Farm Bureau Press | March 4

MARCH 4, 2022 | VOLUME 25 | ISSUE 5

Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE

NATHAN REED ELECTED TO AMERICAN COTTON PRODUCERS Nathan Reed of Marianna was elected chairman of the American Cotton Producers (ACP) of the National Cotton Council (NCC) for 2022, during the NCC’s recent 2022 Annual Meeting.

He has served as an ACP vice chairman and on multiple ACP committees. He is also a past NCC director and has served on various NCC committees and task forces. He currently serves on the NCC’s Farm Policy Task Force and its Farm Program & Economic Policy Committee.

Nathan Reed

2022 Arkansas Century Farm Applications, page 2

Elected as ACP vice chairmen were: Adam Hatley, Mesa, Ariz.; Jon Whatley, Odem, Texas; and Matt Coley, Vienna, Ga.

Matt Hyneman, of Jonesboro, will serve as the ACP state producer chairman.

JANA CARROLL SELECTED FOR FARM BUREAU BOOTCAMP Jana Carroll of Moro was selected for the American Farm Bureau Women’s Communications Boot Camp that will be held March 22-25 at the AFBF office in Washington, D.C.

Irrigation, Water Management Schools Planned, page 3

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Carroll is one of 15 selected through a competitive application process to participate in the intensive training to build the skills needed to communicate about agriculture and Farm Bureau. The 16th class will enhance their leadership and advocacy skills to prepare them to strategically address Farm Bureau priority issues.

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

Jana Carroll

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU’S PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL The first session of the Arkansas Farm Bureau President’s Leadership Council class was held Feb. 18-19 in Little Rock.

Disaster Relief Donation | Amanda Williams (left), director of Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation, and Tanner Riggin (right), Northeast district director, recently presented a disaster relief donation to Monette Mayor Bob Blankenship to help defray expenses for December storm damage.

2022 ARKANSAS CENTURY FARM APPLICATIONS The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2022 Arkansas Century Farm program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years.

To qualify, Arkansas farms must meet the following criteria:

Fourteen participants from across the state come together to deepen their knowledge of Farm Bureau and strengthen their leadership skills.

The class is open to members aged 25-45 who stand out from their peers and have a deep desire to strengthen their leadership skills. President’s Leadership Council is ArFB’s premiere leadership development program where participants: • Gain more in-depth knowledge of Farm Bureau and it’s policy development process; • Engage with legislators on agriculture issues at the state and national level; • Develop leadership skills through extensive training; • Learn how to be a better advocate for agriculture The second session will be held May 20-21 in Jonesboro and focus on communications. The third session will be back in Little Rock Aug. 19-20 and focus on advocacy.

• The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by Dec. 31. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage and adoption.

• The farm must be at least 10 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

Online and printable applications are available here. Applications must be received via email or postmarked on or before May 31 to be eligible for designation as a 2022 inductee. There is no cost to apply for the program.

Qualifying Arkansas farms will receive a personalized Arkansas Century Farm certificate and metal sign listing the farm name and year established. Contact Beth Moore at 501-539-4027 or beth.moore@ agriculture.arkansas.gov with questions.

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2022 PLC Class | (Back row, from left) Kalem Hill, Perry Co.; Caleb Wall, Greene Co.; Brandon Martin White Co.; Austin Brown, Pulaski Co.; Dustin Parsons, Saline Co.; Mike Sowell, Pulaski Co.; Brad Peacock, White Co.; Robert Ray, Pulaski Co.; Nick Simon, Boone Co. and Brian Jackson, Ouachita Co. (Front row, from left) Monica Griffin, Independence Co.; Jessica Angel, Cleburne Co.; Ashlyn Ussery, Craighead Co. and Cole Jackson, Ouachita Co.

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

IRRIGATION, WATER MANAGEMENT SCHOOLS PLANNED The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will host a series of irrigation and water management schools for Arkansas producers seeking to reduce their water use in 2022.

Three Surge and Soil Moisture Sensor Schools are currently scheduled, but instructors will offer additional sessions upon request. The sessions will cover use, layout and programming of surge valves for different soil types and conditions and will provide participants with the basics of soil moisture sensors, as well as instruction on how to use them to schedule irrigation. Participants will make a set of Watermark sensors, a slide hammer installation tool and a manual reader, which are needed to properly install soil moisture sensors. Instructors will demonstrate how to properly use and program Surge Valves through hands-on exercises.

Final Four | Sara Gardner, a collegiate Farm Bureau member from the University of Arkansas, made it to the Final Four in the Collegiate Discussion Meet at the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference held Feb. 25-28 in Lousiville, Ky.

Surge and Soil Moisture Sensor schools each run from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. They will be held at the following dates and locations: • March 8 – Jonesboro – Craighead County Extension Office. To register, contact Branon Thiesse or Chris Grimes at 870-933-4565, or Russ Parker at 870-6361329.

• March 10 – Colt – Pine Tree Experiment Station. To register, contact Rick Wimberley at 870-238-5745, Jenna Martin at 870-261-1730, or Russ Parker at 870636-1329.

• March 15 – Stuttgart – Rice Research and Extension Center. To register, contact Grant Beckwith 870-6730070, Phil Horton at 870-659-2058, or Russ Parker at 870-636-1329.

Registration for the school is free. If a participant wants to build the sensors, those supplies cost $500. Registration is required two days before the scheduled school. The $500 cost covers four sensors, a slide hammer installation tool and a manual reader. Industry sponsors have provided a significant discount on the supplies needed to get started with sensors so that participants can get the tools needed to use sensors effectively for irrigation.

The number of participants for each school is limited to 20.

Grain Bin Training | Despite freezing rain and cold, more than 200 farmers, their employees, firefighters and emergency response teams attended Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Grain Bin Safety Training in Feb. 23 in Stuttgart. The course consisted of a classroom session followed by a hands-on rescue simulation.

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

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MARKET NEWS as of March 2, 2022 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com USDA Unveils First 2022 Crop Estimates at Annual Outlook Conference On Feb. 23, at the Annual Outlook Conference, USDA unveiled its first look at 2022 agricultural production.

According to the report: • Total wheat acreage is estimated to be 48 million acres, and total production is projected to be 18% higher than 2021/22 at 1.940 billion bushels. The increase in production is projected to outpace an increase in use, resulting in higher ending stocks. The projected seasonaverage farm price for 2022/23 is projected to be down 50 cents from last year at $6.80/bushel.

• Corn acres for 2022/23 are estimated to be 92 million, down from 93.4 million in 2021/22. Shifts in relative prices and higher input costs support the estimate for a yearto-year decline in corn plantings.

However, a return to trendline yields results in a record-setting estimate of total production of 15.24 billion bushels. Forecasts for greater domestic use, lower exports and higher ending stocks result in a season-average farm price of $5.00 per bushel, down 45 cents from the previous year.

• Soybean acres are expected to come in at 88 million, up from 87.2 million acres in 2021/22. Strong crush demand and the current drought in South America has resulted in favorable new-crop pricing opportunities for producers and potentially pull acreage away from other crops. Production is projected 4

to be 4.5 billion bushels, up 1% from last year. Ending stocks for 2022/23 are projected at 305 million bushels, down 20 million from the 2021/22 forecast. The season-average on farm price is pegged at $12.75/ bushel.

• Total 2022 rice planted acreage is up nearly 3% from last year at 2.6 million acres, mostly due to increases in medium and short grain production. Forecasts for high prices for alternative crops and substantial increases in prices for inputs like fertilizer and diesel, will limit expansion. The average all-rice yield is unchanged from last year’s record yield of 7,709 lbs/acre. The allrice season average on-farm price is forecast to increase 40 cents per cwt. to $16.10.

• The early USDA projection for 2022 U.S. cotton plantings is a 3-year high 12.7 million acres, up 13% from 2021/22’s 11.2 million acres.

The National Cotton Council annual production survey, which was released earlier in the month shows farmers planning to seed just over 12 million acres. Based upon its 12.7 million-acre estimate and a national average yield of 856/lbs per harvested acre, USDA is projecting a total crop of 18.2 million bales. U.S. cotton ending stocks are projected marginally higher in 2022/23 at 3.6 million bales. The average on-farm price for 2022/23 is pegged at 80 cents/lb, down 10 cents/lb from the 2021/22 price.

• Slow growth in dairy production is expected to persist in 2022. The Jan. 1 inventory survey revealed a total of 9.375 million milk cows, down 0.7% from the same date a year ago. Expectations are for continued, moderate decline in numbers through 2022, for an annual average of 9.36 million head, down 88,000 head from the 2021 average. The ratio of dairy heifers expected to calve to milk cows was 47.5%, the lowest since 2009, and down from 48.8% in 2021. Producers will continue to face higher production

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

costs, as feed, freight, fuel, fertilizer, rents and other input costs squeeze margins.

• The cattle inventory continued to contract in 2021. The Jan. 1 inventory report showed 91.9 million head, down 2% from the same date last year. The beef cow herd was estimated at 30.1 million head, down 2% from a year ago.

The 2021 calf crop was down 1% at 35.1 million head. The inventory is projected to decline further in 2022.

Commercial beef production for 2022 is forecast to fall by 2% to 27.38 billion pounds. The 5-Area steer price for 2022 is forecast to average $137.50/cwt, $15/cwt above 2021’s average. Feeder steer prices for 750800 lb. calves in 2022 is forecast to average $161/cwt, up from $146.95 in 2021.

• The hog sector also contracted in 2021, with the Dec. 1 report showing an inventory of 74.2 million head, down 4% from the prior year and the smallest Dec. 1 inventory since 2017. Carcass weights are forecast to increase, offsetting smaller numbers to some degree. Commercial pork production is forecast at 27.38 billion pounds, about 1% lower than 2021.

National base 51%-52% lean hog prices, live equivalent, are forecast to average $65/cwt for 2022, down from last year’s $67.29.

• Broiler meat production is forecast just over 1% higher for a record of 45.49 billion pounds. The National Composite wholesale broiler price is forecast to average a record $1.13/lb in 2022, compared with an average of $1.02 in 2021.

USDA/NASS will conduct its first survey of producers in early March, and those findings will be released in the Prospective Plantings report on March 31.

EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com