Farm Bureau Press | September 30

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 | VOLUME 25 | ISSUE 20

Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE

HUTCHINSON ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO AGRICULTURE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

On Sept. 9, Gov. Hutchinson announced appointments to several boards and commissions within the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas agriculture industry. The appointments were as follows: Arkansas State Plant Board: Samuel Stuckey, Clarkedale. Term expires March 17, 2024.

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Arkansas Wine Producers Council: Daniel O’Shea, Greenbrier. Term Expires March 1, 2025.

Arkansas State Board of Registration for Foresters: Jennifer Cook, Greenbrier. Term expires July 18, 2023.

Arkansas Beef Council: Sharon Casey, Malvern. Term expires March 30, 2025.

Caleb Plyer, Hope. Term expires March 30, 2025.

Robert Campbell, Witt Springs. Term expires March 30, 2025.

Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board: Jacob Appleberry, McGhee. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Kenny Falwell, Newport. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Jason Felton, Marianna. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Matt Gammill, Tyronza. Term expires July 1, 2023.

Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board: Dick Baxter, Cabot. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Brad Graham, Portland. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Kenny Francis, Corning. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Steve Kueter, Paragould. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board: Shannon Davis, Bono. Term expires June 30, 2024.

West Higginbothom, Marianna. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Rusty Smith, Des Arc. Term expires June 30, 2024.

John Freeman, Dumas. Term expires June 30, 2023.

2022 Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation Silent Auction, Page 3

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ARKANSAS AGRICULTURE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Continued from page 1

Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board: Joe Christian, Jonesboro. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Jay Coker, Stuttgart. Term expires June 30, 2024.

John King, Helena. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Roger Pohlner, Fisher. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board: Herrick Norcross, Tyronza. Term expires June 30, 2023.

Adam Cloninger, Keo. Term expires June 30, 2023.

Terrance Scott, Cotton Plant. Term expires June 30, 2023.

Kenneth Clark, Newport. Term expires June 30, 2023.

Jack Evans, Carlisle. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Dusty Hoskyn, England. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Chris Shaefers, Conway. Term expires June 30, 2024.

Find the full list of appointments at online.

ARKANSAS AGRICULTURE HALL OF FAME SEEKS NOMINATIONS The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is seeking nominations from the public for its next class. The nomination deadline is Nov. 1.

The official nomination form is available online.

The Agriculture Hall of Fame recognizes Arkansans who are or have contributed significantly to the state’s largest industry, while spotlighting their contributions to the state’s economic development.

Since its first class was selected in 1987, a total of 176 men and women have been inducted.

Debbie Moreland, chairman of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, says anyone can nominate a person believed worthy of the honor.

Additional information and online nomination forms are available at www.arkansasaghalloffame.org.

Forms can also be requested by calling Cindra Jones at 501-228-1609.

2022 ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FO The Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation Silent Auction will be held at the 2022 ArFB State Convention. Greenway Equipment will be the sponsor of the auction and match proceeds from the event.

County Farm Bureaus are invited to donate items to the silent auction.

Donated items should have a retail value of $25 or greater. Counties wishing to donate larger items may choose to work with other county Farm Bureaus, other groups or agencies. When thinking of items to donate, consider something that is unique to your county, whether it is made locally or from a local store.

Items will need to be checked in and ready for bidding in the trade show by 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 30. If your county group will not arrive by this time, or if your county would like help in getting your item to convention in a timely manner, please contact your

USDA APHIS REPEALS JANUARY 1 A mandate previously announced by the APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) division of the USDA requiring certain cattle and bison that cross state lines to be tagged with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) ear tag, has been revoked and is no longer set to take effect. This announcement was made on March 23, 2021, by the USDA. The mandate would have applied to mature breeding stock above the age of 18 months being transported across state lines as well as rodeo stock, show animals and exhibition animals that are transported across state lines. The USDA currently requires these animals to be tagged with metal tags certified by the USDA as a part of its ADT (Animal Disease Traceability) program and accompanied by an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI).

“The animal disease traceability (ADT) regulations for cattle apply only to sexually intact beef animals over 18 months of age moving in interstate commerce, cattle used for exhibition, rodeo and recreational events, and all dairy cattle. The regulations permit brands and tattoos as acceptable identification if the shipping and receiving States agree and group/lot identification when a group/ lot identification number (GIN) may be used” (USDA APHIS, 2021).

The induction ceremony for the next class will be March 3, 2023 in the Wally Allen Ballroom at the Statehouse Convention Center.

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OUNDATION SILENT AUCTION District Director for assistance.

If your county is planning to donate an item for the silent auction, it is helpful if we have a description of the item before convention.

With the help of our Farm Bureau family and other partnering groups, this event will be a great success.

Proceeds from the auction are used to further agriculture education in Arkansas through programs like Ag in the Classroom, grants that are for educational projects and support of Arkansas FFA and Arkansas 4-H youth programs, as well as other efforts supported by the ArFB Foundation.

If you need additional information, please contact Amanda Williams at 501-228-1493 or amanda.williams@arfb.com or Lindsey Rucker at 501-228-1843 or lindsey.rucker@arfb.com.

1, 2023, RFID MANDATE Due to strong opposition during the public comment period in July of 2020, APHIS revoked the mandate in 2021. APHIS originally assembled an advisory committee to research and implement the RFID mandate. R-Calf USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) filed a lawsuit against APHIS in 2019 stating that APHIS’ advisory committee was unlawful and comprised of biased individuals and industry representatives poised to profit from the new mandate. APHIS announced that it will comply with the rulemaking process for any future action related to RFID requirements.

APHIS still lists the “Use electronic identification tags for animals requiring individual identification in order to make the transmission of data more efficient” as one of the four overarching goals of the ADT program. No further comments have been made regarding the progress of a future RFID mandate since the March 2021 update halting the implementation of the proposed program changes.

Harvest Lunches | Arkansas Co. Farm Bureau agents got together to package and provide lunches to county farmers during harvest. Lunches were provided over two days in Stuttgart and Dewitt.

Miller Co. Donation | Miller Co. Farm Bureau donated food to the Genoa Central Hungry Dragons program. Pictured left to right are Miller Co. Office Manager Courtney Crabtree, Miller Co. Agency Manager Coy Mason and Rachel Hoover.

Current Arkansas Farm Bureau policy regarding national animal identification traceability efforts reads “We Support maintaining the option for management of the animal I.D. system through non-governmental entities and the prospects of developing other services utilizing I.D. information.”

Lonoke Co. Donation | Lonoke Co. Farm Bureau Agent Eric Hale recently presented a $1,500 check to Lonoke Elementary School Counselor Erica Jewell to support the school’s Backpack Program, which helps with students’ nutritional needs on weekends.

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MARKET NEWS as of Sept. 28, 2022 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com Rice Harvest pressure is taking its toll on rice futures. USDA says 59% of the crop has been harvested. In Arkansas, 61% was in the bins as of Sept. 25. November futures have backed away from resistance at $17.95½ for now, but the market has held above support at $17.19½.

From a fundamental perspective, the situation for rice is bullish. In the September reports, U.S. all-rice production was lowered to 165.144 million hundredweight and ending stocks for the marketing year were lowered to 30.9 million bushels, down 22% from the previous year.

That was due to a 41 lb/acre cut in expected yield. Average expected yield nationwide is now pegged at 7,586 lb/ac. In Arkansas, the average yield is projected to be 7,500 lb/acre.

USDA raised the expected on-farm price of long and medium grain rice by another 50 cents to $16.50 and $17.00 respectively.

Cotton The story for cotton was very different, as USDA raised the 2022 U.S. crop forecast by 1.262 million bales, despite a lower projected yield per acre. USDA raised harvested cotton acres by 747,000 acres, including 145,000 acres in Arkansas. Both FSA-certified acres and Boll Weevil Eradication enrollment suggested Arkansas acres were significantly underestimated by NASS, and this correction reflects that. Across the country, planted acreage was raised from 12.48 million to 13.79 million acres. Exports were raised to 12.6 million bales, and the U.S. on-farm 4

average price dropped a penny to 96 cents/pound. The strength in the dollar, which is setting new 20-year highs almost every day, lower crude oil prices, and weakness in the Dow are all adding pressure to the cotton market. December is back in position to potentially test support at the July low of 82.54 cents. As Hurricane Ian comes ashore in Florida, portions of the cotton crop are in jeopardy. USDA said on Monday that 67% of the crop nationally had opening bolls, and harvest is 15% complete.

Soybeans After failing to close above resistance at $15, November soybeans have moved lower and are now in position to test support at $14. If that support doesn’t hold, there is additional support near $13.75. Harvest has just begun and is 8% complete, compared with a five-year average of 13%. USDA estimates the national average yield to be 50.5 bushels per acre, which shocked the market and was a full bushel below the average trade guesstimate. However, the crop was planted late and cool nights could impact yields further.

Corn December corn futures continue to be capped by resistance at $7.

Supplies remain tight as harvest is just beginning, but harvest pressure will impact the market sooner rather than later. Weather forecasts throughout the Midwest are favorable for harvest activity. These prices should be seen as a pricing opportunity for farmers.

Strength in the dollar and lower crude oil prices are also negative for prices.

USDA lowered its U.S. crop and carryout forecasts for corn, too. A 1.2 million-acre cut in the planted acreage estimate was a surprise. It was partially offset by an increase in the average yield estimate to 172.5 bushels per acre, but supply estimates were reduced more than use estimates, resulting in a projected carryout of 1.2 billion bushels. The

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season-average corn price was raised 10 cents to $6.75 per bushel.

Cattle Cattle futures have turned sharply lower after setting new highs for the move last week. The technical signals are very negative and suggest further weakness is likely. December live cattle charted a huge weekly reversal and moved to 8-week lows.

Higher interest rates and general economic concerns and seasonal weakness in wholesale beef prices are adding pressure to the market. Packer margins continue to narrow as well.

The September Cattle-on-Feed report was somewhat negative, with August feedlot placements coming in at the high end of expectations.

Hogs Lean hog futures charts also look extremely bearish at this point. The February contract is now trading at its lowest level since February and testing resistance at $80. The September USDA Cold Storage report showed frozen pork stocks up 20% from last year. Additional pressure is coming from seasonally-higher hog supplies.

Dairy The 2022 milk production forecast was lowered this month in the Supply/Demand report. Milk cow numbers have been reduced, and slower growth in cow numbers is expected through the rest of the year and into 2023. Output-per-cow is forecast to increase at a slightly more rapid pace in 2022. The forecasts for butter prices and nonfat dry milk prices were raised slightly on current price strength. Both Class III and Class IV prices were raised, reflecting changes in its component values. The 2022 all milk price forecast was raised to $25.45/cwt.

EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com