Farm Bureau Press for April 20

In Farm Bureau Gwaltney awarded Vines Scholarship Arkansas Farm Bureau has set a Measure the Candidate forum for May 9 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock. Candidates for state constitutional offices, the 2nd Congressional district of the U.S. House of Representatives, and state Supreme Court have been invited to be on the program.

“This meeting is an excellent opportunity for Farm Bureau members to meet and hear these candidates,” said Randy Veach of Manila (Mississippi County), president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. “Our members have a well-earned reputation of being politically active, and this forum is another example of the focus of this organization. We want to ensure we have a membership that understands where candidates stand on things that are important to agriculture and other issues important to our members.”

The forum will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude in the afternoon.

After reaching critically low levels in the 1990s, water table levels in the Sparta Aquifer in south Arkansas are being recharged thanks to a countywide campaign undertaken by the Union County Water Conservation Board, the local Chamber of Commerce and other area organizations. Two of the key leaders of the campaign to save the aquifer spoke with Farm Bureau about their efforts and the results. Hear and learn more at bit.ly/sparta-aquifer.

Farm Bureau members interested in attending should contact the state headquarters at 501-228-1324 to reserve space for the session.

Gwaltney awarded Vines Scholarship Wesley Gwaltney of Batesville (Independence County), a rising senior majoring in creative media production at Arkansas State University, is the 2018 Karen Rowe, Arkansas County equine enthusiast and biologist with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, recently discussed the hordes of buffalo gnats wreaking havoc with horses, livestock, poultry and wildlife in the Delta of eastern Arkansas.

These blood-sucking black flies are so numerous this year they are killing many animals, and right now there’s no end in sight. Hear more from our AgCast with Rowe, bit.ly/arbuffgnats.

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recipient of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Marvin Vines Memorial Scholarship.

The award was announced at the College of Media and Communications Student Honors banquet April 11.

Wesley is the son of Woodrow and Sandra Gwaltney. He expects to graduate in May 2019 and has a 3.56 overall grade point average. He has been named to the Chancellor’s and Dean’s List for academic

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

April 20, 2018 • Vol. 21, No. 8

Angela Jones (middle) of Sebastian Co. was named 2018 Arkansas Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Jones is a tenth-grade English teacher at Greenwood High School.

She received the award during a recent surprise announcement at the school. Pictured with Jones is her husband, Cody, and daughter, Hallie.

Clark Co. Judge Troy Tucker (middle) signed a proclamation naming April 16-20 as Clark Co. FB Week. Farmers across Clark County provide an unprecedented amount of quality food at reasonable cost for consumption while at the same time conserving resources. Judge Tucker is pictured with county board President Derek Helms (left) and Roy Ham.

exemplary programs that integrate agricultural concepts into their teaching.

Jones worked agricultural concepts into all of her year-long curriculum which included the students in her English II classes reading and writing about the classic “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, along with Ruta Septeys’ New York Times bestseller “Between Shades of Gray,” and agriculture-themed articles from magazines, including Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Front Porch.

“I have a special interest in agriculture and an understanding of how it affects our personal lives, the environment,

the economy, our national heritage and national security,” said Jones, who with her husband Cody raises chickens in four broiler houses and runs a small cow-calf operation.

She says she narrowed the focus of her classroom curriculum, so her students would learn two concepts – “… understanding agriculture’s impact on our personal lives and its impact on the economy.”

Arkansas Farm Bureau Senior Education Coordinator Matt Jackson spoke highly of Jones’ efforts, particularly considering her subject matter specialty.

“Agriculture is easier to teach in a science or a history/social studies class,” he said.

“I’m impressed at her ability to integrate agriculture into a high school English class.”

Greenwood High School English Department Chair Nikki Adams also had high praise for the effect Jones is having not only on her students, but also on her own perception of modern agriculture.

“Before working with Angela Jones, I saw agriculture as an antiquated industry relegated to the few holdouts clinging to a dying way of life,” Adams stated.

“Through her own experiences living on a farm and her approach to blending her farm life with her professional life, I have adjusted my own perceptions of not only the importance of the agricultural industry but its amazing adaption to modern technology.”

Jones is a graduate of Arkansas

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FB names Jones outstanding teacher Angela Jones, a tenth-grade English teacher at Greenwood High School in Sebastian County, is Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 2018 Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher.

Farm Bureau established the award in 2006 to recognize teachers who have

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Honors College.

Arkansas Farm Bureau endows the scholarship, which honors the memory of Marvin Vines, farm director for more than 25 years at Little Rock radio station KAAY. Since 1980, it’s been awarded annually to a broadcast major at A-State.

Gwaltney’s extra-curricular activities include working as an ESPN3 crew member for the Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Championship and Sun Belt Indoor Track and Field Championship, both in Alabama. He plans to pursue a career in television or radio sports broadcasting.

In addition to the Vines scholarship, Gwaltney has also received the A-State Pride Scholarship.

“In a way Mr. Vines story lives on through me,” Gwaltney said. “There are great accomplishments, great people represented through some of these scholarships and nothing instills more pride in me than to carry on their dreams.

I hope my work ethic demonstrates my appreciation.”

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achievement and was inducted into the A-State

State Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr. spoke to more than 40 people who attended a legislative appreciation dinner April 3in Texarkana. The event was hosted by the Miller, Little River and Sevier Co. Farm Bureaus. Miller County Farm Bureau President Chase Groves welcomed guests to the event and introduced Hickey.

Arkansas Farm Bureau board of directers hosted an appreciation lunch April 17 for ArFB employees at the Farm Bureau Center in Little Rock. Pictured (left to right) serving lunch are state board members Dan Wright, Bruce Jackson, Jon Carroll, Tom Jones, Mike Freeze, Joe Thrash and Terry Dabbs.

In Arkansas Pecan growers school Orchard owners interested in pecan cultivation will have an opportunity to learn at the May 5 Arkansas Pecan Growers Association (APGA) annual education meeting and farm tour being presented by the APGA and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. pecan production grew three percent to more than 277 million pounds last year. In terms of consumer preference, pecans ranked third behind almonds and walnuts, according to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Pecans are an Arkansas staple, gaining popularity as a commercial crop,” said Jackie Lee, extension horticulture -integrated pest management specialist for the Division of Agriculture. “Commercial production of this perennial crop requires specialized knowledge, skills and equipment. Pecan school will help beginning growers navigate orchard management.”

The meeting covers orchard establishment, pecan scab management and food safety regulations. It’s the first in the series of educational events for the Arkansas Pecan School, which will hold sessions during the growing season to address time-specific production practices.

Other topics covered will included integrated pest management, fertility management, equipment needs and pecan varieties.

The APGA meeting will be held at Grateful Acres Pecan Orchard, 2677 Bevis Road, in Lonoke. If you have questions about the school emailmjbrown@uaex.edu, jalee@uaex.edu, or call 501-671-2243.

Fee to attend all pecan school sessions is $150, which includes membership in

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Tech University, where she earned a bachelor of science in health information management. She is presently taking coursework at ATU in school counseling and leadership. She has been a teacher at Greenwood High School since 2006.

With the Outstanding Teacher honor, she receives an expense-paid trip to Portland, Maine to represent Arkansas at the National Ag in the Classroom Conference, which will be held June 26-29.

Joey Jamison examines peach trees for freeze damage following several hours of 31 degree temperatures April 8 at their orchard near Nashville. It’s too early to know the full extent of losses, but Jamison says he believes some of his young peaches may have survived. Watch our video and listen to our Arkansas Agcast about the freeze at Jamison Orchard by visiting bit.ly/aprilfreeze. the APGA and attendance to the annual meeting. Fee for current members is $75. Registration fee includes lunch and educational materials.

The Pecan School will have three follow-up sessions through the growing season, all held in Lonoke. They are: • June 26 – Early Season Pecan School 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Grateful Acres.

• Aug. 7 – Midseason Pecan School. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Lonoke County Extension Office; 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Grateful Acres.

• Oct. 4 – Late-Season Pecan School. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Lonoke County Extension Office; 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Grateful Acres.

To learn more about commercial horticulture, contact your county extension office or visit www.uaex.edu.

Elsewhere NCBA Calling for Nominations Award applications for the 12th Annual National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards now are being accepted. The 2019 National BQA Awards recognize five winners in the areas of beef, dairy, marketing and education: • The BQA Cow Calf and BQA Feedyard awards recognize producers who best demonstrate the implementation of BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their respective operations.

• The BQA / FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) award honors those dairy operations that demonstrate the best in animal care and handling while implementing the BQA and FARM programs at the highest levels.

• The BQA Marketer Award acknowledges livestock markets, cattle buyers and supply-chain programs that promote BQA to their customers and offer them opportunities to get certified.

• The BQA Educator Award celebrates individuals or companies that provide high quality and innovative training to individuals that care and handle cattle throughout the industry chain.

The National BQA Awards are selected by a committee of BQA-certified representatives from universities, state beef councils, sponsors and affiliated groups. Nominations are submitted by organizations, groups or individuals on behalf of a U.S. beef producer, dairy beef producer, marketer or educator.

Individuals and families may not nominate themselves, though the nominees are expected to be involved in the preparation of the application. Past nominees are encouraged to submit their application under the new nomination structure.

Previous winners may not reapply.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association manages the BQA program as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. Funding for the BQA Awards is made possible by the generosity of Cargill, which has supported the program since its inception, and Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, which sponsors the BQA Educator Award.

Find the application and nomination requirements here, bit.ly/bqa-awards.

Applications are due by June 1.

Editor Maddison Stewart

maddison.stewart@arfb.com

In the Market As of April 19, 2018 U.S. sorghum imports hit with steep deposit requirement China announced this week that it will hit U.S. sorghum imports with a temporary 178.6 percent deposit on the value of shipments in what Beijing deemed a “temporary antidumping measure” amid the government’s ongoing probe of imports of the grain. This comes after a preliminary anti-dumping ruling showing U.S. sorghum imports have damaged the domestic industry. Trade sources cited by Reuters say the fee is much higher than expected and will likely stop U.S. sorghum exports to China and inflate prices for feed alternatives like barley. The initial sorghum probe was launched two months ago after the U.S. announced steep tariffs on solar panels and washing machines. The U.S. exported 4.76 MMT of sorghum to China last year, valued at $1.1 billion. This accounted for the vast majority of China’s 5 MMT in sorghum buys in 2017. A final ruling from China regarding its antidumping probe will come at an unspecified later date.

Chinese hog producers increase slaughter amid falling prices China’s pork production climbed 2.1 percent to 15.4 MMT in the first quarter of 2018 versus a year ago, according to official data released this week, as a quick drop

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in prices prompted farmers to slaughter hogs. Live hog prices in China plunged 30 percent in the first quarter amid a surge in production by new mega-farms. Farmers fear even lower prices may lie ahead as these facilities ramp up production.

In addition, heavy snow in eastern and central China preceding the Lunar New Year holiday in February delayed transport of pigs from north to south, raising market-ready hog supplies after the holiday when demand typically slows.

Farm bill proposal analysis released The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis of the House Ag Committee farm bill proposals last week. The estimates detail how the legislation relied on shifts in conservation and nutrition spending to fund priorities.

CBO estimates the House’s 2018 farm bill would increase mandatory spending on programs by $500 million over 10 years and result in $7 million in deficit savings for the same period. However, overall mandatory spending would increase by $3.2 billion between fiscal 2019 and 2023, the life of the legislation. Costs would drop $2.7 billion over the next five years.

CME resets daily price limits CME Group will reset its daily price limits for grain and oilseed futures based on a semi-annual review, with the new limits taking effect April 30 for trade May 1. For soybeans and mini-sized soybean futures the daily limit will rise 10 cents to 75 cents. For soybean crush, the limit will rise from $1.41 1/2 to $1.57 1/2. For wheat and mini-sized wheat, HRW wheat and mini-sized HRW wheat, the limits will rise 5 cents to 35 cents. And for soybean meal futures, the limit will rise by $5 to $25 per MT. Can Canada’s Supreme Court do something NAFTA 2.0 talks can’t?

The Canadian Supreme Court released a decision April 19 that could lead to dismantling of Canada’s supply management system of tariffs, quotas, and price controls that projects Canada’s dairy, egg, and poultry producers. Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada announced it has reached a decision on the legal issue.

The decision, some say, has nothing to do with Canadian dairy, egg, or poultry policy. But Canadian producers fear it could be the beginning of the end of a system the 2018 U.S. Trade Representative’s

Foreign Trade Barrier Report says “limits the ability of U.S. producers to increase exports to Canada” and “inflates the prices Canadians pay for dairy and poultry products.”

Chinese soybean imports down China imported 5.66 MMT of soybeans during March, down 10 percent from last year’s shipments at this time but up slightly from February imports of 5.42 MMT, according to preliminary customs data. The shipments were in line with expectations as analysts expected demand to ease after the Lunar New Year, which fell mid-February this year. For the first three months of the year, China has imported 19.57 MMT of soybeans, a 0.2 percent gain from year-ago levels, as demand from the livestock and crushing industry remains strong.

Gas prices to hit four-year high Drivers in the U.S. will likely pay an average price of $2.74 per gallon for regular gasoline this summer (April through September), according to the U.S. Energy’ Information Administration’s Short-term Energy and Summer Fuels Outlook. This marks the highest average summer gas price in four years and represents a 26-cent rise versus last summer’s average price, EIA details.

EPA to move new WOTUS rule A proposal to rewrite the waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule is likely to go to the Office of Management and Budget within the next month or two, according to John Goodin, acting director of EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.

Previous reports have noted that the EPA and the Corps are writing a proposed rule that defines “navigable waters” along the lines of what the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia recommended in the Rapanos decision.

CONTACT

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