Farm Bureau Press - November 6, 2015

In Farm Bureau

AFBF convention, Jan. 8-13 The 2016 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show will bring together about 5,000 of the country’s most influential farmers and ranchers for a week’s worth of celebration, education, innovation and policy discussion in Orlando, Jan. 10-13.

Highlights of the event will include Taste of America, a new event featuring food and agriculture products from across the country; the Cultivation Center in the middle of the trade show floor where guests can participate in FRED (Farmer Rancher Education) Talks and learn the latest information on agricultural products and developments; plus ag tours and Foundation For Agriculture activities, which include the Golf Classic, Flapjacks with the Foundation and Foundation Night Out. Acclaimed real estate mogul and “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran will give the closing session keynote address.

County Farm Bureaus that need to register members, book ag tours or secure a

Sydney Brown of Calico Rock received an award plaque from Arkansas Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Rodney Baker at the Arkansas Purple Circle Club recognition program Oct. 24 in Little Rock.

ArFB sponsors the club, which recognizes junior livestock exhibitors who earned championship honors at the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show.

This year, 74 students received awards at the ceremony. place at the Foundation Night Out should contact MaLeta Stephens at 501-228-1470 or maleta.stephens@arfb.com. For additional conference details, visit annualconvention.fb.org.

GO Team keeps growing The American Farm Bureau Federation’s GO (Grassroots Outreach) Team continues to grow, with 168 members from State Sen. Ronald Caldwell of Wynne, chairman of the state Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee, was the keynote speaker at Monroe Co. FB’s Oct. 8 annual meeting in Brinkley. Caldwell discussed current issues facing Arkansas farmers and ranchers and outlined ways the state legislature is trying to assist those who work in agriculture.

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44 states. Arkansas members include Susan Anglin of Bentonville (Benton County), Sue Billiot of Smithville (Sharp County), Cassie Davis of Prairie Grove (Washington County), Derek Helms of Arkadelphia (Clark County) and Heather Keenen of Farmington (Washington County).

Some of the GO Team’s recent activities include participating in a Labor Day social media campaign and a fly-in to lobby for

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

November 6, 2015 • Vol. 18, No. 21

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In Arkansas

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national biotech labeling legislation. Six members will attend the AgChat National Advocacy Conference, Nov. 9-10 in Nashville, to learn from and connect with others who are advocating for agriculture.

Heather Keenen (standing, right) of Farmington, a Washington Co. FB board member and co-chair of the county’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, was one of 16 farm and ranch leaders recently honored by the American Farm Bureau Federation as graduates of the organization’s ninth annual Women’s Communications Boot Camp.

Faulkner Co. FB President Chris Schaefers (left) posed with members of the Gary Patton family at the county’s annual meeting Oct. 15 at Central Baptist College in Conway. The Pattons were selected as the Faulkner County Farm Family of the Year.

They have a cattle operation, trucking business and mini-storage business in Wooster.

UA receives $75,000 grant Mike Sullivan, Arkansas state conservationist for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, says $75,000 has been awarded to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture for a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) project— Happy Soils, Happy Rice.

“CIG invests in innovative, on-theground conservation technologies and approaches, with the eventual goal of wide-scale NRCS adoption to address water quality and quantity, air quality, energy conservation, and environmental markets, among other natural resource issues,”

Sullivan said.

UA’s Healthy Soils, Happy Rice project will demonstrate how winter cover crops can improve soil health and lower nitrogen fertilizer needs in Arkansas rice production.

NRCS administers CIGs as part of the agency’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Grants are awarded to state and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations and individuals. Grant awardees must provide non-federal matching funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost.

Of the non-federal matching funds, a minimum of 25 percent must be from cash contributions. The remaining 25 percent may come from in-kind contributions.

For more on this grant program, visit USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grants webpage, www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/ nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/ cig/, or contact your local NRCS office.

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Avian flu workshops With the return of migratory birds to Arkansas, comes the threat of avian influenza in the state’s poultry flocks. Backyard poultry owners can learn to fend off the flu through workshops being offered by the Cooperative Extension Service.

“If you own backyard chickens or other poultry, avian flu is nothing to ignore,” said extension veterinarian Dustan Clark.

“Now is the time to learn or brush up on your biosecurity skills.”

Four workshops are planned for November. They are: • Nov. 2, 6 p.m. Lincoln County Extension Office, 113 W. Wiley Ave., Star City.

For information, call 479-394-6018.

• Nov. 3, 6 p.m. Cornerstone Bank, 907 W. Trimble Ave., Berryville.

For information, call 870-423-2958.

• Nov. 5, 6 p.m. Marion County Fairgrounds in Summit.

For information, call 870-449-6349.

• Nov. 10, 6-8 p.m. 4-H Educational Building, 211 De Queen St., Mena.

For information, call 479-394-6018.

Ally McFarlin, a fourth-grade student from Cave City, was recognized at the Sharp Co. FB’s Oct. 6 annual meeting in Ash Flat for her winning entry in the safety poster contest.

She is shown here with county Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chairperson Brandy Cherry (left) and Women’s Committee Chairperson Sue Billiot.

On Oct. 15, at Sebastian Co. FB’s annual meeting in Fort Smith, Karen Peoples (center) was recognized

by Sebastian Co. FB president Cody Jones (right) and agency manager Joe Force for her service to the organization. Peoples, who has served as a member services representative, is retiring after 25 years with Farm Bureau.

Bourland to enter Hall of Fame Fred Bourland, a cotton breeder for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will be inducted by Cotton Incorporated into the 2015 class of the Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame. Bourland, director of the division’s Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser, will be honored along with four other inductees in December.

Cotton Incorporated acknowledged Bourland for his extensive contributions to U.S. cotton plant breeding. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Bourland

Elsewhere

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Scholarships for ag leaders Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders program. Sponsored by the

Little River County cattle rancher Brett Fawcett examines the quality of what little grass he’s been able to grow for his herd near Ashdown Oct. 22. Severe drought extended throughout south Arkansas and, as of Oct. 23, Fawcett had received less than one-tenth of an inch of rain since July 1. He had to purchase hay for his 900 cattle at a time when fall forages should normally be plentiful.

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developed valuable plant measurements and techniques that aided the release of more than 85 cotton lines.

“The cotton industry as we know it today was shaped by innovative thinking and strong leadership,” said Berrye Worsham, president and CEO of Cotton Incorporated. “The 2015 Hall of Fame inductees embody these attributes, and their contributions have had a lasting impact on the industry.”

“I am overwhelmed to be included among these inductees,” Bourland said.

“My achievements are the accumulative results of collaboration with other researchers, assistance of station personnel and students, support from Cotton Incorporated and other institutions, and strong work ethics and Christian values taught by my family.”

Bourland is a native of northeast Arkansas, where he grew up on a cotton farm. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and master’s degree in plant breeding from the University of Arkansas.

He earned his doctoral degree in genetics from Texas A&M University.

With Arkansas’ rice harvest almost complete, UA agronomist Jarrod Hardke says he expects the final yield to fall well below last year’s record of 168 bushels per acre.

“I’m thinking 155 to 160 bushels per acre is where we belong,” said Hardke. Arkansas growers planted 1.1 million acres of long-grain rice this year, down from almost 1.3 million acres in 2014.

Monsanto Fund, the program will provide more than $500,000 in college scholarships across rural America next spring to support the next generation of agriculture.

Last year, Arkansas students were awarded $12,000 in scholarships.

Under the program, now in its second year, $1,500 scholarships are awarded to high school and college students pursuing ag-related degrees. Because farmers are the heart of the industry, applicants must obtain endorsements from at least three local farmers to be considered.

Grow Ag Leaders is designed to encourage rural youth to remain in agriculture and to help them develop the skills needed to fill thousands of jobs in a variety of fields, including farming, agronomy, education, engineering, business management and more.

Many of the past recipients are not waiting until after they graduate to begin their ag careers. Instead, they are already actively engaged in their field of interest.

Examples include a future agriculture teacher who developed an agri-science camp to educate her peers on ag literacy and a farm and ranch management major who maintains 240 acres of wheat while earning his degree.

One recipient, Jenna Martin of Hickory Ridge (Cross County), has traveled throughout Arkansas advocating for agriculture by speaking to clubs and organizations and is excited to begin her career in farming.

“I have come to love and appreciate farmers like my dad who display a great love for the land,” Martin said. “I witnessed

their commitment to the industry growing up and working on our family farm my entire life, and I have developed a passion of my own for agriculture.”

With 57,900 average annual job openings in agriculture and only 35,400 college graduates expected to fill them, there is a great opportunity for students considering careers in this rapidly growing industry.

Grow Ag Leaders depends on farmer participation to help identify talented young people for those positions.

Recipients are chosen based on academic achievement, leadership skills, community service and commitment to agriculture. Scholarships are administered by the National FFA Organization, but applicants need not be FFA members to apply. Students can apply online Nov. 15Feb. 1 at FFA.org/scholarships. For more information, visit GrowAgLeaders.com.

Arkansans in leadership class The Rice Leadership Development Program managed by USA Rice recently selected the 2015 International Rice Leadership class. Included are three class members from Arkansas: Chad Duckworth of Jonesboro, Park Eldridge of Gillett and Robb Dedman of Rison. Also included are Rance Daniels from Hornersville, Mo. and Timothy Gertson from Lissie, Texas.

“The number and quality of applicants this year was great and shows the graduates’ engagement and commitment to the industry,” said Rice Foundation Chairman Todd Burich.

“This is a solid class.”

Editor Keith Sutton

keith.sutton@arfb.com

In the Market As of November 4, 2015 Crop production expected to increase in November On Nov. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is scheduled to release the next-to-last estimate for 2015 crop production. Private firms already are predicting the agency will increase production in this report for many crops. While increased yields last month were offset by lower harvested acres, this month a higher yield will result in increased production and larger stocks, which could further depress prices.

Hutchinson urges Congress to open trade with Cuba After leading a delegation of nearly 20 Arkansas business leaders to Cuba, which included Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach of Manila, Gov. Asa Hutchinson sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to ease restrictions on Cuba. The letter stated, “The current cash-in-advance requirements limit a potential market of nearly $40 million for Arkansas products alone.” The governor is encouraging Congress to consider legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Rick Crawford in the House and Sen. John Boozman in the Senate, which would provide financial flexibility to sell American commodities in Cuba.

Sugar vs. corn battle The $1.5 billion false-advertising lawsuit between the Corn Refiners Association and sugar growers is underway in the U.S. District Court of Los Angeles. The sugar growers allege that corn refiners have participated in a campaign to falsely label high-fructose corn syrup as “corn sugar” and characterize it as natural and on par with sugar. The corn refiners maintain the lawsuit is an attempt by sugar growers to generate publicity and misinform the public. The Food and Drug Administration in May 2012 rejected a petition by the Corn Refiners Association to change the name of high-fructose corn syrup to corn sugar, saying the latter term has been used to describe dextrose for decades.

Ending RFS unlikely to lower food/fuel prices Terry Dinan, a senior adviser in the Congressional Budget Office, testified at a hearing of two House science subcommittees that while 40 percent of corn goes toward creating biofuels, simply ending the Renewable Fuel Standard program will not lead to a significant decrease in overall food costs compared to a scenario in which the Environmental Protection Agency continues to set mandates at the level proposed last spring.

Fuel suppliers would continue to blend 10-percent ethanol into gasoline even without the RFS, she said, and because corn and food made from corn makes up a small portion of U.S. food supplies, overall food prices would increase by one tenth of one percent.

Dinan said if advanced biofuel standards are implemented at targeted levels in the law, the price of petroleum-based diesel would rise by 25 cents to 45 cents per gallon; the price of E10, which is currently the most commonly used transportation fuel in the United States, would increase by 15 cents to 30 cents per gallon; and the price of E85 would decline by 80 cents to $1.20 per gallon.

USDA to issue safety-net payments The USDA announced last week that nearly one half of the 1.7 million farms that have been enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will receive safety-net payments for the 2014 crop year.

“Unlike the old direct payments program, which paid farmers in good years and bad, the 2014 Farm Bill authorized a new safety net that protects producers only when market forces or adverse weather cause unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “For example, the corn price for 2014 is 30 percent below the historical benchmark price used by the ARC-County

program, and revenues of the farms participating in the ARC-County program are down by about $20 billion from the benchmark during the same period. The nearly $4 billion provided by the ARC and PLC safety-net programs will give assistance to producers where revenues dropped below normal.”

TPP agreement likely to be delayed Negotiators have finished the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, but no details of the program have been released.

The initial understanding was that details would be quickly forthcoming and Congress would have 60 days to review and 30 days after which to vote. This is likely to be a much longer process, however. Many expect it will be well into 2016 before President Obama presents TPP for congressional approval, and the vote will not be held until the lame duck session following the 2016 election.

NASDA urges repeal of COOL The idea behind Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) has value, but the implementation has been regrettable, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) said in a letter this week to Senate Agriculture Committee leaders seeking a repeal of the law. “It is imperative that COOL policy be implemented in a manner that ensures the U.S. maintains its obligations under negotiated international trade agreements and avoids retaliatory trade actions against U.S. agricultural products,” the group said.

The House has already passed legislation repealing COOL provisions for beef, pork and chicken. Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts supports that approach, but ranking member Debbie Stabenow, John Hoeven and a majority of the committee have put forward a bill that would replace the mandatory COOL requirements with voluntary ones.

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