FEBRUARY 14, 2020 • VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 3
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
DIVERSITY IN AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE SET FEB. 27-28 A Diversity in Agriculture conference has been set for Feb. 27-28 in an effort expand the awareness of the career and business opportunities that exist in agriculture. The conference will allow participants to explore opportunities through success stories and networking. It also is intended to foster an expansion of public and private partnerships within agriculture, Arkansas’ largest industry sector, accounting for more than $20 billion annually. To be held at the Wyndham Riverfront in North Little Rock, the conference begins with registration at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, and continues at 8 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, with registration and breakfast. It will feature breakout sessions for college students in agriculture, as well as beginning and experienced farmers.
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Arkansas Ag in the Classroom Teacher Award, page 2
“This first of a kind conference will bring together agriculture communities from across our state to network, gain knowledge of current and future practices in agriculture and give students an opportunity to explore the various fields in agriculture,” said Jason Smedley, ArFB’s assistant director of local affairs and rural development, who is coordinating the event. A registration fee of $10 is being charged for the event and will include a networking reception on Feb. 27 along with breakfast and lunch on Feb. 28. Students will be admitted free.
2020 Arkansas Century Farm Applications Due, page 3
Visit https://diversityinag.eventbrite.com for registration, ticket purchasing, hotel information and more. To learn more about the conference, contact Smedley at 501-529-0076 or jason.smedley@arfb.com.
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Arkansas Farm Bureau has worked closely with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Arkansas Land and Community Development Corporation, the University of Arkansas, UA Cooperative Extension Service, UA-Pine Bluff and the National Center for Appropriate Technology in planning the event.
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A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
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ARKANSAS AG IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHER AWARD Pope County Women’s Committee Seminar | The Pope County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee recently hosted a seminar on Chronic Pain and Opioid abuse co-sponsored by UAMS. Pictured is Laura Spradley, M.S., who spoke to the crowd about the dangers and benefits of prescription pain killers. The event was held at the First Assembly of God church in Russellville and 256 people attended.
The Arkansas Ag in the Classroom Teacher Award recognizes an outstanding teacher in Arkansas that incorporates agricultural themes into non-agricultural curricula. If you know teachers who use Ag in the Classroom, please encourage them to apply for the award. Teachers can be self-nominated, nominated by fellow teachers, principals or superintendents, or nominated by a county Farm Bureau leader. Any certified teacher currently engaged in classroom instruction at the Pre-K through 12 levels who is integrating agricultural concepts into non-agricultural curricula is encouraged to apply. Teachers must utilize agricultural information and/or materials within the classroom curriculum in an effort to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture while also mastering required educational standards.
Washington County Farm Bureau Week | Washington County celebrates Farm Bureau Week with a proclamation signing held at County Judge Joseph Wood’s office Jan. 31. (Front row, from left) Washington County Farm Bureau President Jerry Moyer and Washington County Judge Joseph Wood (Back row, from left) Mike Stewart, Vince Massanelli , David Daniel, Allen Moore, Brian Weaver, Lonnie Horn, Barbara Horn and Ann Harbison.
Humane Society Donation | The Polk County Farm Bureau donated 1,000 pounds of dried dog food to the Polk County Humane Society (PCHS) Jan. 24. PCHS is a no kill shelter and serves all of Polk County. (Left to right) Agency Manager Tony Hooper, Kelly Otts with PCHS, Board President Allen Stewart and Board member Steve Barney. 2
There are many outstanding teachers that are using Ag in the Classroom, and your teacher may be the next state winning teacher in Arkansas and possibly the next national award winner from Arkansas. The winning teacher will be awarded a monetary prize, an expense paid trip to the National Ag in the Classroom Conference and recognized at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Annual Convention. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to recognize an outstanding teacher in your county, because their recognition for using Ag in the Classroom is also a celebration of the efforts of your county Farm Bureau. The award program ARKANSAS guidelines and a nomination form may be downloaded at www.arfb.com/ pages/education. Deadline for applications is April 1. If you have any other questions, you may contact Matt Jackson by email at matt.jackson@arfb.com or by phone at 501-228-1237.
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2020 ARKANSAS CENTURY FARM APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 31 The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2020 Arkansas Century Farm program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. Online and printable applications are available at www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-century-farmprogram. There is no cost to apply. “Arkansas Century Farm families have persevered challenges for at least ten decades and have contributed greatly in making Arkansas agriculture the success story that it is today,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “As Arkansas’s largest industry, agriculture has an economic impact of over $21 billion annually and provides one of every six jobs in the state.” To qualify, Arkansas farms must meet the following criteria: • The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by Dec. 31, 2020. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage and adoption. • The farm must be at least ten acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income. Arkansas is home to more than 42,500 farms, of which 97 percent are family owned and operated. Since the Arkansas Century Farm program began in 2012, 464 farms have been certified. Find lists of previously inducted Arkansas Century Farm families https://www. agriculture.arkansas.gov/arkansas-century-farm-program. Contact Mary Elizabeth Lea at 501-219-6363 or maryelizabeth.lea@agriculture.arkansas.gov with questions. Applications must be postmarked on or before May 31, 2020 to be eligible for designation as a 2020 inductee.
HOMEGROWN BY HEROES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 16 The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas are partnering to provide two $1,500 Homegrown by Heroes academic scholarships to military veterans and active military personnel, their spouses, and children who are pursuing a degree in agriculture. Funding for the scholarships is generously provided by Farm Credit. Online applications are due March 16, 2020 and are available at www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/aadprograms. “We are proud to partner with Farm Credit to provide academic scholarships for the men and women, and their families, who have served our country in the military,” says Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “Military service members and their families have many skills that make them great candidates for successful careers in agriculture. It is an honor to provide these scholarships as a way of thanking them for their service to our country.” Selection of scholarship recipients will be based on academic achievement, community involvement, extracurricular activities, financial need, and family circumstances. Preference will be given to Arkansas Homegrown by Heroes members, spouses, and their children, but membership is not required. The scholarships are affiliated with Homegrown by Heroes, an Arkansas Department of Agriculture program that helps farmer veterans market their local agricultural products by labeling them as veteran-produced. Learn more about Homegrown by Heroes and find products grown or made by military veterans at www. agriculture. arkansas.gov/aadprograms.
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MARKET NEWS as of February 13, 2019 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com
FSA DEADLINE FOR ARC AND PLC ENROLLMENT IS MARCH 15 Producers who have not yet enrolled in ARC or PLC for 2019 need to make an appointment to begin the enrollment process prior to March 15. Farmers can also enroll for 2020 during the same visit. The 2018 farm bill provides a one-time opportunity to update PLC payment yields, which could prove beneficial to producers. Cattle Cattle futures have been trending lower over the past couple of weeks. The market has been under pressure from a fundamental perspective from weaker cash prices and uncertain demand due specifically to coronavirus in China. Last week’s USDA cattle inventory report provided some support, showing a smaller crop than a year ago. However, the February supply/ demand report increased the beef production forecast on higher slaughter numbers and higher carcass weights for the first half of the year. Exports were reduced due to demand concerns in several markets, including China. From a technical perspective, the April contract has confirmed a top in the $128 area, and have now completed a 62% retracement of gains charted since last fall. The market will have resistance at $121.80 on a rebound. Hogs Hog futures continue to be under pressure. The market is concerned 4
about demand, especially from China as coronavirus continues to spread. USDA reported in the monthly supply/demand report that pork production is expected to be higher over the year ago total, due to higher slaughter and carcass weights. The most-active April contract has support at the recent low of $61 and technical resistance above $67. Dairy USDA did not change its milk production forecast in the February supply/demand report, and import and export estimates remained unchanged as well. The 2020 all milk price forecast was reduced to $18.85 per cwt on relatively weak demand. Rice Rice futures look to be attempting to confirm a top at Monday’s 5½ year high of $13.86 for nearby March. The market found support on Thursday at $13.08. A positive export report, showing 136,000 metric tons sold last week, provided support. Much (110,800 tons) of that total went to Colombia. The February supply/ demand report, however, was less than supportive. All rice imports were increased 2.4 million cwt., to a record large 32.5 million cwt., with long-grain aromatics from Asia and medium-and short-grain imports from China making up the increase. Total rice exports were raised 1 million cwt, reflecting the robust pace of shipments already this marketing year. All rice ending stocks were raised 1.4 million cwt to 30 million cwt, and the season-average on-farm price was lowered by 20 cents to $13.00. Soybean Soybean futures are building on support at the recent low of $8.68 ¾ for nearby March, but have found resistance at $9 for the time being. Concerns about demand, especially from China in light of the coronavirus outbreak, continue to hang over
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the market. Favorable conditions in South America are also causing concern as the crop there makes its way to market. Weekly export sales were disappointing at 644,800 metric tons, which was near the bottom of trade expectations. There was a 132,000 metric ton sale to China, which was good news. However, shipments were only 22.5 million bushels, down from 53.2 million last week. The February supply/demand report forecast increased exports and lower ending stocks. Exports for the 2019/20 marketing year are now projected at 1.825 billion bushels, up 50 million from last month’s report. That carried over directly into ending stocks, which were pegged down 50 million bushels to 425 million. The on-farm price was decreased 25 cents to $8.75 per bushel. Cotton Cotton futures continue to show weakness. A strong U.S. dollar and global economic concerns continue to weigh on the market. That pressure was enough to outweigh a second straight week of very strong export sales and shipments. The past two weeks have seen sales of 332,300 and a marketing year high of 350,900 bales respectively. Shipments have been equally impressive at 418,800 and 400,500 bales during the same time period. This week’s buyers included Vietnam, Turkey and Pakistan. No new sales to China have been reported, but China has taken shipments two weeks in a row. There are still concerns about cancellations due to price declines and the stronger dollar, but so far they haven’t materialized. Nearby March is struggling with resistance around 68.5 cents at present. Support begins at the recent low of 66.75 cents.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com