In Farm Bureau Anderson joins PR staff Rob Anderson has been hired as director of public relations at Arkansas Farm Bureau, where he will help guide organizational messaging, development of new communication tools and manage the social media team. Anderson, 43, has spent the past three years as director of Anderson content strategy at CJRW, where he led the planning, development and monitoring of digital content for the agency’s clients. He also managed the firm’s relationship with Riceland Foods, Inc. Anderson holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Louisiana State University. He has more than 20 years experience, including time as a reporter, editor and communications professional. He has worked with state government
On May 21, a customer examines fresh produce being sold by Morgan Boehm (right) with Ozark Alternatives farm and orchard in Fayetteville. Boehm is one of 40 vendors who sell vegetables, fruit, honey, cheese, arts, crafts and more at the Fayetteville Farmers Market. To find markets for locally grown foods in your area, visit the “For Consumers” section of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s website, www.arfb.com, and click on Best Pick Farms. and private enterprises, including crisis communication work for LSU during Hurricane Katrina while a member of the school’s university relations staff. He also has led communications work for the Louisiana Public Health Institute and the Louisiana Center for Planning Excellence, which coordinated planning for urban, rural and regional development. He also led social media and strategy for Keating Magee Marketing Communications of New Orleans, including work On May 19, at Benton Co. FB’s Farm Expo, Susan Anglin of Bentonville, chairman of ArFB’s Dairy Division, discussed dairy cattle and farming with students at Grace Hill Elementary in Rogers. More than 250 fourthgrade students participated in the event, learning about cotton, rice, cattle, garden vegetables and other agricultural topics.
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with the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, the Tobacco-Free Living campaign and NBA All-Star Chris Paul. “Rob’s work experiences read like a novel,” said Steve Eddington, ArFB’s vice president of public relations. “His work with rural development, health care and agriculture fit very naturally with the work of Arkansas Farm Bureau. “We look forward to utilizing Rob’s skills to more effectively tell the story of Arkansas agriculture, the men and women
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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
June 5, 2015 • Vol. 18, No. 11
AFBF’s new support website GetaMoveOn.fb.org is Farm Bureau’s just-launched advocacy website that gives farmers and ranchers a simple way to “Get a Move On” for GMOs. Through the website, farmers can easily express support for a national, science-based labeling standard, like the approach taken in the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. “Now is the time for farmers and ranchers to take action in support of innovation in agriculture,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. “Access to crop traits that resist pests, diseases and drought stress is helping farmers across the nation grow more food using less land, water, fuel and pesticides. Biotechnology will offer even more benefits in the future.” From the website, farmers and ranchers can send House members emails encouraging “yea” votes for the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The bill will clarify the Food and Drug Administration as the nation’s foremost authority on food safety
Valley View FFA recently received a Farm Bureau grant for their 1-acre community garden. Pictured are (back, l to r) Alex Garrett, principal Roland Popejoy, Lucas Lawson, Luke Merrick, and (front, l to r) Logan Simmons, Hannah Luper, adviser Caliem Morris, ArFB board member Joe Christian, Bo Huggins, Andy Watkins, Jacob Adlong, Gage Freemon and Hoppy Hoffman.
The Van Buren Co. FB Women’s Committee assisted with the Boston Mountain Health Care 5K Color Run held May 2 in Clinton, providing fruit, water and other goodies to the runners. Among those who helped were (l to r) Women’s Committee member Judy Branscum, 5K participant Reece Fosko and Melanie Fosko, a member service representative for Van Buren Co. FB.
and create a voluntary labeling program run by the Agriculture Department’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the same agency that administers the USDA Organic Program. The legislation will provide a federal solution to protect consumers from a confusing patchwork of 50-state GMO labeling policies, and the misinformation and high food costs that would come with them. Through GetaMoveOn.fb.org, farmers not only can connect with their lawmakers, but find state-by-state fact sheets detailing the value and share of GMO crops in each state. They can then share this information in their emails. “It’s critical that we as farmers help our
lawmakers understand that there’s a cost associated with discouraging agricultural innovation,” Stallman said. “That cost will go well beyond the higher prices consumers will pay at the supermarket if each state passes its own GMO labeling law.”
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who make up Arkansas’ largest industry and whose work provides food and fiber for our state, the country and much of the world.” A graduate of Little Rock Hall, Anderson is on the board of directors for the UAMS Family Home, the Arkansas Rice Depot and secretary of the Arkansas Hospice Foundation Board. He also serves as an instructor of journalism and media studies for the Tulane University School of Continuing Studies.
On May 5, members of the Mineral Springs and Nashville FFA chapters visited Little Rock on a tour sponsored by Howard County Farm Bureau. The students got to meet Sen. Larry Teague (right in photo) during a tour of the State Capitol, and also visited Farm Bureau Center, the Arkansas Agriculture Department and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Meagan Smith (left) and Keedrick Archer (right) recently were awarded scholarships by Dallas County Farm Bureau agency manager Reed Camp. The county’s scholarship program was established in 1992. Since its inception, more than $52,000 has been awarded to graduating seniors in the Fordyce and Sparkman school districts.
2015 AFBF photo contest The American Farm Bureau Federation, in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, has announced the 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest. The contest is open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and staff above 18 years of age at the time of entry, including professional photographers. Photo submissions will be used to accurately portray today’s agriculture and the safe practices of farmers and ranchers, and also for future publications, promotions and social media by AFBF and related companies. All photos submitted must exemplify safe practices on the farm or ranch. The contest will run May 15, 2015, through March 31, 2016. Photos may be entered in four categories: Farm Families, Farm Labor, Technology and Consumer Outreach. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three placing photos from each category. First place winners will be awarded $150, second place $100 and third place $75. Judges also will select a “Best in Show” winner for the most dynamic photo entered across all categories, as well as two runners-up. The Best in Show winner will receive $400, with first runner-up and sec-
In Arkansas Horticulture scholarships The Arkansas Flower and Garden Show is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2015-16 academic year. The scholarships are funded using proceeds from the annual show, which is sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau. Four $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to full-time students who are attending a university or community college in Arkansas and majoring in horticulture or a related field. Applications and letters of recommendation must be received by July 1. Information and applications are available at http:// argardenshow.org/about/grants-scholarships-education-2/. Winners will be notified in early August, and checks will be mailed to the students no later than Aug. 15. Winners will be invited to attend the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, Feb. 26-28, 2016. Dairy Days What do you get when you combine cows, kids and all the ice cream you can eat? 4-State Dairy Days. For almost a quarter of a century, dairy farm families in northwest Arkansas have enjoyed this annual event, which includes exhibitors from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Dairy Days celebrates and promotes June Dairy Month, while providing a great experience for families and the community. This year Dairy Days is June 12-14 at the Benton County Fairgrounds, 7640 SW Regional Airport Blvd., in Bentonville.
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ond runner-up receiving $300 and $200, respectively. “The timeframe for this competition opens up vast possibilities for members interested in capturing farm and ranch photos throughout the four seasons,” said Kim Baker, AFBF’s assistant director, creative services. “We look forward to seeing a bumper crop of diverse submissions from photographers around the country for this contest.” Contest winners will be announced April 15, 2016, on Farm Bureau’s social media platforms and website. For more information on how to register and to view the contest rules and regulations, visit the 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest webpage at http://photocontest.fb.org. Questions about the contest may be sent via email to photocontest@fb.org.
Phillips County Farm Bureau recently presented six $500 scholarships to senior students in local high schools. County Vice President Brian Thomas (left) and Secretary/Treasurer Steve Toney (right) made the presentations to (left to right) Joshua Mullinax, Alex Travis, Jared Hill, Kaitlyn Wiles, Martin Rawls and Lynnli Schwantz.
Events will include an all-breed 4-H/ FFA/FCCLA dairy show for youths age 5-19, a Dairy Skill-a-thon Contest, the Dairy Olympics, Dairy Quiz Bowl, a silent auction and much more. For more information, visit www.4statedairydays.org. Mussels’ critical habitat reduced The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has changed critical habitat designations for the Neosho mucket and rabbitsfoot mussels in rivers of 12 states under the Endangered Species Act. The new designations reduce by nearly 30 percent the river miles in Arkansas that are listed as critical habitat. The final designations are smaller than those proposed nearly three years ago, and include a significant change to what the USFWS proposed in Arkansas for the rabbitsfoot, reducing the designation there by 27 percent. The final critical habitat designations in Arkansas affect less than 2 percent of the state’s total perennial stream miles as defined by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. The Service altered the critical habitat designations after receiving new relevant information from a number of people and organizations, including Arkansas Farm Bureau. The final designations result in a net reduction of about two river miles for the Neosho mucket and 217 river miles for the rabbitsfoot. Better future for catfish farmers? Catfish farmers in Arkansas are seeing higher prices and lower feed costs this spring, giving producers hope that years of industry declines are nearing an end. Growers are now getting from $1.25 to $1.30 per pound for their fish, up sharply from the roughly 85 cents per pound being
paid just two years ago. Fish prices, combined with lower feed costs, means some producers are starting to think about adding pond acreage for the first time in years. This year, however, acreage is still expected to drop by 15 percent, from 6,800 acres a year ago to 5,800 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. At one time, Arkansas had more than 25,000 acres of ponds in production. Nationally, catfish pond acreage is expected to shrink this year by 10 percent, from 77,725 acres to 69,910 acres.
Elsewhere New “Farm to Cart” game “Farm to Cart,” a new game for preschool and early elementary teachers, families, farmers and ranchers hosting agricultural literacy events, was recently launched by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The game is intended to help learners make the connection that food comes from farms before it reaches the grocery store and ultimately our homes. Through the game, young learners discover how to describe the general process for the production of an agricultural product and how farmers use land to grow crops. Players race to be the first to harvest items from the farm and place them in their grocery carts. To win, a player must have three items that grow on trees, three animal products from the land and three items from the soil. This game is offered as a free, PDF download on www.agfoundation.org. You will need to provide your own scissors, tape/glue and die. Editor Keith Sutton
keith.sutton@arfb.com
In the Market As of June 2, 2015
Soybeans search for a bottom The soybean market has seen new multi-year lows over the last week as this market searches for a bottom. As of this writing, new-crop soybeans continue to hold support at $9, as the market continues to rally late to prevent a close below $9. This market remains under significant pressure from large global supplies. The U.S. is forecast to build stocks more than 250 million bushels this year and another 150 million bushels next year. Global stocks are forecast to build some 555 million bushels this year and another 241 million next year. In total, global soybean stocks are forecast to increase more than 1.2 billion bushels by the end of next year. To put this in perspective, global stock growth over the last two years represents almost one-third of the total annual U.S. soybean production, or more than 40 percent of China’s annual crush. The global stocks-to-use ratio is forecast to rise from 23.1 percent in 2013-14 to 31.6 percent in 2015-16. That is enormous over a very short time and will take a significant growth in demand or a major production shortfall before these stocks will decline. While the market may see some technical support, there remains little long-term fundamental support for prices. If this year turns out to be another record soybean yield, these stocks are likely to rise even more and add additional pressure to prices. The market will try and maintain support near $9. However, this support is likely to be broken before harvest, and we could see prices move to $8.50 or less at harvest. Producers
with soybeans that are not priced should watch this market for rallies and price a few more soybeans. It will take a significant event for prices to move back near $9.50, and it is very likely prices will see $8.50 before they see $9.50. Cattle prices trending higher After starting the year with sharp losses, the cattle market has recovered most of the losses. Since March, prices have steadily been increasing as strong cash prices and improved demand remain the main drivers in the market. Neither the feeder cattle nor the live cattle markets have shown an ability to top the January highs. This could prove to be tough resistance for prices as cattle numbers are likely to begin to show improvement. USDA restarts BCAP On Monday, USDA announced it would resume incentives for those interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy via the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, as authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. This program provides financial assistance to establish and maintain new crops of energy biomass or to harvest and deliver forest or agriculture residues to a qualifying energy facility. China’s cotton imports down Official customs data showed China imported 160,800 MT of cotton last month, a 28.3 percent reduction from year-ago, according
to China Cotton Association. It says the nation’s imports for the first four months of the year stand at 609,000 MT, which is down 38.2 percent from year-ago. Buying has been limited by a lack of import quotas this year as the country has tried to prop up demand for domestic supplies. The country has said that in principle it will issue no more than the 894,000 MT of low tariff-rate quotas it has committed to under the World Trade Organization. There have also recently been rumors that China will soon release cotton reserves onto the market, though most industry participants expect the government to wait until more commercial stocks are sold. The country is estimated to have 10 MMT of cotton in reserves— more than 40 percent of the world’s inventory. Bird flu: worst has passed “We believe the worst is behind us, which doesn’t mean that we still won’t see additional cases, but we know we see a decline,” USDA’s Chief Veterinarian John Clifford told Reuters in an interview on bird flu. He said the number of bird flu cases in the U.S. has started to decline, and the epidemic is likely to end within a couple of months thanks to warm summer weather. This follows similar comments yesterday by the general director with the World Organization for Animal Health. But Clifford also said U.S. authorities are preparing for any return of bird flu this fall as wild birds start migrating south.
CONTACT • Matt King 501-228-1297, matt.king@arfb.com.