On Thursday, May 8, members of the Ag Council board of directors gathered in Pickens, Ar, for their Spring board meeting. The group heard from speakers covering a range of information and policies impacting the crop sector of Arkansas. Members were also able to share experiences with the 2025 crop year and discuss priorities of the organization.
The roll call introductions of board members included planting season updates from board members. A common theme among the group was that economic challenges are substantial and remain a severe concern for all. Progress on planting depended on moisture from rainfall and flooding. Significant flooding and heavy rainfall has impacted many across the state with many areas facing record floods. The weather factors and economic factors are expected to change planting intentions and acreage.
Board members expressed gratitude for the assistance delivered by Congress and the administration, but noted the support was not enough to keep everyone in business. There were several farms that shuttered, and several more that likely meet same fate next next year without additional help or a substantial rebound in the futures markets. Additional economic help and updates to the farm bill cannot come soon enough.
Board members shared a sense of anxiety around tariffs and trade disruptions as well as other feared policies under the MAHA movement such as those related to pesticides and seed oils. Board members also expressed frustration with the activities of China in South America, which includes direct investment in crop production and the infrastructure to deliver crops. Such activities appear to be greatly harmful to the environment and the national security of the United States.
Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward was the first guest speaker to present. He provided an update from his office that included activities within the department, overview of the legislative session of the General Assembly, and his work at the national level with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and the federal government.
Harrison Pittman provided an overview of the first 100 days of the Trump administration with updates on key agendas of the administration. Pittman's updates included the latest with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Make America Healthy Again (MAHA), tariffs, and farm bill programs. He noted the executive actions taken to date by the administration, the responses from Congress and federal courts, and the evolution of those actions and activities over time.
Ryan Loy provided an overview of macro economic factors facing crop producers. Included in his presentation was an examination of the growing concern surrounding expanding crop production in South America, which is being aided and led by China.
Scott Stiles provided an update on the commodity markets for the primary crops grown in Arkansas. He offered some considerations for crop marketing for the 2025 crop year. And, he discussed the imprortance of farm program safety nets in the commodity title and expected payments under those programs for the 2024 crops.
Andrew Grobmyer offered updates on Ag Council activities in Little Rock and Washington. He offered a year to date summary of policy activities in Washington and a summary of the Arkansas General Assembly. The Washington update focused on the delivery of economic and disaster assistance, efforts to update the farm bill safety net and provide additional near term assistance, and efforts to ensure sufficient funding to meet the needs of producers in Arkansas. The summary of the General Assembly included an overview of the legislative session that recently concluded with a focus on legislation that impacted members of the organization.
Lunch was sponsored by Farm Credit.
Slides from Presentations:
Pittman Presentation
Loy Presentation
Stiles Presentation
Grobmyer Presentation
Meeting Agenda:
Meeting Agenda