Georgia Farm Bureau News - August 2012

GEORGIA

Vol. 74 No. 4

August 2012

FARM BUREAU NEWS

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ORGIA FARM GE B

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

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table of

contents august 2012

departments

we, the farmers PAGE 4

legislative update PAGE 5

ag in the classroom

PAGE 8

Ga. DOL survey shows farmers require experienced labor

A survey conducted earlier this year by the Georgia Department of Labor shows farmers require experience when hiring laborers. Since this is a prevailing practice, the GDOL says it will take this practice into consideration when reviewing H-2A contracts submitted by Georgia farmers.

PAGE 6

Farm bill makes its way through Congress

The U.S. Senate passed its version of the 2012 farm bill on June 21 by a 64-35 vote. On July 11 the House Agriculture Committee marked up its version of the farm bill, but at press time it was unclear when it might be brought to a vote on the House floor.

PAGE 7

Ga.-Fla. Tobacco Tour highlights pest treatments, variety trials

young farmer update

The Georgia-Florida Tobacco Tour offered a firsthand look at pest treatment and variety trial research.

PAGE 11

commodities update

Ga. pecans earn heart healthy seal as production acres rise

PAGE 9

PAGE 10

around georgia

PAGE 20

public relations staff

Paul Beliveau Jennifer Whittaker

Lillian Davis

Jay Stone

Denny Moore

Rick Treptow Michael Edmondson

Mark Wildman

Dean Wood

Damon Jones

Vickie Amos

Director Editor Publications/Advertising Manager Print/Web Specialist TV Producer/Anchor Senior Radio-TV Specialist Web/Video Manager Radio-TV Specialist Radio-TV Specialist Radio-TV Specialist Office Coordinator

For questions about your membership or member benefits, call 1-800-633-5432.

For questions regarding editorial content call 478-474-0679, ext. 5334 or e-mail jawhittaker@gfb.org For questions regarding advertising contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., 1-800-397-8908 Visit the GFB Web site today! www.gfb.org Georgia Farm Bureau TV: www.youtube.com/georgiafarmmonitor “Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GeorgiaFarmBureau Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gafarmbureau

The American Heart Association recently added Georgia pecans to its list of certified heart-healthy foods. This allows companies selling Georgia pecan halves and pieces to apply to place the AHA Heart-Check label on product packages. As demand for pecans rises, Georgia growers are planting more trees. PAGE 12

GFB Art & Essay contest winners named

Enjoy the artwork of the top three winners of the GFB Art Contest and read the winning essay by Asia Wilson.

PAGES 14-15

Forage conference emphasizes profitability, preventing stand decline

Farmers attending the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Forage Conference received information on a variety of topics, ranging from Bermuda grass stand decline to factors to consider when deciding whether to plant clover to insect and weed management issues.

PAGE 17

GFB Farm Tour highlights diversity of 7th District Vidalia onion and vegetable production was front and center during the annual Georgia Farm Bureau Farm Tour held in May. Terry Gerrald, far right, discusses his carrot crop during the stop at his farm. PAGES 18-19

on the cover

(Photo by Amanda Rentz) Peanuts are the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in this shot captured by Decatur County Farm Bureau member Amanda Rentz, who entered her photo in the 2011 GFB Young Farmer Photo Contest. Her husband, Kevin, grew the peanuts. Visit http://www.gfb.org to see the winning photos from this year’s contest that were just selected at the GFB Young Farmer Conference.

We’ll highlight the winners in the September GFB News.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 3

we, the Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

farmers Zippy Duvall, GFB President

Telling Our Story

Why is it important to tell our story?

I’m just one farmer, you might say.

What can I do? I wouldn’t know how or where to start.

I had this discussion with my dad 34 years ago at my mother’s breakfast table after a long morning of milking cows. His comments have stayed with me all these years, and I have learned that not only was he talking about my passion for agriculture, but also my passion for Christ.

Daddy said, “Son, you will never make a difference in this life by staying inside the fences of this farm. You have to get out, get involved, and get passionate about what you believe in. The world won’t know if you don’t tell them.”

I took the phrase “staying inside the fences of this farm” literally, but what he was really saying was you have to get outside your comfort zone.

Sometime soon after that breakfast table discussion, daddy took me to my first Greene County Farm Bureau meeting where I was asked to serve as the Young Farmer Committee Chairman. Yes, that was 34 years ago, but it seems like yesterday. Time truly flies when you are having fun.

The Georgia Farm Bureau story started 75 years ago with Georgia farmers who were passionate about telling the farmer’s story. After all those years, we still hold true to their passion and mission. Georgia Farm Bureau is the vehicle the Georgia farmer uses to tell our stories.

GFB was one of the five ag organizations that worked with the Georgia Department of Labor (DOL) this winter to encourage farmers to participate in a survey the DOL conducted to determine the common and prevailing hiring prac-

tices farmers use and what their labor needs are. The Georgia DOL announced the results of the survey in June and is using the survey data to establish guidelines that will be used when reviewing and approving H-2A contracts for farmers who hire seasonal employees.

The most important result of the survey is the Georgia DOL now recognizes that farmers need experienced labor.

Farmers who took the survey indicated they need experienced labor ranging from one week to three or more years depending on the task. The Georgia DOL will now accept experience requirements on contracts from employers without asking for the backup documentation required in the past, according to the letter Georgia DOL submitted to the U.S. DOL announcing the survey results.

Georgia Farm Bureau is extremely appreciative that Labor Commissioner Mark Butler and the staff of the Georgia DOL conducted this study. I’d also like to thank every farmer who took the survey. As a farmer, I know taking a survey is the last thing you want to do after spending a day out in the field, but the time every participant spent taking this survey really paid off!

Speaking of labor, Gainesville Times reporter Lee Johnson wrote an article about his experience of picking blackberries at Jaemor Farms and did a fantastic job explaining the labor situation Georgia farmers are facing. Hall County Farm Bureau President Drew Echols was interviewed and did a great job of discussing the labor issue with Johnson. Visit http:// www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/ article/69549/, to read the article.

See WE, THE FARMERS page 23

GFB President Zippy Duvall and Crawford County Farm Bureau Secretary/Treasurer Charlie Frank Harris admire sweet corn growing at the Pittman Family Farm during a stop on the GFB Farm Tour.

4 / August 2012

GEORGIA

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Farm Bureau Members: Included in dues — $1 per year Non-Members — $15 per year To subscribe call 1-800-898-1911, ext. 5238.

OFFICERS President ZIPPY DUVALL 1st Vice President/South Georgia Vice President GERALD LONG North Georgia Vice President BERNARD SIMS Middle Georgia Vice President ROBERT FOUNTAIN Jr. Treasurer/Corporate Secretary Wayne Daniel General Counsel DUKE Groover

DIRECTORS FIRST DISTRICT: Wesley Hall, Cumming; Henry J. West, Rydal SECOND DISTRICT: Bobby Gunter, Dahlonega; Randy Ruff, Elberton THIRD DISTRICT: George Chambers, Carrollton; Nora Goodman, Temple FOURTH DISTRICT: Marvin Ruark, Bishop FIFTH DISTRICT: Jim Ham, Smarr; Ralph Adamson Jr., Barnesville SIXTH DISTRICT: James Emory Tate, Denton; James Malone, Dexter SEVENTH DISTRICT: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gary Bell, Bellville EIGHTH DISTRICT: Kim Brown, Montezuma; Don Wood, Rochelle NINTH DISTRICT: Paul Shirah, Camilla; Lucius Adkins, Elmodel TENTH DISTRICT: David Lee, Alma; Daniel Johnson, Alma YOUNG FARMER CHAIRMAN: Jake Carter, McDonough WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Linda Crumley, Winder ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising accepted subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaint about advertiser service or products. Publisher does not accept per-order, political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in the Georgia Farm Bureau News.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News was established in 1937.

Copyright 2012 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, Georgia.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News

legislative update Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director

GFB opposes law regulating layer hen cages Farm Bureau adamantly opposes legislation that has been introduced in Congress to regulate the size of layer hen cages. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced H.R. 3798 in the House in January, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced S.3239 in the Senate in May. Both bills mandate a 15-year phase-in period to essentially double the size of cages for egg-laying hens. The cost to growers is expected to be $4 billion.

Growers who fail to provide hens with “adequate environmental enrichments” will be prohibited from selling their eggs.

In fact, the law would make it a federal offense to even transport eggs or egg products derived from hens housed in cages not measuring up to the federal standard.

Farm Bureau’s opposition is based on several points: the legislation is unwarranted, it is unsupported by science and it represents an alarming first step toward federal regulation of all livestock and poultry production at the farm level.

Nobody has more interest in the proper care of animals than the average farmer.

Livestock and poultry producers rely on their animals for their livelihoods. Farmers have a moral obligation to properly care for their animals. They also have a financial interest as well. Animals under stress do not perform well, and underperforming animals are detrimental to a farmer’s bottom line.

There are already laws on the books to deal with animal abuse. Current statutes can address bad players without expanding federal regulatory authority to every single egg farm in the nation.

There is no credible scientific evidence to suggest that hens are better off in one type of housing as compared to another.

The entire premise of the legislation is based on what humans might prefer if they were layer hens.

Proponents of the legislation argue that hens are dissatisfied and uncomfortable in their cages. However, it is just as plausible that hens feel more comfortable

and happy in a controlled, predator-free environment with abundant supplies of food and water. The fact is humans cannot possibly know what hens might think of their housing situation or whether they even think about it at all.

As fewer people grow up on farms without the benefit of raising livestock and poultry, there is an increasing tendency for Americans to confer human rights and characteristics to animals. For example, suppose you are shown a photograph of an animal in a cage and asked, “How would you like to live your entire life like this?”

No matter how roomy the enclosure, most people would offer a negative response.

The reason for that response is that humans do not want to be enclosed at all.

Even if the enclosure was a 500-acre pasture, a human would reject those borders.

The very thought of living one’s entire life in a single 500-acre enclosure is detestable to most people.

The belief that animals think like humans is at the heart of the animal rights movement, and its proponents follow it with a zeal any preacher would envy. Many supporters of the layer hen bills oppose animal agriculture and would ban it altogether if they had their way. Are egg producers to think that doubling the size of egg-laying hen cages will be the end of it?

Farm Bureau believes animal rights activists will never be satisfied. Further-

more, history demonstrates that when federal power is granted, additional power is seized. If the federal government is allowed to regulate the size of hen housing, it is only a matter of time before the same authority is expanded to apply to all animals.

Neither of the bills has made progress as stand-alone legislation. However, both are being offered as amendments to other bills, and there is a real danger the proposal could be included in another bill that has broad support. S.3239 was unsuccessfully offered as an amendment to the farm bill in the Senate, but similar efforts will probably be made in the House.

Georgia Farm Bureau has clearly voiced its concern to Georgia’s congressional delegation regarding this drastic expansion of federal authority onto individual farms.

It is essential that Georgia legislators hear from rank and file Farm Bureau members as well. Farm Bureau members are urged to contact their U.S. Representatives to voice opposition to H.R. 3798 and their U.S. Senators in opposition to S.3239. Legislators should be urged to oppose efforts to attach animal rights amendments onto other legislation like the farm bill.

It is vitally important that Farm Bureau members are heard on this issue. Nothing less than the future of animal agriculture is at stake.

Jon Huffmaster is director of the GFB Legislative Department.

FSA emergency loan deadlines

Nov. 16 is the deadline for farmers in Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Murray, Walker and Whitfield counties to apply for emergency loans due to damage sustained from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred Feb. 29-March 2.

Ten Tennessee counties received a presidential disaster designation under Designation M4060, which also qualifies the aforementioned Georgia counties for emergency loans for any storm damage suffered as contiguous counties.

Dec. 20 is the deadline for producers in Camden and Charlton counties to apply for emergency loans due to damage sustained from frost and freezing temperatures that occurred Jan. 3-Jan. 16. Secretarial Disaster Declaration S3245 was granted for three Florida counties and qualifies the two Georgia counties as contiguous counties.

Contact your local Farm Service Agency office for more information.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 5

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

About 88 percent of the farmers who participated in a survey the Georgia Department of Labor conducted last winter said they require experience ranging from one week to three or more years, depending on the task.

Ga. DOL survey shows farmers require experienced labor

By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________ Requiring experienced workers, pay- needs to feed America.” ing employees weekly and providing the The GDOL has submitted the survey tools, supplies and equipment needed to results to the U.S. DOL, and according to perform a task are prevailing practices GDOL employee Angela Royal, who conGeorgia farmers use when hiring workers, ducted the conference call, “For these pracaccording to survey results released by the tices in which the results are definitive, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) in Georgia Department of Labor plans to ima conference call June 15. plement these immediately as part of our The Prevailing and Common Agricul- review process of all H-2A contracts unless tural Practices Survey, conducted Jan. 24 otherwise directed by the U.S. DOL.” to March 15 by the GDOL, was intended to provide data regarding the hiring practices of farmers who hire seasonal employees to help the GDOL review and approve 142 GA. counties get drought designation H-2A contracts. The U.S. Department of Streamlined procedures to the USDA Labor requires employers using the H-2A secretarial disaster designation process, program to provide employee benefits and which Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilworking conditions that conform to com- sack announced July 12, gave 142 Georgia mon practices within the same area and counties a drought disaster declaration as occupations. either primary or contiguous counties.

The GDOL surveyed more than 1,500 A disaster designation makes qualified employers and received valid responses farmers in designated counties eligible to from 226 farms employing more than apply for low interest emergency loans.

10,000 seasonal workers.

The new process for granting secre “This survey shows that Georgia farm- tarial disaster designations now qualifies a ers need experienced workers who are county for a drought designation once the skilled at planting and harvesting their U.S. Drought Monitor has categorized the crops,” Georgia Farm Bureau President county as experiencing a severe drought Zippy Duvall said. “We are very grateful for eight consecutive weeks during the that the Georgia Department of Labor lis- growing season. tened to farmers’ labor concerns and de- The 17 Georgia counties that did not cided to conduct this survey to get insight- receive a drought designation are: Barful data that will help them review H-2A tow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Dawson, contracts and provide Georgia’s ag com- Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpmunity with the experienced workforce it kin, Murray, Pickens, Towns, Union,

About 88 percent of the farmers who took the survey said they require experience ranging from one week to three or more years depending on the task. Georgia will accept experience requirements on contracts from employers without asking for the backup documentation required in the past, according to the letter GDOL submitted to the U.S. DOL announcing the survey results.

Employers who offer contracts that do not include the prevailing practices will be required to provide a letter explaining why they cannot meet the prevailing practice.

Providing family housing, using farm labor contractors to secure workers and paying transportation costs in advance for workers from the place of recruitment are not prevailing practices, according to the GDOL survey. If employers using H-2A contracts wish to offer or use these nonprevailing practices, the GDOL will accept contracts that include them, but employers who don’t use these practices will not be required to explain why.

Georgia Farm Bureau promoted the survey along with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, UGA Cooperative Extension Service, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Georgia Agribusiness Council.

USDA streamlines disaster designation process

6 / August 2012

Walker, White and Whitfield.

The streamlined procedure no longer requires state governors to initiate disaster designations although governors may still submit a designation request. The current criteria used for triggering a disaster designation still applies: counties must show either a 30 percent production loss of at least one crop countywide or a decision must be made by surveying producers to determine that other lending institutions are not able to provide emergency funding.

Vilsack also announced that the interest rate for the emergency loans for which farmers in designated counties may apply have been reduced from 3.75 percent to 2.25 percent. The annual rent payment farmers pay on CRP acres used for emergency haying or grazing due to drought will be reduced from 25 to 10 percent in 2012.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Farm bill makes its way through Congress The U.S. Senate passed its version of the 2012 farm bill on June 21 by a 64-35 vote.

The bill establishes program guidelines for the USDA for the next five years. Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson both voted against the final bill, citing inequities between commodities and regions.

“If this bill were to become law without significant changes, producers in the Southeast would be left without an effective safety net,” Chambliss said.

Both Georgia senators expressed hope that the imbalance of protections for farmers would be resolved when the House and Senate bills are conferenced.

The Senate bill, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240), establishes total spending for USDA programs at $969 billion from 2013 to 2022, $23.6 billion less than would be spent if the USDA programs under current law were continued for the same period according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Though Congress reworks the farm bill every five years, the CBO does budget estimates in 10-year increments.

The bill eliminates direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) payments and Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) payments. The bill’s commodity portion was reworked around private crop insurance, with the federal government assisting farmers with premium payments.

The bill placed limits on who could receive premium assistance and how much farmers could receive; farmers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $750,000 or more are ineligible for payments, which are capped at $50,000. An amendment submitted by Chambliss and approved in the final bill makes conservation compliance a prerequisite for participating in the crop insurance program.

Overall, S. 3240 cuts spending on commodity programs by more than $13 billion over the next 10 years. An estimated $6 billion was cut from conservation spending by

Photo by Jay Stone

By Jay Stone ___________________________________

combining 23 programs into 13.

An estimated $4 billion was cut from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; formerly known as the food stamp program), the school lunch program, Women, Infants & Children (WIC) and other food assistance programs. The nutri-

tion programs account for approximately 80 percent of all farm bill spending. The cuts were achieved by enacting rules to close a number of loopholes, including a prohibition against states making marginal heating bill payments to individuals to allow them to qualify for SNAP benefits.

House Ag Committee passes farm bill On July 11 the House Agriculture Committee marked up its version of the 2012 farm bill, passing the committee by a 35-11 vote.

The House bill, titled “The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act,” now moves to the floor of the full House. At press time it was unclear when it might be brought to a vote on the floor.

“Any way you look at it, the version of the farm bill the House Ag Committee passed is better for Georgia farmers than the version that came out of the Senate,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said.

House Agriculture Committee member Georgia Rep. Austin Scott (R-8th District) voted for the bill, while Rep. David Scott (D13th District), also a committee member, voted against it.

GFB Peanut Committee Chairman Wes Shannon and GFB National Affairs Specialist Tas Smith attended the markup proceedings.

The House version of the farm bill would cut $14 billion from commodity programs and eliminate direct payments, the ACRE and SURE programs and countercyclical payments, replacing them with crop insurance programs. The bill calls for $6 billion in

cuts from conservation programs and $16.5 billion from nutrition programs.

The committee considered more than 100 amendments. One key provision, in an amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (RIowa), was to enforce the Commerce Clause by preventing individual states from imposing agricultural production standards on commodities produced in other states.

The amendment is aimed at the California statute that sets housing standards for egg-laying hens and requires eggs sold in the state, including those produced in other states, be produced by hens housed in certain size crates. King’s amendment would prevent California from stopping sale of eggs from other states provided they are produced in accordance with federal law.

Rep. David Scott co-authored an amendment with Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) that would require the USDA to file a report on steps it will take to bring the U.S. into compliance with the WTO decision regarding Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). The WTO ruled last year that the COOL rules violated the WTO’s agreement on technical barriers to trade. The amendment passed by a 34-12 vote.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 7

ag in the classroom Donna Rocker, AITC Coordinator

Nichelle Stewart, Cherokee County Women’s Committee member, presented a workshop at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference.

Photo by Donna Rocker

Crawford County kindergarten teacher Andrea Seagraves, right, takes notes on her iPad while touring a beef packing plant during the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference held June 1922 in Colorado.

Photo by Andy Lucas

Georgia was represented by 30 people at the 2012 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference held June 19-22 in Loveland, Colo.

Georgia’s delegation consisted of teachers, county Farm Bureau volunteers and a University of Georgia student who attended on a Sigma Alpha scholarship. Sigma Alpha is a national agriculture sorority whose primary focus is Ag in the Classroom.

The conference included a large selection of workshops and mini-workshops that covered all grade levels and subjects. Cherokee County Farm Bureau member Nichelle Stewart presented a 90-minute workshop “How to be a Friendly Farmer.”

There was also a day of traveling workshops that spotlighted area agriculture.

Visit http://www.agclassroom.org/conference2012/index.htm to see highlights of the conference.

Make plans now to attend or sponsor a teacher to attend the 2013 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference. It will be held June 25-28, 2013, in Minneapolis, Minn. Contact Donna Rocker at dhrocker@ gfb.org or 478-474-0679, ext. 5365 for more information or visit http://www.agclassroom.org.

Photo by Donna Rocker

GFB members attend AITC Conference

Agroforestry & Wildlife Field Day

This event, scheduled for Sept. 20 at the UGA Campus in Griffin from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., will provide information on ways land value can be enhanced.

More than 25 topics will be showcased, including wildlife opening management; pond management; wild turkey, dove and quail management; selling and marketing timber; prescribed burning, cost-sharing assistance programs, GPS/ GIS use in managing land and invasive insects, disease and plants.

Registration is $25 before Sept. 3 and $35 after. Fee includes lunch. For more information, visit http://www.caes.uga. edu/events/awfd/index.html.

8 / August 2012

Columbia County teachers who participated in the GFB Ag in the Classroom Educator Workshop visited Columbia County Farm Bureau Director Jim Steed’s dairy farm.

Steed, pictured left in blue shirt, gave the teachers a milking demonstration and discussed the Southeast dairy industry.

Teachers schooled in ag

Georgia Farm Bureau concluded its 2011-12 Ag in the Classroom Educator Workshop series in May reaching 175 teachers from 62 schools in 11 counties. Public, private and home-school teachers from Cherokee, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Douglas, Emanuel, Habersham, Madison, Mitchell, Stephens and Washington counties attended the workshops held from November 2011 through May. The workshops targeted kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers, offering them hands-on classroom training and field trips to farms in each county where the teachers interacted with Farm Bureau members.

Each teacher received a tote bag filled with resources valued at $100 to use in their classrooms to teach their students about agriculture.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by Jed Evans

Participants in the GFB Young Farmer Futures Seminar, pictured from left, were: Matt Bottoms, Jake Carter, Cody Lord, James and Megan Dault, Sam Watson, Ben Scott, Andrew Ruark, Dalton Tankersley, Patrick Nolan, Lafe Perkins, Emily and Jacob Nolan, Troy Windham, Clay Black, Andy Dyer, Chris Rogers, Thomas Harrell, Matthew London, Dr. Nathan Smith, University of Georgia and Taylor Williams.

GFB sponsors Young Farmers futures seminar Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Committee provided an in-depth look at how the futures markets can be adapted and used in farm financial plans during a seminar held in Chicago June 11-13. A group of 20 young farmers from 16 county Farm Bureaus participated in the seminar and gained firsthand experience at the CME Group Inc. The event was designed to introduce young farmers to the concept of integrating futures and hedging contracts into a

farm financial plan.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the futures markets and be able to see the real action with the commodity markets,” said GFB Young Farmer Committee Chairman Jake Carter. “We hope the young farmer participants will take the information and adapt it to meet their individual economic needs on the farm.”

The group got a behind-the-scenes look at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT).

During the visit, the young farmers saw the

open and close of the trade floor, participated in training sessions with professionals from the CME Group and toured the CBOT and Mercantile Exchange. Curt Zuckert of the CME Group led the group in a simulation of actual commodity transactions.

University of Georgia Extension Economist Dr. Nathan Smith led a seminar session which covered “Risk Management Strategies,” “Fundamentals of Commodities and Futures Markets,” “What Is An Option?” and “Futures, Options and Calls.”

Take advantage of special member rates on new or used motorcycles, boats, all terrain and recreational vehicles.

• Up to 100% financing* • Same low rate for new and used* • Flexible payment terms up to 72 months For details, contact your Farm Bureau agent or visit farmbureaubank.com.

* Existing Farm Bureau Bank recreational vehicles excluded from this offer. Rates and financing are limited to vehicle models 2003 and newer and subject to change without notice.

All loans are subject to credit approval, verification, and collateral evaluation. The minimum loan amount is $5,000. Non-member rates may be 1-3% higher than posted rates.

Loans for RVs, motorcycles, trailers, ATVs, watercraft and commercial vehicles may be 0.50% higher than vehicle loan rates. This offer if not available in all states and rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Farm Bureau Bank does not finance totaled, rebuilt or salvaged vehicles. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 9

commodities/marketing update Don McGough

Networking with other state Farm Bureaus

10 / August 2012

stem cell research. Dr. Stice was able to dispel several myths about stem cell research and shared some of the practical applications his research has for agriculture and the livestock industry.

Water is on everyone’s mind these days. Mark Masters with the Water Policy and Research Center in Albany discussed demands on the Southeastern water supply and Georgia water policy.

A hallmark of this annual meeting is the host state taking the group out on a tour to showcase its farms and agribusinesses. Most attendees have been to a cotton, beef cattle or dairy farm, so these tours are a great opportunity to show off something unique about the host state.

The group started the afternoon tour at the Georgia Ports Authority Garden City terminal. This facility is the second largest container port in the U.S. and is the fourth in volume overall. About 40 percent of all U.S. poultry goes through this facility. The terminal has nine berths and can handle multiple ships loading and unloading cargo. Crane operators can move up to 40 containers per hour.

Prior to driving through the port, Georgia Port Authority Global Accounts Executive Mark Troughton discussed the importance the Savannah port has to Southeastern agriculture and the impact the Savannah

Port’s expansion will have on the region.

After touring the port, the group visited Chatham County Farm Bureau Vice President Pete Waller at his roadside market, Ottawa Farms, in nearby Bloomingdale.

Waller shared the history of his farm and its transition to an agritourism operation with the group. He then provided everyone with samples of his famous strawberry ice cream, which hit the spot on a hot, muggy June afternoon.

The tour ended at Liberty County Farm Bureau President Danny Norman’s Tea Grove Plantation. Tea Grove Plantation is a living relic to the days gone by, and Norman opened the doors to his extensive collection of antique tractors, cars, buildings and farm equipment.

The Southern Region Commodity Conference was a great opportunity to showcase Georgia’s diverse agricultural economy to our Southeastern neighbors. We may be rivals on the football field each fall, but conferences like this are a great opportunity for state Farm Bureau staff to learn about programs we may be able to use in Georgia to assist you, our members.

We would like to the thank Monsanto, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Georgia Peanut Commission and the Georgia Cotton Commission for providing sponsorship for the event.

Photo by Mark Wildman

Georgia Farm Bureau hosted the American Farm Bureau Southern Region Commodity Conference in Savannah June 10 – 13. Farm Bureau commodity staff from Texas to Virginia participated in this event, giving the state staff members a chance to discuss issues facing states in the Southern region. Many issues were discussed but labor, water, the economy and farm bill were of vital concern.

Presenters from Georgia also spoke about issues that staff from other states wouldn’t normally hear about. Jeff Manley, farm manager of the Rock Ranch, spoke to the group about Georgia’s growing agritourism industry. The Rock Ranch, a beef cattle farm and agritourism destination in Upson County, was established by Chickfil-A founder S. Truett Cathy.

Manley discussed the importance of “Second Mile Service” which Chick-fil-A uses as the cornerstone of their business. In Jerusalem, during the early days of Christianity, Roman soldiers made Jewish citizens tote their armor and supplies one mile out of the city. In Matthew 5:41, Jesus said “and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

Manley related this to how commodity staff should work with our customers, the Farm Bureau member. Going the first mile is expected, but it is our job to make sure we go the “second mile”.

Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Specialist Brandon Ashley, Jimmy Carlisle of Alabama Farmers Federation and Bruce Tencleve of Arkansas Farm Bureau led a discussion about recent immigration laws that have been passed in their states and what their Farm Bureaus have done regarding the new legislation. There was a consensus among the panel that immigration is an issue that needs to be addressed on the federal level. Each state in the region having different immigration enforcement standards illustrates this point.

Dr. Steve Stice from the University of Georgia told the group about the cuttingedge research he is doing in cloning and

Farm Bureau commodity staff members from across the Southeast recently met in Savannah to discuss policy issues affecting farmers in the region and to exchange program ideas.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by Jay Stone

Georgia-Florida Tobacco Tour highlights pest treatments, variety trials By Jay Stone ___________________________________

UGA graduate student Eddie Beasley, left, reviewed ongoing variety and treatment studies at the Black Shank Nursery on UGA’s Tifton campus.

up and down the Eastern coast.”

Moore said contracts weren’t offered from Asian buyers that emerged in 2011, but they might pose opportunities for farmers to sell tobacco they have left after fulfilling their contracts.

At UGA-Tifton, the group visited the Black Shank Nursery and received information from UGA Professor Dr. Alex Csinos and graduate student Eddie Beasley about ongoing studies into black shank, including which varieties and treatment provide the best resistance to the disease.

Moore said plots where Admire Pro and Actigard are used showed 50 percent fewer occurrences of tomato spotted wilt virus than untreated plots.

“The bottom line from the work being done by Dr. Bertrand in 25 locations and over a three-year period is that the recommendations of the Georgia Extension Service continue to be right on target,” Moore said.

At the UGA-Tifton Bowen Farm, participants were given information from

studies on nematicide use for control of root knot nematodes, variety tests for root knot nematode resistance, tobacco growth regulator tests, field spray trials and control measures for tomato spotted wilt virus and thrips.

At the farm of Brian Lanier in Berrien County, the UGA Cooperative Extension Service presented a demonstration of commercially available varieties. Just down the road on the farm of David Hendley, Dr. Bertrand discussed the presence and spread of tobacco mosaic virus from test plants during transplanting. Findings of treatments for tobacco splitworms, budworms and tomato spotted wilt virus were presented at Jerry Wooten’s farm in Jeff Davis County.

At the farm of Joey Anderson in Coffee County, participants saw treatment tests for tomato spotted wilt.

For more information about the tour and other tobacco programs, visit http:// www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/tobacco/.

Promoting Georgia watermelons

Georgia Watermelon Association Queen Laurel Higginbotham made promotional appearances at supermarkets in the Macon area June 15 and 16. She is pictured handing out watermelon samples to customers at Harveys Supermarket in Gray, Ga. Visit http:// www.georgiawatermelonassociation.org to learn more about Georgia watermelons.

Photo by Mark Wildman

P

articipants in the 2012 Georgia-Florida Tobacco Tour got a first-hand look at how well pest treatments are working and had a chance to see variety trials in person.

The tour started in Lake City, Fla., and made stops in Lowndes County, the UGA Tifton campus, Pierce County, Jeff Davis County and Coffee County.

At the farm of Danny and Joey Herring in Lowndes County, UGA Extension Pathologist Dr. Paul Bertrand talked to the tour group about pesticide trials being conducted on 25 sites in five South Georgia counties. The tests were conducted using multiple application techniques: drenching or spraying plants in the greenhouse and treating water used in the transplant stage.

Bertrand said weather factors into the prevalence of diseased plants.

“We’re using the data from the untreated plants to create a model for predicting spotted wilt based on winter weather parameters,” Bertrand said. “The main one is January temperatures. That accounts for 70 percent of the variations in spotted wilt.”

According to UGA Extension Agronomist Dr. J. Michael Moore, who coordinates the tour, the market should remain strong, though he expects Georgia’s tobacco acreage to be around 9,000 acres, down from more than 11,000 in 2011.

“There appears to be more interest from companies in coming to Georgia for purchasing tobacco,” Moore said. “Last year’s hurricane that wiped out about a third of the entire U.S flue-cured crop in eastern North Carolina seems to have caused some people to realize you can’t plant it all very close to the processing plants and expect to harvest it every year and fill your needs. You need to continue the age-old process of purchasing tobacco

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 11

Ga. pecans earn heart healthy seal as production acres rise By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________ The Georgia Pecan Commission (GPC) has long promoted the health benefits of pecans, but now it has the American Heart Association (AHA) Heart-Check label to prove it.

The AHA has added Georgia pecans to its list of certified heart-healthy foods, which allows companies selling Georgia pecan halves and pieces to apply to the AHA to place its heart-check label on their product packages.

The announcement was made at the Georgia Pecan Growers Association annual meeting held March 28 in Perry.

“Polls have shown seventy-three percent of shoppers trust the American Heart Association’s certification seal as the most trustworthy indicator when making grocery purchasing decisions,” Cheryl Miller, CEO of the public relations firm At The Table (formerly known as Sahlman Williams), which handles marketing for the

pecan commission, told growers attending the conference.

A one-ounce serving of Georgia pecans (halves and pieces) contains three grams of dietary fiber and more than 19 vitamins and minerals. Research has also shown that pecans may reduce cholesterol due to a type of good fat found in the nuts and the presence of beta-sitosterol, a cholesterol-lowering compound. Eating 1.5 ounces of pecans a day (27-30 pecan halves), may reduce the risk of heart disease.

To become AHA certified, nuts must meet the AHA’s certification criteria, which limits added fats and carbohydrates, saturated and trans fats, cholesterol and sodium.

Products must also include at least 10 percent of the daily value of one of six beneficial nutrients.

The AHA certification applies to pecan halves and pieces only. Companies interested in using the Heart-Check label on their products should contact April Whitfield at

YOU can be THE Face

of FARMING

& RANCHING

U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is looking for the “Faces of Farming and Ranching” to help put a real face on agriculture at the national level through special events, media coverage, advertising and other marketing and promotional activities.

If you are a standout farmer or rancher who is … proud of what you do eager to share your stories of continuous improvement with others actively involved in telling those stories … then enter by Sept. 8, 2012 at www.fooddialogues.com.

Winners will receive: • a $10,000 stipend • a $5,000 charitable donation in their name • the opportunity to tell the real stories of today’s farmers and ranchers Finalists will be announced at the November Food Dialogues in New York and the winners will be announced in January 2013.

Official rules and additional details available at www.fooddialogues.com.

Wholly or partially funded by one or more Checkoff programs.

Anyone who would like more information or is interested in applying may contact Joe McManus at 1-800-342-1196.

12 / August 2012

April.Whitfield@heart.org or 214-706-1879 to begin the process. There will be a $1,000 certification fee per branded commodity.

Approved certification lasts for one year.

“We’re pleased that the American Heart Association has recognized the health benefits of Georgia-grown pecans,” said GPC Chairman Duke Lane, Jr. “The heart check is something we all look for in restaurants when we’re ordering food. It’s always special to see that the American Heart Association is supporting something.”

Miller also gave pecan growers an overview of the new AntioxiNut campaign the firm kicked off last fall to promote the health benefits of pecans. According to laboratory analyses performed by the USDA, pecans’ antioxidants possess more antioxidant activity than any other nut, and rank higher than some fruits and vegetables.

The AntioxiNut campaign was first unveiled last September to more than 6,000 dieticians attending the 2011 American Dietetic Association Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo.

“We had so many dieticians come up and tell us ‘Pecans are our favorite nut,’ ” Miller said.

As of March, Miller said the AntioxiNut message had been picked up by 244 publications in 18 different states with a total circulation of five million and more than 93 million online views since September.

“It’s going to take a little while before the message saturates the media market.

It’s a slow build that we’ll keep promoting,” Miller said. “You keep growing the pecans, and we’ll sell the message to consumers through the media.”

Visit http://www.georgiapecansfit.org to learn more about the nutritional benefits of pecans and the efforts being made to promote them.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Georgia Pecan Commission hears concerns about pecan theft Earlier this year, the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation to help combat metal theft, which has become rampant in all areas of the state. Georgia’s pecan growers are hoping the General Assembly will take similar steps to protect their crops when the next session convenes in January.

During the annual budget meeting of the Georgia Pecan Commission (GPC), held May 17 at the Georgia Farm Bureau home office in Macon, pecan growers from around the state expressed frustration about the problem of pecan theft and made suggestions to Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) on ways to combat it.

“It’s epidemic all over when prices get high,” Dickey said. “We saw it in the metal theft problem that we dealt with in the legislature this year, and we’ve got some tools we can use. We don’t want too much regulation, but we want to try to deter these thefts.”

The theft discussion was added to the

Georgia Pecan Commission Chairman Duke Lane Jr. shows a sign detailing the penalties for pecan theft. The commission discussed having similar signs printed and available for purchase by growers.

meeting, which the commission held to hear grant proposals from researchers. Approximately 25 growers attended, and their suggestions included setting stiffer penalties for theft of crops, establishing controls at buying points, taking steps to ensure that pecan thieves are prosecuted and adding

signage regarding the penalties for crop theft. The GPC discussed printing more signs and making them available for growers to purchase.

Some growers also expressed frustration with local courts, saying the prosecuSee PECAN THEFT page 22

GALFPR40508

If you can’t be there, we can.

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www.sfbli.com

*Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 13

Photo by Jay Stone

By Jay Stone ___________________________________

Weaver receives Strickland Scholarship

State Winner and 10th District Winner, Ketzia Villalobos

GFB names art contest winners Coffee County student Ketzia Villalobos won the GFB 18th Annual Art Contest for her detailed drawing of a brood cow and calf nuzzling each other. Villalobos, the daughter of Jokabeth Gutierrez, was a senior at Coffee County High School when she entered the contest earlier this year.

Villalobos received $100 for being the GFB 10th District winner and an additional $250 for being the state winner.

Kelsey Miller of Habersham County, GFB 2nd District and Julianna Wells, Harris County, GFB 5th District, were named state runners-up in the art contest. Each received $150 cash. SunTrust Bank sponsored the contest.

The contest, open to any student in ninth through 12th grade, received 61 en-

tries. Drawings were judged on artistic merit and how well the artwork represented Georgia agriculture.

Contest winners were selected from each of the organization’s 10 districts. Other district winners in the art contest were: Cortney Minter, Floyd County, 1st District; Justin Moseley, Carroll County, 3rd District; Suzanne Kitchens, Walton County, 4th District; Emmaline Godfrey, Washington County, 6th District; Heidi Lee, Burke County, 7th District; Casey Daniel, Lee County, 8th District; and Melissa Pyle, Early County, 9th District.

Each district winner received $100.

The GFB Women’s Leadership Committee coordinated the contest on the state level and county Women’s Committees promoted the contest locally.

Victoria Weaver of Nashville, Ga., recently received the 2012 B. Frank Strickland Memorial Scholarship. The daughter of James Weaver, Victoria graduated from Tift County High School and plans to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) this fall.

Victoria has been an active member of Future Farmers of America since seventh grade serving on the FFA officer team of her school chapter each year. She has also served as the FFA Area V treasurer and reporter. Victoria has competed on the Tift County FFA Livestock Show Team for the past five years and the FFA Livestock Judging Team for the past six years since joining the organization.

The $500 scholarship is awarded to an entering freshman or rising sophomore at ABAC who is from a county where tobacco production occurs.

The late B. Frank Strickland of Lanier County was a lifelong advocate of Georgia’s tobacco industry and an active Georgia Farm Bureau member. Strickland served on numerous tobacco organizations and served as Georgia Farm Bureau 1st vice president from 1984 to 1992. Prior to 1984, he served as GFB 3rd vice president for four years and served as a state director for 15 years. He also served on the Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corporation’s Board from 1978 until his death in 1998 representing all the flue-cured tobacco producing counties in Georgia and Alabama.

The ABAC Foundation administers the scholarship. A selection committee comprised of representatives from Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Tobacco Commission and the Lanier County Farm Bureau select the recipient.

Anyone who would like more information about the scholarship may contact the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities/Marketing Department at 1-800-342-1196.

GARLICFEST 2012

State runner-up and 2nd District winner, Kelsey Miller 14 / August 2012

State runner-up and 5th District winner, Julianna Wells

Aug. 25 • LoganBerry Heritage Farm 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. • Cleveland This annual celebration of the garlic harvest is a free and fun family event.

It includes lots of garlic, chefs, creative food, cooking demos, tastings, live music, artisans and animals. For more information, contact LoganBerry Heritage Farm at 706-348-6068 or visit http:// www.loganberryheritagefarm.com.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Wilson wins GFB essay contest Stephens County student Asia Wilson is the state winner of the GFB Essay Contest, which drew 63 entries and was open to students in sixth through eighth grade. Wilson received a $100 cash prize for being the GFB 2nd District essay winner and a $150 cash prize as the state winner.

Wilson, the daughter of Barry and Kristi Reed-Wilson, was an eighth-grade student at Stephens County Middle School when she wrote her essay earlier this year.

Essay contest participants completed the statement, “Georgia farmers are my heroes because...”

Essay entries were judged on clarity of thought and creativeness.

Other district winners in the essay contest were: Annie Jones, Catoosa County, 1st District; Julie Dean, Douglas County, 3rd District; Hunter Futch, Greene County, 4th District; Peyton Lee, Pike County, 5th District; Kimberly Watts, Washington County, 6th District; Lynsey Sellers, Appling County, 7th District; Ryan Burnett, Turner County, 8th District; Maggie Shannon, Tift County, 9th District; and Kade Moore, Coffee County, 10th District. Each district winner received $100.

The GFB Women’s Leadership Committee coordinated the contest on the state level and county Women’s Committees promoted the contest locally.

My Hero: The Georgia Farmer

By Asia Wilson Evaluate the word hero. What do you think about? Superman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman? Well they might be heroes in comic book world but not in reality.

Here in the real world we have real people, everyday human beings. They are our heroes. Who am I talking about?

Georgia farmers are my heroes because of their courage, strength and motivation to get the job done. They are the true heroes.

Does it take courage to herd 20 or even more cows? Does it take courage to stand in the scorching summer sun and plant your much-needed crops?

Does it take courage to even be a farmer in this broken economy? Yes, yes and double yes!

As you can see, the farmers in our state have masses of courage. Think about it, what if they all were too scared to walk into the fields? Would we get our milk or chicken? Would we get the healthy vegetables that we all need to survive?

No, we would not.

Farmers are not courageous because they have to be. It is because they are willing to. That is what makes them heroes.

In the dictionary, the word strength is defined as the following: the quality or state of being strong. Now break that definition down. Quality means an essential or distinctive character. In this sentence, the word state means condition. This definition is telling us that strength is not only in your muscles, but it is also in the way you come about things in life.

Farmers have the strength to do what they do both physically and mentally.

Logically, only a farmer can pick up that heavy bale of hay. Again, only a farmer can turn down that tempting deal that could make him rich but would separate him from his loving family. There is only one word for that kind of person: hero.

Belief is a strong word. You believe in what you do, are, or want to be. Georgia farmers have this characteristic deep down in their soul. It is how they keep themselves motivated through good times and the bad times. Certainty is what keeps them going. Without this attribute, they wouldn’t feel like sacrificing a few more hours of sleep to milk the cows. They wouldn’t feel like going to get the eggs from the chicken house to provide for America’s breakfast. They inspire themselves to do things other people in our state don’t normally do. They are true heroes, providing for our cities, our state and the welfare of all of America.

Georgia farmers are amazing in almost every way. They sacrifice their precious days to provide the food we eat and sometimes parts of the clothes we have on our backs. They have the courage, strength and belief in themselves that is keeping us all active in this world. Most of the time, we fail to notice these incredible people. How could we when they are virtually keeping us alive and well in the United States of America? Overall, these farmers are worthy of the crown. Georgia farmers are my heroes because they provide for us without a second thought about it. They are the true supermen and women of our nation.

Miss Ga. Cotton 1st Runner-up to Miss Georgia Carly Mathis, Miss Georgia Cotton, won first runner-up in the Miss Georgia Pageant held June 20-23 in Columbus, Ga. Mathis, 21, received $9,000 in scholarship money. She won the overall talent award for the pageant singing “On My Own”. Mathis, the daughter of Billy and Wendy Mathis of Leesburg, Ga., also received the S. Davis Laney Scholarship Legal Studies Award.

Mathis attends the University of Georgia where she is majoring in digital and broadcast journalism. Her pageant platform was Heart Health and Heart Safety.

After being diagnosed with borderline high cholesterol at the age of 19, Mathis changed her life-style completely. Mathis also promotes and raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Mathis will compete in the National

Sweetheart Pageant in Illinois during Labor Day weekend. The Miss Georgia Cotton Pageant is held in Tifton each February under the direction of Mary Walker. For more information about the Miss Georgia Cotton Pageant please call Walker at 229386-5567 after 6 p.m.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 15

Photo by Jay Stone

On June 25 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in a suit filed by Alabama and Florida against Georgia over access to water from Lake Lanier.

Supreme Court issues rulings that impact agriculture By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________ The U.S. Supreme Court struck down portions of the 2010 Arizona immigration law and declined to hear the tri-state water dispute between Georgia, Alabama and Florida in decisions announced on June 25.

The Arizona immigration law, SB 1070, was the first of several state laws around the country - including Geor-

gia’s HB 87 - aimed at curbing illegal immigration. The Supreme Court struck down SB 1070’s provisions making it a crime for illegal immigrants to apply for or hold jobs and allowing police to arrest without warrants individuals suspected of committing crimes for which they could be deported. The court upheld the portion of SB1070 that requires police to

check immigration status of people they stop for another reason, such as in a routine traffic stop, if they suspect them of being in the U.S. illegally.

“We’ll have to wait and see how the ruling on the Arizona immigration law will affect our state’s enforcement reforms because Georgia’s law is not identical to Arizona’s,” Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal said in a statement. “That said, it appears the court has upheld the major thrust of our state’s statute: that states have the right to assist in enforcing federal immigration law.”

The court declined to hear the case in a suit filed by Alabama and Florida against Georgia over the access to water from Lake Lanier. In June 2011, a threejudge panel from the U.S. 11th District Court of Appeals ruled that the original intent for Lake Lanier when it was built did not exclude metro Atlanta from withdrawing water. The original intent included power generation, flood control and navigation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was directed to work out an allocation plan. Alabama and Florida asked the full 11th District Court to review the finding, but the court declined. The Supreme Court’s refusal to review the case makes the panel’s decision permanent.

Deal said the three states now have the opportunity to work toward a longterm agreement on water sharing.

Demand driving higher pecan acreage Increased consumer demand, both in the U.S. and overseas, has driven pecan prices to record levels in recent years, which is motivating existing growers and new growers to plant more trees, UGA Pecan Specialist Lenny Wells discussed at the Georgia Pecan Grower’s Conference in March.

According to a survey UGA conducted of growers attending county production meetings from January to March, Wells estimates that 88,000 new trees or 3,000 acres have been put into production recently.

“We’re seeing a huge increase in the number of trees and acres planted,” Wells said. “In addition to that, we have orchards that have been established from larger trees being moved with a tree spade, and we’ve got a lot of old orchards that are being brought back into production. All of this together, we’ve got between 5,000 and 10,000 new acres of pecans that will be established this year.”

16 / August 2012

Wells said increasing overseas markets and promoting the health benefits of pecans domestically through campaigns, such as the AntioxiNut, are crucial to keeping prices high as the new acres begin producing pecans.

Georgia produced 102 million pounds of pecans last year according to a report USDA released July 6, but pecan experts say that number may reach 120 million pounds when final production numbers are released in September.

Wells said it will take eight to 10 years for the newly planted trees to produce enough pecans to make an impact, but the old orchards being brought back into production could begin impacting production numbers anywhere from this year to three years down the road.

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

By Jennifer Whittaker ____________________________________________________

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GCA Forage Conference emphasizes profitability, preventing stand decline

using forage legumes like clovers, vetch lespedeza and alfalfa whenever possible, pointing out that the use of legumes can extend the grazing season and reduce the costs of harvesting and storing feed.

“Those provide biological nitrogen fixation and can hold down nitrogen fertilizer costs and in many cases they can increase forage production when compared with grasses alone,” Ball said.

He also stressed the importance of storage approaches for hay, noting that it is not unusual for Southern farmers to lose 30 percent of their hay due to storage concerns.

“There are many producers who are in essence paying for a hay barn whether they build it or not because they’re paying for it in losses of hay that could be prevented if they had a barn,” Ball said.

Lacefield presented 10 reasons to grow clover as forage material, ranging from increased forage yields to increased profits.

Hancock followed with a guide to selecting and establishing the best clovers for individual farms.

More detailed information presented at the conference is available online at http:// www.georgiaforages.com/.

By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________

C

gia have been correctable.

“There are management avenues around some of those problems,” Hancock said. “Our goal with the conference is to provide them with some of those answers.”

UGA Extension Livestock Economist Dr. Curt Lacy discussed the economics of Bermuda vs. Bahia. He stressed that front-end costs shouldn’t be the only consideration.

“It’s not just how cheap it is per acre,” Lacy said, noting that the value of the resulting livestock production should also be taken into account. “At the end of the day, it’s net dollars.”

In choosing between Bermuda grass and Bahia grass, Lacy advised landowners to know before planting what they are willing to do in terms of fertilizing the land.

“Either be willing to plant a hybrid or a seeded variety and then fertilize it well or just plant something that you can get by with no fertilizer,” he said.

Forage profitability is affected by a variety of factors, according to Auburn University Professor Emeritus Dr. Don Ball and University of Kentucky Forage Extension Specialist Dr. Garry Lacefield. Among those are production costs, animal rights/welfare concerns, environmental issues, the food versus fuel equation, health issues and weather.

Ball urged livestock owners to consider

Photo by Jay Stone

attlemen looking for ways to stop the diminishing coverage of Bermuda grass got that and much more at the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association (GCA) Forage Conference, held April 4 and 5 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter.

The conference, which was held for the first time in conjunction with the GCA annual convention and expo, provided cattlemen with tips on forage profitability, selecting the best forage, the economics of Bermuda grass versus Bahia grass and a variety of other topics related to forages.

“Our real competitive advantage here in the Southeast is our forage production capability,” said UGA Forage Extension Specialist Dr. Dennis Hancock, who moderated the conference and gave multiple presentations.

“Our point is really to emphasize how important that is and how we can have some cost savings on the front end and really make our whole operation a lot more profitable in the long run.”

Hancock gave a presentation on identifying and preventing Bermuda grass stand decline, which can be the result of a number of factors, including low pH and/or fertility, overgrazing, drought and disease pressures.

Hancock said that the vast majority of diminishing Bermuda stands he’s seen in Geor-

UGA Forage Extension Specialist Dr. Dennis Hancock walked participants through identifying and preventing stand decline in Bermuda grass pastures.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 17

Vince Stanley, center left, welcomes the GFB tour to Vidalia Valley, which processes Vidalia onions grown by Stanley Farms into dressings and salsas.

Timmy Pittman talks to GFB members about the produce his family grows on their Toombs County farm.

David Cromley, center, welcomes the GFB Farm Tour to Nellwood Farms, a sixth generation farm run by his father Chap, uncle Hal and cousin Colby. The Cromleys grow cotton, peanuts, corn, hay and raise beef cattle on their Bulloch County farm.

Armstrong Cricket employee Debbie Reddish, second from right, explains the process of breeding & raising crickets to GFB members.

GFB Farm Tour highlights diversity Photos & article by Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________

G

eorgia Farm Bureau held its annual farm tour in the organization’s 7th District May 15-16, highlighting the agricultural diversity of the 17-county district in upper Southeast Georgia. The tour was held in the spring to give tour participants a chance to see Vidalia onions being harvested and processed.

The tour, based out of Statesboro, made its first stop at Gerrald Farms in Bulloch County where Terry Gerrald and Jamie Brannen discussed how they grow and process sweet carrots. After watching a harvest demonstration, tour participants visited the farm’s processing facility where they saw carrots being cleaned, sorted and bagged for nationwide distribution along with Vidalia onions.

At the second stop, Bulloch County Farm Bureau (BCFB) Young Farmer Committee Chairman David Cromley welcomed the GFB tour to Nellwood Farms, which is a sixth generation farm run by his father Chap, uncle Hal, cousin Colby and himself. The Cromleys grow cotton, peanuts, corn, hay and raise beef cattle.

Cromley shared how the BCFB is working to get young farmers involved in the organization by holding quarterly meetings with guest speakers.

During a lunch stop at Tea Grove Plantation near Hinesville, Liberty County Farm Bureau President Danny Norman discussed 18 /August 2012

his collection of antique farm equipment, trucks and cars. Tour participants enjoyed walking around the village Norman has built to recreate the rural communities found across Georgia in the early 1900s. Tea Grove Plantation is part of the property where Norman’s great-great grandfather attempted to grow tea in the 1830s, providing the origin of the farm’s name.

At Armstrong’s Cricket Farm in Glennville, GFB members learned how the Armstrong family has been raising crickets since 1947 to sell for fish bait and to pet stores for reptile food. The crickets are raised in climate-controlled rooms heated to 90˚ from hatching until their 20th day at which time the temperature is dropped down to 80 degrees until they are shipped between 35 and 40 days of age. The crickets are fed a commercial corn-based meal.

During the stop at ArborGen outside Bellville in Evans County, GFB tour participants learned how the tree nursery breeds, grows and harvests pine seedlings. Nursery Manager George Lloyd said ArborGen selects varieties that exhibit disease resistance, straightness and rapid growth. It takes 18 months between pollination and the time a mature pinecone is harvested for its seeds. After the seeds are collected from the pinecones, the cones are either sold for Christmas decorations or ground into potpourri.

Georgia Sen. Jack Hill of Reidsville, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke to GFB members during a dinGeorgia Farm Bureau News

ArborGen Nursery Manager George Lloyd explains how the tree nursery breeds and grows pine seedlings and harvests the seeds from pinecones.

Tattnall County Extension Agent Cliff Riner, right, gives an overview of the vegetable research being conducted at the University of Georgia Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center.

R.T. Stanley, left, discusses the grading, packing and shipping operations at his Vidalia onion processing plant in Lyons, Ga.

of 7th District ner in Statesboro, May 15.

“I appreciate the efforts of Farm Bureau to represent rural Georgia. Your influence made some things happen this year,” Hill said in reference to the General Assembly passing tax reform legislation and a metal theft bill.

The second day of the tour highlighted the district’s Vidalia onion and produce crops. Tattnall County Extension Agent Cliff Riner gave the tour an overview of the UGA Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center where UGA scientists conduct research to improve production for onions and other vegetables and fruit.

Timmy Pittman and his family welcomed the tour to their Toombs County produce market and farm where they grow and sell cabbage, Vidalia onions, peas, corn and squash along with row crops. This is truly a family farm with Timmy’s wife Patricia running the retail store and keeping the books. Their sons Mitchell and Kyle returned to the farm after college, and Mitchell’s wife, Becky, handles the farm payroll.

Toombs County Farm Bureau President R.T. Stanley and his sons Brian and Tracy guided the tour through the family’s Vidalia onion packing facility, where the onions are graded and packaged for shipment to buyers. Stanley’s son Vince welcomed the tour to the farm’s processing company, Vidalia Valley, where the Stanleys make relishes, dressings and salsas using their onions.

GFB members watch carrots being harvested during the stop at Terry Gerrald’s farm.

GFB members enjoyed seeing Liberty County Farm Bureau President Danny Norman’s extensive collection of antique tractors, cars, trucks and farm equipment during the stop at Norman’s Tea Grove Plantation. Norman has recreated a southern community modeled after those found across Georgia from 1900 to 1930.

“Every year we highlight a different part of the state with our farm tour and give our members the chance to see the diversity of Georgia agriculture,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “The other highlight of the tour is the chance it gives our members to fellowship with each other.”

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012 / 19

AROUND GEORGIA News from County Farm Bureaus ATKINSON COUNTY Atkinson County Farm Bureau recently made $500 donations to both the Atkinson County 4-H Program and the local FFA Chapter. ACFB Vice President Wade Brown, second from right, ACFB Director William White, far right, and ACFB Agency Manager Larry Morris, far left, are pictured presenting the donation to FFA Advisor Berrie Allen.

CRAWFORD/PEACH COUNTIES In March, the Crawford & Peach County Farm Bureaus cohosted a breakfast for local farmers to meet Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black. The meeting was held at the PCFB office in Fort Valley from 7:30 until 8:45 a.m.

More than 50 farmers from Crawford, Peach, Taylor and Houston counties were invited to hear Commissioner Black’s plan for Georgia agriculture. CCFB President Edd Harris welcomed everyone to the meeting, and Ga. Rep. Robert Dickey introduced Commissioner Black. The meeting was intended to encourage existing Farm Bureau members to value their membership and urge farmers who aren’t members to join.

FRANKLIN COUNTY Franklin County Farm Bureau cosponsored a field day in May to give local farmers a chance to learn about growing 20 / August 2012

silage, controlling weeds and earn pesticide credits. The 78 people who attended the event, held at FCFB Director Max Freeman’s farm, enjoyed a hamburger supper. The Franklin County Cooperative Extension office, GreenSouth Equipment, Dow AgroSciences, Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association and Dupont Crop Protection helped sponsor the event.

GREENE COUNTY This spring, members of the Greene County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee participated in Career Day at Greensboro Elementary. Jan Davison of Davison Farms is pictured telling kindergarten students how she cares for the chickens and dairy cows on her farm. Davison showed the students slides of her chicken houses and dairy barn and explained how she takes care of her livestock just like the students’ parents take care of them.

JOHNSON COUNTY Johnson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) held a Member Appreciation Day in May to thank its members for their support and to educate the local community about the benefits of Farm Bureau membership. A free lunch of hotdogs, chips and brownies was served to the 100 people attending the event. Event attendees enjoyed live entertainment provided by local residents Jessica Herrmann, Cierra Bray, Jerry Howell and Marvine Powell. Kids attending the event played monkey golf, pick-up-ducks and competed in a cakewalk.

Adults had the chance to test their skills in the corn toss.

MCDUFFIE COUNTY The McDuffie County Farm Bureau made a $500 donation to the Thomson Middle School FFA to help defray the cost of members attending the 84th Georgia FFA Convention in Georgia Farm Bureau News

April. Students attending the FFA Convention, thanks to the donation, were: front row, pictured from left, Gena Cody, Nicole Bridges, Bailey Faglier, Lindsey Kelly and back row, from left, Colton Borresen, Sam Decker and Bradon Terry.

During the convention, Bridges, Borresen, Decker and Drue Poston, not pictured, were recognized for success in their respective Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs.Bridges placed sixth in the state Production Agriculture Division of the middle school record book awards. Poston placed third in the state Forestry/ Natural Resources Division of the middle school record book awards. Borresen placed second in the junior division of the state FFA Woodworking Career Development Event and Decker placed fifth in Division 1 of the Environmental/Natural Resource Systems category in the state FFA Agriscience Fair.

LIBERTY COUNTY Liberty County Farm Bureau (LCFB) is serving as the 2012 season sponsor of the Hinesville Downtown Farmers Market.

LCFB President Danny Norman, center, helped cut the ribbon at the grand opening ceremony for the market’s season.

The market opened May 3 and will be held weekly on Thursdays until Oct. 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. in Bradwell Park. Vendors offer a wide variety of produce, grass-fed beef, fresh eggs, homemade pasta and artisanal bread.

POLK COUNTY Polk County Farm Bureau (PCFB) hosted a series of Ag “Out-of-the Classroom” events for 100 Northside Elementary School kindergarten students at the PCFB office in May. Three groups of students visited the office May 2–4 to hear

PCFB Agency Manager Jackie Casey and PCFB Office Manager Sue Cuzzort deliver a PowerPoint presentation of “Wow That Cow.” The students enjoyed ice cream after the presentation.

SPALDING COUNTY In May, Spalding County Farm Bureau hosted its annual farm day at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds with about 1,000 firstgraders attending. The students rotated through seven stations to learn about the different types of animals found on farms.

When the event was over, the children were treated to ice cream.

WALKER COUNTY Walker County Farm Bureau participated in an Ag Day in May for all thirdgrade students in the county. About 1,000 third graders attended.

WCFB Director James Burton is pictured telling the students how farmers use tractors on their farms. Loughridge Equipment provided the tractor. Walker County Farm Bureau volunteers taught the students about products made from beef. Each student received beef coloring books and pencils.

WHITFIELD COUNTY Whitfield County Farm Bureau was among more than 300 vendors that participated in Whitfield Career Academy’s Career & College Fair in May. More than 5,000 students from several surrounding counties attended the event.

Whitfield County Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Chairman Mary Redwine, seated right, and Georgia Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Donna Rocker answered questions about agricultural careers and distributed brochures about colleges that offer agriculture degrees.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2012/ 21

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

During a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act in Washington, D.C. on June 26, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) was awarded the Norman E. Borlaug Medallion by the World Food Prize Foundation.

The Borlaug Medallion honors organizations and heads of state who would not ordinarily be eligible for the World Food Prize (WFP), but have made an especially noteworthy contribution to improving the world’s food supply and ensuring adequate nutrition.

The WFP is the foremost international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.

Dr. Scott Angle, dean of UGA’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and chairman of the APLU Board on Ag-

riculture Assembly, accepted the Borlaug Medallion for APLU. “Winning agriculture’s highest honor is welcomed validation for a century and a half of progress to educate working-class Americans and build the world’s most successful food production system,” Angle said.

The Morrill Act, written by Sen. Justin S. Morrill of Vermont and signed into law

by Abraham Lincoln on July 2, 1862, provided grants of federal lands to states to establish public universities and agricultural education programs nationwide. There are currently 106 land-grant universities in the U.S., at least one in each state. Georgia has two land-grant universities – the University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University.

“Land-grant universities have 150 years of evidence they’re sound investments that produce high-quality results and pay size-

FFA officers visit GFB

The 2012-2013 Georgia FFA Officers visited Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, seated, June 14. Pictured, standing from left, are Georgia FFA Secretary Nicole Holden, Georgia FFA Vice President Timothy Hubbard, Georgia FFA President Dolly Melton and Georgia FFA Vice Presidents Brandon Poole, Morgan Smith, Joseph Branch, Sierra Milligan and Anna Hartley.

After eating lunch with Duvall, the FFA officers toured the GFB building and learned about the organization’s legislative, commodity, public relations and Ag in the Classroom programs.

22 / August 2012

Charles Votaw Photography

Land-grant universities honored for 150 years of service

Pictured from left, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) President Peter McPherson and UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean Scott Angle accept the World Food Prize Foundation’s Borlaug Medallion on behalf of the APLU from Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation.

able returns to the nation,” Angle wrote in a recent editorial. “That return is not only economic, but also affords most Americans peace of mind that our grocery stores are filled with the safest, most affordable food in the world.”

PECAN THEFT from page 13 tion of pecan theft is not a priority for some district attorneys.

“We’re not going to prevent it completely. We just want to try to slow it down,” said GPC Chairman Duke Lane Jr., who noted that pecan retail prices of just a few years ago are equaled or surpassed by the wholesale prices now. “It’s just so easy, and when they get that initial quick money, it becomes bigger and bigger.”

Lane noted that a group of South Georgia growers has pooled its resources and hired security personnel to patrol their orchards. Lane, who operates Lane Southern Orchards, said he and other Middle Georgia growers are considering similar action to protect their pecan crop.

“As scattered as we are during the season, after the nuts are ready, it’s something we’ll have to consider doing at all hours,” Lane said.

The Georgia Pecan Growers Association also discussed pecan theft during its regular meeting in Tifton on July 10. GPGA Executive Director Janice Dees said the organization is offering growers the opportunity to purchase laminated posters detailing the penalties for pecan theft.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

WE, THE FARMERS from page 4 In June, GFB had the pleasure of hosting the Southern Region Commodity Conference for American Farm Bureau. We welcomed about 60 commodity staff members and their families from 13 southern states to a three-day conference in Savannah.

In addition to attending workshops designed to help the state staff develop programs to aid farmers in their respective states, we also offered the conference attendees a chance to see the Georgia countryside and the Georgia Port Authority in Savannah to learn about the agriculture products exported through the port. I’d like to thank Georgia Ag Commissioner Gary Black for speaking to the group and Chatham County Vice President Pete Waller and Liberty County Farm Bureau President Danny Norman for hosting farm tours. I think you’d be really proud of the job your GFB Commodity Department did in showcasing our state to their Southern colleagues.

Speaking of showcasing Georgia agriculture, the GFB Farm Tour has become an annual tradition that gives our members a chance to explore the diversity of Georgia agriculture as we visit a different GFB district each year. Last year we decided to shake things up a bit with the tour by holding it at different times of the year according to when the predominant commodity of the district is being harvested.

Vidalia onions are one of the top commodities in GFB’s 7th District, so we held the tour in May to coincide with the onion harvest. We learned about onion research at the UGA Vidalia and Vegetable Research Center and saw how they are graded and sorted for shipping and processed into those delicious relishes and dressings we all enjoy.

We also learned about other vegetable production in the district and toured row crop, timber and livestock operations.

Probably the most unique stop of the tour was a cricket farm. I know I’ll never look at fish bait the same way again! I’d like to thank all of the county volunteers and tour hosts who made our tour a success.

Last year the GFB Board of Directors voted to join the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). This organization consists of agricultural organizations from around the country and is devoted to building consumer trust in agriculture and the U.S. food production system. USFRA is

uniting many different commodities and ag groups to answer consumers’ questions about how we produce their food and the steps we take to care for our livestock and protect the environment.

USFRA is currently recruiting farmers to be spokespersons for the organization through its Faces of Farming & Ranching campaign. You can learn more about this on page 12. If you’re interested in being an advocate for agriculture I strongly recommend you apply by the Sept. 8 deadline.

If we don’t tell our story, consumers’ perception of farming will be shaped by antiagriculture activists.

In the last issue of the GFB News, we gave you the results of our 75-Day Membership Contest. I’d like to report that we continued GFB’s 75th anniversary membership campaign by inviting our home office employees to become members, if they weren’t already.

I’m pleased to report that 52 percent of our home office staff were already members when we kicked off the campaign in early June. A survey of our employees last fall showed that more than half of those who weren’t members had never been asked to join Farm Bureau, so we asked! Following our monthlong campaign in June, now 75.6 percent of our home office staff are GFB members!

The results of our home office mem-

Watch the Georgia Farm Monitor!

bership campaign show that people recognize the value of our organization and a Farm Bureau membership. We just have to ask them to join. As we continue to celebrate our 75th anniversary, continue to ask your friends, family and neighbors to join Farm Bureau.

The breakfast table discussion my father and I had 34 years ago changed my life and started me on a path of maturity. As we grow older, we begin to understand what’s important, and we learn how to tell others what we are passionate about. It is our responsibility to make a difference outside the fences of the farm.

Jesus said in Matthew 28 verses 19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus tells us that we should go outside our comfort zone and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us about the good news.

God sent his son to teach us how to live and died for us so that we might be saved.

When we accept this truth, he also promises to always be with us.

Why is it important to tell our story? So others will hear and understand.

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