UAEX Benton County

Had a great repro field day with our Pasture to plate families. Thanks to Evans family, Steve Smith Charolais and Lunsford Vet Clinic.

Learn the basics of pickling and water bath canning at our Pickling Workshop on Tuesday, June 30th, 6-8 PM. Class will be held in the auditorium of the Bogle Family Benton County Family Services Building at 1204 SW 14th St, Bentonville. Cost is $15 per person and class size is limited. Please register at: https://uada.formstack.com/forms/pickling_workshop
Questions? Contact Cathy ([email protected]) or Trudy ([email protected]).

We are excited to welcome Luis Rangel to the Arkansas EFNEP Team! Luis is stationed in the Benton County Extension Office and will be teaching in Benton and Washington Counties. When his training is complete, he will be offering EFNEP nutrition classes for adults and youth in both English and Spanish. You can contact Luis at [email protected] or 479-345-1196. Welcome to the team, Luis!

AG PRODUCER ALERT: Poison Hemlock Risk in Hay
With hay season underway, be on the lookout for Poison Hemlock creeping into fields and hay bales. This plant is highly toxic to livestock—even in small amounts—and drying in hay does NOT remove its toxicity.
• Poison hemlock contains toxic alkaloids that affect the nervous system
• Animals may accidentally consume it when it’s baled into hay
• Symptoms can include tremors, weakness, difficulty breathing, and sudden death
How to Identify:
• Tall plant (up to 6–10 ft)
• Hollow stems with purple spots/blotches
• White, umbrella-shaped flowers (similar to Queen Anne’s lace)
• Musty or mouse-like odor when crushed
Management tips:
• Scout hay fields before cutting
• Remove or control plants before they mature
• Avoid baling contaminated areas
One overlooked patch can turn into a serious livestock loss. Take the time to check fields now—it could save you major headaches later.
Each plant can make as many as 38,000 seed that can persist in the soil for 3-5 years
Feel free to share this to spread the word
https://www.howellcountynews.com/agriculture/mow-or-spot-spray-poison-hemlock-now

ID - https://weedid.missouri.edu/weedinfo.cfm?weed_id=69

Benton county families represented 4-H at the Walmart shareholders event today

Congratulations to the Haley family from Maysville being recognized as the 2026 Benton County Farm Family of the year.

Join us on May 22nd at 11:30 AM for a webinar on Asian Longhorned Tick and Theileriosis in Arkansas!

Topics that will be covered will include: regulations and the importance of testing and reporting; current geographical distribution of the tick and Theileriosis in Arkansas; prevalence of ticks and infection rates among cattle herds; tick management strategies and cattle management strategies; and research updates. Additionally, there will be a roundtable discussion with veterinarians who will talk about their experiences with Theileriosis, along with time for questions for the speakers.

📅Friday, May 22, 2026
⌚11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Link: https://uada.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NXdR3DMwT4SkFz0NakwHEg #/registration

For any questions, please email Kirsten Midkiff, [email protected]

Mark Your Calendars!
📅 June 9th
RSVP BY June 1st

Join us for our next meeting as we continue building momentum for the organization.

Agenda:
• Special Guest: Josh Carter with Zoetis covering animal health topics
• Election of Officers
• By-law Review & Adoption
• Aligning Goals for the Organization

🍽️ Dinner provided and sponsored by Zoetis
🍰 Please bring a dessert to share!

The county will be closing our building for repairs at 1:00 today.

Take care of those Mothers this weekend.

13 days from today! If you're coming, register today!

Hey Northwest Arkansas,
The Arkansas 4-H Foundation invites you to a special evening to celebrate the lasting impact of Arkansas 4-H and launch a new initiative to raise awareness and funds for 4-H scholarships.
Through shared stories and meaningful connections, we’re investing in the next generation of leaders.
What to Expect
• Casual, social evening
• BBQ dinner and beverages
• Alumni connection in NWA
• Program supporting 4-H scholarships
Join us May 12 to help open doors for Arkansas 4-H youth. Click the link to RSVP, donate, volunteer, or learn more. bit.ly/4HForward