Farm Bureau Press for Sept. 7

In Farm Bureau AFBF: Trade progress with Mexico American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall made the following statement regarding the announcement of trade progress with Mexico.

“Farmers and ranchers are ready to move forward on trade with our nearest neighbors. Farm Bureau is excited about this announcement and will review the details of the Mexican trade deal as they become available.

“Based on the gains both sides have seen with NAFTA, we expect this new ‘U.S.Mexico Preliminary Agreement in Principle’ to build on that success for our farmers and ranchers. No trade deal is perfect, however.

There is room for improvement, especially in provisions that affect U.S. fruit and vegetable growers, and we will continue to call for a resolution to those issues and a final deal that works for all of agriculture.

“This is the kind of trade news we have been waiting for. In a time when the U.S. economy is booming our farmers have been left behind. Open markets and good

® With Tropical Storm Gordon expecting to drop several inches of rain on the state this week, Arkansas farmers are working extra hours to get as much harvest done as possible. We rode on the combine with Jon Carroll of Moro and he talked about the urgency of the situation and how he is pressing forward to get rice, corn and even some soybeans out of their fields as soon as possible. Watch our ride with Carroll by visiting bit.ly/GordonStorm.

trade agreements will give American agriculture the opportunity to be a part of this booming economy. So we encourage the Administration to keep moving forward with Canada to address their anticompetitive milk pricing provisions. We need negotiators to convince Canadian officials that they, too, will benefit from a revised treaty. We are hopeful that the value of a continued and improved NAFTA for all will bring everyone back to the negotiating table.

Arkansas Farm Bureau president Randy Veach (right) and his wife Thelma spoke with State Senator Larry Teague of Nashville Sept. 4 at the Hempstead County annual meeting.

More than 400 county members enjoyed a catfish dinner at the UA Community College at Hope and learned about the benefits of being a Farm Bureau member at the event.

MATTHEW MAGDEFRAU photo

www.arfb.com

“We are grateful for progress with Mexico, but there is still a lot of work to do outside of North America and we can’t stop here.

We also need to resolve our trade issues with China to create better opportunities for American farmers and ranchers there.

We look forward to working with the Administration to strengthen agricultural exports in new and existing markets around the world.”

KEN MOORE photo

A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

September 7, 2018 • Vol. 21, No. 18

STEVE EDDINGTON photo

Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Jeff Pitchford, Director of Public Policy and State Affairs, talked with THV11 about Issue 3, the Arkansas Term Limits Amendment, ArFB will oppose on the November ballot.

Watch the full story and hear Pitchford’s comments by visiting bit.ly/ArFBpitchford_THV11. our large population, and the responsibility we have to find sustainable agricultural practices. In two-and-a-half hours, students get field exposure to concepts taught in the classroom the entire year. There is no way to replicate the wealth of knowledge they gain in this short amount of time from leaders in these fields.”

There will be two tours – one west of Garland Avenue and one east of Garland.

Tour A will include: • Arkansas Water Resources Center Water Quality Lab – Brina Smith, lab program technician.

KEITH SUTTON photo

Ag research station tour Hundreds of northwest Arkansas high school students are expected for the 10th annual Environmental and Agricultural Sustainability Field Trip on Sept. 25.

The tour is being held at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Station in Fayetteville. It’s hosted by the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department of the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The rain date is Oct. 2.

“Over the last decade, we’ve introduced thousands of high school students to the impact of environmental and agricultural practices on one another. In CSES, we are educating student to understand these issues and equipping them to solve problems that may arise in the future,” said Holly Yeatman, student recruiter for the department. “It’s always gratifying when a new freshman in the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department tells me they became interested in our program because of what they learned on this field trip.”

Natalie Olivieri, Rogers High School AP Environmental Science teacher, told Yeatman that the field trip “fills a critical need to show students the effects of agriculture on the environment, the science behind feeding

STEVE EDDINGTON photo

In Arkansas

More than 30 local farmers and ranchers attended the Phillips Co. FB annual meeting Sept. 6 in West Helena. President Mike Rial presided over the business meeting, and local politicians addressed those in attendance.

Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach (center) and Dr. Mark Cochran (left) of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture talked with Steve Barnes of Arkansas Week on AETN about trade and farm aid. To watch the full interview visit bit.ly/AETN_ARweek.

• Controlling erosion – Trent Roberts, research assistant professor of soil fertility/soil testing • Crops and their weedy relatives – biology and natural selection - TBD • Wheat breeding and seed processing – Esten Mason, assistant professorwheat breeding and genetics • Examining soil profiles – Alden Smartt, CSES program associate • Water quantity/quality monitoring/ riparian zones – Matthew Rich, environmental specialist, Beaver Water District Tour B will include: • Examining soil profiles – Larry West, CSES adjunct faculty • Careers in Agriculture with Walter Mayhew, a University of Arkansas alumnus who is now corn germplasm and deployment lead for Bayer • Students are welcome to bring their lunch and eat in the pavilion at Agri Park after the tour.

For more information contact Holly Yeatman, hyeatman@uark.edu or 479-5755726.

Horticulture researchers team up with tennis facility Tennis players in Arkansas can now try their game on the same surface that makes champions at Wimbledon: grass courts.

The lawn tennis courts are part of the work being done by turfgrass researchers working in Fayetteville for the University of

GREGG PATTERSON photo

The Lee family was recognized Sept. 6 at the Faulkner Co. FB annual meeting as the county Farm Family of the Year.

They raise beef cattle and sell directly to consumers through farmers markets and social media. From left to right: county Extension agent Kevin Lawson, Michael Lee, Lauren Lee and Faulkner Co. FB President Chris Schaefers. The Lee’s two daughters are Mary and Adelaide.

GREGG PATTERSON photo

Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Whether on a golf course, football field or racetrack, researchers must be able to gauge how much wear the turf can handle and still be maintained to sustain competition and safety.

“We have been tinkering with lawn tennis at our research facility for three years,” said Doug Karcher, turfgrass researcher and horticulture professor for the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food, and Life Sciences.

Karcher, a competitive player himself, said that “grass makes a great tennis surface as it stays relatively cool in the summer and is easy on the joints. In addition, the grass surface adds strategic elements to the game as shots with spin and pace are very reactive to the surface and produce less predictable bounces that require additional player focus.”

Last year was the first season in which Karcher attempted to ramp up play to see how much wear a grass court in our region could withstand.

“Our lawn tennis court has performed well and has been playable most of the calendar year,” he said. “It has not been terribly difficult to maintain, so there is potential for lawn tennis in our region, but I’m not sure how much weekly play a bermudagrass court can handle.”

However, Karcher said “the few matches a week I was capable of lining up was not enough to substantially wear out the court, so we launched the U of A Lawn Tennis Center in hopes that we will get a lot more play on the court.”

Karcher also added permanent fencing and a second court. This fall, the courts will

Representative Steve Womack (second from right) visited two farms in his district on Aug 31. Poultry and row-crop farmer Allen Moore (second from left) and poultry and livestock farmer Gene Pharr (right) both of Lincoln, discussed trade, farm bill and environmental regulations issues with the congressman. Moore’s farm is a Discovery Farm where water runoff is monitored regularly by a scientific team led by (Dr. Andrew Sharpley (left)) University of Arkansas Professor of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science. be over-seeded with perennial ryegrass, which is the same species used at The Championships at Wimbledon. “Playing on grass is a common bucket list item among tennis enthusiasts – an item that can now get checked off in northwest Arkansas.”

“I am aware of lawn tennis facilities in St. Charles City, Iowa, and Pontiac, Michigan, but I’m not aware of any other specific tennis facilities with grass courts outside of the northeastern U.S., Florida and the West Coast,” he said.

Elsewhere Actions on ag labor bill When House lawmakers return to Capitol Hill after their August recess, the legislative clock will be counting quickly down to the scheduled mid-October break ahead of the elections in November. This leaves only 19 in-session days to address one of agriculture’s major worries: the labor shortage.

With this tight timeline looming, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) is hoping to soon move the American Farm Bureau-supported Ag and Legal Workforce Act of 2018 (H.R. 6417). The measure would replace the H-2A agricultural guest worker program with a new H-2C program that would be available to both seasonal and year-round agricultural employers. The new program aligns closely with many AFBF policy provisions, making it less bureaucratic and less expensive for growers.

While AFBF does not support the cap on the number of visas included in the bill, sponsors of the measure have sought to address these concerns by lengthening the visa term to three years, not counting returning H-2A workers or current undocumented workers who come forward against the cap limit and also by granting emergency authority to the USDA secretary to grant more visas if the cap is reached during the first two years of the program.

“We continue to work to improve the legislation, but the AFBF board of directors unanimously came to the conclusion that the Ag and Legal Workforce Act of 2018 addresses many of agriculture’s labor concerns,” said Paul Schlegel, managing director of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation. “The legislation is likely the only ag labor reform bill with any traction, meaning it’s farmers and ranchers’ best hope this year for much-need changes to ensure a reliable workforce.”

The bill has not yet been scheduled for a floor vote but AFBF is pressing leadership to schedule the bill for debate and a vote in September.

Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to ask their representatives to demonstrate support for the bill by signing on as cosponsors. Find more information by visiting www.fb.org/advocacy/aglabor.

Editor Maddison Stewart

maddison.stewart@arfb.com

In the Market Rice Rice farmers in Arkansas hurriedly worked to get as much rice out of the field as possible ahead of the arrival of the Tropical Depression Gordon. USDA says that, as of Sept. 2, Arkansas farmers had harvested 20 percent of the 1.391 million acres of rice planted this year, and Mississippi rice farmers had harvested 49 percent of their 150,000 planted acres. The current forecasted yield of 7,500 pounds/acre in Arkansas could be adjusted downward if high winds and rain result in lodging in fields across eastern Arkansas.

The announcement that the U.S. and Mexico intend to sign a trade agreement

by Nov. 30 and that Canada has re-entered the discussions should be good news for rice farmers, as Mexico is our number one market and Canada is an important market too.

November rice futures are trending higher in a channel with support around $10.60 and resistance at $11. Additional support is found at the contract low of $10.13, and tough resistance at $11.82 if futures were to break out of the trading channel in either direction.

Cotton The cotton farmers weren’t looking forward to a visit from Tropical Depression Gordon, either. With bolls opening on over 50 percent of the 480,000 planted acres, heavy rains and winds have real potential to negatively impact the quality of the cotton crop in the state. Texas continues to face the possibility of high abandonment, with 53 percent of their 7.4 million planted acres in poor to very poor condition. USDA is estimating only 4.3 million of those acres will be harvested.

Last week, despite ongoing trade tensions, China purchased U.S. cotton for both 2018 and 2019 marketing year delivery. An additional round of tariffs to be imposed by the end of this week, however, could impact exports going forward. Farmers can now begin signing up for Market Facilitation Program payments of $0.06/lb. of 50 percent of their 2018 production. Cotton futures are trending sideways with support at the recent

A cotton field in Prairie Co. Last week, despite ongoing trade tensions, China purchased U.S. cotton for both 2018 and 2019 marketing year delivery. An additional round of tariffs to be imposed by the end of this week, however, could impact exports going forward. low of 80.60 cents are resistance at 84.25 cents.

additional support at the contract low of $3.50 ¼.

Soybeans The upside for soybean prices continues to be severely limited by trade concerns.

While the announcement of an agreement with Mexico was positive, U.S. threats to impose tariffs on another $200 billion worth of goods from China this week sparked yet another round of selling. Argentina has begun shipping soy oil to China for the first time in three years, and could start shipping meal soon.

U.S. harvest will begin soon, and USDA says farmers will harvest 4.585 billion bushels on 88.9 million acres thanks to an average yield of 51.6 bushels/acre, up 2.5 bushels/ac from 2017. Soybean farmers can now begin the signup process for Market Facilitation Program payments of $1.65/bushels on 50 percent of 2018 production. November continues to hold support at the contract low of $8.26 ¼, but just barely.

Livestock Live cattle futures are chopping along in a mostly sideways trend. Improving demand for beef is a positive for prices. Average market weights are down six pounds from a year ago, which indicates marketings are current and there isn’t a backlog of cattle in feedlots waiting to come to market. Export sales are also strong, up 18 percent from last year’s pace. Feeder futures are showing some strength, and a close above $152.35 for the October contract could signal a retest of contract high levels.

October hogs, on the other hand, are chopping along sideways above support at the contract low of $47.82, and futures are trading at a premium to cash prices.

The good news is, lower prices and pork’s extreme discount to beef has spurred demand. Exports have picked up and total commitments are up 6.9 percent from last year’s total at this time. Hog farmers can now begin the signup process for Market Facilitation Program payments of $8.00/head on 50 percent of 2018 production.

Corn Corn harvest will begin in earnest across the country soon as 22 percent of the crop is mature, double the five-year average of 11 percent. The crop is expected to be a bit smaller than last year, but still a big one at 14.586 billion bushels. Futures have been impacted by harvest pressure and basis has weakened, as well. However, strong demand for ethanol, feed and export use continue to provide some support, giving the market a bit of a boost this week. December found support last week at $3.55 ¼, and has

CONTACT

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

KEITH SUTTON photo

As of Sept. 6, 2018