Miller County First Farmer of the Month - June 2015 - Mike Lowe
TEXARKANA, Ark. –
Miller County Cooperative Extension Service is excited to announce that we are starting
a new “Farmer of the Month” series to highlight local county farmers.
The first farmer that we would like to showcase is Mike Lowe.
Mike is a native of Texarkana and is a third generation farmer. Mr. Lowe farms approximately
1,100 acres of family land located off of 296 in the northeastern part of Miller County,
where he grows wheat, corn, and soybeans.
A major concern Mr. Lowe currently has, along with many other farmers in the area,
involves the destruction of property, including crops, by feral hogs. Mr. Lowe has
been working to exterminate his feral hog problem for the past several years but the
problem persists and still harbors major concerns for many farmers. A small feral
hog herd can cause hundreds to even thousands of dollars worth of damage in just a
few short hours by destroying crops and cropland, not to mention the hours of labor
involved to repair the damage done by these animals. He hopes with new technology
in the future, a possible solution in biological control will be helpful in solving
this problem.
One of the many things Mr. Lowe loves about farming is the smell of fresh tilled dirt
and the satisfaction he gets from a good harvest. He also loves the freedom and independence
that comes with farming for yourself. Mr. Lowe says that he appreciates the fact that
his success or failure is determined by his efforts and, of course, the weather. Mr.
Lowe is proud to be a farmer and work the lands to help provide food and by products
for so many.
** This picture was taken and article written before the rains and flooding started.
Since that time, Mr. Lowe, like many other farmers on Dooley Ferry Rd and around the
area, are hopeful that the levees will hold and keep their farms and crops from being
flooded. The problems they face now are getting the fields dry enough to get into
them. Wheat is about ready to harvest but if fields don't dry up enough, it'll be
difficult to get into them with combines and tractors. This is also the time of year
farmers are still planting, side dressing and spraying crops with fertilizer, as well
as spraying for weeds and insects. With the saturated fields, it makes it extremely
difficult to manage your farmland like you should making the crops vulnerable and
less productive. Not to mention, if the ground stays saturated for an extended period
of time, it opens up more possibility for diseases, root rot, insects and more. Hopefully,
with a pretty week this week, the ground will dry up enough to allow the farmers to
gain access into their fields.
Fun farm facts:
A bushel is a unit of measure for volumes of dry commodities such as shelled corn
kernels. 1 Bushel of corn is equal to 8 gallons.
As well as being eaten by the cob, corn is also processed and used as a major component
in many food items like cereals, peanut butter, potato chips, soups, marshmallows,
ice cream, baby food, cooking oil, margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressing, and chewing
gum.
We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Miller County's Farmer of the Month. If you
have someone that you would like to nominate for our Miller County Farmer of the Month,
contact Jennifer Caraway, County Extension Agent, at 870-779-3609 or email jcaraway@uada.edu.
By Jennifer Caraway
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Jennifer Caraway
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
400 Laurel Street, Suite 215 Texarkana AR 71854
(870) 779-3609
jcaraway@uada.edu
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action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need
materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office (or other
appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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