Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - August 24, 2011

August 24, 2011

www.gfb.org

Vol. 29 No. 34

GFB SEEKING ENTRIES FOR HAY/LITTER AND POLLINATION DIRECTORIES The Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities Department is collecting entries for the 2012 GFB Hay & Litter Directory and the 2012 GFB Pollination Directory.

The 2011 hay directory had 40 listings from 31 counties around the state, including a handful of litter providers.

Because the hay directory is used for the entire year, producers should include normal and projected production of round and square bales anticipated to be for sale.

Poultry litter can be listed on the same form.

“Georgia Farm Bureau’s Hay Directory gives hay producers the opportunity to list hay they have available for sale and advertise it statewide,” said GFB Hay Advisory Committee Chairman Larry Haley. “The directory also lists poultry litter that is available and serves to connect poultry growers with landowners who want to fertilize their fields with chicken litter.”

Copies of the hay directory are distributed 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 at the annual GFB convention. It will also be published on the GFB website.

For the second year, GFB is also publishing a pollination directory to provide a statewide list of beekeepers. GFB members with hives for rent are invited to list their operations in the directory.

“This directory provides a list of available beekeepers for farmers who wish to pollinate their crops, and will also help beekeepers find more business,” said GFB Honeybee Committee Chairman Bobby Rowell.

Copies of the pollination directory are distributed to all county Farm Bureau offices, county Extension offices, directory participants, at the Sunbelt Expo and at the annual GFB convention.

Like the hay directory, it will also be published on the GFB website.

The deadline to submit information for both directories is Oct. 28. Producers should complete the form and send it to the GFB office in Macon with a check for $10 for each listing. Checks should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. Both directories are scheduled to be printed in late November and will be distributed statewide.

Forms for the GFB Hay/Poultry Litter Directory are available at your county Farm Bureau Office or on our website at http://www.gfb.org/commodities/hay.html. Contact Joe McManus at 1-800-342-1196 or jcmcmanus@gfb.org for more information about the hay directory.

Pollination directory applications are available at all county Farm Bureau offices. Contact Brandon Ashley in the GFB Commodities Department a 1-800-342-1196 or btashley@gfb.org for more information.

Leadership Alert page 2 of 4 EPA GRANTS TEMPORARY USE OF HOPGUARD TO FIGHT VARROA MITES The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted Georgia beekeepers permission to use the unregistered pesticide HopGuard until Dec. 31 as a way to control varroa mites, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA).

HopGuard (potassium salt of hop beta acids) is marketed by Beta Tec Hop Products, a subsidiary of John I. Hass, Inc. Visit http://www.mannlakeltd.com/hopguard/index.html for more information about the product.

The Section 18 emergency use exemption granted by the EPA allows Georgia beekeepers to use HopGuard no more than two times before the special state waiver expires Dec. 31.

The GDA is charged with ensuring that all provisions of the exemption are met. The EPA authorization allows for a maximum total of 252,000 HopGuard strips to be used statewide under the Section 18 exemption.

Only one strip of HopGuard can be used for every five frames in a brood chamber. The typical hive consists of a 10-frame brood chamber. EPA permits beekeepers to only treat the brood chamber where the queen lays eggs and are nurtured by worker bees. Beekeepers may not treat honey supers located above the brood chamber where beekeepers harvest honey for consumers.

HopGuard is not expected to be present in edible honey when the pesticide is used according to its strict instructions. A full registration for the HopGuard product is being made at this time, according to the EPA. DEAL MAKES APPOINTMENTS TO AG-RELATED BOARDS Gov. Nathan Deal announced four appointments to agriculture-related state boards on Aug. 5.

Early County Farm Bureau Director Hal Haddock Jr. was named to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Mary S. Edenfield Gibbs and Raybon Anderson were appointed to the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority (GAEA), and Ed Jordan was appointed to the Rural Development Council.

Haddock owns and operates Haddock Farms in Early County and is vice chairman of the Lower Flint-Ochlocknee Regional Water Planning Council. He has received the Silver Beaver Award for his volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America.

Anderson, the president of Raybon Anderson Farms in Bulloch County, is chairman of the AgriTrust of Georgia Board of Trustees. He is a former chairman of the Georgia Agribusiness Council and former president of the Georgia Plant Food Educational Society.

Gibbs was reappointed to the GAEA, on which she served from 1993 to 2001 and again from 2003 to present. She is a director of Robins Federal Credit Union and a trustee on the Foundation Board for Macon State College.

Jordan, who worked in Georgia’s clay industry for more than 30 years, owns a horticulture nursery on his 100-year-old family farm. He has served as director of the Georgia Mining Association and U.S. Clay Producers.

In addition to those appointments, in July Deal reappointed John P. Webb Jr. to the GAEA. Webb is a retired deputy director of the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter and former president of the Georgia Association of Agricultural Fairs.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 4 NOV. 30 IS DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR MONSANTO CHARITY PROGRAM Farmers in 31 Georgia counties have until Nov. 30 to register to win $2,500 for the nonprofit community charity of their choice in the 2nd Annual America's Farmers Grow Communities program sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Suggested charities include local 4-H or FFA chapters, community centers, fire departments, hospitals, libraries or schools. No purchase is necessary to participate.

Eligible counties are: Appling, Baker, Berrien, Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Coffee, Cook, Colquitt, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Grady, Irwin, Jefferson, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth.

The Monsanto program is open to farmers, age 21 and over, who are actively farming a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton or 40 acres of open field vegetables or at least 10 acres of tomatoes, peppers and/or cucumbers grown in protected culture in an eligible county. Farmers who were eligible and/or participated in the program in 2010 may also apply this year if they meet the eligibility requirements.

One $2,500 winner will be drawn from each of the 31 eligible counties in Georgia. Monsanto will also donate $1 to the local United Way chapter of each farmer who applies.

The Monsanto Fund will announce winning farmers and their recipient organizations in January 2012. Visit http://www.growcommunities.com or call 1-877-267-3332 to apply.

Eligible counties meet the following criteria: a total of either 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton or 30,000 acres of vegetables (peppers; tomatoes, onions, broccoli, cucumber, melons, watermelons, spinach, squash, pumpkins, sweet corn, lettuce, peas or garden beans) are planted per calendar year based on January 2011 USDA data or the county was eligible to participate in prior Grow Communities programs.

UGA SCIENTISTS STUDYING CLIMATE CHANGE UNDER USDA GRANT A group of University of Georgia researchers has begun studying the effects of climate change on animal agriculture under a United States Department of Agriculture grant designed to help livestock producers respond to new weather patterns and regulatory changes limiting greenhouse gases.

Cooperative Extension Engineer Mark Risse is heading the UGA research team, which is coordinating with the Southeast Climate Consortium to identify potential weather patterns that could affect livestock operations. The research will also include helping livestock owners come up with ways to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, including managing manure in ways that trap gases for conversion to usable energy on the farm.

“Roughly 10 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions nationally are due to agriculture production,” Risse said. “But if we get to a point where greenhouse gases from poultry and livestock farms are being regulated, we need to have mitigation strategies in place to help producers reduce their emissions.”

The UGA researchers are joined in the study by scientists from the University of Nebraska, Washington State University, Texas A&M University, Cornell University and the University of Minnesota. The USDA grant totals $4.1 million and the study is to last five years.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 8 GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION REGIONAL FORESTRY MEETING Aug. 30 Potter Community Center 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Albany You are invited to attend GFA’s Albany Regional Forestry meeting to be held at the Potter Community Center on August 30, 2011. The local planning committee has put together an excellent agenda for this year’s meeting. Including keynote speakers Vicki Lambert of the Georgia Department of Revenue to speak on “FLPA (Forest Land Protection Act” and Lori Eckhart of Auburn University speak on “Pine decline in the Southeast”. In order to attend this meeting you must pre-register by Aug. 25. To pre-register and be included in the meal count, call Michele Lawson at 478-992-8110 or send an email listing the attendee’s names to michele@gfagrow.org. A payment of $10 (Cash or Check only) per person will be taken at the door the night of the meeting. We encourage you to bring a guest to share this great opportunity.

NOMINATIONS BEING TAKEN FOR COTTON CONSULTANT AWARD Aug. 26 Nomination deadline Cotton Farming Magazine is accepting nominations for the Cotton Consultant of the Year award, which honors contributions to the cotton industry through outstanding customer relations, leadership and innovation. The recipient will be honored at a reception during the 2012 Beltwide in Orlando, Fla. Nomination forms are available in the July and August issues of Cotton Farming or online at http://www.cottonfarming.com/home/Consultant_Nomination_2011.pdf.

LOGANBERRY HERITAGE FARM GARLIC FEST August 27 LoganBerry Heritage Farm Cleveland Garlic is the center of attention at this free, fun, family event, which celebrates the farm’s garlic harvest and runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be food tastings and cooking demos with garlic dishes, live entertainment, artisans and animals all in a memorable setting on this Appalachian heritage farm. Visit www.loganberryheritagefarm.com or call Sharon Mauney at 706-348-6068 for more information. The farm is located at 2660 Adair Mill Road, Cleveland, Ga, 30528.

STOCK HORSE OF GEORGIA VERSATILITY EVENT Aug. 27-28 Quercus Cattle Co. Arena Gay Brian Sumrall, president of the Stock Horse of Texas and Dr. Dennis Sigler, vice president of the American Stock Horse Association (ASHA), will lead the clinics on Saturday, which run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is 460 for Stock Horse of Ga. members and $85 for nonmembers.

Participants must pre-register by 5 p.m. on Aug. 22. The ASHA will hold a show on Aug. 28 beginning at 8 a.m. Contestants will compete in four categories - pleasure, trail, reigning and working cow in appropriate age or skill divisions. Contestants must pre-register by 5 p.m., Aug. 22. For more information contact Amanda Johnson at 817-706-6669 or Amanda@ajperformancehorses.com or visit http://www.littlecreekquarterhorses.com

Leadership Alert page 5 of 8 FINANCIALS FOR FARMERS WORKSHOP Aug. 31 The Snipes Water Resources Center Athens At this workshop, which runs from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., two statewide experts will present crucial information necessary for all successful farm operations, including tax issues related to self-employment, Schedule F, interns and part-time help, accounting 101 and how to set up QuickBooks for a Fruit and Vegetable business including Chart of Accounts, Customers, Items, Sales Tax Items, Classes, Vendors and Payment Methods. Cost is $20 per farm for Georgia Organics members and $30 per farm for the public, and scholarships are available. For more information, contact Jonathan Tescher at jonathan@georgiaorganics.org or at 678-702-0400.

NATIONAL ANGUS CONFERENCE & TOUR Sept. 6-8 The Classic Center Athens Sponsored by Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC, this tour includes two days of visits at ranches in central and northeast Georgia as well as presentations from industry representatives, researchers and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. Registration fee is $175. For more information, visit http://www.nationalangusconference.com, call 816-383-5100 or email sstannard@angus.org.

4TH ANNUAL UGA COTTON & PEANUT RESEARCH FIELD DAY Sept. 7 Tifton The tour will begin at 9 a.m. and will conclude with lunch. The Georgia Cotton Commission and the Georgia Peanut Commission are sponsoring the field day.

GEORGIA PECAN GROWERS ASSOCIATION FALL FIELD DAY Sept. 8 UGA Tifton Campus 8 a.m.

Tifton This free event will feature a review of the latest insect, disease, fertilizer, and breeding research

by UGA pecan researchers including Jim Dutcher, Tim Brenneman, Lenny Wells, and Patrick Conner. Lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Janice Dees at georgiapecan@gmail.com.

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY 4-H/FFA AG DAY Sept. 10 Fort Valley State University Fort Valley Teachers and youth leaders are encouraged to gather their middle school and high school students at 1 p.m. for this opportunity that includes rock wall climbing, football toss games and pedal cart racing. Event includes free football game tickets and meals for attendees.Before the FVSU versus Delta State University game, teens will participate in agricultural activities and learn about majors offered by the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology.

Attendees can observe a biofuel-making demonstration and participate in the school’s Life on the Farm exhibition, which exposes participants to live animals and careers related to agriculture.

For more information, or to register, contact the event coordinators: Chris Corzine at ccorzine@gaaged.org or 864-844-4412 and Phillip Petway at petwayp@fvsu.edu or 478-8256759. The coordinators can provide registration forms that need to be returned by Sept.1.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 8 OLD SOUTH FARM CAMP Sept. 12 – Nov. 20 Old South Farm Museum & Ag Learning Center Woodland Each of this series of three-day camps begins at 7 p.m. on the first day with supper and orientation and ends by 11 a.m. on the third day. It includes six or more classes on a variety of topics ranging from milking a cow to lye soap making and more. Fee is $200 per person, including meals, housing, transportation and class materials. Each session will have between 20 and 40 campers. Pre-registration is required. For more information call 706-975-9136 or visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Sept. 13 3rd District The Center at Arbor Connection 7 p.m.

Douglasville Sept. 15 10th District Jamestown Baptist Church 7 p.m.

Waycross Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. Note: These meetings are for Farm Bureau members only and are closed to the general public.

FORT VALLEY STATE AG FIELD DAY Sept. 15 Agricultural Technology Conference Center Fort Valley Event will cover livestock grazing systems, aquaculture systems, organic vegetable and fruit systems and include a bioenergy crops showcase, food preservation demonstrations and goat and lamb samples. Conference center is located at 46 Camp John Hope Road in Fort Valley. For more information call 478-825-6268.

BROOKS COUNTY SKILLET FESTIVAL Sept. 17 Brooks County Courthouse Square Quitman This farm, food & arts festival will highlight the area’s abundant agriculture and fine southern cuisine. The one-day event will feature the “Cast-Iron Man,” a 5k road race and 1m fun run, vendors on the courthouse square, the “Cast-Iron Chef” cooking competition, a skillet throwing contest and an evening with local musicians. Visit www.skilletfestival.com for more information or contact Lauren Basford at 229-305-7822.

AGRIBUSINESS WORKSHOP –RESOURCES TO MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL Sept. 21 Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro Workshop will cover new business models, social media, farm-to-table opportunities, risk management and agritourism. Interactive sessions will be led by panelists who have local, regional and national expertise including chefs, agribusiness/agritourism owners, loan and insurance experts, organic farmers and farm agency representatives. Registration is $65 per person and includes a hot lunch prepared with local food. Online registration begins July 29 at www.ogeecheetech.edu and www.georgiamicrobiz.com. For more information or to inquire about exhibitor opportunities call 912-688-6098.

GEORGIA GRAZING SCHOOL Sept. 21-22 UGA Double Bridges Farm East of Athens In addition to the classroom activities at the UGA Animal & Dairy Science Department’s teaching farm, we'll be doing hands-on exercises on the farm's new pastures. Plus, we will tour the Chandler Family farm just outside of Danielsville, Ga. We toured this farm during the 2009 Georgia Grazing School and it was definitely a highlight of that event. For more information visit http://bit.ly/nGHmeX or call Dr. Dennis Hancock at 706-542-1529.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 8 15TH ANNUAL PLAINS PEANUT FESTIVAL Sept. 24 Plains The annual Plains Peanut Festival is centered around one of the Sumter County community's claims to fame, its peanut production, and features the community's most famous residents in active roles. The festival kicks off with a 1-mile fun run and a 5-K road race. People line the sidewalks of Plains each year to watch the unique entries in the parade downtown. Visitors enjoy the all-day event and educational exhibits are on display to accent the importance of agriculture in this region.

WILLIAM HARRIS HOMESTEAD HERITAGE DAY.....A CALL TO ARMS Sept. 24 3636 Ga. Hwy. 11 Monroe This event, which runs from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m, offers fun for the entire family. There will be reenactments to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, tours of the 1825 log house and outbuildings, demonstrations of 1800's crafts, plowing with the Old Time Georgia Plow Club, antiques, children's 1800's games, petting zoo, agricultural displays, great food and entertainment all day. General admission is $10, $5 for children 5-12 and children under 5 are free. For more information contact Judy Hardegree at 770-867-2449 or judyhardegree@yahoo.com.

WOOFSTOCK PURINA RALLY TO RESCUE Sept. 25 Jones County Fairgrounds Gray If you’re looking to adopt a dog or horse or just want to celebrate the pets you already have, come out for a day of family fun. In addition to animal adoptions, events will include dog demonstrations, live music, a kids’ zone, food, contests, and a Blessing of the Animals at 3 p.m.

There will also be vendors selling both pet and non-pet related items. Event runs from 12-6 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit Georgia animal rescue groups. For more information visit http://www.furever-friends.org or contact Angie Stapp at 478-955-1183 or fureverfriend@windstream.net.

2011 ANNUAL PEANUT TOUR Sept. 27-29 Various locations Southwest Ga./Bainbridge The 2011 Peanut Bus Tour of South Georgia, sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission, begins in Bainbridge on Tuesday, Sept. 27, with an early-bird hot topics session at 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Bainbridge. Presentations will include economic and food issues by University of Georgia faculty and USDA scientists on U.S. peanut program and policy, processing, quality, nutrition and uniform peanut performance tests. A reception follows at 6 p.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 at the Holiday Inn Express.Tour highlights include production research at the Attapulgus Research farm, on-farm demonstrations, equipment manufacturing, peanut handling, grading and shelling, and product processing facilities. Lunch will be at the Cloud Livestock Pavilion and a low country boil will be held at 7 p.m. at the Earle May Boat Basin. The agenda for Thursday, Sept. 29 includes lunch in Blakely, a 6 p.m. reception at Cotton Hall in Colquitt, with dinner and theater presentation of Swamp Gravy. Bus seats will be reserved on a first-come basis, with international visitors being given priority. For more information, contact Rebecca Whitehead at 229-386-3470 or email rebecca@gapeanuts.com

Leadership Alert page 8 of 8 SEPT. 30 is DEADLINE FOR GFB POLICY SUBMISSIONS Georgia Farm Bureau’s annual policy development process is underway. Sept. 30 is the deadline for county Farm Bureaus to submit policy recommendations to the state policy development committee. The state committee will meet this fall to consider the recommendations submitted by county Farm Bureaus and GFB’s commodity advisory committees. Contact the GFB Legislative Department for more information.

17th ANNUAL MULE ROUNDUP Sept. 30-Oct.1 Guysie Community, Highway 32 Near Alma Experience yesteryear at this showcase of heritage farming, featuring a pioneer village, farm demonstration, cane grinding, sausage smoking, a grist mill and lots moore. A gospel sing begins at 7 p.m. on Sept. 30. Admission is free for participants and vendors and $5 for spectators ages 10 and up. For more information call 912-632-1777.