APRIL 9, 2021 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 7
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
POWELL HIRED FOR LOCAL AFFAIRS, RURAL DEVELOPMENT ROLE
Philip Powell has been hired as assistant director of public affairs and government relations at Arkansas Farm Bureau, where he will focus on local affairs and rural development and serve as a member of the lobbying team for the state’s largest agricultural advocacy organization.
Philip Powell
Powell previously worked at Chonex, Inc. in Robertsdale, Ala., where he was an agribusiness production consultant, executive assistant and sales & operations supervisor. He rapidly progressed in the sustainable agriculture start-up environment, with increased business operations responsibilities.
Prior to working at Chonex, Powell managed a campus tutoring program at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana and was logistics account executive for Total Quality Logistics in Fayetteville. “I’m excited and pleased that Philip has joined us,” said Stanley Hill, Arkansas Farm Bureau’s vice president of public affairs and government relations. “He is an accomplished young man with outstanding capabilities, which we will utilize to advance our local initiatives and program of work and further rural development efforts across our state. “He will work on matters regarding broadband expansion and reliability, rural vs. municipal issues, county roads and land issues, veterans in farming and ranching, urban farming and diversity in agriculture.” Powell holds an undergraduate degree from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He has served as a Deaf and Hard-ofHearing Family Mentor with Alabama Hands and Voices, a junior high lacrosse coach at the Northwest Arkansas Lacrosse Club and worked on the economic development task force for Thrive Hempstead County. He is an Eagle Scout.
ArFB Legislative Action Alert, page 2
Ag Youth Leadership Seminar
2021 Arkansas Farm Bureau Ag Youth Leadership Seminar, page 3
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ArFB LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
ArFB is requesting members begin reaching out to legislators, requesting their support for a fully funded state meat inspection program. HB1315, now Act 418, establishes a state meat inspection program under the authority of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. However, the funding for the program has not yet been approved by the General Assembly. The Joint Budget Committee approved an amendment to SB164, the appropriations bill for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
Lonoke Garden Grant | On March 11, Lindsey Rucker, ArFB education coordinator, presented the Cabot Freshman Academy with a $500 Garden Mini Grant. In attendance for the presentation were (left to right) Ahna Davis, Cabot Freshman Academy Principal; Jamie Layes-Shelton, 9th grade keystone teacher; Lindsey Rucker; DeAnne Tonnessen, keystone teacher; Nicole Gatewood, C/T and STEM Innovation coordinator; and David McKinney, Lonoke County Farm Bureau.
2021 SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRA The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). These grants are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance the competitiveness of the Arkansas specialty crop industry. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as fruits, vegetables, horticulture, floriculture and tree nuts. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture uses a two-phase application process for administering the grant funds. Project concept proposals outlining the project’s goals, tasks and budget requirement must be submitted by April 16 through this link: www.cognitoforms.com/ArkansasAgriculture1/ SpecialtyCropBlockGrant2021ProjectConceptProposal. After all concept proposals are reviewed by an advisory committee, selected projects will be invited to submit detailed project proposals. Applicants are encouraged to develop projects pertaining to the
COVID-19 AID EXPANDED TO INCL
Pulaski Co. Retirement | The Pulaski County Farm Bureau offices gathered together and bid farewell to Debbie Dunham, MSR, after 32 years of service to the county. Refreshments were served.
WLC 2021 AG WEEK CHALLENGE WINNERS The ArFB State Women’s Leadership Committee sponsored a contest for the most creative National Ag Week campaign. The results are in. Congratulations to the winners! 1st Place – Scott County 2nd Place – White County 3rd Place – Stone County 4th Place – Boone County 5th Place – Lee County 2
The USDA announced a plan to distribute more than $12 billion under the Pandemic Assistance for Producers program, which includes aid that had been put on hold as well as funds newly allocated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The program assists farmers and ranchers who previously did not qualify for COVID-19 aid and expands assistance to farmers helped by existing programs. Farmers will need to sign-up only if they are applying for new programs or if they are eligible for CFAP assistance and did not previously apply. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack shared details of the new plan during a virtual meeting today with state Farm Bureau presidents and American Farm Bureau leadership.
The funding includes $6 billion to develop new programs or modify existing proposals using remaining discretionary funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act. USDA expects this to include funding for personal protective equipment (PPE), compensation to offset the pandemic’s impact
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
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The amendment simply outlined the funds, and their specific purpose, for the state meat inspection program. In total, for salaries, maintenance and operations, the committee approved $743,399. ArFB is strongly supportive of a fully funded state meat inspection program, which will ensure the program is a success for producers, processors and consumers. To send a message directly to your legislator, text ARFB MEAT to 52886 or email PublicAffairs@arfb.com with ARFB MEAT in the subject line.
ANT PROGRAM PROPOSALS following issues affecting the specialty crop industry:
• Increasing sales and marketability and driving demand for specialty crops; • Increasing consumption of specialty crops in Arkansas’ schools by expanding child knowledge and/or improving access to the nutritional benefits of specialty crops; • Increasing access to local healthy foods; • Research projects focused on helping specialty crop growers reduce financial costs, improve pest and disease management, and/or value-added products; and • Enhancing specialty crop food safety. More information about the grant is available in the full Request for Applications (RFA) at www.agriculture.arkansas. gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ADA-SCBGP-RFA-2021.pdf. For additional information, contact Amy Lyman, amy.lyman@ agriculture.arkansas.gov.
LUDE MORE PRODUCERS
on biofuels, specialty crops and farmers forced to euthanize animals due to supply-chain issues, among other uses. Another $5.6 billion will be directed to formula payments to cattle producers and eligible flat-rate or price trigger crops. In addition, $500 million in new funding is included for existing programs such as the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, Farmers Opportunities Training and Outreach Program, Local Agricultural Marketing Program, Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills Program. AFBF urges USDA to quickly accomplish the needed regulatory changes to deliver assistance to contract livestock and poultry growers who have yet to receive aid, despite specific authorization from Congress.
2021 ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU AG YOUTH LEADERSHIP SEMINAR Arkansas Farm Bureau is pleased to announce the 2021 Ag Youth Leadership Seminar (AYLS). The three-day seminar will provide an in-depth look at agricultural degrees and careers, an introduction to the ArFB policy development process and issues affecting agriculture and rural Arkansas. Please save the dates of July 14–16. AYLS provides youth the opportunity to learn about several aspects of the agricultural industry such as, agriculture agencies, companies and technologies. The seminar will explore career opportunities in agriculture and what educational path is needed for those careers. The group will be taking a tour of the Arkansas State Capitol, local farms and have representatives from a few universities and colleges in the state offering agricultural degrees. We will conclude with a drawing of a $500 scholarship to one of the participants. AYLS will be limited to 20 students entering the 11th or 12th grade in the 2021-22 school year. A graded application system will be used to select the participants. Guidelines and applications for AYLS are located found at http://bit.ly/2021AYLS and on the Leader Portal. Deadline for applications is June 11. No applications will be considered after this date If you have any questions, contact Education Coordinators Lindsey Rucker at lindsey.rucker@ arfb.com, 501-228-1843, or Brock Roberts at brock. roberts@arfb.com, 501-228-1575.
Ag Youth Leadership Seminar
Sign-ups for the new program begin April 5. A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
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MARKET NEWS as of April 7, 2021 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Hogs The recent Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report provided a bullish surprise for the market. The report showed that on March 1 all hogs and pigs were down 74.773 million head, a decline of 1.8% from the same time last year. This total was outside the range of average trade expectations and the first year-overyear decline for March since 2014. The number of market hogs also declined 1.8%, and the number of hogs and pigs kept for breeding declined 2.5%. The market was already trending solidly higher, but the report resulted in a large gap higher for June futures and prices moving to new contract highs on a nearly daily basis, providing an opportunity for producers to continue to recover from losses incurred in 2020. Cattle Live cattle futures are finding support from strong cash market fundamentals. Cutout values are up this week, and packer margins are over $500 per head, up approximately $140 from a week ago. Futures are trading at or near contract high levels. June has trendline support above $123, and resistance at the contract high of $125.125. December has trendline support near $128, and resistance at the contract high of $129.35. Corn Corn plantings are estimated at 91.1 million acres, up less than 1 percent, or 325,000 acres from last year. In Arkansas, intended plantings are pegged at 700,000 acres, up 13% from 2020. Corn futures were oversold already, and this report sent 4
the market limit-up as traders were expecting a much larger crop. 2020-21 ending stocks are expected to be tight, so expect to see prices supported through spring. Acreage could, of course, still increase, especially if we see dryer conditions early, and right now the forecast is favorable for planting progress. This was the first week for USDA to release a crop progress report for the 2021 crop, and 2% of the crop is reportedly in the ground. December corn rallied sharply higher in reaction to the report, charting a potential double-bottom at $4.49, which could underpin the market if the first level of support for December – the chart gap between $4.77½ and $4.80¾, is broken. Soybeans Soybean planted acreage for 2021 was pegged at 87.6 million acres, up 5% from 2020. In Arkansas, acres are estimated to be 3 million, up 6% from last year. Total acres here were also less than expected. Soybean stocks are also expected to be tight, and traders were expecting to see higher planting intentions to fill demand. Technically, November futures moved to a new high in reaction to the report, and that high of $12.85 is now resistance. Cotton All cotton acres were pegged at 12.036 million for 2021, which was mostly in line with trade expectations. Arkansas’ crop was estimated to be 490,000 acres. The report was mostly neutral for prices, but the market has seen gains on carryover strength from other commodities and sharp losses in the value of the U.S. dollar, which make U.S. cotton more competitive on the world market. West Texas is still experiencing a severe drought. The current forecast does indicate some relief is on the way, but not enough to end drought conditions there. Technically, December cotton is facing some resistance near 81 cents. Rice All rice acres were estimated to be 2.71 million acres, down 11% from last
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
year. Arkansas farmers are expected to plant 1.13 million acres of long grain and 121,000 acres of medium and short grain, for a total of 1.251 million acres, down 14% from 2021. In the first crop progress report of the year, USDA says 14% of the crop is in the ground, mostly in Texas and Louisiana. September futures are consolidating between support at $12.88 and resistance at $13.02. USDA Announced Additional Assistance for Cattle, Row Crop Producers USDA announced last week more than $12 billion for the Pandemic Assistance for Producers, which will help farmers and ranchers who previously did not qualify for COVID-19 aid and expand assistance to farmers who have already received help. Farmers who previously submitted CFAP applications will not have to re-apply. Sign-up for the new program begins on April 5. The program will include: • An increase in CFAP 1 payment rates for cattle-USDA estimates additional payments of more than $1.1 billion to more than 410,000 cattle producers. • Additional CFAP 2 assistance of $20 per acre for producers of eligible flat-rate or price-trigger crops – USDA estimates additional payments of more than $4.5 billion for more than 560,000 producers. • Processing of eligible payments for CFAP Additional Assistance – USDA will finalize routine decisions and minor formula adjustments on applications and begin processing payments for certain applications field for this program. Visit farmers.gov/cfap for more information.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com