April 27, 2011
www.gfb.org
Vol. 29 No. 17
GFB URGES EPA TO CONSIDER ALDICARB RE-REGISTRATION
Stressing that the supply of aldicarb is crucial to aid Georgia farmers in their efforts at pest control, Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting the re-registration of the pesticide. Aldicarb is the active ingredient in the Bayer CropScience product sold as Temik, a granular pesticide used below the surface of the soil to control a variety of pests. Bayer, the only company currently registered to manufacture aldicarb, announced in March that it would discontinue production of methyl isocyanate (MIC), a key ingredient in aldicarb, at its plants in Woodbine, Ga., and Institute, W. Va. The Woodbine plant in Camden County has already shut down, and in 2010 Bayer voluntarily agreed to a plan to phase out production of aldicarb by Dec. 31, 2014. The West Virginia plant was shut down for a reconfiguration, and as part of a lawsuit against Bayer by a group of local citizens, a temporary restraining order barred the company from resuming production. Uncertain when the case might be resolved, Bayer chose not to resume production at that plant. With cotton and peanut producers, including those in Georgia, having difficulty finding a replacement for Temik, North Carolina company Ag Logic has applied to register a pesticide containing aldicarb. Under Bayer’s agreement with the EPA, all remaining uses of aldicarb will end no later than August 2018. According to the Federal Register, Ag Logic’s application is for permanent registration for use on cotton, dry beans, peanuts, soybeans, sugar beets, and sweet potatoes. Duvall urged the EPA to strongly consider re-registering the chemical, which is the most cost-effective way to control early season pests. “Effective protection against early season insects is of prime importance to getting the crop off to a good start,” Duvall wrote. “Aldicarb improves yield, quality and earliness of maturity.” Duvall noted that the state’s cotton and peanut growers, who generate more than $1.1 billion in annual farm gate value, have depended on aldicarb as an important crop protection tool for 40 years. Aldicarb reduces a grower’s need for additional foliar pesticide sprays during the growing season. A single application at planting provides control of nematodes and insects for up to six weeks. The public comment period for EPA’s re-registration of aldicarb ends on April 29. To view the Federal Register notice, visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/2011-6978.htm.
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GFB ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR PHOTO CONTEST Entries are being accepted through May 31 for the 2011 Picture Agriculture in Georgia Amateur Photo Contest. Sponsored by the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee, the contest offers amateur photographers the chance to explore the many activities, seasons, triumphs, disappointments and faces of agriculture, the state’s No. 1 industry. Photos will be judged on the use of angle, lighting, balance, color, contrast, viewpoint and technical ability. The contest is open to any amateur photographer who is a member of Georgia Farm Bureau. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: General Membership, GFB Young Farmers and GFB staff/family. In the General Membership and Young Farmer categories, first prize is $150 and honorable mentions receive $75. In the GFB staff category, $100 will be awarded for first place, $75 for second place and $25 for third place. All photos must be high resolution images of a minimum of 1 MB in size preferably horizontal photos of at least 1024 x 768 pixels or greater. Photos must be sent as an attachment in jpeg format by e-mail to yf@gfb.org. Type “Photo Contest” and the competition category in the subject line of the email. The body of the e-mail must include the entrant’s name, address, phone number, Farm Bureau membership number, county in which the entrant is a member, title of the photo, the competition category and when and where the photo was taken. Photos entered in the GFB photo contest may not have been entered in any other contest. If people are shown in submitted photos, a Model Release Entry Form must also accompany the entry. To download a copy of the form and for complete contest rules, visit http://www.gfb.org/programs/yf/photo_contest.html. This form must be completed and received by fax at 478-405-3422 or by U.S. mail by June 10. GEORGIA COMMODITIES TO BE MARKETED ON DELTA FLIGHTS Starting with Vidalia onions and Georgia blueberries, Georgia commodities will appear on overhead and seatback monitors via the Delta Air Lines In-flight Entertainment Network the month of May, a key selling month for both. In June, Georgia peaches and Georgia watermelons will follow suit as part of the four-commodity marketing partnership. Vidalia onions and Georgia blueberries, then Georgia peaches and Georgia watermelons, will be featured in 2-minute video spots that the commodity groups helped produce. The spots will be shown on an estimated 17,375 Delta Air Lines flights, seen on overhead screens directly after the in-flight movie by more than 2.6 million passengers. They will also be an option on seatbacks as part of the Delta Lifestyle 365 show, which reaches an additional 1.5 million passengers per month. Delta’s Sky magazine and the Delta entertainment website will tout the commodities, as well. The collaborative effort emerged through the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the “Georgia Grown” umbrella. “This Delta Air Lines alliance is the type of high profile exposure that we’re seeking for the ‘Georgia Grown’ brand,” said Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Within the inflight segment, Delta passengers will be given a website to visit, http://www.gagrown.us, for more information.
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SUBSCRIBER RESPONSE ALLOWS MARKET BULLETIN TO CONTINUE The print edition of the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin, faced with discontinuation without sufficient numbers of paid subscriptions, will continue in circulation. The Georgia Department of Agriculture last year began soliciting paid subscriptions of the Market Bulletin, which previously was funded by the state budget. In early January there were 11,000 subscribers, a fraction of what was needed to continue printing the publication. Consumers rely on the Market Bulletin for its classified advertisements, which connect readers who want to sell livestock, hay, farm equipment, flowers, produce and other items. During Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black’s first monthly press conference on April 18, Georgia Department of Agriculture Marketing Director Jack Spruill announced that subscriptions had topped 42,000. The goal was 58,000, but the department has received enough paid subscriptions to keep the publication in print. The subscription fee is $10 for 26 issues for Georgia residents and $20 for out-of-state subscribers. Beginning May 4, only paid subscribers will receive the Market Bulletin. Subscribe online by visiting http://www.thegamarketbulletin.com. There is a $1 convenience fee for online subscriptions. Subscribers may also send a check or money order payable to Market Bulletin along with your name, complete mailing address and daytime phone number to Market Bulletin, Georgia Department of Agriculture, 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30334-4250. Subscription forms will also be available at most county Farm Bureau offices until May 31. HOUSE ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE TO STUDY HORSE RACING Before adjourning, the Georgia House passed a resolution (HR 643) to create a committee to study the benefits of developing Georgia’s equine industry to include pari-mutuel betting and training and racing horses at tracks in the state. A bill to allow a statewide referendum on pari-mutuel wagering on horse races, HR 18, was sent to the House Committee on Regulated Industries. The six-member committee is to be comprised of three members of the House of Representatives, two citizens of the state and one person who is involved in the horse racing industry. HR 643 calls for the committee to publish the results of the study and any recommendations by Dec. 31, 2011. Farm Bureau policy supports allowing voters to decide the issue of pari-mutuel betting on horse racing. OBAMA SIGNS REPEAL OF 1099 REQUIREMENTS INTO LAW On April 14 President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 4, which repeals the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1099 requirements included in the health care law passed last year. Sponsored by Rep. Daniel Lungren (R-Calif.), the law does away with the requirement that small business file a 1099 for all non-employee suppliers of goods and services with whom they have $600 or more in transactions during a calendar year. Farm Bureau supported the passage of H.R. 4, maintaining that agricultural produces were already overburdened with tax paperwork and reporting obligations.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 29th ANNUAL FORT VALLEY STATE HAM AND EGG BREAKFAST April 28 C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center Fort Valley The public is invited to attend Fort Valley State University’s annual Ham and Egg Breakfast and meet with elected officials who have been invited to this historical event to discuss current topics. Begins at 8 a.m. Cost is $6. Contact Jean Willis at 478-825-6268 or willise@fvsu.edu, to pre-register. 12TH ANNUAL PANHANDLE MULE FARM MULE DAY April 30 Panhandle Mule Farm Reynolds The heritage of breaking land comes to life at this free event, which starts at 9 a.m. The event includes mule and tractor plowing, displays of antique farm implements and a milking demonstration by the Georgia Milk Producers Mobile Dairy Classroom. Festival attendees will be able to mine for rubies, emeralds, sapphires and amethysts at the new gem mining exhibit. Farm is located at 358 Milton Lowe Road, Reynolds, Ga. 31076 (off of Hwy. 137 southwest of Roberta or northeast of Butler). For more information, please contact Steve Montgomery at 478-837-1044. NATIONAL BEEF COOK-OFF ENTRY DEADLINE April 30 is the deadline for entering the 29th National Beef Cook-Off. Submit your best beef recipes for a chance to win up to $25,000 in cash and a trip to the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington D.C., in November. The contest is open to legal United States residents who are 18 years of age or older as of February 1. Entries must be the original recipe of the entrant. The contest is a national search for extraordinary recipes that demonstrate the benefits and versatility of cooking with beef via four contest categories: the 5:30 p.m. dinner crunch, retro recipes, fuel up with beef and stir-crazy solutions. Visit http://www.beefcookoff.org/aboutcontest.aspx to enter or for more information. 2011 FFA CHAPTER CHALLENGE DEADLINE IS MAY 1 Georgia FFA chapters are making efforts to form new and stronger connections with their local farmers to earn a possible $8,000 in prizes from Monsanto. Georgia FFA will be competing against chapters from Alabama, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri in the 2011 FFA Chapter Challenge to connect with the most farmers in their community and learn about their operations. The farmers will then be asked to vote for their local FFA chapter by visiting www.FFAChapterChallenge.com or by calling the National FFA Organization at 800-293-2387. May 1 is the deadline for farmers to cast a vote for their local FFA. The 125 FFA chapters that receive the most votes will receive a $1,500 certificate of credit from the National FFA Organization. The credit can be used to buy FFA member jackets, banquet supplies and more. Chapters can also use the funds to pay member costs associated with attending the organization’s Washington Leadership Conference or national FFA convention. The chapter that makes the most connections among the top 125 chapters will receive an all-expense-paid trip for six FFA members and one adult advisor to the 2011 National FFA Convention. This prize has a value of $6,500. GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1 The Georgia Centennial Farm Program was created to draw attention to historic farms and to encourage their preservation. Nominees must be a working farm with a minimum of 10 acres actively involved in agricultural production or generate at least $1,000 in annual income. In addition, farms must be continuously farmed for at least 100 years and owned by members of the same family for at least 100 years or be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Qualifying Centennial Farms are honored each October at a special award ceremony at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Georgia. Since 1993, the program has recognized 379 farms around the state. The Centennial Farm Program is administered by the Historic Preservation Division; Georgia Farm Bureau Federation; Georgia Department of Agriculture; Georgia Forestry Commission; and the Georgia National Fair and Agricenter. Applications are available on HPD's Web site at http://hpd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=119.For more information, contact Centennial Farm Awards Committee Chair, Steven Moffson at 404-651-5906 or steven.moffson@dnr.state.ga.us
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 AFBF WOMEN’S COMMUNICATIONS BOOT CAMP APPLICATION DEADLINE MAY 2 is the deadline for submitting applications for the fifth annual Farm Bureau Women’s Communications Boot Camp, July 26-29, in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee, Applicants must be women who are Farm Bureau members. The program is open to all women who are members of Farm Bureau, not just those involved in women’s leadership committees. AFBF, state or county Farm Bureau staff are not eligible to participate. Hard copies of the application form have been mailed to each state Farm Bureau; each application must be signed by a state Farm Bureau staff person. 3rd ANNUAL ST. JUDE BENEFIT TRACTOR RIDE May 7 Macon County This 20-mile ride is a fundraiser for the St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Riders will pay a $25 entry fee per tractor. The public is invited to join the riders for lunch and a chance to see the tractors on display. For more information contact Neil Skipper at 478-286-1940 or James Emory Tate at 912-3758367. DEADLINE TO VOTE IN FARM MOM CONTEST IS MAY 8 Your favorite farm mom could win up to $7,500 in the 2011 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year Contest. Visit www.AmericasFarmers.com until May 8 to nominate her by explaining in 300 words or less how your nominee embodies the caring, values and hard work that make up the family farm way of life. Five regional winners – Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, West and Southwest – will be selected and posted on the Web site where voting will determine one national winner. Each regional winner will receive $5,000. The national winner, to be announced on May 27, will get an additional $2,500. The contest is sponsored by Monsanto and the American Agri-Women. Entries will be judged on how nominees contribute to their families, farms, communities and industry. To be eligible, a mom must be at least 18 years of age and work on a farm within the United States that produces at least 250 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton, vegetables and/or specialty crops (canola, sorghum, wheat or alfalfa); and/or at least 40 acres of fruits and vegetables; and/or raise at least 100 head of cattle or hogs; and/or maintain at least 50 head of dairy cows and/or at least 20,000 broilers or layers. MONROE COUNTY H.E.R.D SALE May 12 Sleepy Creek Farm 12:30 p.m. Monroe County More than 60 bred heifers will be for sale during the event. Data available on the heifers includes A.I. Breeding and Sire EPDs, pelvic area, frame score, disposition score, weight per day of age and average daily gain. For more information call Monroe County’s Extension office at 478-994-7014 or email uge2207@uga.edu or visit http://www.ugaextension.com/monroe. 20th ANNUAL BEE KEEPING INSTITUTE May 12-14 Young Harris College Young Harris Led by beekeeping experts, workshops will be offered for beekeepers at all levels of experience. This event will also include a honey show. The first day is set aside for training and certification examinations for the journeyman, master beekeeper and master craftsman levels and Welsh Honey Judge qualifications. The cost for ages 18 and older is $88 for one day and $138 for both days. For ages 11 to 18, the cost is $44 for one day and $70 for both days. There is no charge for participants under the age of 10. Event is limited to 150 persons so pre-registration is recommended. The pre-registration deadline is APRIL 29. For more information visit http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees or contact Detsy Bridges at 706-542-9035 or at detsyb@uga.edu.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION WORKSHOP APPLICATION DEADLINE May 20 is the deadline to apply for this weeklong camp that provides rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students a chance to learn about Georgia’s natural resources from university, state and federal natural resource experts. The camp, which gives students a taste of college life and insight into career opportunities related to natural resources, will be held June 5-9 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Tuition is $150. More than $17,000 in scholarships will be awarded from this workshop. This is the 50th anniversary of the NRCW. To celebrate, the NRCW Executive Board will award a special $5,000 scholarship. The committee is also asking former NRCW participants, both students, volunteers and staff, to share their story of how the NRCW has influenced their life or career path. Contact the NRCW by phone at 229-391-5072, via e-mail at nrcw@abac.edu or post your story on the NRCW Facebook page. Interested persons can download an application and get more information about NRCW at http://www.abac.edu/psbo/nrcw or through your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office. NRCS ORGANIC CONSERVATION PROGRAM SIGNUP DEADLINE MAY 20 The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for Organic Initiative contracts under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help organic producers and those transitioning to organic production implement natural resource conservation practices on their farms. Organic producers may use the funding to plant cover crops, establish integrated pest management plans or implement nutrient management systems consistent with organic certification standards. Eligible producers include those certified through USDA’s National Organic Program, those transitioning to certified organic production and those who meet organic standards but are exempt from certification because their gross annual organic sales are less than $5,000. Under Organic Initiative contracts, producers are paid 75 percent of the cost for the organic conservation measures they implement. Producers qualifying as beginning, limited resource and socially disadvantaged producers are paid 90 percent. Producers interested in applying for Organic Initiative funding must submit applications through their local NRCS Service Center. BCAP PROPOSAL DEADLINE IS MAY 27 The deadline for project area proposals to be considered for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) is May 27. Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, BCAP provides incentives to eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners for the establishment and production of biomass crops for heat, power, bio-based products and biofuels. BCAP project areas are specific geographic areas where producers grow eligible biomass crops. Producers then receive annual payments for growing those crops. In Georgia, proposals should be sent to Farm Service Agency, 355 East Hancock Ave., Athens, Ga., 30601-2775. For more information, contact Anna Bramblett by phone at 706-546-2256 Ext. 4., or by email at anna.bramblett@ga.usda.gov or visit the USDA Farm Service Agency’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap. GFB YOUNG FARMER FAMILY CONFERENCE & DISCUSSION MEET REGISTRATION DEADLINE MAY 31 July 23-24 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain This event will allow young farmers ages 18-35 the opportunity to network with other young farmers around the state and attend personal and professional development workshops. The conference will include free time to allow attendees the opportunity to tour Callaway on their own. There will be childoriented activities while parents attend workshops. The preliminary rounds of the GFB discussion meet will be held during the conference. The four finalists will compete for the state title at the GFB Convention on Jekyll Island, Dec. 4-6. The state winner will receive an Arctic Cat 500 4x4 ATV, $500 cash and an expense-paid trip to the 2012 American Farm Bureau convention in Hawaii, Jan. 8-11, 2012, to compete for national honors. Contact your county Farm Bureau if you are interested in attending the conference or competing in the discussion meet. The deadline to register for either event is May 31.