Farm Bureau Press for June 1

In Farm Bureau King Promoted at ArFB Matt King has been promoted to director of Public Affairs and Government relations at Arkansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest agricultural advocacy organization.

King will lead ArFB’s national affairs efforts, working closely with Arkansas’ Congressional delegation, federal regulatory agencies and national alliances. He will additionally support the group’s lobbying efforts at the state level, as well.

King has spent 12 years at Farm Bureau, most recently serving as ArFB’s Director of Market Information and Economics, where he led market research, international trade efforts and had administrative responsibility for the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.

He worked five years with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service King in Washington, D.C.,

Representative Bruce Westerman recently had three forestry admendments that were approved and added to the House farm bill. Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach, Vice President Rich Hillman, Treasurer Joe Christian and state board member Dan Wright met with Rep. Westerman last month in Washington, D.C. to discuss the farm bill. before joining Farm Bureau.

“We are pleased to have Matt join our team,” said Stanley Hill, vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations.

“His experience with Farm Bureau has set him up for success in this new role. He has the support of Farm Bureau leaders throughout the state and has been involved with multiple farmer-led commodity promotion groups designed to increase the value of the farmers’ products and raise The Danville School District is one of several in Arkansas participating in the Farm to School program that is designed to build on the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local farmers. The program added local beef this year and is looking add more local options. Watch a video about the Danville’s Farm to School success at, bit.ly/FarmtoSchoolAR.

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consumer awareness of the commodities.

“His experiences fit well with our grassroots policy development and political education efforts. We expect that he will offer innovative and aggressive ideas on ways to keep ArFB’s public affairs and government relations in front of our broad set of audiences, from Farm Bureau members and state legislators to members of Congress and USDA.” A native of Hot Springs, King received

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

June 1, 2018 • Vol. 22, No. 11

Emma Ferren, 17, of Searcy (left) and Abby Frizzell, 14, of Clarksville, each grabbed top honors in their respective categories at the 2018 Arkansas Dairy Foods Contest finals held May 30 at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock. Ferren’s FourCheese Tartlets won the “Party Ideas” category, and Frizzell won the “Main Dishes” category with her Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip Chicken Sliders. This year’s Dairy Foods Contest drew competitors from 42 counties. recipe is easy to make and versatile.

“It’s a fast and easy dip that is good for a party or a meal, whether it’s lunch with friends, a tailgate party or a family potluck.” she said.

Abby is the daughter of Jeff and Monica Frizzell.

Second place in the “Main Dishes” category went to Issac Overman of Jasper, third place to Avi Allred of Bella Vista, and fourth place to Truett Brannon of Mountain View.

Second place in the “Party Ideas” category went to Luke Baker of Siloam Springs, third place to Maggie Mason of Bradford, and fourth place to Keylee Harris

KEITH SUTTON photos

KEITH SUTTON photos

Dairy contest finals tap top recipes Seventeen-year-old Emma Ferren of Searcy and 14-year-old Abby Frizzell of Clarksville won top honors for recipes they made for the 2018 Arkansas Dairy Foods Contest. Ferren’s Four-Cheese Tartlets won in the “Party Ideas” competition, while Frizzell’s Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip Chicken Sliders earned the top spot in the “Main Dishes” category.

Eight finalists, four in each category, faced off against each other making their recipes in the kitchen at the Arts & Crafts building on the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock, May 30.

Ferren credited her mom for coming up with the recipe. “It’s an original. This recipe tastes great, and the flavors blend very well,” she said. “It can be served in a variety of ways, so they’re as fun to eat as they are to make,” she added.

Emma is the daughter of Aaron and Jodie Ferren. She is a home-schooled student.

Frizzell, who is a member of the Johnson County 4-H, says she began learning how to cook at age 4 by spending time in the kitchen with her grandma. She says her

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an undergraduate degree in agricultural business from Arkansas State University. He then earned a master’s degree in agricultural economics at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

In an interview for ArFB’s AgCast Derek Helms, a dairy and row crop farmer near Arkadelphia and president of Clark Co. FB, discussed a variety of issues, from the importance of community outreach to the state of the dairy industry and the importance of trade. bit.ly/Derek_Helms.

ArFB President Randy Veach spoke to Kevin Miller of Newsradio 102.9 KARN May 24 to discuss attempts to pass a Farm Bill in Congress, the latest developments in trade and other issues affecting Arkansas farmers and ranchers. Listen at, bit. ly/ArFBonKARN.

of Thida.

In Arkansas Growers and applicators advised to use caution with Loyant herbicide Following concern from Arkansas growers and applicators regarding alleged damage from the application of Loyant, a rice herbicide, the Arkansas Agriculture Department’s State Plant Board Pesticide Committee is advising Arkansas growers and applicators to follow the product label closely. Growers and applicators should be aware that soybeans are especially sensitive to drift from Loyant.

Label requirements include: • Do not apply when wind is blowing toward adjacent cotton, carrots, soybeans, corn, grain sorghum, wheat, grapes, tobacco, vegetable crops, flowers, ornamental shrubs or trees, or other desirable broadleaf plants.

• Do not apply under conditions of a low-level air temperature inversion.

• Do not tank mix any pesticide product without first referring to the Loyant tank mix website, which has a list of active ingredients that are currently prohibited from use in tank mixture with this product.

• ·Aerial applicators must use a minimum finished spray volume of 10 gallons per acre.

• Drift potential is lowest between wind speeds of 2 to 10 mph. Do not apply below 2 mph due to variable wind direction and high potential for

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USDA invests in Arkansas Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $256 million in 81 projects to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in rural areas in 35 states.

“No matter what zip code you live in, infrastructure is a foundation for quality of life and economic opportunity,” Hazlett said. “Through strong partnerships, USDA is ensuring that rural communities have the

See highlights from this year’s Horticulture Field Day held at the Southwest Research and Extension Center near Hope and hear what University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture experts had to say to fruit and vegetable growers from around the state bit.ly/HorticultureFieldDay.

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temperature inversion. Do not apply in wind speeds greater than 10 mph.

• To minimize spray drift from aerial application, apply Loyant with a nozzle class that ensures coarse or coarser spray (according to ASABE S572) with the appropriate corresponding boom pressure as recommended by the manufacturer.

• The distance of the outer most operating nozzles on the boom must not exceed 70 percent of wingspan or 80 percent of rotor diameter.

• Nozzles must always point backward parallel with the air stream and never be pointed downwards more than 45 degrees.

• The maximum release height must be 10 feet from the top of the crop canopy, unless a greater application height is required for pilot safety.

Growers and applicators can call 1-800992-5994 for more information.

The Pesticide Committee of the Arkansas State Plant Board met May 31 at the Arkansas Agriculture Department in Little Rock to discuss issues involving Loyant application that may be causing problems for some soybean growers.

modern, reliable infrastructure they need to prosper.”

During her keynote address at the Arkansas Rural Development conference, Hazlett spoke about USDA’s longstanding partnership with state and local officials to improve the quality of life in rural communities. She met with various representatives on issues important to rural Arkansas residents and businesses, such as ways USDA is partnering with local communities to support opioid treatment, prevention and recovery services. She also highlighted USDA efforts to support e-Connectivity in the state.

Arkansas is receiving two of the 81 rural water and wastewater infrastructure projects Hazlett announced. The Tri County Regional Water Distribution District, in Russellville, for example, is receiving a $6.2 million USDA loan to construct a water treatment plant with new intake and water lines. The new plant will better serve customers during high demand and will help avoid unhealthy conditions. Tri County supplies water to Pope, Logan and Yell counties. The town of Ravenden is receiving $859,000 to construct a water supply well. The new well will correct system deficiencies to comply with health and sanitary regulatory standards for the 246 users.

Elsewhere New ‘Ag Across America’ game and app The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has launched an update to

the My American Farm game, “Ag Across America.”

A geography-based game, Ag Across America is one of the most popular My American Farm games. The updated version features 100 new questions highlighting agricultural diversity across the nation, including videos of real American farmers asking questions. The game tests students’ knowledge on agriculture commodities and is geared toward third- to fifth-graders. The Ag Across America app is available for free download in the iTunes App Store and in the Google Play Store. It can also be played online at www.myamericanfarm.org.

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture was founded in 1967 and works to educate the public about the importance of agriculture and reconnect them with the people who grow their food through educational outreach and learning resources.

My American Farm educational resources are a special project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The site and resources are made possible through the support of title sponsor, DuPont Pioneer. To take advantage of the free My American Farm resources, games and activities, visit www. myamericanfarm.org.

Editor Maddison Stewart

maddison.stewart@arfb.com

Senate farm bill update Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts said he wants to introduce the Senate farm bill as soon as June 6 and expects it to go from committee to the Senate floor in short order. “We have a target date of June 6, and that could be a moving target, so we can get the bill out and have everybody discuss it and hopefully have it on the floor [the] next week,” Roberts said. He also said that the bill could be put on the floor on June 12, adding the legislation has “clear path,” as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) promised him he wouldn’t file cloture on the bill, which would delay consideration.

granted to small refineries that allow them to shed their Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements on blending biofuels.

The groups filed suit over three specific waivers granted via the small refiner waiver provision: waivers granted to CVR Refining’s operation in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, the HollyFrontier refineries at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Woods Cross, Utah. Those refineries have collectively saved $170 million in compliance costs, according to the court filing by the Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Coalition for Ethanol and the National Farmers Union. The groups said they are not challenging EPA’s authority to grant the waivers, which are aimed at small refiners that can show economic hardship due to complying with the RFS. The groups instead are challenging the three specific waivers. “EPA should be forced to explain why an otherwise profitable refinery faces disproportionate hardship from compliance with the RFS,” the groups said in a release.

House farm bill update House farm bill proponents are actively meeting with individual members to press their case for the controversial bill.

A House vote on another controversial measure dealing with immigration reform must take place before some conservative GOP holdouts decide whether to change their prior no vote for the farm bill to yes. The House now has until June 22 to reconsider the bill in its present form. Some congressional sources say another vote will likely take place before June 22.

Brazilian strike effects beef industry Brazilian beef processors say they have lost around 40,000 MT of potential exports worth about $170 million since the strike began. Abiec, a beef trade group, reports that just two of the country’s 109 beef processing plants were still operating and those two plants were working at half their capacity. On a more encouraging note, Brazil’s third largest poultry and pork processor, Cooperative Central Aurora Alimentos, says it hopes to restart 16 plants today.

Brazilian trucker strike The slow unwinding of a Brazilian trucker strike continues. Terminal operators at Latin America’s largest port Santos reported that no trucks were arriving or leaving the port as of Wednesday. Port administrators at Parangua, Brazil’s second busiest export hub, estimate that 643,000 MT of products have not been shipped due to the protests, including 280,000 MT of soybeans and soy meal. The meat industry group ABPA reports that 46 of Brazil’s 167 meat producing operations have restarted operations.

Chinese buyers don’t incentive to buy U.S. soybeans China’s government has given stateowned companies the green light to start buying U.S. soybeans in order to smooth trade tensions with the U.S., but these companies do not have much incentive to step-up purchases of U.S. supplies. For one, U.S. beans are roughly $15 per MT more expensive than Brazilian supplies, plus Chinese crushers are already facing thin margins. In addition, big traders stocked up on Brazilian beans when tensions were high and a trade war seemed like a real possibility. China’s soymeal inventory stands at 1.15 MMT, near its highest level in nine months, while its soybean stockpile has surged 25 percent since mid-April to 7.01 MMT, its highest level since September.

In the Market As of May 31, 2018

Groups sue EPA over RFS obligation waiver exemptions Ethanol and farm groups filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over some of the waivers it

Changes coming for H-2A, E-Verify The Trump administration is working on a proposed rule to streamline the H-2A farmworker visa program while providing new incentives for agribusiness and farmers to use the E-Verify system to check the legal status of employees. The Agriculture, Labor, State and Homeland Security departments are working together on the topic. In a conference call with agricultural groups, officials said the goal was to finalize the changes in time for the 2020 growing season, with USDA the center spot for farms to apply for H-2A workers.

CONTACT

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

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