Farm Bureau Press | March 31

Farm Bureau Press

A r FB COMMITTEES PARTNER FOR COMMUNITY CULTIVATIONS PROGRAM

The ArFB State Women’s Leadership (WLC) and Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committees have announced the new Community Cultivations Program. The program is combining several existing programs, such as the Backpack Program, into one, along with introducing the new Hunters Feeding the Hungry Program. It is designed to encourage counties to support programs and activities in your local communities. Arkansas Farm Bureau supports ongoing efforts to build stronger communities throughout the state. This program is a great way to Make It Matter in your community.

Within the Community Cultivations Program, the Food Program and School Supply Program are both eligible for reimbursements from ArFB, while the Hunters Feeding the Hungry Program is eligible for matching funds.

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Announced, Page 2 & 3

FOLLOW

2023 M*A*S*H Camp Schedule

Sebastian County Farm Bureau Adds third Location, Page 3

St. Patrick's Day Fundraiser | Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation made a $10,000 donation to the Arkansas 4-H Foundation during its St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser. Justin Reynolds, Vice President of Organization and Member Programs (left) and Amanda Williams, ArFB Foundation Director (right), presented the check to John Thomas, Arkansas 4-H Foundation Managing Director (center).

Benton Co. Challenge | Benton Co. Farm Bureau and the Benton Co. Women’s Leadership Committee recently completed a Fill a Ford Challenge. The effort started with Farm Bureau Week in February and challenged county 4-H Clubs and county FFA Chapters challenged to Fill a Ford with food/hygien items to meet needs within the county. Final donations went to the Children’s Center and to Centerton Cares, a program that stations mini pantries in various locations where families may take free non-perishable foods.

(Top) Pictured receiving items on behalf of the Children’s Center are Kate Lundsford (left) Community Engagement Director, Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter, and Benton Co. Farm Bureau Agent Kyle Woodruff. Also pictured (bottom) are Chloe Miles, who keeps area food pantries well stocked, along with her mother and Benton Co. WLC member Lindsi Miles.

COMMUNITY CULTIVATIONS PROGRAM

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Programs and activities in this program will fall into several categories of the new LEAD Awards Program. Please consider involving your county board and other committees in this program.

Eligible programs include, but are not limited to:

• Food Program – Backpack Program, Food Bank/Pantry donations: Monetary and food/item donations are eligible

• School Supply Drive: Monetary donations, school supply donations and/or gift card donations

• Monetary and item donations to local organizations

• Hold or sponsor donation drives: Fill-A-Ford or similar drive, sponsor a diaper or personal hygiene supply drive at your county office and donate the collected items to a local shelter.

2023 M*A*S*H CAMP SCHEDULE

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Farm Bureau (ArFB) have released the 2023 Medical Applications of Science for Health (M*A*S*H ) Camp dates and locations.

M*A*S*H is designed to expose students to career in the medical field. The two-week camps are free and take place at various locations around the state. ArFB has a long history of supporting and advocating for rural healthcare.

Students who attend the camps are given a unique look into the healthcare industry while shadowing medical professionals. Activities and experiences offered through the program include:

• CPR Certification Course

• Suturing Class

• Nursing

• ER

• Dentistry and Oral Health

• Dissections

• Sports Medicine and Casting Class

The application period runs from through April, although deadlines may be different for each site. A complete list of dates,

2023 Arkansas Ag Week | Gov. Sarah Sanders declared March 19-25 Arkansas Agriculture week with a proclamation signed at the capital. ArFB State Board member, Terry Laster of Union County joined ag industry leaders for the signing on March 22.

PROGRAM

• Partner with FFA and 4-H chapters or other youth organizations on a community projects: reading program at a local school or library or organization for fair cleanup, prior to the fair.

Above is a list of suggested programs and ideas, but counties are encouraged to think outside of the box.

Complete program details can be found online. If you have questions if a program/activity is eligible, please contact Women’s Leadership Coordinator Amanda Williams at amanda. williams@arfb.com or 501-228-1493, or YF&R Coordinator Jennifer Craig at jennifer.craig@arfb.com or 501-228-1269.

ANNOUNCED

application deadlines and coordinators can be found online. Students interested can apply for Summer 2023 here.

Camp Locations and Dates

Arkansas Methodist Medical Center: June 5-16

Ashley County Medical Center: June 5-9

Ashley County Medical Center: June 5-16

Baptist Health – Fort Smith: July 3-14

Baptist Health – Hot Spring County: July 17-28

Blytheville: June 19-23

Bradley County Medical Center: June 19-30

Chicot Memorial Medical Center – Lake Village: June 5-9

Conway Regional Medical Center: June 19-23

Crittenden County: June 26-29

DeWitt Hospital: July 24-Aug 2

Drew Memorial Health System: June 12-23

El Dorado: June 12-16

Fayetteville: June 14-16

Fayetteville: June 12-23

Forrest City: June 5-9

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center – Harrison: June 12-23

Helena/West Helena: June 12-16

Mercy Hospital – Fort Smith: June 19-30

Mercy Medical Center – Rogers: June 19-30

Pine Bluff: June 19-30

Texarkana: June 12-23

Students accepted to the camps must provide transportation to and from camp each day. Students must agree to be present each day of the camp.

SEBASTIAN

COUNTY FARM

BUREAU

ADDS THIRD LOCATION

Sebastian Co. Farm Bureau celebrated the grand opening of its new office March 15 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. The festivities began at with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and continued with an open house.

This is Sebastian Co. Farm Bureau's third location. “I hope we can serve our area in a great way,” said Sebastian Co. Farm Bureau Agency Manager Shane Medford.

The new Greenwood office is located at 910 West Center St., Suite C. The office may be reached 479252-6040.

Farm Bureau Week Top Honors | Columbia Co. Farm Bureau took top honors in the 2023 Farm Bureau Week contest for the most creative Farm Bureau membership campaign. The campaign used the hashtag #WhyFarmBureau to share member benefits and board member testimonials featuring why they’re proud to be Arkansas Farm Bureau members. ArFB District Director Austin Lester (left) presented the $1,500 check to (from left) Mike Jones, agency manager; board members Lindsey Holtzclaw and Jimmy Bussey, Ashley Hollensworth, MSR, and Kaylee Taylor, MSR. The county intends to use the award to implement more programs and activities for members in Columbia County.

MARKET NEWS

as of March 29 , 2023

Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com

Corn

Corn futures have been supported in recent weeks by renewed buying from China. In mid-March, China purchased over 80 million bushels during a four-day buying spree. However, weekly export commitments are still far below the five-year average and down 34% when compared to this date last year. Uncertainty regarding the South American crop is also weighing on the market. Argentina has received some rain, but it might have been too late to improve yields. Brazil’s weather has been more beneficial, and the crop there is still expected to be large, if not exactly a bin-buster. Slow movement in the country has resulted in higher old-crop futures. May needs to close above $6.50 to suggest further gains are possible. New-crop futures have not seen the same strength but are trying to build some upward momentum. December has resistance at $5.75. Corn seeding is just getting started-the deep south has made significant progress, with south Arkansas already seeing some activity despite wet conditions. On Friday, USDA will release its Quarterly Grain Stocks report and the first survey-based planting intentions report. Expectations are for a large corn crop, and that will likely keep a lid on prices for the time being.

Cotton

Cotton futures have posted solid gains this week, with some contracts closing limit-up. Traders are reacting to pre-report estimates ahead of Friday’s planting intentions report.

The average guess-timate is 11 million acres, within a range of 11.5-12.7 million, down from 13.8 million last year. A weaker dollar and improved export demand have also been supportive. USDA pegged the crop at 10.9 million acres in February, while in the National Cotton Council’s annual survey, farmers reported intentions of 11.4 million acres.

Rice

Rice futures have been building some upward momentum, building on support at recent lows. May futures are trading at their highest level in four-weeks, but have found resistance at $18. New-crop September achieved an upside objective of closing the downward chart gap left on March 7 between $15.95 and $15.90, but has been unable to challenge the $16 mark. Pre-report estimates have pegged the rice crop at 2.5 million acres, with a range of 2.2-2.9 million. If realized, 2.5 million acres would be up 13% from the 2022 rice crop. Cool, wet conditions in the Mid-South mean the crop is off to a slow start in Arkansas, but it’s still early. USDA will begin releasing Weekly Crop Progress reports the first week of April.

Soybeans

Soybean futures have been locked in a sharp down-trend for the past couple of weeks. The market does seem to have found its bottom and has posted solid gains this week. Support for May is now at that low of $14.05, while November support is at $12.47. The selloff seems to be the result of the old adage “high prices cure high prices.” Demand has deteriorated due to high prices while those high prices encouraged producers in Brazil to plant a big crop. That means there will be lots of competition on the export market during this marketing year. The rebound this week is mostly due to technical buying as the market had become technically oversold. There

could be some position evening ahead of Friday’s reports as well. In February, USDA estimated no change in soybean acres when compared with 2022, but there is still plenty of time for farmers to change course.

Livestock

Live cattle futures have been under pressure as general concerns about the economy and the potential impacts on demand sparked a selloff. The market has found strength in recent days, however, from firm cash markets. The October contract has posted sharp gains and closed a downward chart gap left on March 13 between $163.17 and $162.90. Cattle market fundamentals remain supportive for prices. The March Cattle on Feed report again confirmed that supplies in US feedlots continue to decline from 2022. February market the sixthstraight month of declining feedlot placements.

June hog futures are attempting to recover after a selloff that took $16 off the market in the span of about seven trading days. The spike low of $87.80 should provide support. The market is oversold and there isn’t a lot of nearby resistance, which could help a potential recovery.

Dairy

In the March supply/demand report, USDA raised its forecast for 2023 milk production on a larger cow inventory. Import estimates were also raised, while export projections were reduced. The Class III price projections were lowered, while Class IV prices are projected higher. The all-milk price is projected lower at $20.45 per cwt.

EDITOR

Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com