Before becoming executive vice president in June 2023, Jarrod Yates was the Farm Bureau’s director of public affairs and government relations for two years. He held a similar role with Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield before that, and was chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross from 2009 to 2011. He has a cattle operation with his father and brother in Nevada County, and they were previously involved in the poultry business.
What is something cattle farming has taught you that is useful in your role at the Farm Bureau?
Having firsthand knowledge and understanding of the challenges farmers and ranchers face is particularly important for my role at the Arkansas Farm Bureau. Having on-the-farm experience provides me with that perspective and allows me to relate and sympathize with the issues our members deal with daily.
What is the most promising thing you see in Arkansas agriculture right now?
The people involved in agriculture are the strongest and most resilient men and women I have ever met. They, collectively, make up the most promising part of Arkansas agriculture. And by that, I mean our farmers and ranchers, obviously, but also the scientists and the researchers and the educators and the leaders of agriculture. We have the people in place to ensure agriculture remains our state’s largest industry.
What do Arkansas farmers want in the new farm bill?
When the farm bill was last passed in 2018, the world looked much different than it does today. Farmers and ranchers need a new farm bill that reflects the current conditions on and off the farm. The cost of production and the sharp increase in farm inputs are putting a strain on farmers and ranchers in Arkansas and across the country. We need a farm bill with updated crop reference prices, updated programs that better support livestock operations, and our rural communities have a backlog of infrastructure needs. Farmers and ranchers realize there will not be a farm bill passed this year but are hopeful that when the new Congress is seated in January 2025, passing a new farm bill will be a top priority.
What are Arkansas farmers’ biggest concerns these days?
Economic and environmental sustainability is top of mind for everyone in agriculture. Nationally, farmers are facing the largest year-to-year drop in net farm income, estimated to be nearly $40 billion (25%) lower this year compared with 2023. Net farm income is the profit farmers see after paying for operating expenses. Two major factors are impacting income forecasts — lower prices paid to farmers for crops and livestock, and increased costs for supplies. Profitability, and the ability to keep their operations afloat, is a critical part of sustainability, along with ensuring the very land that enables their livelihood and lifestyle remains productive and healthy.
How are farmers using artificial intelligence in their business?
Farmers use technology in every component of their work — from improved plant and animal genetics to the GPS satellites and computers that guide their machinery and help manage water use. AI, of course, is just one part of technology. Farmers use advanced technologies every day — from gathering and analyzing production data, using soil sensors, adding precision agriculture technology that only applies fertilizer and chemicals where it is needed, and many other technology tools — to be as effective and efficient as possible.
How are farmers preparing for climate change?
Farmers routinely deal with weather fluctuations. In fact, I suspect our farmers and ranchers pay more attention to weather forecasts than any other group of people. Some years it’s wet. Some years it is dry. Some years it’s wet for a few months and dry for a few months. Those are just routine challenges our farmers deal with. Seed varieties certainly have improved to help deal with changing weather patterns, with some varieties being more drought-tolerant and others able to function in warmer temperatures or mature earlier to avoid some of the warmer parts of the year. Dealing with weather is an everyday part of raising crops or animals.
Does the agriculture industry in Arkansas have any concerns about an aging workforce or farmers aging out of the sector?
The average age of farmers in America is just over 58 years old, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, continuing a long-term trend of aging in the U.S. producer population. So, yes, that is a problem. Our country’s needs for food production aren’t decreasing, but the number of people involved in agriculture continues to shrink. And, more broadly, access to the workforce needed to work on our farms and ranches is a very real challenge, and that is not simply an age issue. We must create an environment where young people see agriculture as a meaningful career and understand there is no higher objective than feeding this country and much of the world. The Farm Bureau has programs for young farmers and ranchers and works closely with 4-H and the Future Farmers of America to build awareness of agriculture as a career.
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