September 19, 2014 • Vol. 17, No. 18A

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More than 150 agriculture students, grades 9-12, attended ATV and farm safety presentations Sept. 10 at Clarksville High School. Ag teacher Barry Denton arranged for ArFB safety coordinator Jason Kaufman to teach the classes, which included lec-tures, videos and hands-on demonstrations. Detailed information about ArFB’s safety programs, including contact info for booking your own program, can be found by visiting www.arfb.com/education-youth/safety-education/.

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In Farm BureauArFB supports proposal

Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach praised legislation proposed Sept. 16 by U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman that would provide relief for farmers affected in the financial meltdown created by Turner Grain Merchandising.

The legislation, if passed, would freeze federal Farm Service Agency marketing assistance loans and resulting interest payments in cases where grain marketers are involved in bankruptcy proceedings. Farmers would have 180 days after those cases are resolved before loan payments are due.

The alleged breach of contract and non-payment by Turner Grain Merchan-dising of Brinkley is affecting farmers in Arkansas and surrounding states. Several lawsuits have been filed over the situa-tion, and bankruptcy is expected, in which case the proposed legislation would help Arkansas farmers

“We are certainly pleased to see this ef-fort to aid farmers affected by the difficult

situation involving Turner Grain Mer-chandising,” said Veach. “If passed, this legislation would provide some immediate relief by extending loan terms and freezing interest charges.

“Arkansas has limited state laws per-taining to grain merchandising, allowing this unfortunate and unprecedented finan-cial tangle,” Veach continued. “Hopefully

this federal legislation can keep some of our farmers from financial ruin. Some farmers are caught in untenable circum-stances, where they are forced to repay loans though they were never paid for the crops they delivered.”

Farm Bureau officers and staff have been in contact with members of the Arkansas congressional delegation on this

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the

Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show. To

celebrate the occasion, Ar-kansas Farm Bureau, with

the Arkansas Livestock Show Association, has

sponsored the publication of a limited-edition book

full of photos that explores the fair’s rich history. To

order a copy, visit www.arkansasstatefair.com or

phone 501-372-8341.

issue and had earlier sought extension of loan

terms, which recently had been extended by 90 days.

“One thing we know is that the specifics of any legal filings will obviously impact the scenarios and outcomes for everyone involved,” Veach said. “We are committed to protecting Arkansas agriculture, our members, farmers and ranchers.”

Denver to speak at conventionCommander Rorke Denver will give the

general session keynote address at the 96th American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show in San Diego on Jan. 12.

About 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are expected to gather in San Diego Jan. 11-14 to hear from distinguished leaders and participate in a grassroots policy setting process that will guide AFBF through 2015.

Denver has run every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALs and led special-forces missions in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and other international hotspots. “Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior” is Denver’s book that takes readers inside his personal story and the demanding SEAL training program he oversaw.

“We are thrilled to have Rorke Denver as one of our keynote speakers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “His leadership,

dedication to teamwork and courage when faced with pressure-filled situations few of us can imagine is inspiring.”

In 2006, Denver was officer in charge of the BRAVO Platoon of SEAL Team THREE in Iraq’s Al Abnar Province in one of the most combat-heavy deployments of any regular SEAL team since Vietnam. Stationed in Habbaniya, his team con-ducted more than 190 missions, including sniper operations, direct assaults, special reconnaissance and ground patrols. He was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for

valorous action in combat.

In ArkansasPlant board implements quarantine

Twenty-five Arkansas counties are included in an ash quarantine, voted into action Sept. 12 by the Arkansas State Plant Board to slow the spread of the emerald ash borer. Quarantined items include firewood of all hardwood species and the following ash items: nursery stock; green lumber with bark attached; other mate-rial living, dead, cut or fallen including logs, pulpwood, stumps, roots, branches, mulch and composted/uncomposted chips (1 inch or greater). Firewood is the only quarantined item that relates to all hardwood. All other quarantined items are relative to ash only.

Counties affected include Ashley, Brad-ley, Calhoun, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Drew, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Saline, Sevier and Union.

“This quarantine is our best defense against the emerald ash borer, a pest that has destroyed millions of ash trees across the United States,” said Scott Bray, the state plant board’s director of plant industry. “By slowing the movement of emerald ash bor-ers, we hope to directly affect Arkansas ash trees as effectively as possible.”

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Jeremy Allen (right) of Bismarck, president of Hot Spring County Farm Bureau, reviewed policy devel-opment proposals with county members during the group’s Sept. 16 annual meeting in Malvern. More than 75 people attended the event, which was held at the 4-H Center on the Hot Spring County Fairgrounds.

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Pulaski Co. FB recognized the Eggers family as its 2014 Farm Family of the Year during its county annual meet-ing Sept. 11. From left to right: Nathan Maddox, Collin Eggers, Chloe Maddox, Butch Eggers and Beth Eggers, along with county extension agent Randy Forst. The Eggers grow flowers and fruit on their Wye Mountain farm.

Wyatt and Emily Jackson, children of Jeremy and Michelle Jackson, wait anxiously for door prize drawings Sept. 16 at the Benton Co. FB annual meeting. The meeting, held at the Benton County Fairgrounds, featured an address from Evan Teague, Ar-kansas Farm Bureau’s environmental specialist. Jeremy Jackson is a new county Farm Bureau board member.

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Washington Co. FB leaders Scott and Cassie Davis of Prairie Grove have been selected by the Illinois River Watershed Partnership to receive a Golden Paddle Award in Agriculture, which recognizes leaders in watershed stewardship and natural resource con-servation. The award will be presented Oct. 2 at a special event at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville.

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The emergency quarantine will be ef-fective for 120 days. During that time, the state plant board will take steps to estab-lish a permanent quarantine rule, which requires a public comment period. The permanent quarantine rule will replace the emergency quarantine.

For further details, contact the Arkan-sas State Plant Board at 501-225-1598 or email eab@aspb.ar.gov.

“Conserving our Pastures” workshop Landowners and livestock producers

interested in cost-share programs and best management practices are encouraged to attend the “Conserving our Pastures” workshop Sept. 23 at the University of Arkansas Research and Extension Center at 362 Highway 174 North in Hope. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m.

Natural resource professionals with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Arkansas Natural Resources Commis-sion will discuss management of grazing lands, including rotational grazing, alter-native water sources and streamside fenc-ing. Presenters will tie these practices into available cost-share programs and provide information on how to obtain cost-share if desired.

AGFC private lands biologist Jeff Taverner says there will be plenty for landowners and livestock producers to see and learn. “We have a great program set up

that will cover nearly all financial incentive programs available. If you are a cattle pro-ducer, we’d love for you to come hear more about these programs and see how you can improve your bottom line while also improving water quality. These programs can help prevent severe erosion from your stream banks as well as provide a source of fresh, clean water for your livestock. We think it is a win-win for everyone, but we need feedback from livestock producers to be effective.”

Lunch will be provided following the session. Producers must RSVP to ensure a meal is reserved. Contact Sherri Pote at 870-777-9702, ext. 100 to reserve a seat and lunch. For more information on the workshop, contact Mike Budd at 870-473-2869.

Soybean yield record brokenDavid Bennett of Lake Village, one

of the entrants in the Arkansas Soybean Association’s Grow for the Green contest, was certified Sept. 11 at 112.012 bushels per acre. He’s the fourth Arkansas soybean grower to pass the century mark in yields and surpassed the contest yield record of 107.63 bushels an acre set in 2013 by Matt and Sherri Kay Miles of McGehee.

Only a few hours earlier on Sept. 11, the Arkansas Soybean Association announced that the Mileses broke the 100-bushel bar-rier for the second straight year – the first

Arkansas farmers to pull off a double.Bennett grew Asgrow4632, the same va-

riety the Mileses used in setting the record in 2013. Bennett planted his crop April 22 and harvested on Sept. 11.

For more information about the Grow for the Green contest, visit www.arkansas-soybean.com.

ElsewhereFarm Safety and Health Week

The 10 U.S. Agricultural Centers funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health urge everyone involved in agriculture to recognize National Farm Safety and Health Week (Sept. 21-27) and promote awareness of safety solutions year-round. The 2014 safety week theme is “Safety Counts: Protecting what Matters.” The U.S. Agricultural Centers address the theme with special regional and collective expertise.

There are nine regional Centers for Agricultural Disease and Injury Research, Education and Prevention and one nation-al center to address children’s farm safety. The centers are distributed throughout the nation to be responsive to the agricultural safety and health issues unique to particu-lar areas. Links to individual centers can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/agctrhom.html.

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Jackie Prince (left) of Biscoe, Prairie Co. FB’s Policy Development Committee chairman, and agency manager Bobby Lott (right) of Hazen visited with Gov. Mike Beebe prior to the start of Prairie Co. FB’s annual meeting in Tollville on Sept. 9. Gov. Beebe was the special guest speaker for the event, which was attended by 86 members and their families.

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EditorKeith Suttonkeith.sutton@arfb.com

On Sept. 16 and 17, judges visited the farms of this year’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award finalists: cattle ranchers Caleb and Briana Plyler of Hope (pictured here with son Huck); poultry farmer Alechia Meador of Green Forest; and poultry farmers Kevin and Jacque Smith of Decatur. Winners will be announced at ArFB’s December

In the Market

As of September 18, 2014

FSA’s September certified acreage data released

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency released certified acreage this week. For corn, the data show 84.833 million acres planted/failed and 1.582 million acres of prevent-plant. For soybeans, the data show 80.805 million acres planted/failed and 841,063 acres of prevent-plant. These are not complete acreage totals and will increase as other acres are certified, with the final numbers coming in January.

USDA forecasts record corn and soybean production

While questions remain as to how much was actually planted due to certified and prevented planted acres, one thing is certain: yields will be outstanding. The USDA is forecasting 171.7 bushels per acre and 46.6 bush-els per acre, respectively, for corn and soybean yields. These large numbers have the USDA forecasting record production of corn and soybeans in the U.S. This production will push stocks of both crops to very comfort-able levels, with corn stocks forecast to exceed 2 billion bushels and soybeans reaching 475 million bushels.

While the soybean stocks are forecast to increase some 345 million bushels in the U.S., Brazil and Argenti-na are also forecast to produce another record crop, with production forecast to increase 7.3 million tons in Brazil and 1 million tons in Argentina. These production increases are forecast to increase global stocks in 2014-15 more than 34 percent or 23.26 million tons from 2013-14 levels.

Corn and soybeans still have further to fall

Corn prices are down $1.25, and soybean prices are down almost $4 per

bushel from the same time last year. While these are sharp losses, it is very likely corn could fall another 30 to 40 cents, and soybeans could fall as much as $1.50 more before these markets hit their lows. Look for corn to bot-tom before soybeans as soybean losses could drag on much of the winter as the market waits for the South Ameri-can crop to be harvested. With these large supplies forecast not only here in the U.S. but around the world, produc-ers should strongly consider pricing some of next year’s grain. Assuming normal weather, stocks here in the U.S. will likely remain burdensome on the market and push prices even lower.

Cotton prices feeling more pressureFavorable weather to finish off the

crop is expected to help boost cotton yields as we head into harvest. Unfor-tunately for cotton, Chinese demand continues to weaken. The large sup-plies forecast for the U.S. will need to see strong Chinese demand to help move stocks and keep them near 5 million bales. However, China cot-ton imports last month are reportedly down more than 25 percent from year-ago levels.

Cargill closes corn plant in MemphisCargill announced Tuesday it will

close its Memphis, Tenn., corn-milling facility in January 2015. The plant’s corn-oil refinery will remain open and operate as a stand-alone facility. Cargill is currently constructing a new grain elevator on the other side of the river in West Memphis.

Another firm sues Syngenta over unapproved GMO corn trait

Trans Coastal Supply Co., an Illinois-based exporter of livestock feed products, filed a suit against Syngenta over the sale of its Agrisure Viptera (MIR 162) corn trait, which has caused many cargoes of U.S. corn and dried distiller grains (DDGs) to be rejected by China, resulting in lost business to the country. The firm says it expects to lose $41 million, mostly

in DDG sales, due to the unapproved corn trait. Last Friday, Cargill filed a suit against Syngenta over MIR 162. Meanwhile, a meeting between USDA and Chinese quarantine officials failed to settle the dispute over testing proce-dures for DDG shipments.

USDA cattle report coming FridayThis report is expected to continue

showing tight cattle supplies. While the market has moved lower over the last few days, look for this report to likely spark prices and help them move higher. The average trade expectation for Friday’s USDA report is for August placements to be 95.5 percent of a year ago, with cattle on feed at 98.8 percent of year-ago levels. While cash prices remain firm, wholesale beef prices have begun to weaken and could pre-vent significant gains in the future.

Plunging crop prices may have farmers favoring PLC over ARC

Producers will have to make their one-time decision on which farmer safety net option they will choose for crop years 2014-2018 later this year or early next year. The choice for many of them is between a revenue, shallow-loss program called Ag Risk Coverage (ARC), or a more traditional target/reference price program called Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The recent price declines are likely to lead many farmers to consider signing up for PLC, rather than the rival ARC, said Chad Hart, an economist at Iowa State University.

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