August 20, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 33
ISAKSON: AGRICULTURE WILL REMAIN PRIORITY Sen. Johnny Isakson gave assurances that he would continue to work on behalf of agriculture and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black urged attendees to be the faces of farming during the 2014 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference, held Aug. 14 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. “I realize the responsibility I have as the senior senator,” said Isakson. “Agriculture will be the letter A for me – first in the alphabet, No. 1 in my heart.” Isakson, who will become Georgia’s senior senator in 2015, outlined agricultural successes in Congress, paid tribute to Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who steps down at the end of 2014, and discussed challenges still ahead. “The thing we did not do is we failed to do anything with immigration,” Isakson said. “Quite frankly it’s the most difficult political issue I’ve come across. It is one heck of a problem, and we haven’t threaded the needle yet.” Approximately 300 people attended the conference, which featured Culpepper speeches from U.S. Rep. Austin Scott (R-8th District), American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman and University of Georgia weed specialist Dr. Stanley Culpepper. Culpepper gave an overview of new seed and herbicide technology Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto have developed designed to help farmers combat weeds, such as Palmer amaranth (pigweed), that are resistant to glyphosate. The technology, developed for cotton, corn and soybeans, would allow farmers to apply auxin herbicides, including 2,4-D and dicamba, to kill weeds without killing their row crops. The annual conference, which marks the kickoff of GFB’s policy development process, also featured a screening of the classroom version of the documentary film “Farmland.” Crawford County Farm Bureau President Leighton Cooley, who is one of six farmers featured in the film, shared his experiences from the making of the film, which was shown in theatres nationwide in May. The conference culminated with meetings of GFB’s 20 commodity advisory committees for the consideration of policy recommendations. Conference attendees also had a chance to review information from a dozen research projects being conducted by UGA, which had research displays set up and made its researchers available to talk about their work on agricultural issues. UGA Peanut Entomologist Dr. Mark Abney presented information about the pests that threaten peanut crops. Abney said infestations of lesser corn stalk borers and two-spotted spider mites have been bad this year. One key area of focus is establishing economic thresholds to determine when pesticide treatments should be applied.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 MADDOX RECEIVES GFB COMMODITY AWARD Dr. Gene Maddox, a retired veterinarian and former state representative who championed agriculture in both of his careers, received the 2014 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Award during the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference on Aug. 14 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus. The award, one of GFB’s highest honors, is given annually to honor an individual who has supported and promoted Georgia agriculture. “Dr. Gene Maddox has been a proponent of Georgia agriculture his entire life, first as a veterinarian serving farmers and pet owners and then as a state legislator representing farmers in Atlanta,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “It’s a privilege to present him with the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Award. We always give it to a member of the agriculture community who has made a lasting impact on Georgia agriculture.” Maddox, a resident of Grady County, retired from practicing veterinary medicine after 45 years in 2004. In 2004 he was elected to the Georgia House to represent District 172, which includes all of Decatur County and most of Grady County. He held this seat until Maddox 2012. “This is great. I’ve had a wonderful relationship with Farm Bureau through the years,” Maddox said during his acceptance speech. “I’ve always had agriculture as one of my loves. I guess I have agriculture flowing in my blood.” A native of Butts County, Maddox grew up on a diversified farm where his parents, Forest and Sara Maddox, raised row crops and livestock. Maddox graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with an associate degree, from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree and then went on to the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine from which he graduated in June 1959. After a brief stint in Thomasville, Maddox moved to Cairo and opened Cairo Animal Hospital in July 1963. During his veterinary career, Dr. Maddox treated both small and large animals. Maddox and his wife Patsy have four sons – Stan, Steve, Todd and Pat and nine grandchildren. The Maddoxes are members of Family Worship Center in Cairo. TWO HORSES IN LOWNDES COUNTY TEST POSITIVE FOR EEE Two horses in Lowndes County have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne illness. Public health officials are encouraging South Georgians to wear mosquito spray whenever outdoors to guard against these illnesses. Mosquito pools have also tested for EEE and West Nile Virus this season, according to a release from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) South Health District. EEE and West Nile Virus are transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. The DPH provided tips to prevent mosquito bites. including the use of insect repellent containing DEET, picardin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and/or clothing. DPH also recommends wearing long sleeves and pants when weather permits, having secure, intact screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out and eliminating mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets, barrels, wading pools and other containers. Horse owners are advised to get their horses vaccinated as soon as possible. There is no human vaccine for mosquito-borne illnesses. For more information visit http://www.cdc.gov.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 MONFORT NAMED UGA EXTENSION PEANUT AGRONOMIST Dr. Scott Monfort, a native of Edison, Ga., has joined the University of Georgia Department of Crop and Soil Sciences as an Extension peanut agronomist located on UGA’s Tifton Campus. Monfort, who graduated from UGA with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in plant sciences in 1998 and a master’s in plant pathology in 2002, replaces Dr. John Beasley, who retired from UGA last year and now leads Auburn University’s Agronomy Department. Monfort received his Ph.D. in plant sciences from the University of Arkansas in 2005. Although Monfort didn’t grow up on a farm, he grew up in the farming communities of Randolph and Calhoun counties and worked on farms and at peanut buying points before college. After graduating from Arkansas, Monfort worked with UGA Plant Pathologist Dr. Alex Csinos for a year before returning to Arkansas to work as an Extension plant pathologist from 2006 to 2011. He then worked at Clemson University as an Extension peanut specialist from 2011 until taking his current job with UGA on Aug. 1. As an Extension peanut agronomist, Monfort will work closely with Scott Tubbs, a research agronomist with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, to help implement new technology in Georgia’s peanut production and help growers use web and smartphone-based applications to receive information. Monfort will also provide training to educate Extension agents, growers, consultants and other industry personnel about new advances in peanut crop production. AFBF PRESIDENT STALLMAN TOURS GEORGIA FARMS American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman visited Georgia on Aug. 13, stopping at four farms to get an understanding of Georgia agriculture. During the tour, Stallman talked with farmers about the EPA’s proposed water rule. Stallman visited Southern Belle Farm in Henry County, learning about the Carter family’s agribusiness enterprise, got an inside look at one of the poultry houses at Cooley Farms in Crawford County, had lunch on the packing shed porch at Dickey Farms in Crawford County and took at look at peanuts in a field at Chase Farms in Macon County. At Southern Belle Farm, Stallman heard from Henry County Farm Bureau President Ross McQueen about how, as a suburban county, HCFB has had to come up with Bob Stallman with Robert Dickey ways to connect with their neighbors, many of whom have never set foot on a farm. Stallman sampled Southern Belle’s peach ice cream and took a wagon ride around the farm to see the how the farm gives visitors an on-farm experience. Georgia Rep. Robert Dickey, who runs Dickey Farms, showed Stallman and GFB President Zippy Duvall his orchards. Stallman heard about the peach crop, efforts to combat theft and declining availability of research for peaches. At Cooley Farms, the AFBF president donned a biosecurity suit and stepped inside one of the Cooleys’ 18 broiler houses, seeing how Larry and Leighton Cooley care for their birds and hearing how Leighton came back to the farm after college. At Chase Farms in Macon County, the Chases, who also grow corn and raise poultry, talked with Stallman about pests that damage peanut crops, and they showed him the pumps they use to draw irrigation water from the Flint River.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 NORTHWEST GEORGIA MASTER CATTLEMEN’S PROGRAM Sept. 8 – Oct. 27 Carroll County Ag Center Carrollton This eight-week course will meet on Mondays from 6:30 pm. to 8:30 p.m. Each week’s class focuses on a single aspect of beef cattle production, including nutrition, forages, reproduction, herd health, economics and marketing, Beef Quality Assurance, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, livestock facilities sire selection and record keeping. Participants who attend six of the eight classes will receive a certificate of completion and a UGA Master Cattlemen’s cap. Registration is $60 per person and includes a dinner on the final night. Advance registration deadline is Aug. 25. For more information contact Jason Duggin at 706-624-1403 or jduggin@uga.edu or Paula Burke at 770-836-8546 or pjburke@uga.edu. CAFO RULE INFORMATION SESSION Aug. 28 UGA Tifton Campus Center 10:30 a.m. – noon Tifton This meeting, conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, will cover information about Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permits under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Land Application Systems (LAS). Attendees will receive 1 free continuing education credit, and time for Q&A will follow each session. For more information, send an email to cafo@agr.georgia.gov. AFBF COUNTY ACTIVITIES OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS Sept. 5 Deadline to apply Applications are available for county Farm Bureaus to enter the 2015 County Activities of Excellence Awards program. The CAE showcases up to 24 of the top county Farm Bureau programs in the nation. Counties will display their winning activities at the AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 9-11, 2015, in San Diego, Calif. In addition, county Farm Bureaus will also receive up to four free registrations to the convection (housing not included) and a $2,250 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition. With a focus on Farm Bureau’s priority issues, the CAE program groups county activities into the following areas: Education and Ag Promotion, Member Services, Public Relations and Information, Leadership Development and Policy Implementation. Learn more online at http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=events.cae. HOMEOWNERS’ FALL PLANTING CLASS Sept. 11 Houston County Extension 6:30 p.m. Perry The Houston County Extension Office is offering a Fall is for Planting! class to area homeowners who want to know why Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs, how to properly install trees, how to have a colorful winter landscape and protect plants from frost and cold, and which winter vegetables to plant. Cost for the class is $10 per person, cash or check. Charlotte Mote, Houston County ANR Agent, will be leading the class assisted by Master Gardener Extension Volunteers. Registration deadline is September 5. For a registration form, email mg@uga.edu or download one from the Houston County Extension website at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston/news.html.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS Sept. 9-10 Rome-Floyd County ECO Education Center Rome The purpose of this course is to provide a working knowledge of conservation easements as a land-use control. It provides guidance on drafting conservation easement agreements to achieve landowner goals for their property. Land Trusts discuss their philosophy of land use protection and what they can offer landowners. This course offers a comprehensive overview of legal, appraisal, base line information, tax incentives, and other inputs needed for a successful conservation easement agreement. Sept. 5 is the deadline to register. For more information call 706-583-0566 see http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/courses/conseaserome. ‘CHICKEN SCRATCH’ PHOTO EXHIBIT Through Sept. 6 Georgia Museum of Agriculture Tifton The Gallery at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will showcase Fitzgerald’s wild chicken population with this new photography exhibit, “Chicken Scratch”, from Atlanta photographer Nicole Walker. The “Chicken Scratch” exhibit and is dedicated to the beauty, legacy, and companionship of these magnificent plumed gifts of Mother Nature. This exhibit is presented by Fitzgerald resident Sue Rochfort who is a TV host, teacher, author, cook, and antiques appraiser. For more information on Chicken Scratch, please contact GMA curator Polly Huff at phuff@abac.edu. GEORGIA GROWN FARMERS SHOWCASE Sept. 6 Moultrie Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Moultrie This family-friendly event features numerous vendors from around the state, with a wide variety of products from Georgia farms. For more information about the Georgia Grown program, visit http://www.georgiagrown.com. GRAZING BEHAVIOR SEMINARS Sept. 8 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena 6 – 8 p.m. Athens Sept. 11 Tift County Extension Office 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tifton Sept. 12 Carroll County Extension Office 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Carrollton This series of seminars, led by Utah State Professor Emeritus Dr. Fred Provenza, will address eating habits of grazing animals, whether they can be trained to consume specific forage species and much more. Registration is $10. For more information or to register, contact Cathy Felton a 706-310-3464 or feltonc@uga.edu or Dr. Dennis Hancock at dhancock@uga.edu. GEORGIA MILK PRODUCERS DISTRICT MEETINGS Sept. 8 New Perry Hotel 7 p.m. Perry Sept. 9 Wiregrass Restaurant Noon Quitman Sept. 10 Sarah’s in the City Noon Baxley Georgia Milk Producers and the American Dairy Association of Georgia will hold elections, report on industry issues and promotional efforts and announce upcoming events. Dinner or lunch will be served at each meeting depending on the time the meeting is set to begin. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Sept. 9 3rd District Center at Arbor Connection 7 p.m. Douglasville Sept. 11 2nd District Georgia Bapt. Conf. Center 7 p.m. Toccoa Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. Note: These meetings are for Farm Bureau members only and are not open to the general public.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 2014 GEORGIA PEANUT TOUR Sept. 16-18 Bulloch, Burke, Screven and Toombs counties This tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a firsthand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Visit http://www.gapeanuts.com to register and view the tour schedule. For more information contact Hannah Jones at Hannah@gapeanuts.com or call 229-386-3470. GFB ACCEPTING POLICY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Sept. 19 Deadline for policy resolutions Georgia Farm Bureau is accepting recommendations for changes to its policy as part of its annual policy development process. Through this process, GFB members determine what stance the organization will take on issues related to agriculture. GFB is asking its county Farm Bureaus to consider issues of importance to their members and develop resolutions to address their concerns. The GFB Policy Development Committee will meet twice this fall to review resolutions submitted. Final approval of changes to GFB policy will be made in December during the 2014 GFB Convention on Jekyll Island. Policy resolutions should be submitted to the GFB Legislative Department. For more information, contact the Legislative Department at 478474-0679. GEORGIA OLIVE GROWERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE Sept. 25 The Threatte Center 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Lakeland This will be an opportunity to share a wide range of information with growers, potential new growers, researchers and developers, support industries and governmental agencies working in the expansion of the olive oil industry and Georgia and Southeastern US. There will be a demonstration of the New Commercial Olive Mill and Machine (OXBO) Harvesting at Georgia Olive Farms. For more information or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/oliveconf. GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 21 Cobb Galleria Center Atlanta Tickets are on sale for this annual event, which features platinum country group Diamond Rio scheduled to perform. Visit https://connect.computility.com/f/fid.php?id=955559f0f92e71e5e95de669f5af3da0 to buy tickets. For more information about Harvest Celebration, please contact GAC’s Christy Page at cpage@ga-agribusiness.org or 800/726-2474.