Farm Bureau Press | December 18

DECEMBER 18, 2020 • VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 25

Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE

ArFB BOARD MEMBER PLYLER APPOINTED TO BEEF BOARD ArFB board member Caleb Plyler, a 40-yearold cow-calf producer from Spring Hill (Hempstead County), has been appointed

by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to a three-year term on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board, usually referred to as the Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

Plyler is one of 28 new members of the board, whose terms begin in February 2021. He owns Plyler and Son Charolais in southern Hempstead County. He was recently reelected for another two-year term on the ArFB board and also serves chairman of the Arkansas Beef Council.

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board oversees collection of $1 per head on all cattle sold in the U.S. and $1 per head equivalent on imported cattle, beef and beef products.

The board is responsible for approving the annual budget for its national checkoff-funded programs.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities.

Grain Standards Reauthorization, page 2

Scott County Judge Proclaims Dec. 16 as Scott County Women’s Leadership Day, page 3

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WILLEMS RETIRES FROM ArFB AFTER 36 YEARS

Harry Willems, director of Organization and Member Programs (OMP), recently announced his retirement from ArFB effective Dec. 31. Willems has been a fixture at Arkansas Farm Bureau for more than 36 years.

Willems was hired in 1984 as Assistant Safety Director.

After a short time in that position, he was promoted to District Director of Field Services, serving in two of the seven districts. He was then named to Director of YF&R and Women’s Programs before assuming his current role of Director of OMP. He has been an asset to the organization in each position and will be missed. All of us ArFB wish he and his wife, Janice, the best as they enter into the next phase of their lives.

GRAIN STANDARDS REAUTHORIZ

U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Cha Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Dec. 11 the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 was s law by President Trump.

The U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 passed out o Agriculture Committee on June 24, the Senate on Nov. 16, and the Representatives on Dec. 2.

“We’re ending 2020 by delivering on our promise of certainty and p to the federal grain inspection system,” said Roberts. “This bipartisa is a testament to the way we get things done in the Agriculture Co

“Right now, our farmers are facing unprecedented uncertainty and instability,” said Stabenow. “This bipartisan reauthorization will con grain inspection system and protect the interests of American farm

The U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 has wide ind support from national and state agriculture groups.

WESTERMAN TAPPED AS TOP REPU ON HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCE Rep. Bruce Westerman is slated to serve as the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee for the 117th Congress after being elected by the House Republican Steering Committee in December.

Members of the OMP team celebrated Willems retirement with a small group lunch. Pictured (from left) are, MaLeta Stephens, Myra Moix, Lori Croy, Harry Willems, Chuck Tucker, Rhonda Whitley, Jennifer Craig and Justin Reynolds.

FFA Turkey Trot | Linda Goodner (left) and Ashley Allen (right), Lafayette County Farm Bureau Member Services Representatives, participated in the first annual Arkansas FFA 2020 Virtual 5K Turkey Trot. Arkansas FFA partnered with The Poultry Federation to host this event to raise awareness and celebrate the turkey industry in Arkansas. Ashley and Linda registered, walked 3.1 miles on Nov. 25, recorded their time and submitted it the Arkansas FFA Foundation.

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“I’m incredibly honored and humbled that the steering committee has recommended me to be the next lead Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee. Conservatives have a rich history of leading in conservation, and this committee will continue to be a battleground for energy and environmental issues,” Westerman said.

“In the next few years, I believe we can lead the way on showing the world how market-based conservation allows our economy

UAEX WINTER COUNTY PRODUCT The University of Arkansas Extension announced their 2020 winter county production meetings have moved online in January and February.

The meetings will be held by Zoom. Each meeting will begin at 1 p.m. and is expected to run two or 2.5 hours and end with a live Q&A. • Jan. 12 – Corn and grain sorghum production Registration link: bit.ly/ARCorn2021 • Jan. 14 – Rice production meeting Registration link: bit.ly/ARRice2021

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UBLICAN ES COMMITTEE and environment to thrive simultaneously. I can’t wait to get started,” he added.

Westerman has been among the conservative voices calling for Republicans to lead on conservation issues, particularly as the party seeks to show it is taking action of some kind on climate change.

Westerman was the sponsor of the Trillion Trees Act, which seeks to plant some 3.3 billion trees each year over the next 30 years as a way to store carbon. The legislation, which has not received a vote in the House, highlights the GOP’s focus on tree planting as a core component of its environmental messaging.

As ranking member, Westerman will take over the top Republican spot on a committee that has been aggressive in its oversight of the Interior Department under the Trump administration.

TION MEETINGS MOVE ONLINE • Jan. 21 – Cotton production Registration link: bit.ly/ARCotton2021 • Jan. 26 – Peanut production Registration link: bit.ly/ARPeanuts2021

Women’s Leadership | In honor of the Scott County Women’s Leadership Committee earning top honors at the 2020 ArFB Convention, Scott County Judge James Forbes proclaimed Dec. 16 as Scott County Women’s Leadership Day! The group was also presented their plaque by ArFB Women’s Leadership Committee Director Amanda Williams.

• Jan. 28 – Marketing, new technologies and irrigation Registration link: bit.ly/2021AR-Mkt-Tech • Feb. 2 – Soybean production Registration link: bit.ly/ARSoybean2021 There is no cost to attend and registration information and agendas may be found at bit.ly/WinterMeetings2021 A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

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MARKET NEWS as of December 16, 2020 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com

Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Supply and Demand In the December Supply/Demand Report, USDA made few changes to their red meat and poultry production estimates for 2020. For 2021, total red meat and poultry production was reduced from the previous report, as lower beef and poultry production more than offsets slightly higher pork production. Beef production was reduced on lower expected fed and non-ed cattle slaughter in the first half of the year. Broiler and turkey production forecasts were lowered on recent hatchery data. Pork production was raised on heavier carcass weights.

Price forecasts for cattle and broilers in 2021 were raised.

Milk production for 2021 was raised on higher cow numbers. Cheese and butter price forecasts were reduced on weaker expected demand and larger supplies. For 2021, forecasts of both Class III and Class IV are reduced from last month on weaker prices for cheese and butter respectively. The 2021 all milk price was lowered to $16.60/cwt.

Livestock Futures February lean hog futures are trading in a more or less sideways pattern after finding support at $63. The market is struggling to overcome resistance at $67. A close above that resistance would signal a possible retest of resistance at $69.60.

February live cattle futures have seen renewed strength in recent days. The market is currently retesting resistance in the $114 area. A close above that 4

resistance could signal a retest of resistance at $115.50. Support is currently at $110.50. January feeder futures charted a bullish reversal on Wednesday but will need to close above resistance in the $141 area to suggest further gains are possible.

Corn Corn futures charts look toppy after charting a new high and a key reversal on November 30, but selling pressure has been limited. Technically, a close for March below $4.15 would likely spark additional selling, but that support has held so far, despite the marking briefly trading to $4.14 ½.

The market would need to close above that high of $4.39 ½ to negate the bearish chart signal. USDA did not change the balance sheet for U.S. corn in the December supply/ demand report, leaving ending stocks at 1.702 billion bushels. World ending stocks were pegged at 288.96 million metric tons, down slightly from last month. Fuel demand overall continues to lag, and that has carried over into ethanol. Ethanol stockpiles continue to swell despite the fact that weekly production totals continue to decline. Generally beneficial weather in South America has improved the crop prospects in growing regions there. Additional Chinese demand could support the market if/when it materializes.

Soybeans Like corn futures, January soybean futures charted a bearish reversal on Nov. 30 after failing to overcome resistance at $12. A close below $11.50 would likely spark additional selling and will need to move above the $12 mark in order to suggest further gains are possible. USDA lowered their domestic carryout to 175 million bushels, down 15 million bushels on an equal increase in the crush estimate. That would be the lowest carryout in seven years, and many private estimates are expecting an even lower total. The weather in South America is favorable at the moment, improving prospects for a

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good crop and more competition for export markets. The monthly crush report gave the market a boost this week, setting a monthly record of 181.02 million bushels, 9.8% larger than the same period last year.

Cotton Cotton futures got a big boost from the December Supply/Demand Report. USDA slashed the production estimate by more than 1.1 million bales and raised exports by 400,000 bales. That resulted in a 1.5 million bale cut to projected carryout. The cut in production was due to a cut of 61 lbs. per acre to the cotton yield, which is now pegged at 850 lbs. per acre.

Texas production was cut by 900,000 bales and Georgia was cut by 100,000 bales. This corrected what analysts have seen as a miscalculation on the part of USDA, and confirmed what many in the industry have thought for a while. There are also ongoing concerns about the quality of the crop. The average on-farm price was raised a cent to 65 cents per pound.

Technically, futures are at their highest level in 18 months and continue to trend higher.

Rice Rice futures have seen some weakness over the past week. The market looks to be building support at $12.20, but a close below that support could result in additional selling pressure and opening up the possibility of a retest of the spike lows of $12.15 and $12.05. The USDA December Supply/ Demand Report was a mixed bag for rice. They raised their all-rice ending stocks estimate by another 1.3 million hundredweight. Long grain ending stocks were raised by 2 million cwt. to 38.2 million, but the average long grain price was raised a dime to $11.80.

EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com