Farm Bureau Press
2025
ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU TOP YOUNG FARMERS & RANCHERS
Dalton and Skiver Dilldine of Blytheville (Mississippi County) and Reed Kelley of Saltillo (Faulkner County) earned the top Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) awards Thursday during Arkansas Farm Bureau’s annual Officers & Leaders Conference at the Rogers Convention Center. The awards honor young farmers and ranchers ages 18-35 for the general excellence of their operations and their hard work and innovation.
With the YF&R Achievement Award, the Dilldines received a $35,000 prize and a trip to the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, Calif. to compete for the national award. The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers in Arkansas who have excelled in their farming/ranching operations and exhibited outstanding leadership abilities. The award is designed for an individual or couple involved in full-time production agriculture with a majority of their income subject to normal production risks. The Achievement Award is sponsored by the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Company.
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Dilldine Family Receives Award | Dalton and Skiver Dilldine of Blytheville received the 2025 Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Achievement Award. Pictured (left to right) are ArFB Secretary/Treasurer Terry Dabbs, State YF&R Vice Chair Justin Story, State YF&R Chair Stewart Warner, Skiver Dilldine, Daphne Dilldine, Dalton Dilldine, ArFB President Dan Wright and ArFB Vice President Mike Freeze.
Kelley Receives Award | Reed Kelley of Saltillo received the 2025 Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Excellence in Ag Award. Pictured left to right are ArFB Secretary/ Treasurer Terry Dabbs, State YF&R Vice Chair Justin Story, Reed Kelley, ArFB President Dan Wright and ArFB Vice President Mike Freeze. ArFB’s Convention Farmers Market Application Open, Page 2
TOP YF&R AWARDS
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Kelley received the YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of individuals or couples who earn the majority of their income through off-farm efforts, but who are involved in farming and Arkansas Farm Bureau. Finalists were evaluated on their understanding of agricultural issues, as well as leadership, achievements and involvement in Arkansas Farm Bureau and other organizations. The Excellence in Agriculture Award is sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company.
As winner of the Excellence in Agriculture Award, Kelley received an $11,000 prize and a trip to the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention to compete for the national award.
Read more about the winners here.
ArFB Board Members Honored with Leadership Award
| ArFB board member and chair of the Arkansas Beef
Council Caleb Plyler (left) presented ArFB board members Chase Groves (center) and Terry Laster (right) with the Leo Sutterfield Leadership award in honor of their service on the Arkansas Beef Council. The Leo Sutterfield Award was created in memory of Sutterfield who passed while serving as chair of the Arkansas Beef Council in 2017 and is presented to retiring Beef Council board members or others who have contributed to the beef industry. Groves and Laster recently completed their terms on the Arkansas Beef Council.
A r FB CONVENTION FARMERS MARKET
The Arkansas Farm Bureau State Convention trade show will once again feature a farmer’s market. Limited booth space is free to Arkansas vendors thanks to the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food (CAFF), University of Arkansas Local Foods and Northwest Arkansas Food Systems 2025 sponsorships. Those interested can learn more and register here. The application window will close Aug. 29.
THE U.S.– MEXICO TOMATO SUSPENSION AGREEMENT
The Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA) between the United States and Mexico has long shaped the flow of fresh tomatoes across the border, balancing fair competition with consumer access to affordable produce. Originally designed to resolve trade disputes over alleged dumping of Mexican tomatoes at belowmarket prices, the agreement has become central to the economic landscape for U.S. tomato growers, including those in states like Arkansas. With the U.S. Department of Commerce now reconsidering its continuation, it is vital to evaluate the history, structure, current status and potential economic impact of this agreement on domestic producers. Read the latest July Ag Insider here.
ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU ANNUAL OFFICERS AND LEADERS CONFERENCE
The 77th Annual Arkansas Farm Bureau Officers and Leaders Conference concluded July 18 in Rogers. From inspiring stories to insightful workshops, the event was a testament to the advocacy efforts of members across the state. Keynote speaker Carey Portell, a cattle farmer and Missouri native, uplifted members by sharing her story of resilience and conquering adversity. See more about the annual conference below, and view the album here for all event photos!
MARKET NEWS
as of July 23, 2025
Contact Brandy Carroll brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Tyler Oxner tyler.oxner@arfb.com
Rice
Rice futures are trending sharply lower, with September setting a new contract low of $12.28 on Tuesday. Failure to hold above that support could signal a retest of $11.91, which is support on the continuation chart and a would put rice at a five-year-low on a front-month basis if realized. The crop is in relatively good shape, with 74% of the Arkansas crop rated good to excellent, and 79% of the U.S. crop rated good to excellent. The monthly WASDE was a mixed bag, but overall somewhat bullish. Lower 2025 production, down 9.4 million cwt from the June report and now pegged at 205 million cwt, was partially offset by higher beginning stocks of 47 million cwt and lower exports of 93 million cwt. Domestic use was also reduced by 4 million cwt, resulting in a 1.9 million cwt decrease in the ending stocks projection, which is now estimated to be 44.7 million cwt. The average on-farm price was raised by $0.50 to $14.00 for all rice and $13.00 for long grain.
Corn
September corn futures remain under pressure after opening the month with a gap lower and have yet to regain lost ground. Prices appear to have found support around the July 14 low of $3.92, with recent sessions hovering near the $4.00 mark. While several new export deals have been announced, the market reaction has been muted — largely due to forecasts calling for cooler and wetter conditions across the Corn Belt. The latest Crop Progress report maintained the goodto-excellent rating at 74 percent for the
third straight week, the highest for this point in the season since 2016. These favorable crop conditions, combined with improving weather, have led to speculation about record yields. A prominent farm advisory group recently suggested national corn yields could approach 190 bushels per acre, though such projections remain early. On the technical side, a push back above the 20-day moving average around $4.04 could open the door to higher targets, including $4.10.
Soybeans
Soybean futures are showing renewed strength, supported in part by optimism surrounding newly announced trade deals. Despite China continuing to source the majority of its soybeans from Brazil — reportedly 87 percent in June — there are positive signals on the diplomatic front. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is scheduled to meet with Chinese officials in Sweden to discuss trade relations, which could offer market support. November soybean futures have climbed above both the 20-day and 100-day moving averages, a bullish technical signal. Adding to the strength is a slight drop in crop condition ratings, with the good-to-excellent category slipping two points to 68 percent. From a technical perspective, a close above $10.34 could encourage buyers to target $10.40 and the recent high of $10.43. On the downside, watch the 20-day moving average near $10.22 for support.
Wheat
Wheat futures have firmed on tightening global supplies and declining crop conditions in key growing regions. A drop in U.S. spring wheat ratings and reduced Russian wheat availability due to slowed farmer sales have helped fuel the rally. However, with the U.S. winter wheat harvest now 73% complete, the pace of gains may begin to moderate. One bright spot is a new agreement with
Bangladesh to purchase 700,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat annually. While U.S. wheat remains competitively priced, new-crop Russian supplies are beginning to enter the global market. Technically, wheat continues to trade in a sideways pattern, with indicators leaning neutral to bearish.
Cotton
Cotton futures are having trouble building upward momentum. Newcrop December has resistance at 69 cents that is capping the market for the time being, resulting in trading in a narrow band between 69 cents and support at 67cents. The crop is in relatively good shape as Texas has had an unusually wet season, with 57% in good to excellent condition. In Arkansas, 70% of the crop is in good to excellent condition. The June 30 acreage report provided the market a bearish surprise with a higher-thanexpected planted acreage estimate of 10.12 million acres and 8.66 million harvested acres. Production was pegged at 600,000 bales higher than the June estimate at 14.60 million bales. The average on-farm price was unchanged at $0.62/lb.
Livestock
The July WASDE forecasted lower beef, turkey, and egg production and higher broiler and pork production for the remainder of 2025. The cattle price forecast was lowered slightly based on reported data for the second quarter. No changes were made to the forecasts for the remainder of the year. Hog prices are expected to rise due to lower projected beef supplies throughout the remainder of 2025. Recent price strength has resulted in projections for higher broiler prices throughout the rest of the year.
EDITOR
Shaylee Wallace Barber shaylee@arfb.com