August 6, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 31
WATER, EPA RULE KEY TOPICS AT AG ISSUES SUMMIT Nearly 200 farmers and representatives from agricultural stakeholder organizations attended the 2014 Joint Agriculture Chairmen Ag Issues Summit, held July 31 at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture in Tifton. The annual event, hosted by Georgia House Ag Committee Chairman Tom McCall and Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Wilkinson featured speakers on statewide water planning, pollinators, solar energy, truck weights and the proposed EPA water rule. Georgia Farm Bureau Legislative Director Jon Huffmaster discussed the EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule. Huffmaster urged those in attendance to submit comments asking that the rule be withdrawn. He reviewed the EPA’s efforts to get around the will of Congress and the Supreme Court with the rule. To submit a comment, visit www.gfb.org/ditchtherule. Russ Pennington of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, gave an update on statewide water planning efforts. Pennington said the EPD is working on rules under the Flint River Drought Protection Act and said that agricultural uses would be virtually exempt under the rules being considered. Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission Director Brent Dykes talked about work in the state’s conservation districts, including work to improve more than 300 flood control dams in the northern portions of the state. Dykes said agricultural water metering programs in the southern regions are providing valuable data to state policy makers and the EPD. UGA Entomology Professor Dr. Keith Delaplane explained the role of pollinators, specifically honeybees, in agriculture. Dr. Alan Ayers of Bayer CropScience also talked about issues related to honeybee health and suggested that a system-wide approach to bee health is needed. Such an approach, he said, would include science-based risk management of pesticides, stewardship and communication of best management practices and investment in bee health. USDA Renewable Energy Coordinator Craig Scroggs discussed opportunities for farmers under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps farmers and other rural business owners purchase renewable energy systems or install improvements on existing systems. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black gave a review of Georgia Department of Agriculture activities. Black said that for 2014 more than 33,000 people have signed up for Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) cards, and 86 percent of the enrollment has been done online. Black cautioned that he continues to hear stories of abuses involving the tax exemptions for purchases of agricultural inputs, and the state is in the process of establishing an audit process.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 7 GFB ACCEPTING ENTRIES TO HAY CONTEST AND HAY DIRECTORY Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members who grow Bermudagrass hay are encouraged to enter the GFB 2014 Quality Hay Contest. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at the University of Georgia Testing Lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which predicts fiber digestibility and likely animal intake of hay. Producers may enter more than one sample in the contest. There is a $15 entry fee for each sample entered in the contest to cover lab costs. Applications and instructions for submitting samples are available at county Farm Bureau offices or may be downloaded at the GFB website http://www.gfb.org/commodities/hay_contest.html. Checks to cover the entry fee should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. Entry forms and samples should be sent to the GFB Commodities Department, 1620 Bass Road Macon, Ga., 31210. The deadline to enter is Oct. 31. The first-place prize is free use of a Vermeer 504N baler, pictured, for one year courtesy of Vermeer. Farm Bureau members with hay for sale are also invited to list their farm in the 2015 GFB Quality Hay Directory. The directory will be printed in late November. Hay producers should complete a form and send to the GFB office in Macon along with a check for $10 for each listing. Checks should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. Because this directory is used for the entire year, producers should include normal and projected production of round and square bales they anticipate selling. Directories are sent to all county Farm Bureau offices, county Extension offices, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, cattle producers, dairy producers, horse owners, directory participants, at the Sunbelt Expo and the annual GFB convention. The directory is also listed on the GFB website, http://www.gfb.org/commodities/hay.html. TWO STUDENTS RECEIVE FRANK STRICKLAND SCHOLARSHIPS Two South Georgia students have been named the 2014 recipients of the B. Frank Strickland Memorial Scholarship. Sam Bennett of Lowndes County and Kathryn Dixon of Pierce County will each receive a $500 scholarship to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton this fall and pursue degrees in agriculture. The son of Marshall and Mary Beth Bennett, Sam is a recent graduate of Lowndes High School who was an active member of 4-H and became a Master 4-Her in 2012. He earned his Eagle Scout badge in 2013. The daughter of Robert and Brenda Dixon, Kathryn is a recent graduate of Pierce County High School who was an active member of 4-H, FFA and the Georgia High School Rodeo Association. The scholarship is awarded to an entering freshman or rising sophomore at ABAC who is from a county where tobacco production occurs. Lanier County farmer B. Frank Strickland was a lifelong advocate of Georgia’s tobacco industry and an active Georgia Farm Bureau member serving on the GFB Board of Directors for 27 years. The ABAC Foundation administers the scholarship. A selection committee comprised of representatives from GFB, the Georgia Tobacco Commission and the Lanier County Farm Bureau select the recipient. For more information about the scholarship contact the GFB Commodities/Marketing Department at 1-800-342-1196.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 7 FORMER TATTNALL FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT JAMES STRICKLAND DIES Dr. James E. Strickland, who served as Tattnall County Farm Bureau president from October 1999 to September 2010, died on Aug. 2 after an extended battle with cancer. He was 77. “We are deeply saddened to learn of Dr. Strickland’s death,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “He was a dedicated servant to agriculture and veterinary medicine, and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.” The 2012 recipient of the Georgia Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award, Strickland served on the Tattnall County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for more than 40 years. Strickland first served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Beef Committee in 1996 and continuously served on the committee from 1999 until his passing, including seven years as vice chairman. Strickland also served on the American Farm Bureau Federation Animal Health Committee from 2009 to 2011 and in 2014. Strickland grew up in Claxton, attended ABAC in Tifton and received his DVM at the College of Veterinary Medicine at UGA. He served in the Veterinary Corps, U.S. Air Force. Following his service, he practiced veterinary medicine in Thomaston for two years and then had many years of mixed-practice service in Glennville. He also worked for UGA as an Extension veterinarian, working to help cattle producers improve overall health, genetics and nutrition of their herds. He was past president and member of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) and was a past president of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association. Strickland served for more than 20 years on the Tattnall County Board of Education, was a member of the Rotary Club and a devoted member of the Glennville United Methodist Church. Strickland is survived by his wife of 56 years, Norma; his children, Quinn Strickland Flournoy (and husband Vic), Jes Strickland (and wife Lisa), and Monty Strickland (and wife Mara); and his grandchildren Zach and Cade Flournoy (Quinn & Vic) and Sam and Emry Strickland (Monty & Mara). He is preceeded in death by his brothers, Lex, Gerald, and Danny Strickland and his parents, Rubye and Ernest Strickland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, Ga. 30456; Glennville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 352, Glennville, Ga. 30427 or the Tattnall County Campgrounds, care of Cheryl Conley, 5356 Rufus Sapp Road, Claxton, Ga. 30417. GFC TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR TREES FOR GEORGIA PROGRAM The first signup period for the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Huber Trees for Georgia Program runs until Aug. 25. Huber Engineered Woods LLC donated $20,000 to fund the purchase of pine seedlings to be planted in the following counties: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, White and Wilkes. The funds will be used to purchase GFC seedlings which will be given to qualified landowners. To apply, submit a GFC seedling order form, completely filled out and signed, to a local GFC Forester. The list of applicants will be compiled and randomly selected if necessary. Selections will be made by Aug. 29. For more information visit http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/ or contact Scott Griffin at 770-531-6043 or sgriffin@gfc.state.ga.us.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 7 FARM BILL ROUNDTABLE WITH BARROW, HARDEN Aug. 8 Vidalia Onion Museum 100 Vidalia Onion Dr. 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Vidalia McGrath Keen Conference Center 1200 U.S. Hwy. 80 E 1 p.m - 2:30 p.m. Dublin th Burke County Office Park 715 West 6 St. 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Waynesboro Deputy Agriculture Secretary Krysta Harden and Rep. John Barrow (D-12th District) will visit farms and lead discussions on the 2014 farm bill and disaster assistance. Harden is overseeing the implementation of the farm bill and delivering its new and modified programs to the nation’s farmers. For more information contact Richard Carbo in Barrow’s office at richard.carbo@mail.house.gov.
CAFO RULE INFORMATION SESSIONS Aug. 12 Georgia Farm Bureau 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Macon Aug. 20 UGA Livestock Arena 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Athens Aug. 28 UGA Tifton Campus Center 10:30 a.m. – noon Tifton These meetings, 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 one free continuing education credit, and time for Q&A will follow each session. For more information, send an email to cafo@agr.georgia.gov. USDA EXTENDS ELAP DEADLINE U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia announced today that the enrollment deadline for the 2012 and 2013 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) has been EXTENDED TO AUG. 15. Originally, program sign-up was scheduled to end Aug. 1. The new deadline gives livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish producers who experienced losses because of disease, adverse weather, wildfires or colony collapse disorder between Oct. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2013, an additional two weeks to enroll in ELAP. Producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA service center or visit FSA’s website at www.fsa.usda.gov for additional information regarding ELAP. GFB TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR 2015 COMMODITY COMMITTEES Georgia Farm Bureau is now accepting nominations of its members to serve on its commodity advisory committees for 2015. There are 20 committees, members of which are appointed by the GFB president with the approval of the GFB Board of Directors. For 2015, GFB is adding a new committee on direct marketing/agritourism. The feed grain and soybean committees are being combined into one committee. To be eligible to serve on a GFB commodity advisory committee, a person must be a member of the county Farm Bureau from which he/she is being nominated, be an active producer of the commodity and have knowledge on all aspects of the commodity. NOMINATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED AND RECEIVED NO LATER THAN Aug. 18. For more information contact your county Farm Bureau office or the GFB Commodities Marketing Department at 1-800-342-1196. MOM’S DAY ON THE RANCH Aug. 20 Callaway Cattle Company Hogansville This fun and informative event, funded by the National Beef Checkoff, is designed to give non-ag Georgia moms a chance for an up-close look at a modern beef cattle farm to see how beef gets from pasture to plate in a safe, sustainable and delicious way. If you know of a suburban mom looking to learn more about how farmers raise the food her family eats, this would be an ideal event for her. Visit http://www.momsdayonthefarm.com to learn more.
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ALTERNATIVE FOREST ENTERPRISES August 20-21 Flinchum’s Phoenix Athens A combination of classroom presentations will provide participants the opportunity to develop new knowledge and basic skills associated with non-timber products management, forest farming and silvopasture techniques for Georgia. July 30 is the deadline to register. For more information call 706583-0566 or visit http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/courses/altforent.
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. 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. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS September 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 landuse 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 706-5830566 or visit 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.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 7 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 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. 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. CURT PATE STOCKMANSHIP & STEWARDSHIP SEMINAR Sept. 23 Calhoun Stockyard , 2270 Rome Rd. SW 1 p.m. Calhoun All cattle producers and anyone who handles or processes cattle are invited to attend this free seminar conducted by renowned stockman and Montana rancher Curt Pate. The seminar will cover topics including gathering cattle from pasture, working cattle in corrals and alleys, sorting and processing techniques, strategies for receiving cattle, low-stress loading procedures and proper use of equipment to assure low-stress handling. Sponsors include Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Floyd County Cattlemen’s and Tri-State Cattlemen’s Associations. Attendance counts towards Beef Quality Assurance recertification or certification. For more information contact Jason Duggin at 706-7284354. 2014 TRI-STATE PEANUT DISEASE TOUR Sept. 23-25 Georgia, Florida and Alabama The tour begins on Sept. 23 with a tour of the plots at the University of Florida’s Citra Research Center. Stops on Sept. 24 are at the UGA Tifton Campus, including the Lang-Rigdon Farm and the Black Shank Farm. Sept. 25 stops are at Auburn University’s Wiregrass Experiment Station in Headland, Ala. Contact Albert Culbreath at 229-326-7683 or spotwilt@uga.edu for more information.