Arkansas crop producers will have more than a dozen opportunities to get up to speed on the 2014 Farm Bill and its anticipated effects on their operation in the more than one dozen workshops planned in Oct. and Nov. across Arkansas.
The workshops are being offered jointly by the Farm Service Agency and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
There is no cost to attend and the daytime meetings include lunch.
“The new Farm Bill is so different, so complex, producers need this specialized training to ensure a smooth transition into the 2015 growing season,” said Robert Coats, professor-economics for the U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “This is an opportunity to gain in-sight and a greater understanding of available program options including the Agricultural Risk Coverage, the Price Loss Coverage and Supplemental Coverage Option programs enacted by the 2014 Farm Bill and into the new web-based farm bill decision tools.”
The workshops are being conducted by conducted by Tony Franco, FSA’s chief of farm programs, Anita Wilson, agricultural program specialist with FSA, Coats and other FSA and Division of Agriculture specialists.
Information requirements and programs to be covered include:
- Required information,
- Retain or Update Yields,
- Retain or Reallocate Base,
- Compare Agricultural Risk Coverage, or ARC, and Price Loss Coverage, or PLC,
- Consider Agricultural Risk Coverage – individual coverage,
- Supplemental Coverage Option, or SCO, and STAX offered under the federal crop insurance program,
- Election and annual enrollment,
- Web-based decision aid demonstration with examples.
Here is the schedule and local contacts for registration for each event:
Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-noon – Jonesboro, Northeast Arkansas Exposition and Conference Center, Contact: Branon Thiesse, thiesse@uaex.edu (870) 933-4565
Oct. 29, 9 a.m.-noon – Wynne, Technology Center for the Delta. Contacts: Richard Klerk, raklerk@uaex.edu (870) 238-5745; Rick Wimberley rwimberley@uaex.edu, (870) 238-5745.
Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-noon - Forrest City, Mid-South Health Systems. Contact: Mitch Crow, mcrow@uaex.edu, (870) 261-1730.
Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m. - noon – Lonoke, Arkansas Rural Water Association, Contacts: Jeff Welch, jwelch@uaex.edu, (501) 676-3124; Sherry.West@ar.usda.gov
Nov. 5, 9 a.m. - noon - Newport, ASU-Newport. Contacts: Jim Barnes, (870) 523-8986 x105; Sarah Metzger smetzger@uaex.edu (870) 523-7450.
Nov. 6, 9 a.m.- noon – Pocahontas, Black River Technical College, Development Center Auditorium. Contact: Mike Andrews, mandrews@uaex.edu (870) 892-4504.
Nov. 7, 9 a.m.- noon – Paragould, Paragould Community Center. Contacts: Allen Davis, ardavis@uaex.edu, (870) 236-6921; Dave Freeze dfreeze@uaex.edu (870) 236-6921.
Nov. 10, 6 p.m. – West Memphis, Mid-South Community College. Contact:
Russell Parker, rparker@uaex.edu, (870) 739-3239.
Nov. 18, 9 a.m.-noon – Marianna, Lon Mann Cotton Research Station. Contacts: Shawn Payne, spayne@uaex.edu (870) 338-8027; Robert Goodson, rgoodson@uaex.edu, (870) 338-8027; Stan Baker, swbaker@uaex.edu, (870) 295-7720; Van Banks, vbanks@uaex.edu, (870) 747-3397.
Nov. 19, 8:30 a.m. - noon – Stuttgart, Rice Research and Extension Center. Contacts: Chuck Capps, ccapps@uaex.edu, (870) 946-3231; Grant Beckwith, gbeckwith@uaex.edu, (870) 673-2661.
Nov. 20, 9 a.m.- noon – Morrilton, Conway County Fair Grounds Multi-Purpose Building. Contact: Kevin VanPelt, kvanpelt@uaex.edu, (501) 354-9618.
“We are grateful for the support and sponsorship of Zac Bradley of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation; Andrew Grobmeyer of the Agricultural Council of Arkansas, and Ben Noble, of the Arkansas Rice Federation,” Coats said.
Producers with questions about the 2014 Farm Bill can also contact:
- Bobby Coats, 501-671-2195.
- Brad Watkins, professor-agricultural economics, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 870-673-2661.
- Archie Flanders, assistant professor agricultural economics, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Keiser, 870-526-2199, x108.
- Scott Stiles, instructor-agricultural economics, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Jonesboro, 870-972-2481.
These specialists, with assistance from FSA staff, will be conducting a series of to-be-schedule dedicated web-based farm bill decision tool workshops and an on-going series of farm bill webinars.
For more information on the 2014 Farm Bill, visit www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/economics-marketing/farm-bill/.
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.