In Farm Bureau ArFB hires summer interns Three recent college graduates have joined Arkansas Farm Bureau for the summer as interns. The interns will assist several key departments within the organization and work to advance their skills and learn more about Arkansas Farm Bureau’s grassroots impact within the state and across the nation. Taylor J. McNeel from Vilonia graduated with honors in May from Southern Arkansas University with a degree in agricultural business. She plans to attend the University of Arkansas in the fall for a master’s degree in agricultural economics. “I have always admired the work Farm Bureau does for Arkansas agriculture,” McNeel said. “As an intern this summer, I am excited to learn ways to better serve Arkansans and contribute to the agricultural industry.” Brooke Taylor from King City, Calif., graduated from the University of Arkansas in May where she studied pre-law. This fall
Arkansas Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Warren Carter (center) presented the Arkansas FFA state officer team June 14 with an Arkansas Farm Bureau Challenge Coin in Little Rock. The state officers pictured (left to right) are: Secretary Grace Harris, Northwest District VP Zachary Andrews, Eastern District VP Griffin Prior, Southern District VP Alex Slaughter, President Dawsyn Smith and Reporter Raven Randolph. she will return to the university to start law school. “I’m so excited to be interning with Arkansas Farm Bureau and helping prepare for the 2019 legislative session,” Taylor said. “Agriculture has always played an important role in my life, and it’s an honor to contribute to the voice of Arkansas agriculture.” McNeel and Taylor are interning with the Organization and Member Programs, Public Affairs and Government Relations and Commodity and Regulatory Affairs
ArFB state board member Terry Dabbs of Stuttgart drove a combine June 1 to harvest oats on his Arkansas County farm. Oats aren’t commonly raised by Arkansas farmers, but the Dabbs family has devoted a small portion of its overall acreage to the crop for decades. Learn more about oat production in Arkansas by visiting bit.ly/ARoats.
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departments. Matthew Magdefrau from Harrison graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in May with a degree in digital filmmaking. He is interning with the Public Relations department. Magdefrau will use his skills to create video stories for Arkansas Farm Bureau that help tell the story of agriculture in the state. “I see Farm Bureau as a place where using filmmaking and video making you can make a change in the world and you can really help people,” Magdefrau said.
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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
June 15, 2018 • Vol. 21, No. 12
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Arkansas Hospice presented a program May 31 to Sharp Co. Farm Bureau to highlight the benefits of hospice care to patients and families. Pictured (left to right) are: Sharp Co. Farm Bureau Agency Manager Paul Higginbottom, Danny Murphy, Sue Billiot, Corey Gilmore of AR Hospice, Betty Carter, John Carter and Sharp Co. Farm Bureau President Ken Billiot. “We are proud to see agricultural partners working together to identify strategies to sustain the farm families that work tirelessly in Arkansas’ existing dairy industry and to create ways to actively recruit additional operations to grow our industry,” said Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “Arkansas’ top industry is agriculture. We can compete with any state in the U.S. when it comes to making the case for why Arkansas is
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Gov. proclaims June as dairy month Governor Asa Hutchinson has proclaimed June as Arkansas Dairy Month, joining nationwide efforts to recognize the work of dairy farmers and the contribution the dairy sector makes to our state and nation. “Dairy farmers are strong, they are survivors. I am proud to recognize their efforts during Arkansas Dairy Month” said Governor Hutchinson during the presentation of the Arkansas Dairy Month proclamation ceremony. “We must continue to educate consumers about the important role of dairy farmers and dairy products in our food supply.” An Arkansas Dairy Recruitment Task Force has been established to assimilate information and resources that would be beneficial to existing Arkansas dairy farmers or farmers from other states interested in relocating to Arkansas. By bundling information regarding feed dealers, dairy regulations and inspection requirements, veterinarians and other data, the task force partners hope to highlight the many ways that the landscape and industry partnerships in Arkansas create a suitable and often superior environment for dairy operations.
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In Arkansas
Eleven of the 34 summer M*A*S*H camps around the state started the week of June 4. This group from Jonesboro, led by camp coordinator Yalanda Merrell (left) with UAMS Northeast, spent the second day of their camp visiting the UAMS campus in Little Rock where they learned about stroke management, pharmacy careers and much more.
Students attending Hot Springs M*A*S*H camp June 11-15 at CHI St. Vincent’s Hospital learned about different aspects of health care and careers in medicine, including how to “cast” broken bones. Here they proudly displayed their casts. M*A*S*H camps continue at hospitals across the state throughout June and July.
Kaylie Stone of Gurdon recently graduated from high school has raised and sold more champion animals at the State Fair Premium Sale than any other young person during her 11 years of showing animals at the livestock show. Listen as Kaylie and her father share their interesting story in our latest Arkansas AgCast, bit.ly/KaylieStone. a great place to live and be a part of our agricultural industry.” “We are encouraged by the efforts to recruit additional dairies to the state of Arkansas, where we currently consume more milk than we produce,” said Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. “A broad and diversified agriculture economy is important to our state. Any efforts to increase milk production in Arkansas is a benefit for our citizens.” Farmers to use voluntary smoke management guidelines Prescribed fire, a strategically planned and carefully managed fire application, is among the most efficient and economic methods of removing crop stubble following the harvest of row crops. The practice is also used for specific land management goals for forests, prairies and forage areas. By using Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines, Arkansas agricultural producers and landowners can manage smoke during prescribed fire applications to avoid creating hazardous conditions in smoke sensitive areas. Find Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines by visiting bit.ly/BurningGuidelines. “Through science, collaboration, and a dedication from Arkansas producers and landowners to keep our landscape and air quality healthy, prescribed fire will be used for many years to come as a valuable
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management tool for our farmers, forest landowners and statewide agricultural, conservation, and forestry agencies,” says Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “Following the Smoke Management Guidelines benefits managers of all agricultural burning and helps us remain good partners to residents,” Ward said. Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines are based on the development of a simple burn plan, which includes reporting the burn to the Arkansas Agriculture Department (AAD) Dispatch Center (1-800-830-8015). Reporting the burn to the dispatch center provides a full understanding of weather conditions including humidity and wind, information about other burns in the area and proximity of nearby smoke sensitive areas like schools, nursing homes and highways. Reporting the burn also provides notice to the public by having the burn added to a publicly available list at www.arkfireinfo.org. Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines for crop burning are based on guidelines developed more than a decade ago by the Arkansas Prescribed Fire Council for forest landowners, and forestry and conservation agencies, available at bit. ly/VolSmokeGuide. In 2017, a crop burning task force comprised of producers and other stakeholders representing various agricultural agencies and associations including the Arkansas Rice Federation, Arkansas Soybean Association, Ag Council
These ladies getting their first exposure to alpacas were among the many guests who attended Pulaski Co. FB’s Arkansas Farm Day June 2 at Heifer International in Little Rock. The purpose of the event was to educate the public on the importance of agriculture in Arkansas and promote Pulaski Co. FB through a family friendly, funfilled day. of Arkansas and the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation finalized guidelines for crop burning based on scientific data regarding air quality and smoke particles and experience with the application of prescribed fire, from the AAD’s Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
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Elsewhere
Strike! ArFB President Randy Veach threw the first pitch June 12 at the Arknasas Travelers game at DickeyStephens Park in North Little Rock.
Farmers, ranchers eager for Senate vote on farm bill The Senate Agriculture Committee’s approval of its farm bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (S. 3042), provides light on the horizon for struggling farmers and ranchers, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. “Low commodity prices, rising interest rates and an uncertain future for exports hang heavy over America’s farm and ranch land,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a statement. “We know that Congress is determined to see us continue to provide food security, fuel and fiber for all Americans.” Noting how Democrats and Republicans on the committee came together in support of the bill, Duvall said he hoped that spirit of cooperation would
prevail when the legislation is considered on the Senate floor in the coming weeks. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he plans to hold a vote before the chamber goes into its July 4 recess. “The American Farm Bureau Federation thanks Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow for bringing this important legislation forward,” Duvall said. The House failed last month in its first attempt to pass its farm bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2), but House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas) recently said he expects a second vote by next Thursday or Friday. Once each chamber passes its bill, House and Senate negotiators can craft a final bill to send to President Trump. “Farmers and ranchers are counting on our lawmakers to come together and pass the farm bill soon, followed quickly by the president’s signature,” Duvall said. Farm Bureau continues to encourage farmers and ranchers to contact their congressional representatives to thank them for their support, if they voted in favor of the House measure, or urge them to change their vote to help pass this critical legislation. Visit www.fb.org/ Editor advocacy/farmbill Maddison Stewart to send a message maddison.stewart@arfb.com to your lawmaker.
In the Market As of June 14, 2018 Farm Bill The Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Chairman’s version of the 2018 Farm Bill. It is expected to be on the floor of the Senate the week of June 25. The bill is similar to HR 2 in that it makes few changes to the core programs of the 2014 bill. There are, of course, many differences that will have to be worked out in conference, but core programs are maintained in both. Language previously introduced in the Thune/Brown bill that used decreased reference prices for cotton and rice to pay for fixes to ARC-CO was not included in the bill. The House continues to search for a path forward on immigration to satisfy the Freedom Caucus, whose members will not support a Farm Bill until immigration bills are considered. Speaker Ryan announced this week that the House plans to vote on two immigration bills next week, potentially clearing the way for Farm Bill passage. Cotton Cotton futures have seen a strong rally in recent weeks. U.S. export sales remain strong, with sales for the 17-18 marketing year up 2.5 million bales over the year ago total. Vietnam and China are the top buyers, at 19 percent and 16 percent respectively. Additionally, for the first time since 2013, China issued a new 800,000 metric ton import quota on top of their annual 894,000 quota. USDA predicts the US crop will come in at 19.5 million bales, but there is still plenty of uncertainty on yields and abandonment, and many in the trade think the USDA estimate is too high. Ending stocks are estimated to be 4.7 million bales with a stocks to use ratio of 24.9 percent. Global production is pegged at 120.4 million bales, while ending stocks are pegged at 83.02 million bales with a stocks to use ratio of 66.2 percent. The US crop is ahead of the five-year pace at 90 percent planted, with Arkansas reporting 100 percent of the crop in the
ground as of June 10. Farmers are taking advantage of the pricing opportunities presented by the recent rally, with 15 percent of the Midsouth crop currently forward contracted. Soybeans November soybean futures have taken over 85 cents off the market since the end of May. The market charted a double top at the high of $10.60 as the selloff began. There is significant technical support at $9.70, and the market is in oversold territory at this point. Livestock producers might consider this a pricing opportunity for feed, as a corrective bounce could be coming soon. The June WASDE report had some good news on the domestic front, with 2018 ending stocks down to 505 million bushels thanks to a 25 millionbushel increase in crushing. Next season’s ending stocks were cut to 385 million bushels, which was below the low end of pre-report estimates. World stocks, on the other hand, were increased to 119 MMT thanks to an increase in Brazilian production. The market will likely remain volatile and buying interest limited by uncertainty surrounding trade talks and potential tariffs. Rice The rice market has seen a significant selloff, with futures taking over $2/cwt off the market since the April highs. On the domestic front, the 2017/18 ending stocks estimate has been raised 3 million cwt on a 1 million cwt increase in imported rice and a 2 million cwt decrease in exports, reflecting the current pace of trade. The season-average farm price for the same time period was lowered to $12.30-$12.70. For 2018/19, total supplies are raised 4 million cwt, due to the higher carryout and an increase in imported long-grain aromatics from Asia. Global supplies for 2018/19 are expected to be down 2.1 million tons on reduced production, mostly in China. With NAFTA negotiations deadlocked, the rice market will likely remain volatile, as Mexico is the single largest buyer of US rice, purchasing 250,000-300,000 metric tons and Canada accounting for approximately 75,000 metric tons annually. Corn USDA’s first crop progress report of the season showed the second-highest crop condition rating ever. Seventy-nine percent
of the crop was rated good-excellent, the second highest rating since 1991 and the highest rating since 1994. US growers are expected to harvest 80.7 million acres of corn with an average yield of 174 bushels per acre. While it is still early in the year, it is likely USDA will revise the production estimate in future reports. Like other markets, corn futures have soldoff in recent weeks. While the market is currently in oversold territory, traders will be watching the size of the crop and trade negotiations closely. Livestock Livestock futures have shifted focus away from trade concerns. Cattle and hog markets have received a boost postMemorial Day as domestic grilling season is in full swing and demand has picked up. August live cattle are building on technical support near $98/cwt, but are finding resistance between $106 and $107/cwt. September feeders have found resistance just above $149. Hog futures, on the other hand, have blown through resistance in recent days, trending sharply higher, with little in the way of technical resistance until they reach the $85/cwt area.
CONTACT
Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268, brandy.carroll@arfb.com
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