Farm Bureau Press | May 21

MAY 21, 2021 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 10

Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE

FARM BUREAU ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP FOR OMP DEPARTMENT Justin Reynolds has been promoted to vice president of the Organization and Member Programs (OMP) department at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation. In his new role, Reynolds will be responsible for coordinating and implementing all Farm Bureau programs and activities related directly to county Farm Bureaus throughout Arkansas.

His responsibilities will include directing and overseeing the development and implementation of Farm Bureau’s membership acquisition and maintenance plan and the ValuePlus member benefits program. He will also provide direction to the District Directors and OMP Director on lobbying and legislative programs and county activities around the state and oversee the development and execution of educational programs and activities.

Justin Reynolds

Leadership Seminar

ArFB Ag Youth Leadership Seminar Deadline, page 2

Reynolds, a Magnolia native, has been with Arkansas Farm Bureau since 2006, serving as director of organization and member programs and as district director for the 13-county SouthCentral District.

“It’s a huge honor for me to take on this new role,” Reynolds said. “I have always enjoyed working with Arkansas Farm Bureau members and county leaders to help the organization grow and conduct its important grassroots work on behalf of Arkansas agriculture, and I look forward to continuing that relationship in the coming months and years.”

Jeremy Wesson has been promoted to director of

Jeremy Wesson

Ag Youth

USDA Expands Aquaculture Disaster Assistance, page 2

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OMP LEADERSHIP Continued from page 1

OMP. In his new role Wesson will be responsible for the effective coordination of all work with county Farm Bureaus to launch and improve programs offered to members. He is also responsible for the oversight, supervision, and budgeting of the Young Farmers and Ranchers, Women’s Leadership, Rural Health, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Education and Outreach, and Value Plus programs. Additionally, Wesson will be responsible for assisting Reynolds with supervision of department staff and cooperating with other departments in carrying out the organizational goals.

Wesson, a Searcy native, joined Arkansas Farm Bureau in 2000, where he served as district director for the 12-county Northeast District.

“This new role will allow me to use the skills that I have learned to better serve our county leaders and members alike,” Wesson said. “I am thankful for the opportunity to take on a new leadership role within the organization. Working for Farm Bureau is truly a blessing and I have no doubt God put me exactly where I needed to be when I came to work here. I am doing what I was called to do and I truly look forward to coming to work each day.”

2021 ArFB AG YOUTH LEADERSH Arkansas Farm Bureau is pleased to announce the Ag Youth Leadership Seminar (AYLS) July 14-16. The threeday seminar will provide an in-depth look at agricultural degrees and careers, an introduction to the ArFB policy development process and issues affecting agriculture and rural Arkansas.

Ag Youth Leadership Seminar

AYLS provides youth the opportunity to learn about several aspects of the agricultural industry such as, agriculture agencies, companies and technologies. The seminar will explore career

USDA EXPANDS AQUACULTURE DIS In response to catastrophic aquaculture losses due to major winter storms that hit states along the U.S. Gulf Coast in February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a policy change that makes food fish and other aquatic species eligible for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). Previously, only farm-raised game and bait fish were eligible for death loss ELAP benefits. Beginning June 1, eligible aquaculture producers can request ELAP assistance for 2021 losses. This policy change is for the 2021 and subsequent program years.

ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary.

To be eligible, losses must have occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2021. For farm-raised fish and other aquatic species death

2021 CENTURY FARM APPLICATIO

OMP Retirement | Northwest Arkansas District Director Steve Hignight, OMP, is retiring from ArFB after 17 years of service. On May 13, the Benton County Farm Bureau held a dinner celebration for Steve wishing him well in retirement.

Board members in attendance include (back row front left) Vernon Reams, Jim Griffin, Charlie Coffelt-Vice Pres, YFR Chairman Cody Anglin, Hignight and Robbie Myers (front frow from left) FB County President Jeremy Jackson and Bob Shofner.

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The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is currently accepting applications for the 2021 Arkansas Century Farm program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. Online and printable applications are available at http://bit.ly/2021CenturyFarmApp. There is no cost to apply.

To qualify, Arkansas farms must meet the following criteria: • The farm must be at least ten acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

• The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years

by Dec. 31, 2021. The line of ownership from the original

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HIP SEMINAR opportunities in agriculture and what educational path is needed for those careers. The group will tour the Arkansas State Capitol, local farms and have representatives from a universities and colleges in the state offering agricultural degrees. The seminar will conclude with a drawing of a $500 scholarship to one of the participants.

AYLS will be limited to 20 high school students entering the 11th or 12th grade in the 2021-22 school year. A graded application system will be used to select the 20 participants.

Guidelines and applications for AYLS can be found online at http://bit.ly/2021AYLS and on the Leader Portal. Deadline for applications is June 11.

SASTER ASSISTANCE losses only that occurred prior to June 1, 2021, FSA is waiving the requirement to file a notice of loss within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent. An aquaculture producer will still need to be able to provide contemporaneous records upon request to document the eligible loss event and demonstrate the beginning and ending inventory. The deadline to file an application for payment for the 2021 program year is Jan. 31, 2022.

Polk Co. Scholarships | The Polk County Farm Bureau Board of Directors awarded seven $1,000 scholarships to local area graduates May 5. Students gathered with Polk County board members for the presentation. Pictured are (from left) PCFB Board Member Bill Hoek, Kayla Richardson, Jacey Whisenhunt, Hannah Bell, PCFB Board President Allen Stewart, Shylee Head, Makori Gabourel, Gaven Hooper, Cauy House, and Agency Manager Tony Hooper.

USDA also announced today that it will purchase up to $159.4 million in domestically produced seafood, fruits, legumes, and nuts for distribution to a variety of domestic food assistance programs, including charitable institutions, under the authority of Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act. The bulk of today’s purchase includes American seafood—the largest single purchase of American seafood in the Department’s history.

Combined, these actions will address disruptions in the food production and supply chains resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

ONS DUE MAY 31

Columbia Co. Legislative Event | Columbia County Farm Bureau gathered May 11 for their Legislative Appreciation event. FB County President John Gentry (right) presented a plaque of appreciation to House Speaker Matthew Shepherd thanking him for his service. Plaques were also presented to Rep. David Fielding and Sen. Charles Beckham.

settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage and adoption.

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. Applications must be received via email or postmarked on or before May 31, 2021 to be eligible for designation as a 2021 inductee.

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MARKET NEWS as of May 19, 2021 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com

Livestock, Poultry, and Dairy Supply/Demand In the May Supply/Demand report, USDA increased the red meat and poultry production estimate for 2021 and forecast higher year-over-year production in 2022. Beef production is expected to decline in 2022, but the decline will be more than offset by higher pork and poultry production.

Egg production estimates for 2021 were reduced on lowered hatchery and flock data but is expected to increase in 2022 on stronger expected prices during the second half of 2021.

Export estimates for beef, pork and broilers were increased in the report based upon recent trade data and strong growth in a number of key markets.

Milk production for 2022 is forecast higher than 2021 as continued gains in milk per cow more than offset a small reduction in the diary cow herd. The 2021 all milk price is forecast at $18.95 and the 2022 all milk price is forecast at $18.50.

Cattle Late last week cattle futures plummeted after charting new one-month highs. Signs that cattle supplies will be adequate to meet near-term needs and the collapse in corn futures were credited with the weakness. Futures have recovered somewhat, and the low of $114.70 charted on Thursday could be the first level of support. Failure to hold there could result in a retest of sup-port at $112.58. The wholesale beef market is likely heading to a seasonal top, but 4

packer margins are huge so there is still potential for steady cash trade.

Hogs Seasonal weakness in wholesale pork values is also on the horizon, and the futures charts are looking technically toppy. June has been working lower after setting a new high of $115 earlier this month. Weakness has been limited after the market closed a chart gap between $109.73 and $110.88. June futures are now trading at a discount to cash futures, which indicates a potential cash market top.

Corn Corn futures continue to lose ground after last week’s supply/demand report. USDA pegged 2021-22 ending stocks at 1.507 billion bushels, up 250 million bushels from the 202021 marketing year estimate of 1.275 billion and at the high end of trade expectations. The average on-farm price was pegged at $5.70, up 40 cents from their initial estimate at the Outlook Forum in February. Farmers have now seeded 80% of expected corn acres, well ahead of the 5-year average of 68%. The brisk planting pace is alleviating previous concerns about weather-delayed planting, but the crop is far from made with drought conditions in northern corn-growing regions and excess moisture in more southern growing regions. Technically, there is not a lot of support for December before you get to the chart gap left between $4.77½ and $4.80¾.

Soybeans The May USDA supply/demand report reiterated what we already knew: soybeans are in relatively short supply.

The 2020-21 ending stocks estimate was unchanged at 120 million bushels.

The 2021-22 ending stocks are pegged at 140 million bushels, which was in line with pre-report estimates. The average on-farm price is estimated to be $13.85. USDA says that 61% of the U.S. crop has been seeded, outpacing the 5-year average of 37% as farmers rush to get beans in the ground.

Arkansas farmers have planted 60%

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

of the crop here, ahead of the 5-year average of 54%. November futures have this week begun to consolidate within last week’s high of $14.61 and low of $13.65 charted just a day apart.

Cotton The monthly supply/demand report gave the cotton market some good news, but the reaction lasted only a day. USDA lowered its 2020-21 ending stocks estimate by 600,000 bales to 3.3 mil-lion on increased exports. The initial 2021-22 carryout estimate came in at 3.1 million bales, mostly on expectations for increased abandonment as West Texas began the crop year in extreme drought.

Heavy rains this week, though, have alleviated some of those concerns.

Farmers have seeded 38% of the crop nationwide, while Arkansas farmers have seeded 45% of the crop here.

December futures have been volatile over the past few days. Resistance at 87 cents seems solid at this point, and the market looks to be building some support at 81 cents.

Rice USDA says 87% of the crop is in the ground across the country. Arkansas farmers have seeded 87% of intended acres, but given the recent weather pattern in Arkansas, it could be that the percentage is so high because farmers have changed their mind about planting rice at all. Analysts are now wondering if Arkansas will even plant a million acres of rice, given not only weather but strong prices for competing crops. In the May Supply/ Demand report, 2020-21 carryout is pegged at 42.9 million cwt, which starts 2021-22 off with a burdensome stocks situation. Significantly reduced production, however, offsets that, and 2021-22 ending stocks are pegged at 41 million cwt. The average on-farm price is estimated to be $14.20.

EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com