In Farm BureauM*A*S*H signups underway

Applications are now available to high school students for the summer 2016 M*A*S*H camps. These camps will be at 34 medical facilities throughout Arkansas. Two new host facilities have been added this year: DeQueen Medical Center and Black River Technical College in Pocahontas.

The two-week M*A*S*H camps are designed to expose rising high-school juniors and seniors to health care-related vocations.

“The MASH program gives students an inside look at various medical professions and is designed to spark students’ interest in the medical field,” said Jennifer Victory, rural health specialist for Arkansas Farm Bureau. “A large number of the camps are held at rural medical centers and attract campers from a rural background. The idea is that future medical students from a rural background are more likely to return to their roots.”

Applications are available through school guidance counselors, by contacting

the M*A*S*H director in your area or by visiting www.arkansashealthcareers.com. For a complete list of camp locations and directors, visit www.arfb.com and refer to the M*A*S*H camps news release posted under “What’s New?”

County Farm Bureau organizations and the M*A*S*H Partnership sponsor students, so they may attend the camps at no cost. The partnership includes the Uni-versity of Arkansas for Medical Science’s Regional Centers, Arkansas Blue Cross

and Blue Shield, Arkansas Farm Bureau and Baptist Health. More information on the M*A*S*H program can be obtained by contacting Amber Marshall with UAMS, 501-686-6188, or Jennifer Victory of Arkansas Farm Bureau, 501-228-1269.

AFBF joins data initiativeOn March 3, the American Farm

Bureau Federation and a host of other agricultural groups revealed a ground-breaking data repository that supporters

March 18, 2016 • Vol. 19, No. 6A

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On March 4 in Little Rock, the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame honored six in-dividuals whose leadership and service have brought distinction to the state’s larg-est industry: (left to right) Henry Caldwell (accepting for his late father William Henry Caldwell of Rosebud); John Frank Pendergrass of Charleston; Philip Tappe, dean of UAM’s School of For-est Resources (accepting for the late Hank Chamberlin of Monticello); Rep. David Hillman of Almyra; Bobby Huey of Newport and Gary George of Springdale.

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Estate attorney Gayle Corley (standing) and Quinton

Smith (right), an estate plan-ner with Southern Farm Bu-

reau Life Insurance, presented a popular workshop on

“Continuing to Farm After the Death of a Spouse” at ArFB’s Statewide Women’s Confer-

ence. More than 160 women from throughout the state

attended the conference March 4-5 in Little Rock.

say will give farmers ultimate control over the

ever-increasing business data gathered and transmitted by high-tech farm machinery.

Tractors, tilling equipment, planters, sprayers, harvesters and agricultural drones are increasingly connected to the Internet. Even so, farmers don’t always have the ability to precisely control where that data goes, nor transfer it from one data processor to another. The newly formed Agricultural Data Coalition will empower farmers to better control, man-age and maximize the value of the data they collect every day in the fields.

“Farmers must retain ownership and control of the private agricultural data that originates from the work they do in their fields,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Harnessing that proprietary information for field-level efficiency and effectiveness is the key that will unlock more profitabil-ity and the greater adoption of precision agriculture. That’s good for business and the environment, too.”

The Agricultural Data Coalition (ADC) is the result of years of planning and coordination by AFBF, Auburn University, Ohio State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, AGCO, CNH Industri-al, Crop IMS, Raven Industries, Mississippi State University and Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.

ADC’s goal is to build a national online repository where farmers can securely store and control the information collected

by their tractors, harvesters, aerial drones and other devices. Over time, that data can then be scrubbed, synced and transmitted in an efficient and uniform way to third parties, including researchers, crop insur-ance agents, government officials, farm managers, input providers or any trusted adviser the farmer chooses.

“The key is that farmers are in complete control, and they decide who is allowed ac-cess to their data,” ADC Interim Executive Director Matt Bechdol said. “That’s what sets ADC apart. This is not about profit for others; it’s about streamlining data man-

agement, establishing clear lines of control and helping growers utilize their data in ways that ultimately benefit them.”

Farmers interested in learning more about data collection, and organizations interested in joining ADC’s efforts, should visit the soon-to-be-launched www.AgDataCoaltion.org.

Dairy Ambassador Program Do you know a young person with

an enthusiasm for dairy cattle and the dairy industry? They could qualify to be Arkansas’ 2016 dairy ambassador who will represent the industry at events around the state throughout the coming year.

Students ages 14 to 19 who are enrolled in 4-H or FFA and living in Arkansas may enter. Participants must be genuine users of dairy products and genuine supporters of the dairy industry and its future success.

Judges will select a winner and first runner-up, which will be announced June 4 during Dairy Days on the fairgrounds in Bentonville.

For an entry application and program criteria, contact your local county Farm Bureau office or your local county Coop-erative Extension Service office.

The forms also can be found on the Arkansas Farm Bureau website, www.arfb.com. Click on “Get Involved,” then “Contests & Promotions.” Entries must be received by Bruce Tencleve in the state Farm Bureau office by May 27.

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On Feb. 25, at the Walmart in Newport, Mandi Lassiter (left), chair-man of the Jackson Co. FB Women’s Committee, donated food items to Sandy Youngblood with the Newport Elementary Backpack Program. Each Friday, the program provides food sacks for 75 local children, each filled with nutritious foods for the youngsters’ weekend meals.

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Jeff Rutledge, a Newport grain farmer, looks across the White River at Des Arc March 8 at a terminal recently closed by Bunge Company. Bunge has sold or closed its facilities on the White because the Corps of Engineers has not dredged its channels in more than six years, making it unnavigable for barge traffic. Farmers now face higher costs of delivering their grain elsewhere.

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On March 7, Rep. Rick Crawford (right), on behalf of Arkansas Farm Bureau, presented two new irrigation awards. Extension agent Brett Gordon accepted the award for highest water use efficiency for irrigated soybeans for Keith and Bradley Watkins of Griffith-ville. Lawrence County farmer Craig Williams won for most improvement in irrigation profitability.

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The staff at the Bradley Co. FB office in Warren held a retirement party Feb. 25 to recognize Kay Thomason for 48 years of dedicated service to the organization. Scores of people attended, including Warren Mayor Bryan Martin, who issued a procla-mation honoring Thomason and her long service to the citizens of the city and county.

FBs help feed AmericaThe farm and ranch families of Farm

Bureau raised more than $1.1 million and donated a record of more than 48 million pounds of food to assist hungry Americans as part of Farm Bureau’s “Harvest for All” program. Combined, the monetary and food donations also reached a record level of the equivalent of more than 49 million meals.

Now in its 14th year, “Harvest for All” is spearheaded by members of Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program, but Farm Bureau members of all ages from across the nation contribute to the effort. In all, 19 state Farm Bureaus and the American Farm Bureau Federation heeded the call to action, helping ensure Ameri-cans in need can enjoy the bounty of food farmers and ranchers produce.

In ArkansasDelta symposium

Simmons Bank is sponsoring a one-day symposium April 7 that will take place at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Titled “The Arkansas Delta: Why It Still Mat-ters,” the event is designed to help com-munity leaders network with each other and discuss how towns can be managed in the face of a declining population base. Opinion leaders, policy makers, business owners, officeholders, educators and others from across the Delta are invited. High-

profile speakers will discuss the socio-economic impact of a declining population base and the future management of Delta towns.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. For those who register by April 1, lunch will be provided. Space is limited, so those wanting to attend are encouraged to register no later than April 1 at http://simmons.sullivandigital.com/DeltaConference/.

For a program outline, visit www.sim-monsfirst.com/!userfiles/DeltaAgenda.pdf. For questions, call 800-527-1625 or email events@simmonsfirst.com.

Rains unlikely to impact rice acreageDespite receiving more than a foot

of rain in four days in some portions of the state, the steady downpour shouldn’t impact an overall increase in 2016 rice acreage, experts say.

University of Arkansas rice agronomist Jarrod Hardke said grower surveys indicate Arkansas farmers will be planting between 1.5 and 1.6 million acres of rice this year, a 20 percent jump from 2015. And although heavy rains across the state could push planting dates into early April, they’re not likely going to impact growers’ long-range plans, he said.

“Obviously, what happens before plant-ing determines a lot,” Hardke said. “Any-where there are heavier clay soils are going to take this a lot harder. But lighter soils in the north, where they’re getting less rain,

may end up in a better situation. But nothing currently suggests we’ll devi-ate from our current acreage projection.”

Hardke said some growers will likely plant slightly more rice than they typi-cally do, using acreage otherwise set aside for soybeans, due to commodity market considerations.

ElsewhereThank a consumer

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alli-ance is urging all agriculturists to “Thank a Consumer,” because in agriculture, cus-tomers are the people who eat, wear and use the commodities that farmers grow and raise every day.

“We as farmers and ranchers sometimes don’t take the time to stop and show our appreciation to our neighbors, our Face-book friends and all those people we don’t know who buy and use our products,” said Nancy Kavazanjian, USFRA chairwoman and a Wisconsin farmer. “In the U.S. and abroad, all consumers help sustain farmers and ranchers’ livelihood and contribute to their overall profitability. Many campaigns justifiably thank farmers and ranchers, but now it’s our turn to share that gratitude and thank consumers for their continued support in buying the food and products that we grow and raise for them.”

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Pulaski Co. FB board member Kathy Ratliff and Membership Services Representative Suzanne Minton discuss the benefits of Farm Bureau membership with an attendee at the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show Feb. 27 at the Statehouse Conven-tion Center in Little Rock. Farm Bureau was one of the sponsors of the show, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.

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On March 4, the Arkansas Farm Bureau State Women’s Committee and county leaders visited Little Rock to make their annual donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas. A total of $4,000 in Sam’s Club gift cards were donated to help the charity purchase food used to feed families who stay at the facility while their children are being treated in area hospitals.

EditorKeith Suttonkeith.sutton@arfb.com

In the MarketAs of March 16, 2016

Corruption in BrazilLast week, state prosecutors officially filed charges against former Brazil-ian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after bringing him in for questioning regarding a money laundering inves-tigation. The prosecutors’ spokesman declined to specify the charges. If Lula is indicted, it increases the odds the cur-rent president, Dilma Rousseff, will be impeached. Following the indictment, huge protests broke out across Brazil. Around 3.3 million people in more than 200 cities demonstrated against the government regarding corruption and Brazil’s economic downturn. The protesters are calling for the resignation of President Dilma Rousseff, as well as the arrest of her predecessor, Luiz Inacia Lula da Silva. Lula has been charged with money laundering and hiding assets. On March 15, Brazil’s Supreme Court accepted a plea agreement with former Senate leader of the governing Workers’ Party, Delcidio do Amaral, in connection with the Petrobras corrup-tion case. The court made his massive plea deal public. It includes detailed accusations against President Dilma Rousseff, former President Inacio Lula da Silva and many other high-ranking officials. Amaral’s plea bargain also de-tails how funds skimmed from the state oil company Petrobras were channeled into the massive ethanol start-up group, Brenco. The ethanol company has since been bought by the cane industry divi-sion of Odebrecht. Amaral’s plea deal also leveled charges against the Bumlai family that controls the Sao Fernando ethanol mill that is now in bankruptcy.

Beef price surgeLive and feeder cattle futures posted strong gains March 15 as early opti-mism about this week’s cash prospects triggered some technical-based buying. Beef prices have climbed sharply higher to start the week, including a $3.54

surge for Choice cuts and a $4.09 jump for Select values on March 15. This is expected to pull packers’ profit margins back into the black, adding to the case for higher cash trade.

U.S. ethanol glutKinder Morgan Inc., the nation’s largest pipeline operator, said March 14 it is rerouting delivery trucks away from its Argo, Ill., terminal to another facility nearby because of what it describes as “an imbalance of stockpile inventories” at both locations. Argo is the biggest U.S. storage hub for the fuel.

Argentine wheat coming to U.SReports note a ship is destined to reach North Carolina shores this month with wheat supplies from Argentina. Olympos, the vessel that loaded 23,494 metric tons of wheat and 24,456 tons of soybean meal on March 14 at Las Pal-mas terminal in the Zarate province of Buenos Aires, will depart this week and is scheduled to reach Wilmington port on March 30, according to Rosario port data and a sailing schedule posted on the North Carolina State Ports Author-ity website.

Chinese cotton imports plungeChina imported 56,300 MT of cotton during February, down roughly 65 per-cent from the year prior and 41 percent from January, according to the trade website cncotton.com, which cites cus-toms data. The gap between domestic and international prices is narrowing, further slowing already lagging ship-ments. In 2015, China’s cotton imports hit a nine-year low.

Soybean export premiums climb as Brazil ship lineup buildsSoybean export premiums in Brazil surged over the past week, despite an increase in ship lineups as soybean harvest reaches its peak period. Wait times for newly arriving ships are as long as 57 days at the port of Santos and 47 days at the port of Paranagua. Certo, a price discovery agency, reports that prompt export premiums climbed to 38/41 cents per bushel (buy/sell) over Chicago May soybean futures, versus

24/28 cents per bushel a week ago. The Brazilian real also rose over the past week. As a result, “the only way to keep liquidity in export sales while Chicago prices are stable is to raise premiums,” explained Carlos Ronaldo D’Avalo, a trader at Granos Corretora.

Oil prices may have bottomedOil prices may have bottomed, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today, explaining that production de-clines in the U.S. and other non-OPEC producers have accelerated. It also notes that the increase in the Iranian supply has not been dramatic. Meanwhile, oil prices are on track for a fourth consecu-tive weekly gain.

Chinese inflation jumps due to surge in food pricesChina’s consumer inflation picked up in February, boosting talk that authorities may reign in liquidity to prevent deep-ening inflation. The consumer price in-dex rose 2.3 percent from a year earlier, quicker than a 1.8-percent increase in January. China’s inflation rose the fastest since mid-2014 as food prices surged 7.3 percent on the month.

China to work on supply side reform for agricultureAfter 12 consecutive years of harvest increases, China will no longer pursue increased grain output over the next five years, says Agriculture Minister Han Changfu. Han also said that the coun-try’s ag sector needs to focus on supply-side reform, especially in corn, given bumper harvests and surplus grain stockpiles. Han said increasing farmer incomes will be a priority over the next five years, with a focus on ag industri-alization, cutting costs and improving technology.

CONTACT• Matt King 501-228-1297,

matt.king@arfb.com.