OCTOBER 22, 2021 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 21
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
ANDERSON FAMILY REPRESENTS STATE AT SOUTHEAST FARMER OF THE YEAR Jamie and Elizabeth Anderson of I.F. Anderson Farms in Lonoke, the 2019 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, represented Arkansas at the Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest on Oct. 19 in Moultrie, Ga. This was the 31st year for the Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. It recognizes excellence in agricultural production and farm management, along with leadership in farm and community organizations. The award also honors family contributions in producing safe and abundant supplies of food, fiber and shelter products. The new Farmer of the Year was selected by three judges who visited each farm in the 10-state district Aug. 16–20. The judging panel included Joe West, retired Assistant Dean of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Environmental Sciences; David Wildy, Manila, Ark., the overall winner of the award in 2016; and Cary Lightsey, Lake Wales, Fl., the overall winner of the award in 2009.
Corn and Cotton Virtual Field Day, page 2
Robert “Bob” Martin Hall from South Carolina was selected as the 2021 Swisher Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. For more information on I.F. Anderson Farms, visit sunbeltexpo.com/jamieanderson-arkansas-farmer-of-the-year-2020. Prescribed Burning and Smoke Management, page 3
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2021 Swisher Sweet Sunbelt Ag Expo | All 10 state Farmers of the Year were introduced to the luncheon audience and presented with an award.
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A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
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CALHOUN COUNTY EARNS HONOR COUNTY
WALLACE BARBER JOINS FARM BU Shaylee Wallace Barber has joined the Arkansas Farm Bureau public relations team as a field communications specialist. In this position, she will focus on identifying and telling agriculture stories in the northwest and southwest regions of Arkansas.
Calhoun County Farm Bureau has reached its membership quota and qualified as Honor County No. 1. Congratulations to the Calhoun County membership chairman, board of directors, employees and all membership on a job well done.
ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION
Silent Auction
The Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation Silent Auction will be held Dec. 1–2, at the 2021 ArFB State Convention. Greenway Equipment is back this year as sponsor of the event and will match proceeds from the event. County Farm Bureaus are invited to donate items to the silent auction. Proceeds from the auction will be used to further agriculture education in Arkansas, through programs like Ag in the Classroom, grants that are available for educational projects and support of Arkansas FFA and Arkansas 4-H youth programs. If your county is planning to donate an item for the silent auction, please provide a description of the item before convention. Donated items should have a retail value of $25 or greater. Counties wishing to donate larger items may choose to work together with other county Farm Bureaus, groups or agencies. When thinking of items to donate, consider something that is unique to your county, whether it is made locally or from a local store. All the items should be checked in and ready for bidding in the trade show by 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 1. If you require additional information, please contact Amanda Williams at 501-228-1493 or amanda. williams@arfb.com or Lindsey Rucker at 501-2281843 or lindsey.rucker@arfb.com. 2
Wallace Barber previously served as public information officer for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, where she provided communication Shaylee Wallace Barber services for the five agriculture divisions at the Department and coordinated their publications. Prior to joining the Department of Agriculture, Wallace Barber
CORN AND COTTON VIRTUAL FIE
Corn and cotton are the topics for the next virtual field day presented by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, researchers and extension specialists will offer results on the latest corn and cotton studies, including weed control, fertilizer use and soil fertility, variety choices and yield monitoring. “The corn and cotton online field topics are timely in that they will help stakeholders assess the 2021 cotton crop while harvest issues are fresh on their minds and plan for the 2022 corn crop,” said Nathan Slaton, assistant director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. “The cost of crop inputs is expected to increase, and now is the time to start planning how to become more efficient to maintain high crop yields while minimizing inputs.” The format for the online field day will consist of pre-recorded presentations with a Q&A session that allows viewers to ask Division of Agriculture scientists questions about how the research applies to their crops and operations. According to the 2020 Arkansas Agricultural Profile, corn and cotton are two of the top commodity crops for the state. In 2019, Arkansas was No. 4 in the nation for upland cotton and cottonseed production. There were 610,000 acres of upland cotton harvested in Arkansas, amounting to 1.4 million bales worth nearly $414 million. The state’s corn crop in 2019 was worth more than $494 million with 126,875 bushels harvested on 725,000 acres. Jason Kelley, professor and extension agronomist-wheat and grain, said the corn portion will revolve around best management practices for the 2022 crop. The discussion on corn will include hybrid selection, planting rates and dates, fertility
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
UREAU PR TEAM
was an intern in the Arkansas Farm Bureau public relations department in the summer of 2019. Wallace Barber has a background in production agriculture, having grown up on a fourth-generation family farm in Reeds Spring, Mo. She earned an agriculture animal science degree from College of the Ozarks and is working toward a master’s degree in agricultural communications at the University of Arkansas. “We are very happy to welcome Shaylee to our PR team. She has both personal and professional experience in agriculture and a passion for telling the story of farming in Arkansas,” said Steve Eddington, Arkansas Farm Bureau's vice president of public relations. “She is excited to get to work on behalf of Arkansas farmers and ranchers and we are excited about what she brings to our communications team.”
ELD DAY
management, irrigation management and “ways to make the most corn for the least amount of input,” Kelley said. “As inputs prices have increased dramatically over the last few months, making high yields, but being efficient and prudent with those inputs, is more important in 2022 than ever,” Kelley said. The following presentations are planned for the virtual event: • Weed Control in Corn — Tom Barber, professor and extension weed scientist • Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc Fertilization forCorn — Trent Roberts, associate professor of soil fertility and soil testing
PRESCRIBED BURNING AND SMOKE MANAGEMENT With harvest underway, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture reminds our partners in agriculture and conservation of the importance of safe prescribed burning techniques as a valuable tool in crop management plans. Row crop farmers use prescribed fire in the fall as part of crop management plans to remove stubble following the harvest of rice, soybeans, corn and cotton. Prescribed burning is an efficient and economical control method for preparing fields for the next growing season and eliminating pests and diseases. Burning crop residue also allows for no-till or reduced-till planting during the next growing season. Smoke management planning prior to the application of prescribed fires helps to reduce smoke impact on roadways, nearby towns, and sensitive areas like schools, nursing homes, churches and other facilities. Farmers can report a prescribed fire online. There is a Safe Burning Checklist, which farmers complete before applying prescribed fire: • Take extra precautions for smoke sensitive areas (highways, residents, communities, etc.); • Report prescribed burns to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Dispatch Center (1-800-830-8015);
• Corn Hybrid Selection and Management Considerations for 2022 — Jason Kelley, professor and extension wheat and feed grains agronomist; and Chuck Capps, corn and grain sorghum verification coordinator
• Check to make sure relative humidity is above 20%;
• Yield Monitor Data Dos and Don’ts — Ray Benson, Mississippi County Cooperative Extension staff chair; and Scott Drummond, information technology specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
• Be sure to follow appropriate Smoke Category Day guidelines.
• Effective Crop Termination — Ray Benson and Bill Robertson, professor and extension agronomist-cotton • Plant Status at Cutout: What Does it Tell Us? — Ray Benson and Bill Robertson Presentations from the online event will be made available ondemand after the event. The online field day is free, but registration is required to connect. Register online at aaes.uada.edu/corn-cotton-field-day up until the event starts.
• Check to make sure wind speed is less than 15 mph;
Reporting the burn to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Dispatch Center provides a full understanding to the farmer of weather conditions, information about other burns in the area and proximity of nearby smoke sensitive areas like schools, nursing homes and highways. “It is crucial for farmers to practice the responsible stewardship of our resources and avoid future regulations and red tape for our producers. Prescribed fire is a valuable tool, and calling the hotline before burning takes only seconds,” said David Gairhan of the Arkansas Rice Federation.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
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MARKET NEWS as of October 20, 2021 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com Livestock and Poultry In the October Supply/Demand report, the forecast for 2021 total red meat and poultry production was lowered from the September report as lower pork, broiler and turkey forecasts offset a higher beef forecast. Beef production was raised on higher cow slaughter and heavier average carcass weights. The pork production forecast was reduced on lower expected fourth-quarter slaughter rates. Broiler and turkey production forecasts were reduced on recent hatchery and slaughter data, and the egg production forecast was reduced slightly. USDA’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, released in late September, estimated a lower pig crop for June-August and lower farrowing intentions for September-November. This supports lower hog slaughter expectations for the first half of 2022. Slower expected growth in pigs per litter during 2022 resulted in lower expected hog supplies in the second half of the year. Broiler and turkey production forecasts were reduced on expectations of a relatively slow response to improving margins. The 2022 egg production forecast was unchanged from the September report. The broiler export forecast for 2021 was raised slightly, while the 2022 report was unchanged. Turkey exports for 2021 and 2022 were lowered from last month. Dairy Milk production forecasts for 2021 and 2022 were reduced in the monthly Supply/Demand report. Smaller dairy cow numbers and slower growth in milk per cow were credited with the reduction. For 2021 and 2022, fat basis 4
import forecasts are unchanged from the previous month, while the fat basis export forecasts are raised on stronger expected sales of cheese and butterfat containing products. The skim-solids basis import forecast for 2021 is lowered slightly on weaker expected imports of milk protein concentrates, but the 2022 forecast was unchanged. Skim-solids basis export forecast for 2021 is reduced on weaker sales of skim milk powder, whey and lactose; butr, the forecast for 2022 is unchanged. For 2021, cheese, nonfat dry milk and whey price forecasts were raised on current prices and lower expected production. For 2022, all dairy product prices were raised as tighter supplies are predicted. The 2021 and 2022 Class III and Class IV price forecasts were raised from last month as a result. The all-milk price is forecast at $18.45/cwt for 2021 and $19.20/cwt for 2022. Corn Corn futures have begun to recover after recent losses on 2021 supplyside concerns. The recent stocks report raised the beginning stocks estimate, which caused big changes in the supply/demand report. Supplies are up 72 million bushels from last month’s report to a total of 16.28 billion bushels. Beginning stocks were increased to 1.236 billion bushels, and — in a move that surprised analysts who were expecting a decrease in production — total production was raised to 15.019 billion bushels due to a bump in the expected average yield. Exports were increased by 25 million bushels. Ending stocks are now pegged at 1.5 billion bushels, but the projected on-farm price remained unchanged at $5.45. December 2021 futures have support at the recent low of $5.06¾. On further strength, the market could find resistance just below $5.50. Weakness in the December 2022 contract has been limited by expectations for a smaller crop next year as input prices soar. Soybeans November soybeans have fallen to sixmonth lows, only finding support when they reached the March low of $11.84. Prices have begun to move higher but will find resistance near $12.50.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
The trade was caught off-guard by the monthly supply/demand report. The news of beginning stocks of 256 million bushels hit the market in the Stocks Report released at the first of the month. That was an 81 million bushel increase in the beginning stocks estimate. The bad supply-side news continued in the form of a 0.9 bushel per acre increase in yield, resulting in a production estimate of 4.448 billion bushels. That means the supply estimate was 145 million bushels higher than the September estimate. Ending stocks are now pegged at 320 million bushels, up from 185 million last month. The average on-farm price is estimated to be $12.35, down 55 cents from last month’s report. Rice Rice futures are chopping along mostly sideways as harvest winds down. USDA says 92% of the U.S. crop has been harvested, while in Arkansas, the harvest is 89% complete. There were very few changes in the Supply/Demand report for rice, but a decrease in imports resulted in a decrease in ending stocks, which are now pegged at 33.2 million cwt. The average on-farm price was unchanged at $14.80. Technically, November has support at $13.52 and resistance at $14. Cotton USDA cut its cotton yield estimate by 24 lbs/acre, resulting in a 510,000 bale cut in the production estimate. Total U.S. production is now pegged at 18 million bales, and total supply is pegged at 21.16 million bales. Ending stocks were cut by 500,000 bales to 3.2 million, and the average on-farm price was raised 6 cents a pound to 90 cents. The December contract set a new high last Friday before closing at the bottom of the day’s trading range. That high of 116.48 cents will likely be tough resistance. The market charted a bearish reversal last week, signaling a long-term top has been charted, but so far follow through selling hasn’t materialized.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com