JUNE 24, 2022 | VOLUME 25 | ISSUE 13
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
ArFB HAS ONLINE SIGNUP Arkansas Farm Bureau has activated an online membership application on its website to help others more easily join the organization. Just visit www.arfb.com and find the "Join Now" link at the top of the page, or go directly to www. arfb.com/join. When a member joins Arkansas Farm Bureau online, they also join their county Farm Bureau and they will have access to all the same benefits, connections and information.
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Joining online is a convenience and a tool for counties to promote membership growth and encourage people to become champions for agriculture, youth leadership, education, rural health care and their community!
2022 District Farm Families of the Year, Page 3
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ArFB on The Vine | Arkansas Farm Bureau is partnering with KTHV, Chanel 11 to promote Farm Bureau membership and raise awareness of Arkansas agriculture. The kickoff segment of our appearance on THV's mid-morning show, The Vine, can be viewed here. We'll appear again June 28 and throughout the coming months to talk about the work of the Federation and how it supports Arkansas communities and the state’s largest industry.
GET THE LINKS Scan the QR code to access direct links referenced in each article.
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AG HALL OF FAME OFFICER, BOARD SELECTION
Saline Co. Cereal Drive | Saline County Farm Bureau is assisting the Summer Cereal Drive. As an incentive to help reach the goal of $1,000 raised and 1,000 boxes of cereal donated, County FB President Terry Mosely and Agency Manager Kenneth Daves will receive a pie to the face if/when the goals are met.
Debbie Moreland of Roland, president of Pulaski County Farm Bureau and program administrator for the Arkansas Association of Conservation District, has been named chair of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. She succeeds Butch Calhoun of Des Arc, a former secretary of the Arkansas Agriculture Department, who stepped down after 8 years as chairman. Calhoun has one year remaining on his term on the board of directors. The appointments will be effective July 1. The organization's board also selected Dr. Ed Fryar of Rogers as vice chairman. Fryar, a 2019 inductee into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, is former chairman of Ozark Mountain Poultry and a member of the University of Arkansas board of trustees. Jeff Pitchford, executive vice president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, was named as the board’s treasurer. Additionally, former state senator Bruce Maloch of Emerson, a cattleman, vice chairman at Farmers Bank and Trust and chair of the Arkansas State Fair, was added to the organization’s board of directors and will fill a three-year term. The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame seeks to build public awareness of agriculture; and to honor/recognize past and current leaders who have given selflessly to the farm industry, their communities and to economic development in the state.
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Boone Co. Meet the Candidate | Boone Co. Farm Bureau recently hosted a Candidates Meet & Greet. The County Board cooked hamburgers, supplied from three local beef farmers, and served the candidates alongside the board. Long-time board member Joe Pattie made his famous homemade ice cream in which he used his tractor to help. Overall, around 50 people attended. 2
ArFB’s Arkansas AgCast is now a LIVE weekly news program Join hosts Rob Anderson and Jason Brown as they discuss news from the industry each Thursday at 2 p.m., live on Facebook. Miss the live episode? Catch the audio version each Friday morning wherever you stream your podcasts.
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2022 DISTRICT FARM FAMILIES OF THE YEAR Eight district Farm Families have been named in the 75th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program, representing the diversity of Arkansas agriculture, the state’s largest industry. The district families will now be judged to determine the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, who will be announced Dec. 8. The District Farm Families of the Year are: • East Central District: the Lindsey Family of Forrest City (St. Francis County) • North Central District: the Hays Family of Pleasant Plains (Independence County)
Drew Co. MASH| Drew County Agency Manager Mike Zieman (back left) and Board President Kerry Hartness (far right) brought lunch to the students attending the local M*A*S*H program at Drew Memorial Hospital. This program is designed for students interested in careers in the medical field. They are given a unique look into the healthcare industry while shadowing medical professionals.
• Northeast District: the Smith Family of Paragould (Greene County) • Northwest District: the Hostetler Family of Green Forest (Carroll County) • Southeast District: the Young Family of Poplar Grove (Phillips County) • Southwest District: the Robertson Family of Hope (Hempstead County) • West Central District: the Huneycutt Family of Arkadelphia (Clark County) • Western District: the Stobaugh Family of Atkins (Conway County) The Farm Family of the Year program begins each year with the selection of top farm families in each county and culminates in December with the selection of the state Farm Family of the Year, who then go on to represent Arkansas at the Swisher Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition. Arkansas has had two Southeast Farm of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County in 2008 and Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016. All families are judged on their farm production, efficiency, management, family life and rural/community leadership. Sponsors of the program are Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Additionally, support is provided by the Arkansas Agriculture Department, Arkansas Department of Career Education, Arkansas Press Association, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development.
Greene Co. 4-H | Greene County 4-H members recently had a fun and educational evening conducting a landscape service project with Greene County Farm Bureau. Members were able to learn about plant ID, landscape bed preparation, planting and mulching.
Senate Ag Committee Field Hearing | The Senate Ag Committee held a field hearing June 17 in Jonesboro, at the Fowler Center on the campus of Arkansas State University. Chair Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member John Boozman heard testimony from Arkansas farmers, agriculture industry leaders and business leaders and officials serving rural Arkansas. Arkansas Farm Bureau leaders and members were on hand, and ArFB President Rich Hillman helped open the proceedings.
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MARKET NEWS as of June 22, 2022 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com Livestock and Poultry In the June Supply/Demand report, USDA raised the total U.S. red meat and poultry forecast, as higher beef and pork production more than offsets lower poultry production. Beef production was raised with higher expected steer and heifer and cow slaughter more than offsetting lower expected carcass weights. Pork production was raised for the second quarter on the current pace of slaughter. The Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report will provide indications of supplies of hogs for slaughter in later quarters on June 29. Broiler and turkey production were reduced on the slower pace of slaughter. For 2022, beef exports were raised on stronger sales, mostly to markets in Asia, and the strength of demand is expected to continue into next year. Stronger demand for pork and poultry meat in key markets have pushed export projections higher. The 2022 cattle price forecast was unchanged from last month. Hog, broiler, and egg prices for the second quarter were lowered on observed prices. Dairy Milk production for 2022 was expected lower than last month on slower growth in milk-per-cow. The 2022 projected exports on a fat basis were unchanged from last month but reduced on a skim-solids basis. The import forecast was raised on strong demand for cheese, butterfat products, and other dairy products. 4
Price forecasts for cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk were raised from the previous month on recent price strength and expectations for stronger demand. The whey price forecast was lowered on observed prices. Both Class III and Class IV prices were increased. The all-milk price forecast was raised on $26.20 per cwt for 2022. Corn Corn futures gapped sharply lower on Tuesday, pressured by carryover weakness from wheat and forecasts for more favorable weather in the Midwest. USDA says 70% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, down 2% from last week. It looks like the uptrend that started in 2020 is coming to an end. Both old -crop and new-crop contracts have broken multiple levels of support. For July, support is at $7.20½, and resistance is near $8. New crop December is building support at the recent low of $6.82. Failure to hold above that support could lead to a rapid sell-off. The monthly supply/demand report showed larger beginning stocks for 2022-23 as USDA cut the old-crop export forecast by 50 million bushels. Exports have slowed and producers are not selling their remaining stocks. Slightly higher use estimates were not enough to offset the higher beginning stocks, resulting in a higher ending stocks estimate. Soybeans Soybeans also gapped lower on Tuesday as the market began to focus on weather. Right now, the heat is helping the crop catch up, but farmers will need to see some rain soon. USDA says 68% of the crop is in good to excellent condition. In Arkansas, the total is 79%. Demand for oilseeds had driven the market for several weeks, but recent weakness in palm oil and canola has carried over into soybeans. Strong weekly export sales of 317,200 metric tons of old crop beans and 407,600 metric tons of new crop beans were
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supportive. The crop is off to a good start despite early delays. USDA says that 70% of the crop is in good to excellent condition. The June supply/demand report showed lower beginning and ending stocks, and the average on farm price forecast was raised to $14.70/bushel. Rice The June supply/demand report raised beginning stocks for 202223 by 1 million cwt as exports have been slower than expected in recent weeks. The all rice season-average price was unchanged at $17.80. This week, exports were much improved at 78,400 metric tons. The crop is reportedly in good shape, with 81% of Arkansas acres in good to excellent condition. Nationally, 72% of the crop is rated good to excellent condition. September futures are testing support near $16.50, and resistance is building at $17. Cotton While the mid-south crop is off to a good start, Texas farmers are facing a severe drought. USDA reports that 82% of the Arkansas crop is in good to excellent condition. But only 40% of the U.S. crop is in good to excellent condition. In Texas, only 19% of the crop is rated good to excellent, down 6% this week alone. The June supply/demand balance sheet was unchanged from last month, except for 5-cent increase in the season-average price, which is now estimated to be 95 cents per pound. Futures, however, have turned sharply lower as traders worry about the economy and demand. A stronger U.S. dollar and weaker crude oil prices are also negative for cotton futures. On Tuesday, the December contract gapped lower and violated the long-term uptrend, opening the market to further losses.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com