Dr. Joseph Steinmetz, Chancellor
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

Joseph E. Steinmetz became the sixth chancellor of the University of Arkansas on Jan. 1, 2016. He is currently in the process of meeting with every department and academic unit on campus – 75 in total – with an eye toward creating a strategic plan for the University that reflects the collective will of the campus community. Among his initial priorities are filling the position of provost, developing an enrollment plan for the university, creating more need-based scholarships, growing graduate programs, and continuing to advance diversity across campus. Throughout his first year, he looks forward to meeting with a broad range of stakeholders across the state to learn more about their aspirations for the Univesity of Arkansas and how they can work together to strengthen the flagship.   

Randy Veach, President ArFB

Randy Veach is in his eighth term as Arkansas Farm Bureau president, having been re-elected in December 2015. He previously served five years as the organization’s vice president and has been on the state board of directors since December 1999. As a third-generation farmer, he and his wife Thelma farm on land cleared by his grandfather and father.

Policy Development, Ballot Issues and You

Michelle Kitchens, Assistant Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations,
Legislative Research, Arkansas Farm Bureau

Jeff Pitchford, Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations, State Affairs
Arkansas Farm Bureau

Join this workshop for a refresher on policy development and to hear about future ballot issues for voters. We’ll discuss how the policy development process works, give you ideas for bringing in new points of view and help you get organized to host your county Policy evelopment meeting. We’ll also give you tips for writing resolutions. Learn some of the pressing issues for the 2017 Legislative Session in preparation for policy development. Farm Bureau policy is the foundation of the organization. This workshop will help you get on track to write great policy and learn about ballot issues on the 2016 election horizon.

Chronic Wasting Disease

Brad Carner, Chief of Wildlife, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Chronic Waste Disease was confirmed in Arkansas in February making it the 24th state to have the disease in the cervid population. Similar to mad cow in cattle and scrapie in sheep and goats it is a neurological disease, but only affects the deer, elk, moose and other members of the cervid (deer) family. The regulations related to CWD in slowing the spread of the disease will affect all sportsmen and landowners in Arkansas. Brad Carner, Chief of Wildlife for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, will give a timeline on actions taken to determine the prevalence rate and the response plan going forward in slowing the spread of CWD. 

Innovations in Agriculture Technology

Governor’s Cup Winners

This session will feature presentations by two winning teams in this year’s Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition. Arkansas Farm Bureau serves as sponsor of the awards for winners in the Agricultural portion of this collegiate-team competition. Presenting will be the team from Ouachita Baptist University (Ag Corp – a commodity marketing service) and the team from John Brown University (Natural State Bedding – an alternative poultry litter innovation.) 

 RMA: Insurance Products for Livestock Producers

Roddric Bell, Director of the USDA-RMA Jackson Regional Office

Roddric Bell is the Director of the USDA-RMA Jackson Regional Office where he is responsible for overall delivery of the federal crop insurance programs in the states of Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. He will discuss current crop insurance programs with a special emphasis on those available to livestock producers. He will also discuss potential changes to the programs and the final study on poultry catastrophic disease coverage that was mandated in the 2014 farm bill.

Conflict Resolution and Management in Rural Arkansas

Jack Boles, Newton County Farm Bureau President, Retired County Extension Agent and Doctoral Student Learn the basics of conflict resolution, and explore conflict management strategies that can be used to meet your own personal and professional objectives. Lessons based in leadership research and personal life experiences.

Clean Line Energy

Mario Hurtado, Executive Vice President, Clean Line Energy
John Kuba, Environmental Director, Clean Line Energy

The Plains & Eastern Clean Line is an approximately 720-mile transmission line project being developed by Clean Line Energy that will deliver low-cost, renewable energy from the Oklahoma Panhandle region to utilities in Arkansas, Tennessee and other states in the Mid-South and Southeast. Clean Line is looking to engage with farmers and ranchers as the project progresses into construction and beyond to determine and minimize the project’s impact on agriculture. During this workshop, Executive Vice President Mario Hurtado, and Environmental Director John Kuba, will provide a project overview and outline anticipated next steps. This will include a discussion on the implementation of agricultural environmental protection measures, the development of individual farm site plans, and identification of additional actions to further avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts.

Commodity Market Situation and Outlook

Dr. Robert Coats, Professor, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Dr. Robert Coats, Professor-Economics for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture will provide information on the current state of commodity markets and discuss the outlook for harvest 2016 and beyond.  

Big Creek Research & Extension Team Update: Monitoring C&H Hog Farms

Dr. Andrew Sharpley, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Distinguished Professor – Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences

Dr. Andrew Sharpley and a team of 20-plus research experts have been studying the surface and groundwater water quality in and around C&H Hog Farms barns and land application fields. This research is the most extensive performed on any farm in Arkansas, and likely the country. The focus of the research is to determine if the farm is having an impact on Big Creek and the Buffalo National River.