than-perfect soil.

📸 This week’s feature:
👉 Crabgrass
🔍 Crabgrass is a warm-season annual forage that can survive in low fertility soils
📍 Found all across the state of Arkansas
💬 For more information check out fact sheet:https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/fsa-2139.pdf

🌱 It may not win any beauty contests, but crabgrass can be a real asset in summer grazing. Do you let it grow in your pastures?

05/21/2026