Farm Bureau Press for July 26

JULY 26, 2019 • VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 15

Farm Bureau Press 2019 YF&R ACHIEVEMENT AWARD MARK & SHAY MORGAN

A PEEK INSIDE

Mark and Shay Morgan from Clarksville in Johnson County won the 2019 YF&R Achievement Award. They were recognized at the 2019 ArFB Officers & Leaders conference in Hot Springs, held July 22-23.

Other finalists included Drew and Laura Davis from Bono in Craighead County and Jeremy and Tracie Stewart Kitchens from Lewisville in Lafayette County.

The YF&R 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 full-time in production agriculture with a majority of their income subject to normal production risks.

2019 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award, page 2.

2019 YF&R Discussion Meet Winner, page 3.

The Morgans received a $35,000 cash prize and a trip in January to the American Farm Bureau Convention in Austin, Texas to compete for the national award. The other finalists received $5,000.

2019 ArFB Officers & Leaders Conference, page 2.

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(Left to right) ArFB President Randy Veach, Mark and Shay Morgan, their children Kate and Luke, and ArFB Vice President Rich Hillman.

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2019 YF&R EXCELLENCE ARFB 2019 OFFICERS & LEAD IN AGRICULTURE AWARD More than 500 Arkansas Farm Bureau members gathered Hot Springs July 22-23 for the organization’s 71st Officers MATT & TERRIE SHEKELS in& Leaders conference. Winners in three YF&R competitions Matt and Terrie Shekels from Harrison in Boone County won the 2019 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture award. They were recognized at the 2019 ArFB Officers & Leaders conference in Hot Springs, held July 22-23.

Other finalists included Michael and Monica Paskewitz from Melbourne in Izard County and Jared and Michelle Pass from Hartford in Crawford County.

were announced, and members were updated on a number of national and state agriculture issues, including managing farm stress, the reorganization of the Arkansas Agriculture Department, expansion of broadband in rural areas and a 2019 legislative session overview. President Randy Veach

The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who actively contribute to and grow through their involvement in agriculture and Farm Bureau. The award is designed for an individual or couple who do not earn the majority of their income through farming.

The Shekels received an $11,000 cash prize and a trip to the 2020 American Farm Bureau Convention to compete for the national award. The other finalists received $1,500.

Presenting the award (left to right) to the Shekels, David Brown, PCI; ArFB President Randy Veach; Susan Brown, PCI and ArFB Vice President Rich Hillman.

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DERS CONFERENCE delivered a moving message about the grassroots power of Farm Bureau, while Rick Looser, president and COO of the Cirlot Marketing and Public Relations Agency, challenged the attendees to think broadly about their message about agriculture. Also, Rob Sharkey, host of the “Shark Farmer� show on XM radio, urged the audience to talk openly about their farming operations to all who will listen.

2019 YF&R DISCUSSION MEET WINNER TAYLOR WISEMAN Taylor McNeel Wiseman of Washington County won the 2019 Arkansas YF&R Discussion Meet. The meet was held July 22 at the ArFB Officers & Leaders conference in Hot Springs.

The competition simulates a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each contestant. The competition creates an opportunity for participants to strengthen their ability to analyze agricultural issues and decide on solutions.

The discussion is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic. The judges look for the competitor who offers constructive criticism, cooperation and communication while analyzing current agricultural problems and developing modern solutions.

Dustin Cowell, vice chair of the Arkansas YF&R Committee, presented Wiseman as the discussion meet winner at the YF&R reception, held July 22 at the conference.

Wiseman was one of four finalists to compete, including (left to right) Rachel Barry, Washington County; Jenna Martin, Cross County and Lauren Martin, White County.

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MARKET NEWS as of July 26, 2019 Contact Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268 brandy.carroll@arfb.com

USDA Announces Details of Trade Aid Package U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue this week announced more details of the $16 billion package aimed at supporting American agriculture producers harmed by retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods and other trade disruptions.

The Market Facilitation Program (MFP), Food Purchase Distribution Program (FPDP), and the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) will assist agricultural producers while President Trump works to address long-standing market access barriers.

Market Facilitation Program (MFP) MFP signup at local FSA offices will run from July 29 through December 6.

Payments will be made by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) under the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act to producers of alfalfa hay, barley, canola, corn, crambe, dried beans, dry peas, extra-long staple cotton, flaxseed, lentils, long- and medium-grain rice, millet, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, rapeseed, rye, safflower, sesame seed, small and large chickpeas, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seed, temperate japonica rice, triticale, upland cotton, and wheat. MFP assistance for those nonspecialty crops is based on a single county payment rate multiplied by a farm’s total plantings of MFPeligible crops in aggregate in 2019.

A producer’s total payment-eligible plantings cannot exceed total 2018 plantings, and county payment 4

rates range from $15-$150 per acre, depending on the impact of tariffs is that county.

Dairy producers who were in business as of June 1, 2019, will receive a per hundredweight payment on production history, and hog producers will receive a payment based on the number of live hogs owned on a day selected by the producer between April 1 and May 15, 2019.

Producers of almonds, cranberries, cultivated ginseng, fresh grapes, fresh sweet cherries, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts are eligible for MFP payments based upon harvested acres in 2019.

Payments will be made in up to three stges, with the second and third evaluated as market conditions and trade opportunities dictates.

The first payment will be paid in late August, and will be comprised of the higher of either 50 percent of a producer’s calculated payment or $15 per acre, which may reduce potential payments to be made in subsequent stages. If conditions warrant, those payments will be made in November 2019 and January 2020.

MFP payments are limited to a combined $250,000 for nonspecialty crops per person or legal entity. MFP payments are also limited to a combined $250,000 for diary and hog producers and a combined $250,000 for specialty crop producers. However, no applicant can receive more than $500,000. Eligible applicants must also have an average adjusted gross income of $900,000, or 75% of the person’s or entity’s average AGI must be derived from farming and ranching.

Producers who filed a prevented planting claim and planted an FSA-certified cover crop, with the potential to be harvested qualify for a $15 per acre payment. Acres that were not planted in 2019 are not eligible for an MFP payment.

For more information on MFP, including county payment rates, visit www.farmers.gov/mfp or contact your

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local FSA office.

Food Purchasing and Distribution Program (FPFD) The CCC Charter Act authority will also be used to implement the FPDP, allocating up to $1.4 billion to purchase surplus commodities affected by trade retaliation. Fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, lamb, poultry, milk and some processed foods will be purchased for distribution by the Food and Nutrition Service to food banks, schools and other outlets serving low-income individuals.

AMS will buy affected products in four phases starting after October 1, 2019, with deliveries beginning January 2020. AMS will maintain purchase specifications for commodities, to ensure recipients receive the high-quality product they expect. AMS will work with industry groups to identify varieties and grades sold to China and other markets imposing retaliatory tariffs to facilitate the purchase of premium varieties in forms that meet the needs of FNS nutrition assistance programs.

Agriculture Trade Promotion Program (ATP) USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) will administer the ATP under authorities of the CCC. The ATP will provide cost-share assistance to eligible U.S. organizations for activities such as consumer advertising, public relations, pointof-sale demonstrations, participation in trade fairs and exhibits, market research and technical assistance.

Last week, USDA awarded $100 million to 48 organizations through the ATP to help U.S. farmers and ranchers identify and access new export markets.

EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com