In Farm BureauHathcote named outstanding teacher

Julie Hathcote, a theme specialist at Chenal Elementary School in Little Rock,

is Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 2015 Ag in the Classroom Out-standing Teacher. Hathcote was recognized during a ceremony at the school April 7.

Farm Bureau es-tablished the award in 2006 to recog-nize teachers who

have exemplary programs that integrate agricultural concepts into their curricula.

Hathcote joined the Chenal faculty as a kindergarten teacher in 2008. She was named the theme specialist last year. In this role, Hathcote teaches all 535 students at the school on a weekly basis.

“My position as the theme specialist is to incorporate the school’s theme into each child’s educational experience,” Hathcote

said. “Each week I teach a lesson to every teacher’s class that integrates one or more elements of science, creativity, language arts, math or engineering.” The school’s theme this year is, “A world of creative expression and environmental awareness for educational excellence.”

Hathcote has integrated agricultural concepts into her lessons by having Matt Jackson of Arkansas Farm Bureau bring the mobile ag experience trailer and milk cow to the school to teach students about Arkansas crops and animal agriculture. The school also has a raised-bed garden where children plant lettuce, radishes and

flowers. Hathcote plans to teach about poultry by incubating eggs, so her students can see firsthand the embryonic develop-ment of chicks.

“I believe my classroom is one in which all students can thrive, participate and experience learning in an innovative way,” she said. “At Chenal Elementary, we take pride in assuring our students receive environmental and agricultural experi-ences to better equip them with a lifelong knowledge of and appreciation for the world around them.”

Hathcote receives an expense-paid trip to Louisville, Kentucky to represent

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On April 10, Miller County Farm Bureau’s Facebook committee met with Mollie Dykes, ArFB’s social media specialist, to set up a new Facebook page and learn messaging tips. Those attending included (standing, l to r) Doug Pet-ty, Clyde Davis, Dykes and Courtney Crabtree, and (seated) Angie Rodgers, Nedra Turney, Terry Reeves and Barbara Sutton. If you would like more informa-tion on using social media in your county, contact Dykes at mollie.dykes@arfb.com.

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Clay Co. FB agency manager Cliff Gifford (standing, left) and Women’s Committee member Susan Hancock (standing, right) recently delivered a donation to Central Elementary food program organizer Candy Taylor (second from right) for use in the Corning school’s Backpacks for Kids program. The donation will help purchase food for 40 youngsters in the program.

April 24, 2015 • Vol. 18, No. 8

Hathcote

Arkansas at the National Ag in the Classroom

Conference, June 16-20.

Safety poster contest winnersArkansas Farm Bureau has announced

the winners of its annual safety poster contest, which coincided with Ag Safety Awareness Week March 1-7. The contest was designed to increase awareness of po-tential hazards on farms and ranches. The posters depicted this year’s theme, “Ride Like a Pro, Wherever You Go.”

In the first-and second-grade category, Easton Cantrell, a second-grade student at Deer Elementary in Newton County, won first place. Easton is the son of Derek and Lorie Cantrell. Kailynn Gober, a second-grade student at Gurdon Primary School in Clark County, won second place. Kailynn is the daughter of Kathryn Gober. Brance Williams, a second-grade student at Hazen Elementary in Prairie County, was third. He is the son of David and Angie Williams.

In the third-and fourth-grade category, Dusty Davis of Mena, a fourth-grader at Holly Harshman Elementary in Polk County, took first place. Dusty is the son of Dalon and Jennifer Davis. Third-grade stu-dent Lily Davis of Prairie Grove Interme-diate School in Washington County won second place. Lily’s parents are Scott and Cassie Davis. Lily Parson, a fourth-grade student at Hazen Elementary, was third. Her parents are Terry and Erica Parson.

In the fifth-and sixth-grade category, Teresa Bell, a sixth-grade student at Wick-es Elementary in Polk County, won first place. Teresa’s parents are Mary Bell and Chance Bowline. Emma Johnson, a fifth-grader at Swifton Elementary in Jackson County, took second. She is the daughter of Jacky and Ginger Johnson. Third place went to Alexandria Breedlove, a fifth-grade student at Deer Elementary. Alexandria is the daughter of Amanda Breedlove.

The contest attracted 52 entries from elementary schools in 23 counties. Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 are awarded to

the top three winners in each category.

Janet Carson gardening seminarThe Jackson County Farm Bureau

Women’s Committee, Jackson County Cooperative Extension Service, ASU-Newport and White River Garden Club will host a gardening seminar, “A Day with Janet Carson,” in Newport, June 11 at the ASU Newport Student/Community Cen-ter. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. The program will start at 9:30 a.m. and will end by 3 p.m. The cost is $15 (paid in advance), which includes lunch, door prizes and more.

To register, call the Jackson County Extension Office at 870-523-7450 or email wbarker@uaex.edu. The deadline is June 4.

In ArkansasHelp for feral hog problems

Mike Sullivan, state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service, (NRCS) announced April 15 that producers can sign up for a new feral swine management pilot program. Avail-able in Arkansas and four other states, the program is a multipartner collaboration geared toward addressing resource issues caused by feral swine.

Arkansas landowners, farmers and ranchers in eight counties — Arkansas, Chicot, Desha, Drew, Pope, Searcy, Sevier and Yell — can sign up for the Feral Swine Management Interim Conservation Activ-ity offered through the Environmental

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Dumas, Tillar, Watson and Winchester fire departments and Industrial Grain employees participated in a Techni-cian 1 rope rescue course Feb. 12-15. Bin Biliti and Mike Harp of the Safety and Technical Rescue Association trained these members of the new South Arkansas Rope Rescue Team, which now can rescue victims trapped in agricultural facilities.

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Wes Ward (left), the new Arkansas Agriculture Secretary, met Stanley Hill, vice president of ArFB’s Public Policy Department and Jeff Pitchford, director of Public Policy, State Affairs, in Ward’s office April 13. Ward assumed duties as secretary March 23. Hill and Pitchford said Farm Bureau looks forward to assisting Ward in his efforts to promote Arkansas agriculture.

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Carolyn Hubbell (left), coordinator of the Nutrition Olympics at Batesville High School, joined Donette Spann, Arkansas Beef Council promotion co-ordinator, at Spann’s Healthy Choices bracelet station during the event April 3. This is the ninth year for the Olym-pics, which engages third graders in activities promoting healthy diets and lifestyles.

Earlier this month, Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program, Act 898, which could significantly improve the way some unpaved roads in the state are built and maintained. Arkansas Farm Bureau supported the measure, which will establish a proactive, incentive-based roads program that minimizes erosion and stretches county dollars farther.

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Quality Incentives Program.The interim conservation activity will

aid with monitoring expenses. As the pilot program progresses and with measured success, additional conservation practices will be available for restoration activities.

NRCS’s role in this pilot program is limited to determining impacts upon natu-ral resources, developing a management plan to address impacted resources and evaluating the effectiveness of a practice in reducing the impacted resource. NRCS will not provide assistance for trapping, euthanizing or disposal of feral swine. This role will be fulfilled by other partners or agencies assisting with this pilot.

Applications will be accepted through May 15 and evaluated for funding based on state and nationally developed criteria. Applications ranking highest in a fund-ing category will be selected for funding, subject to availability of program funds, no later than July 3. Interested producers should visit their nearest USDA Service Center.

Business workshop, May 14Landowners, farmers and hunting clubs

wanting to earn extra income by offering recreational and other activities for visi-tors are encouraged to attend a Business Workshop for Landowners, May 14 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute atop Petit Jean Mountain. The workshop will provide an opportunity for landowners and farm-ers to seek new and innovative ways to earn extra money.

“These workshops are designed for landowners interested in learning about developing enterprises from the natural resources on their property or simply learning more about wildlife and business management,” said Daryl Jones, Enter-prises program director at Mississippi State University.

Attendees will learn about recreational enterprise potential, management for natural resources such as waterfowl, ways to market their enterprise, cost-share pro-grams that are available and ways to reduce their liability. The workshop is being held as a partnership between Mississippi State University, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.

Registration is $30 per person or $50 per couple and includes lunch and refer-ence materials. For more information or to register online, visit www.rockefellerinsti-tute.org/land.

Elsewhere

$332 million for conservationAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

has announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) accepts ACEP applications on a rolling basis but, to receive funding in fiscal year 2015, you must submit by May 15.

ACEP was authorized as a part of the 2014 farm bill and consolidated the exist-ing Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, Grassland Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program. The stream-lined program focuses on two types of easements: agricultural land easements that prevent agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural uses and help to ensure the integrity of produc-tive farm and ranch land, and wetland reserve easements that restore, protect and enhance wetlands through the purchase of an easement. Both categories include four easement options: permanent easements, 30-year easements, term easements and 30-year contracts for land owned by Native American tribes.

To learn about ACEP and other tech-nical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

Ag would benefit from TPA passage Arkansas agriculture stands to be

among the winners if Congress passes trade promotion authority (TPA), intro-duced April 16 and expected to be in com-mittee the week of April 20-24.

Arkansas Farm Bureau President Ran-dy Veach said agriculture is the country’s leading exporter and would benefit greatly from passage of the proposed legislation, which allows the administration expanded latitude to negotiate international trade agreements. Veach said TPA allows trade decisions to be made without getting caught in a political tug-of-war.

“We will continue to work closely with our members of Congress to help them understand how important this proposal is to Arkansas farmers and ranchers,” Veach said. “We know the six members of Congress from Arkansas each understand the impact that Arkansas agriculture has on the state’s economy. Passage of this legislation stands to benefit almost every sector of the agriculture economy, includ-ing livestock production, row crops and the timber industry.”

Arkansas Farm Bureau led a delegation of its county presidents to Washington, D.C. in early March, and discussed the need for trade promotion authority with members of Congress while there.

“Enabling trade promotion authority can only help Arkansas agriculture. We be-lieve this is a better way to facilitate trade agreements,” Veach said. Editor

Keith Suttonkeith.sutton@arfb.com

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Teisha Bagwell of Cave City (Sharp County) poses with Dr. Osa Amienyi, chair of the Department of Media at Arkansas State University, following the Honors Banquet for students in the College of Media and Communications. Bagwell, a junior audio-video production major, is the recipient of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Marvin Vines Memorial scholarship for 2015.

In the MarketAs of April 21, 2015

Avian influenza hits Iowa facilityThe worst case of avian influenza

thus far has been reported in an Iowa egg-laying facility in Osceola County. The Sunrise Farm facility houses 3.8 million hens, all of which have now been quarantined and will be culled. The farm is an affiliate of Sonstegard Foods Company. The U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture reports the flock numbered 5.3 million birds, which was likely the capacity of the farm rather than the actual number of hens. Iowa is the top egg-producing state in the country, and this flock represents 6 percent of the state’s egg-laying hens and 1 percent of the national flock. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency Monday, authorizing the National Guard to help contain the virus.

Chinese soybean buys expected to rise through 2024

China will likely import 82.66 MMT of soybeans in 2024, an increase of 15.8 percent from 2014 levels, ac-cording to the China Agriculture Out-look 2015-2024. However, the out-look calls for the country to remain a small net importer of corn, wheat and rice over the next decade, with corn imports expected to hold below 7.2 MMT due to quota restrictions. The extended outlook calls for cotton imports to total 2.08 MMT in 2024, a 14.8-percent decline from 2014. The nation’s textile exports are expected to decline while China increases its reli-ance on cotton substitutes.

Senate leaders pledge COOL fixShould the World Trade Organiza-

tion (WTO) rule against the U.S. in its appeal of a ruling that found U.S.

country of origin labeling (COOL) ran counter to WTO rules, Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts and ranking member Debbie Stabenow say they are ready to move legislation to modify the law to bring the U.S. into compliance at the WTO and avert threatened Canadian and Mexican retaliation. A WTO dispute panel is reviewing the U.S. COOL program and is expected to issue its report no later than May 18. Both Canada and Mexico have promised to pursue retaliatory measures if the WTO again rules against the U.S. over the issue.

Explaining the fast-track processLast week, Senate Finance panel

leaders and House Ways and Means chairman Paul Ryan reached a deal on a Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill that would make it easier for the president to negotiate trade agree-ments, limiting Congress to only yes or no votes on each deal. Under the fast-track process, the House and Senate would have a maximum of 90 session days to complete implement-ing the bill when it is introduced. While no amendments are allowed, in the past committees have held “mock markups” of trade deals before they are submitted to pressure the admin-istration to make changes before final-izing the deal. TPA is required before a Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal can be reached.

People’s Bank of China slashes cash reserve requirements

China’s central bank cut the reserve requirement ratio for banks across the country by 100 basis points to 18.5 percent, effective April 21. This is the bank’s second industrywide cut of the amount of cash banks must hold as re-serves in just two months. The central bank also announced an extra 100-ba-sis-point cut for rural credit coopera-tives and village banks, and the China Agricultural Development Bank also will see a 200-basis-point cut. These cuts are intended to boost liquidity for the Chinese economy to increase bank

lending and stimulate growth.

Japan’s proposal to boost U.S. rice imports in TPP deal not enough

Japan reportedly proposed increas-ing U.S. rice imports during recent negotiations over a trade deal between the two countries, giving ground on a sensitive agriculture product to reach a regional agreement — the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Japan proposed increasing purchases of U.S. rice by as much as 100,000 MT a year while leaving a tariff system in place. This proposal was rejected. The U.S. wants Japan to increase imports of its rice by 215,000 metric tons, of which 175,000 tons is for table rice and the remainder for food processing, national Japanese broadcaster NHK has reported. Japan imported about 360,000 tons of rice from the U.S. last year. Currently, Japan imports 770,000 tons of rice under the annual mini-mum market access (MMA) quota as per its World Trade Organization ob-ligation. The WTO regulations require Japan to import half of the 770,000 tons from the U.S. Rice imports above the MMA are subject to a 778-percent tariff.

Argentina authorizes more corn for export

Argentina has authorized an ad-ditional 3.5 MMT of corn for export during 2014-15. This brings the total amount of corn authorized for export this year to 11.5 MMT.

CONTACT

• Matt King 501-228-1297, matt.king@arfb.com.