December 31, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 52
TOP GFB AND GEORGIA AG STORIES IN 2014 The year 2014 had a lot going on, and Georgia’s agricultural industry carries some significant issues into the new year. Here’s our review, in no particular order of key events in Georgia Farm Bureau and ag in general during the past 12 months: 2014 FARM BILL It took three years of wrangling and multiple extensions of programs in the 2012 farm bill before Congress finally agreed on the new farm bill in February. President Obama signed it on Feb 7. From an agricultural perspective, it wasn’t perfect, but it did give a measure of certainty for farmers. The 2014 farm bill runs through 2018. New items include a reference price crop insurance program for producers of peanuts, and the Stacked Income Protection Program (STAX) for growers of cotton. One of the key points for STAX is that it is WTO compliant and helped resolve the United States’ long-standing cotton dispute with Brazil. As the calendar flips to 2015, farmers are trying to figure out how to make the new and revamped programs work for them. Farmers have until Feb. 27, 2015 to reallocate their base acres and update yield histories on their farms. To access online tools to aid in these decisions visit https://usda.afpc.tamu.edu or http://fsa.usapas.com. EPA & CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROPOSED WATER RULE The EPA has for years been attempting to broaden the scope of the Clean Water Act (CWA) despite multiple Supreme Court decisions and multiple failed legislative attempts to make changes to the 1977 law that protects the nation’s waterways. In April, the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a proposed rule that, if finalized, would effectively remove the word “navigable” from the CWA and greatly expand the EPA’s jurisdiction. Georgia Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation strongly opposed the rule, maintaining that in pursuing it the agencies are attempting to seize jurisdiction over vast areas of land that have no water on them most of the time. GFB and AFBF held the “Ditch the Rule” campaign to encourage people to speak out against the rule by making public comments. Overall, the agencies received more than 800,000 comments. The Georgia Farm Bureau effort produced nearly 16,000 comments. For a detailed overview of the proposed rule visit http://www.gfb.org/ditchtherule/.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 7 GEORGIA BEEF COMMISSION ESTABLISHED, USDA PROPOSES SECOND NATIONAL CHECKOFF The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Beef (ACCB) was established during the 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly, and in 2014, the ACCB moved forward with setting up a state beef assessment to fund research, promotion and education programs to benefit Georgia beef producers. The ACCB held a referendum from March 15 to April 15 and producers voted to begin the assessment. The ACCB began collecting the assessment on July 1. On the national level, a dozen national beef stakeholder organizations began the year negotiating toward an agreement to raise the assessment for the National Beef Checkoff, but those efforts were unsuccessful. After one of the groups, the National Farmers Union, pulled out, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the USDA’s intention to establish a companion checkoff under the 1996 Commodities Promotion Act. After dozens of beef organizations around the country voiced displeasure with this approach – and after Congress expressed opposition to it as part of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government in 2015 – the USDA withdrew its proposal for a second checkoff. CONGRESS PASSESS WRRDA, WORK TO EXPAND SAVANNAH PORT BEGINS The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) received the final approvals to move ahead after President Obama signed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act into law in June. The bill included approval of the federal portion of funding for the SHEP project. Construction began after a federal-state partnership agreement was signed in October. SHEP includes deepening the Savannah River by 47 feet and extending its entrance channel an additional 7 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The expansion will allow the Port of Savannah to accommodate the larger ships that will be moving through the Panama Canal after its expansion, which is expected to be complete in 2016. For Georgia farmers who export, the expansion is expected to result in greater and more cost effective export opptunities. SUPREME COURT AGREES TO HEAR FLORIDA’S WATER SUIT; GEORGIA UPDATES FLINT RIVER DROUGHT PROTECTION ACT In early November the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would hear arguments in a suit filed by the state of Florida against the state of Georgia in the two states’ ongoing dispute about use of water from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. The suit, filed in October 2013, alleges that Georgia has overconsumed water from the two rivers. Florida blames this alleged overuse for lower water supply and high salinity in the Apalachicola Bay on the Northwest Florida coast, threatening the habitat of the bay’s oysters and other species there. In February, Georgia asked the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that it was an attempt by Florida to circumvent current actions by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that Florida had failed to establish clear and convincing evidence it suffers harm as a result of Georgia’s water use. U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli recommended that the court delay the case until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes a master manual for federal projects in the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint basin, but the court opted to move forward with the case. In a related development, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill to make changes to the Flint River Drought Protection Act (FRDPA), giving the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) flexibility in how the law is administered. Gov. Nathan Deal signed it on April 16. The bill, SB 213, included new efficiency requirements for farm irrigation systems and clarified EPD’s role in managing water in periods of prolonged drought.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 7 PASSAGE OF GFB LEADERS Georgia Farm said goodbye to a number of leaders who have recently passed away. Each of these individuals made a valuable contribution to GFB and to Georgia agriculture: Billy Manning, who served as president of Lee County Farm Bureau from 2005 to 2007, died on Nov. 4, 2013. Ralph Bridges, who served as president of Oglethorpe County Farm Bureau from 1964 to 1966, died on Nov. 5, 2013. George Grimaud, who served as president of Wilkes County Farm Bureau from 1981 to 1985 and again from 2003 to 2007, died on Dec. 2, 2013. Grimaud also served as a GFB district director from 1984 to 2002. Harry Foster, who served as president of Franklin County Farm Bureau from 1973 to 1975, died on Jan. 6. Foster also served as a GFB district director from 1977 to 1980. Robert L. Nash, who served as president of Georgia Farm Bureau from 1978 to 1988, died on April 25. Nash was president of Lamar County Farm Bureau from 1973 to 1974 and president of Upson County Farm Bureau from 1994 to 1995. He served as a GFB district director from 1974 to 1977. Lavon Strickland, who served as president of Echols County Farm Bureau from 2008 to 2009, died on April 8. Dr. James E. Strickland, who served as president of Tattnall County Farm Bureau from 1999 to 2009, died on Aug. 2. William Maurice Burns, who served as president of Lee County Farm Bureau from 2005 to 2007, died on Aug. 28. Gennis Folsom, who served as president of Tattnall County Farm Bureau in 1967 and again from 1984 to 1988, died on Sept. 25. Folsom also served as a GFB district director from 1992 to 2011. Alvin Chambers, who served as president of Carroll County Farm Bureau in 2013, died on Dec. 6. Chambers also served on the GFB Beef Committee from 1997 to 2008, including six years as chairman. George Dudley, who had served as Muscogee County Farm Bureau president since 1984, died Dec. 6. A CENTURY OF EXTENSION, CHANGES AT UGA RESEARCH FARMS 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, which established the national cooperative extension system. Sen. Hoke Smith of Georgia was one of the sponsors of the bill, which created many of the extension programs we know today, including 4-H and other outreach programs from the nation’s land grant universities. The University of Georgia celebrated with a reception on May 15 and in October a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held during the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition. UGA also unveiled significant changes in its research farms. The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) completed the conversion of the former USDA Campbell Research Center to CAES control. The facilities at the Campbell Research Farm will house livestock and forage research, as well as becoming the new home of Oconee County 4-H. CAES also unveiled the Iron Horse Farm in north Greene County, which the university acquired from the Curtis family.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 7 GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY The Georgia National Fair kicked off on Oct. 2 with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony with Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority Chairman Gene Sutherland manning the scissors in Reaves Arena at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. Deal was the featured speaker for the ceremony and presented Sutherland with a commendation recognizing 25 years of the Georgia National Fair in Perry. In the Georgia Grown Building, the Georgia Department of Agriculture unveiled its a photo exhibit called “Seasons and Faces of Georgia Agriculture.” The exhibit shows Georgia farmers working in virtually every commodity produced in the state. In addition to photos, the exhibit included agricultural artifacts, crop plants, seeds and agricultural tools, as well as information sheets detailing Georgia agriculture facts. PAUL ELECTED NATIONAL FFA PRESIDENT, GA WINS 15 NATIONAL TITLES The Georgia FFA Association’s trip to the 87th National FFA Convention, held Oct. 29 – Nov. 1 in Louisville, Ky., was highlighted by 15 national championships and the election of Andy Paul of Lexington as the 2014-2015 National FFA President. Among Georgia’s national winners were 5 national proficiency award winners, the national Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event (CDE) winner, eight national Agriscience Fair winners, and the high scoring individual in the national Livestock Evaluation CDE. Paul, a member of the Oglethorpe County FFA chapter, was elected from a field of 42 candidates to serve as the 2014-2015 National FFA President. Paul is a sophomore at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) majoring in Agricultural Education. He will take a oneyear leave of absence from ABAC to travel more than 100,000 miles across the United States and to Japan representing Agricultural Education. “FARMLAND” HITS THEATRES NATIONWIDE “Farmland,” a documentary film by Oscar-winning director James Moll, was released nationwide on May 1. The film revealed the life, work, triumphs and heartaches of six farmers from various areas and agricultural sectors, including Crawford County Farm Bureau President Leighton Cooley, who raises poultry on his family’s farm near Roberta. “Farmland” was shown in private screenings in Macon and Atlanta in April, and Cooley made appearances at film festivals in New York, Newport Beach, Calif., Cleveland and others. “Farmland” was produced with funding from the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, of which Georgia Farm Bureau is an affiliate member. CARTER CHAIRS AFBF YOUNG FARMER & RANCHER COMMITTEE Jake Carter of Henry County was selected to serve as chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer & Rancher Committee, as well as serving a one-year term on the AFBF board of directors. As committee chair, Carter traveled the country, working to promote agriculture while learning about farming operations in various states. Carter was also invited included to the White House, where he was honored as a Champion of Change for Agriculture during ceremonies on July 29. PRELIMINARY REPORT SHOWS GEORGIA NO. 1 IN BLUEBERRY PRODUCTION A preliminary report from the North America Blueberry Council listed Georgia as the No. 1 U.S. state in blueberry production. The report, which is expected to be finalized in early 2015, indicated Georgia growers produced 96 million pounds of blueberries, ahead of frequent national leader Michigan (91.5 million pounds).
GFB News Alert page 5 of 7 2014 GATE CARDS EXPIRE DEC. 31 The Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) program is an agricultural sales tax exemption certificate issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture that identifies the card holder as an ag producer qualified for the tax exemption. All 2014 GATE cards expire Dec. 31. To renew your card visit http://forms.agr.georgia.gov/gate/ or call 1-855-FARM-TAX (855-327-6829) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. There is a $20 fee for online applications and a $25 fee for applications made via mail or phone. Many county Farm Bureau offices will assist their members with online signups or renewals. NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEANUT FARMER Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, in Tifton. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and BASF. The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award is based upon the applicant's overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership, civic, church, and community service activities. The award is open for any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, as of Jan. 15, 2015. An individual may receive the award only once. There is no limit on the number of applicants from each county in Georgia. Applications are due to the GPC office by Jan. 2, 2015. The award application is available online at the GPC Web site, www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690 or joycrosby@gapeanuts.com. INAUGURAL ABAC YOUNG FARMERS STEER AND HEIFER SHOW Jan. 23-24, 2015 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This show, organized by the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Farm Bureau chapter, is open to all 4-H and FFA members in Georgia in grades 4-12. Georgia show rules and regulations apply to all entries. Complete rules are available at http://tinyurl.com/4hshowrules. Entry fees are $35 per exhibitor and entry forms must be postmarked by Jan. 3, 2015. Late entries will be accepted with a $10 late fee. T-shirts will be given to all exhibitors. For more information contact Charlsy Anesetti at 770-490-6391 or canessett@stallions.abac.edu or Johnathan Barrett at 706-499-3456 or j24barrett@gmail.com. VEGETABLE MARKETING ORDER HEARING Jan. 6, 2015 Macon Farmers Market 10 a.m. Macon This is a public hearing regarding the proposed marketing order for the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Vegetables. Anyone may make comments. Participants at the hearing are required to register on arrival. Individuals may also submit written comments concerning the proposed marketing order by mail or email to: Andy Harrison, Commodity Commissions Manager, Ga. Dept. of Agriculture, 19 MLK Jr. Dr. S.W., Room 324, Atlanta, Ga. 30334 or via email to andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. Written comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2015, in order to be considered. The proposed marketing order would assess vegetable producers 1 cent per marketing unit on affected products. The affected products are include bell peppers, specialty peppers, beans, broccoli, beets, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, greens, squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes produced for sale on the fresh market. The order would apply to all producers of those vegetables for sale who have 50 acres ore more of vegetable production annually. Revenue generated by the marketing order would be used for research promotion and education. For more information contact Harrison at 404-586-1405.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 7 AG SAFETY GROUP OFFERING GRANTS Jan. 7, 2015 Deadline to apply Grants of up to $10,000 are being offered by a national coalition of agribusinesses, producer organizations and safety professionals in order to foster new champions of agricultural safety and health. The Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA) has announced an application deadline of January 7, 2015. Information regarding eligibility, priorities, application instructions and frequently asked questions is available at http://www.ashca.org. The purpose of the ASHCA Safety Grants Program is to provide financial support to promote evidence-based safety/health strategies addressing farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 8-11, 2015 International Trade and Convention Center Savannah This annual conference features nine crop-specific workshops plus workshops on roadside markets, business operations and food safety. New for 2015 are the Southeast Farm Market Bus Tour on Jan 8 and the National Vegetable Grafting Symposium, and the always-popular trade show with more than 200 exhibitors. For more information or to register, visit http://www.seregionalconference.com. 2015 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 14 Brenau Georgia Mountains Center Gainesville Jan. 15 Clarence Brown Conference Center Cartersville Jan. 16 Cloud Livestock Facility Bainbridge Jan. 21 Toombs County Agricenter Lyons Jan. 22 UGA Conference Center Tifton Jan. 23 Georgia Farm Bureau Macon This series, supported by an endowment from Georgia Farm Bureau with additional support from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, focuses on how technology is being used to solve problems for the ag industry along with the 2015 economic outlook for agricultural commodities. Check-in for all of the meetings, except Tifton, begins at 9 a.m. with seminars starting at 10 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. Check-in for the Tifton event starts at 7 a.m., breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. followed by the seminar from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com, call 706-583-0347 or email carlam@uga.edu. Follow the meetings on UGA CAES Facebook or on Twitter @GaAgForecast and join the conversation with #AgForecast. GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 15, 2015 UGA Tifton Conference Center 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tifton This annual must-go event features 100 exhibits, nearly $40,000 in door prizes, a free farmer lunch and educational sessions, including pesticide applicators certification classes. For more information contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229-386-3470 or info@gapeanuts.com, or visit the GPC website at www.gapeanuts.com. BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING Jan. 15 Holiday Inn Express (1502 Sam Nunn Blvd.) Perry Meeting, which begins at 1 p.m. will provide a program update for 2015. Call 1-800-269-9926 to RSVP or for more information.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 7 UGA DAIRY HEIFER SHOW Feb. 6-7, 2015 UGA Livestock Arena Athens State Junior Commercial Dairy Heifer Show rules and regulations apply. Entry fees are $12 per heifer and entries must be postmarked by Jan. 15, 2015. All heifers entered must have been individually tagged by Nov. 14. A contest to design the show t-shirts is being held, with a $50 prize to the winner. Entries for the t-shirt design contest are also due Jan. 15, 2015. A dairy judging contest for FFA and 4-H students will be held Feb. 6. Entry fees for the judging contest are $5. For a printable entry form visit http://tinyurl.com/ugadairyheifer. For more information contact Dr. William Graves at wgraves@uga.edu. GCC ANNUAL MEETING & UGA COTTON PRODUCTION WORKSHOP Jan. 28, 2015 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. Tifton Featured speakers for the Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting are Mark Messura, Senior Vice President for Global Marketing, Cotton Incorporated; John Maguire, Senior Vice President of the National Cotton Council, and a representative for Southern Cotton Growers. The UGA Cotton Production Workshop, conducted by the Research & Extension Cotton Team, provides the latest technical production strategies from the researchers whose projects were funded by the Commission using growers’ dollars. There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is requested to help with meal plans. Register online at www.ugatiftonconference.org or call 229.386.3416. For more information call 478-988-4235 or visit http://tinyurl.com/cottonmtg. 2015 GA/FLA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Feb. 5, 2015 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Expo will provide up-to-date marketing projections and the newest production techniques, as well as remarks from University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences leaders. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the general session starts at 9:30 a.m. Speakers are UGA Extension Economist Dr. Nathan Smith, who will give a world outlook for southern ag commodities; American Farm Bureau Federation Deputy Chief Economist John Anderson, who will discuss the 2014 farm bill andDow AgroSciences Field Specialist Dr. Ralph Lassiter, who will discuss Dow Enlist technology. The registration fee is $10 for advance registration or $20 on the date of the Expo. Please make checks payable to the Georgia /Florida Soybean Association, mail to 2425 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30605. Registration must be received before Feb. 1, 2015. For more information contact the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association at 706-542-3793 should you have questions or comments. UGA ACCEPTING CAES ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association invites you to make nominations for its Young Alumni Achievement Award, Alumni Award of Excellence and the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame. The Young Alumni Achievement Award is for alumni who are 35 years old or younger. The CAES Alumni Award of Excellence recognizes extraordinary CAES alumni 36 years or older. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals making unusual and extraordinary contributions to agriculture and agribusiness industries in Georgia. The Young Alumni Achievement and Alumni Excellence awards must be received by Feb. 28. Hall of Fame nominations must be postmarked by March 15. For more information or to make nominations for these awards, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.