AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
May 12, 2023
WASHINGTON AG UPDATE
Debt Ceiling Negotiations Continue as Deadline Looms: Meetings between President Biden and leadership in the U.S. House and Senate continue in an effort to establish a bipartisan and bicameral solution to a looming debt ceiling deadline of June 1 when the Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen indicates that the U.S. may no longer be able to meet its debt obligations. A meeting that was supposed to take place Friday was postponed until next week. More...WashingtonPost | NYT | Politico | AP
USDA Rice Assistance on the Way: USDA recently announced their plans to implement a new, one-time $250 million rice farmer assistance program for the 2022 growing season known as the Rice Production Program to help rice farmers offset recent spikes to input costs that have caused financial hardship. The program will be run through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which has mailed out pre-filled forms for participants who must return forms by July 10th. Payments are expected to provide a minimum support level of 1 cent per pound with a reduced payment for prevent plant acres. More...USDA Announcement | Boozman Statement | Rice Production Program Homepage | FSA-174 Form for Rice Production Program
Biden Meets with Ag Committee Leaders on Farm Bill: On Thursday, May 11th, President Biden hosted a meeting with House and Senate Agriculture Committee principles to discuss the need to develop and pass an updated farm bill. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack joined the meeting, which included Senator John Boozman (R-AR), who serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. More... AgWeb | Agri-Pulse | Politico |
ARKANSAS AG UPDATE
Members Encouraged to Apply for Service on State Boards and Commissions: During the 94th General Assembly in 2023, several laws changed related to state boards and commissions, including agriculture related boards and commissions. Most of the law changes related to the appointment processes and administrative duties of the boards and commissions. These changes were enacted in an effort to address recent court rulings and orders related to the constitutionality of the structure of the boards and commissions. With the new laws, qualified individuals are now required to apply for the positions through a web based portal administered by the Office of the Governor who is tasked with making appointments along with the confirmation of the Senate. We strongly encourage Ag Council members to apply for these positions as they serve important roles for our industry, and we stand ready to help our members navigate the appointment process. More...https://agcouncil.net/services/leadership/ | Application Portal | Office of Governor Homepage
Ag Council Board of Directors Meeting Held in Marianna The Ag Council of Arkansas held a board of directors meeting May 10th at the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station in Marianna, Arkansas. The gathering featured guest speakers that included Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward, Senate Agriculture Committee Republican Staff Director Fitzhugh Elder, and University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Economist Hunter Biram. The speakers covered the latest on implementation of new laws from the 94th General Assembly, the development of the farm bill, and current economic issues facing the row crop industry. More... Event Summary
Rice Industry Breaks Ground for New Rice Research Center: The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the new Northeast Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center (NERREC) on May 9th. The Research Center, which is actively conducting research at the 600 acre location along Highway 1 in Greenfield, will soon have supporting infrastructure for labwork, office space and meetings. Funding for the NERREC construction comes through the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, provided by the Colombia TRQ (tariff rate quotas) program as part of the U.S. – Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and private donations. More...TalkBusiness | FarmPress | NRREC Website | NRREC Twitter
USDA Seeks Nominees for Cotton Board: USDA Ag Marketing Service (AMS) announced that it is seeking nominees to the Cotton Board for the following: Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, and Importers. Certified producer organizations (CPOs), including the Ag Council of Arkansas, and certified importer organizations (CIOs) will hold caucuses to nominate two qualified persons for each open position in their respective industry segment. Arkansas's caucus date is Wednesday, July 12. Individuals wishing to serve on the cotton board should contact Andrew.Grobmyer@agcouncil.net. More...Cotton Board Announcement | USDA AMS
MidSouth Ag Law Seminar Set for June 8-9: The Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, set forth by the National Ag Law Center (NALC) based at the University of Arkansas, will take place in Memphis June 8-9 marking its 10th year. The conference, which focuses on issues relevant to the Mid-South, will include sessions on solar leasing, the 2023 Farm Bill, farm succession and healthcare planning. All net proceeds from registrations and sponsorships will go towards the newly created NALC Scott Fancher Ag Law Scholarship. More...MidSouth Ag Law Seminar Information | Agenda & Registration | Scott Fancher Ag Law Scholarship
Delta Classic Golf Tournament Scheduled for July 20: The Delta Classic Golf Classic, a four person scramble format event held a The Ridges at Village Creek, is scheduled for July 20th. The event serves as an important fundraiser to support students in the University of Arkansas's Department of Crop, Soil, & Environmental Sciences. With support from alumni and friends, CSES has awarded over $480,000 in scholarships to our deserving students. More...Tournament Information | Registration
May 31 is Deadline to Apply for Century Farm Program: The Arkansas Century Farm Program application deadline is May 31. The program recognizes Arkansas’s rich agricultural heritage and honors families who have owned and farmed the same land (at least ten acres) for at least 100 years. The program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Qualifying farms will receive a personalized Arkansas Century Farm certificate and metal sign listing the farm name and year established. More...Century Farm Program | Application Form (printable version)
Farmers Reminded to Complete Ag Census: USDA NASS is still accepting response information for its ag census through the end of May. Farmers are strongly encouraged to reply if they've not done so to date. Farmers should complete their ag census either online or by mail as soon as possible. The online questionnaire is accessible on desktop, laptop, and other mobile devices. More...agcounts.usda.gov
Additional Arkansas Ag Resources:
Ag Council Leadership Opportunities
Apply for Service on State Boards & Commissions
USDA NRCS Arkansas Offices
UADA Crop Budgets
Arkansas Row Crop Risk Management
UofA Variety Test Homepage
Rice Performance Trial Data
Cotton Variety Testing Update
2023 Arkansas Grown Publication
Digital Edition of Delta Farm Press
ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS
May 8 Crop Progress Report: On Monday, May 8th, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) issued a Crop Progress Report for Arkansas showing 92 percent of the corn crop planted, 79 percent of the rice crop planted, and 58 percent of the soybean crop planted. Cotton was reported as 30 percent planted and peanuts at 34 percent. Winter wheat was reported as 83 percent headed. Soil moisture levels remain elevated, but conditions have allowed for significant progress in planting across Arkansas. More... Arkansas Report | US Report
May 12 WASDE Report: On Friday, May 12th, USDA issued an updated World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) Report. The report provides the latest worldwide supply and demand estimates for most major agriculture commodities. More...WASDE Report | Secretary Brief | USDA Visualization | AgWeb
Cotton Economic Review
DTN Market Insights: Commodity Market Info
Arkansas Economic Profile: 2022 Pocket Facts - News | USDA Arkansas Ag Economic Overview | Arkansas Ag Census Data | Arkansas Historical Data | Arkansas Farms & Land Report | Arkansas Land Values & Cash Rent Report
Arkansas Farm Labor Report
UofA Crop Updates | UofA Land Grant Research & Extension Service Video