Farm Bureau Press - February 7, 2014

In Farm Bureau Grain-bin safety programs Arkansas Farm Bureau will sponsor two grain-bin safety training programs in February. The first will be Feb. 26 at the Dumas Community Center, 18 Belmont St., in Dumas. The second will be Feb. 27 at the Northeast Arkansas District Fairgrounds, 7001 Johnson Ave., in Jonesboro. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Programs start at 9 a.m.

Lunch will be served.

Training will be presented by the Safety & Technical Rescue Association and is open to first responders (firefighters, EMTs, etc.) or anyone directly related to grain-bin use. The first half will be in a classroom setting. The second half will be a hands-on demonstration of the RES-Q Trainer, a portable training unit, demonstrating use of coffer dams. Attendees will receive rescue training in a safe, controlled environment that teaches prevention and proper actions to take in the event of a grain-engulfment emergency.

The registration deadline is Feb. 14.

Registration forms are available from

On Jan. 29, Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach presided over a special business session at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock to ratify state policy and conduct other official business. Almost 250 voting delegates from throughout the state attended. Inclement weather during the state convention in Little Rock in December made the special session necessary to meet legal requirements. county Farm Bureau offices or by contacting ArFB Safety Coordinator Amanda Williams (501-228-1493, amanda.williams@ arfb.com).

Pace joins ArFB Bricen Pace, son of Grant and Elizabeth Pace of Monticello, is the new intern for Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Public Relations Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall was keynote speaker at the joint meeting of the Arkansas Rice Council and Arkansas Rice Farmers in Stuttgart on Jan. 30. He expressed gratefulness for the new partnership between his organization and USA Rice, which he sees as important for a strong future for both groups. “We need to work together to educate members of Congress and the Administration to ensure every acre in rice production stays in rice production,” he said.

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www.arfb.com

Department. He is an undergraduate at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, with a major focus in mass communications and a minor in philosophy.

Pace is the next generation of his family involving himself with Arkansas Farm Bureau. His grandfather, Homer Pace, 94, has served on the Drew Co. FB board since 1960. From 1957- 2011, Homer

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

February 7, 2014 • Vol. 17, No. 3

At its Jan. 23 meeting in Clarksville, the Johnson Co. FB board heard a presentation from Dr. Don Heard, director of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences West in Fort Smith. Dr. Heard talked about outreach and education services provided through the regional center and about strengthening the long-standing partnership between Farm Bureau and UAMS.

On Jan. 27, ArFB safety coordinator Jason Kaufman gave a program titled “Where Does Our Food Come From?” to third- and fourth-graders at Angie Grant Elementary in Benton.

The presentation teaches about Arkansas-grown food and products.

To sign up for a safety program, go to www.arfb.com/education-youth/ safety-education/.

need to be connected to the Internet while games are played. They are popular features at fairs, festivals, community centers and office buildings. To purchase a mobile kiosk set, contact foundation@fb.org for pricing and ordering information.

Local Farm Bureaus and partners also can create their own kiosks by downloading the free kiosk program online and building a game display with a laptop or personal computer. Email myamericanfarm@fb.org to request sample images and

more information.

The offline computer version of My American Farm was updated Jan. 10. The latest version includes “Power Up,” an energy education game, and “The Great Seed Search,” a new global agriculture game.

Users who are currently operating the 2013 version can update their kiosk program by going to www.myamericanfarm.org and accessing the link under Educator Resources.

First-time users also can download the free program using the same link.

My American Farm is an educational game platform launched in 2011 to engage pre-K through fifth-grade learners in the discovery of important agricultural issues.

Today the free site offers 19 agriculturally themed games and more than 100 free educator resources, such as lesson plans, activity sheets and comics.

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Updated game kiosks The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has released newly designed kiosks with iPad stands where users can play My American Farm games using the My American Farm app. The kiosks are freestanding learning centers that do not

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only missed four state conventions. Following his father’s footsteps, Brice’s father Grant Pace has served on Farm Bureau boards in Drew and Ashley counties. Grant served as vice president for six years and president for two in Drew County.

For the last six years, Grant was chairman of ArFB’s Forestry Division.

Pace I’ve had green hands from picking Bradley tomatoes on my grandfather’s farm. I’ve walked my father’s logging jobs, and I know my roots,” Brice said. “Arkansas Farm Bureau has been a part of my family well before I was born, so I’m honored to carry on the family tradition by working with the organization.”

“The Paces have been a part of Farm Bureau’s family for more than 50 years, and we welcome Bricen to Arkansas Farm Bureau for this 15-week internship,” said Steve Eddington, ArFB’s Public Relations Director.

Pope Co. FB President Jeff Small (right) of Atkins joined Agency Manager Dave Palfreeman (left) recently to see Pope Co. Judge Jim Ed Gibson sign a proclamation declaring Feb. 3-7 as Farm Bureau Week in the county.

During the observance, Farm Bureau will enroll new members, introduce the community to volunteer leaders and share the organization’s goals.

In Arkansas On Jan. 20 in Harrison, Steve Hignight (left), Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Northwest Area Coordinator, presented Farm Bureau’s Merit Award of Excellence to outgoing Boone Co. FB President Gary Watkins of Lead Hill. The award recognizes Boone County for being one of the top 10 county Farm Bureau organizations in the state.

Well fees, water usage reports Arkansas Farm Bureau wants to remind farmers who have wells to be sure their well registration fees ($10 per well per year) and water usage reports are current per Arkansas Natural Resources Commission requirements. If you are uncertain whether or not this is applicable to your farm, consult with your county conservation district office.

If well registration fees and water usage

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State water plan meetings The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission has announced the next round of meetings for the state water planning process. Dates and locations are as follows: Feb. 18 – Fairbridge Inn & Suites, 3006 S. Caraway Rd., Jonesboro; Feb. 19 – Extension Building at Fairgrounds, 210 Warren St., Mountain View; Feb. 20 – Lake Point Conference Center, 171 Lake Point Ln., Russellville; Feb. 24 – National Park Community College, 101 College Dr., Hot Springs; Feb. 25 – Four States Fairgrounds, Ag Learning Center, 3700 E. 50th St., Texarkana.

Arkansas Farm Bureau submitted 10 individuals, two for each region, as agriculture representatives. These are Terry Dabbs and David Gairhan (East Region), Greg Baltz and Gene Pharr (North), Derek Helms and Grant Pace (South Central), Dennis Ritchie and Ray Rodgers (Southwest) and Robert Stobaugh and Dan Wright (West Central).

Anyone interested in the water planning process is encouraged to attend these meetings. If you have additional informa-

Jarrod Hardke, rice agronomist with UA’s Cooperative Extension Service, updated the rice division on several current issues during ArFB’s winter commodity division meetings on Jan. 29. More than 325 county leaders attended the conference at North Little Rock’s Wyndham Riverfront Hotel.

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reports are paid and up to date by Feb. 28, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission will waive associated penalties and fines. Those who fail to register and report water usage by Feb. 28 will be subject to late registration penalties up to $500 for each unreported year. For additional assistance, contact Evan Teague, ArFB’s Environmental Specialist, at 501-228-1335 or evan.teague@arfb.com.

Rep. Rick Crawford attended the Arkansas Rice Council/Arkansas Rice Farmers meeting in Stuttgart on Jan. 30 to share good news with rice farmers following passage of the farm bill in the House the day before. “While this bill is perhaps not everything we all hoped for, it was a lot better than it could have been, so that’s positive,” he said. tion to contribute to the discussion, feel free to visit with one of your regional representatives to ensure your perspective is presented. For more info, visit www. arwaterplan.arkansas.gov/meetings.html.

Cattle conference Feb. 11 Sire selection, rebuilding the cow herd, calf health and pasture weed control are among the topics on the agenda for the 2014 River Valley Beef Cattle Conference set for Feb. 11 at the Conway County Fairgrounds in Morrilton.

“With normal rainfall returning to Arkansas in 2013, many cattle producers are looking to return their cattle operations to production levels seen prior to the 2012 drought,” said Tom Troxel, associate head of UA’s Animal Science Program. “They are asking the questions on how to best do that. The 2014 River Valley Beef Cattle Conference will offer ideas to address many of their questions and concerns.”

Contact Polly Greenbaum at 501-6712177 for more information.

AGLC Conference On March 14, at the Arkansas Grazing Lands Conference, several south-central and southeast U.S. ranchers will discuss how changes in their grazing management improved soil health, increased forage production and increased profitability.

The featured speaker will be Oklahoma rancher and consultant Walt Davis.

The conference will be held at the Lake Point Conference Center, 171 Lake Point Lane, in Russellville. The $40 admission fee includes lunch. For details, visit www. argrazinglandscoalition.org or call 501-6822915.

Elsewhere Eisenhower Fellowships Eisenhower Fellowships, the premier international leadership organization chaired by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), is seeking active farmers or ranchers to take part in a unique international opportunity. Since 1993, Eisenhower Fellowships has welcomed 23 farmers and ranchers into its international network of more than 2,000 leaders from all sectors across the globe.

Successful applicants receive a customdesigned program overseas for five weeks in one or two countries where he or she will explore agricultural issues to enhance their own leadership capabilities in the field of agriculture. In addition to the overseas program, they will attend an orientation and closing seminar in Philadelphia with a group of 35 Eisenhower Fellows from the U.S. and throughout the world.

For more information and application materials, visit www. efworld.org/our-programs/usa.

Editor Keith Sutton

keith.sutton@arfb.com

In the Market As of Feb. 6, 2014

 Nearby CORN prices made their first move above resistance at $4.35 this week as prices began a run at $4.50. With support from strong export demand and continued strong domestic demand, the market has begun considering that the U.S. Department of Agriculture might raise its corn export forecast. While we have seen strengthening in nearby corn, the new crop corn for this fall has also moved higher and is testing resistance near $4.60. While corn and soybeans continue to fight for acreage this fall, it seems the market is getting used to the idea of at least five million acres less corn in 2014. While this sounds like a huge decrease, with a trend yield, the United States could still build stocks in 2014-2015. New crop corn continues to consolidate between $4.40 and $4.60.  Nearby SOYBEAN prices moved back above $13 this week as the market moved its focus from impressive U.S. exports to South American weather. As drier weather moved into Brazil and Argentina, some traders began worrying that this might reduce yield on secondcrop beans. While there remain competing forecasts, private trading firms began reducing their estimates this week, which provided strong support for gains in the nearby contract. If these reductions are realized, they also could provide long-term support for new-crop beans as that would mean less supplies in the fall.

After putting in new contract lows last week, the November contract has been moving steadily higher since these concerns arose. Unfortunately, these types of concerns are quickly

erased as a timely shower can make all the difference. With the strength in both the corn and soybean market, the price ratio between the two crops has remained fairly consistent in recent weeks between 2.4 and 2.5, which still heavily favors more bean planting. If the market can maintain current prices, look for crop insurance prices this spring to be close to $11 for soybeans and $4.50 for corn.  Nearby COTTON prices have moved higher and are working to establish a new trading range between 84 cents and 88 cents. Strong U.S. exports in recent weeks have allowed this market to maintain strong gains since November and will likely help them maintain these price levels in coming weeks. Unfortunately, new-crop cotton has not been able to maintain the same type of gains as December cotton continues to test support at 76 cents as it moves toward contract lows at 75.77 cents.

New-crop cotton prices continue to be driven by large global supplies and uncertainty in China’s cotton policy.  RICE prices continue to maintain support at $15.25. While domestic consumption of rice remains supportive, U.S. rice exports remain weak. With large supplies in other major exporters and changes in their government policies toward rice,

U.S. rice remains uncompetitive in the global marketplace. Despite weak exports, new-crop rice is still at more than $13 per hundredweight as tight U.S. supplies continue to support domestic rice prices. The current forecast is for rice acreage to rebound in 2014 and recover some of the acres it lost in recent years. If this occurs, the market will need to become more competitive in the international market to prevent substantial building of stocks.  WHEAT prices have been on a steady down trend in recent weeks as global supplies continue to outpace consumption, leading to a large buildup in global stocks. Strength in the corn market combined with good exports has caused the market to pause its decline, but look for prices to continue to move lower and likely test the $5 level before the Arkansas crop is harvested in June.  While CATTTLE prices have begun to trend lower, they remain at historic levels. Tight cattle supplies and strong boxed beef prices remain supportive of cattle prices. Recent losses have caused the market to retrace about 38 percent of its recent gains. These large losses may be coming to an end as the market looks to move sideways as it moves out of overbought territory.

CONTACT •Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268, brandy.carroll@arfb.com.

•Bruce Tencleve 501-228-1856, bruce.tencleve@arfb.com.

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