Farm Bureau Press - February 15, 2013

In Farm Bureau Ag Hall of Fame to induct six The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame will induct six honorees at a March 8 luncheon in Little Rock.

Those selected are Margaret P. Alexander of Little Rock, retired district director and home economist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service (CES); Dr. Lanny Ashlock of Conway, a CES soybean specialist and agronomist who has been known as “Mr. Soybean” in Arkansas for more than 20 years; Jack R. England, Sr. of Rison, who made significant contributions to the poultry industry worldwide and in Arkansas; Matthew Post Sr. of Altus, a pioneer in the grape and wine industry in Arkansas for more than 60 years and chairman of the board of Post Winery; Leland Tollett of Springdale, retired chairman and CEO for Tyson Foods, Inc.; and Donald “Buddy” Wray of Springdale, whose career with Tyson Foods has spanned more

Speaker of the House Davy Carter of Cabot addressed more than 120 Arkansas Farm Bureau leaders from throughout the state who attended Farmers’ Day at the Legislature on Feb. 12. Speaking at a luncheon at Next Level Events in Little Rock, Carter discussed his thoughts on current events at the 89th General Assembly, including the state budget, Medicaid expansion and bringing a new steel mill to Mississippi County. than 50 years.

The group will be honored at the 25th annual induction ceremony, 11:30 a.m., March 8 in the Ambassador Ballroom of Little Rock’s Embassy Suites Hotel. Luncheon tickets are $35 each and are available by calling 501-228-1470 or emailing aghalloffame@arfb.com.

The Agriculture Hall of Fame is sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas State Chamber of ArFB associate director of government affairs Jeffery Hall updated the poultry division on current legislative issues during ArFB’s winter commodity division meetings in North Little Rock. More than 250 county FB leaders attended the Jan. 30 conference.

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Commerce. The program honors those who have made significant contributions to Arkansas agriculture, as well as community and economic development.

Grain bin safety training Arkansas Farm Bureau is sponsoring a free grain bin safety training program on March 14 at the Brinkley Convention Center. The program is open to first responders (firefighters,

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

February 15, 2013 • Vol. 16, No. 3

Safety Awareness Week Across the country, Farm Bureaus are making safety a top priority this spring through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program (ASAP). As a part of ASAP, March 3-9 has been

Jessica Crawley (left) of Maysville was given a plaque by dairy division chairman Susan Anglin during the Jan. 30 winter commodity division meetings in North Little Rock. The division recognized Jessica for her outstanding efforts as Arkansas’ first Dairy Ambassador.

Twenty Farm Bureau leaders from Carroll, Boone, Madison and Searcy counties met in Green Forest on Feb. 2 with state senators Michael Lamoureux of Russellville and Bryan King of Green Forest to discuss priority Farm Bureau issues, such as utility tax exemptions.

designated as Agricultural Safety Awareness Week.

This year’s theme, “Agricultural Safety: Your Best Investment,” emphasizes making farms and ranches safer for farmers, their family members and employees. All-terrain vehicles are used on most farms and ranches in Arkansas, but despite the availability of good safety equipment and training programs, injuries and fatalities involving ATV operators happen much too frequently.

According to the latest figures from the Consumer Product Safety Commission: • Approximately 115,000 ATV-

related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2010. An estimated 28,300 of these were children younger than 16 years of age.

• 317 ATV-related fatalities were reported in the U.S. in 2010. About 25 percent of those who died were children under the age of 16. Sixtyseven Arkansans died as the result of ATV accidents from 2007-2010.

ArFB has two full-time safety coordinators on staff who offer 12 different safety programs, including ATV safety, free of charge. For more information, visit the “Education and Youth” section at www.arfb.com.

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EMTs, etc.) and anyone directly involved with grain bin use. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The program will begin at 10 a.m. and end at approximately 3 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be served.

The training will be presented by Grain Systems Incorporated. The first half of the training will be in a classroom setting. The second half will be a hands-on demonstration with the RES-Q Trainer, a portable training unit, demonstrating the use of coffer dams. Attendees will receive relevant and critical rescue training in a safe, controlled environment that teaches not only prevention, but the proper actions to take in the event of an actual grain engulfment emergency.

For those to whom this applies, the course will count toward continuing education credits.

The program registration deadline is Feb. 15. Registration forms are available from county Farm Bureau offices or by contacting ArFB safety coordinators Amanda Williams (501228-1493, amanda.williams@arfb.com) or Jason Kaufman (501-228-1375, jason.kaufman@arfb.com).

At a ceremony in Van Buren on Feb. 1, Judge John Hall (center) signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 4-8 to be Farm Bureau Week in Crawford County. With Hall were Crawford Co. FB Vice President Tim Neidecker of Van Buren and President Randy Arnold of Alma.

Stewart Weaver (left) of Edmonson (Crittenden Co.) listens intently to a presentation at the Corn & Grain Sorghum Producer Conference in Jonesboro on Jan. 8. Weaver was recently elected chairman of the national Sorghum Checkoff Board.

In Arkansas Grazing Lands Conference The Arkansas Grazing Lands Coalition, in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, is hosting a grazing lands conference for producers and landowners who want to have more profitable and resource-rich operations. The conference will be held March 12-13 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Little Rock.

Speakers include Joshua Dukart, a holistic management educator from Bismarck, N.D., and Dr. Bruce Anderson, a forage specialist with the University of Nebraska. Registration is $125, which includes most meals.

For additional information, phone 501-682-2915 or visit argrazinglandscoalition.org.

Elsewhere

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Pryor to chair ag subcommittee U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor has been named the chairman of a Senate subcommittee overseeing agriculture-related appropriations. Pryor announced he’ll head the Senate

At Washington Co. FB’s January meeting in Fayetteville, ArFB safety coordinator Jason Kaufman (left) presented the county’s 2012 Award of Merit to President Gene Pharr of Lincoln. The award recognizes Washington County as one of the state’s top 10 Farm Bureau agencies.

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Doan recognized The late Stewart Doan was honored by the Arkansas rice industry with the Lifetime of Public Service award at the Arkansas Rice Annual meeting on Jan. 18.

Doan, an awardwinning journalist who covered Doan agricultural issues, was senior editor at Agri-Pulse and was well known and highly respected by the U.S. rice industry. The award was presented by Rep. Rick Crawford to Leslie Doan, who attended with daughter Sara.

“I just want to thank the Arkansas rice industry for this award on behalf of my husband,” Leslie Doan said. “I know that he would appreciate it very much. He loved talking to rice farmers. One of Stewart’s favorite memories was traveling to Cuba in August 2005 with a group representing rice farmers.”

Ben Nicklas (second from left), a Genoa Central Elementary student, won the Miller Co. Conservation District “Soil to Spoon” poster contest. The Miller Co. FB Women’s Committee sponsored the contest and provided the new bike won

by Ben and presented by Miller Co. FB President Barbara Sutton (left).

Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Pryor and Related Agencies. As chairman, he’ll be responsible for funding federal programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that affect farming, trade, conservation, research, nutrition and rural communities, plus Food and Drug Administration food-safety programs.

gress, the caucus will continue to give a united voice to the chicken industry as we navigate many issues in the two years ahead.”

The bipartisan caucus will consist of members devoted to the various issues affecting the U.S. chicken industry and also will provide a platform to discuss the role of government in addressing current and future industry challenges.

“Working with caucus members, I plan to be a strong advocate for the 6,000 Arkansans who work in chicken production,” said Rep. Crawford.

Chicken caucus reorganized Congressmen Rick Crawford and Sanford Bishop have announced members of the bipartisan Congressional Chicken Caucus in the 113th Congress. In addition to Crawford and Bishop, other caucus members include Congressmen Tim Griffin, Reid Ribble, Austin Scott, Bennie Thompson, Andy Harris, Jim Costa, Gregg Harper, Walter Jones, Alan Nunnelee, Bill Cassidy and Scott DesJarlais.

“I want to thank Reps. Crawford and Bishop for their steadfast leadership and for once again taking the lead in organizing the Congressional Chicken Caucus,” said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown. “As it did in the 112th Con-

Cattle numbers down A cattle inventory report recently released by U.S. Department of Agriculture says there were 89.3 million head of cattle and calves in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, a drop of 2 percent from one year ago, and the lowest number since 1952. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 38.5 million, were down 2 percent from a year ago and are at their lowest level since 1941.

In Arkansas, the total cattle inventory was 1.6 million head, down from 1.67 million, a 4-percent drop overall. The number of beef cows fell 6 percent, and the dairy cow count was 18 percent below a year ago.

Arkansas’ calf crop showed a 5-percent drop in 2012.

Editor Keith Sutton

keith.sutton@arfb.com

 Wheat’s penetration of

In the Market As of February 12, 2013  Soybeans extended losses

following the February report and could be headed even lower.

On the surface, the U.S. supply/ demand report was neutral to positive, with the only change being an increase of 10 million bushels in crush, which dropped ending stocks to a tight 125 million bushels. However, a more positive outlook for the South American crop, coupled with sharp declines in corn, sent the market reeling. Old crop March failed on several attempts to top $15 and could be headed toward support at recent lows between $13.70 and $13.80. New crop November broached resistance at $13.50 but didn’t have enough support to move higher and is dangerously close to key support between $12.55 and $12.60. Recent changes moved the soybean/corn price ratio toward soybeans, possibly encouraging some acreage shifts.  Corn has moved lower for

seven consecutive days, with dips below key support accelerating technical selling. A 50-million bushel downward adjustment in projected exports was partially offset by a 20-million bushel increase in the residual category.

The net result raised projected ending stocks to 632 million bushels. The key concern remains declining demand as ethanol use continues below expectations.

Big South American crops and potentially large U.S. plantings are looming over the market. Inability for March to hold above $7 could see a dip toward retracement objectives at $6.80 or even $6.40.

December erased support at $5.70 and only has support at $5.40 before heading toward the midJune low of $5.11.

support at $7.50 suggests a possible move to support at $6.85 to $6.70. Recent rains in the plains have offered some relief to a bedraggled crop. While the crop isn’t out of the woods, it is showing improvement. Coupled with a potentially large corn crop, that would likely swing feed demand from wheat, and you have what might be an abundant crop.  Rice futures failed after moving just about resistance at $16.30.

What followed was a sharp limit decline reversal in all the old crop contracts. The big upturn was the result of technical buying, which collapsed when buyers decided to take profits. This likely established near-term highs that could exist for a while. Downside retracement objectives are $15.80, $15.63 and $15.46.  Cotton continued higher

with new crop contracts leading the way. No doubt the National Cotton Council’s planting intentions report, showing just 9 million acres for the U.S. in 2013, got the markets attention. The Mid-South showed a whopping 51 percent decline in projected plantings, with Arkansas leading the downturn with a 63 percent cut. Just 221,000 acres are projected for Arkansas. The southeast was down 18.5 percent, the southwest 24.4 percent and the west 25 percent. Texas was down 1.64 million acres. New crop December appears headed to 85 to 86 cents.  Cattle futures charts have

taken on a negative appearance.

The sell-off of the past two weeks has taken the market into oversold territory, but it looks like a bottom has yet to be found. Winter weather forecasts for the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma and Kansas could limit marketings and force cash bids higher, providing some support. April could be headed

for a retest of support at $127.15.

Feeder cattle have moved to sixmonth lows with further weakness likely. March currently is testing support at $142.  Hogs futures have weakened

in recent weeks. The charts have taken on a very negative appearance. June moved to a six-month low and looks to have broken out of a bear flag formation, setting a downward objective of $93.15. The market is focused on negative packer margins and further declines in product values.  In DAIRY, grade AA butter closed at $1.5550. Advertised U.S. butter prices from the National Dairy Retail Report showed a weighted average price of $2.80 per pound compared to $2.63 two weeks ago. Cumulative 2012 butter production at 1.8 million pounds was 2.6 percent above 2011 production. Cheese barrels closed at $1.5600 and 40-lb. blocks at $1.6500. Cheese prices began showing some strength this week after a month of lower prices. There continues to be a large spread between barrel and block pricing as barrels are trading more than blocks at the exchange.

Cheese production is higher than year-ago levels across much of the U.S. Export sales are being assisted through the CWT program as bids for 4.7 million pounds of cheese were accepted this week.

Contact •Gene Martin (501) 228-1330, gene.martin@arfb.com.

•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.