Hillman highlights issues facing Arkansas farmers

Hillman highlights issues facing Arkansas farmers

Farm Bureau VP delivers convention keynote

news@theeveningtimes.com

Rick Hillman anchored the 81st annual Crittenden County Farm Bureau convention with the keynote address. Hillman, The Vice President of Arkansas Farm Bureau shared some future concerns that he knew for sure and one thing he couldn’t even guess about.

“It was suggested that I talk about the national election and how Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would effect issues related to agriculture,” said Hillman. “Everyone knows that race, but how it is going to effect agriculture — we don’t know.”

On the other hand, Hillman had a host of harbingers for farmers to heed.

According to the Vice President, Farm Bureau gives voice in congress for farmers and acts as a watch dog for agriculture. Hillman ran through the litany at after the Farm Family of the year and Farm Bureau scholarship presentations.

“Some of the issues we are looking after right now are Waters of the U. S. Farmers will hear more and more about this after the election. Any drop of water that hits the face of the earth will be regulated by our federal government if we leave this unchecked. We are watching Waters of the U.S.; it could effect all of agriculture.”

The state water plan is due for action too.

“This next legislative session the state water plan will be finalized,” said Hillman. “We are making sure the plan serves agriculture well.”

Animals in danger of extinction impact farming and land use.

“The endangered species act is another of federally mandated over reach,” said Hillman. “This is another way they will regulate agriculture with water or without. It’s got our attention.”

After surveying the domestic landscape the rice farmer from Carlisle provided an international perspective during the keynote speech.

“You hear the moniker free trade,” said Hillman.

“With congress coming back into session after the election, we need fair trade. Not necessarily free trade but we need fair trade. I can tell you folks as a rice producer, that rice is one of the most politicized commodities on the face of the earth, more than oil or gold. The reason is more than one third of the people on the face of the earth eat rice three times a day. It is a staple especially in Asian countries.”

Hillman lamented prices for the most efficient rice producers in America pitted on the world market against other national economies with heavily subsidized rice farmers.

“We can compete with any farmer in the world,” said Hillman. “The thing we can’t compete with is other governments, especially communist governments that subsidize their farmers ten fold. They can almost give rice away and still make a profit and drive our price down where it puts us out of business.”

Rice is not the only tough market for farmers.

“Commodities prices are in an unfortunate downward trend,” said Hillman.

“Our commodity prices are at or below break even. We need to address the World Trade Organization in the next farm bill with free trade. Our state board and staff at the office, we monitor those issues and work hard each and every day.”

By John Rech