Field Day
* Was held on October 2, 2009.

FFA/Science/
Career Field Day
* Was held on October 1, 2009.

2009 Beef Tour

Research

People

Weather

Contact us
Superintendent:
John Poehlmann
2-44 Ag Building
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-4450
Email: PoehlmannJ@missouri.edu

Farm Manager:
Brent Booker
Phone: 573-743-6612
Email: WurdackFarm@missouri.edu

Donna Marie Thomas
MU AES Field Operations
2-21 Ag Building
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
573-882-4450
Email: ThomasDM@missouri.edu

A note from the MU Wurdack Farm Superintendent

John Poehlmann

I’m still finding out more of the history of the MU Wurdack Farm and it’s impressive. The labor and skill of the older water management structures and buildings demonstrate a dedication to this location that merits respect. We’re continuing that process with the work going on at Wurdack Farm. We mourn the loss of two people who have led Wurdack Farm in different responsibilities. Bill Hynes oversaw the operation in it’s early years and died in Texas. Shirley Headrick was a member, one-time chair of the Advisory Committee and leader in the community. We will miss them and hold them in esteem for their work.

Beef and forage have long been the principal combination that drives the interest and operating budget for the Farm. Although the relatively low numbers in the herds often preclude doing scientific study with beef, the animals are used to prove production levels of forages. Additionally the improvement in the performance of the herd through selection of genetics now generates cattle that neighbors are interested in buying when we sell cull animals. We have begun a new software program for tracking cattle performance in the future that will provide more analysis of individual animals in the future.

Agroforestry has added significantly to the research and education program at Wurdack Farm. The access to the plots has enabled both research and educational visits to a part of the farm that was not easily seen before. They have provided, like all research and demonstration work at Wurdack Farm, several options for management tools; in this case the management is for timber in the long run, but forage in the time up to harvest. Certainly the transformation of the timber land into timber-forage land has increased it’s value and is proving research principles that were never quantified in the past. Although many visitors see trees with increasing value over time while forage for beef is the new "floor" of the forest, others see a park-like setting and want to capture that part of the research program on their own land for aesthetics.

Wurdack Farm would never be able to operate without University Extension and other alliances. We rely on our colleagues for planning, advice, analysis and support. Extension colleagues in Ag Business Analysis, Livestock and Agronomy team up with Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) colleagues to present the "Grazing School". Colleagues from industry help out as well with funding or speakers for special events. Our annual field days are comprised of speakers from these organizations as well as Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Agriculture and more representatives from industry ranging from chain saws to ATV’s to bull semen. Historically, Wurdack Farm has been a successful blend of expertise from multiple agencies and we intend to build on that.

Brent and Tana Booker are the kingpins that make Wurdack Farm what it is. Tana assembled the Youth Field Day last year that attracted 850 youth and gave them a glimpse of the world beyond their normal life. It’s not easy keeping that many young people on track so her work is critical in the success of the event. Brent serves in every capacity the farm demands. Sometimes this is up to his neck with students on a tour and sometimes it up to his shoulder inseminating cattle. Whatever he does, he is constantly observing what is happening. In essence, the Booker family make Wurdack Farm not only a research and demonstration site, but an Ozark family farm that demonstrates remarkable pride of ownership.

A strong cattle market has helped us make several strides and we are making strategic improvements. The equipment purchased during this period may have to last for 20 or more years, so careful examination of the farm infrastructure and equipment is essential to position Wurdack Farm to meet needs of the future.

We hope you can come down for an afternoon, Grazing School, Field Day, meeting or just a tour. I can’t imagine that you will get away without learning five new things about our place.

A tribute to Shirley...

Last November we lost a valued friend when Shirley Headrick died. Shirley has served as vice-chair and chair of the Wurdack Farm Advisory Committee and was an untiring advocate for Wurdack Farm. Frank Barnitz captured our affection for her by saying: "Shirley has been a long time supporter to the University and has been especially dedicated to the progression of Wurdack. Shirley was a leader in the community as well as the state. Her interest and dedication will not be forgotten".

Shirley and Bill Headrick at a 2002 MU Wurdack Farm Advisory Committee Meeting. Shirley had served as Chair of the Committee.t

Shirley was certainly one of the champions for the MU Wurdack Farm and was often working as hard on the staff inside the farm as she was working on others not connected to Wurdack Farm for their involvement and support. At the last Advisory Committee meeting she attended, it was obvious her lung capacity was limiting her activity. So I was surprised when Shirley climbed up on the trailer and put on her dust mask for protection from pollen and dust, and I still admire her drive to take in all that she could of the farm and all that life could offer. Bill and Shirley Headrick have been a stable and dependable resource on the Wurdack Farm Advisory Committee. Shirley would often preface a question she would ask in a group by "Now this may be a dumb question..." but her questions always demonstrated a deeper understanding of the process and an unquenchable thirst for information. Bill and Shirley were a team that always sought out what was right both for the MU Wurdack Farm as well as those involved.

John Poehlmann, Superintendent of Wurdack Farm

Dent County Cattleman
Dent County Extension Council
Crawford County Extension Council
Young Farmer Tour
Grazing School
Advanced Grazing School
Youth Field Day
Public Field Day
High School Teacher’s Workshop
Future Business Leaders of America barbecue
High School Applied Science Class
Regional Extension Staff Meeting
University of Missouri Entomology Class
Visitors average once bi-weekly
Rolla League Baseball Team picnic

June 16-17 - Grazing School
October 6 - Youth Field Day
October 7 - Public Field Day

Cattle Inventory as of January 20, 2005

• 41 Spring Cows + 9 heifers
• 48 Fall cows with 48 calves
• 8 open Spring Replacement Heifers
• 10 Artificially Inseminated bred heifers to calve next fall
• 20 calves went to SOPBM (12 steers & 8 heifers)

A new herd management software program was purchased to track performance of the beef herd. Brent has all breeding animals entered that are alive on the farm and intends to begin entering records from the past.

Because the stockpiled fescue on the hills was not available until fall and it is known to be highly infected with Fescue Foot toxins, cattle were fed a preventative supplement to avoid problems.

The farm is in the process of buying a replacement bull.

Timber Sale

The timber sale in Compartment 102 is ongoing. Wet weather this winter has delayed our consulting forester, Fred Crouse. Spoke with Fred last weekend and he is scheduled to begin marking timber February 23. We anticipate 3-4 days to complete the inventory and marking. Next step will then be to work with MU Procurement to prepare solicitation of bid notice. The sale will then be advertised for approximately two weeks in the local papers. We will hopefully have a timber sale contract signed and begin harvesting operations by April 1.

Small-Tree Research Plots

Harvested two, three-acre plots in Compartment 104. The silvicultural prescription for the southwest-facing plot was a savannah cut favoring mast-producing trees for wildlife. In a few spots a considerable gap in the canopy was created to allow for possible shortleaf pine restoration demo areas. The silvicultural prescription for the northwest-facing plot was a crop tree release. We will follow up in this plot with a chemical TSI to remove large noncommercial trees that were left and are competing with the residual crop trees. The wood yield data from this and all of the small-tree plots are currently analyzed.

Proposed Herbicide Study

There are a number of herbicides on market today to kill unwanted trees and other woody vegetation: glyphosate, triclopyr, imazapyr, picloram and 2,4-D. Currently the general practice of MDC Resource Foresters and TSI contracts let by MDC is girdling alone with no herbicide application. Guidelines are single-girdle of stems 2"-10" DBH and double-girdle stems >10" DBH. Here is a summary of currently used forestry herbicides, label rates, application method and season of application:

Timber Sale

The timber sale in Compartment 102 is ongoing. Wet weather this winter has delayed our consulting forester, Fred Crouse. Spoke with Fred last weekend and he is scheduled to begin marking timber February 23. We anticipate 3-4 days to complete the inventory and marking. Next step will then be to work with MU Procurement to prepare solicitation of bid notice. The sale will then be advertised for approximately two weeks in the local papers. We will hopefully have a timber sale contract signed and begin harvesting operations by April 1.

Small-Tree Research Plots

Harvested two, three-acre plots in Compartment 104. The silvicultural prescription for the southwest-facing plot was a savannah cut favoring mast-producing trees for wildlife. In a few spots a considerable gap in the canopy was created to allow for possible shortleaf pine restoration demo areas. The silvicultural prescription for the northwest-facing plot was a crop tree release. We will follow up in this plot with a chemical TSI to remove large noncommercial trees that were left and are competing with the residual crop trees. The wood yield data from this and all of the small-tree plots are currently analyzed.

Proposed Herbicide Study

There are a number of herbicides on market today to kill unwanted trees and other woody vegetation: glyphosate, triclopyr, imazapyr, picloram and 2,4-D. Currently the general practice of MDC Resource Foresters and TSI contracts let by MDC is girdling alone with no herbicide application. Guidelines are single-girdle of stems 2"-10" DBH and double-girdle stems >10" DBH. Here is a summary of currently used forestry herbicides, label rates, application method and season of application

Study Treatments / Rates: (1) Single- or double-girdle w/ no chemical (MDC guidelines), (2) imazapyr; 20% dilute Arsenal solution (25 oz product + 103 oz H2O), 5.7% ai, (3) triclopyr; 50% dilute Garlon 3A solution (64 oz product + 64 oz H2O), 22.2% ai and (4) picloram / 2,4-D; full-strength Pathway, 5.4% ai picloram / 20.9% ai 2,4-D

Method of Application: One cut/hack through the bark into the cambium for every 2" stem diameter (measured at DBH). Apply 1 ml of herbicide into each cut; adjust the nozzle of the spray bottle to deliver approximately 1 ml of solution of solution for each trigger squeeze.

Time of Application: JAN, APR, JUL, OCT. Will begin with appropriate treatment month following identification of crop and kill trees.

We will measure: (1) % kill of target (treated) trees, by species; (2) % kill/damage of crop trees, by species. These data will be collected every 90 days when applying next round of treatments. Other data to collect will include: (1) time to treat each plot, and (2) cost to treat each plot (product, mixing, application).

A "plot" will consist of the crop tree at plot center and all neighboring kill trees needed to release the crop tree. As such, the plots will be variable in size. Currently working with MDC statisticians to determine minimum number of crop and kill trees, by species, to make a valid study. We anticipate needing 20 acres for the study.

So as NOT to compromise any future timber sales, we will look at highlighted stands in Compartment 102 once harvesting is completed. As a back-up and for easier access at field days, we will also look at highlighted stands in Compartment 103.

Extension Activities

Forestry "First Responder" School. Landowners will receive intensive two-day training on basic forest management practices that will enable them to begin improving their woodlands until professional help arrives. The schools will be conducted on those MU Agricultural Experiment Station’s Farms and Research Centers that have a management plan in place. These schools are being modeled after the successful CAFNR Grazing Schools and developed in cooperation with the Eastern Ozark Forestry Council (EOFC). The EOFC is a volunteer group of forest landowners and natural resource professionals in southeast Missouri. EOFC is currently talking with NRCS into the possibility of landowners attending the school receiving points toward their EQIP contracts. Also working with NRCS and MU Extension into possibility of providing financial support. Wurdack will be the pilot school. Looking at offering the school in May or early June.

Karkaghnae Club. This honorary forestry organization is planning to meet at Wurdack, May 19 to look at the small-tree research and other related forest management activities on the farm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Hank Stelzer
Extension Forester

First number indicates the Rep or Block, and the second number indicates the associated Treatment, with treatments as follows:

T1 - Control (no thin, no forage, no cattle, no soil amendments)
T2 - Forest thinning and soil amendments, no forages
T3 - Forest thinning, soil amendments, forage established
T4 - Forest thinning, soil amendments, forage established, yes cattle T5 - **Forest thinning, soil amendments, no forage, yes cattle **

** Forest thinning yet to be done and no cattle introduced.

Efforts continue towards answering two primary questions from the UM Wurdack Farm Silvopasture Research Project:

In answering question number one tree measurements are being taken annually. These measurements emphasize the parameters of growth, as they relate to volume of wood produced (mainly Diameter at Breast Height and log length), and quality parameters such as wound closure and measurement of epicormic branching (development of small branches on the lower portions of a tree).

In addition to the measurements taken on existing mature trees, new trees have been established to initiate the second generation of forest on the Silvopasture sites. The newly established white oaks are containerized trees from Forrest Keeling Nursery. These trees were produced under the Root Production Method (RPM^®) and have a large root system that should encourage good survival and early growth. We have established 400 RPM white oaks and are now in the process of putting a 1.5 feet radius cage around each seedling. The cages are 60-inches in height and are designed to eliminate indiscriminate browsing by cattle and/or deer.

New additions to the UM Wurdack Silvopasture Project include an additional treatment. Each of the new T1 treatments represents a new 1.25-acre plot. These areas will become our new control treatments. The areas initially identified as control treatments (now identified by T5) will now become areas that undergo forest thinnings similar to the already thinned areas, and that will have cattle pressure applied equal to that of the plots being grazed. This is being done to create a more complete design that allows the impact of cattle and grass to be separated with respect to their impact on tree growth and development. Supplemental feed will be given to the cattle while on these treatment areas.

Futuristically we are considering placing weather stations on the different treatment areas (thinned forest, un-thinned forest/control, and open pasture). This will be in an effort to understand differences in micro-climate that may be occurring, such as relative humidity, temperature and wind speed. If we decide to move forward with this idea, it will likely not take place until the spring of 2006.

Timber Management

The timber sale at Wurdack is on track although slightly delayed. Finally got the consulting agreement signed by all parties. However, Fred Crouse's schedule got booked up in the interim. Scheduled to mark the timber February 14-16, weather permitting. Should get the bid notice out early March and hopefully have the harvesting completed before the June rains.

In the final stages of preparing a year-round TSI trial investigating various forestry herbicides. Plan to initially conduct this on the Brown tract east of Macon (because I have lots of volunteer help) then eventually on Wurdack in the soon-to-harvested stand.

Hank Stelzer
Extension Forester
203 ABNR
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-4444

City:COOK STATION
State:M
Lat:37.4 9N
Long:091.26W
Elev: 991
ID:231870

Replace the headgate at the working corral by the house (For Most $2,400)

Replace 1 scale head with an upgrade that allows reading electronic ID tags on cattle; wand was $100 extra

Replace tedder (John Deere unit purchased) ($4,800)

Replace 9’ mower conditioner (roller style) ($15,000)

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