AG COUNCIL NEWS & INFORMATION BRIEF
April 3, 2024
WASHINGTON AG UPDATE
Congress Takes Care of Fiscal Year 2024 Spending: Congress was able to avoid a government shutdown when it passed the second batch of spending bills in late March that will fund the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends September 30. Passage of the measure clears the way for Congress to begin work on fiscal year 2025 and other priorities including aid packages related to Israel and Ukraine. It also may open the door for consideration of other legislation, including the farm bill. However, election year politics, which will include a presidential election and determine which party controls the House and the Senate, is expected to serve as an obstacle to constructive legislative activities. More... AP News | WSJ | Reuters | NPR | Senate Approps Committee Announcement
Door May Soon Open for Farm Bill Actions: With the passage of compromise agreements on spending levels for the federal government through the end of the fiscal year, an opportunity may soon present for action related to the farm bill. According to reports out of Washington, the House is most likely to lead with legislation that could come as early as late April. The Senate appears to be moving at a slower pace. More...BrownfieldAgNews | Boozman Interview at Agri-Pulse Ag Policy Summit | Boozman Interview with Arkansas Farm Bureau | Stabenow Interview at Agri-Pulse Ag Policy Summit | Vilsack Interview at Agri-Pulse Ag Policy Summit | Agri-Pulse Interview with House Chairman GT Thompson
Crawford Talks H-2A with Agri-Pulse: In late March, Congressman Rick Crawford joined Agri-Pulse for their Newsmakers video podcast to discuss a new, bipartisan congressional report that included recommendations for improving the H-2A program. Crawford served as a co-chair of the group that developed the report, and he held listening sessions in Arkansas with members of the Ag Council. More...Agri-Pulse Newsmakers Interview | H-2A Report | Agriculture Committee News Release About Report
Secretary Vilsack Talks Ag Spending with House Appropriations Committee: On March 21, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack provided testimony to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Agriculture to discuss fiscal year 2025 funding needs and ongoing activities in the current fiscal year. More...House Ag Appropriations Video | TheFencePost | Agri-Pulse | DTNPF
Biden Unveils Budget Proposal for 2025 Fiscal Year: On March 11, President Biden unveiled a budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year, which will begin October 1. The budget proposal, which outlines funding priorities of the administration was delivered to congress for consideration as they begin work on developing budgets and spending proposals for the coming fiscal year. The president's budget included substantial spending increases to USDA and outlined some policy wishes for the upcoming farm bill. More...Biden Budget Homepage | Budget Proposal | Budget Appendix | Vilsack Statement on Biden Budget | Agri-Pulse | RollCall
Republican Study Committee Issues New Spending Proposal with Big Cuts to Ag: On March 20, the Republican Study Committee, a collection of conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives, released an outline for a proposed budget for the federal government. The budget proposal included many significant cuts to various programs, including those administered by USDA. Some of the proposals relating to the farm bill may serve as proposed amendments for the farm bill when the legislation is considered in the House. More...RSC Press Release | RSC Budget Proposal | TheFencePost | About the RSC
USTR Releases Foreign Trade Barrier Report: The United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai recently released the 2024 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE Report), which provides a comprehensive review of significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment, and U.S. electronic commerce in key export markets for the United States. More..USTR Announcement | Report | Agri-Pulse
EPA Issues New Fuel Economy Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks: On March 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3,” that sets stronger standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty (HD) vehicles beginning in model year (MY) 2027. The new standards will be applicable to HD vocational vehicles (such as delivery trucks, refuse haulers, public utility trucks, transit, shuttle, school buses, etc.) and tractors (such as day cabs and sleeper cabs on tractor-trailer trucks) More...DTNPF | EPA Announcement | Rule Info
Hill Seeks Committee Leadership Post: Arkansas Congressman French Hill recently announced plans to pursue the top republican post on the House Financial Services Committee. He believes his leadership and experience in public service and the private sector make him well suited for the role. Hill has a long record of financial service leadership and experience as well as public service leadership and experience, and much of both tie directly to banking and the financial services industry. More...ArkansasOnline | KUAR
ARKANSAS AG UPDATE
US Cotton Trust Protocol Offers New Payments with Climate Funding: The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP), the U.S. cotton industry's sustainability initiative is currently accepting enrollment of cotton producers for the 2024 crop year and bales from the 2023 crop. Included in this year's application process is the opportunity to participate in the Climate Smart Cotton Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to farmers for participating in an advanced level of the protocol. April 30th is the deadline to enroll in the Trust Protocol and apply for the Climate Smart Program. More...Cotton Grower Magazine | Farm Progress | AgWired | USCTP Enrollment Link
Arkansas Farmers to Have Options for Conservation Funding with New Climate Programs: Arkansas farmers have multiple options to seek out funding incentives for conservation programs deemed to be "climate smart" through grants issued from USDA to various agriculture organizations and enterprises. The grants were part of a Climate Smart Commodity Program established by USDA with use of funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation. Practices such as alternate wetting and drying and furrow irrigation in rice will provide payment opportunities as well as no-till and cover crops for other commodities. Additional practices are also eligible. For cotton farmers, enrolling acres in the industry's U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol program also offers payment opportunities. Some application windows have already opened and closed while others are expected in coming days and weeks, but they are not expected to be open long. More...Climate Smart Cotton | Climate Smart Rice | Winrock/Riceland Foods Program | AgriCapture | Rice-Tec SmartRice | Alliance for CS Ag | More Arkansas Related CSAF Opportunities | USDA CSAF Homepage
Arkansas Revenues Maintain Surplus Levels According to Monthly Report: On April 2, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) released an updated monthly revenue report for the State of Arkansas. According to the report, state revenues for the month were strong and in excess of 2023 March collections. March 2024 collections were 3.2% higher than March 2023, and 9.6% above forecast. For the fiscal year, which concludes June 30, state revenues are at $6.1 billion year to date, which is down 1.5% compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. However, year to date revenues are 1.4% ahead of DFA forecasted levels. More...DFA March General Revenue Report | TalkBusiness | ArkansasOnline | ArkansasBusiness
Governor and Legislature Set State for Fiscal Session with Budget Actions: In March, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Joint Budget Committee of the Arkansas General Assembly took first steps in considering a balanced budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The Governor submitted a letter to the committee outlining a budget proposal that included limited increases in government spending with plans to reduce the size and scope of state government while also making new investments in key priorities including teacher pay. The general assembly begin work on implementing a balanced budget plan in the fiscal session beginning April 10. More...Governor's Letter to Joint Budget | 2025 Budget Proposal Outline | ArkansasOnline
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Launch Ag Tourism Website: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture recently announced the addition of Arkansas Agritourism to the multi-platform website that currently includes the Arkansas Grown and Arkansas Farm to School websites. This collaboration connects consumers to local food, farm to school programs, and agritourism within the state and can be accessed through a series of websites. More...Arkansas Department of Ag News Release | TalkBusiness | Arkansas Ag Tourism Website |
Secretary Ward Joins Ag Trade Mission to South Korea: Arkansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward participated in a USDA Agricultural Trade Mission to the Republic of Korea from March 24-28, 2024. Secretary Ward joined USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, as well as North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture, Doug Goehring, Indiana Director of Agriculture, Don Lamb, and California Secretary of Agriculture, Karen Ross. The visit follows Governor Sanders’ successful trade mission to Korea in March where the Governor met with President Yoon, Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Dugeun Ahn, the Korean International Trade Association and Korea-U.S. Economic Counsel, Inc, and POSCO Group. More...Arkansas Department of Agriculture News Release
Save the Date! Ag Council Sets Dates for 2024 Board of Director Meetings: The Ag Council of Arkansas has set dates for its upcoming board of directors meetings this year. The meetings are open to Ag Council board of directors and invited guests. Other Ag Council members and sponsors are welcome to attend general sessions of these meetings provided they notify staff of their plans to attend in advance of the meetings. Spring Meeting: Tuesday, May 14 at the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station in Marianna (Tentative Agenda); Summer Meeting: Thursday, August 15 at the Northeast Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center in Greenfield; Annual Meeting: Thursday and Friday, December 12-13 at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock
Arkansas Department of Ag Accepting Century Farm Applications Through May 31: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2024 Arkansas Century Farm Program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. The program is voluntary and there is no cost to apply. More...Century Farm Homepage | News Release
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:
4.1.24 Nutrien Weather Forecast with Eric Snodgrass
USDA Daily Arkansas Grain Bids
Arkansas Department of Ag Calendar
Ag Council Leadership Opportunities
Apply for Service on State Boards & Commissions
2024 Arkansas Rural Development Conference May 21-23
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
2023 Arkansas Grown Publication
Digital Edition of Delta Farm Press
H-2A Guidebook by Congressman Crawford
Bayer Carbon Program (ForGround)
Indigo Carbon Program
Corteva Carbon Program
Truterra Carbon Program
Nutrien Carbon Program (FarmSmart)
ECONOMIC & INDUSTRY NEWS
USDA Issues Prospective Plantings Report: On March 28, USDA issued its 2024 Prospective Plantings Report, which provides estimates for planted acres for the 2024 crop year. According to the report, the United States is estimated to plant 90 million acres of corn and 86.5 million acres of soybeans. In Arkansas, corn acres are expected to be down 27 percent to 620,000 acres, while cotton is expected to see an increase of 6 percent to 540,000 acres while rice and soybeans are expected to be up 1 percent to 1.45 million acres and 4 percent to 3.1 million acres respectively. More...U.S. Report | Arkansas Report | UADA Summary
USDA Issues Crop Progress Report: On Monday, April 1, USDA issued its first Crop Progress and Condition Report for the 2024 crop year. According to the report, Arkansas farmers have planted 11 percent of the corn crop, 3 percent of the rice crop, and 1 percent of the soybean crop. With warm temperatures and good field preparations, Arkansas farmers are expected to make substantial progress through April. More...U.S. Report | Arkansas Report
U.S. Textile Industry Plunges to Levels Not Seen Since 1800s: The U.S. textile industry is down to new lows with roughly 100 U.S. cotton mills in operation today and domestic mill use at levels not experienced since the 1800s. The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) blames most of the decline on long standing trade policies and recent trade deals in addition to high-cost regulatory burdens facing domestic manufacturers. Among more recent mill closures was a Haneswear mill in Clarksville, AR. More...FarmProgress | FarmDocDaily | Bloomberg | SuccessfulFarming |
Other links of Interest:
Podcast: Stanley Culpepper Speaks to EPA's Jack Li About Herbicide Strategy
Opinion: Higher Reference Prices and Raising Payment Limits Critical
Bayer Applies to Re-register Dicamba for OTT Use
Ag Groups Ask for EPA to Re-register Dicamba for OTT Use
UofA Researchers Look to Rice for 'Clean Label' Ingredients
American-Made Sake Movement Underway
Ag Law Summit Set for June 6-7 in Memphis
Anheuser Busch Launches U.S. Farmed Seal on Product
UADA Studies Potential Growth for Rice Malt in Beer
AGCO & Trimble Close $2 Billion Ag Joint Venture
Reuters: Syngenta Ditches China IPO Bid
NYT: Angry Farmers Are Reshaping Europe
Farmers Encircle EU Headquarters as Part of Protest
European Farmers Force Policymakers to Act
Monthly Ag Economic Barometer: April Report | Announcement | DTNPF |
DTN Market Insights: Commodity Market Info
The RiceStuff Podcast: Podcast Homepage
USDA March/April Processing Reports:
- Cotton System
- Fats & Oils
- Grain Crushings
- Grain Stocks
- Prospective Plantings
- Rice Stocks
- Agricultural Prices
- Peanut Prices
- Peanut Stocks and Processing
Regional Headlines: Boozman, Cotton & Crawford File Coin Bill for Sultana Museum | Former Gov. Hutchinson Joins National Cold War Center Board | A-State to Receive $10M for Steel Education Center | A-State to Receive $25.2M for Art and Innovation Center
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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