AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
October 28, 2022
WASHINGTON AG UPDATE
USDA Announces $800 Billion in Farm Debt Relief: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk. More... Agri-Pulse | USDA
Railroad Strike Comes Back Into Play as Unions Reject Deals: A second railroad worker union voted against ratifying the September tentative agreement. The first to reject the deal was a union representing track maintenance workers while the more recent union taking similar action was representing railroad signalworkers. While the rejection does not impose an immediate service disruptions, there is potential of a strike ocurring in late November if the unions do not ratify the proposed deal by November 19th.
More... Arkansas Business | ABC News
USDA NRCS Launches New Website: This October, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) launched a new website aimed at providing better information and service to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who utilize various programs and information available through the federal government agency. More...Announcement | USDA NRCS Website
USDA Launches New Loan Assistance Tool to Address Equity Concern: The USDA recently launched a new online tool to help farmers and ranchers better navigate the farm loan application process. This uniform application process will help to ensure all farm loan applicants receive equal support and have a consistent customer experience with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) regardless of their individual circumstances. More... USDA Announcement | FSA Loan Assistance Website
USDA Opens ARC & PLC Sign-up Window for 2023 Crop Year: USDA has opened the window in which farmers can elect and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) & Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2023 crop year. The final date to make elections is March 15, 2023. More... Farm Press
Mexico Aims to Maintain Plan to Prohibit GMO Corn Imports: According to news reports, Mexico is planning to proceed with a plan to only source non-genetically modified corn for imports by the year 2024, which is expected to lead to a reduction in U.S. exports to Mexico. The policy is expected to cut the U.S. export market (the largest export market for U.S. corn) to half of its current average of 17 million metric tons per year. The policy may be challenged by the United States as a violation of the USMCA trade agreement. More...Reuters | Agri-Pulse | International Business Times
ARKANSAS AG UPDATE
Early Voting Underway: Early voting prior to the November 8th Election Day began Monday, October 24th. This election will feature a number of elections from federal offices to statewide offices and local offices. In addition, voters will consider four statewide ballot initiatives. Please go vote!
Find your polling location | Ballot Initiative Overview | Additional voter resources
USDA NRCS 3rd Quarter Newsletter: Arkansas NRCS Newsroom
EQIP Applications Due November 4th: Farmers and landowners in Arkansas have until Nov. 4, 2022, to submit applications to receive financial assistance to implement conservation activities through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2023 program year. Applicants can sign up at their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Service Center https://www.farmers.gov/.
More...USDA NRCS Arkansas | EQIP Info
Ag Council Board Members Recently Featured in Farm Press: Recent articles in Delta Farm Press highlighted certain activities and practices underway at Arkansas farms operated by board members to the Ag Council of Arkansas. The articles showcase actions taken by these farmers to conduct field experiments aimed at advancing agriculture in areas of production, conservation and efficiency. More... Mark Isbell, Lonoke, AR | Matt Miles, McGehee, AR | Travis Senter, Osceola, AR
Arkansas Officials Create Grain Bin Rescue Unit: Ag Council of Arkansas board member Tommy Young was recently featured in a Farm Press article that featured his work in establishing a grain bin rescue unit in his home area of Jackson County. Young serves as a Justice of the Peace on the Jackson County Quorum Court, and he lead efforts to seek out federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to establish a unit within the Newport Fire Department that can service agricultural areas beyond Jackson County. More...Farm Press Article
Mississippi River Level Remains Low: While the Mississippi River basin experienced some recent rainfall in recent days, the levels in the river remain extremely low, and they continue to limit and challenge barge transportation of agriucltural commodities. More... Agri-Pulse | Business Insider | ABC News | CBS News | DTN Progressive Farmer DTNPF II DTNPF III
Abandoned Pesticide Program Collections Start October 31: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture will host 5 collection sites for abondoned pesticide disposal from October 31st though November 5th. The program is a free, non-regulatory program designed to help safely dispose of banned, unusable, and/or no longer needed/wanted agricultural chemicals. The program is funded by fees collected by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture for registered products. More...Schedule of Abandoned Pesticide Collections | Inventory Form (required)
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Releases Annual Report: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture released a new annual report for the 2022 fiscal year, which closed June 30th. The report summarizes the state of agriculture in Arkansas and various activities of the Department and its agencies through the year. More...Annual Report
Ag Farm Bureau Announces Personnel News: Recent changes in personnel at Arkansas Farm Bureau will provide for new administrators of some Arkansas commodity research and promotion boards. The personnel announcements include Tyler Oxner who will now serve as the director of commodity activities and economics while serving as the staff coordinator for the aquaculture, forestry, and wheat and feed grains commodity divisions, which includes the wheat research and promotion board as well as the corn and grain sorghum research and promotion board. In addition John McMinn will now lead the soybean division, which covers the soybean research and promotion board. More...Arkansas Business | Farm Bureau
Ag Council Annual Meeting: The Ag Council will hold its Annual Board of Directors Meeting December 12-13 at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock. Meeting Information | Schedule of Events & Confirmed Speakers | Sponsorship Opportunties Special room rates are available through November 14th by calling (501) 374-7474
Ag Census: Every 5 years, USDA conducts the Census of Agriculture, which is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Surveys mailed to producers in November are expected to be completed and returned by February. More... https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/
ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS
Crop Reports:
On Monday, October 24th, USDA released an updated Crop Progress & Condition Report
Crop Progress and Condition Report: U.S. | Arkansas
On Wednesday, October 12th, USDA issued an updated Crop Production Report
Crop Production Report: U.S. | Arkansas
October WASDE Report: On Wednesday, October 12th, USDA released a World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate Report
October WASDE
Visualization
Secretary's Briefing
WASDE Cotton: Slightly Lower Exports, Higher Ending Stocks
WASDE Oilseeds: U.S. Soybean Production Down on Decreased Yields
WASDE Rice: Unchanged Domestic Use, Lower Exports
WASDE Coarse Grains: Greater Domestic Corn Feed, Residual Use, Lower Exports
WASDE Wheat: Lower Supplies, Domestic Use, Exports, Stocks
Bayer & Nori Announce Partnership on Crypto Carbon Credits: Bayer and Nori recently announced a collaborative partnership to offer digital tokens for payment to farmers for certain farm practices that provide carbon offsets that will be transferred to potential buyers seeking carbon credits to offset emissions. Bayer plans to aggregate 400,000 acres of farmland to generate 720,000 tons of carbon offsets that will be guaranteed for a 10-year period according to its announcement. More... Agri-Pulse | Nori
Deere Announces Plan to Bring Cotton Picker Manufacturing to Louisiana from China: Deere & Company recently announced a plan to begin making medium-chassis cotton harvesters in the United States instead of China. The company plans to invest roughly $30 million dollars to expand operations at their existing factory iin Thibodaux, Louisiana, to meet the need. The expansion is expected to add 70 jobs at the location. More...Seeking Alpha | Yahoo News
Agri-Pulse Highlights Various Cotton Sustainability Programs: Agri-Pulse recently published an article highlighting various sustainability programs, including the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, that are aimed at delivering to consumers a cotton-based product that is rooted in farming and processing practices that are deemed to be sustainable. More... Agri-Pulse
Arkansas Economic Profile: 2022 Pocket Facts - News