AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
DECEMBER 21, 2023
WASHINGTON AG UPDATE
EPA Takes Action on Restoring Ag Uses of Chlorpyrifos: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently indicated it will allow farmers to resume using chlorpyrifos insecticide under new limitations that will permit use for eleven crops, including cotton and soybeans. The decision follows a recent federal appeals court ruling last month that indicated EPA went too far in 2021 when it revoked all tolerances of the insecticide and stripped farmers of a critical tool in managing certain insect pests. More...Agri-Pulse | EPA Information | AgWeb |
With Farm Bill Extension ARC/PLC Enrollment Open for 2024 Crop: With the extension of the farm bill through the 2024 crop year, USDA announced that it has now opened the opportunity for farmers to make elections for farm bill programs, including Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The enrollment window is open until March 15, 2024. More...DTNPF | USDA
H-2A Wage Rates Jump Again in 2024: Following USDA wage survey results, the U.S. Department of Labor is forcing farm employers to accept minimum wage rates or H-2A employees that are substantially higher than 2023 under the newly established Adverse Effective Wage Rates (AEWR). For Arkansas wages for ag labor will jump from $13.57/hour to $14.53/hour. More...USDA Labor Report | DOL AEWR Page | Agri-Pulse
Enlist Herbicide Use Restrictions Eased After Biological Opinion: A final biological opinion (BiOp) recently issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) determined that the registration of Enlist products is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or adversely modify their critical habitat. The BiOp contains findings from FWS that the use of Enlist products, as specified in the approved product labels, are not likely to jeopardize any listed species or adversely modify their critical habitats. The Agency intends to have label revisions approved in advance of the 2024 growing season. Mitigation actions resulting from the BE and BiOp are specific to certain geographic areas and can be found on the EPA's Bulletins Live! Two system. More...EPA Release | Federal Register | DTNPF | Corteva News Release | EPA Bulletins Live! Two
CFTC Seeks Comments on New Guidance for Voluntary Carbon Trading: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued new proposed guidance regarding the listing for trading of voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts and opened the proposal to public comments. The comment period for the proposed guidance will be open for 75 days, and will end on February 16, 2024. Such a rule could lead to the development of new opportunities for farmers to produce marketable carbon offsets to those seeking to purchase credits to offset emissions. More...CFTC Announcement | Comment Portal | Reuters | Politico
UN Climate Summit in Dubai Considers Ag: The United Nations are gathered in Dubai, U.A.E., for a two-week conference centered on climate policy in which they considered an array of broad policy goals and commitments to address common areas of concern related to the environment with a primary focus on global warming and climate change. Included in the discussion was ways for food and agriculture production systems to set and meet goals for sustainability and climate resiliency. More...Cop28Dubai | Cop28Food&AG Declaration | AgBusinessGlobal | Vilsack at Cop28
ARKANSAS AG UPDATE
Ag Council Annual Meeting Covers Plenty of Ground: The Ag Council of Arkansas held its annual board of directors meeting at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock December 14th and 15th. The meeting offered attendees an opportunity to network and share information while also conducting business and receiving presentations on issues of importance. The annual gathering helps leaders of the organization plan for the future. More...Meeting Info
Riceland Foods Names New CEO: On December 8, Riceland Foods, a Stuttgart based farmer owned cooperative, announced a transition of leadership with the immediate departure of Jason Brancel who previously served as CEO since 2022. Brancel reportedly departed to pursue other opportunities. Upon Brancel's departure, Kevin McGilton was named to serve as CEO. McGilton, a 20 year veteran of the company and rice industry, previously served as Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Chief of Staff for Riceland Foods. More...TalkBusiness | ArkansasBusiness | ArkansasOnline
USDA Arkansas December Newsletter: The USDA State Offices for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released its December newsletter. The newsletter features messages from the State Director of Farm Services and the State Conservationist. In addition, the newsletters have important information related to programs and opportunities for farmers and landowners for various programs under each agency. More...USDA Arkansas December Newsletter
UofA Division of Ag Holding Risk Management Workshops: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture announced that its economists will be bolstering their outreach to farmers with four risk-management workshops scheduled in January and February. Participants can expect to receive information from agricultural economics faculty covering a wide array of agricultural risk management topics such as cash marketing with forward contracting, optimal crop insurance coverage, financial risk management, and a market outlook. A discussion of drivers of consumer demand with farm-level implications and training on decision tools developed by agricultural economics faculty will also be given. Meetings will be held in Jonesboro, Stuttgart, Newport and Searcy. More...UADA Announcement | Registration
UofA Division of Ag Winter Production Meetings on Horizon: The University of Arkansas System's Division of Agriculture recently announced its dates and locations for upcoming annual Winter Production Meetings. The meetings will be held in January and February across much of Arkansas. The meetings provide an opportunity for producers and consultants to interface with researchers to share the latest information on various commodities grown in Arkansas. More..UADA Announcement
UofA Fayetteville Names Interim Department Heads for Bumpers College: The University of Arkansas-Fayetteville recently announced new department heads for the Bumpers College in areas important to production agriculture. Beginning in January, Lanier Nalley and Trent Roberts will serve as interim department heads for agricultural economics and agribusiness and crop, soil and environmental sciences. The two will fill in for Dr. John Anderson who was hired to serve as Director of Extension and Dr. Jeff Edwards who was hired to serve as Dean of the Bumpers College. More...UADA Announcement
Arkansas Crop Management Conference Set for January 16-18: The Arkansas Crop Management Conference (ACMC) is January 16-18, 2024 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock, AR. The conference begins at 9:00 am on January 16 and ends at noon on January 18. More...ACPA Website | Registration Form |
Arkansas Grown Conference Set for January 25-27: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture will hold its second annual Arkansas Grown & Arkansas Made conference in Hot Springs January 25-27. The event, which is a collaborative effort with a range of partner organizations, aims to provide information sessions and networking opportunities for individuals and businesses involved in the production of agriculture and food related products for local food systems. More...Arkansas Grown Conference Info | Registration Link
National Cotton & Rice Conference Set for Jonesboro January 30-31: The 27th annual National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference will be held in Jonesboro, Arkansas, January 30-31. The event, which draws attendees from multiple states offers a range of information related to production agriculture for various commodities grown in the region. More...Meeting Info | Schedule of Events
Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting Set for Jonesboro February 1: Arkansas Rice will hold its annual meeting in Jonesboro on February 1st. The meeting will provide opportunities to network, gain information related to the rice industry, and engage with the business activities of the state's leading rice industry organization. More...Meeting Info | Registration Link | Sponsorship Link
Arkansas Soybean Association Annual Meeting Set for Stuttgart February 8: Arkansas Soybean Association will hold its next annual meeting February 8th at the Grand Prairie Center in Stuttgart. The meeting will provide opportunities to network, gain information related to the soybean industry, and engage with the business activities of the state soybean industry organization. More...Meeting Info
Farmers Encouraged to Use FireSmart App for Crop Residue Burns: Arkansas farmers are encouraged to download and utilize the new FireSmart App to help farmers comply with voluntary smoke management guidelines prior to conducting crop residue field burning following harvest. The smart phone application is aimed at helping farmers check conditions and report prescribed burns to ensure minimal impact when conducting this important practice. More...FireSmartApp | Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines
Members Encouraged to Apply for Service on State Boards and Commissions: We strongly encourage Ag Council members to apply for public service on various agriculture related state boards and commissions which serve important roles for our industry. We stand ready to help our members navigate the application and appointment process. More...https://agcouncil.net/services/leadership/ | Application Portal | Office of Governor Homepage
Additional Arkansas Ag Resources:
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
Arkansas Department of Ag Calendar
Ag Council Leadership Opportunities
Apply for Service on State Boards & Commissions
USDA NRCS Arkansas Offices
USDA County Cash Rent Estimates
Arkansas Crops Update
UADA Crop Budgets
Arkansas Row Crop Risk Management
Pine Tree Discoloration & Mortality Reporting
Feral Hog Task Force
2023 Arkansas Grown Publication
Digital Edition of Delta Farm Press
Tri-State Soybean Conference Jan. 5 in Louisiana
Gillett Coon Supper Set for Jan. 13
Arkansas Crop Management Conference Jan. 16-18
ArkansasGrown Expo Jan.25-27
Arkansas Soil & Water Education Conference Jan. 29
Cotton and Rice Conference Jan. 30-31
Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting Feb. 1
ASU Agri-Business Conference Set for February 7
Arkansas Soybean Association Annual Meeting Feb. 8
NCC Annual Meeting Feb. 15-18
ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS
Panama & Suez Canal Issues Disrupt Global Trade Routes: Two major international trade corridors are facing major disruptions, which poses substantial challenges to the movement of commodities and goods between the U.S. and its trading partners around the world. The Panama Canal is facing record low water levels due to drought and the Suez Canal is facing separate challenges due to ongoing conflict in the region with the ongoing battle between Israel and Hamas as well as ongoing threats to vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. More...WSJ | NYT
USDA DEC 8 WASDE: On December 8th, the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) issued an updated World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report. The report provides the latest supply and demand estimates for primary agriculture commodities. More...December WASDE | WASDE Visualization | Secretary Briefing | December Crop Production Report | Arkansas Crop Production Report
Fertilizer Prices Trending in Right Direction for Farmers: DTNPF | DTNPF II | UADA
Cotton Council Names Chad Brewer as Director of Technical Services: On December 20th, the National Cotton Council announced that Chad Brewer will assume the position of Director of Technical Services effective January 1, 2024. Chad most recently served the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. Prior to that, Chad worked as Cotton Development Specialist and Commercial Agronomist with Corteva Agriscience Chad holds PhD and MS degrees in Weed Science from the University of Arkansas and a BS degree in Plant Science from Arkansas State University.
UADA Commodity Overview of 2023 Crop Year:
Corn & Wheat
Peanuts
Soybeans
Year-End, Year Ahead Articles:
CoBank 2024 Outlook
Fertilizer Market Year in Review
Biofuels Outlook for 2024
Risk Management Options for 2024
Weighing Farm Bill Decisions on Risk
Top Ag Stories of 2023
Oil Production Looks to Contract in 2024
USDA Farm Sector Income Forecast
Arkansas Rice Industry Year in Review
DTN Market Insights: Commodity Market Info
USDA December Processing Reports:
- Cotton System
- Fats & Oils
- Grain Crushings
- Peanut Prices
- Cotton Ginnings
Arkansas Economic Profile: 2023 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
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