In Farm Bureau FFA honors Veach Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach will receive the Honorary American FFA Degree, given to those who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment. Veach is serving his fourth term as president of ArFB, an active supporter of Veach FFA, youth development and scholarship programs. State FFA advisor Marion Fletcher nominated him for the award. “The National FFA organization works to enhance the lives of youth through agricultural education,” said Fletcher, who is approaching his 50th year of agricultural education. “Without the efforts of highly dedi-
® Arkansas Second District Rep. Tim Griffin (right) examined one of Robert Stobaugh’s droughtdamaged corn fields near Atkins while touring farms in his district on Aug. 22. With him were (from left) Conway Co. FB President Gary Kaufman, ArFB Secretary Tom Jones and Stobaugh, a Conway Co. FB board member. Griffin also visited Joe Thrash’s soybean operation near Mayflower and the Simon Brothers Dairy near Conway.
cated individuals like Randy, thousands of young people would not be able to achieve success that, in turn, contributes directly to the overall well-being of our state and nation. The Honorary American FFA Degree is an opportunity to recognize those who have made an extraordinary long-term difference in the lives of students, inspiring confidence in a new generation of agriculturalists.”
Greg Baltz (left), Randolph Co. FB president, poses with the Lawton Robinson family of Pocahontas, the county Farm Family of the Year. The Robinsons were honored Aug. 20 at the county annual meeting at Black River Technical College in Pocahontas.
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Forestry Export Conference Arkansas Farm Bureau is working with several other state Farm Bureaus to host a Forest Product Export Conference Oct. 30-31 in Vicksburg, Miss. This conference offers a great opportunity for county Farm Bureaus to reach out to members who have forest interests. Counties may wish to sponsor someone from their county to attend, as this would be
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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
September 14, 2012 • Vol. 15, No. 17
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Lon Mann Cotton Research Station Director Claude Kennedy (left) welcomed Rep. Rick Crawford to the Marianna facility Aug. 23. Crawford was guest speaker at a field day attended by area farmers who learned about recent cotton research findings from UofA scientists. The top three photos in each category will win monetary prizes. First-place winners will be awarded $200, second place $150 and third place $100. Competition winners will be announced at the AFBF Annual Meeting in January 2013 in Nashville, Tenn. For more information on how to register and to view contest rules, visit www.fb.org/index. php?action=programs.photocontest. Contact photocontest@fb.org with questions about the competition.
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Photo contest kicks off The American Farm Bureau Federation, in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, is holding the 2012 Farm Bureau Photo Contest. The competition is open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and employees above 18 years of age at the time of entry, including professional photographers. Submitted photos will be used to accurately portray today’s agriculture and safe practices of farmers and ranchers, and also for future use in AFBF publications and promotions. The competition guidelines state all photo submissions must exemplify safe practices on the farm or ranch. The competition has five categories: Safety and Health, My Scenic Farm/Ranch, At Work on the Farm or Ranch, At Home on the Farm or Ranch and Consumer Outreach. The contest runs through Nov. 30.
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an excellent activity for the Gold Star application. The conference is designed for forestry professionals, loggers, mill representatives, economicdevelopment coordinators and other state and local officials. For conference information, go to www.arfb. com/ag-markets-statistics/forestry.aspx.
On Aug. 27, members of Newton Co. FB’s board looked over the 2012 policy development booklet and discussed resolutions. The group wrote several resolutions that will be voted on at its Sept. 14 annual meeting in the Carroll Electric Community Room in Jasper.
State Sen. Robert Thompson of Paragould was guest speaker at Lawrence Co. FB’s annual meeting Aug. 27 at Walnut Ridge High School. Several hundred people attended to elect the 2012-13 board of directors and vote on county resolutions.
At St. Francis Co. FB’s annual meeting Aug. 23, Berta Ann Elphingstone (left), representing the Kuntry Kitchen at Wiley Jones Fairgrounds, accepted a symbolic $10,000 check from county FB President Andy Williams to support the kitchen’s activities.
In Arkansas Discovery Farms gets USDA Grant The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a grant of nearly $1 million to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service. The $969,299 grant will be used to test low-cost water-monitoring equipment at Arkansas’ Discovery Farm installations. Discovery Farm research is conducted on commercial farms, rather than in laboratories. Researchers say they’ll study how much water is running off from the farm, and what’s contained in that water. Researchers are studying the problem of hypoxia, or low oxygen, in the Gulf Mexico, where all drainage in the Mississippi River basin eventually goes. Research partners include the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas State University, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of WisconsinPlatteville and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. Arkansas has five Discovery Farms. Those farms represent both crop and livestock production in multiple watersheds. Supporters of the program hope to expand it to include another poultry farm and a forestry operation.
Elsewhere
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Panama/UofA exchange pact Thanks to an agreement between UofA’s Division of Agriculture and Panama’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Division’s extension personnel and researchers, along with students from the Dale Bumpers College of
Judge Ed Hill (left) proclaimed September as “Rice Month” in Craighead County at an Aug. 31 rice-tasting event at Region’s Bank in Jonesboro. With Hill were Craighead Co. FB board member Jim Tubbs, Miss Craighead County Rice Bailey Davis and FB Women’s Committee members Angie Hodges.
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Beebe declares emergency On Aug. 28, Gov. Mike Beebe declared a state of emergency in Arkansas in order to assist with the transport of harvested crops during Arkansas’s severe drought. The declaration is intended to help Arkansas farmers who are experiencing navigation and transportation difficulties due to the low flow on the Mississippi River. The declaration temporarily authorizes issuance of special permits from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department for the transport of agricultural products (specifically corn, rice, soybeans and grain sorghum) to their destinations on controlled access highways, provided that the load does not exceed 85,000 pounds. This declaration is in effect for 30 days and may be extended depending on future conditions.
The Cotton Field Day at Judd Hill Cooperative Research Station near Trumann on Aug. 30 featured tours of field research plots for the more than 150 farmers in attendance. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Butch Calhoun was among the featured speakers.
Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, will have access to cultural and educational exchanges between the two nations. The agreement provides for collaboration in the areas of agricultural extension, agricultural education and the support of curriculum development. Mark Cochran, UofA System Vice President for Agriculture, and Michael Vayda, Dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, traveled to Panama on Aug. 3 to sign the memorandum of understanding with the Panamanian government. Oscar Osorio, Panama’s Minister of Agriculture, signed on behalf of his government. Cochran also noted that plans are to support the development of curriculum for a vocational-agriculture high school in Panama. This agreement is an opportunity to renew and re-energize relations between the university and Panama that span 60 years. Dr. Paul Noland, a UofA animal science professor, was instrumental in the early efforts that established the relationship. Keep good records, FSA urges USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Juan M. Garcia issued an Aug. 29 release urging livestock producers affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Isaac to keep thorough records of their livestock and feed losses, including additional expenses for such things as feed pur-
chases because of lost supplies. “There are extraordinary circumstances caused by a variety of disasters from fires in the west, floods in Florida, Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf region, storms in the Mid-Atlantic and drought and heat affecting the heartland,” Garcia said. FSA recommends that owners and producers record all pertinent information of natural disaster consequences, including documentation of the number and kind of livestock that have died, supplemented if possible by photographs or video records of ownership and losses; dates of death supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts; costs of transporting livestock to safer grounds or to move animals to new pastures; and feed purchases if supplies or grazing pastures are destroyed. Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that the department’s authority to operate the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 farm bill expired on Sept. 30, 2011. This includes SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program; the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish; the Livestock Forage Disaster Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are ineligible for disaster program coverage. Editor Keith Sutton
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In the Market As of Sept. 12, 2012: SOYBEANS made a strong recovery following a positive crop report. November futures fell below $17, broke trendline support and look vulnerable to further declines prior to the September report. USDA made minor adjustments, which further reduced the available supply. Beginning stocks were lowered by 15 million bushels, and production was cut 58 million bushels. USDA offset that, lowering exports 55 million bushels and the domestic crush by 15, leaving projected ending stocks unchanged at a very tight 115 million bushels. The market reaction was quick and strong. November moved back above the uptrend and is in position to perhaps test resistance at the contract high near $17.90. If Chinese demand holds, the market can go higher. The inverse market situation is not likely to provide much reward for storing soybeans, so be prepared to make sales soon. CORN continued lower after USDA adjusted 2012-13 beginning stocks. USDA added 160 million bushels to the stocks and did not adjust the 2012 yield as much as expected. Just 52 million bushels were cut from the projected 2012 production number. Total use was raised 25 million bushels despite a 50-million-bushel reduction in exports. Ending stocks of 733 million bushels were up 83 million bushels from last month. The strong performance in soybeans helped trim early corn declines. However, December could move toward support near $7.45 before any recovery is seen. Looking ahead, December 2013 is testing support at$6.50. Long term, there will be a battle between corn and beans for acreage. Right now, the November bean/December corn price ratio is 2.11 and still favors corn. Just a couple of weeks ago, the ratio was 2.0, so soybeans are gaining traction.
Wheat numbers for the U.S. were unchanged from the August report. However, world wheat production was reduced 4.1 mmt, and most of that, as expected, was in Russia and Kazakhstan. At some point that could result in Russia limiting exports. July 2013 futures are maintaining a choppy 25 to 35 cents trading range, with a top of $8.75. A close below the late August low of $8.41 would signal further losses. RICE futures finally bottomed despite changes in the September report. Long grain production rose 6.2 million cwt on improving yields. Coupled with a 7.6 million cwt upward adjustment in beginning stocks, the report was a recipe for disaster. The increased supply was tempered by a 2 million cwt increase in domestic use and an 8 million cwt increase in projected exports. A decrease in imports helped reduce the impact, leaving projected ending stocks of 30.9 million cwt, an increase of just 2.5 million cwt. After all the changes, the trade decided the nearly $2 decline over the last month was sufficient. November has retracement objectives of $15.25, then $15.46. COTTON was hit hard despite chopping expected harvest by 370,000 acres. That adjustment clipped 540,000 bales off projected production. However, world stocks rose 1.85 million bales to a whopping 76.5 million bales, forcing USDA to reduce projected U.S. exports by 300,000 bales. So, while ending stocks for the U.S. fell to 5.3 million bales, futures declined sharply. December fell below trendline support at 73.5 cents, which could bring support from 69.5 to 71.5 cents into play.
Live Cattle futures continue to consolidate in a mostly sideways pattern. Feeders are trending higher after confirming a double bottom in late July. Pasture conditions in the middle of the country have shown some improvement, providing support to feeders. Nebraska, however, continues to deteriorate, with 97 percent of its pasture now rated poor to very poor. The October live contract has resistance at $127.20 and support at $119.50. October feeders have up-trending support near $146. hog futures have been under significant selling pressure. Herd liquidation has brought a glut of pigs to the market, and cash prices are being hit hard. There are ideas that the supply is peaking, and if that turns out to be true, then the market could confirm a bottom and turn around. There is no confirmation of this just yet, however. October set a new low for the move last Friday, and that is now the first level of support at $70.37. DAIRY. Class I fluid milk demand is strong after the holiday weekend across much of the nation. Eastern supplies are tight, with Florida importing 72 loads this week. Hurricane Isaac caused some temporary transportation problems with milk handlers in the Southeast. Cheese barrels closed at $1.7750 and 40-pound blocks at $1.8300. The weekly average for barrels is $1.7763 (-.0232) and blocks, $1.8275 (-.0230). The CME cash butter price eased slightly late in the week and closed at $1.8650. This cash price compares to $1.8400 a week ago, $1.7100 one month ago and $1.9950 a year ago. Since September 6, 2011, the cash butter price has not surpassed the $2.00 level.
Contact • Gene Martin 501-228-1330, gene.martin@arfb.com. • 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.