December 1, 2010
www.gfb.org
Vol. 28 No. 48
GEORGIA COUNTIES RECEIVE USDA DISASTER DESIGNATION FOR DROUGHT Following a report from Georgia’s state climatologist on the expansion of drought conditions over most of the state, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has designated 151 Georgia counties as primary disaster areas due to crop losses resulting from drought and excessive heat since July 1. The disaster designation allows farmers in affected counties and contiguous counties to be considered for Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) and low-interest emergency loans from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “Georgia’s economy relies heavily on our agriculture industry,” Gov. Sonny Perdue said in a release. “I appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s commitment to do everything in our power to assist farmers in counties that have been hit hard by dry weather and extreme heat in the past several months.” Farmers in 151 Georgia counties sustained a 30 percent or greater production loss due to drought conditions. Eight contiguous counties - Camden, Glynn, Jasper, Morgan, Clayton, Greene, McIntosh and Newton - also qualify for disaster assistance. Farmers in qualified counties have until July 26, 2011, to apply for emergency loan assistance. The FSA will review each application, considering the extent of production losses, security available and repayment ability. SURE applications for 2010 crop losses will be accepted in 2011, when 2010 farm revenue data required by statute becomes available. For more information or to apply for assistance, contact your local FSA office. State Climatologist David Stooksbury noted last week that drought conditions have expanded to include most of the state, and he forecast a winter and early spring that are warmer and drier than normal. Many locations in the coastal plain and coastal portion of Georgia have received 50 percent or less of normal rainfall over the past three months, and soil moisture in those areas is extremely low. During the late summer and fall, Georgia depends on tropical weather to bring much-needed rain, but most of the state has received less than 70 percent of normal rainfall amounts. Because of plentiful rain last winter and spring, the state’s stream flows remained near normal for most of the fall, but stream flows have slowed with recent dry weather. In addition to the water stress on crops, the drought conditions have resulted in increased risk of wildfires. Stooksbury advised anyone outdoors to be cautious when using equipment that could cause sparks.
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CHINA AGREES TO PURCHASE MORE SOYBEANS GROWN IN U.S. China has agreed to buy more than 5.5 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans, a deal worth approximately $3 billion that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says is an indication of China’s confidence in the United States as a reliable supplier of high-quality products. “The U.S.-China trade relationship continues to flourish, thanks in large part to agriculture. U.S. farm exports to China have grown nearly tenfold over the past decade, from $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2000 to $15 billion in 2010. With each $1 billion in exports supporting 8,000 jobs, that $15 billion supports nearly 120,000 U.S. jobs,” Vilsack said in a release. China is the second largest export market for U.S. farm products behind Canada and the top export destination for U.S.-grown soybeans. “China will continue to be a key trading partner as agriculture contributes to President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years,” Vilsack said. The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) last month forecast the national soybean harvest at a record-high 3.38 billion bushels. In Georgia, soybeans held a farm gate value of more than $168 million in 2009, the latest year for which statistics are available. FLAVOR OF GEORGIA FOOD PRODUCT CONTEST REGISTRATION OPEN Entries are now being accepted for the 2011 Flavor of Georgia contest, conducted by the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development (CAED). The annual contest will be held at the Georgia Freight Depot in downtown Atlanta. Winners are chosen in seven categories: confections; dairy products; jams, jellies and sauces; meat products; snack foods; barbecue and hot sauces; and other products. A grand champion is selected from all of the category winners. Savannah Bee Company won the 2010 Flavor of Georgia food product contest for its Grill Honey served on melted brie with raspberries. SBC’s honey earned the grand prize. The contest is only a starting point for many winners, said Sharon Kane, CAED economist and contest director. “The majority of last year’s contestants, 80 percent, saw an increase in their sales and business contacts following the contest,” she said. The winners will be announced during Georgia Ag Day March 22, 2011. Online registration will run through Feb. 18, 2011 at www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu. For more information, call 706-542-9809 or e-mail spkane@uga.edu. Judges look for market-ready foods, either commercially available or prototypes, from across the state. Entries are judged on flavor, best use of Georgia ingredients, Georgia theme, unique or innovative qualities, commercial appeal and originality. Previous winners have received national attention. Candy-flavored Fondarific was featured on the Food Network show “Ace of Cakes.” Hot Squeeze Sweet Heat Chipotle sauce is now sold in thousands of stores. White Oak Farm products are sold through Whole Foods and Sysco.
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STABENOW NAMED CHAIR OF SENATE AG COMMITTEE With Congress facing the task of enacting a new farm bill, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry named Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) as the successor to Blanche Lincoln as its chair. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) remains the ranking member of the committee. Lincoln (D-Ark.) was defeated by Republican John Boozman in her bid for a third term in the senate on Nov. 2. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) lost the chairman’s seat on the House Ag Committee and will become ranking committee member because Democrats lost the majority in the House. It’s widely expected that Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) will become committee chair. SENATE PASSES FOOD SAFETY BILL By a 73-25 vote, the U.S. Senate on Nov. 30 approved S. 510, a food safety bill that expands authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson both were original co-sponsors of the bill but voted against it because of costs involved with add-on provisions. Chambliss said in published reports that the final bill had deviated from its original intent. “They [Democrats] added a bunch of costs, a bunch of regulations ... [that will require] a lot more government employees and a lot more government intervention,” Isakson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s not a good piece of legislation, given the fact that we're trying not to raise [government] expenses.” The House passed similar legislation earlier this year. According to published reports, the House could adopt the Senate version rather than go through a lengthy reconciliation process with limited time available in the lame-duck session of Congress, though House Democrats may block it over procedural issue regarding revenue-generating provisions. S. 510 provides the FDA authority to order recalls of tainted foods. Currently the agency can only recommend that manufacturers implement recalls. The bill also requires larger processors and manufacturers to register with the FDA and create detailed food safety plans. The bill establishes stricter standards for the safety of imported food and increases inspections of foreign and domestic food facilities. The FDA will also be required to create new produce safety regulations for producers of the highest-risk fruits and vegetables. GA. DISTRICT 136 REP. TONY SELLIER DIES State Rep. Tony Sellier, who sat on the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, died Nov. 30 of congestive heart failure. He was 65. Sellier, who served two terms, was born in Trinidad and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1973. He worked for Blue Bird Corporation in Fort Valley from 1975 until his retirement in 2006. In the Georgia legislature, he represented the 136th District, which includes Crawford County and parts of Bibb, Houston, Lamar, Monroe, Peach and Upson counties. “We are deeply saddened by the news of Rep. Sellier’s death. He was a friend of Farm Bureau and he will certainly be missed,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.” In addition to the House Ag Committee, he also served as secretary of the Defense and Veterans Affairs, Education, and Health and Human Services committees.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 4 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU 72nd ANNUAL MEETING Dec. 5-7 Jekyll’s Historic District Convention Campus Jekyll Island This annual event includes addresses from Governor-elect Nathan Deal, A.D. Frazier, chairman of the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians, and GFB President Zippy Duvall, the organization’s policy development session, commodity conferences, the final round of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet, announcement of 2010 state award winners and a trade show. CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SIGNUP DEADLINE IS DEC. 9 The USDA is accepting applications for its Crop Assistance Program to provide financial assistance to producers of upland cotton, sweet potatoes or soybeans in Georgia counties that received a secretarial disaster designation in 2009 for losses associated with excessive rains. Contact your local FSA office for more information. CALHOUN PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE Dec. 10 NW Ga. Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. Contacts are Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu and Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or nwgastn@uga.edu. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 6-9, 2011 International Trade and Convention Center Savannah Conference workshops will cover a variety of topics including organic production, food safety and roadside markets. More than 85 hours of commodity-specific training will be offered. The North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association will also hold its annual meeting in conjunction with this conference. For information or to register visit http://www.gfvga.org or call 706-845-8200. Register before Dec. 15 for early bird discounts. GEORGIA/FLORIDA SMALL GRAIN/SOYBEAN EXPO Jan. 13 , 2011 Georgia National Fairgrounds/Agricenter Perry Program topics will include the 2011 world outlook for southern commodities, soybean pest and disease issues and small grain production. For more information contact Terry Hollifield at 706-542-2351. NRCS ALTERNATIVE FARMING WORKSHOP Jan. 13, 2011 Macon State Farmer's Market 8:30 a.m. Macon The first in a series of free workshops will cover topics related to alternative farming for underserved farmers in Baker, Bibb, Bleckley, Brooks, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Cook, Colquitt, Crisp, Crawford, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Harris, Houston, Lee, Marion, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Seminole, Steward, Sumter, Tift, Talbot, Taylor, Terrell, Thomas, Turner, Twiggs, Webster and Worth Counties. For more information, contact Naomi Davis at 478-836-4564 or via e-mail at davisfarmscsa@aol.com GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 20, 2011 Albany Civic Center Albany Show opens at 8:30 a.m. with an awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m. More than 65 exhibitors will display the latest in peanut equipment and technology. Production seminars will be held from 9 a.m to 10:45 am. After lunch, a Georgia Seed Seminar will be held from 1:30 pm to 3 p.m. The Grand Door Prize drawing closes the show at 3:30 p.m. For more information call Rebecca Whitehead at 229-386-3502 or E-mail at: Rebecca@gapeanuts.com. Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association Short Course Jan. 22 Atlanta Botanical Garden Atlanta Registration is underway online for this short course. The registration fee is $95 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, parking and presentations from educators and urban beekeepers. For the agenda or to register, visit http://www.beekeepingshortcourse.com.