Farm Bureau Press for July 27

In Farm Bureau YF&R award winners Tyler and Randi McDonald of Spring Hill and Michael and Lauren Lee of Conway earned the top Young Farmers & Ranchers awards July 23 at Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 70th Officers & Leaders Conference at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers.

Tyler, 30, and Randi, 29, received the YF&R Achievement Award. The couple farms in Lewisville in Lafayette County.

The McDonalds farm is diversified. They have four broiler houses, raise and sell pecans, run a custom hay operation along with a custom Bermuda sprig operation, and raise cattle on their own and in partnership with Tyler’s father. Award candidates were judged on their leadership abilities and involvement in Farm Bureau and their local community.

“We’re honored and excited,” McDonald said. “I didn’t think we had a chance when we applied for the award. It’s unbelievable.”

The McDonalds won $35,000 courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Co.

ArFB President Randy Veach (left), Huck Plyler of Hempstead Co. (middle) and Arkansas Razorbacks head football coach Chad Morris called the Hogs July 24 at the 70th O&L Conference in Rogers. Coach Morris addressed the attendees of the conference about how a strong work ethic and leadership apply to farming and football.

Hear his talk on our Facebook page at bit.ly/CoachMorrisOL. and an expense-paid trip to New Orleans in January to represent Arkansas at the American Farm Bureau annual conference.

The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming/ranching operations and exhibited outstanding leadership abilities.

The McDonalds have three children: Hunter, Skyler and River.

Runners-up for the award were Chase and Crystal Groves of Garland City and

Tyler and Randi McDonald of Lafayette Co. were named the YF&R Achievement Award winners at ArFB’s O&L Conference. ArFB President Randy Veach (left) and Vice President Rich Hillman (right) presented them with the award. Michael and Lauren Lee of Faulkner Co. were named the Excellence in Ag award winners.

MADDISON STEWART photo

www.arfb.com

David and Brittany Carwell of Cherry Valley. The Groves raise Simmental-Angus cattle; grow hay, pecans, corn, soybeans; and operate a custom application business.

The Carwells raise cattle and also run a commercial lab that tests cattle, goats and sheep for pregnancy, handles ruminant embryo transfers and tests for ruminant diseases. Both couples received $5,000.

Michael and Lauren Lee won the YF&R Excellence in Ag Award. The Lees raise

MADDISON STEWART photo

A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

July 27, 2018 • Vol. 21, No. 15

In Arkansas

KEITH SUTTON photo

Deacue Fields, Dean of the U of A Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, spoke at the O&L Conference in Rogers. Fields spoke about the future of Bumpers College and the strong ties between the college and ArFB. This free half-day event will focus on a varity of irrigation topics and will feature indoor sessions and outdoor tours. Speakers will address methods that farmers can employ to increase irrigation efficiency and help producers implement irrigation water management

GREGG PATTERSON photo

Field day A Water Management Field Day will be held in Mississippi Co. Aug. 6 at the Osceola Community Center.

MADDISON STEWART photo

beef cattle in Faulkner County where Michael, 33, works fulltime on the farm. Lauren, 31, is an account director for a marketing agency. The couple sells beef directly to the consumer through farmers’ markets and social media.

The Lees received an $11,000 check for winning courtesy of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. and PCI Publishing Co. They will also represent Arkansas on an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau convention in New Orleans next January. The Lees have two daughters, Mary Elliott and Adelaide Grace.

“It means everything to us,” Michael said. “Farm Bureau gives us a great platform. We’re not only advocating for the greatest industry in the world, but we’re also educating people. This award means everything to us, and Farm Bureau has opened so many doors for us. I couldn’t have done it without Lauren and the kids.”

Washington Co. FB handed out fifteen $1,000 college scholarships to incoming freshmen at its July 26 board meeting. Pictured (left to right) are Agency Manager Vince Massanelli, Katherine McConnell of Prairie Grove, Baylie Lanier of Prairie Grove, Laney Roebke of West Fork, Hollie Webb of Lincoln and Scholarship Committee Chairman Joe Faddis.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson was the keynote speaker at the O&L Conference, sharing with Farm Bureau members his desire to adjust state government agencies, including the Arkansas Agriculture Department.

tools. Discussions will address current field research and production experince with various methods in an active farming operation. Demonstrations will include a row rice feature, field tools and on-farm trials. A noon meal will be provided by RiceTec and Delta Plastics.

To attend the event, you must register

by July 31. For more information, visit bit.ly/MissCoFieldDay. 4-H participates in nitrogen study Members of Columbia County 4-H assisted with a harvest at a Nitrogen Evaluation Study at Columbia Co. FB President Burnie Sharp’s farm. The study was established through the combinedefforts of University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service soil scientist Dr. Leo Espinoza and agriculture county extension agents Jerri Lephiew of Columbia County, Amanda Greer of Lafayette County and Robin Bridges of Union County.

“It is commonly accepted that ammonium nitrate is a better source than urea and urea + NBPT (urease inhibitor) on a pound per pound basis,” Espinoza said. “However, data from Arkansas and other locations does not show a consistent trend towards ammonium nitrate.”

The objective is to try to build a database which will include weather data and some more detailed information such as nitrogen uptake trends for each one of

Elsewhere USDA assists farmers on trade Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take several actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a short-term relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the Administration works on free, fair and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets in the long run to help American farmers compete globally.

“This is a short-term solution to allow President Trump time to work on longterm trade deals to benefit agriculture and the entire U.S. economy,” Secretary Perdue said. “The President promised to have the back of every American farmer and rancher, and he knows the importance of keeping our rural economy strong.

Unfortunately, America’s hard-working agricultural producers have been treated unfairly by China’s illegal trading practices and have taken a disproportionate hit when it comes illegal retaliatory tariffs.

USDA will not stand by while our hardworking agricultural producers bear the brunt of unfriendly tariffs enacted by foreign nations. The programs we are announcing today help ensure our nation’s agriculture continues to feed the world and innovate to meet the demand.”

While the specifics of each program has yet to be revealed, USDA plans to authorize up to $12 billion for the following programs authorized under The Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and other authorities. The programs will not need Congressional action to implement.

• The Market Facilitation Program, administered by the Farm Service Agency, will provide payments incrementally to producers of

soybeans, sorghum, corn, wheat, cotton, dairy and hogs. This support will help farmers manage disrupted markets, deal with surplus commodities, and expand and develop new markets at home and abroad.

• The Food Purchase and Distribution Program through the Agricultural Marketing Service to purchase unexpected surplus of affected commodities such as fruits, nuts, rice, legumes, beef, pork and milk for distribution to food banks and other nutrition programs.

• A Trade Promotion Program administered by the Foreign Agriculture Service in conjunction with the private sector to assist in developing new export markets for our farm products.

Apply for teacher resource kits Kindergarten through fifth-grade educators working in schools, as well as home-schooling families, are encouraged to apply by Aug. 15 for resource kit grants courtesy of sponsor John Deere and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. John Deere is sponsoring the distribution of 300 kits, each containing one copy of the Foundation’s 2018 Book of the Year, “John Deere, That’s Who!,” an educator guide and a classroom set (30pack) of Ag Innovation ag mags.

Grant winners will be randomly selected from the pool of applicants.

Resource kits will be sent to selected teachers in time for National Read a Book Day, Sept. 6. Apply online at bit.ly/TeacherResourceKit. “John Deere is very proud to support the Foundation’s efforts to educate youth on how the agriculture industry really works,” said Steve Geick, director of agriculture industry relations.

The book delves into John Deere’s steel plow invention. The accompanying ag mag explores how innovation and agriculture go hand-in-hand, and the educator guide was developed using national learning standards, according to Christy Lilja, executive director of the Foundation.

“Teachers are often expected to provide resources for their own classrooms, with many taking on the financial burden themselves,” Lilja said. “Thanks to John Deere’s generous sponsorship, we’re able to help ease that burden as teachers prepare for the new school year.”

GREGG PATTERSON photo

the sources, with the goal of providing better guidance to our producers.

Kyle and Joseph Smith, Myla and Mason Whitehead and Merena Hanson worked mowing, moving sample material to the scales, identifying samples, weighing samples, documentation of those samples and fertilizer distribution for the next phase of the test.

Those interested in joining and participating with Columbia County 4-H should call the Columbia County Extension Office at (870) 235-3720.

Cool as a Cucumber Salad

by Gregg Patterson Mom always made this crispy, cool summertime salad treat.

It pairs well with so many main dishes. She preferred using sweet purple onions rather than white onions to add color to this flavorful, fresh-from-the-garden soaked salad.

Cucumber-onion salad Ingredients: 1/2 cup white sugar 1 cup white vinegar 2 cups water Fresh-ground black pepper to taste 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 3 large cucumbers 1 medium sweet purple onion Directions: In a container, mix thoroughly until dissolved the sugar vinegar and water. Peel and slice cucumbers in thin rounds and slice onion, separating the rings. Add to the mixture. Salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill in the refrigerator overnight, allowing the cucumbers and onion to marinate. Enjoy!

Editor Maddison Stewart

maddison.stewart@arfb.com

In the Market As of July 26, 2018 Rice Rice was notably excluded from the recently announced Market Facilitation Program. However, USA Rice estimates that the impact to the U.S. rice industry from all retaliating markets and Mexico (which has opened an annual zero-duty tariff rate quota for all origins, reducing the NAFTA-based preference) to be $210 million annually, out of a three-year average export value of $1.83 billion.

U.S. market share for all rice imports had fallen to 68 percent in May, the lowest level since NAFTA began.

USDA says 40 percent of Arkansas’ crop is now heading. Despite the late start due to cold weather in April, hot weather in May helped the crop catch up and is now tracking ahead of the five-year average of 32 percent being headed. Sixty-five percent of Arkansas’ crop is rated good to excellent.

November futures are currently consolidating between resistance in the $12 area and support near $11.50.

Cotton Cotton futures have recovered some from the selloff charted in late June. The December contract has been unable to challenge resistance at 89.52 cents, however, and futures are beginning to trend mostly sideways as a result. USDA says 39 percent of the crop is rated good to excellent, with 33 percent rated poor to very poor. The expanding drought in Texas has traders wondering about yield and potential abandonment. USDA currently has production pegged at 18.5 million bales, down from 20.9 million last year.

Soybeans Soybean futures fell to their lowest levels since December 2008, but are

now attempting to build on support at the contract low, which is $8.26 ¼ for November. The sharp downtrend did, however, drum up demand for U.S. beans, as export sales improved last week and even Argentina, the world’s third-largest soybean producer, bought U.S. origin beans. U.S. prices are now 20 percent cheaper than Brazilian supplies. Record-setting domestic crush numbers also have provided some support in recent days.

USDA says 70 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition, with another 22 percent in fair condition and only 8 percent in poor to very poor condition. Expect the upside to continue to be limited for the time being by expectations for good yields and trade concerns.

Corn Corn futures are finally showing signs of bottoming, with December finding support at the contract low of $3.50 ¼. The turn-around is mostly attributed to declining crop conditions and demand created by crop losses in Argentina and Brazil. The crop in Europe and the Black Sea region are also at risk due to adverse weather conditions. USDA now says 72 percent of the domestic crop is in good to excellent condition, which is the third highest since 1986. With a hot, dry August in the forecast, though, traders are now expecting that number to decline into harvest. Low prices have increased demand for both ethanol and livestock feed.

Wheat Wheat futures have rallied in recent days. Reduced production estimates coming out of Europe have been supportive. The Wheat Quality Council’s annual tour kicked off this week, and so far are measuring yields well under the five-year average and USDA projections for this year in North and South Dakota. The trade will continue to watch the tour closely.

Egypt has been a major customer this week, despite the recent rally.

Livestock The July 1 USDA Cattle on Feed Report set a record. A total of 11.3 million head on feed on July 1, 2018, was the highest for that date since the report began in 1996. Placements during June totaled 1.79 million head and were up 1 percent from a year ago.

Strong domestic demand is supportive, as futures continue to trend higher.

U.S. beef export shipments are also climbing, despite concerns that tariffs will limit demand.

U.S. hog futures, on the other hand, continue to track lower, with prices plummeting $11 in July.

Rising slaughter rates are expected to keep pressure on cash and futures prices. Mexico continues to be a top destination for pork exports.

CONTACT • Brandy Carroll 501-228-1268, brandy.carroll@arfb.com.

Follow Us Online arfb.com Facebook: ArkansasFarmBureau Twitter: @arfb Instagram: @arfb1935 Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/arfarmbureau