JULY 8, 2022 | VOLUME 25 | ISSUE 14
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
2022 ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU OFFICERS & LEADERS CONFERENCE Arkansas Farm Bureau's Officers & Leaders Conference is set for July 21-22 at the Rogers Convention Center. This year’s program carries the theme "Make It Happen" and promises to be informative and exciting as it includes many of the Commodity Division summer meetings, announcement of YF&R Achievement and Excellence Award winners, and presentation of the AFBF Golden Plow to Sen. John Boozman. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. on July 21.
MAKE IT
July 20 webinar Discusses LongTerm Care Costs, Farm Assets, Page 2
Happen
Our 2022 Officers & Leaders will kick-off with a general session that will feature the new Executive Vice President of Arkansas Farm Bureau and the new Vice President of Agriculture for the University of Arkansas System. Additionally, we will recognize our former Executive Vice President of Arkansas Farm Bureau, Warren Carter, for his 35 years of dedication and leadership of this great organization. A joint luncheon of both Officers & Leaders attendees and the Young Farmers & Ranchers participants whose conference will be held July 22. Members will need a ticket for Friday’s luncheon. Please ask your county to contact Rhonda Whitley at rhonda.whitley@arfb.com to order luncheon tickets for your county. Please pick up your tickets for the luncheon at registration. Tickets must be ordered no later than July 8. During this year’s conference we’ll also unveil an updated Trade Show Booth in the grand foyer, and we ask that you plan to stop by and meet the many new staff who have come on board over the last couple of years at Arkansas Farm Bureau. We look forward to seeing you at our summer conference!
Cattle Producers Urged to Monitor Cattle for Ticks, Page 3
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Also, remember the “Take 2” challenge: Bring two members to a statewide meeting, like Officers & Leaders or State Convention, who have never attended before. A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
JULY 20 WEBINAR DISCUSSES LONG-TERM CARE COSTS, FARM ASSETS Aging farm families face the prospect of making a difficult decision between buying long-term care insurance and keeping farm assets.
Hempstead Co. Scholarships | Hempstead Co. Farm Bureau Agency Manager Reed Camp (right) recently presented Riley Webb (left) and Emily Curtis with the 2022 Hempstead Co. Farm Bureau Scholarships. Webb plans to attend Southern Arkansas University to pursue a degree in Agriculture Business and Curtis is pursuing a degree in education at the University of Central Arkansas.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average age for all farmers is 57.5 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the average life expectancy in the United States at 77 years. That likely means long-term care won’t be an option for many — it’ll be a necessity. Moore will be discussing strategies for those in ag to manage the risks involved in long-term care costs during a webinar hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center at 11 a.m. July 20. There is no cost to attend the webinar and registration is online.
Little River Co. Scholarship | Little River Co. Farm Bureau Agency Manager Ray Tipton (right) recently presented a scholarship to Peyton Segraves, a 2022 graduate of Foreman High School.
Newton Co. | Newton Co. Farm Bureau Board member Julie Campbell and Tamra Cone recently went to the summer camp at Jasper School to talk to campers about dairy cattle. Campbell spoke to the kids about living on a dairy farm as a child and her son, Isaac, spoke about his show animals. Campers also got to learn how to milk a cow with the ArFB Ag Experience trailer. 2
Sebastian Co. Award | Lynn Strang (right), president of Sebastian County Farm Bureau, recently presented a plaque of appreciation to Randy Veach, past president of Arkansas Farm Bureau. The county Farm Bureau wanted to thank Veach for his diligent advocacy on behalf of Arkansas agriculture and, specifically, his support of Sebastian County Farm Bureau. Veach served as president of ArFB from 2009-19 and Vice President from 2003-08. He spent a total of 20 years on the state board of directors and in March was inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame.
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CATTLE PRODUCERS URGED TO MONITOR FOR TICKS
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Arkansas cattle producers are being urged to check their herds for unusual ticks and take measures to prevent transmission of theileriosis or other tick-related diseases. The warnings follow the recent finding of additional Asian longhorned ticks in northwest Arkansas by scientists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The invasive tick can transmit the Theileria orientalis parasite, which attacks blood cells. The Ikeda genotype of this organism can be fatal to cattle. There is no treatment for the theileriosis this organism causes and survivors of the initial infection carry the Theileria parasite for life. Asian longhorned ticks are very small. The adult female is only about the size of a pea when it is full of blood. Their size and quick movement make them very hard to detect.
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“If they find a tick that doesn’t look familiar, they should take it to the county agent and bring all the information they can about when they found it, what animals it’s from and what pastures the animal has been in,” said Kelly Loftin, extension entomologist for the Division of Agriculture. “We would want to know if the host animal was a cow or calf, or a recent introduction to the herd, or whether it’s been there a month or so,” he said, and “We want to know where the cow came from, if they just brought it home.”
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Jeremy Powell, veterinarian and animal science professor who conducts research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, said that without effective treatments, prevention is the best medicine. “The best thing a cattle producer can do is minimize the risk by really focusing on parasite control,” he said. Powell recommended using insecticidal ear tags or using insecticide-infused back rubbers cattle can walk under. He said ear tags are in use at the Division of Agriculture’s Savoy Unit with classes of acaricides being rotated to prevent resistance. “Keep pastures clipped,” he said. “Wooded areas are a great place for ticks to ambush a potential host. Fence those off.” Both Loftin and Powell said awareness by those in agriculture of these ticks and the diseases they could transmit is key “so people can be looking out for it.”
Jackson Co. Scholarships | Jackson Co. Farm Bureau recently presented its 2022 scholarships. 1) Jackson Co. FB board member Tommy Young presenting to Will King from Jackson County School Distric; 2) Jackson Co. FB board member Hervey Madden presenting to Emma Johnson from West Side High School; 3) Jackson Co. FB agent Steve Brock presenting Sophie Falwell from Newport High School.
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MARKET NEWS as of July 6, 2022 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Corn The June Crop Plantings and Stocks reports can be big market movers, as it gives a much better look at the crop and what the next marketing year holds for farmers. This year’s reports weren’t terribly surprising as most acreage totals fell within the average trade expectation. Corn plantings were pegged at 89.921 million acres, which was near the average of trade expectations and up 431,000 acres from the March 1 estimate. Arkansas farmers have seeded 710,000 acres of corn this year. Analysts were generally very accurate in estimating corn stocks, with USDA reporting corn stocks of 4.346 billion bushels, compared to an average trade guess of 4.343 billion. That’s up 6% from the previous year. This week’s Crop Progress report showed more deterioration than expected in the crop, with only 64% rated good to excellent. That’s down three points in one week. Weekly export inspections were well below trade estimates at 676,824 metric tons. December futures gapped lower on Tuesday to new five-month lows. There is little support above $5.45. Soybeans USDA surprised the market with a soybean acreage estimate of 88.325 million acres, down from a March 1 planting intentions 4
estimate of 90.955 million acres, and below the lowest pre-report trade guess. Arkansas farmers have seeded 3.2 million acres to soybeans. Stocks were estimated to be 971 million bushels, up 26% from the previous year. The crop progress report showed a twopoint drop in the percentage of the crop rated good to excellent. That total is now 63%. November beans rallied sharply following the report but it was short lived and the market has lost nearly $2 in value in two trading days. The market looks poised to retest support at $13. The dollar index is surging, and its value over the Brazilian real could imact the ability of the U.S. to compete in the global soybean market. Rice Rice acreage was pegged at 2.343 million acres nationwide, with 1.151 million of those acres in Arkansas. The March 1 planting intentions report estimated the crop to be 2.452 million acres. While most other crops showed deterioration last week due to hot, dry conditions, the rice crop improved, according to USDA. 76% of the crop nationwide is rated good to excellent. In Arkansas, 72% is rated good to excellent. Rice futures have been under pressure from carryover weakness from other commodities, strength in the dollar, and fewer food security concerns. September futures gapped lower on Tuesday and are now set to test resistance at $16. Additional support is at $15.75. Cotton Cotton plantings are estimated to be 12.478 million acres, up from the March planting intentions estimate of 12.058 million and near the top of the range of prereport estimates. Arkansas acres
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
are pegged at 500,000 acres. Only 36% of the crop nationwide is rated good to excellent and 31% is rated poor to very poor. In Texas, only 17% of the crop is rated good to excellent, while 48% is rated poor to very poor. In Arkansas, 75% of the crop is rated good to excellent. That’s down three points from last week. After a very rapid sell-off last week, December cotton futures have found support at 91.20 cents, which was a new seven-month low. Cattle Cattle futures were under pressure this week after a sharp rally on Friday. The market was pressured by outside forces that reflect concern about the economy and recession. A surging dollar will make U.S. beef less competitive in export markets. Expected seasonal weakness in beef demand and prices following the holiday were also a factor. Packer margins are solid, holding above $100/head. October futures have support at the recent low of $135.90. Feeder futures have also been under pressure this week despite sharp losses in corn. October feeders have support just below $176. Hogs Pork prices have moved higher, supporting hog futures this week. Lower corn prices are also supportive. August futures moved to a new five-month low in early trading on Tuesday, but rebounded strongly, closing up $2.975 to $105.95. There is still concern about poor packer margins and weaker demand after the holiday weekend.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com