Farm Bureau Press | May 17

Farm Bureau Press

Magen Allen of Bismarck was recently selected to be part of the American Farm Bureau’s 12th Partners in Advocacy Leadership (PAL) class. Allen is a member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau board of directors.

AFBF designed PAL to help agricultural leaders accelerate their engagement abilities and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture.

“Being able to successfully advocate at all levels – local, state and national – for agricultural issues that benefit rural communities is more important than ever,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

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Ag Education Donation | The ArFB Foundation recently donated $75,000 to Arkansas Tech University (ATU) in support of the construction of a new Agricultural Education Building that will house a learning laboratory. The lab will be named the Arkansas Farm Bureau Education Lab. Those in attendance for the presentation include members of ArFB board and staff, ATU alumni and staff, and several elected officials.

ArFB Launches New Podcast: AgriCulture, Page 2

Aiming for the Future of Agriculture

ArFB Foundation Annual Trap Shoot, Page 3

Scan the QR code to access direct links referenced in each article.

Magen Allen

A r FB LAUNCHES NEW PODCAST: AGRICULTURE

ArFB launched a new podcast this month.

AgriCulture is a podcast telling stories from around the state about how Arkansans navigate challenges and cultivate meaningful lives as they tell their stories, struggles and satisfactions from the farm.

YOUNG FARMER & RANCHER AWARD

Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers recently announced its three finalists for the Excellence in Ag and Achievement Awards. Both contests are designed to provide opportunities to give recognition for achievements in agriculture, business, and leadership to young farmers and ranchers.

Excellence in Ag recognizes the accomplishments of contestants who derive the majority of their income from efforts other than agriculture but are involved in farming. The three finalists are:

AgriCulture debuted with a 5-part series on the Buffalo River - its past and future. Discussion of a possible re-designation of the National River in late October drew more than 1,200 concerned citizens to a community meeting in Jasper. Longtime Searcy County residents Randy Clark and Bonnie Cash Glidewell tell why locals are agitated.

Listen on Tuesdays, wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

MSR Conference | The 2024 ArFB Member Service Representative (MSR) Conference was recently held in Little Rock. MSRs from across the state came together for an update from ArFB, breakout sessions and keynote speaker Lisa Smartt. A complete photo recap is available here

May Proclamations | May is Arkansas Beef, Egg and Strawberry Month. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders presented the proclamations earlier this month alongside Secretary Wes Ward at an event in Little Rock to recognize Arkansas’s beef, egg and strawberry producers. View the proclamations here.

• Garrett and Mallory Moix, Faulkner Co. The Moix’s have a 300- acre Bermuda grass hay farm and a run a 130-head cow/ calf operation where they work to improve genetics each year. Mallory works as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist. They love to include their children in all their farming adventures.

• Caleigh Watlington, Columbia Co. Caliegh and her husband Coe have a small cow/calf operation in Buckner where they also sell Alfalfa hay. Being raised on a beef and poultry operation, farming has always been a big part of Caleigh’s life. She is currently an agricultural loan officer for Farm Credit of Western Arkansas. They have one daughter.

• Hannah Walker, Baxter Co. Hannah and her husband Cody, have mixed cow-calf pairs, replacement heifers, bulls, and feeder calves on their farm in Henderson. She is the financial secretary for the Mountain Home Public Schools Special

A r FB FOUNDATION ANNUAL TRAP

The Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation will be hosting its annual trap shoot June 7 at the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex in Jacksonville.

The ArFB Foundation is “Aiming for the Future of Agriculture” by teaming up with the Arkansas 4-H Foundation and the Arkansas FFA Foundation. Half of the net proceeds from this year’s shoot will benefit the Arkansas 4-H and Arkansas FFA Foundations, while continuing to support the goals of the ArFB Foundation.

The event is $500 for a five-man team and includes awards for youth & adult divisions, a top shooter award and door prizes.

There are several options for individuals or county Farm Bureaus to show support for these organizations including sponsorship of a local youth shooting team or by forming a county team. The deadline to register is May 23.

There are also options for those wanting to support these organizations, including:

AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Education Department. She and her husband have two children.

The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers in Arkansas who have excelled in their farming and ranching operations and exhibited outstanding leadership abilities. The award is designed for those involved full-time in production agriculture.

The top three finalists for the Achievement Award are:

• Dalton and Skiver Dilldine, Mississippi Co. The Dilldines farm 5,500 acres, where they grow wheat, soybeans, cotton, corn, and rice. Skiver is a Registered Nurse at a local hospital. The Dilldine’s love to try new restaurants and travel to spend time with family at the lake.

• Cody and Olivia Stroud, Sharp Co. Both Cody and Olivia are fifth-generation farmers and have blended two operations where they run cattle in Carroll, Izard and Sharp Counties. They have a 1-year-old son who is the proud owner of three cows and three sheep.

• Justin and Laycee Story, Scott Co. The Storys have an 851acre farm in western Scott Co, where they run a 145-head cattle operation and150 Black Belly and Dorper cross sheep. They operate a liquid feed business, while Justin also works part-time for other cattlemen in the area. They have three children.

The winner of both awards will be announced in July at the Officers and Leaders Conference held in Jonesboro.

TRAP SHOOT

• Event Sponsor:

• Gold Level: $300 – Unlimited Availability

• Silver Level: $200 – Unlimited Availability

• Bronze Level: $150 – Unlimited Availability

• Shooting Field: $450 – 12 Available

• Booth: $50 – Limited Availability

For more information on all sponsorship opportunities, please visit the ArFB Foundation section of the Arkansas Farm Bureau website for registration options and additional forms. The Facebook event page can be found here.

For questions, contact Amanda Williams by email at amanda. williams@arfb.com or at 501-228-1493.

ALLEN SELECTED FOR AFBF CLASS

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“We applaud the members of PAL Class 12 for their interest in honing the necessary skills to promote issues that are important to those in the farm-toconsumer food chain.”

Other members of PAL Class 12 are: Jen Beretta, California; Amanda Durow, Minnesota; Jessica Graves, Minnesota; Jon Iverson, Oregon; Matt Moreland, Missouri; Jackie Mundt, Kansas; Linda Pryor, North Carolina; Chris Riley, Utah; and Karl Shlagel, Maryland.

PAL training involves four learning modules designed to develop specific advocacy skills while exploring components of leadership and its theories and philosophies. The modules build on one another over the two years of the program and include intense, in-person, hands-on training.

PAL graduates emerge with the experience and confidence — in everything from legislative policy making and issues management to social media and media relations — to effectively engage all critical stakeholders.

Hunters Feeding the Hungry Donation | The ArFB Foundation recently donated $25,000 to Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (AHFH) for the Wild Game Snack Stick Program. This program provides shelf stable meat snack sticks to schools for their backpack programs. In addition to the initial donation, $25,000 has been designated for matching donations made by county Farm Bureaus, individuals and other entities. In attendance for the presentation include (from left, front row) Stanley Hill, ArFB; Kathy & Ronnie Ritter, AHFH; Dan Wright, ArFB board; Traci Berry, The Buck Stops Here; Grant Westmoreland, AHFH; (back row) Mark Lambert, ArFB; Jarrod Yates, ArFB; Justin Reynolds, ArFB; Amanda Williams, ArFB, and Jack Evans, ArFB board.

MARKET NEWS

as of May 15, 2024

Contact

Brandy Carroll brandy.carroll@arfb.com

Tyler Oxner tyler.oxner@arfb.com

Rice

Planting progress is still significantly ahead of the average pace, despite heavy rains in recent weeks. Arkansas farmers have planted 94% of intended acres, compared to a 5-year average of 72%. As of May 12, 75% of the state crop was rated good to excellent. The first WASDE estimates for the 2024/25 marketing year saw U.S. beginning stocks lowered to 40.8 million cwt. However, carryout is expected to grow to 45.5 million cwt. by the end of the 2024/25 marketing year. July is now the lead contract, and trading has been volatile as traders rolled positions out of expiring May. The market has run into resistance at $19.50 and has support at $18.25. New-crop September futures charted a bearish reversal on Monday, but that signal was negated on Tuesday when the market finally closed above previous resistance of $15.50. The market will now need to close above $15.60 to suggest further gains are possible.

Cotton

Cotton futures have resumed their decline after a brief bounce last week. Both old-and-new crop contracts are trading at 18-month lows. Demand has been soft for some time, and recent declines in crude oil prices mean synthetic fibers will be cheaper competition for cotton. The dollar has also lost value, though, and that could bolster demand a bit. The cotton crop was 33% planted nationwide

on May 12, on pace with the 5-year average. However, heavy rains across much of the south could delay further planting. Drought conditions through West Texas are also intensifying again after some respite earlier in the year. December futures are currently testing support just above 74 cents. The market will find resistance between 76 and 78 cents on an upswing.

Corn

Sep24 and Dec24 both reached a new four-month high before retracing. Resistance levels for September and December are now at $4.99 and $5.05 respectively. U.S. planting progress stands at 49%, in line with expectations but behind last year’s pace of 60% and the five-year average of 54%. Given the current forecast, traders will normally be looking for the bulk of U.S. corn being planted by the end of May, which doesn’t look likely. Nonetheless, the upward trend in September and December corn prices persists. The USDA’s May WASDE report projects a 3% decline in U.S. corn production from last year, while total supplies are anticipated to reach highs not seen since 2017/18. World corn production is expected to decrease from last year’s record levels.

Soybean

Nov24 soybeans continue to find support, holding above $12.00 per bushel. U.S. planting progress has only advanced by 10% since last week, reaching 35% completion. This falls slightly below expectations but aligns with the five-year average. Notably, Arkansas reports significant progress, with 76% of the soybean crop planted, marking an 11% increase from last week, 9% higher than last year, and 30% above the five-year average. The May supply and demand report forecasts a 4.45 billion bushel increase in U.S. soybeans, attributed to expanded

planted areas and trend yield. Global production is on the rise, led by increases in South America, the U.S., and South Africa.

Wheat

Jul24 Chicago wheat recently reached a fresh nine-month high but struggled to surpass $7.00, indicating resistance at that level. Support remains steady at $6.66. Winter wheat ratings remain stable at 50% Good to Excellent (G/E), significantly higher than the 29% G/E reported a year ago, marking the highest ratings since 2020. Currently, 57% of the crop is headed, surpassing last year’s 46% and the five-year average of 44%. The May WASDE report raises expectations for larger supplies in the U.S., projecting a 6% increase from the previous year, driven by a 3% rise in production and slightly higher yields. Globally, wheat supplies are expected to decrease due to reduced carry-in stocks despite higher production.

Livestock, Poultry and Dairy

In the first monthly WASDE providing estimates for the 2024/25 marketing year, USDA has estimated lower beef production for 2025. This is due to tighter cattle supplies and increased heifer and cow retention. Pork production is forecast to increase on growth in pigs per litter. Broiler and turkey production are expected to increase on lower feed costs and as the industry recovers from HPAI.

The 2024 milk production forecast was raised on an increase in dairy cows and more rapid growth in output per cow. The Class III and Class IV price forecasts were lowered. The all-milk price is forecast at $20.90/cwt.