Farm Bureau Press
USDA OPENS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins a public comment period for stakeholders to provide feedback on the United State Department Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) reorganization plan, as outlined in the Secretary’s memorandum.
Arkansas Farm Bureau urges its members to respond and provide comments on the USDA Reorganization Plan.
“As committed, we are continuing to hear stakeholder feedback on the USDA Reorganization. All stakeholders – including Capitol Hill offices, USDA employees, and members of the agricultural community – are encouraged to share their input during the open comment period. We value your perspective as we work to ensure that USDA is best positioned to serve America’s farmers, ranchers, producers, and rural communities,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins.
“President Trump made clear his second term would include relocating the sprawling federal bureaucracy to locations outside the National Capital Region,” said Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden in his Capitol Hill testimony on July 30. “The department’s July 24 memorandum begins to deliver on this promise and does so in a way that right-sizes the USDA footprint, eliminates unnecessary management layers, consolidates redundant or duplicative functions, and, most importantly, allows USDA to deliver on its mission to the American people within the bounds of its available financial resources.”
The reorganization proposal reflects President Trump’s commitment to relocate federal agencies beyond the national capital region, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen USDA’s presence in key agricultural regions across the country. As part of the plan, USDA will consolidate operations, close the South Building, and relocate approximately 2,600
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Name Change to Arkansas Board of Animal Health, Page 2
ARKANSAS
COMMENT PERIOD OPEN
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Washington-based positions to five regional hubs: Raleigh, N.C.; Kansas City, Mo.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Fort Collins, Colo.; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
USDA is conducting the reorganization under its authority established in the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 (5 U.S.C. app.; 7 U.S.C. 2201 note) and The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-354). The secretarial memorandum delegates authority to the Deputy Secretary and underscores USDA’s focus on efficiency, geographic diversity, and long-term sustainability.
All are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing reorganization@usda.gov. The comment period is open through Aug. 26.
ArFB Committee Meeting | Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Invasive Species Committee met Aug. 5 to hear updates and evaluate policy. Shown reviewing materials are (from left) Robert Byrd, state director of USDA APHIS; committee chairman Caleb Plyler; Randy Wreyford of PigBrig Trap Systems; and Mike Freeze, ArFB’s vice president.
NAME CHANGE TO ARKANSAS BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH
Effective Aug. 5, the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission has officially been renamed the Arkansas Board of Animal Health. This name change was authorized by Act 703 of 2025.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture says the updated name more accurately reflects its mission to protect Arkansas agriculture by monitoring, controlling, and suppressing animal health threats across the state.
As before, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture continues to administer and implement the rules set by the board.
“Animal agriculture is a vital part of Arkansas’s largest industry. As a leading producer of poultry, beef, and pork, our state depends on strong animal health programs,” Arkansas Department of Agriculture said in its notice. “The Department remains committed to supporting these industries by protecting animal health, promoting animal welfare, and ensuring a safe and healthy livestock sector.”
WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION KITS AVAILABLE
Volunteer fire departments are essential partners in Arkansas’s wildfire response. Their local knowledge and quick action are critical to protecting our communities, property, and natural resources.
To support their efforts, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture is offering 75 wildland fire suppression kits to rural volunteer fire departments. Each kit includes wildfire-resistant gear and essential tools like rakes, gloves, backpack water pumps, and more.
Applications are open through Sept. 30. Apply here.
BACK TO SCHOOL WITH ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU
The Purple Plow is a free STEM education program that engages students in creating solutions for realworld issues related to food, hunger and sustainability. Agriculture is constantly changing, and the tools of yesterday have evolved into the technology of today. The Purple Plow brand was created to encompass both the history and future of agriculture. The plow symbolizes the history of production agriculture, while purple represents the innovative and exciting ways that agriculture is working to solve challenges today.
Join the Purple Plow Challenge: How can you design a water-wise irrigation system? In areas with sloped farmland, gravity plays a major role in how water moves, making the design of irrigation systems critical to both crop success and environmental stewardship. Learn more here.
Arkansas Ag in the Classroom (AITC) is growing to be better than ever. The AITC monthly newsletter includes tools, resources and announcements to assist you with AITC activities and agriculture lessons, while helping make ag literacy and education accessible and fun. These resources are designed for teachers and volunteers everywhere.
National Ag in the Classrom and Arkansas Ag in the Clasroom provide lessons and resources to teachers incorporating agriculture into their curriculum. Curriculum includes lessons such as “From Chicken Little to Chicken Big” for grades K-2. In this lesson students will identify different breeds of chickens, examine physical characteristics and determine the stages of a chicken’s life cycle. Find the lesson here
RECIPIENTS OF ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED
The Arkansas Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation Committee has named the 13 recipients for the 2025-26 school year.
Scholarship recipients are Arkansas residents, members of a Farm Bureau family and enrolled as juniors or seniors in pursuit of an agriculture-related degree at a stateaccredited university.
The scholarship recipients are: Julia DeSalvo of Morrilton, Southern Arkansas University; Rose Gunther of Bigelow, Arkansas Tech University; Taylor Hoover of Vilonia, Arkansas State University; Kendra Hulsey of Alpena, Arkansas Tech University; Kaleb Lambert of Russellville, Leo Sutterfield Scholarship, Arkansas Tech University; Kelcy Lamkin of Buckner, Southern Arkansas University; Reese Mitchell of Magnolia, UA-Fayetteville; Taylor Moffett of Judsonia, Arkansas Tech University; Logan Simon of Conway, UA-Fayetteville; Jacey Smith of Decatur, UA-Fayetteville; Kalli Smith of Wickes, Troy Buck Scholarship, Southern Arkansas University; Gracie Turpin of Clarksville, Arkansas Tech University; and Ella Wise of Romance, Arkansas State University.
The scholarships are based on financial need, academic achievement, career plans, character and leadership potential. The Troy Buck Scholarship is awarded in honor of Troy Buck of Amity, who spent 50 years in the Vocational Education System as an agriculture instructor and was a member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Board of Directors for 14 years. The Leo Sutterfield Scholarship in honor of the late Leo Sutterfield of Mountain View. Sutterfield was a cattle rancher, banker and a member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Board of Directors for 15 years.
The scholarship recipients will receive installments of $3,500 per semester for the 2025-26 academic year. Collectively, these students will be awarded more than $90,000. Read more here.
ARKANSAS
MARKET NEWS
as of August 8, 2025
Contact Brandy Carroll brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Tyler Oxner tyler.oxner@arfb.com
Corn
September and December corn futures remain under pressure as private analysts continue to release yield projections well above USDA’s current outlook. Last week, Linn & Associates pegged the 2025 national average yield at 185 bushels per acre, followed this week by StoneX with an even higher estimate of 188 bushels per acre. Both are notably above USDA’s July forecast of 181 bushels per acre. Adding to the bearish tone, the latest crop condition rating held at 73 percent good to excellent, second only to 2016 over the past decade, a year when final yields far exceeded trend. From a technical standpoint, December corn futures have moved closer to the key $4.00 level, which may offer some psychological support. A decisive break below $4.00 would shift focus toward the 2024 contract low near $3.90 as the next bearish target.
Soybeans
November soybean futures have struggled to hold gains, with prices rejected at the $10.00 mark in a broadly disappointing session. Market pressure continues to stem from favorable pod-fill weather, rising yield and production expectations, and a lack of resolution in the trade standoff with top soybean buyer China. Reports this week indicated that Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with President Donald Trump, with Trump expressing optimism that a trade agreement could be reached soon. Without such a deal, however, U.S. new-crop soybean sales are likely to remain under pressure. On the technicals, the near-term downside
target is trendline support near $9.85. A break below that level would bring the early April lows in the mid-$9.70s into play. On the upside, any rebound remains limited by resistance near $10.10, the upper boundary of the current downtrend channel, which would likely attract selling if tested.
Wheat
New-crop wheat futures across all three exchanges moved lower this week, with Minneapolis contracts narrowly avoiding a new contract low. USDA’s latest Crop Progress report showed the U.S. winter wheat harvest at 86 percent complete as of Sunday, matching both last year’s pace and the five-year average for early August. In technical trade, September Kansas City wheat finally broke through monthlong support near $5.015 on Tuesday, pushing prices toward $5.00. This drop marked the lowest close for the mostactive KC contract since September 2020, underscoring the market’s ongoing bearish bias.
Rice
Rice futures continue to trend sharply lower, testing support below $12.20. The next downside objective for bears is the $11.91 low on the monthly continuation chart, which would be a new 5-year low on a front month basis. The rice crop both in Arkansas and the U.S. are 75% headed. Harvest is 6% complete, with only Louisiana and Texas currently harvesting. Now, 74% of the Arkansas crop is rated good to excellent, and harvest should begin soon. The question is, what happens to the rice when it is harvested. Rough rice stocks in all positions totaled 69.7 million cwt on June 30, up 15% from the previous year. Milled rice stocks totaled 6.09 million cwt, up 26% from a year ago. Many believe the 2025 USDA production estimate is on the high side, but with the current stocks situation, the upside is likely to remain limited.
Cotton
December cotton is testing support just above 66 cents, and a close below that level could signal a retest of the April low of 64.24 cents. Slow export sales amid ample South American supplies, lower crude oil and stock markets, and general economic worries amid revised employment numbers are all a factor. 55% of the cotton crop nationwide is in good to excellent condition — an unusually high percentage thanks to more ample rainfall in Texas this year. In Arkansas, 71% of the crop is in good to excellent condition. 55% of the crop is setting bolls, but with only 5% of bolls opening, harvest hasn’t begun.
Hogs
Hog futures have seen some weakness over tariff concerns and weaker wholesale pork prices. However, news that the U.S. and Mexico have extended the current trade deal for another 90 days has reduced the immediate threat of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. pork. October futures are trading in a mostly sideways pattern between support at $86.02 and resistance at $91.98.
Cattle
Cattle futures have posted wild daily swings in recent days. Last week, futures soared in reaction to the monthly Cattle on Feed report, which showed another 2% decline in the total feedlot inventory. Placements were down 8% from 2024, totaling 1.44 million head. Marketings were down 4% from a year ago, which was the lowest June marketings total since the reporting series began in 1996.