MARCH 18, 2022 | VOLUME 25 | ISSUE 6
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY AWARDED AFBF MINI-GRANT Arkansas Tech University (ATU) was recently awarded a $500 Collegiate Farm Bureau Mini-Grant. Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters across the nation compete for this grant. The program is designed to aid in chapter recruitment, leadership development, community service, outreach, officer development, purchase of educational materials and/or registration costs for conferences. Since development of the program in 2017, more than 30 mini-grants have been awarded. ATU plans to use the grant to host an “Amazing Race” around Russellville. Their goal is to open the program to the entire campus, with detours that will include agriculture information about different commodities.
Abandoned Pesticide Collection Events, page 2
The goal is to encourage student involvement in the agriculture department, as well as the campus in general.
AG IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHER AWARD DEADLINE APRIL 1 The Arkansas Ag in the Classroom Teacher Award recognizes an outstanding teacher in Arkansas who incorporates agricultural themes into nonagricultural curricula. If you know teachers who use Ag in the Classroom, please encourage them to apply for the award. Teachers can be self-nominated, nominated by fellow teachers, principals or superintendents, or nominated by a county Farm Bureau leader. Program questions can be directed to Matt Jackson at matt.jackson@arfb.com or by phone at 501-228-1237. Deadline for applications is April 1. The Arkansas Ag in the Classroom Teacher Award guidelines and application can be downloaded here.
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2022 Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Conference, page 3
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A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
ABANDONED PESTICIDE COLLECTION EVENTS The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Abandoned Pesticide Program has scheduled four Abandoned Pesticide collection events April 4 – 7 for the following counties: Arkansas, Howard, Little River, Montgomery, Pike, Polk and Sevier. Collection event are from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following dates: Farm Bureau Week Winner | St. Francis County was named state winner for the 2022 Farm Bureau Week contest. Counties were asked to implement a creative membership campaign held during Farm Bureau Week. District winners each received $500, with St. Francis County receiving an additional $1,000 as the state winner.
• April 4 – Sevier County/Little River County – Sevier County Road Shop, 1155 Highway 70/71 East, De Queen, AR 77832 • April 5th – Howard County/Pike County – Howard County Fairgrounds, 1567 US 371, Nashville, AR 71852 • April 6th – Polk County/Montgomery County – Polk County Fairgrounds, 156 Polk Road 43, Mena, AR 71953 • April 7th – Arkansas County – Stuttgart Municipal Airport, 2000 State Highway 980, Stuttgart, AR 72160 Participation in a collection event is free and anonymous to anyone. Commonly collected items include old/ outdated pesticides such as calcium arsenate; 2,4,5T; sodium cyanide; lindane; and chlordane, as well as registered pesticides unusable because they have been exposed to the elements or have been held over from previous growing seasons, such as glyphosate products and 2,4-D.
Grant Co. Legislative Breakfast | Grant County Farm Bureau hosted a legislative pancake breakfast March 5 with 16 in attendance. Pictured from left are House District 92 candidate David Workman, Senate District 2 candidate James McMenis, House District 92 candidate Julie Mayberry and Grant County Farm Bureau Board President Peggy Thomas.
H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA WEBINAR As a deadly strain of avian influenza closes in on Arkansas, Arkansas extension veterinarian Dustan Clark will be hosting a webinar for small flock owners on March 31 at 6 p.m. Sessions were also held March 9 and 19. Click here to register for the event. The events are presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. There is no cost to attend. 2
CARBON SEQUESTRATION CONTRACTS WEBINAR The National Agricultural Law Center’s next free webinar, “Considering Carbon: Understanding the Legalities of Soil Carbon Sequestration Contracts,” will be held March 23 at 11 a.m. CST. Several programs exist that pay farmers to increase the carbon levels in their soil through no-till, strip-till and cover cropping. In exchange for implementing these practices, farmers agree to sell the carbon credits generated on their fields to third-party brokers, who in turn sell those credits to industries looking to offset their emissions and reduce their carbon footprints. Webinar presenter Todd J. Janzen, attorney and founder of Janzen Schroeder Agricultural Law LLC, will provide an examination of these new soil carbon contracts and explain the challenges to widespread adoption. Learn more and register for the webinar here.
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2022 ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Despite winter weather, the Arkansas Farm Bureau (ArFB) Women’s Leadership Committee hosted its 2022 conference March 11 – 12 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Little Rock. On day one, while the snow fell outside, attendees were welcomed by ArFB President Rich Hillman, got an update on Arkansas Ag in the Classroom’s work around the state, thanked outgoing committee member Regina Oliver for her service and cheered the presentation of $5,000 to
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On day two, the conference started with rotating workshops by photographer Alex Kent, Dr. Laura Hendrix with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service and Mary Beth Groce, also with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. The conference concluded with lunch and entertainment by humorist Jane Jenkins Herlong.
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Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas. At dinner, the group heard from Col. Angela Ochoa, the first female Commander of the Little Rock Air Force Base.
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1) Janell Mason (left), Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas CEO and Magen Allen, Women’s Leadership chair 2) Regina Oliver (left) and Magen Allen 3) Little Rock Air Force Base Commander Col. Angela Ochoa 4) Jane Jenkins Herlong 5) Photographer Alex Kent 6) Dr. Laura Hendrix 7) Mary Beth Groce A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
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MARKET NEWS as of March 16, 2022 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Livestock and Poultry In the March Supply/Demand report, USDA lowered its total red meat and poultry production estimate slightly. Beef production was raised on higher fed and non-fed cattle slaughter numbers but was more than offset by lower pork and broiler production estimates. Pork production was lowered on slower slaughter activity and lower carcass weights. Broiler production was decreased on lower slaughter to date and slower recovery in hatchability than was previously estimated. Fed-cattle price estimates were raised as a result of firm packer demand and declining inventories of fed cattle. Hog price estimates were raised on current prices and expected demand strength. Broiler, turkey and egg price forecasts were also raised in reaction to current prices and relatively slow production growth. Dairy The milk production forecast for 2022 was lowered in the March Supply Demand report. Lower dairy cow numbers and slower growth in milk per cow were credited with the reduction. The fat basis import forecast was lowered as imports of cheese and butterfat are expected to shrink. Export forecasts were 4
lowered on slower-than-expected shipments of whole milk powder and whey. On a skim-solid basis, the import forecast was raised, and higher imports of milk proteins more than offset weaker cheese imports. Price forecasts for cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk and whey were raised from the previous month on current prices, lower expected production and continued demand strength. With higher product prices, both Class III and Class IV prices were raised. The 2022 all-milk price forecast was increased to $25.05 per cwt. Row Crops Russia’s attack on Ukraine has sent the markets into turmoil. Ukraine exported 14% of the world’s corn last year, and Ukraine and Russia combined account for 29% of the world’s wheat exports. Since mid-February, Chicago wheat futures moved to all-time highs. However, the July contract charted a huge bearish reversal last week amid technical selling. The July high of $12.78¼ will be tough resistance, but prices have bounced off support above $10. The March Supply/Demand report delivered disappointing news, with USDA actually raising its 2021/22 U.S. wheat carryout estimate by 5 million bushels, cutting exports by 10 million bushels based on the slower pace of export sales and shipments to date. Corn futures continue to trend higher. December set a new contract high of $6.58 this week. A close below the $6.30 area could be a negative signal. Favorable weather in South America and
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
in the U.S. are slightly bearish for prices, as are this week’s losses in crude oil futures. While old crop rice futures have been on a bit of a roller coaster the past few weeks, new crop rice futures continue to trade just below the contract high of $15.85. Rice, as a staple food for the majority of people in the world, is finding support from concerns about global food security. However, changes to the USDA supply/demand balance sheet added downside pressure. The all-rice carryout increased by 1 million cwt. to 34.5 million cwt, and world rice carryout was increased by 4 MMT. May futures got a big boost on Friday when March went off the board and May became the lead contract. December went along for the ride, closing above $1.04 before retreating a bit, still holding firm above support at $1. Strong demand continues to support the market. The U.S. supply/demand balance sheet was unchanged in the March report. Soybean futures turned lower on Tuesday as Chinese cities lock down once again as Covid cases surge. Futures appear to have confirmed a top in midFebruary. November futures have strong support at $14, but their continued inability to close above $15 suggests the market is running out of steam.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com