Farm Bureau Press - January 22, 2016

In Farm Bureau

New Ag Hall of Fame inductees The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame will induct six individuals whose leadership and service have brought distinction to the state’s largest industry segment.

The newest class includes the late W.H. (Bill) Caldwell of Rose Bud, the late Hank Chamberlin of Monticello, poultry executive Gary C. George of Springdale, rice farmer David Hillman of Almyra, longtime Cooperative Extension rice specialist Bobby Huey of Newport and cattleman John Frank Pendergrass of Charleston.

The group will be honored at the 28th annual induction luncheon set for 11:30 a.m. March 4 at Little Rock’s Embassy Suites Hotel.

Caldwell had his hand in many agricultural endeavors, operating a dairy farm, a feed mill business, Caldwell & Sons Eggs and Sidon Mountain Brangus Ranch.

Under his guidance, his feed mill, Caldwell Milling, grew to more than 100 employees and seven locations around the state. It received numerous honors through the

Arkansas Farm Bureau leaders were on hand at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Orlando to congratulate Zippy Duvall of Georgia for being elected the new president of AFBF. (Left to right) State board member Joe Christian, Scott Co. FB Vice President Mike Richardson, ArFB President Randy Veach, Mississippi Co. board member Benton Felts, Duvall, state board members Jon Carroll and Terry Dabbs, and Greene Co. FB President Terry Norwood.

See more from the AFBF convention in this issue. years, including Purina’s President’s Award for leading in sales. Caldwell was also a community leader, playing a major role in the formation of the town of Rose Bud, where he served on the town council and as mayor.

Chamberlin founded what is now the School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the only forestry school in the state.

Belated congratulations to Derek and Shannon Haigwood of Newport who won ArFB’s 2015 Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award. President Randy Veach (left) and Vice President Rich Hillman (right) presented the award at ArFB’s state convention in Little Rock last month. The Haigwoods grow soybeans, rice, corn and cotton on 3,130 acres near Newport.

STEVE EDDINGTON photo

www.arfb.com

He launched the forestry program with a mere three students in 1945. He remained as head of the forestry school until 1972 and continued teaching until 1980. The following year, he was selected as a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters. In 1994, he was an inaugural inductee in the Arkansas Forester’s Hall of Fame.

George is chairman of the board of George’s Inc., leading a family poultry

KEITH SUTTON photo

A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

January 22, 2016 • Vol. 19, No. 2

GREGG PATTERSON photo

STEVE EDDINGTON photo

Members of ArFB’s state and county Women’s Committees gathered for a photo at the AFBF Convention in Orlando. Pictured (l to r) are Roberta Golmon, Donna Bemis, Benita Drew, Peggy Miller, Janice Marsh, Susan Bitely, Sarah Haller, Sarah Watkins, Angie Hodges, Laurie Richardson, Sonya Harrell and Querita Faddis.

Acclaimed real estate mogul and “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran addressed farmers and ranchers at the closing session of the AFBF Convention in Orlando.

Corcoran, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country, turned a $1,000 loan into a $5 billion real estate business.

Extension Specialist of the Year Award, an Arkansas Farm Bureau Service Award, John White Outstanding Extension Award and a “Friend of the Farmer” Award from Riceland Foods Inc. Pendergrass is a fifth-generation cattle farmer on Pendergrass Ranch in Franklin County. As president of Pendergrass Cattle Company, he has built one of the top beef herds in the state, earning him recognition as 2008 Arkansas Stocker of the Year by the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association and the 2008 National Stocker Award from “Beef ” magazine, representative of the top stocker herd in the United States.

“I am always amazed at the hard work and success that is reflected by those elected to the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame,” said Butch Calhoun of Des Arc, chairman of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame and former Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “This group is a representation of the diversity and achievement of our agricultural industry.

Luncheon tickets are $35 each. Individual tickets and tables of 10 are available by calling (501) 228-1470 or emailing aghalloffame@arfb.com.

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business started in the 1920s by his late grandfather, C.L. George. George was appointed president of George’s, Inc. and its subsidiaries in 1980 at the age of 30. In 1994, he was named CEO. Under his leadership, the company grew to include operations in multiple states and more than 4,700 employees. George has held positions on the Poultry Federation, the American Egg Board, the National Chicken Council, the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, and the boards of Legacy National Bank and J.B. Hunt Company.

Hillman, currently state representative for District 13, is one of just 10 men to serve as president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. A rice farmer, he has served on the board of Producers Rice Mill, the USDA Crop Advisory Committee (Rice) and the U.S.A. Rice Council board. He is past chairman of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board and served as a director for the Arkansas County Conservation District. In 1980, he was chosen Arkansas Outstanding Young Farmer and, in 1984, he and his family were selected as North Arkansas County Farm Family of the Year.

Huey spent 33 years with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, including 20 years as a rice specialist at the organization’s experiment station in Stuttgart. During his long career, Huey received numerous honors, including an

On Jan. 15, Judge Marilyn Edwards proclaimed Feb. 1-5 to be Farm Bureau Week in Washington County.

Attending the signing (l to r) were Trae Autrey, Becky Selle, Herman Jones, Jill Jones, Judge Edwards, Vince Massanelli, Porter Smith, Lonnie Horn, Mike Stewart, Mary Smith, LaJoyce Duncan, Clarence Duncan, Curtis Moore and Barbara Horn.

Five-tour Afghanistan veteran and farmer Damon Helton (left) of Lonsdale, ArFB Patriot Project manager Ross Dunn (center) and Jeremy Allen of Bismarck were featured speakers at a Patriot Project workshop presented at the AFBF Convention in Orlando. Allen mentors Helton, teaching him about agribusiness development. Dunn helped pair Helton and Allen for the project.

In Arkansas Agribusiness Conference, Feb. 10 Arkansas State University’s annual Agribusiness Conference, now in its 22nd year, is continuing its tradition of timely information and education outreach to farmers and agribusiness professionals and educators across the Mid-South.

This year’s conference on Feb. 10 will focus on the agricultural economy, environmental law and regulation, business transition planning, trade policy and the commodity market outlook. On-site registration will begin at 7:45 a.m. in A-State’s Fowler Center. Lunch will be served in the Convocation Center at noon; afternoon sessions will follow, ending at 4 p.m.

The morning general session will feature five speakers and a panel discussion. Stan Miller, an attorney and partner with ILP+McChain, Miller and Nissman, will discuss succession and estate-planning

KEITH SUTTON photo

On Dec. 8, Evan Teague, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs director for ArFB, received recognition for his outstanding work as a member of the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Working Group. This Regional Director’s Honor Award was presented to Teague and other members of the group by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region director Cindy Dohner.

VAN BUREN CO. FB photo

issues for agribusiness owners. Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, will describe how the regulation of crop agriculture is evolving and discuss other environmental law issues. Bob Cummings, chief operating officer of the USA Rice Federation, will give an update on agricultural and trade policy and how it is impacting the rice industry.

David Schweikhardt from Michigan State University will explain the economics and politics of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and how it will impact U.S. agriculture.

Jason Henderson, director of Extension at Purdue University, will review the agricultural finance situation and the outlook for the farm economy.

The luncheon speaker, John Phipps, is a farmer and commentator on the U.S. Farm Report, America’s longest-running farm television program.

Afternoon special-interest sessions include an update on Arkansas Department of Agriculture programs by the state’s Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward, three speakers on commodity market trends and three presentations on poultry and beef industry issues.

Admission to the conference and luncheon is free, but pre-registration is encouraged. Detailed conference information and online registration are available at

State 4-H officers recently posed with leather briefcases presented to them by Arkansas Farm Bureau in recognition of their hard work. The officers are (l to r) Autumn Gregg (Washington Co.), Alexandria Hunter (Clark Co.), Hope McAlee (White Co.), Travis Clark (Faulkner Co.), Haley Burden (Benton Co.), Laurel Mayo (Benton Co.) and Mary Alice Cole (Izard Co.).

AState.edu/Agriconference.

You also can register by phoning the College of Agriculture & Technology at 870972-3221 or emailing rjoslin@AState.edu.

Rice meeting coming up The Arkansas Rice Council and Arkansas Rice Farmers will hold their annual meeting and trade show Feb. 5 at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center in Jonesboro. U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward and USA Rice President and CEO Betsy Ward will start the program, which will focus on research developments and policies affecting the rice industry.

“The Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting keeps our industry up to date with the latest developments that will impact growing seasons in 2016 and beyond,” Arkansas Rice Federation Executive Director Ben Noble said. “We’ll cover new farm bill policies and water issues, as well farm programs and the growing role of women in agriculture.”

Women who grow rice or otherwise support their family farms will get special focus this year, with a dedicated session highlighting opportunities available to take a more active role in the agriculture industry.

Steve “Wildman” Wilson with the

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will serve as the master of ceremonies.

The meeting begins with an industry trade show before the main program.

To register, visit www.arkansasrice.org/ annualmeeting/ or call 501-375-1100.

Elsewhere “Farmland” lessons online The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance recently announced that four “Farmland” lesson plans are available at www. discoveringfarmland.com. The free science and social studies-based lesson plans were created in partnership with Discovery Education. “Discovering Farmland” provides high school students, educators and parents with standards-aligned lesson plans and interactive activities that explore concepts such as sustainability, technology and science.

The new resources aim to stimulate thoughtful conversations about the innovative use of technology on farms and how it has transformed the industry, challenges farmers face such as weather and growing conditions, common stereotypes around farmers and ranchers, and market supply and demand.

Editor Keith Sutton

keith.sutton@arfb.com

In the Market As of Jan. 19, 2016

Argentine wheat headed for the U.S. Two cargo ships loaded with Argentine wheat are set to arrive at a port in Wilmington, N.C. next month, shipping data showed last week. Sharply lower wheat prices thanks to a devalued Argentine peso and scrapped export taxes have made it cheaper for users in that region of the country to bring in supplies from South America than to transport grain from other parts of the U.S. Chinese GDP drops China’s gross domestic product for 2015 came in at 6.9 percent, its slowest growth level in 25 years, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. This figure was in line with expectations and the government’s growth target of “around 7 percent.” This compares to economic growth of 7.3 percent in 2014.

Confirmation of a major economic slowdown for the nation keeps demand concerns close at hand.

Argentina eases soybean restrictions Argentina has lowered trade barriers that had limited soybean imports, the government announced Jan. 18. This decision is aimed at increasing exports of soymeal and soy oil at times in the harvest cycle when many of Brazil’s processing plants usually sit idle due to a scarcity of supplies. Andres Alcaraz, communications manager at the CIARACEC chamber of grain exporting and soy crushing companies, said the policy shift likely comes too late to impact milling this year, but he projects the country will import 3.5 MMT of soybeans in early 2017.

FSA update: minimal acreage changes Total U.S. corn planted acreage reported to USDA’s Farm Service Agency stood at 85.143 million acres as of Jan. 5 in the agency’s final 2015 acreage update, up slightly from 85.099 million acres reported in December. Soybean planted acres were at 81.370 million (81.341

million in December), wheat at 52.746 million (52.722 million in December) and upland cotton at 8.296 million (8.289 million in December). There were also slight increases in the level of failed and prevented planting acreage in the January release compared to December as final data was incorporated by the agency.

Most equipment sales down Retail sales of 40- to 100-hp tractors fell by their largest amount in December 2015, with sales of large equipment also reported down, according to information released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

Sales of 40- to 100-hp tractors fell to 5,685 units in December, down 16.2 percent from Dec. 2014, the steepest decline on record, according to AEM. Sales of 100-plus-hp tractors were down 34.5 percent in December at 2,186 units.

Sales of tractors under 40 hp were at 7,856 units, up 11.4 percent from Dec. 2014. For all of 2015, AEM said sales of 40- to 100-hp tractors were down 2.9 percent at 59,401 units, while sales of 100-plus-hp tractors dropped 25.5 percent to 23,930 units. Sales of tractors under 40 hp were at 118,348 units, up 8 percent.

Slight increase in soybean imports USDA’s ag attaché in China says it expects the country to import 79 MMT of soybeans in 2015-16, which would be a slight increase from a record 78.35 MMT the year prior. The post explains that lower domestic production along with rising demand for protein meal and vegetable oil would be somewhat offset by relatively high carry-in bean stocks.

“The United States soybean exports to China continue to be challenged by South American soybeans, with total U.S. exports forecast at about 30 million tons in 2015-16,” the attaché said. The post left its Chinese soybean crop peg at 11 MMT for 2015-16.

HPAI hits Indiana turkeys Ten cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed in commercial turkey operations in Dubois County, Ind. On Jan. 16, nine more commercial turkey farms in the county tested positive for HPAI, besides the initial case confirmed Jan. 15. State health officials say further testing is

underway to determine the virus type.

The initial case was determined to be H7N8 HPAI. Just hours after USDA confirmed the new case of HPAI, some countries had already put trade bans in place, with several blocking poultry from the entire state.

Oil group files in court The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is getting a surprising helper in the lawsuit filed by ethanol backers over the agency’s final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) levels for 2014, 2015 and 2016: the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). AFPM filed a motion to intervene to support EPA in the challenge, saying it stands by EPA’s authority to reduce the RFS volumes compared to the ones laid out in the 2007 energy law that boosted biofuel mandates.

Grain storage increasing U.S. on-farm storage capacity rose to 13.235 billion bushels as of Dec. 1, 2015, up less than 1 percent from yearago, while off-farm storage capacity rose 3 percent to 10.997 billion bushels as of Dec. 1, 2015, according to USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service.

Value of Brazilian ag exports down Brazil exported $88.2 billion in ag products in 2015, an 8.8-percent drop from 2014 levels despite recordhigh sales of soybeans, corn, chicken, cellulose and coffee. Falling commodity prices in Brazil were to blame, says Foreign Agribusiness Relations Secretary Tatiana Palermo. The country exported 1.995 billion bushels of soybeans, 1.138 billion bushels of corn and 11.9 MMT of cellulose last year.

CONTACT

Matt King 501-228-1297, matt.king@arfb.com

The 97th Annual AMERICAN FARM BUREAU CONVENTION

T

he 97th Annual Convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation took place Jan. 8-13 in Orlando. The conference theme was “Farm Bureau: The Future of Agriculture.” Arkansas Farm Bureau was well represented at the event, with more than 150 delegates and staff in attendance. photos by STEVE EDDINGTON, GREGG PATTERSON

The IDEAg Trade Show at the AFBF Annual Convention brought together thousands of the country’s farmers and ranchers to view the latest products from top agribusinesses.

Grant and Heather Keenen of Washington County, winners of ArFB’s 2015 Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award, gave a presentation during the opening rounds of the national judging. Above, ArFB President Randy Veach proudly carried the Arkansas state flag in the opening general session of the convention.

Lance Reeve, senior risk management consultant for Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Co., gave a workshop presentation on food safety.

Scott Co. FB President Dan Wright (center, right), his wife Belinda (to Dan’s right) and Baxter Co. Women’s Committee chair Roberta Golmon were checked in for the AFBF Convention by ArFB Public Policy assistant Catrinia Rojas.

Farm Bureau Press Insert — Vol. 19, No. 2

State Women’s Committee vicechairwoman Donna Bemis and husband Tracey of Little Rock attended the opening general session.

ArFB’s 11 voting delegates and 18 alternates, including state board member Rusty Smith of Des Arc, voted on policy proposals in the business session.

97th ANNUAL AFBF CONVENTION

Nearly 7,000 delegates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico attended the conference to elect new leaders, participate in educational workshops and approve policies that will help determine the future of agriculture At left, Charlie Arnot, CEO for The Center for Food Integrity, discussed the need for building trust through transparency about food production.

At bottom left, Jake Haak of Gentry competed in the first round of the national YF&R Discussion Meet.

Bob Stallman graced the national convention stage as American Farm Bureau president one final time. Stallman stepped aside after serving 16 years in the position.

Farm Bureau Press Insert — Vol. 19, No. 2