Farm Bureau Press - May 13, 2016

In Farm Bureau Poster contest winners Arkansas Farm Bureau has announced the winners of its annual safety poster contest, which coincided with Ag Safety Awareness Week March 6 – 12. The contest was designed to increase awareness of potential hazards on farms and ranches. The posters depicted this year’s theme, “Caution: Safety is No Accident.”

In the first-and second-grade category, Lyndsey Powell, a second-grade student at Acorn Elementary in Polk County, won first place. Lyndsey is the daughter of Jeremy and Amber Powell. Sawyer Chastain, a first-grade student at Brookland Elementary in Craighead County, won second place. Sawyer is the son of Lance and Stormey Chastain. Laney Daniels, a second-grade student at Deer Elementary in Newton County, was third. Laney’s parents are Nathan and Amy Daniels.

In the third-and fourth-grade category, Lyza Gonzalez, a third-grade student at Waldron Elementary in Scott County, took first place. Lyza is the daughter of

More than 1,400 preschool and kindergarten students from Washington, Benton and Madison County schools attended the 20th annual Washington County Farm Friends Day at UA’s Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center in Fayetteville. The May 5 event provided opportunities for the children to learn about farm animals, wool spinning, horseshoeing, milking, poultry and more.

Elizabeth Gonzalez. Fourth-grader Aniyah Muresan of Blevins Elementary in Hempstead County won second place. Aniyah is the daughter of Ruben and Monique Muresan. Kyler McKee, a third-grade student at Vandervoort Elementary (Polk County), was third. Kyler’s parents are Chad and Falicia McKee. In the fifth-and sixth-grade category, fifth-grader Kenzie Gibson of Brookland Middle School in Craighead County won first place. Kenzie is the daughter of Washington Co. FB legislative chairman James Anderson (left) posed for a photo with (left to right) Sen. Uvalde Lindsey and Reps. David Whitaker, Charlie Collins and Bob Ballinger during the county’s April 23 legislative appreciation breakfast in Fayetteville. The legislators spoke to 20 Farm Bureau leaders about their most recent session and issues coming up in 2017.

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David and Shellie Gibson. Cole Sullivan, a fifth-grade student at Sheridan Intermediate School in Grant County, took second. Cole’s parents are Williams and Angela Sullivan. Third place went to Zac DesOrmeaux, a sixth-grade student at Mansfield Middle School in Scott County.

He is the son of Juli DesOrmeaux.

The contest attracted 42 entries from elementary schools in 20 counties. Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 are awarded to the top three winners in each category.

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

May 13, 2016 • Vol. 19, No. 10

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Rice promotion handbook Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Rice Division once again is partnering with the Arkansas Rice Council to offer the Arkansas Rice Promotion Program. The program is designed to provide county Farm Bureaus the opportunity to conduct an organized rice promotion effort. Details are outlined in the 2016 Arkansas Rice Promotion Program handbook, which is now available for download at www.arfb.com. Go to Get Involved, then Contests and Promotions.

The handbook includes helpful suggestions for planning activities such as a county Miss Arkansas Rice contest and important dates to remember.

For additional information, contact ArFB’s Brandy Carroll at 501-228-1268 or Chuck Wilson with the USA Rice Federation at 870-673-7541.

Volunteer shoppers needed If you would like to become a volunteer shopper (price checker) for the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Marketbasket Surveys – Spring Picnic, Summer Cookout, Fall Harvest and Thanksgiving – send a note with your name and email address to AFBF communications associate Anna Burkholder at anna@fb.org.

Survey results are used for a national publicity campaign that reports the retail cost of food while emphasizing its relatively small increase in price over time compared to other consumer goods, as

On April 12, Robert Potter (left) and Bryan Pistole (center) with Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Public Relations Department shot video of Ralph Harris, an agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, demonstrating how to properly install electric fence. ArFB produced the video, shot on the Clovy Keaster farm at Ozan, for distribution by the NRCS.

Crawford Co. FB helped sponsor “Fun on the Farm” at county board member Randy Arnold’s farm April 23-25. County leader Linda DeShazo (pictured here) visited with Alma School kindergarteners about the nutritional value of milk and milk products. Area school children also learned about honeybees, beef products, sheep production and strawberries.

well as the contribution of U.S. food, fiber and fuel production to national security.

farmed the same land for at least 100 years. This program honors Arkansas’ rich agriculture heritage, and since the program’s beginning in 2012, has certified 297 farms and families. Applications must be postmarked by May 31 to be eligible for designation in 2016.

To qualify, farms must meet the following criteria. The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by Dec. 31, 2016. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings and nephews or nieces, including through marriage and adoption. The farm must be at least 10 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said, “The family farm is an Arkansas tradition — a way of life for generations of hard-working folks and a precious resource for all. In honoring those families who are part of this great tradition, the Arkansas Century Farm Program recognizes the historical relevance of the family farm and its important place in Arkansas’ future.”

Nationally, more than 96 percent of all agricultural operations are family farms.

Arkansas currently has more than 44,600 farms on 13.8 million acres with the average farm size of 309 acres.

There is no cost to apply for the Arkansas Century Farm program, and

In Arkansas

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Century Farm program The Arkansas Agriculture Department has opened the Century Farm program to new applications for 2016 inductees.

Century Farm families have owned and

Jenna Martin of Hickory Ridge checks her blood pressure using a new monitor now available at the Hickory Ridge Food Pantry. Cross Co. FB donated the monitor so it would be available to food pantry clients and volunteers.

Jenna and her mother, Jennifer Martin, learned how to purchase one of the monitors during the State Women’s Committee Conference in March.

Anna Duggan, Southern District Vice President of Arkansas FFA, spoke at the Troy Buck Family Scholarship Dinner and Auction May 6 in Arkadelphia. The event raised funds for a scholarship at Southern Arkansas University recognizing the Buck Family. Troy Buck (left) is retiring after teaching agriculture for 55 years.

Arkansas Farm Bureau helped sponsor the event.

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Arkansas joins Engage Cuba On April 11, Engage Cuba, the leading coalition of private businesses and organizations working to end the travel and trade embargo on Cuba, launched its Arkansas State Council. The council is composed of agribusiness, community and academic leaders committed to engaging with Cuba through diplomacy and trade, including Arkansas Farm Bureau “Under the leadership of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Sen. John Boozman and Rep. Rick Crawford, Arkansas is ground zero for our efforts to lift the travel ban and trade embargo,” said James Williams, president of Engage Cuba. “Arkansas is the living and breathing example of why we need to change this policy after 55 years of failure. The fact that Cubans are now eating rice from Vietnam instead of Arkansas is an outrage that needs to be changed.

Congress needs to stand on the side of its citizens who overwhelmingly want them to lift the travel ban and trade embargo with Cuba. That’s why we’re launching the Engage Cuba Arkansas State Council. By showcasing the overwhelming support

Warren Carter, executive vice president of Arkansas Farm Bureau, thanked 190 member service representatives from across the state who attended the MSR Conference May 4 at Embassy Suites in Little Rock. “It’s you who are taking care of business in our county offices, helping everyone from our members to agency managers,” he said. “For that, we are grateful.”

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anyone may apply. Applications may be obtained from the Arkansas Agriculture Department by calling 501-683-4851 or from aad.arkansas.gov.

Dustin Hill, Southwest District Director for ArFB’s Organization and Member Programs department, taught ATV safety to students at Yell County’s Progressive Agriculture Safety Day May 6 in Danville. More than 170 youngsters from three area schools attended the event where they learned about water safety, germ awareness, animal safety, weather safety and much more. across Arkansas to end this failed policy, we will continue to show members of Congress that lifting the travel ban and trade embargo will help the state’s economy and the Cuban people.”

“Agriculture is the number-one industry in Arkansas, and we produce approximately 50 percent of the U.S. rice crop every year,” said Dow Brantley, chairman of USA Rice. “Arkansas rice is consumed in markets in nearly every corner of the world, except Cuba. That is because the United States continues to prolong an outdated embargo that has done more harm than good. USA Rice is proud to co-launch the Engage Cuba Arkansas State Council to mobilize grassroots support and advocate for a change in policy. Bringing Arkansas rice to Cuba is key to creating local jobs, boosting wages and securing the long-term future for the state’s agriculture industry.”

Opening up Cuba for trade would allow Arkansas’ agricultural industry and other businesses to reach more than 11 million new customers. Because of the opportunities ahead for Arkansas, the state’s legislators and governor continue to be at the forefront of support for increased U.S.-Cuba relations. Arkansas is one of five states to have a council affiliated with Engage Cuba.

Elsewhere Entrepreneurship Challenge The American Farm Bureau Federation opened online applications for its third Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge May 1 to coincide with National Small Business Week (May 1–7). Entrepreneurs will compete for $145,000 in startup funds.

The competition provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations that benefit rural regions of the United States. It is the first national rural business competition focused exclusively on innovative entrepreneurs working on food and agriculture businesses.

Six semi-finalist teams will win $10,000 each. Four finalist teams will compete to win the Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year award and $30,000(chosen by judges); the People’s Choice award and $25,000 (chosen by public vote); a first runner-up prize of $15,000; and a second runner-up prize of $15,000.

Competitors are invited to submit forprofit business ideas related to food and agriculture online starting at www.strongruralamerica. com/challenge.

Editor Keith Sutton

keith.sutton@arfb.com

In the Market As of May 11, 2016

USDA crop forecast On May 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its monthly supply-and-demand report, which provided the markets with their first official look 2016-17. Going into the report, the trade was expecting a bearish report for most markets, given the acreage estimates released in the Perspective Plantings Report back in March. Over the last few years, it has been common to see sharp moves lower following these reports as the USDA forecasts stocks much higher than expected. This report, however, forecast record corn and soybean demand in the U.S., and also forecast U.S. rice use and cotton use up some 12 percent from this year. While this report has set lofty goals for this next marketing year, it also has provided producers with another opportunity to market crops at more profitable prices.

Soybeans The soybean forecast in the latest USDA report was one of the most bullish forecasts in recent years. Most of the market expected stocks to be flat at best and likely move higher in 2016-17. However, this report forecast stocks for next year at just 305 million bushels compared to a trade guess of 427 million bushels.

Soybeans stock came in lower for three reasons: higher export estimate this year, record crush forecast for 2016-17 and record exports in 201617. This strong demand comes as crush and exports in the current marketing year have been less than impressive, down some 112 million bushels from 2014-15 despite a record crop last fall.

This is an ambitious demand estimate for U.S. soybeans, given the USDA is forecasting larger crops in both Brazil and Argentina, and China soybean imports experienced their slowest

growth since 2012. While the USDA is forecasting U.S. soybean exports will be almost 4 MMT higher next year, they are only forecasting a 700,000 MT increase in Brazil and 850,000 MT reduction in Argentina to accomplish this. Furthermore, export sales on the books for next year total just 3.257 MMT, which compares to 4.489 MMT in last year and 8.566 in 2014 (the year prior to the previous record).

While these demand numbers are something the market will be closely watching, the yield will likely be the major market mover during the summer. This year the USDA is forecasting a 46.7-bushels-per-acre average, the lowest yield estimate since 2013-14.

Last year the USDA started at 46 bushels per acre for the 2015 crop and ended up at 48 million bushels. So if weather is favorable this summer and yields are 1 bushel per acre higher than currently forecast, and if demand grows at only 87.5 million bushels instead of 175 million bushels, then soybean stocks are 474 million bushels, which would push prices sharply lower, hence the current price forecast of $9.10 for the 2016-17 crop.

Rice The rice market also got a favorable report from the USDA this week as the report forecast record U.S. rice use in 2016-17. While strong acreage and a trend yield equate to the third largest rice crop ever, the USDA is forecasting an impressive 12-percent growth in U.S. rice use. The increase in use comes as domestic consumption is forecast 14 million cwt higher in 2016-17 at 135 million cwt (the second highest ever), and exports are forecast to increase 13 million cwt in 2016-17 at 113 million cwt (third highest ever).

Even with these sharp increases, rice stocks are still forecast to rise some 7 million cwt, to 50 million cwt. This is the largest rice carry-over since 198182 and continues to weigh on prices as rice prices are forecast to be $11.80 in 2016-17, compared to $12.40 this year and $13.40 in 2014-15.

Corn Corn, like the other markets, saw sharp increases in demand forecast for 2016-17. The USDA is forecasting a sharp increase in feed demand that has not been seen in more than decade.

This, combined with another record Food Seed and Industrial Use and strong exports, led to corn stocks coming in slightly below trade expectations, but still above 2 billion bushels.

The corn market continues to try and settle down between $3.70 and $3.90 for new crop corn. The uncertainty remains how corn will react should the floor fall out of the soybean market. In recent weeks, corn has been unable to fend off sharp losses when soybeans move sharply lower.

Traders reject new soybeans Trade groups representing Bunge Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Co. and other U.S. grain companies have criticized Monsanto Co. for selling its new genetically modified soybean seeds before they’re approved by the European Union. “Monsanto’s actions with respect to RR2X soybeans are an unacceptable and very troubling development, and we urge that it not be repeated,” said a letter from the leaders of the National Grain and Feed Association, the North American Export Grain Association and the National Oilseed Processors Association. Monsanto expects EU approval in the near future. If farmers have questions, they should contact their local seed dealer.

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