August 7, 2013
www.gfb.org
Vol. 31 No. 32
BULLOCH HONORED, COMMITTEES MULL POLICY AT GFB CONFERENCE Former state Senator John Bulloch was presented the 2013 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Award and GFB commodity committee members were presented information on the USDA National Appeals Division, animal rights activists and national legislation during the GFB Commodity Conference, held Aug. 1 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. Bulloch served in the Georgia General Assembly for 14 years, the last 10 in the Georgia Senate, before retiring in late 2012. During that time, he worked to advance a number of agricultural causes, including pushing through 2004 legislation to give poultry growers certain rights in the process of structuring their contracts. “I want to thank you for what y’all have meant to me because I did it out of love,” Bulloch said. “The day I die, I’m going to be a farmer, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.” Conference attendees learned they can appeal adverse decisions issued by the USDA Farm Service Agency, Risk Bulloch Management Agency, Natural Resources & Conservation Service or Rural Development Agencies. Amanda Urbanek, deputy assistant director of the USDA National Appeals Division (NAD), said her division, created by Congress in 1994, operates independently from the USDA agencies for which it hears appeals. To file an appeal, Georgia farmers must send the NAD Southern Region office in Memphis a letter stating a desire to appeal the negative decision or an efile appeal within 30 days after receiving the decision. Producers should state the decision they are appealing, why, and include a copy of the letter from the USDA agency notifying them of the adverse decision. More information is available at https://www.nad.usda.gov. Steve Kopperud of Washington consulting firm Policy Directions Inc. presented information on animal rights activists, focusing primarily on the tactics of the Humane Society of the United States. Kopperud stressed the importance of farmers becoming trained to interact with members of the media and that they take great care to ensure that animals in their care are not abused. American Farm Bureau Federation Executive Director of Public Policy Dale Moore discussed national legislation affecting farmers including the farm bill, waterway reconstruction and immigration. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black spoke during the conference luncheon, providing updates on the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE), the closing of the Georgia Egg Commission, nominations for additional seats on the Georgia Cotton Commission along with news about other commodities.