Arkansas Agriculture - Summer 2013 by Arkansas Farm Bureau

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SUMMER 2013

Food on

YOUR Table

The need for ag immigration reform Teacher of the Year

Norfork FFA

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Arkansas Agriculture

SUMMEER 2013

Inside...

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3

Ag immigration reform by Gregg Patterson

Farm Bureau Perspective by Randy Veach Faces of Agriculture — Lori Rooney by Ken Moore Policy Update by Michelle Kitchens Spotlight on Youth — Norfork FFA builds chicken tractors by Ken Moore Rural Reﬂections Photo On the cover — Immigration reform is a major national issue Congress is debating now. American agriculture — one of this country’s and the world’s greatest strengths — depends on immigrant labor for its sustainable success. Whether you realize it or not, the affordable food on your table is directly tied to immigrant labor. It’s time for efﬁcient ag immigration reform to keep American farming and ranching strong. Photo credit: Keith Sutton

Executive Editor: Steve Eddington Editor: Gregg Patterson Contributing Writers: Ken Moore, Keith Sutton, Chris Wilson Research Assistant: Brenda Gregory

3 18 22 26 28

Arkansas Agriculture

is an official publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation. Arkansas Agriculture is distributed to almost 42,000 farming and ranching households in Arkansas. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Included in membership dues. Arkansas Farm Bureau Officers: President Randy Veach Manila Vice President Rich Hillman Carlisle Secretary/Treasurer Tom Jones Pottsville Executive Vice President Ewell Welch Little Rock Directors: Richard Armstrong, Ozark Troy Buck, Alpine Jon Carroll, Moro Joe Christian, Jonesboro Terry Dabbs, Stuttgart Mike Freeze, England Bruce Jackson, Lockesburg Tom Jones, Pottsville Johnny Loftin, El Dorado Gene Pharr, Lincoln Rusty Smith, Des Arc Allen Stewart, Mena Mike Sullivan, Burdette Leo Sutterfield, Mountain View Ex Officio Sherry Felts, Joiner Brent Lassiter, Newport Janice Marsh, McCrory Brian Walker, Horatio Arkansas Agriculture is published quarterly by the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, 10720 Kanis Road, Little Rock, AR 72211. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Arkansas Agriculture, P.O. Box 31, Little Rock, AR 72203. Issue #30.

Farm Bureau

Perspective by Randy Veach, President Arkansas Farm Bureau

Reforming our broken immigration system

There are so many confusing, frustrating and sometimes emotional issues

surrounding our nation’s immigration system. We’re a nation of immigrants, of course, but the challenges of today’s world make our present system almost obsolete. Just about everyone agrees the system is broken. Immigration reform is critical for agriculture, as you most certainly know. It’s

imperative the guest-worker program be reformed. The challenge of getting legal workers on our farms today has become so daunting it’s strangling many of our farms and ranches.

This is a sticky wicket, of course. Where to start? Deal with the illegals here now?

Secure the border? Define a path to legal citizenship? Pass laws making it easier to gain access to workers legally? The answer is a comprehensive bill addressing all these issues. The U.S. Senate passed S. 744, “The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013,” back in June. Farmers and ranchers welcomed it. Passage of the Senate bill was the first step toward securing a comprehensive agricultural labor plan that works for all sectors of agriculture and across all regions of our nation. The Senate-passed bill would help ensure an adequate supply of farm labor. It also could provide increased surveillance of high-risk areas along our borders. We need the House of Representatives to bring its proposal to the table. If, and when, the House passes something, the real debate can begin as they try to reach common ground on those two pieces of legislation. Let me be clear. Our first priority should be to enforce the laws we have on the

books now. If we’re able to pass new immigration laws, but don’t enforce them any

The Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation reserves the right to accept or reject all advertising requests.

so. It must be an enforcement priority and a critical part of any immigration reform.

Send comments to: arkansasagriculture@arfb.com

better than the ones we now have, we’ll have done nothing. Border security will occupy much of the discussion on this issue, and rightfully But know there is far more to border security than fencing. We must continue to drive home the point that one of the best ways to improve border security is to create a legal, workable way for farm workers to enter our country. With less time and resources wasted locking up lettuce harvesters, the focus can shift to where it properly belongs – keeping those with criminal intentions out of our country. Although the specific labor needs of farmers in Arkansas differ from those in Texas, Florida or Michigan, all of agriculture benefits from ag immigration reform.

pcipublishing.com Created by Publishing Concepts, Inc. David Brown, President • dbrown@pcipublishing.com For Advertising info contact Tom Kennedy • 1-800-561-4686 tkennedy@pcipublishing.com Edition 30

Helping members of Congress and the public understand farmers and ranchers depend on the workers who show up every day to tend our crops and raise livestock has been challenging at times. However, we press on because we know responsible immigration reform is imperative for the continued success of American agriculture.

Œ„´*

Arkansas Agriculture

Ag immigration reform

Maintaining the hidden workforce essential to food production

by Gregg Patterson Immigration reform is one of Congress’ hot-button issues.

The use of seasonal immigrant workers is essential to many business sectors of the American economy, maybe more so to agriculture than any other. Congress is presently debating what an immigration reform bill will consist of. With that in mind, Arkansas Agriculture talked with Kim Matthews and Jon Carroll. Kim and husband Terris of Wynne depend on immigrant labor to farm sweet potatoes, as does Arkansas Farm Bureau Board member Jon Carroll, a row-crop farmer from Moro. Explain your operation and how you use migrant workers? Matthews: “We grow around 1,400 acres of sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are a very labor intensive crop during planting and harvesting. We employ 35 to 40 people year-round. However, during planting season, we need an additional 40, and during harvest an additional 110 people. That consists of about six weeks for planting and eight weeks for harvest. You can’t find that much of an additional labor force to perform such hard manual labor for that short a period of time. That is the reason we turned to the H2A labor program (immigrant workers) as a supplement during those 14 to 16 weeks during the year. We wouldn’t be able to plant and harvest our crops without them. The local workforce just won’t do it.” Carroll: “I own and farm an east Arkansas row-crop operation. We use our migrant workers in all aspects, including field prep, planting, watering, harvesting, mechanic work and any other general maintenance of the farm.”

Keith Sutton

Strong bond The bond between American farmers and immigrant farm workers is strong. Many farmers and ranchers depend on immigrant labor to be successful. Workers depend on the farm jobs to support their families and to improve their standing in life. Carlos Tinajero (left) works on the farm of Arkansas Farm Bureau state board member Jon Carroll (right).

Arkansas Agriculture

One potato, two potato, three potato, four ... Kim Matthews (inset) of Matthews Ridgeview Farms in Wynne says it’s important for people to “stop assuming and educate themselves” when it comes to immigration reform. Here, workers sort sweet potatoes on the Matthews’ farm.

James Groves photos

Kim Matthews

Arkansas Agriculture

What would your operation

workers $2.50 more an hour than the next

Matthews: “Stop assuming and

have to do without migrant

farmer who is using illegals, it makes it

actually educate themselves. Truthfully,

workers?

very hard to compete with him when we’re

most people don’t want to move past it or

Matthews: “We would have three

selling our products. He has a huge cost

know the truth, because they’ll lose their

options without migrant workers: 1. Shut

advantage over us. This is happening all

excuse for not working. It’s easy to throw

our operation down; 2. Cut back to around

over the U.S. in every industry out there.”

stones when you’re sitting on your couch.”

200 acres of sweet potatoes and have a vast Carroll: “I think we need to educate

amount of unhappy customers whom we’ve

Carroll: “The current H2A paperwork

worked so hard to build relationships with;

process is expensive and time consuming.

the public on the importance of immigrant

Or 3, take the huge risk of using illegal

The uncertainty of getting approved and

workers in the agriculture industry and

immigrants, which we will not do! We

getting workers when I have to have them is

support proper channels of legalization for

made the decision several years ago that we

stressful.”

immigrants.”

would do things the right way and build our business with honesty and integrity, so #3 is just not an option for us.”

Why don’t you use American workers? Matthews: “We do use American

Carroll: “My operation probably

workers. We’ll always hire an American

How should organizations like Farm Bureau implement our position on immigration? Matthews: “I’m not sure. But the more

wouldn’t exist without immigrant workers.

worker if they want to work. We hire

you educate yourselves on all the rules and

Or at least the amount of acres I farm

American workers almost every day,

regulations of the program we’re currently

would have to decrease drastically.

because the majority of them quit the first

using, the more you’ll be able to work to

Dependable local labor is hard to find.”

week because the work is too hard, or they

help improve it. You should talk with as

only want to work certain days or simply

many H2A program users across the U.S.

that we actually expect them to work and

as you can, so you can understand every

not just show up.

pro and con in the program.”

Why does agriculture need a workable guest worker program? Matthews: “Because contrary to what

Our values and work ethic in this Carroll: “We must focus on some

you hear from the media and public forums,

country are the worst thing I’ve ever

the immigrant workers aren’t taking

seen. Everyone feels they’re entitled and

commonsense initiatives that begin to

Americans’ jobs. They’re simply performing

don’t want to work for anything. I’ve had

address the practical challenges of our

jobs that American workers don’t want to

applicants actually tell me they didn’t

immigration system. The key is to begin

do and actually refuse to do. We experience

want the job, because it would mess up

by working on the solutions on which we

this on a daily basis with local applicants.”

their unemployment (benefits)! As long

can all agree, rather than insisting on a

as the government continues to patronize

comprehensive approach that divides us.”

Carroll: “Agriculture needs a workable

this current and upcoming work force with Is a compromise approach to

guest worker program to be able to feed

free everything, and not even give them

the world. The work is seasonal, and

an incentive to get a job, I truly believe

the immigration issue the only

local people who would be interested

the U.S. will be starving to death within

successful path?

and qualified are looking for year-round

the next 10 years. It’s hard to explain

employment.”

to people that the grocery stores don’t

on exactly what we’re compromising

make their food. Until this reality hits

on. I know you can’t compromise on the

home with the majority of the population,

fact that people can’t live without food,

nothing will change.”

and that without farmers there will be

What do you see as the worker difficulties with the current H2A program? Matthews: “It’s very costly with all the

Matthews: “I guess that would depend

no food. The White House garden can’t Carroll: “I don’t use American

supply enough food for the White House.

fees, fines, regulations and extremely high

workers at this time, because no

You need to keep farmers farming or this

wage rate. Each year, more fees are imposed,

qualified, dependable or willing workers

country will collapse, no ifs, ands, or buts

the process gets harder, and the wage rate is

are available for farm labor, which is

about it! My concern is an enforcement

raised. Our government has made it difficult

seasonal.”

only approach would intensify our difficulties. That wouldn’t be helpful.

and costly for agriculture to survive in this current climate — at least if you’re working

How does our society move

through the system and doing everything

past the polarizing view of

legally. If I’m working H2A and paying my

immigration?

We must have a workable guest worker program.”

Arkansas Agriculture

Keith Sutton

Feed the need Most farming and livestock operations require a steady influx of immigrant labor to begin the process of getting food to your grocery store. If you eat and enjoy the benefits of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most affordable food supply, then agriculture immigration reform is important to you whether you realize it or not.

Carroll: “A compromise approach may

Do you think the present laws

Carroll: “E-Verify has some good

not be the only successful path. However, a

regarding immigration are working?

aspects, but it makes the farmer the police

compromise would be better than not doing

How would you change them?

of immigrants who are illegal. That should

anything at all. Enforcement only isn’t the

Matthews: “The laws are working. The

be the government’s job.”

government has just made it too costly for a

answer.” What are the three top issues surrounding immigration reform?

lot of the farmers to use it. That’s why some

Without a workable guest

farmers are taking the risk of using the illegal

worker program, what will the

workers.”

results be for agriculture? Matthews: “The general population

Matthews: “Wages, prevailing vs. adverse. Will the reform actually keep

Carroll: “There needs to be some easier

will starve to death! The farmers will

workers in the agricultural sector? And for

process that a farmer can use to assure workers

grow food for their families and put the

me, my concern is will these workers become

are available when needed. One suggestion

rest of their acres in non-labor intensive

Americanized and become just as non-willing

would be a three-to-five year approval for proven

crops that will generate income but not

to work as the current American work force

and law-abiding workers.”

necessarily be for human consumption.”

we have now?” What is your opinion on E-Verify? Carroll: • “Securing our borders and stopping the flow of illegal traffic,

worker program in agriculture, it’ll be very

immigration police? If E-Verify becomes

difficult to sustain the production of food

mandatory, then I personally think it should be

we all enjoy and take for granted.”

• Getting in place and insisting on

enforced to the fullest in every state, so at least

proper channels for legalization,

we’d all be on a level playing field on our input

• A farmer friendly H2A program.”

Carroll: “Without a workable guest

Matthews: “Why should I be the

Œ„´*

costs.”

Keith Sutton

Tough work Immigrant farm workers are not taking jobs away that would otherwise go to American workers. Even with the greatest economic recession since The Great Depression of the 1930s, Americans predominantly shy away from the physical work, long hours and seasonal nature of farm work.

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arm Bureau members have the opportunity to spotlight their creativity, their perception and their flair for the dramatic — or the comical or even the tragic — in our fifth Rural Reflections Photo Contest. This competition offers amateur photographers the chance to explore the many activities, seasons, triumphs, disappointments and faces of agriculture, our state’s key industry. The photos that win this competition will capture the image and spirit of agriculture, and Farm Bureau, in Arkansas. The contest includes two divisions, High School (ages 14–18) and Adult (19 and older). The winner of each receives $250. In addition, one entry will receive a Grand Prize of $500. The winners and honorable mentions may have their works published, with credit, in Front Porch and Arkansas Agriculture magazines, on Farm Bureau’s website, arfb.com, and in other publications.

Faces of Agriculture by Ken Moore

Lori Rooney

Teacher leads Ag in the Classrom efforts

Lori Rooney, a family and consumer-

science teacher at South Side Bee Branch High School in Van Buren County, is Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 2013 Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher. Rooney was recognized during a special ceremony at the school.

Farm Bureau established the award

in 2006 to recognize teachers who have exemplary programs that integrate agricultural concepts into their curricula. Rooney graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Family and Consumer Science and is working on a graduate degree in library Keith Sutton

media technology. She joined the high school faculty at South Side Bee Branch in 2011. As part of her curriculum, Rooney teaches agricultural concepts in her classes on food and nutrition, career orientation, human relations, nutrition and wellness, and child development.

Top teach Lori Rooney, a teacher at South Side Bee Branch High School, is Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

“It is extremely important to educate young people, especially high school students, about produce, meats, dairy and

these is Van Buren County Farm Bureau’s

different fibers and where they come

different aspects of agriculture,” Rooney

Holiday Menu contest. As part of the

from, including natural fibers such as

said, “because it plays such a big role in

contest, the students had to shop for

cotton and wool.

our lives every day. High school students

healthy, nutritious foods incorporated

are at the prime age to make decisions

into a holiday meal on a budget.

about what foods to eat, their nutrition

Because most of Rooney’s lessons

Principal Tim Smith says Rooney has all the qualities of a “great educator.” Amy Hutto, library media specialist, says

and the habits they will create as they

incorporate experiential learning, they’re

Rooney has, “spent much time and energy

become adults.”

covered in the Common Core Curriculum

breathing new life into the school’s Family

Standards. In the clothing segment

and Consumer Science program. A major

a number of activities that teach them

of Family and Consumer Science, the

component of that has been her passion

about agricultural economics. One of

students discuss the production of clothes,

for agriculture.”

Rooney’s students are involved in

Arkansas Agriculture

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Rural Reflections Photo Contest 2013

ront Porch’s fourth Rural Reflections Photo Contest offers amateur photographers the chance to explore the many activities, seasons, triumphs, disappointments and faces of agriculture, our state’s key industry. The photos that win this competition will capture the image and spirit of agriculture, and Farm Bureau, in Arkansas. The contest includes two divisions, High School (ages 14–18) and Adult (19 and older). The winner of each receives $250. In addition, one entry will receive a Grand Prize of $500. The winners and honorable mentions may have their works published, with credit, in Front Porch and Arkansas Agriculture magazines, on Farm Bureau’s website, arfb.com, and in other publications.

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Arkansas Agriculture

Policy Update

Singing the Blueway blues by Michelle Kitchens

The White River watershed covers

27,900 square miles in Missouri and Arkansas. In Arkansas, the watershed stretches east to west from Jonesboro to Fayetteville flowing downstate until it joins the Mississippi River in Desha County. Approximately 1.2 million people

What farmers should discuss is the future

live in the watershed.

of managing water or other resources.

Last summer, several conservation

The National Blueway System was

The White River National Blueway designation played into that stereotype. The nomination had little to no input

and wildlife groups partnered with state

created in May 2012 by the DOI. By

from agriculture, but more than half of

and federal agencies to apply to the U.S.

definition a National Blueway is a “. . .

its “strategic objectives” were agriculture-

Department of the Interior (DOI) to

national and regionally significant river

related. The document also referenced

designate the White River Watershed as

and their watersheds that are highly valued

undocumented “challenges” to this

a National Blueway. That designation

recreational, social, economic, cultural, and

designation such as:

was officially announced by the DOI

ecological assets for the communities that

last January. However, the designation

depend on them.”

left many landowners in the watershed

The goal of the National Blueway

• “Agriculture-related genetic pollution;” • “Agricultural practices that negatively

with questions and concerns. Lack of

System was a holistic approach for the

landowner support and letters from

benefit of the watershed, its many uses

Arkansas’ U.S. Senators requesting the DOI

and to increase cooperation among

rescind the designation were too much

stakeholders and agencies throughout the

agricultural users that adversely affects

to overcome. Additionally, requests from

watershed. Another goal was increasing

water levels”

the original nominators to rescind the

public awareness that what happens

Blueway designation resulted in it being

upstream impacts those downstream and

officially withdrawn by the DOI on July

vice versa. The program’s design was to be

aimed to make several changes to

3. The federal agency then decided to

based on voluntary participation with no

agricultural-related activities. While the

mothball the program, nationwide, on

impeding of water or property rights.

nomination didn’t vehemently attack

July 15.

However, environmental regulation

affect water quality;” • “Over consumption of water by …

The goals outlined by this nomination

agriculture, almost every mention of

pressures continue to mount on farmers.

farming spoke of it as an obstacle to

National Blueway designation of the White

Giving special recognition to waterways

overcome in the watershed. The truth is

River didn’t inspire confidence, it’s a

provides an opportunity for those

farmers and ranchers partner regularly with

worthwhile topic to explore. Landowners

wishing to restrict all agriculture practices.

wildlife and conservation groups for to

didn’t embrace the idea for many reasons:

Landowners worry that voluntary programs

better the environment. That relationship,

lack of initial input, apprehension of

will become mandatory, and they’ll have

of course, shouldn’t automatically be

federal designations or other objections.

little input.

considered adversarial.

While the process surrounding the

Arkansas Agriculture

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Arkansas Agriculture

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Arkansas Agriculture

Spotlight OnYouth

Norfork FFA builds chicken tractors Chicken train Norfork High School FFA chapter members with one of the 15 portable chicken tractor/houses they built to donate to local families. (Left to right) Jami Barnett, Marissa Greer, Jordan Teegarden, Railyn Stokes, Jacob McGowan, Tyler Reaves. by Ken Moore

Members of the Norfork High School

us eggs and fresh meat are things they don’t

for the families to borrow to fertilize the

of giving needy families some chickens and

eggs in the event they want to raise their

educating them about how to feed and

own chicks.

FFA chapter in Baxter County wanted to

care for them, so they would have a steady

do something different and sustainable for

supply of eggs,” Martin said.

their project as part of the National FFA’s

The chapter also will provide a rooster

get a lot of. So, we came up with the idea

Rather than build traditional,

Martin explained their program this way. “Rather than just giving the family fish

permanent chicken coops to house the

(so to speak), we will be teaching them

How about a “chicken tractor”?

hens, the students came up with the

to fish, or in this case, raise laying hens,

After researching different concepts on

concept of constructing the “tractors.”

by writing and delivering educational

Food for All program.

the web, the 40 students in Leanna Martin’s chapter decided on building the portable

Chapter president Tyler Reaves said there are several reasons for this.

pamphlets each month on such topics as good nutrition, how to deal with potential

“These 5.5-foot x 8-foot A-frame units

diseases, predator control, etc.,” he said.

families the opportunity to raise egg-laying

are designed to be portable and allow the

“There are a lot of families here that

hens.

chickens to free range, cutting down on the

live on a restricted food budget and would

cost of feed requirements,” Reaves said.

benefit from being able to produce their

chicken houses as a means of giving area

“The National FFA introduced the program last year, and our chapter decided

“We will supply each family that

own eggs, so we expect to receive a number

to participate, but we wanted to do

qualifies for a unit with two hens to get

of applications for the tractors,” chapter

something unique,” said Martin, vo-ag

started. Each tractor includes a small

member Railyn Stokes said.

instructor and FFA advisor for the school.

roosting and nesting area for the chickens

Other FFA students involved with the

to sleep and lay their eggs in. They are on

project include Jami Barnett, Marissa Greer,

obtained a $2,500 grant from the national

wheels and designed so two people can

Jacob McGowan and Jordan Teegarden.

organization which supplied funds for

move the units around their yard to new

construction of 15 units.

ground.”

The Norfork chapter applied for and

“We brainstormed and talked to the operators of the local food bank. They told

Arkansas Agriculture

The students came up with a design that costs only $150 per unit to build.

“I’m very proud of how they came up with this design and tackled the project with such enthusiasm,” Martin said.”

Œ„´*

Keith Sutton

Part of national ‘Food for All’ program

Mollie Dykes

Arkansas Agriculture

RuralReflections

Shadow cowboy Farm Bureau member Lisa Driggers of Pearcy shot this striking silhouette.

Arkansas Agriculture

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Arkansas Agriculture

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Cut Your rate With a Farm Bureau Bank equipment Loan! Purchase or refinance the agricultural or commercial equipment you need today to grow your business for the future. Plus take advantage of your membership with dedicated service, special rates, flexible terms and payment plans up to 7 full years. We make financing easy!

Contact your local Arkansas Farm Bureau agent or visit farmbureaubank.com Existing Farm Bureau Bank equipment loans are excluded from this offer. *Rate disclosed as Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and based on exceptional credit. Some restrictions may apply based upon the make and model of the equipment offered as collateral. Up to 90% financing for new and 85% for used equipment loans subject to credit approval. Rate are accurate as of 6/1/2013. Rates and financing are limited to equipment model years 2003 or newer and are subject to change without notice. A down payment may be required for new or used equipment purchases. Financial information required for loans over $50,000. Commercial vehicles and trailers may be subject to an additional documentation fee. Farm Bureau Bank does not provide equity or cash out financing on commercial vehicles and equipment. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau, FB, and the EQUAL HOUSING LENDER FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by, and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from, the American Farm Bureau Federation.