AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
November 12, 2024
WASHINGTON AG UPDATE
Trump Wins, Republicans Take Senate and Hold House: On November 5th, American voters went to the polls and made their choices for a range of offices. The result of the vote was the election of President Donald J. Trump to serve a second term. In addition, Republicans gained majority control of the Senate and they maintained theiir majority in the House. The current Congress still has work to complete before the end of the year, but the stage is set for a new congress and new administration that will take office in January of 2025. More...DTNPF | AP Election Results | ProFarmer Perspective | NCC Election Review Document
Efforts to Enact Near-term and Long-term Solutions for Farmers Continues in Washington: Farmers from across the country continue their efforts to seek near-term and long-term support from Washington in the form of ad-hoc assistance for 2023 and 2024, and updates to the farm bill for 2025 and beyond. The outcome of the election appears to set a favorable stage for such outcomes before the end of the year, however, several steps remain as congress returns and begins work to close out the end of year and 118th congress. Many farmers, bankers, and agriculture industry leaders are expressing a sense of urgency to ensure quick delivery and certainty to the agriculture community to help ensure continuity for farmers in financing their operations for the coming year. A viable safety net is a key component for that, and most agree that waiting beyond December to enact such support is far too late for what is needed now. More...Agri-Pulse I | Agri-Pulse II | FarmPress | DTNPF
Ag Council Encourages Action on Ad-hoc Aid Proposal: In recent weeks, the Ag Council of Arkansas has worked hard to educate elected officials on the economic headwinds facing crop farmers in Arkansas. Challenging weather, high input costs, elevated interest costs, and deeply depressed commodity futures markets and poor local cash markets as combined factors are crushing farmers. On Friday, October 25th, a bill known as the Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation Act of 2024 (FARM Act) was introduced in the House under the leadership of Representative Trent Kelly and Representative Rick Crawford. This proposal provides a framework to deliver immediate direct payments to farmers to mitigate expected losses in farm income resulting in high input costs and poor commodity prices. More...Ag Council Info on FARM Act | Crawford Talks Farm Act | FarmPress | Wynne Progress | ArkansasOnline
Anticipation and Work Begins for New Administration and Congress: In the coming weeks, the Trump transition team will begin to establish key appointments for administrative positions, including cabinet secretaries and deputy secretaries. In addition, the incoming administration is expected to take a series of executive actions through executive orders to direct various agencies to begin work on priorities of the administration. Likewise, members of Congress will be sworn into office and begin the work of a new congress, and part of that process requires them to establish party leadership, set committee assignments, and update any desired rule changes. Senator Boozman is expected to become Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee for the coming 119th Congress. More...DTNPF | Politico Transition Page | Cotton Not Leaving Senate
Other News & Info from Washington:
Harvest Prices for Crop Insurance Plunge
Fed Trims Interest Rates Again
Missouri Farmer/Reality TV Star Pleads Guilty for Crop Insurance Fraud
Iraq Makes Another Big U.S. Rice Purchase
Panama Reopens Market for U.S. Rice with Help From Crawford
ARKANSAS AG UPDATE
Arkansas Elections Set Stage for Legislative Session of General Assembly: The November 5th elections in Arkansas did not provide much change for the State of Arkansas, but it did set the stage for the upcoming year, which will feature a legislative session of the Arkansas General Assembly. In the coming year, Republicans will continue to hold all statewide constitutional offices, a supermajority of the State House and Senate, and all 6 congressional offices at the U.S. Capitol. More...ArkansasOnline Election Center | Arkansas Secretary of State |
General Assembly Focused on Budget As Legislative Session Nears: As Governor Sarah Sanders and members of the Arkansas General Assembly gear up for the upcoming legislative session that will begin in January, the budget takes center stage. Governor Sanders is expected to unveil her proposed general revenue budget for fiscal 2026 on November 21st, and the general assembly continues holding budget hearings to consider spending priorities and needs for the coming legislative session and next fiscal year. The Senate elected its leaders and set committee assignments on November 7th, and the House is expected to do similar work on November 19th. The legislative session will begin January 13th and run through April 11. More...ArkansasOnline I | ArkansasOnline II | ArkansasOnline III | ArkansasSenate | ArkansasHouse
State Revenues in October Decline From 2023 Levels: According to the latest monthly revenue update from the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), monthly tax revenues for Arkansas fell in October compared to the same month last year. However, the trend of exceeding DFA forecast revenue estimates continues. Revenue collections are down from 2023 levels primarily due to recently enacted corporate and individual income tax cuts. More...ArkansasBusiness | TalkBusiness | ArkansasOnline
Governor Recognizes New Class of Century Farms: On Thursday, November 7th, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders enrolled a new class of century farms in the State Capitol. The program operated by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture invites farm families to apply for the program, which aims to recognize and salute family farms for the important role they play to our state's heritage, culture, and economic security. The Century Farm Program was established in 2012, and applications are accepted each year with annual induction ceremonies. More...Announcement from Ag Department | List of Family Farms | About the Program
Governor Issues Executive Order to Food Insecurity: On November 1, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued an executive order aimed at combating food insecurity in Arkansas. The order called for comprehensive solutions that are to include elimination of burdensome rules and regulations that might hinder or limit access to nutritious foods. The order directs state departments to conduct a thorough reviews of regulations, policies, and procedures of their agencies to identify any items that may be contributing to or exacerbating food insecurity in Arkansas. Each agency is required to submit a report to the Governor on their findings. More...Announcement
El Dorado Fertilizer Plant Receives USDA Grant to Expand: The USDA recently announced that it has extended a grant of $77 million to LSB Industries LLC in El Dorado, Arkansas, to help them expand their production capacity for urea and ammonium nitrate fertilizer supply. According to USDA, the expanded capacity will supply producers within a four-state region. The funding is granted through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) under the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP), which is aimed at increasing domestic fertilizer production to combat rising input costs facing farmers. More...ArkansasBusiness | USDA Announcement | El Dorado News-Times
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Held Groundwater Summit in Stuttgart: On November 7, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Division held a summit on groundwater at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart. The all-day meeting featured a range of speakers covering various aspects of groundwater, including conservation and use. The meeting highlighted water use trends and efforts to conserve groundwater. The State is expected to begin work to update the State Water Plan in 2025. More...ArkansasOnline | Natural Resources Division
State Celebrates I-57 Designation: Elected state and local leaders joined representatives of the Federal Highways Commission and the Arkansas Department of Transportation in Beebe on November 6th to celebrate the official designation unveiling of what is now Interstate 57 along the former Highway 67 corridor from central Arkansas to Walnut Ridge. The corridor will continue to be expanded to connect to St. Louis and to places further North. The designation is expected to lead to substantial economic opportunities to communities and industries along the corridor. More...ArkansasOnline | Video
Arkansas Set to Hold Informative Cotton Council PAC Fundraisers: The Ag Council of Arkansas in cooperation with the National Cotton Council (NCC) and through the support of area cotton industry leaders are co-hosting four fundraising events in the month of November for the NCC Political Action Committee (PAC). The PAC, known as the Committee for the Advancement of Cotton (CAC), is the primary political fundraising arm of the U.S. cotton industry. It is funded from voluntary contributions from individuals within the U.S. cotton industry. As part of the event, attendees will receive an overview of the 2024 election results and an update on policy efforts of the NCC. Individuals involved in the cotton industry of Arkansas are invited to attend and encouraged to contribute to the CAC. More...Event Information
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
Arkansas Soil Health Conference Jonesboro, AR November 13-14 | Register
Cotton Council PAC Fundraiser Manila, AR November 14
Cotton Council PAC Fundraiser Marianna, AR November 19
Cotton Council PAC Fundraiser McGehee, AR November 20
Cotton Council PAC Fundraiser West Memphis, AR November 21
Arkansas Farm Bureau Convention Hot Springs December 4-6
USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock December 8-10 | Register
Cotton Board/Cotton Inc Joint Meeting San Diego December 10-12
December 12-13 Ag Council Annual Board of Directors Meeting, Little Rock (RSVP)
Other Arkansas News & Info Links:
USDA-Arkansas October Review Newsletter
Voters Approve Issue 1 for Scholarship Lottery Funds
East Arkansas Community College Joins UofA System
UofA Trustees Consider Candidates for System President
State Treasury Reports Record Interest Earnings for Quarter
Holthouse & Senter Farms Join Forces for Efficiency
Additional Arkansas Ag Resources:
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
DeltaPlastics Push4Pickup App
Crop Residue Field Burning Smoke Management FIRESMART App
Arkansas Farm Bueau AgCast Podcast
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 Land Value & Cash Rent Estimates
Arkansas Crops Update
UADA Crop Budgets (2025)
UADA Verification Information
Arkansas Rice Research Studies Report for 2023
Arkansas Row Crop Risk Management
Pine Tree Discoloration & Mortality Reporting
Feral Hog Task Force
Arkansas Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines
Digital Edition of Delta Farm Press
H-2A Guidebook by Congressman Crawford
Enrollment Link: U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Climate Smart Grant Opportunities Dashboard
ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS
November USDA WASDE Report: On November 8, USDA issued a World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) Report and Crop Production Report. The reports showcase supply and demand estimates for major crops and include anticipated production for the 2024 crop year. The data produced in the August report furthered the expectation of a large yield across the United States for most commodities. More...WASDE Report | Secretary Briefing (slides | video) | Visual Summary | U.S. Crop Production Report | Arkansas Crop Production Report | ProFarmer Analysis
Other Market News & Info:
ProFarmer November 9 Newsletter
UADA Report on Mexico's GMO Corn Import Ban
Mural in Brazil Highlights Deforestation Concerns
Brazilian State Overturns Deforestation Prevention Laws
Other USDA Reports:
- Cotton System
- Fats & Oils
- Flour Milling
- Grain Crushings
- Cotton Ginnings
- Peanut Prices
Other links of Interest:
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
Arkansas Rice Update from UADA
Morning Coffee & Ag Markets Podcast from UADA Economists
NCC Cotton Economic Review for November
DTN Commodity Market Insights
Nutrien Ag Solutions Weather Reports
UADA Fundamentals of Federal Crop Insurance
FarmJournal ProFarmer Newsletter
Cotton Inc Monthly Economic Newsletter
Cotton Inc 2024 Mid-Year Report to USDA
USA Rice Daily
RiceStuff Podcast Homepage
Entergy Agri Desk
Jarrod Hardke's Arkansas Rice Report
Arkansas-Crops Blog
UADA Ag News Blog
USDA County Cash Rent Estimates
Arkansas Economic Profile: 2024 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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