Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - August 27, 2014

August 27, 2014

www.gfb.org

Vol. 32 No. 34

GFB COMMENTS ON FEDERAL AND STATE PROPOSED RULES Georgia Farm Bureau recently commented on proposed state rules dealing with veterinary conduct and drought management and a federal rule pertaining to protection of farm workers.

On Aug 12, GFB President Zippy Duvall wrote to The Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine about the board’s proposed amendments to its Unprofessional Conduct Rule. The amendments would require in-person visits from veterinarians before livestock producers may use common medications needed to prevent illness from spreading throughout a herd or flock. Duvall said the requirement is unreasonable for livestock producers and asked that it be re-evaluated, noting an ongoing shortage of large animal vets.

“The shortage of large animal veterinarians will become more acute if this regulation is adopted,” Duvall wrote.

The Veterinary Board held a public hearing on Aug. 20, during which it opted to withdraw the rule and rework the language of the proposed amendments.

On Aug. 18, GFB sent comments to the EPA regarding proposed revisions to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for individuals handling and applying pesticides. The proposed changes would shorten pesticide training intervals, set recordkeeping requirements to verify training, establish trainer qualifications and set a minimum age of 16 for workers entering a treated area.

“We are concerned the proposed WPS update will have a detrimental impact on farmers without any real benefit to anyone,” Duvall wrote. “This proposal will impose additional legal burdens on farmers, increase workplace obligations, expose farmers to third-party lawsuits and increase costs with no proven beneficial effects.”

GFB maintains that existing label requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) are effectively addressing safety issues for workers handling chemical crop protection tools.

On Aug. 19, GFB Duvall sent a letter to Georgia Environmental Protection Division Watershed Protection Chief James Capp about the EPD’s proposed drought management rule.

GFB expressed concern that the EPD’s recommended practices under Drought Level 2 conditions impose time limits for watering. Such time limits, Duvall wrote, are in conflict with state law, which exempts certain outdoor water uses from limitations.

Duvall took issue with the rule’s treatment of “recreational turf,” which is excluded from farm use exemptions in the area upstream from the Chattahoochee River confluence with Peachtree Creek in Fulton County.

Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 AFBF ASKS COURT FOR PERMANENT PROTECTION OF FARMERS’ PRIVACY The Environmental Protection Agency’s public release of farmers’ and ranchers’ personal information violates basic tenets of federal law, the American Farm Bureau Federation told a Minnesota federal court in a motion submitted on Aug. 15.

The EPA surprised the farming and ranching community in early 2013 when it publicly released a massive database of personal information about tens of thousands of livestock and poultry farmers, ranchers and their families in 29 states, including some in Georgia.

The information was distributed to three environmental groups that had filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The database included the names of farmers, ranchers and sometimes other family members, home addresses, GPS coordinates, telephone numbers and emails. AFBF’s court filing argues that privacy interests are particularly strong for farming and ranching families, who typically have multiple generations living and working on the farm. The lawsuit cites a FOIA exemption aimed at preventing federal agencies from publicly releasing personal information held in agency files.

“We wholeheartedly support government transparency, but we insist on protecting the privacy of farm and ranch families,” Stallman said.

AFBF, joined by the National Pork Producers Council, filed the lawsuit in 2013 to block EPA from responding to new FOIA requests seeking information about farmers and ranchers in six additional states. EPA agreed not to release further information pending the court’s decision in this lawsuit. AFBF’s latest filing asks the court for a permanent order preventing future disclosures of farmers’ personal information in response to similar requests.

A copy of the filing may be found online at: http://bit.ly/1yRuDpQ. SCO FOR WINTER WHEAT AVAILABLE IN TWO GEORGIA COUNTIES Under the new farm bill, the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) is a new crop insurance product that gives farmers additional coverage for a portion of deductibles associated with policies purchased in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. SCO is not available for crops covered under Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC). Starting with the 2015 crop year, SCO will be available in select counties for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, spring barley, spring wheat, and winter wheat.

For the 2015 winter wheat crop, producers in Jefferson and Laurens counties are eligible to purchase SCO policies.

County eligibility for SCO is determined using National Agricultural Statistics Service county yield data. County yield statistics must be available for 20 of the last 30 years. County yield estimates must also be available for eight of the last 10 years with an average of at least 10,000 planted acres over those years. Additionally, at least 50 farms for a particular crop in a county must be documented in the most recent Census of Agriculture for that county to be eligible.

Since winter wheat producers will have to sign up for SCO this fall prior to having all the details on PLC and ARC, they may, for this year’s crop only, buy SCO by the sales closing date, generally Sept. 30, 2014, and withdraw coverage by the earlier of their acreage reporting date or Dec. 15, 2014, without penalty. Contact your RMA agent or local FSA agent for complete details. To view the RMA’s fact sheet on the SCO, visit http://tinyurl.com/scofacts.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 GA. PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COTTON, PEANUTS Georgia farmers are forecast to produce 25 percent more cotton and 30 percent more peanuts in 2014 according to the August Crop Production report from the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service.

The state’s cotton growers increased planting by 100,000 acres and NASS projects 2.9 million 480-pound bales in 2014, up 580,000 bales from the final 2013 Georgia production.

Georgia’s peanut growers also increased acreage, offsetting an expected 180 pounds per acre decline in yields.

The NASS forecast production of 2.465 billion pounds in 2014 would be 578 million more than the 2013 production of 1.89 billion pounds.

The acreage increases in cotton and peanuts were offset by acreage decreases in corn and wheat. Georgia corn growers are expected to harvest 335,000 acres for grain in 2014, down from 465,000 in 2013. The result is an expected 33 percent production decline, from 81,375,000 bushels in 2013 to 54,270,000 bushels in 2014. The state’s farmers harvested 250,000 acres in wheat in 2014 (winter wheat planted in fall 2013), down from 350,000 acres in 2013. The state’s wheat production is projected at 13.75 million bushels in 2014, down from 21 million bushels in 2013.

The NASS projects the Georgia tobacco crop to increase by 44 percent, from 22.4 million pounds in 2013 to 32.2 million pounds in 2014. This is due to an anticipated 9.4 percent increase in harvested acres combined with an expected yield increase of 550 pounds per acre.

Georgia soybean production is expected to increase by 11 percent, from 9 million bushels in 2013 to 9.99 million bushels in 2014.

Hay production is forecast for a 3.7 percent decline, from 1.56 million tons in 2013 to 1.51 million tons in 2014.

FEDERAL-STATE INSPECTION SERVICE CUTS RIBBON ON NEW BUILDING The Georgia Federal-State Shipping Point Inspection Service (GAFSIS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at its new headquarters facility in Albany on Aug. 12, according to a report published in the Albany Herald.

The Albany inspection point, previously located on North Slappey Blvd., moved to Pecan Grove Industrial Park this year. The new location is closer to Southwest Georgia Regional Airport and gives GAFSIS greater technological capability and more room to conduct training.

GAFSIS inspects more than 35 commodities to help ensure shipment of high-quality produce. Peanuts provide most of the organization’s business.

GAFSIS offers audit verification through the USDA’s Good Agricultural Practices & Good Handling Practices Audit Verification Program, which is a voluntary, fee-for-service program. Audits are only performed by USDA trained and licensed federal or state department of agriculture employees. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Fresh Products Branch works in cooperation with states to ensure program integrity, uniformity and consistency nationwide.

Auditors trained and licensed by the USDA provide an unbiased review of growers, handlers or receiver’s practices to minimize food safety hazards. This program verifies that the participating companies are conforming to generally accepted agricultural best practices. This program is not a regulatory or mandatory audit required by any state or federal regulation.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 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 .

ADVANCING GEORGIA’S LEADERS TAKING NOMINATIONS The Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture & Forestry (AGL) program is now accepting nominations for Class II. Class II will begin with their first session in early November. Please consider nominating at least one, if not several, qualified individuals to apply for the next class that you recognize as actively involved in Georgia’s agriculture, forestry, and/or supporting industries and has demonstrated leadership potential. You can nominate someone using an online form or by downloading the nomination form from the AGL website (http://agl.caes.uga.edu).

Applications will be sent to qualified applicants as nominations are received. AGL is a two-year statewide leadership development program for adults involved in Georgia’s agriculture, forestry, and supporting industries. The program includes eight in-state sessions, one national study trip, and one international study trip. For more information on AGL, please visit www.agl.caes.uga.edu. The Class II schedule can be viewed under the Current Class section.

Applications for Class II are due by Sept. 1. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the AGL office at agl@uga.edu or 706-542-7753.

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 or see http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/courses/conseaserome .

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 CANCELED The grazing behavior seminars scheduled for Sept. 8 in Athens, Sept. 11 in Tifton and Sept. 12 in Carrollton have been canceled. For information about possible rescheduling, contact 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 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 7 p.m.

Douglasville Sept. 9 3rd District Center at Arbor Connection 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.

COTTON AND PEANUT RESEARCH FIELD DAY Sept. 10 UGA Tifton Campus 8:30 a.m.

Tifton This field day will take place on the Gibbs and Lang research farms. The event showcases current research funded by the Georgia Cotton Commission and the Georgia Peanut Commission, with plot-side presentations by UGA researchers. RSVP to Michelle Pitts by Sept.

2 at mpitts@uga.edu or 229-386-3006.

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.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 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.

IPM VEGETABLE TROUBLESHOOTING WORKSHOP Sept. 19 UGA Griffin Student Learning Center 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Griffin This program will cover integrated pest management ideas for identifying and controlling problems encountered in small commercial vegetable gardens, including diseases, insects and cultural issues. Five hours of commercial pesticide credit in Category 21 and one hour of private pesticide credit will be offered. Cost is $20, which covers lunch, refreshments and workshop supplies.

Preregistration is required.

To register online visit http://tinyurl.com/veggietroubleshooting. For more information contact Beth Horne at 770-2287214 or bhorne@uga.edu.

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.

EPA ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON WATERS OF THE U.S. RULE The comment period for the “Waters of the United States” rule proposed by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ends on Oct. 20. Farm Bureau is urging its members to submit comments calling for the rule to be withdrawn. For more information about the proposed rule and to submit comments, visit http://www.gfb.org/ditchtherule.

GFB ACCEPTING ENTRIES TO HAY CONTEST AND HAY DIRECTORY Georgia Farm Bureau will again this year conduct the annual Bermuda grass Hay Contest and publish the GFB Quality Hay Directory for buyers and sellers of Georgia grown hay. The contest is designed to encourage farmers to produce better quality hay and the publication continues to be an important marketing tool for our producers and an excellent resource for consumers of quality hay. Checks for both should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau and mailed to the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities/Marketing Department. The cost for the contest is $15.00 per sample. Anyone entering the contest can receive a free listing in the hay directory. The directory will be distributed statewide. The cost for listing in the hay directory alone is $10. The deadline to submit entries for the contest and the directory is Oct. 31. For more information, please contact the GFB Commodities Department at 1800-342-1196.