In Farm Bureau
ArFB business session Jan. 29 A meeting of voting delegates to ratify actions taken in the Dec. 6 business session and board meetings of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation is scheduled for 9 a.m., Jan. 29, in Silver City 3 and 4 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock. Registration will open at 8 a.m. This meeting will be held prior to the 10 a.m. start of the Winter Commodity Division meetings. Due to the ice storm causing the lack of a quorum during the Dec. 6 meetings, legal requirements outlined in the organization’s bylaws make holding this meeting necessary. The list submitted in November by each county to certify the county’s voting delegates will be used for this business session. Only those who were listed as voting delegates or alternate delegates are eligible to serve, unless county officers are authorized to change the list of alternate delegates, in which case an amended list will be accepted. It is recommended that all county board members be listed as al-
On Dec. 19 in North Little Rock, the Gill family of McGehee was named 2013 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year. (Left to right) Andy and Shannon Gill, along with their daughter Madeline and son Andrew, have a 3,200-acre corn and soybean operation in Desha County. In addition to the Gills, District Farm Family of the Year winners were the Aday family, Leslie; Jeff and Tanya Hill, Moro; Mario and Lucina Maya, DeQueen; Bob and Sarah Gorden, Mena; Larry and Leslie Griffin, Ozan; Lynn and Tammy Williams, Huntington; and Nick and Deanne Yount, Pollard. ternate delegates. A form has been mailed to all county presidents and should be returned via fax to MaLeta Stephens by Jan. 15. Counties can contact MaLeta (maleta. stephens@arfb.com or 501-228-1470) if a copy of the list that was submitted in November is needed. To properly prepare for breaks and meals, member services representatives should contact Stephens by Jan. 24 and let her know the expected number of attendees.
On Dec. 13, at a ceremony at Farm Bureau Center in Little Rock, the Arkansas Forestry Commission bestowed a Partnership Award to Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Forestry Association. Executive Vice President Rodney Baker (second from right) accepted on behalf of Arkansas Farm Bureau.
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2014 YF&R Committee Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach recently appointed 13 volunteer leaders to serve on the 2014 ArFB State Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. New to the committee this year are Chace and Krystal Groves of Garland (Miller County), and Tyler and Randi McDonald of Buckner (Lafayette County). These individuals will serve two-year terms on the committee.
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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
January 3, 2014 • Vol. 17, No. 1
Ryan Goodman from Pleasant Plains was honored Dec. 4 as the inaugural recipient of The Alliance to Feed the Future’s Communicator of the Year Award. The award recognizes new voices that are enhancing public dialogue about modern food production. Goodman is an active blogger, lecturer and communications manager for the Montana Stockgrowers Association.
Children at Jonesboro’s Westside Elementary enjoyed a visit from state YF&R Vice Chairman Josh Cureton (right) , who brought Fun on the Farm coloring books, soy crayons and Farm Bureau Bank tractors for all to enjoy, including, pictured here, Cureton’s daughter Mattyx. Cureton is Craighead Co. FB’s YF&R chairman and vice president.
Anyone who plans to seek public office should participate. Topics will include how to select a campaign theme and issues, identifying voters, targeting precincts and special-interest groups, budget preparation, fundraising, using a finance committee, the role of the campaign manager, working with news media and more. Registration information is available at www.arfb.com/legislation-regulations/election-information/htw.aspx.
AFBF Convention app The American Farm Bureau Federation has created a mobile app that will prove useful to anyone attending the organization’s 2014 annual convention in San Antonio. After downloading the free app from their smartphone app store, convention goers will have up-to-date convention information at their fingertips throughout the four-day event. The mobile app allows users to view the schedule of events, venue information and maps, an interactive trade-show floor plan, speaker information and much more. You also can build your own agenda and add sessions to your device calendar, integrate with and share on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and take notes directly to your device. To download the app, click on or type the following link on your iPhone, iPad or Android browser: https://afbf14.quickmobile.mobi. Or, go to the Google Play Store or the App Store, search for “2014 AFBF Annual Convention” and download.
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How to Win an Election Because of the success of November’s “How to Win an Election” seminar, a repeat event has been scheduled for Jan. 30-31. “How to Win an Election” is by Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas. The seminar, which was developed by the American Farm Bureau Federation with the assistance of staff members of the Democratic and Republican parties, will take place at the State Chamber office at 1200 W. Capital Ave. in Little Rock.
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Returning to the committee are Brent and Mandi Lassiter of Newport (Jackson County), as chairmen; Josh and Melissa Cureton of Cash (Craighead County), as vice chairmen; Grant and Heather Keenen of Farmington (Washington County); Kallem Hill of Adona (Perry County); and Trent and Kristian Dabbs of Stuttgart (Arkansas County). The YF&R program provides opportunities for young men and women to actively participate in county and state FB organizations, events and programs of work. The program also provides opportunities for young men and women to earn recognition for their achievements in agriculture, business and leadership through the YF&R awards program and competitions.
Hundreds who attended the Arkansas Soybean Research Conference in Jonesboro on Dec. 17 were addressed by two members of the “100 Bushel Soybean Club,” Matt Miles of McGehee (left) and Eddie Tackett of Atkins. Miles and Tackett shared the secrets of how they broke the 100-bushel yield barrier in 2013.
Four previous Arkansas Farm Families of the Year posed for a photo with program coordinator Andy Guffey (back row, right) and Sunbelt Expo director Chip Blalock (back, left) at this year’s event. Left to right: Phillip and Beth DeSalvo of Center Ridge, Heath and Betsy Long of Tichnor, Michael and Sarah Oxner of Searcy, and Brian and Nan Kirksey of Amity.
Helms on AFBF YF&R committee Derek Helms, a 32-year-old corn, rice, soybean and wheat farmer from Arkadelphia, has been appointed to serve a two-year term on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers committee. A former member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau state YF&R committee,
In Arkansas Arkansan named Marshall Scholar Mike Norton, a 2013 honors graduate from the University of Arkansas and a past president of the UofA Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter, has been named one of 34 Marshall Scholars for 2014 by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission. Norton, from Lincoln, majored in poultry science and agricultural business in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. He will pursue a master’s degree in politics at Oxford University. He is the grandson of Jack Norton of Canehill (Washington County), a member of Arkansas Farm Norton Bureau’s board of directors from 1985-95. “The Marshall Scholarship is one of the most prestigious in the country,” said UofA Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “It is on par with the Rhodes and the Gates Cambridge Scholarships. In order to receive a Marshall, a student must be outstanding academically and must have a demonstrated ability to enact positive change. Mike Norton is a perfect choice for this recognition and for this life-changing opportunity.” Rice leadership class named Members of the 2014-16 Rice Leadership Development Program class were announced last month during the USA Rice Awards Luncheon in St. Louis. The class is
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Helms has served as president of the Clark Co. FB the past two years and has chaired the county’s YF&R committee for six years. He joined the county board of Helms directors in 2006. He was also selected to be a member of ArFB’s first President’s Leadership Council class in 2012. In nominating Helms for the position ArFB President Randy Veach said, “Derek has shown great leadership skills by accepting numerous positions within his local Farm Bureau where he has served for eight years and has impressed state leadership with his knowledge and skills.” Members of ArFB’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee were in Washington, D.C. Dec. 16-19 for leadership training, congressional meetings and more. On the front row (from left) are Melissa Cureton, Jamie Taylor, Mandi Lassiter, Elizabeth Walker and Heather Keenen. Middle row: Josh Cureton, Brent Lassiter, Brian Walker, Jason Green and Stanley Hill (ArFB staff). Back row: Harry Willems (ArFB staff), Trent Dabbs and Grant Keenen. comprised of five rice producers and two industry-related professionals selected by a committee of industry leaders. “The caliber of applicants made choosing this year’s class especially difficult, and that’s a problem the rice industry likes to have,” said Rice Foundation Chairman Marvin Cochran. Cochran went on to thank everyone who applied to the program and encouraged the crowd to reach out to those not selected this time to suggest they apply again for the program next year. The new rice-producer class members include three Arkansans: Derek Haigwood of Newport, who serves as Jackson County Farm Bureau president; Jeremy Jones of England; and Clayton Schaefer of McCrory. Other members are Jon Munger of Yuba City, Calif. and Will Reneau of Beaumont, Texas. The new industry-related class members are Jonathan Hobbs with Russell Marine Group in Jefferson, La. and A.J. Sabine with Louisiana Farm Bureau in Baton Rogue. The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication training. During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions
that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills
Elsewhere Soy exports set record The U.S. soy industry has done it again, exporting an eye-popping 1.7 billion bushels of U.S. soy to customers around the world in the 2012-13 marketing year, which ended Sept. 30. The value of these exports comes to a record of more than $28 billion, a 19-percent increase from 2011-2012. Grants for healthier school lunches Fourteen states, including Arkansas, have been awarded a total of $11 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants to help schools purchase equipment that will make serving healthier meals easier, safer and more efficient for school food-service personnel. The states receiving grants were chosen based on free- and reduced-price participation in the National School Lunch Program and greatest unmet need. Grant funds will be distributed to school districts to replace outdated equipment, with priority given to districts serving a high percentage of low-income children. Editor Keith Sutton
In the Market As of Dec. 31, 2013
Year-End Review As we end the year, let’s take a look back at 2013. At the beginning of 2013, most commodities were feeling the effects of a drought in the Midwest and backto-back droughts in the High Plains. Corn yields were down some 40 bushels per acre from their trend, and the market was concerned that there would not be enough grain to make it through the end of the year. Consequently, the market began rationing grain through higher prices, and we saw corn prices close to $7 and soybean prices over $14 during most of the first six months of 2013. At the same time grain prices were rising, cattle prices also were seeing significant gains as producers were forced to liquidate herds due to a lack of affordable feed supplies, especially hay. In 2011 and 2012, herds in major livestock-producing areas were reduced by more than 10 percent in some cases. As we continued through 2013, the old adage “the cure for high prices is high prices” became true as producers responded and planted the largest corn crop ever and one of the largest soybean crops. While the crop got off to a rocky start with less than favorable planting conditions, the weather throughout most of the growing region was near optimal, and corn and soybean yields are forecast to be at or near record levels in 2013. This provided the market with some cushion heading into this next year and has caused prices to decline significantly from where they were just a year ago. As we head into 2014, there remains a lot of unknowns, but what we do know is that the current ratio between soybeans and corn is more than 2.5 to
12/31/12 12/31/13 % Change Cotton $0.7514 $0.8520 13% Rice $14.86 $15.38 3% Soybeans $14.18 $13.22 -7% Corn $6.98 $4.22 -40% Wheat $7.78 $6.01 -23% Live Cattle $129.90 $134.60 4% 1, which heavily favors more soybean production. With the outlook for lower wheat prices to continue to decline and put in new lows, the opportunity exists for producers to significantly increase soybean acreage in 2014. If this acreage is planted and the forecast South American crop materializes in March 2014, we could see a soybean price drop similar to corn this year, as supplies would be replenished. Producers planning to grow more soybeans in 2014 should consider pricing a portion of their crop before the South American crop is realized in March, if growing conditions remain favorable. The potential record crop combined with increases in the U.S. would lead to record global soybean stocks for the 2014-15 year. If these supply increases were realized, if U.S. soybean stocks topped 200 million bushels and if corn supplies remained near 2 billion bushels, prices for both crops would be lower than they are today. The big unknown for all of this remains the weather, which, as we saw in 2012, can drastically change these types of long-term forecasts.
On the livestock front, the effects of the drought will be felt for a much longer time. With the drastic declines in cattle inventories we have seen in recent years, it will take time to rebuild the U.S. herd. As most of you know, it takes at least two years for a heifer to have a calf and for that calf to make it to the marketplace. With sequestration cutbacks, the cattle inventory surveys are only done once a year, and that report will be released at the end of January. This report will give the market its first look in a year to see if inventory numbers have stabilized. The December cattle-on-feed report, which is released monthly, showed the second lowest inventory for December since the series began in 1996. Additionally, placements continue to decline and were down three percent from last year. These types of declines are a trend the livestock market continues to see. As we head into 2014, cattle prices will likely trend higher as the market tries to pull additional cattle to marketplace. One of the dangers in these higher prices is the chance for beef demand to decline in favor of cheaper substitutes.
CONTACT •Brandy Carroll (501) 228-1268, brandy.carroll@arfb.com •Bruce Tencleve (501) 228-1856, bruce.tencleve@arfb.com •Matt King (501) 228-1297, matt.king@arfb.com