July 12 News & Info Brief

AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
July 12, 2024

WASHINGTON AG UPDATE

SCOTUS Ruling on Regulatory Powers Could Help Ag Interests: On Friday, June 28, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a significant ruling with a 6-3 majority that is expected to sharply curtail the power of federal agencies in interpreting the laws they administer, particularly as they relate to rulemaking and enforcement of rules that depend on the agencies own interpretation of ambiguous laws. The decision may deliver far-reaching effects across various government agencies, including many that impact agriculture, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The justices overruled its landmark 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which gave rise to the doctrine known as the Chevron doctrine that granted broad agency interpretation of statutes. More...AP | NYT | Agri-Pulse | DTNPF | DTNPF II

House Committee Chairs Call for Review of Agency Rules Following SCOTUS Ruling: On July 10, multiple House Committee Chairmen submitted letters to various agencies and departments under their committee jurisdictions urging for immediate review of regulations to determine the constitutionality of the rules in relation to a recent ruling of the SCOTUS in the case of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. In its decision, the Court overruled Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council (1984), which had allowed courts to defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes. More...Letters from Committee Chairmen to Agency and Department Heads | House Ag Chairman Press Release | Reuters

Senator Cotton Introduces Legislation Aimed at Identifying Improper Agency Rules: On July 9, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) announced the introduction of legislation aimed at curtailing rules that may be considered improper in light of the recent SCOTUS opinion in the case of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. The bill, titled the Bureaucratic Overreach Review Act would review federal court decisions on laws, regulations, and legal cases that used the recently overturned Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (1984) case as the basis for their decisions. The bill would also direct federal agencies to review litigation where the agency relied upon Chevron to support its interpretation of a regulation or law. More...Cotton Press Release | ArkansasOnline

House and Senate Approach Appropriations From Different Angles: The U.S. House and U.S. Senate are both moving forward with plans to establish funding levels for the upcoming 2025 fiscal year, which begins October 1. However, with Democrats leading the Senate and Republicans leading the House, the two sides are far apart in their strategies and basic funding levels. It's unlikely that individual spending bills will find success in advancing through Congress before the fiscal year deadline, which sets the stage for additional continuing resolutions or a potential government shutdown. More..ArkansasOnline | ABCNews | AP

House Appropriations Committee Advances Ag Appropriations: On Wednesday, July 10, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee marked up and passed with a party-line vote a fiscal year 2025 funding bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The action was a first step towards completing work on federal funding plans for USDA and the FDA in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins October 1. The measure includes an overall reduction in federal spending from fiscal year 2024 with a discretionary allocation of $25.873 billion, which is $355 million (1.35%) below the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level and $2.688 billion (9.4%) below the President’s Budget Request. More...House Appropriations News Release | Bill Summary | Bill Text | Report Text

Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Ag Appropriations: On Thursday, July 11, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and passed with a unanimous vote a fiscal year 2025 funding bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This action was a first step towards completing work on federal funding plans for USDA and the FDA in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins October 1. The measure provides $27.049 billion in total funding, an $821 million increase over fiscal year 2024. More...Senate Appropriations News Release | Bill Summary | Bill Text | Report Text | Congressionally Directed Spending Projects | Agri-Pulse

House Ag Committee Considers EPA's Impact on Agriculture: On Wednesday, July 10, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing to consider the consequences of actions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on American agriculture. The hearing offered an opportunity for witnesses to speak to the wide range of challenges facing farmers and the agriculture industry that emerge from actions of the EPA. More...Hearing Page | Video | DTNPF | AgWeb

House Appropriations Measure Seeks to Freeze AEWR for H-2A Labor: On July 10, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved on a party line vote the Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which included a provision to force a freeze in increases of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) and maintain 2023 levels for the next two years. The AEWR freeze, if enacted, would provide meaningful relief to farmers facing rising input costs on the farm. Arkansas First District Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) has strongly advocated for this policy change and others to improve and enhance the H-2A program. Labor costs have increased substantially along with other input costs, which has placed a great strain on farmers. More...IowaBusinessRadioNetwork

DOL-OSHA Issues New Heat Rules for Employers: On July 2nd, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a new proposed rule aimed at protecting workers from health risks related to extreme heat. The proposed rule was roundly criticized by the employers in the agriculture community. Once published in the Federal Register, the proposed rule has a 120-day comment period. More...DOL Announcement | Proposed Rule | DTNPF

New EPA Action on Atrazine Seen as Positive for Ag: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently raised its estimates on levels of atrazine levels in water that would adversely affect aquatic plants, which appears to send a positive signal to farmers who depend on the popular herbicide for weed control. The EPA adjusted from its previously proposed 3.4 micrograms per liters to 9.7 micrograms per liter, which weed scientists believe is a much more feasible or workable number to maintain. More...Agri-Pulse | BrownfieldAgNews | EPA Statement | RFDTV |

House and Senate Currently Differ on DJI Drone Policy: WIthin the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bills in the House and the Senate, each body differs on policies related to the availability and use of DJI drones and its related software for agriculture usage. The popular Chinese made drones have a significant share of a rapidly expanding market, particularly among spray drones that can deliver crop protection products. The House passed version establishes a product ban while the Senate Armed Services Committee passed bill does not currently contain such language. This issue has become a growing concern among farmers who've made significant investments in the DJI systems, and it's raised substantial concerns among users of the DJI drone systems. More...AgFunderNews | AgWeb

ARKANSAS AG UPDATE

General Assembly's June Special Session Pushes Income Taxes Down Further: Following Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' call for a special legislative session of the Arkansas General Assembly to address tax cuts and funding for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the legislature delivered new corporate and individual tax cuts and a funding solution for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for the 2025 fiscal year. The enacted tax cuts brings the state's top individual income tax rate from 4.4% to 3.9% and the state's top corporate income tax rate from 4.8% to 4.3%, with both new rates beginning in tax year 2024. In addition, the homestead tax credit was increased by $75 dollars. More...ArkansasOnline | AP | TalkBusiness

State Ends Fiscal Year with Nearly $700 Million Surplus: According to a recently issued June revenue report from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Arkansas rounded out the state's 2024 fiscal year with a year end surplus of $698.4 million. The surplus was measured as the fourth largest in state history. According to DFA, the 2024 surplus will add $290 million to the state's reserves, which in total now accounts for nearly $3 billion. More...ArkansasOnline | DFA Report | TalkBusiness

I-57 Designation Likely Coming Soon According to ARDOT: The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) recently indicated that the re-designation of a 123-mile stretch of U.S. 67 to Interstate 57 could happen before the calendar year. The stretch has maintained its designation as "future I-57" for several years, and many improvements to build the system out to interstate grade have been made over the years. The corridor is important for many communities in Arkansas as it would provide more economic development opportunity and expedite the flow of commerce along the corridor. The designation is also expected to accelerate the development of the underdevelopment parts of the corridor between Walnut Ridge and Sikeston Missouri where it becomes I-57 again all the way to Chicago. More...ArkansasOnline | ARDOT Public Meetings | More ARDOT Info on I-57 | ARDOT Public Comment Link

Governor Appoints Caldwell to Game & Fish Commission: On July 8, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the appointment of Chris Caldwell to serve as the newest Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner. Caldwell, who’s set to serve a seven-year term replaces outgoing Commission Chairman Stan Jones. John David “J.D.” Neeley is set to serve as the newest Commission Chairman. More...Governor's Announcement | AGFC News Release | Video of Ceremony

Siebenmorgan Memorial Scholarship Established to Support Rice Industry: Terry Siebenmorgen, known around the globe for his work in rice processing, is being honored by an endowed scholarship launched at the 30th annual Industry Alliance Meeting held by the program he founded in 1994. Siebenmorgen, who passed away in 2020, established the Rice Processing Program in 1994 to address issues in the U.S. rice industry through scientific research. The Terry Siebenmorgen Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate students majoring in food science, with a preference given to students pursuing rice-related research or work. More...UADA Announcement | Contribution Link

Ag Council Board of Directors Meeting August 15: The Ag Council board of directors will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 15th, at the new Northeast Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center in Greenfield, AR. Board members will gather to share experiences from the 2024 crop year, receive informative presentations on relevant issues, and discuss important policy matters facing farmers and the agriculture industry. The meeting is open to ag council members and invited guests. Non board members should contact andrew.grobmyer@agcouncil.net to RSVP for attendance. The meeting will begin at 9am and conclude with lunch. More...Meeting Info

Delta Plastics Offering Money for Used Pipe Through App: Delta Plastics, a leading plastics company that provides polytube irrigation product to farmers throughout Arkansas, is offering money to farmers who utilize their "push to pick up" smart phone app to request a recycling pick up for used polypipe. The payment is for a limited time as an early bird reward for those who use the app to order the recycling pickup. The payment is on a per roll basis. More...Press Release | Announcement | Delta Plastics Recycling Home Page | Link to App

USDA Encourages Farmers to Complete Conservation Surveys: USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is asking Arkansas farmers to respond to its 2024 Conservation Effects Assessment Project survey, which helps provide information regarding conservation efforts on working farmlands. The multi-agency effort led by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) aims to quantify the positive effects of conservation practices across agricultural working lands. Nearly 250 Arkansas farm operators and 12,000 nationwide were targeted with the survey. More....USDA Announcement |

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

Upcoming Meetings and Events:
July 16 Arkansas Cotton State Support, Marianna
July 16-18 Arkansas Water Resources Conference, Fayetteville
July 23 Arkansas Corn & Grain Sorghum Research & Promotion Board, Little Rock
July 25-26 Arkansas Farm Bureau Officers & Leaders Conference, Jonesboro
August 1 Arkansas Rice Field Day, Stuttgart
August 1-2 American Cotton Producers & Cotton Foundation Meeting, Asheville, NC
August 8 Northeast Arkansas Rice Research & Extension Center Field Day, Greenfield
August 15 Ag Council of Arkansas Board of Directors Meeting, Greenfield
August 20-22 National Cotton Council Mid-Year Meeting, Memphis

Additional Arkansas Ag Resources:
GrowForTheGreen Soybean Yield Challenge
MostCropPerDrop Irrigation Efficiency Challenge
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
USDA AMS Service Rates
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
UADA Verification Information
Arkansas Row Crop Risk Management
Pine Tree Discoloration & Mortality Reporting
Feral Hog Task Force
Digital Edition of Delta Farm Press
H-2A Guidebook by Congressman Crawford
AgriCapture Carbon Program
Bayer Carbon Program (ForGround)
Indigo Carbon Program
Corteva Carbon Program
Truterra Carbon Program
Nutrien Carbon Program (FarmSmart)

ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS

USDA Issues Crop Progress Report: On Monday, July 8, USDA issued a Crop Progress and Condition Report for the 2024 crop year. According to the report, 14 percent of corn was dented, 35 percent of cotton was setting bolls, 60 percent of peanuts were pegging, 22 percent of rice was headed, and 58 percent of soybeans are setting pods. This reported progress is well ahead of the five-year average as many acres were planted early this year. The report indicated a solid majority of acres of all major row crop commodities to be in good to excellent shape at this juncture. More...U.S. Report | Arkansas Report

USDA Issues Acreage Report: On June 28, USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) issued its annual crop acreage report showing the latest planted acreage report for the 2024 crop year. The report showed estimated acreage changes from the 2023 crop year. For Arkansas, corn saw the biggest percent decline in acreage while cotton saw the biggest increase. At the national level, corn saw a 3 percent decline in acreage while soybeans saw a 3 percent increase. Cotton acres increased 15 percent nationally. More...Arkansas Acreage Report | U.S. Acreage Report | UADA Summary of Report

July WASDE Report: On Friday, July 12, USDA issued its July World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) Report. This report shows the latest world supply and demand estimates for primary commodities. The report as a whole did not provide much information to drive commodity futures prices upward, which indicates continued challenges for the row crop industry as production costs outstrip expected income from harvested crops. More...July WASDE | Secretary Briefing Video | Secretary Briefing Slides | July Regional Crop Production Report l July U.S. Production Report

UofA Study Unsurprisingly Finds Major Problems Without Crop Protection Products: A recent study by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture research scientists highlights substantial negative consequences of policies that would severely limit or prohibit use of crop protection products. The life cycle assessment study investigated the removal of crop protection products in the nation’s three largest commodity crops (corn, cotton and soybeans) to determine outcomes in four primary impact categories: near-term climate change, fossil and nuclear energy use, land use measured as land occupation and biodiversity, and water consumption. More...UofA Press Release | UofA Lifecycle Assessment Report | UofA Podcast on Report

Deere Issues Substantial Layoffs Amid Slowdown: Deere & Co. recently announced substantial cuts to manufacturing jobs at its U.S. plants, including several hundred from its plants in Illinois and Iowa. This news follows a previous recent reduction from other operation centers in Iowa. The reductions in workforce appear to be a leading indicator of a slowdown in the agriculture economy as farm revenue declines steepen for farmers due to higher inputs and falling commodity futures prices. More...DTNPF | FoxBusiness | AOL | DesMoinesRegister

Plant Molecular Farming Offers Potential for Demand: A recent article put forth by the American Soybean Association (ASA) introduced the potential crop value additions that could come through research and development of what is described as plant molecular farming. According to ASA, this biotechnology practice could open up new demand opportunities for crops in a wide range of areas. Molecular farming is when plants are genetically engineered for the purpose of creating new proteins that are not native to the plant; those proteins are then harvested at scale to meet a unique market purpose. More...CropLife | ASA Article

New Program on A&E Focuses on Soybean Farmers: A new documentary that recently began airing on A&E June 22 showcases the innovative power of soybeans and U.S. soybean farmers’ dedication to producing a crop that is revolutionizing various industries. With an American origin story that dates back nearly 150 years, the soybean plant has evolved into a resource used by farmers, chemists, historians, chefs, and astro-biologists. The program includes visits to Arkansas with Ag Council board member Brad Doyle. More...GroundBreaking: A Story of Innovation | A&E Link

Other USDA Reports:
- Cotton System
- Fats & Oils
- Grain Crushings
- Peanut Prices
- Crop Production
- Acreage
- Grain Stocks
- Rice Stocks
- Agricultural Prices

Other links of Interest:
NCC's Estimated 2023 STAX Payments for Cotton Farmers
FarmJournal ProFarmer Newsletter
CoBank Quarterly Newsletter
Arkansas Farmer Travis Senter on Using ChatGPT on the Farm
Arkansas Dicamba Use Prohibited After June 30
Entergy Agri Desk
FireSmart App for Smoke Management
Jarrod Hardke's Arkansas Rice Report
Arkansas-Crops Blog
UADA Ag News Blog

DTN Market Insights: Commodity Market Info

UofA Crop Updates | UofA Land Grant Research & Extension Service Video

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