APRIL 15, 2022 | VOLUME 25 | ISSUE 8
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
ARFB FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION ANNUAL TRAP SHOOT FUNDRAISER The Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation will be hosting its 4th Annual Trap Shoot on June 10 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. Supporting youth in agriculture is at the heart of the ArFB Foundation’s mission and investing in the future of Arkansas agriculture is a shared vision among these organizations.
Gov. Hutchinson Announces Appointments to Agriculture Boards and Commissions, page 2
Half of the net proceeds from this year’s shoot will directly benefit both the Arkansas 4-H and Arkansas FFA Foundations, while continuing to support the goals of the ArFB Foundation. There are several options for county Farm Bureaus to support these organizations. One way is through the sponsorship of a local youth shooting team or by forming a county team. For information on all sponsorship opportunities, online registration options and additional forms please visit the ArFB Foundation section of the Arkansas Farm Bureau website. The team and sponsor registration deadline is May 26. Please contact Amanda Williams by email or by phone at 501-228-1493 with any questions.
Beef Quality Assurance Workshops Scheduled , page 2-3
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GOV. HUTCHINSON ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO AGRICULTURE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Ranchers across Arkansas will be able to obtain Beef Quality Assurance certification or re-certification at one of five upcoming workshops scheduled for Fayetteville, Batesville, Malvern, Magnolia and Mena. Each workshop is tailored to address topics specific to that region. The schedule of workshops:
On March 30, Gov. Hutchinson made appointments to several boards and commissions within the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
• April 28, Fayetteville – Division of Agriculture’s Savoy Farm
The appointments are as follows:
• May 20-21, Mena – Wickes Community Center
Boll Weevil Eradication Committee: Scott Bray, Alexander. Term expires July 1, 2024. Ramey Stiles, Marianna. Term expires July 1, 2024. Travis Senter, Osceola. Term expires July 1, 2024. Gregg Garner, Lake City. Term expires July 1, 2025. Benton Felts, Joiner. Term expires on July 1, 2025. Arkansas Forestry Commission: David Cawein, Bella Vista. Term Expires Jan. 14, 2027. Miles Goggans, Star City. Term expires Jan. 14, 2031. Peter Prutzman, Arkadelphia. Term expires Jan. 14, 2028. Arkansas Natural Resources Commission: Bill Poynter, Texarkana. Term expires Jan. 14, 2029. Arkansas State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers: Dr. Steven Green, Jonesboro. Term expires Nov. 1, 2026. Veterinary Medical Examining Board: Dr. Conley Byrd, Redfield. Term expires March 1, 2027. Shawna Barber, Jonesboro. Term expires March 1, 2027. Find the full list of appointments click here.
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BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE WORK
• May 5, Batesville – Livestock & Forestry Research Station • May 6, Malvern – Whiskey Ridge Ranch • May 13, Magnolia – Southern Arkansas University “Beef Quality Assurance, or BQA, is a national program meant to uphold best standards of animal welfare for the production of high-quality cattle,” said Heidi Ward, extension veterinarian for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and BQA coordinator. “At these workshops, ranchers learn the best
USDA ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR $2 INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT AME The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing it will support additional fertilizer production for American farmers to address rising costs, including the impact of Putin’s price hike on farmers, and spur competition. USDA will make available $250 million through a new grant program this summer to support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers. Additionally, to address growing competition concerns in the agricultural supply chain, USDA will launch a public inquiry seeking information regarding seeds and agricultural inputs, fertilizer and retail markets. Fertilizer prices have more than doubled since last year due to many factors, including Russia’s price hike, a limited supply of the relevant minerals and high energy costs, high global demand and agricultural commodity prices, reliance on fertilizer imports and lack of competition in the fertilizer industry. The United States is a major importer and dependent on foreign fertilizer and is the second or third top importer for each of the three major components of fertilizer. The top producers of the major components of fertilizer include China, Russia, Canada and Morocco, with Belarus also providing a significant share of potash. USDA will use funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) set aside in September for market disruptions to develop a grant program that provides ‘gap’ financing to bring new,
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KSHOPS SCHEDULED techniques for everyday activities including how to provide lowstress handling as cattle go through chutes, how to properly use vaccines, and how to develop a herd health plan with a veterinarian.” Learn more about the BQA program in Arkansas. BQA is supported by checkoff dollars provided by the Arkansas Beef Council. BQA Workshop | Dr. Darren McVay, left, veterinarian and BQA trainer, and Lance Blythe, Greene County extension ag agent and BQA trainer, discuss herd health and vaccine handling during the Delta District Beef Quality Assurance Workshop March 21 at the Gateway Animal Clinic in Walnut Ridge. (Image by Heidi Ward)
ArFB FOUNDATION SCAM ALERT It has been brought to the attention of ArFB Foundation that phone calls have been made to individuals soliciting donations for the ArFB Foundation. The ArFB Foundation DOES NOT solicit donations by phone. If you or someone you know receives such a phone call, please forward the number and any other pertinent information to ArFB Foundation Director Amanda Williams. Please share this information with your county board members and office staff. The ArFB Foundation does accept donations online and by check. To make a secure donation click here for giving options. If you have any questions, call 501-228-1493. Thank you for your assistance.
250 MILLION ERICAN-MADE FERTILIZER independent domestic production capacity on-line—similar to the recently announced meat and poultry grants that are designed to promote competition and resilience in that sector. The new program will support fertilizer production that is: • Independent – outside the dominant fertilizer suppliers, increasing competition in a concentrated market; • Made in America – produced in the United States by domestic companies, creating good-paying jobs at home and reducing the reliance on potentially unstable or inconsistent foreign supplies; • Innovative –improve upon fertilizer production methods to jump start the next generation of fertilizers; • Sustainable – reduces the greenhouse gas impact of transportation, production, and use through renewable energy sources, feedstocks, formulations and incentivizing greater precision in fertilizer use; • Farmer-focused – like other Commodity Credit Corporation investments, a driving factor will be providing support and opportunities for U.S. agriculture commodity producers. Details on the application process will be announced in the summer of 2022, with the first awards expected before the end of 2022.
Grant Co. Meet the Candidates | The Grant Co. Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee hosted a Meet the Candidates event April 7. Candidates for the Senate District 2 and 7 and Representative District 92 were in attendance. Pictured are Grant Co. Farm Bureau President Peggy Thomas and State Senator Alan Clark.
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MARKET NEWS as of April 12, 2022 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com Livestock and Poultry In the April Supply/Demand report, USDA lowered the forecast for total red meat and poultry production. Reduced pork and poultry production is expected to offset higher beef production. The beef production forecast was raised from the previous month as higher expected first quarter placements support larger fed cattle slaughter and more non-fed cattle slaughter is expected. The beef import estimate was increased from last month based on recent trade data. Fed cattle prices were unchanged from last month. Pork production was lowered based on the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, released March 30, which estimated the March 1 inventory and indicated producer’s intentions to reduce farrowings through May. The pork import estimate was increased from last month while exports were estimated to be down on tight supplies and strong domestic prices. Hog prices were raised on tighter supplies and continued strength in demand. Broiler production was reduced on lower expected slaughter in the first quarter. No changes were made to production in the outlying quarters. Turkey meat production was lowered as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza discoveries to date are resulting in tighter supplies of turkeys. Broiler prices were raised on current prices and continued strength in demand. Turkey and egg price forecasts were raised on current prices and expected tighter supplies. 4
Dairy The milk production forecast for 2022 was raised on higher dairy cow numbers. The fat basis import forecast was lowered on lower expected imports of cheese and butterfat products, while exports were raised on stronger cheese and butter shipments. On a skim-solids basis, the import forecast was raised as imports of milk proteins are projected to more than offset weaker projected cheese imports. Exports are raised on higher projected shipments for whey and skim milk powder. Price forecasts for cheese and butter were raised from the previous month on tighter stocks and firm demand. Non-fat dry milk prices were raised fractionally while whey prices were lowered, as U.S. prices are expected to become competitive with international prices. With the higher cheese price more than offsetting a lower whey price, the Class III price was raised. The Class IV price was raised on higher butter and nonfat dry milk. The 2022 all milk price forecast is increased to $25.80 per cwt. Cotton Arkansas cotton acres are expected climb 8% this year, to 520,000 acres, while the U.S. crop is pegged at 12.234 million acres, up 9% from a year ago. Production could be impacted by drought in the Southwest. Texas farmers have reported their intentions to plant 6.8 million acres of cotton, but drought could result in higherthan-average abandonment. The April supply and demand report didn’t have any changes on the balance sheet, but the average on-farm price estimate for upland cotton was raised to a record-setting 91 cents. May futures are looking toppy, with resistance at the high of $1.41, while December continues to trend higher, moving to a new contract high on an almost daily basis. Corn Farmers have indicated their intention
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to plant 750,000 acres of corn in Arkansas, down 100,000 acres, or 18%, from 2021. Nationwide, the crop is only expected to be down 4% from last year, with total acres pegged at 89.49 million. Planting progress is off to a slow start as weather conditions have been less than favorable in much of the country, but it’s providing support to the market, as are strong export sales. The first level of support for December is $7. Rice Rice acres in the state are currently pegged at 1.191 million, of which 1.080 million are expected to be long grain, with 110,000 acres of medium grain. That is down 2% from last year’s crop. The U.S. crop is expected to be 3% smaller. However, slow planting progress could result in an even smaller crop than anticipated. As of April 10, Arkansas farmers had only seeded 4% of the crop, compared with 11% a year ago and a 5-year average of 16%. Nationwide, 17% of the crop is in the ground, compared with a 4-year average of 24%. Soybeans Projections are for 2022 to be a record-setter for soybean production. The U.S. crop is pegged at almost 91 million acres, up 4% from last year. In Arkansas, farmers are expected to seed 3.25 million acres to soybeans. That’s 7% more acres than in 2021. Futures initially posted sharp gains in reaction to the report, with November charting a bearish reversal. However, there wasn’t much follow through selling and the market has recovered from those initial losses. In the April supply/demand report, exports were raised 25 million bushels to 2.12 billion, and ending stocks were lowered by 25 million bushels to 260 million. The season-average price forecast was unchanged at $13.25.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com