Extension Demonstrations/Projects
2012
St. Francis County
Left: Agent Carwell checks the Pasture Demonstration Plot. Right: Milo Verification Field
University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender,
age disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
St. Francis County RICE VARIETY TRIAL
Cooperator: Byron Holmes and RiceTec
County Agents: Mitch Crow and David Carwell
Purpose of Demonstration: To compare conventional rice varieties with hybrid rice varieties. Hybrid rice varieties
seed and urea requirements place additional input costs on the producer.
Impact: Today’s high grain prices competing for land, it is imperative that rice is still grown in the state. Rice acreage
has been declining over the past few years with increasing acres going toward corn production.
Location: Forrest City
Soil Type: Calloway Silt Loam
Previous Crop: Soybeans
Seeding Rate: Hybrids = 22.5 lbs/acre, Conventional varieties = 70 lbs/acre
Fertilizer: 30 lbs Zinc Sulfate and 100 lbs 0-60-90 at planting. 50 lbs Ammonium Sulfate and 200 lbs Urea at flush.
150 lbs of urea was applied at midseason.
Herbicide: Pre-Emergence: 8/10 pint Command. Post Emergence: 1 gal propanil and 1 oz Permit/Ac. Midseason
levees sprayed with Aim and Stam.
Harvested: Hybrid, 9/6/12. Conventional, 9/19/2012
Replications: 2
Variety
Moisture
Length
Width
Wet Yield (bu/ac)
Dry Yield (bu/ac)
Wells
17.1
786
25
199.4
188.7
Cheniere
16.3
786
25
195.0
185.0
Taggart
18.3
792
25
197.1
183.9
Roy J
17.2
786
25
218
206
Templeton
17.8
789
25
195.1
183.3
XL723
15.9
783
25
223
212.8
XP753
15.6
783
25
232.2
222.5
XP761
15.6
783
25
208
200
St. Francis County N-ST*R TRIAL
Cooperator: Ron Hall
County Agents: Mitch Crow and David Carwell
Purpose of Demonstration: The rising input costs on urea in combination with the weak prices for rice have limited
the amount of rice presently being grown. The N-ST*R soil sample test is a new technique developed by the
University of Arkansas. This techniques requires soil samples be taken from 18 inches deep instead of the traditional
4-6 inches. The purpose of this technique is to get the total nitrogen amount right on a per field basis.
Impact: The amount of nitrogen fertilizer being applied is starting to have some effect on water quality issues. The
potential impact of implementing this technique is that the producer can lower the total amount of nitrogen fertilizer
being applied while still producing a yield comparable to the traditional fertilization methods.
Location: North of Palestine
Variety: CL 111
Soil Type: Calloway and Henry Silt Loam
Previous Crop: Soybeans
Seeding Rate: 80 lbs/acre
Planting Date: 3/30/2012
Harvest Date: 8/23/2012
Additional Fertilizer: 60 lbs Phosphorus/acre and 90 lbs Potash/acre
Irrigation: Flood
Herbicide: Post Emergence, Newpath 4 oz/acre (2 applications), Strada Pro (1 pint/acre).
Fungicide: Quadris (1 gal/16 acres)
Treatment
Total N Rate
(units N/acre)
Dry Weight
(bu/acre)
Net Returns to N-1
($/acre)
Net Returns to N-2
($/acre)
Traditional Prac.
150
172
1107
1074
N-ST*R
165
190
1223
1187
N-1 represents urea prices at $600/ton and a rough rice price of $7.00/bu.
N-2 represents urea prices at $800/ton and a rough rice price of 7.00/bu.
St. Francis County
Cooperator:
SOYBEAN VARIETY TRIAL
Chris Roberts
County Agents: David Carwell and Mitch Crow
Purpose of Demonstration: The rising commodity prices of soybeans have sparked interest in more soybean
acreage. This variety demo was implemented to demonstrated some of the ‘’higher yield’’ varieties available to
producers.
Impact: Increase yield in soybeans is the driving force of maintaining profitability for today’s farmers. Nine strip plots
were planted on the Roberts farm. The highest yielding variety averaged 76 bu/ac with the lowest yielding variety
averaging 65 bu/ac. The overall average of all the plots was 70 bu/ac.
Planted: 4/18/2012
Soil Type: Earle Clay
Previous Crop: Corn (Irrigated)
Seeding Rate: 180,000
Row Spacing: 15 inches
Fertilizer: None
Herbicide: Burndown = 32 oz/acre Touchdown and 2 oz/acre Valor, Planting = 48 oz/acre Sequence, PostEmergence = 32 oz/acre Touchdown, 8 oz/acre Python and 3/10 oz/acre FirstRate
Irrigation: Center Pivot, 14 times at 1’’ each
Harvested: 9-12-2012
Brand
Variety
Yield (Bu/Ac)
Moisture
Plot Length (ft)
Width (in)
Test Weight
Pioneer
94Y40
65.8
12.1
1230
225
53.6
Schillinger
SCH 457
68.3
12.9
1230
225
55.5
Progeny
4510
66.6
12.1
1230
225
55.7
Armor
46R64
72
12.4
1230
225
55.9
Asgrow
4632
76.2
12.4
1230
225
53
Progeny
4710
75.7
12.0
1230
225
54.7
Pioneer
94Y70
69.4
12.3
1230
225
53.9
Armor
48R40
71.2
11.8
1230
225
54.9
Schillinger
SCH 495
71.1
13.1
1230
225
53.9
St. Francis County
BERMUDA GRASS VARIETY TRIAL
Cooperator: Margy Cannon
County Agent: David Carwell
Purpose of Demonstration: Forage is the key to maintaining a successful cow herd. The amount of hay you can
produce can be the deciding factor on how you manage your herd for that year. Drought conditions in several states
over the past few years have also boosted the hay market allowing producers to sell their excess hay to cut down on
expenses.
Impact: By determining the top yielding forage, we are able to select which variety is most suitable for the region.
Additionally, we can also determine drought and cold tolerance, fertilization capacity and palatability when fed at a
later date.
Location: Forrest City
Soil Type: Loring Silt Loam
Fertilizer: Prior to 1st cutting, 150 lbs urea and 100 lbs 0-0-60. Prior to second cutting, 100 lbs of urea.
Herbicide: 1 oz Pastora/ac (spot spray application)
Number of Cuttings: 3
Variety
Cutting
1
2
3
Ton/Acre
0.7
2.4
0.4
Wrangler
1
2
3
1.3
2.2
0.4
3.9
Midland 99
1
2
3
2.2
2.2
2.2
6.5
Tifton 44
1
2
3
2.4
2.8
1.5
6.8
World Feeder
Total Ton/Acre
3.5
St. Francis County
GRAIN SORGHUM VERIFICATION TRIAL
Cooperator: Sid Fogg
County Agents: Mitch Crow and David Carwell
Purpose of Demonstration: The heavy use of Roundup and other generic glysophates has led to an increase in
resistant weeds. By using crop rotation and growing specific crops, substitute herbicides can be used to control
glysophate resistant weeds.
Impact: Higher demand, strong prices and a good dryland crop make grain sorghum a good candidate for pigweed
problem fields.
Location: Widener
Planted: 4/12/2012
Previous Crop: Soybeans
Seeding Rate: 70,000
Row Spacing: 19 inches
Fertilizer: 240 lbs of urea at pre-emergence
Herbicide: Preplant =1.5 pints/acre Parallel, 32 oz/acre Touchdown, Post-emergence =1.3 quarts/acre Atrazine + oil.
Irrigation: None
Harvested: 7/30/2012
Yield: 92 bu/acre
St. Francis County
CORN VARIETY TRIAL
Cooperator: Nathan Brown
County Agent: Mitch Crow
Purpose of Demonstration: Corn hybrid seed selection is a very important management decision for a successful
corn producer. Yield potential is critically important, however, additional characteristics to consider are lodging,
disease reaction, ear shuck cover and ear flexing.
Impact: The variety trial was conducted to show producers a wide range of varieties available in the area that can be
grown. The high prices for corn in today’s market demand the highest producing varieties with the above
characteristic mentioned.
Location: Wheatley
Soil Type: Loring Silt Loam
Previous Crop: Soybeans
Row Width: 30 inches
Planting Population: 36,000
Planting Date: 4/6/2012
Harvest Date: 8/18/2012
Irrigation: Furrow (8 times)
Fertility (lb/ac)
N
P
K
S
Zn
Preplant
80
80
100
10
1
In-season
117
8
4
0
0.5
Pretassel
53
0
0
0
0
Total
250
88
104
10
1.5
Armor 1262 DPRO
Adjusted Yield
bu/ac1
175.0
Harvest
Moisture
18.9%
Plant
Stand2
36,000
Lodging
Score3
1
Test Weight
lb/bu
53.0
Armor 1550 DPRO
197.8
19.5%
35,000
1
55.5
B-H 8845 VTTP
183.5
19.6%
37,000
1
55.0
B-H 8570 VTTP
190.0
19.6%
38,000
1
53.5
Golden Acres 26V21
207.8
20.5%
34,000
1
53.0
Golden Acres 27V01
198.0
21.8%
36,000
1
49.0
Pioneer P1745HR
199.5
19.1%
34,000
1
47.5
Pioneer 2088YHR
187.8
18.2%
35,500
1
54.0
Terral REV 26HR50
163.8
18.3%
35,000
1
53.5
Terral REV 28HR20
165.2
18.4%
35,000
1
57.0
Hybrid
1
Yield is adjusted to 15.5% moisture
Plant Stand is given as plants per acre
3
Lodging Score – 1 is no lodging, 10 is completely lodged
2
St. Francis County
COTTON VARIETY TRIAL
Cooperator: Joe Whittenton
County Agent: Mitch Crow
Purpose of Demonstration: Cotton was once “king” of all commodities grown in eastern Arkansas. The decline in
cotton grown began to come back to life in the 1960’s. A large number of producers still grow cotton in St. Francis
County. To remain profitable, top yields must be achieved.
Impact: Producers must increase yields. Economists have historically said that producers must produce 1000
lb/acre to break even. The ten varieties in the trial averaged 1040 lb/acre. Seven of the varieties produced over
1000 lb/acre. The highest yielding variety was ST 5288 producing 1251 lb/acre.
Location: Forrest City
Soil Type: Loring Silt Loam
Irrigation: Center Pivot
Row Width: 38 inches
Planting Date: 5/8/12
Harvest Date: 11/7/12
Fertility (lb/ac)
Preplant
N
P
K
S
0
22
60
19
In-season
125
0
60
0
Total Fertility
125
22
120
19
Variety
Lint Yield
Lint Percent
Mic
Staple
Strength
Uniformity
Value
Stoneville 5288 B2F
1251.9
34.52
5
36
27.9
81.9
637.84
FiberMax 1944 GLB2
1107.63
33.84
5.1
39
32.7
83.3
578.74
Phytogen 375 WRF
1090.34
36.14
5.2
34
27
79
541.9
Stoneville 5458 B2RF
1078.89
34.04
5.3
37
31.2
82.1
543.76
Dyna-Gro 2570 B2RF
1066.07
35.94
5.2
36
29
82.4
552.22
Deltapine 0912 B2RF
1046.89
34.23
5.2
36
29.4
82.1
535.48
Phytogen 499 WRF
1046.54
36.54
5
36
32.4
83.3
539.49
NexGen 1511 B2RF
952.96
37.54
5.1
36
29.7
82.6
487.44
Deltapine 1219 B2RF
888.14
33.81
4.8
38
35.3
83.5
479.15
Deltapine 1133 B2RF
874.35
36.98
5.1
36
31.4
83
456.41
St. Francis County COTTON RESEARCH VERIFICATION TRIAL
Cooperator:
Caleb Jones
Agents: Mitch Crow and David Carwell
Purpose of Demonstration: The CRVP is an on-farm demonstration of all the research-based recommendations to
grow cotton in Arkansas. The demonstration verifies that researched-based recommendations are profitable. It
develops a database for economic analysis for cotton production and promotes timely implementation of cultural and
management practices. It also provides training and assistance to county agents new to cotton production, as a
cotton verification coordinator scouts the field each week to monitor for pest, irrigation and growth regulator
applications.
Impact: Final Summary of Revenue and Expenses are still being tabulated. But the St. Francis County Cotton
Verification is compared to overall 2012 CRVP averages across Arkansas. The St. Francis County trial had a $75.39
(average) economic advantage over other CRVP fields in Arkansas.
53 Acre Field near Palestine
Lint Yield: 1215 lbs/ac
Fertility: 91-46-105-12 (N-P-K-S)
Herbicide Applications: Dicamba + Touchdown at Burndown
Roundup Powermax + Warrant
Roundup Powermax + Warrant
Insecticide Applications: Radiant
Carbine
Centric
Tundra + EpiMek
Acephate
St. Francis County Vs. 2012 CRVP Average
St. Francis County
2012 CRVP Average
Difference
Operating Costs
534.44
514.46
19.98
Total Costs
636.63
601.06
35.57
Returns to Total Costs
238.17
98.35
139.82
0.52
0.55
-0.03
874.80
799.41
75.39
Total Costs/Pound
Total
Crop1
Revenue
Crop Revenue was derived using the Arkansas Average based on the USDA January 2013 Market
News Report
St. Francis County MOTH TRAPPING PROGRAM
Agent:
Mitch Crow
Purpose of Demonstration: The bollworm has historically been one of the most destructive pests of cotton. The
newer transgenic cotton varieties, Bollguard II and Widestrick, have two Bt genes in their plants. But even these
varieties are not immune to the bollworm. Pheremone traps use the female moths' hormone, or scent, to lure their
male counterpart to a moth trap. The male moth flies into the bottom of the trap and is caught in the top, removable
part of the wire basket-type trap. By monitoring the number of moths caught over a period of time, large moth flights
can be determined and consultants and growers can treat small bollworm larvae as soon as the egg hatches.
Impact: Nine bollworm moth traps were monitored twice per week—each Tuesday and Friday—from June until late
August. Traps were located across the county, from Shell Lake to Palestine. Most of the traps were on either side of
Crowley's Ridge where most of our county's cotton is grown. It seems that traps that were located near corn fields
caught more moths, and moth trap number fluctuated during the trapping period. During the second week of July,
moth trap numbers peaked. Our county's cotton was planted earlier this year. Probably two-thirds of cotton acres were
at cut-out node above white flower-5 at second week in July. Only isolated fields of cotton were treated this year.
Maybe 25% of acres in county were treated for bollworm larvae. The trap at Shell Lake--Delta Terre--was located in an
area where soybean and rice are grown. The clay soil in this part of the county is not good to grow cotton on.
Consultant Russell Simon at Blackfish, helped with this trap.
JUNE
(checked 6x)
TRAP LOCATION
High
Cottonwood Corner
Low
JULY
(checked 8X)
Avg.
High
Low
AUGUST
(checked 8x)
Avg.
High
Low
AVG/TRAP
Avg.
9
0
4
144
20
98
165
21
56
52
Madison
29
1
11
110
16
68
215
27
79
35
Linden Island
43
2
18
53
22
44
78
9
26
29
SFC 739 Haven
35
12
20
279
43
199
214
5
94
74
Yocona Rd
21
3
7
277
0
85
256
14
145
79
Caldwell
14
0
6
153
9
68
110
15
46
40
SFC 255 Weeks
19
0
6
114
10
51
185
35
85
83
SFC 858
64
2
18
238
22
146
158
28
71
78
Delta Terre
45
24
31
231
0
69
116
18
67
56