JUNE 4, 2021 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 11
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
MATT KING PROMOTED TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND ADVOCACY Matt King has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Administration and Advocacy at Arkansas Farm Bureau, according to Warren Carter, ArFB’s executive vice president. In his new role, King will drive internal and external alignment that improve the organization’s advocacy efforts in support of agriculture and rural Arkansas. He will assist Carter with the organization’s administrative functions and strategic priorities. King most recently served as ArFB’s Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations, where he worked with the state’s Congressional delegation, federal regulatory agencies and national alliances. He has been with Arkansas Farm Bureau for 15 years, having also worked as an economist in the organization’s Commodity and Regulatory Affairs department. “Matt has demonstrated the ability to bring people together and help them understand the impacts of Arkansas agriculture on our state, its economy and the cultural connections it has across this country,” Carter said. “I look forward to his work with our members, his additional focus on the organization’s strategy and implementation of our member-defined public policy advocacy efforts. “His focus will be on enhancing our advocacy efforts by ensuring we utilize the full range of resources.” A native of Hot Springs, King received an undergraduate degree in agricultural business from Arkansas State University. He then earned a master’s degree in agricultural economics at the University of Arkansas. He worked for USDA’s Foreign Ag Services in Washington, D.C., before coming to work with Farm Bureau in 2006.
Temporary Restraining Order Delays Implementation of 2021 Amendments to Dicamba Rule, page 2
USDA Seeks Feedback from Producers, page 3
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TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER D IMPLEMENTATION OF 2021 AMEN
Equine Summit | The Equine Leadership Summit co-hosted by University of Arkansas and Arkansas Farm Bureau is an important part of the ongoing Equine Industry Assessment. This study will assess the priorities of our Equine Industry in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as well as inform the future work of University of Arkansas equine extension and Ark. Farm Bureau Equine Division.
On May 24, the 16th Division of the Pulaski County Circuit Court ruled that a temporary restraining order issued on May 21 delaying implementation of the 2021 amendments to the State Plant Board’s dicamba rule would be extended until June 10, at which time another hearing will be held. As a result of the temporary restraining order, the previous State Plant Board Rules on Pesticide Classification regarding dicamba remain in effect and include the following: (1) In-crop application of dicamba shall be prohibited after May 25. (2) A one-mile buffer in all directions must be maintained between the fields where dicamba is applied and research stations operated by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. (3) A one-mile buffer in all directions must be maintained in all directions between the fields where dicamba is applied and
FARM BUREAU SELECTS FELTS, WEB Madison Felts and Josey Webb have been hired as summer interns for Arkansas Farm Bureau. Jackson Co. Scholarships | The Jackson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors recently awarded two $1,000 scholarships to local school graduates. Recipients of this award were Hannah Miller from the Jackson County School District and Alexis Bradley from the Newport School District. Pictured are (left) Jackson Co. Farm Bureau Board President Carey Robertson and Hannah Miller and (right) Alexis Bradley.
FFA Officers | The 2021-22 FFA state officer team visited the Farm Bureau Center June 1 for an introduction to the ArFB executive office. From left: Justin Reynolds, OMP vice president; Warren Carter, ArFB EVP; Josie Kelly, FFA president; Caleb Bailey, Northwest VP; William Blankenship, Southern VP; Kaleb Barenberg, Secretary; John Booker, Reporter; Allyssa Andrews, Eastern VP; Matt King, Senior VP, and Matt Jackson, Director of Education and Outreach. 2
Felts will work for the public relations department and her duties will include graphic design, writing content for the Arkansas Farm Bureau website and social media, creating and updating print materials, and participating in video shoots and other fieldwork.
Madison Felts
Felts, a native of Wynne (Cross County), is a rising senior at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She is majoring in Agricultural Communications, with a minor in Agricultural Business. She is currently on the Dean’s List and is the Graphic Design and Public Relations chair for Sigma Alpha Iota, a member of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and a part of the Accelerate Summer Achievement Program.
“I am excited for this opportunity,” Felts said. “I know Farm Bureau really cares about agriculture and farming, which I’m passionate about and have been around my entire life. I know this organization will allow me to meet new people, expand my knowledge, gain new strengths and make some great memories.”
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DELAYS NDMENTS TO DICAMBA RULE fields where certified organic crops and commercially grown specialty crops (defined as at least 1,000 plants or average annual sales of $25,000 for three years) are grown. (4) A half-mile buffer must be maintained in all directions between fields where dicamba is applied and fields where soybeans and cotton that are not genetically engineered to resist dicamba are grown. The temporary restraining order was entered in response to a request for a preliminary injunction by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Glenn Hooks et al v. Arkansas State Plant Board, that challenges the implementation of the 2021 amendments to the dicamba rule. Another lawsuit, OMP Farms et al v. Arkansas State Plant Board, also challenges the implementation of the dicamba rule amendments and has been assigned to the 6th Division of the Pulaski County Circuit Court. The 6th Division held a hearing on May 25 but took no action.
BB FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIPS Webb will intern for the Organization and Member Programs, Public Affairs and Government Relations, and Commodity and Regulatory Affairs departments. She will be responsible for doing research, collecting commodity and agriculture industry data, updating and editing Farm Bureau materials and assisting with special events. Webb is from Acorn (Polk County) and is a rising senior at Southern Josey Webb Arkansas University in Magnolia. Her major is Animal Science, with a minor in Mass Communications. She is a part of the honors college, former vice president of the Collegiate Farm Bureau, former president of Ag Club, President Ambassador, a member of Polk County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee and philanthropy chair for Sigma Alpha Beta Rho. She has also been on the Dean’s List at SAU since her freshman year. “I grew up on a family farm, so Farm Bureau has always been a big part of my life growing up,” said Webb. “I’ve always appreciated the fact that Farm Bureau gave local farmers someone in their corner. I hope to be a part of that support system as well.”
USDA SEEKS FEEDBACK FROM PRODUCERS The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact nearly 1,600 producers across Arkansas to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1. “The June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey are two of the most important and wellknown surveys NASS conducts,” explained Eugene Young, director of the NASS Delta Regional Office. “When growers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that help determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2021 crop year. The results are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA, businesses, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others to inform a wide range of decisions.” Growers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online at agcounts.usda.gov, by phone, or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks. For the June Area Survey, agency representatives will interview farm and ranch operators in randomly selected segments over the phone. Growers will be asked to provide information on crop acreage, grain stocks, livestock inventory, land values, and value of sales. NASS will analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports to be released June 30. Survey data also contribute to NASS’s monthly and annual Crop Production reports, the annual Small Grains Summary, annual Farms and Land in Farms and Land Values reports, various livestock reports, including Cattle, Sheep and Goats, and Hogs and Pigs, and USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. These and all NASS reports are available at nass.usda. gov/Publications/. For more information, call the NASS Delta Regional Field Office at (800) 327-2970.
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MARKET NEWS as of June 2, 2021 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Cattle The big news in the cattle market this week is obviously the cyberattack on JBS, the world’s largest meat processing company. After being closed for Memorial Day, its five largest U.S. beef plants were shut down on June 1. That day’s U.S. slaughter total was estimated at 94,000 head, down from 120,000 last week and 115,000 last year. Packer margins are still over $700/ head and will likely climb higher thanks to smaller supplies. Futures, on the other hand, gapped lower on June 1 in reaction to the news. October live cattle futures tested long-term support below $120 before closing near the top of the day’s trading range. News that the plants were expected to come back online June 2 provided some fundamental support and futures began to recover. Hogs Hog futures continue to show strength. Wholesale pork prices are surging due to strong domestic demand and decreased production. Strong export sales have also provided support. Expectations for supplies to remain tight through summer and fall are supportive. The April 30 U.S. frozen pork stocks report showed stocks down approximately 26% from last year. Composite pork values are now at 7-year highs. October futures are trading at contract-high levels, with 4
no real indication that a top is near.
average of 74%.
Corn Corn futures continue to recover this week. December bounced off support at $5 May 27 before quickly putting over 50 cents back on the market. Weekly export sales came in at 246 million bushels, of which 21.9 million bushels were for delivery in 2020-21. The sale included 6.6 million bushels of new sales to China for 2020-21, along with sales of more than 222 million bushels for 2021-22 delivery. Shipments were an impressive 72.8 million bushels. Farmers have now seeded 95% of expected corn acres, ahead of the 5-year average of 87%. 76% of the crop has emerged, and 80% of the crop is currently rated good to excellent. Forecasts for hot, dry weather for the Corn Belt are providing support, and private estimates are not rating the crop quite as high as USDA. There are still expectations that farmers will plant significantly more corn than USDA reported in the March Prospective Plantings estimates, and that could limit the upside.
Cotton Cotton futures rallied this week, with December breaking out of their previous consolidation range. However, prices are currently struggling with resistance at 85 cents. Farmers have seeded 64% of the crop nationwide, while Arkansas farmers have seeded 92% of the crop here. The drought in West Texas remains extreme in some counties despite recent rains. This is the first week USDA has reported crop conditions for cotton, and in Texas, where only 54% of intended acres are planted, only 20% of cotton acres are in good to excellent condition, 50% of the acres are in fair condition, while 30% are in poor to very poor condition. Nationwide, 43% of planted acres are in good to excellent condition.
Soybeans Soybeans have recovered from recent weakness. New-crop November bounced off support at $13.253/4 last week before moving higher. Trade has been volatile, but the market looks to be attempting to consolidate between that support and resistance at the contract high of $14.61. A hot, dry weather pattern is expected for the next couple of weeks through the Corn Belt and northern plains, and that could develop into a bad situation for farmers quickly if crop conditions deteriorate. USDA says 84% of the crop has been planted, well ahead of the 5-year average of 67%. In Arkansas, 81% of the crop is in the ground, ahead of the 5-year
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Rice Recent selling pressure in rice futures has eased, and the market has moved in a more sideways pattern. World supply is comfortable right now, and concerns about global food security during the pandemic have faded. Old-crop July has again found support near $13.10, while September has support at $13.34. Planting is virtually finished across the country. In Arkansas, 77% of the crop is rated good to excellent, while 74% of the crop nationwide is rated good to excellent. Acres in Louisiana and Texas have suffered from too much rain, and crop ratings there reflect the damage done to the crop.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com