ArFB President Dan Wright traveled to Washington D.C. as part of the American Farm Bureau (AFBF) Council of Presidents, where he joined AFBF President Zippy Duvall and other state Farm Bureau presidents as they met with cabinet members, administration officials, White House staff and members of Congress. Discussions about Farm Bureau’s priority issues were at the forefront of the meetings. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin were among those who took part in the discussions with the council. President Wright and ArFB staff also met with Sen. John Boozman, chairman of the Senate Ag Committee, to offer their gratitude for his efforts in ensuring farm support measures were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Key Agriculture Provisions included in the Big Beautiful Bill Act, Page 2
ANDERSON APPOINTED TO GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
Jamie Anderson, long-time Arkansas Farm Bureau member and chair of ArFB Aquaculture Division, has been appointed to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission by Governor Sanders.
Anderson, who currently serves on the Lonoke County Farm Bureau board and was honored as the 2019 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year winner, will serve a seven-year term. He brings with him a passion for youth mentorship and past experience in regulatory affairs, having been appointed to the Wildlife Advisory Committee on Depredation by President Donald Trump in 2017.
Anderson is vice president and co-owner of I.F. Anderson Farms, the world’s largest baitfish producer. He is the first fish farmer to serve on the commission since ArFB vice president Mike Freeze who served from 1999-2006.
Read more about Anderson’s appointment here.
KEY AGRICULTURE PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT
On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the budget reconciliation bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. The act contains important changes to farm programs after Congress has been unable to pass a new farm bill and has instead extended the 2018 bill for both the 2024 and 2025 crops.
While a complete, five-year farm bill is the best way to address the current agricultural crisis, the budget reconciliation process was considered the best hope to achieve meaningful improvement to the farm safety net as soon as possible. Congress is expected to consider additional farm bill provisions in the coming months.
“Without the passage of a new farm bill, farmers and ranchers across the country have been left in limbo,” said ArFB President Dan Wright. “The members of Arkansas’s Congressional delegation worked to include several key agriculture provisions in the reconciliation package, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These provisions are desperately needed to ensure farmers and ranchers are able to continue providing food and fiber for our country.
“Sen. John Boozman’s leadership of the Senate Ag Committee was critical in the negotiation process to ensure agriculture and rural America were included in this package. While these efforts are movement
in the right direction, our nation’s farm economy is experiencing a historical downturn. Food security is national security.
“These recently passed provisions will provide muchneeded relief. We will continue working toward a new farm bill or legislation that provides long-term stability to our farm economy.”
To learn more about the agriculture provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act read the July Ag Insider here
Anderson Appointed | Jamie Anderson of Lonoke has been appointed to serve a seven-year term on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Photo from Arkansas Democratic Gazette.
ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU 2025 SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
The start of a new school year is fast approaching, and teachers are busy restocking their classrooms.
According to the Communities in Schools: 2019-2020 study, “students who arrive in the classroom with all requested materials perform 54% better than their peers who are lacking basic supplies.” The National Center for Education Statistics also reports that “93% of public-school teachers spend their own money on school supplies without reimbursement, and on average, teachers spend $479 on items for their classrooms.”
As part of the Community Cultivations Program, the ArFB state Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) and Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) committee will be sponsoring a statewide school supply drive, July 14 - Aug. 29. This program is a way to provide school supplies for students in need and assist teachers with getting their classrooms ready for the start of the school year. Your county Farm Bureau can participate in several ways:
ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE EDUCATION WORKSHOP
Teachers from across the state participated in the first Arkansas Elementary Agriculture Education Workshop. They spent two days learning about agriculture education lessons and activities, which they will now be able to implement into classroom curriculum this fall. This pilot program is a result of Farm Bureau member policy and will allow ag education to be available to students in elementary schools throughout the Natural State. Twenty-two teachers from 15 schools attended the workshop in preparation to teach agriculture this fall in Arkansas elementaries. The workshop was led by Utah State Education Specialist Lynn Wallin and detailed curriculum for the pilot program provided by ArFB’s Ag in the Classroom in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Career and Technical Services and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
• Purchase school supplies to donate.
• Organize a school supply drive at the county office.
• Donate gift cards to teachers to purchase supplies.
In 2024, 28 county Farm Bureaus participated in the program, donating more than $11,700 in schoolsupplies, with the state committees reimbursing more than $5,300. ArFB will reimburse one half of your contribution, up to $200 per county. This is in addition to the $400 reimbursements for food donations in the Community Cultivations Program. Please submit a copy of check and/or receipt(s) to cindy.robertson@arfb.com for reimbursement by Sept. 15.
We encourage counties to take this opportunity to educate students about agriculture, while providing needed supplies to schools in your county. The School Supply Drive is a great opportunity for you, your committee and county Farm Bureau to give back and support those in your community.
USDA June Planted Acreage Report
MARKET NEWS
as of July 8, 2025
Contact Brandy Carroll brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Tyler Oxner tyler.oxner@arfb.com
USDA June Planted Acreage Report
On June 30, 2025, USDA released its annual Acreage Report. The wet spring is reflected in the Arkansas numbers, with rice, soybean, and cotton acreage significantly lower than a year ago. Arkansas farmers planted 7.053 million acres in 2024 and are expected to seed only 6.887 million acres in 2025. That’s down 166,000 acres, or 2.4% year over year. The report is based upon farmer surveys conducted between May 30 and June 16 and in some cases reflect acres left to be planted, so additional cuts to the acreage totals could come in future reports.
Rice
Rice futures are trending sharply lower, under pressure from bearish world fundamentals. India has large stockpiles of rice and are expected to produce a big crop in 2025 and are working to move that through the market with record-setting export totals. That is ultimately resulting in lower world prices and pressuring U.S. prices. U.S. acreage is projected to be down 8% from a year ago, and the crop got a rocky start. Crop conditions are improving, though, and 67% of the Arkansas crop is now rated good to excellent.
Corn
Corn futures began the week on a negative note by gapping lower and erasing pre-holiday gains. Old-crop July is in position to test support at the recent low of $4.08 and newcrop December set a new low of
$4.13 ¼. The U.S. crop has good yield potential, with 74% of the crop in good to excellent condition. Global trade prospects are the driving factor for corn, too, with the lack of trade deals and high tariffs looming large over the markets.
Soybeans
Soybean acreage is expected to be down 4% year over year, but the market is having trouble building upward momentum. November failed last week at $10.58 1/2 and the market gapped lower to test support at $10.13. A close below that level could signal a retest of the April low of $9.71 ¼. The market is worried about export prospects, as China has yet to commit to purchase any soybeans from the U.S. in 2025-2026. The lack of a trade deal with China has the market on edge, especially considering the large supplies of Brazilian soybeans on the market.
Cotton
Sharp declines in cotton prices have not had much impact on futures prices. U.S. acreage is projected to be down 10%, but the crop is in relatively good shape with better than average yield prospects. 52% of the crop is in good to excellent condition nationwide. The Arkansas crop, however, is looking a little worse than usual, with 58% in good to excellent condition. Futures continue to trade in a mostly
sideways range. December has resistance at 69.5 cents and support at 66.5 cents. The market remains under pressure from weak export prospects and uncertainty about global trade and tariffs.
Livestock
Live cattle futures came back strong after the holiday weekend. August set a new record-high of $220.25. Strong wholesale beef prices and futures’ discount to cash prices are all supportive. Feeder futures are also soaring, setting new all-time highs for August at $319.45 and October at $317.55. Weaker corn prices and expectations for a large crop are supportive. Hog futures are looking toppy after trending sharply higher since April. The October contract has resistance at the recent high of $97.575 and is trading in a mostly sideways pattern.
