Farm Bureau Press for Oct. 27

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EPA and states’ collective efforts lead to regulatory actions on dicamba EPA has reached an agreement with Monsanto, BASF and DuPont on measures to further minimize the potential of drift damage to neighboring crops from the use of dicamba formulations used to control weeds in genetically modified cotton and soybeans. New requirements for the use of dicamba “over the top” (application to growing plants) will allow farmers to make informed choices for seed purchases for the 2018 growing season.

“Today’s actions are the result of intensive, collaborative efforts, working side-by-side with the states and university scientists from across the nation who have first-hand knowledge of the problem and workable solutions,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Our collective efforts with our state partners ensure we are relying on the best, on-the-ground information.”

In a series of discussions, EPA worked cooperatively with states, land-grant universities and pesticide manufacturers to examine the underlying causes of

Whitney Walker and her Grand Champion Steer, Steve O, participated in the Sale of Champions Oct. 20 at the Arkansas State Fair. Her steer was on of several animals purchased by Arkansas Farm Bureau. Whitney is the 16-year-old daughter of Eric and Linsay Walker. She is a junior at Prairie Grove High School and a member of their FFA chapter.

recent crop damage in the farm belt and southeast. EPA carefully reviewed the available information and developed tangible changes to be implemented during the 2018 growing season: • Classifying products as “restricted use,” permitting only certified applicators with special training, and those under their supervision, to apply them; dicamba-specific training for all certified applicators to reinforce proper use; • Requiring farmers to maintain specific records regarding the use of these products to improve compliance with label restrictions; • Limiting applications to when maximum wind speeds are below 10 mph (from 15 mph) to reduce potential spray drift; • Reducing the times during the day when applications can occur; • Including tank clean-out language to prevent cross contamination and; • Enhancing susceptible crop language and record keeping with sensitive crop registries to increase awareness of risk to especially sensitive crops nearby.

Manufacturers have agreed to a process to get the revised labels into the hands of farmers in time for the 2018 growing season.

“EPA will monitor the success of these changes to help inform our decision whether to allow the continued “over the top” use of dicamba beyond the 2018 growing season,” Pruitt said. When EPA registered these products, it set the registrations to expire in two years to allow EPA to change the registration, if necessary.

Two Arkansans make top 10 in AFBF challenge The American Farm Bureau Federation has announced the top 10 teams – four finalists and six best-in-show winners – in the 2018 Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge. AFBF Executive Vice President Julia Anna Potts hosted an announcement event at AFBF headquarters.

Levi Ross and Cody Hopkins were

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

October 27, 2017 • Vol. 20, No. 21

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Arkansan graduates from AFBF Communications Boot Camp

Peggy Miller (left), chair of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, poses with Daniel Williams of Searcy and his rice dessert dish, “Rice Blueberry Crunch.” Williams won first place in the dessert category of the annual Rice Recipe Contest at the Arkansas State Fair Oct. 17.

Members of the Women’s Committee judged the competition which also featured entries in main dish and salad categories.

The American Farm Bureau Federation recognized 15 farm and ranch women leaders, including Magen Allen from Bismark, as graduates of the organization’s eleventh annual Women’s Communications Boot Camp. The group of agricultural leaders was recognized after completing an intensive three-day course featuring sessions on working with the media, public speaking, testifying and messaging.

“Women’s Communication Boot Camp is the experience of a lifetime,” said Sherry Saylor, an Arizona row crop farmer and chair of the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. “Graduates of this program are persuasive and effective advocates for agriculture, with a passion for connecting with influencers at the local, state and national levels.”

This year’s Boot Camp graduates are: Magen Allen, Arkansas; Andrea Brossard, Wisconsin; Danielle Burch, Ohio; Jodi DeHate, Michigan; Gimmie Jo Jansonius, Kansas; Sine Kerr, Arizona; Bonnie LaTourette, Pennsylvania; Renee McPherson, North Carolina; Paula Peterson, Nebraska; Cindy Ramsey, Indiana; Ruth Scruton, New Hampshire; Cala Tabb, Mississippi; Laura Vaught, Tennessee; Andi Vincent, Washington state; and Sara Wayne, West Virginia.

What’s the difference?

Consumers are confused between foods labeled as “organic” and “non-genetically modified,” according to a new study led by a University of Florida professor. In fact, researchers found that some consumers view the two labels as synonymous.

When Congress approved the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard in June 2016, lawmakers allowed companies two years – until June 2018 – to label their genetically modified (GM) food by text, symbol or an electronic digital link such as a QR code. The QR code is a machine-readable optical label that displays information when scanned.

Besides QR codes, companies can label GM foods by adding words like: “contains genetically modified ingredients” in plain text on the packages, said Brandon McFadden, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of food and resource economics, and lead author of the study.

McFadden and Purdue University agricultural economics professor Jayson Lusk conducted their research to find the best ways to communicate whether a food

The 2016 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, Mark and Shay Morgan, represented Arkansas at the 28th Swisher-Sweets Southeastern Farmer of the Year Luncheon Oct. 17 in Moultrie, Ga. Mark and Shay are pictured with their children, Kate and Luke. has GM ingredients. This research has implications for which foods consumers will buy, McFadden said.

To gauge consumers’ willingness to pay for food labeled as GM vs. non-GM, researchers conducted a national survey of 1,132 respondents.

Specifically, researchers wanted to know how much consumers were willing to spend on food labeled as “USDA Organic” vs. that labeled “Non-GMO Project Verified.” Genetically modified material is not allowed in food labeled “USDA Organic,” while “Non-GMO Project” means the food has no more than 0.9 percent GM characteristics, according to the study.

Researchers measured respondents’ willingness to pay for a box of 12 granola bars and a pound of apples. Granola bars represent a manufactured food commonly differentiated by its absence of GM material, while apples are a fresh fruit that requires companies to tell if they contain GM material, the study said.

In this study, when consumers looked at packages of Granola bars labeled “nonGMO Project,” they were willing to spend 35 cents more than for the boxes that had text that read, “contains genetically engineered ingredients.” With the “USDA Organic” label, consumers were willing to pay 9 cents more.

With apples, respondents were willing to pay 35 cents more for those labeled “non-GMO Project” and 40 cents more for

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named “Best Farm-to-Table Startup” for their work with the Grass Foots Farmers’ Cooperative.

The pair from Clinton, were awarded $10,000 for their Best in Show acheivment.

“We are proud to recognize these 10 outstanding rural businesses,” Potts said.

“Through the Farm Bureau Challenge, we try to overcome hurdles that entrepreneurs typically face, such as lack of capital and limited access to business networks and training. We also want to show that the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship is alive in rural America. We can strengthen rural communities by investing in good ideas and businesses such as the ones we are recognizing today,” she said.

“Economic opportunity can transform rural communities,” said Anne Hazlett, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development at the Agriculture Department, in remarks at the announcement event. “At USDA Rural Development, we are committed to being a partner in rural prosperity so hometown businesses and the entrepreneurs who build them from the ground up can succeed.”

Editor Keith Sutton those labeled “USDA Organic.”

Participants’ responses led McFadden to conclude that consumers don’t distinguish definitions of the two food labels.

“For example, it’s possible that a product labeled, ‘Non-GMO Project Verified’ more clearly communicates the absence of GM ingredients than a product labeled ‘USDA Organic,’” said McFadden.

In addition to willingness to pay for GM- and non-GM foods, researchers wanted to know how QR codes impact choices for foods labeled as containing GM ingredients. They also wanted to know how much consumers were willing to pay for food labeled as GM if that information came from a Quick Response – or QR – code. Study results showed consumers are willing to pay more for genetically modified food if the information is provided by a QR code.

“This finding indicates that many of the study respondents did not scan the QR code,” McFadden said.

That’s because if all respondents scanned the QR code, there would not be a significant difference in their willingness to pay, he said. Since there is a significant

difference, one can assume that many respondents did not scan the QR code, McFadden said.

“However, it is important to remember that this study is really a snapshot, and it is possible that over time, consumers will

become more familiar with QR codes and be more likely to scan them,” he said.

keith.sutton@arfb.com

Arkansas Trade Show sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau Reserve your When: Nov. 29-Dec. 1 Where: Little Rock Convention Center booth today!

Contacts: Autumn Wood autumn.wood@arfb.com 501-228-1644

Bruce Tencleve bruce.tencleve@arfb.com 501-228-1856

Feed the Birds!

Turn those extra squash from the garden into birdfeeders! Cut off the top, hollow out the squash, drill holes, criss-cross dowels to make perches, attach wire hangers, add bird food, and you’re set!

Saddle up!

Play with Pumpkins!

There’s no better way to take in the scenery on a beautiful fall day than from the back of a horse. Saddle up and take a ride around the back forty, or load up the horses and visit a nearby trail.

Make a Halloween version of the bean bag toss game using pumpkins!

Carve points values into several pumpkins, stand back, and give it your best shot!

In the Market As of October 26, 2017

China sets import quotas China has set its 2018 low-tariff import quotas for corn, wheat and rice at levels basically in line with this year’s quotas. According to a statement from the National Development and Reform Commission the quotas are set at the following levels: Corn 7.20 MMT, Wheat 9.64 MMT, and Rice 5.32 MMT. These quotas are the subject of a World Trade Organization case brought by the U.S., who argues they limit its imports of grains and violate China’s global trade obligations.

NAFTA 2.0 update Top Trump administration officials have reportedly told Canada and Mexico there is “no give” on the part of the U.S. when it comes to negotiations, but veteran trade policy observers say this is yet another one of the Trump team’s negotiating tactics. Meanwhile, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue revealed yesterday in Indianapolis that he met with President Donald Trump, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Bob Lighthizer, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and others on Tuesday for an update on NAFTA 2.0. Perdue said they believe “all three countries really want a deal at the end of the day.”

Like others, including Ross, Perdue said negotiations are still in the early stages and that most of the hard lifts in decisions will come in the waning days of talks.

Ag guest-worker bill clears panel A bill pushed by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) that would create a new H-2C program barely advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, 17-16. The panel also voted to back legislation by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) on a 20-10 party-line that would mandate employers use the E-verify electronic system to check

a potential employee’s legal status.

Republicans argue it would allow agricultural employers to hire tens of thousands of foreign laborers, but Democrats say it would drive down wages to the detriment of American workers. Even if the bill gets through the House, Senate Democrats would likely filibuster the measure because of major opposition to parts of the bill.

ARC yield changes proposed Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) introduced a bipartisan proposal intended to address complaints about payment disparities in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) program. The bill would not alter the formula for ARC revenue but it does propose several changes.

One change would base county yields on Risk Management Agency data.

Another change would allow Farm Service Agency state committees to adjust yield data when there are unusual variations.

U.S. pork to hit online Chinese market For the first time, Smithfield Foods, a U.S. subsidiary of WH Group Ltd., will sell its U.S. pork online to China. It will do so via the online retailer JD.com Inc. China’s e-commerce market is massive and its growing middle class is seeking branded and imported meat products.

The fresh food division of JD.com is China’s largest online retailer of pork and it has seen tremendous growth in direct meat sales, with imported meat making up more than a third of its sales. For the first half of 2017, the retailer saw direct sales of meats surge 780% over last year Brazil dominating China’s soybean imports so far this year Official Chinese customs data shows that of the nearly 8.113 MMT of soybeans China imported last month, 5.938 MMT came from Brazil. The U.S. supplied just 937,262 MT of the tally.

For the first nine months of the year, Brazil has shipped China more than 42.850 MMT of soybeans, a 20-percent

gain from year ago, versus the U.S.’s 20.679 MMT, up 14.8-percent from year-ago. But the U.S.’s main shipping season lies ahead.

China steps up cotton imports China imported 92,847 MT of cotton in September, a 53.2-percent surge from last year at this point, with Australia as its lead supplier. Between January and September, China has imported a total of 905,371 MT of the fiber, with the U.S. supplying nearly half of that total. So far this calendar year, China’s imports are up 37.5-percent from the year prior.

This has led to a dramatic increase in U.S. shipments to Beijing.

Farm bill debate could go into 2019 or later Sources ProFarmer recently polled on the farm bill said the timeline for the next farm bill could slip into 2019, or later, though most of them quickly said they hope they are wrong. Not all the respondents were in that camp, but even those who said one will get done in 2018 indicated getting the final bill will take well into the year – possibly post-election. Why? Getting a farm bill through the House will be a struggle as Republican support for farm bills has been waning and there is the added challenge of an election year.

Getting the measure through the Senate may depend on whether Democratic senators want a bill or an issue, with politics and election pressures again coming into play.

Monsanto sues Arkansas plant board Monsanto went after Arkansas agricultural officials last Friday seeking to block a decision prohibiting the use of dicamba during the summer.

CONTACT • Matt King 501-228-1297, matt.king@arfb.com.