Farm Bureau Press - December 21, 2012

In Farm Bureau

Carter assumes new role Warren Carter has been promoted to vice president of public policy at Arkansas Farm Bureau. In this expanded role, he will have management responsibility for the commodity and regulatory affairs and governmental affairs departments, using Carter their collective efforts to promote policy positions to ArFB’s constituencies.

“Our public policy efforts form the foundation of the organization,” said ArFB President Randy Veach.

“Our policy is defined through a grass-roots system that involves every county Farm Bureau, each of our commodity divisions and various Farm Bureau committees. Warren will work to support our policy efforts with local, state and national decision makers.”

Organizationally, the commod-

At a luncheon in North Little Rock on Dec. 6, the DeSalvo family of Center Ridge (Conway Co.) was named 2012 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year.

Tony DeSalvo (left), along with his son Phillip and daughter-in-law Beth, own Big D Ranch, a 1,300-acre cattle and hay operation.

Phillip and Beth’s children are 8-year-old Benjamin and 6-year-old Isabella. The DeSalvos have the largest herd of registered Ultrablack cattle in Arkansas. Additionally, they grow 900 acres of silage and Bermuda hay. ity and regulatory affairs and governmental affairs departments will function separately at this time, with any structural changes being determined over time, according to ArFB Executive Vice President Ewell Welch. Carter also will assist Welch with other administrative duties as part of a long-term management plan put in place with the ArFB board of directors.

ArFB President Randy Veach addressed those attending the FB congressional reception at the Little Rock Club on Dec. 4. The reception provides an opportunity for ArFB board members and staff to express appreciation to the congressional staffs of Arkansas’ delegation.

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www.arfb.com

Commodity Division chairs New chairmen have been appointed to three Arkansas Farm Bureau commodity divisions.

Beginning in 2013, Leo Sutterfield of Mountain View (Stone Co.) will chair the Beef Division, Susan Anglin of Bentonville (Benton Co.) will chair the Dairy Division and Ray Rogers of Nashville (Howard Co.) will chair the Forestry Division.

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

December 21, 2012 • Vol. 15, No. 23

Johnson Co. FB hosted a legislative appreciation dinner at the county office in Clarksville on Dec 17. State Sen.-Elect Gary Stubblefield (left) of Branch and State Rep.-Elect Betty Overbey (center) of Lamar visited with county legislative chairman John Payne about the upcoming session.

In lieu of a gift exchange, Izard Co. FB members attending the annual Christmas party donated to the Izard Co. Angel Tree Project.

Assisting were Women’s Committee members (l to r) Melissa Cooper, Rachael Phillips, Alma Shaw and Naomi Jones who collected $200 for this worthwhile cause.

YF&R leaders named Brian and Elizabeth Walker of Horatio (Sevier Co.) will co-chair ArFB’s state Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee for a second year. In this role, they will serve as ex-officio members of ArFB’s Board of Directors.

Brent and Mandi Lassiter of Newport (Jackson Co.) are the newly elected vice chairs of the committee, succeeding Kirk Meins of Stuttgart (Arkansas Co.).

Five other husband and wife teams are on the state committee: Josh and Melissa Cureton of Cash

(Craighead Co.), Trent and Kristian Dabbs of Stuttgart (Arkansas Co.), Jason and Jessica Green of Warren (Bradley Co.), Grant and Heather Keenen of Farmington (Washington Co.) and Nick and Jamie Taylor of Havana (Yell Co.).

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State Women’s Committee ArFB’s state Women’s Committee will be chaired next year by Janice Marsh of McCrory (Woodruff Co.).

Marsh succeeds Sue Billiot of Smithville (Sharp Co.) She has been an active member of the state committee for several years and serves on Woodruff Co. FB’s board. Her mother, Ella Mae Carroll, was a longtime chair of the state Women’s Committee.

Sherry Felts of Joiner (Mississippi Co.) was elected vice chair of the Women’s Committee. Other committee members are Meredith Baker of Sherrill (Jefferson Co.), Angela Jones of Mansfield (Sebastian Co.), Carole Lichti of Huntsville (Carroll Co.), Sara Loe of Hot Springs (Garland Co.), Peggy Miller of Lake Village (Chicot Co.), Dana Stewart of Judsonia (White Co.) and Robin Williams of Forrest City (St. Francis Co.).

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Chairmen reappointed for 2013 include Mike Freeze of Keo (Aquaculture), Terry Pollard of Greenway (Cotton), Earl Pepper of DeQueen (Equine), Gene Pharr of Lincoln (Poultry), Joe Christian of Jonesboro (Rice), Rusty Smith of Des Arc (Soybean), Jeremy Gillam of Judsonia (Specialty Crops, formerly Horticulture), Steve Stephan of Hartman (Swine) and Jon Carroll of Moro (Wheat & Feed Grains).

The Arkansas Beef Council met at FB Center in Little Rock on Dec. 13. Attending were (l to r): Charles Rodgers of Rison, Aubrey Blackmon of Houston, Buddy Smith of Conway, chairman Leo Sutterfield of Mountain View, Tommy Lalman of Palestine, Gene Pharr of Lincoln and Allen Stewart of Mena.

Clint Reed (right) with Impact Management Group was part of a panel discussion with Roby Brock (center) of Talk Business and Chad Causey of Noble Strategies during the Dec. 18 Legislative Chairmen’s Conference in Little Rock. The political analysts assessed the outcome of the Nov. election and discussed hot issues for 2013.

In Arkansas Walt receives Leadership Award The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board recognized David Walt of Dumas on Dec. 4 with the Arkansas Soybean Leadership Award at the 2012 Arkansas Soybean Research Summit in Forrest City. The Arkansas Soybean Leadership Award is given to a farmer who has made significant contributions to the soybean industry. Walt served on the Arkansas Soybean Promotion board for 16 years, including a term as chairman. Walt has been a member of the Arkansas Soybean Association for 27 years and has served his community for more than 40 years.

“The greatest opportunity I was given was the appointment to serve for 16 years on the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board,” said Walt.

“I am truly amazed at what this distinguished group of farmers has been able to accomplish over the years to advance the profitability of soybeans.”

Cattlemen’s College Now in its 20th year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Cattlemen’s College has established a reputation as one of the most thorough cattle producer education programs in the nation. Sponsored

by Pfizer Animal Health, the 2013 edition of Cattlemen’s College offers a wide range of informative, oneof-a-kind, hands-on educational workshops designed for cattle operations of every size and sector.

The program will be held Feb. 5-6, 2013, in Tampa, Fla., headlining the first day of activities at the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. For more information, visit beefusa.org.

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Ag exports keep climbing A recent trade report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture says American farm exports should continue a positive trend that began in 2009. In the years since, U.S. agricultural exports have climbed more than 50 percent in value, from $96.3 billion in 2009 to the most-recent forecast of $145 billion in 2013.

Overall, these exports support more than 1 million American jobs.

The 2012 National Rice Month Scholarship second prize was awarded to Meredith Williams of Searcy on Dec. 11 at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in California.

Williams, the current Miss Arkansas Rice, earned a $3,000 scholarship for her rice promotion.

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Elsewhere

Four previous Farm Families of the Year posed for a photo with program coordinator Andy Guffey (back, black jacket) and Sunbelt Expo director Chip Blalock (back, tan jacket) at this year’s event. Left to right: Michael and Sarah Oxner of Searcy, Heath and Betsy Long of Tichnor, Michael and Mary Jo Simon of Conway, and Brian and Nan Kirksey of Amity.

New questions in ag census The 2012 agriculture census, which was mailed out in midDecember, asks farmers for the first time about Internet usage, land use and crops used for renewable energy.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the answers to these questions and others will help policymakers with important program development and funding decisions.

“There’s strength in numbers, so the more farmers who are counted, the better for the agricultural industry,” said Renee Picanso, director of USDA’s Census and Survey Division.

ArFB, too, is urging all of its members to fill out the census and return it by the Feb. 4 deadline. An online version is also available.

Carol items top $107,000 Add seven swans, six geese and five golden rings to the list of Christmas gifts that cost more than they did a year ago. And if you get all 364 items repeated throughout “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, you’ll pay 6.1 percent more this year, according to the Christmas Price Index that PNC Wealth Management updates annually. That comes to $107,300.

“The rise is larger than expected considering the modest economic growth we’ve had,” said Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investments for PNC. He noted the government’s

Consumer Price Index has risen just 2 percent in the 12 months before September.

Thrifty shoppers may find some reasons for cheer. Six items mentioned in the song haven’t gone up in price: maids-a-milking, ladies dancing, lords-a-leaping, calling birds, turtle doves and the partridge. The eight maids-a-milking still cost just $58 because the minimum wage hasn’t risen.

Twelve drummers drumming ($2,775.50) and eleven pipers piping ($2,562) might also be considered relative bargains compared to seven swans, which will set you back $7,000. Nine ladies dancing will cost you $6,294.03.

Dunigan said the 2012 drought caused the prices of some birds to soar, partly because of corn and other feed costs.

“The geese were up 29.6 percent, and swans were up 11 percent,” Dunigan said, adding that none of the gifts in the song went down in price this year.

The price of a pear tree is $189.99, an 11.8 percent jump from last year’s $169.99. Five gold rings jumped 16.3 percent this year, to $750, and three French hens are now $165, instead of $150. The $15 partridge is the cheapest item, and swans the most expensive, at $1,000 each.

Editor Keith Sutton

chris.wilson@arfb.com

In the Market As of Dec. 19, 2012:  Soybeans strongly rebounded

over the last month, fueled by strong Chinese buying and weather concerns in South America. Chinese demand will likely continue into late winter when South America’s crop is available. Weather has improved in Brazil and Argentina, and now is a negative factor. But Washington concerns and holiday trading will keep the market volatile.

January futures peaked above $15, and it appeared there could be another strong leg higher. But the market turned on a dime ($15.09) and quickly retraced gains. A close below last week’s low of $14.53 would signal further weakness in old crop contracts. New crop November is trading sideways just above $13.00, and a close below $12.95 would signal a retest of support at $12.50. The new crop soybean/corn price ratio of 2.10 still favors corn.

This soybean acreage could decline in 2013. Soybeans must increase relative to corn to gain acreage.

pressured U.S. export sales with futures trading near $9.00. The latest report sent the March contract to a five-month low. New crop July briefly fell below support at $8.25 and could be vulnerable to additional technical selling. The next major support is just above $7.80, but the recent downturn has garnered export interest, with Egypt making several recent tenders.

Producers should view any rally off the $8.25 support toward the $9.00 resistance as a 2013 crop pricing opportunity.  Rice futures have been up

and down for no apparent reason. Holidays and hunting are predominant market features, so don’t expect a clearer picture until after Jan. 1. Overall demand for U.S. rice appears firm, and recent meetings with Iraq could bear fruit.

The South American crop is planted and expected to be down slightly from last year, but not as much as thought earlier. January futures topped at $15.59 two weeks ago and have moved between $15.10 and $15.50 since.  Cotton has shown modest

between $7.60 and $7.09. At this point the market has pushed back toward the bottom of the trading range. A close below $7.09 would likely see a move to at least $6.68, which is bottom of the early July breakaway gap. That area is also long-term support on the continuation charts. Weak demands for ethanol and in the export market continue to weigh on the market, while concern about drought conditions in the Plains provides support. Corn continues to hold a price advantage over soybeans relative to 2013 plantings. Early surveys suggest corn will increase while soybeans decline.

improvement since Thanksgiving, bouncing off support just under 70 cents earlier this week. Good demand is seen when the market trades lower. With a large cotton stockpile available, buyers are expected to be selective in purchases. Early thoughts suggest world production will decline 10-15 percent, and world use will increase less than 5 percent. Cotton must build demand and reduce stocks.

The process has begun but will take time to complete. China now holds almost 50 percent of projected world stocks, enough to supply their mills one year. Dec. 2013 has resistance between 79.25 and 81.25 cents.

Crop problems and/or smaller-thanexpected plantings will be needed to move the market higher.

 USDA trimmed projected Wheat

 April live Cattle charted a huge

exports by 50 million bushels to 1.05 billion bushels, and raised projected stocks the same amount.

Competitive alternatives have

key reversal to the upside in recent days, opening the market to possible retesting of resistance in the $138$140 range. Ideas that cattle supplies

 Old crop March Corn is teetering

will continue tightening into 2013 are supporting the rally, as are forecasts for colder temperatures and winter precipitation through much of the U.S. Depending on the storm’s outcome, it’s possible gains have been overdone.  Hog futures have been on a roller-coaster ride the past two weeks. Packer demand is weakening as margins have fallen, and could remain under pressure through the holidays. But winter weather could limit marketings and force bids higher. Strong exports will likely support prices as well. February’s move below $85 could signal a move toward support at $83.20 or below that to $82.55.  Dairy. Manufacturing milk supplies are increasing. Class II demand has slowed as many holiday products have been shipped.

Manufacturers are reluctant to take additional loads unless discounts under class are offered. Processors are preparing for increased offerings over the holidays. Milk volumes in the West are slowly increasing but often below year-ago levels. Dairies are finding it difficult to maintain profitability. U.S. cheese production is increasing as more milk finds its way to Class III plants and plants expand their schedules. Holiday sales/shipping have slowed. Lower wholesale prices the past month allowed plants to put more cheese in aging programs. Cheese imports for Jan.-Nov. 2012 total 160.5 million pounds, up 6.6 percent from a year ago. Exports of cheese for Jan.-Oct. 2012 total 486.6 million pounds, up 20 percent from a year ago.

Exports account for 5.4 percent of U.S. production. Cheese prices at the CME Group this week were lower. Barrels closed at $1.6250, down $.0350 from last Friday. Blocks closed at $1.7250, down $.0350.

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