Farm Bureau Press | October 28

OCTOBER 28, 2022 | VOLUME 25 | ISSUE 22

Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE

2022 STATE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE MEETING DETAILS The Resolutions Committee will convene on Nov. 2–3 at the Embassy Suites Little Rock. ArFB Vice President Mike Freeze and ArFB Secretary-Treasurer Dan Wright will serve as co-chairmen of this year’s Resolutions Committee.

This year the session will return to a two-day meeting. Day one we will focus on individual committee work and include two sets of breakout meetings.

Lunch will be provided.

At the conclusion of the breakout meetings, there will be a dinner for delegates at the Rusty Tractor Event Center in Little Rock.

Arkansas Department of Agriculture Reminds Arkansans of Wildfire Risk, Burn Bans, Page 2

To encourage more member participation, every Resolutions Committee member will serve on two subcommittees.

On day two, delegates will conclude their work in a General Session during which members will consider committee work from the previous day. This session is expected to adjourn by 11 a.m. Lunch will not be provided.

2023 ArFB Foundation Trap Shoot Early-Bird Sponsorships, Page 3

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GET THE LINKS 2022 Southeast Farmer of the Year | Chris Sweat (right), of Rolling Hills Farms in McCaskill, represented Arkansas at the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Contest Oct. 18 in Moultrie, Ga. He was accompanied by wife Denise (far left) and daughters Anna and Sarah.

Scan the QR code to access direct links referenced in each article.

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

SHARP COUNTY EARNS HONOR COUNTY Sharp County Farm Bureau has reached its membership quota and qualified as Honor County No. 1.

Congratulations to the Sharp County membership chairman, board of directors, employees and all members on a job well done.

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REMINDS ARKANSANS OF WILDFIRE RISK, BURN BANS As dry conditions continue throughout the state, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division is reminding Arkansans that wildfire danger is elevated across the state and 62 counties remain under a burn ban.

The Forestry Division maintains a countybycounty Wildfire Danger map with four risk levels: low, moderate, high and extreme. Risk levels are determined by drought status and long-term weather forecasts and are defined by how easily fires can start and how difficult they are to contain. The Wildfire Danger map can be found at bit.ly/ARWildFireRisk. The risk level definitions are: • Low: Fuels do not ignite easily. Weather conditions will lead to slow, easy-to-control fires.

Spotlight State | Arkansas was featured as the Spotlight State at the 2022 Sunbelt Ag Expo. The state was provided with an exclusive building to promote all that Arkasnas has to offer to expo attendees. Partners in the Spotlight State Committee included Ark. Agritourism Association, Ark. Department of Agriculture, Ark. Department of Economic Development, Ark. Farm Bureau, Ark. Tourism, Electric Cooperatives of Ark., Farm Credit Assns. of Ark., University of Arkansas Bumpers College and University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension.

• Moderate: Fire can start from accidental causes. May not become serious, but caution should be taken.

• High: Fires ignite easily and spread quickly.

Unattended brush fires and campfires are likely to escape. Fires may become serious if not attacked early.

• Extreme: Fires start quickly, spread furiously and burn intensely. Every fire started has the potential to become large. Expect extreme, erratic behavior.

Currently, the southernmost 16 counties have been given the “extreme” designation, while the rest of the state remains under “high” risk levels. Additionally, 62 counties are under burn bans. Burn bans primarily prohibit activities that involve an open flame. This includes fireworks, campfires, trash burning, open flame grilling and prescribed or controlled burns.

Murphey also recommends caution when driving or operating machinery.

Washington Co. Farm Family | The Tim and Stephanie Whorton Family were recognized as the 2022 Washington Co. Farm Family of the Year at this year’s Washington Co. Farm Bureau annual meeting. Shown from left are Tim and Stephanie Whorton, granddaughters Maebree and Basilee Whorton, Matea and Tyler Whorton and Washington Co. Farm Bureau Board President Stacey Cheevers.

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The Forestry Division is asking those who see fires to report them by calling 1-800-468-8834 and to avoid flying drones in the area. When drones are present, those fighting the fires are unable to perform detection flights or fly single engine airtankers (SEATs) to drop water.

Find a county burn ban map at bit.ly/ARBurnBan. To learn more about burn bans in your county, find your local official’s contact information at arcounties.org/counties/.

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

ArFB CERTIFICATION OF VOTING DELEGATES The annual business session of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation will be at the Hot Springs Convention Center on Friday, Dec. 2. The annual business session will be a hybrid meeting. While we hope delegates will participate in person, there will be a Zoom option for the business session to allow remote participation. Seated delegates will use a clicker system to vote, while remote delegates will login using their laptop or mobile device. We will again be requiring emails and cell phone numbers so that we can communicate with voting delegates.

Instructions will be sent to the Agency Managers and MSRs. During Annual Meeting of Voting Delegates: Due to the need to verify the membership of all voting delegates and prepare the delegate lists for the caucuses, it will be necessary to close voting delegate registration at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. Delegates not registered by this time can still participate in the caucus meetings if their name was submitted on the delegate list and their membership verified.

Voting Delegate/Alternate Eligibility: To confirm, delegate eligibility is defined by board actions and policy resolutions approved at past annual conventions, including: • Farm Bureau insurance agents are not eligible to serve as voting delegates.

• Employees of Arkansas Farm Bureau, county Farm Bureaus or affiliated service companies are not eligible to serve as voting delegates.

• There shall be only one voting delegate per family membership.

• Employees of federal or state governmental agencies are prohibited from serving as voting delegates.

• State or national political office holders or filed candidates for state or national political office are prohibited from serving as voting delegates.

These criteria for individuals serving as voting delegates were recently reaffirmed by action of the state board of directors and will be used by the committee in working with county leadership in the voting delegate registration process.

2023 ArFB FOUNDATION TRAP SHOOT EARLYBIRD SPONSORSHIPS Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation announced the 5th Annual ArFB Foundation Trap Shoot will be held June 9, 2023, at the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex in Jacksonville.

The Foundation is teaming up with the Arkansas 4-H Foundation and the Arkansas FFA Foundation and Aiming for the Future of Agriculture by donating half of the net proceeds directly to the Arkansas 4-H and Arkansas FFA Foundations.

Planning for the 5th Annual shoot is already underway and early-bird sponsorship pricing is available through Dec. 31.

Sponsorship Opportunities Include: • Shooting Field Sponsor: $400 • Gold Event Sponsor: $250 • Silver Event Sponsor: $150 • Bronze Event Sponsor: $100 • Sponsor Booth: $50 Team sponsorship opportunities open in March 2023.

Please contact Amanda Williams, ArFB Foundation Director, by email at amanda.williams@arfb.com or by phone at 501-228-1493 with questions regarding the event.

2022 ArFB CONVENTION MEMORIAL SERVICE LIST Arkansas Farm Bureau is preparing the Memorial Service List for Convention and is requesting names of county Farm Bureau officers, employees and agents who have passed away since Nov. 1, 2021.

For submissions, please include the person’s name, highest office held and the name of the county Farm Bureau to which he/she belonged.

If the person was an active in his or her position at the time of death, please let us know.

Deadline for submission is Nov. 22. Please send information to Cindra Jones, cindra.jones@arfb.com.

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

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MARKET NEWS as of Oct. 26, 2022 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com Rice Rice futures have been in a steady decline for weeks. Harvest pressure is, of course, a factor. Arkansas farmers have harvested 97% of the crop as of Oct. 23, having outpaced the five-year average despite the late planting. This year brought particular challenges, though, as the drought caused extremely low-water levels on the Mississippi River. Currently, barges can’t be loaded to full capacity, slowing the movement of grain out of the Gulf of Mexico. In the October supply/demand report, USDA reduced its export estimate for long-grain rice by two million cwt, to 56 million cwt. The all-rice export projection of 75 million cwt would be the lowest since 1991-1992, if realized. Some of that decline is tied to the value of the dollar. In a regular year, 90% of Mexico’s imports are from the U.S. In 2021-22, however, that total was below 50%. November futures look poised to test support at $16, while January is testing support at $16.50.

Cotton Cotton futures are also locked in a downtrend, moving to the lowest prices in over a year. The December contract did chart a bullish reversal on Friday, and that low of 75.80 cents is now key support. If the market fails to hold there, the next support is around the 72-cent mark. Poor export demand and the relative strength of the dollar continue to limit the upside potential of the market. The crop is now 45% harvested nationwide. In Arkansas, that total is 71%. There is still a question of yields and the overall size of the crop. The USDA 4

production estimate in the October report was reduced slightly to 13.8 million bales. The export forecast was lowered by 100,000 bales to 12.5 million bales as world trade is expected to continue at a sluggish pace. That reduction directly carried over into the carryout estimate, which was up 100,000 bales.

Soybeans Soybean futures are holding a little more stable than many other commodities. The November contract continues to consolidate between support at $13.50 and resistance at $14. Strong soy oil prices continue to be supportive along with forecasts for a smaller-than-expected crop.

Nationwide, the crop is 80% harvested. The October reports saw USDA lower the soybean production forecast by 65 million bushels thanks to a 0.7. bu/acre cut to the nationwide yield estimate, which is now pegged at 49.8 bushels per acre.

Total production is now forecast to come in at 4.3 billion bushels. Lower production was, however, partially offset by higher beginning stocks, and total supplies were reduced by 31 million bushels. Exports were reduced 40 million bushels to 2.05 billion bushels. Increased domestic crush partially offset the lower exports, though, and ending stocks were unchanged from last month at 200 million bushels.

Corn The corn harvest is also progressing, with 61% of the crop in the bins across the country. December corn futures have been trending higher but have recently broken that trendline support. Additional support is found at $6.70 and $6.60. The October reports reduced the corn production forecast by 49 million bushels to 13.895 billion bushels. That is the result of a reduction in the average yield to 171.9 bushels per acre. Total corn supplies are forecast at 15.322 billion bushels, a decline of 172 million bushels from last month, as

A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

lower production and beginning stocks were partially offset by higher imports. The net result of the report was that supply fell more than use, and projected ending stocks were cut 47 million bushels.

Dairy The October Milk Production report is bearish, as it showed steady growth in the number of milk cows. Milk production is now estimated to be up 1.5% from a year ago. Feed costs are projected to remain elevated as corn supplies will be tight. A large portion of the country is now in a drought, stressing pasture conditions and keeping prices of hay and alfalfa elevated as well.

Cattle December live cattle futures have rallied higher in recent days after breaking through previous resistance near $149. On Monday, the market moved to new contract highs, and that high of $154.20 is now the upside target for bulls. Strength in hog futures and the stock market have both been supportive. Cash live cattle prices are also solid. The October Cattle-on-Feed report was seen as neutral. The Oct. 1 feedlot inventory was pegged at 99.1% of the year ago total. September placements were pegged at 96.2% of a year ago and marketings were 94%. The report was all within trade estimates.

Hogs December live hog futures are trending solidly higher after finding support at $73. The market has found resistance near $90 for the time being. Firmer cash hog prices and strong weekly export totals have been supportive. Hog production has risen seasonally, but remains below yearago totals.

EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com