Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - February 11, 2015

February 11, 2015

www.gfb.org

Vol. 33 No. 6

GFB PRESIDENTS’ CONF. GIVES LEGISLATIVE UPDATES & PROGRAM TIPS County Farm Bureau leaders from across Georgia attended the Georgia Farm Bureau Presidents’ Conference Feb. 3 at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. Event attendees heard state and federal legislative updates, learned about GFB programs and received tips for managing county Farm Bureau offices.

GFB President Zippy Duvall welcomed county Farm Bureau leaders to the conference saying, “We realize that all of the work and projects across the state gets done because of your leadership.

We appreciate you coming to this meeting to learn more about our programs and tips for executing them.”

American Farm Bureau Senior Director of Regulatory Relations Don Parrish gave an update on the status of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency & U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed last April that would expand the definition of navigable water and the agencies’ jurisdiction over Parrish water and land under the Clean Water Act. Parrish said the agencies received more than one million comments during the comment period that ran from April 21 to Nov. 14, 2014, but as of early February the agencies have only posted 18,000 of the comments. Parrish applauded GFB for rallying its members to submit more comments than any other state Farm Bureau, almost 16,000, opposing the rule.

If the EPA & Corps of Engineers opt to move forward with implementing their proposed rule, Parrish said AFBF will fight the rule through legislative, regulatory and litigation efforts.

“This fight is far from over,” Parrish said. “We’ve got a lot of bullets left in the magazine, and we’re going to do our best to make sure you retain the right to use your land.”

GFB 6th District Field Rep. Don Giles reviewed results of a survey of county Farm Bureau presidents taken last fall. The survey showed county leaders’ have a strong overall level of satisfaction with GFB. Maintaining volunteer participation and surfacing younger volunteers was the most common concern survey participants voiced. The survey also showed that most county Farm Bureaus spend the majority of their volunteer time on ag literacy activities in schools and working to increase consumers’ understanding of agriculture and awareness of Farm Bureau.

As a result of the survey, GFB will hold district training workshops for county directors and officers in the coming year to educate them about Farm Bureau programs and equip them to promote Farm Bureau and agriculture.

GFB General Counselor Duke Groover discussed procedures county Farm Bureau offices -continued

GFB News Alert page 2 of 9 President’s Conference, continued should follow to better protect members’ personal information against identity theft.

Jeff Thompson, a lawyer who specializes in employment law, discussed the Fair Labor Standards Act and suggested ways our county Farm Bureau boards could become more effective and efficient with their employment practices.

GFB Legislative Assistant Director Jeffrey Harvey gave an update on the pressing issues GFB’s legislative staff is addressing during the General Session including working to keep the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission as a separate agency. GFB is also working to educate legislators that the GATE program isn’t the main cause of declining tax revenues rural counties are experiencing.

GFB Legislative Specialist Matthew Smith gave an overview of the Voter Voice program GFB is using to keep its members informed on current legislative issues and make it easy for them to contact their legislators to comment on proposed legislation. Farm Bureau members may visit www.gfb.org/legislative/action.html to sign up to receive GFB legislative updates.

Jed Evans, GFB Young Farmer Coordinator & Program Manager of the GFB Foundation for Agriculture, shared how the organization plans to use its new nonprofit 501 (c) 3 foundation to raise tax-deductible donations to fund activities to educate students and consumers about agriculture. The GFB Foundation will officially kick off its fundraising efforts with a gala on March 7 at Stone Mountain. Chuck Leavell, who has played piano for many singers and bands including Miranda Lambert, the Rolling Stones and the Allman Brothers Band, will perform at the gala. Contact your county Farm Bureau for more information about buying a table or individual tickets.

Dr. Lisa Benson, AFBF director of rural development, discussed AFBF’s new programs designed to help rural and ag businesses gain access to needed capital to help their businesses succeed. Visit http://www.strongruralamerica.com to learn more about the program. Benson also discussed AFBF’s commitment to support military veterans interested in farming. Visit http://www.farmvetco.org to learn more about this program.

COURT GRANTS STAY IN EPA PRIVACY SUIT On Feb. 6 a federal district court in Minnesota ordered EPA not to release farmers’ and ranchers’ personal information while AFBF and co-plaintiff National Pork Producers Council appeal the court’s January decision dismissing their lawsuit. By dismissing the suit, the court ruled that farmers are not harmed when the government compiles and releases a storehouse of personal information, so long as individual bits of that information are somehow publicly accessible, such as through an Internet search or on a Facebook page.

“We are pleased that farmers’ and ranchers’ personal information will be protected while we appeal the court’s decision,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “We disagree that the Internet age has diminished the individual’s right to protect personal information. Now, more than ever, citizens need their government to help protect their information—not gather it, tie a bow on it, and send it out to anyone who asks.”

The suit concerns personal information (such as names, home addresses, telephone numbers and GPS locations) of tens of thousands of livestock and poultry farmers compiled by EPA and requested by environmental groups through Freedom of Information Act requests. AFBF and NPPC appealed the dismissal on Jan. 29.

GFB News Alert page 3 of 9 COMMITTEE CHAIRS CALL FOR WITHDRAWAL OF EPA WOTUS RULE Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Schuster (R-Pa.) both have called for the withdrawal of the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed Waters of the U.S. rule.

The two committees held a joint hearing on Feb. 4 to gauge the impacts the proposed rule would have on state and local governments. The hearing featured testimony from EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy. In addition to McCarthy and Darcy, officials from Oklahoma and New York, as well as representatives of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the National Association of Counties also testified.

In a letter to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (ROkla.) and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Penn.), American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said the organization is pleased the committees are standing up for farmers and ranchers to shed light on this unprecedented expansion of the federal government’s regulation of farm and ranch lands.

“It has been nearly a year since EPA and the Corps first proposed this rule, yet the farm and ranch community still lacks the clarity and certainty that was promised,” Stallman wrote. “We have asked the questions and submitted our comments, yet the agricultural community still needs clear and straight answers from administration officials over the intent and actual meaning of this proposed rule.”

The hearing comes on the heels of the introduction of legislation (H.R. 594) to prohibit EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing the rule.

USDA MARKS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF 2014 FARM BILL Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held a news conference on Feb. 5 in advance of the USDA’s first year of work under the 2014 farm bill. The bill was signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 7, 2014. Some key deadlines are approaching for farmers who are considering if and how they’ll use the farm bill’s crop insurance provisions.

Farmers have until Feb. 27 to update their yield histories and/or reallocate base acres. They have until March 31 to make one-time election of Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) for the 2014 -2018 crop years.

Beginning in mid-April ARC and PLC contracts will be available for producers to sign. Farm bill payments for the 2014 crop year are scheduled for October.

For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center. The FSA’s crop insurance information can be accessed online at http://tinyurl.com/cienroll.

Vilsack said the bill has already benefitted every American by creating jobs and prompting economic growth.

To view a USDA fact sheet on its implementation of the farm bill, visit http://tinyurl.com/fbimpfacts.

GFB News Alert page 4 of 9 SOYBEAN SMALL GRAINS EXPO FEATURES UPDATES, AWARDS More than 100 attendees heard market and research updates at the 2015 Georgia/Florida Soybean/Small Grains Expo, held Feb. 5 at the Georgia National Faigrounds and Agricenter. The Expo also featured the recognition of the 2014 Soybean Production Contest winners.

University of Georgia Extension Economist Nathan Smith gave a market outlook, noting several key factors that will affect prices farmers receive for the soybeans.

"We've gone from a really tight situation to where we've built up stocks quite a bit and we don't really have to worry about carrying over soybeans to the next year," Smith said.

Smith predicted that Georgia farmers would plant around 300,000 acres of soybeans in 2015 and that overall soybean acreage would likely increase. While consumption of soybeans by beef cattle is trending downward, pork consumption has remained steady and poultry consumption is trending upward. China is a big driver in the soybean market, importing 75 percent of the world's soybeans. Smith said soybean prices are projected at around $355 per ton.

American Farm Bureau Federation Deputy Chief Economist John Anderson gave an update on issues in Washington with the new Congress and talked about the progress of programs under the 2014 farm bill. Anderson noted that the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) crop insurance plan functions in essentially the same way as the Counter-Cyclical Program under the 2008 farm bill.

Under the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) County plan, farmers should review their yield histories to see if their losses typically occur when countywide losses occur.

Dr. Jared Whitaker of the UGA Deparment of Crop & Soil Sciences announced Effingham County's Mark Waller as the winner of the Dryland Production Award. Waller planted Pioneer P54T94 and achieved a yield of 83.2 bushels per acre. Randy Dowdy of Brooks County won the Irrigated Production Award at 116.5 bushels per acre. UGA’s Dr. Nathan Smith was announced as the winner of the Research and Extension Award.

QUESTIONS FARMERS SHOULD BE ASKING CROP INSURANCE AGENTS With key crop insurance deadlines approaching, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist John Anderson offered five things farmers should be asking their crop insurance agents: • Quotes for enterprise units and trend-adjusted yields.

• Request premium quotes for different coverage levels.

• Ask about the benefits of the Supplemental Coverage Option for their operation.

• Request quotes for separate coverage levels by production practice.

• Ask how the plans they are considering would affect their pre-harvest marketing.

FIRE CAUSES MAJOR DAMAGE TO CORDELE PEANUT BIN A Feb. 2 fire destroyed about 900 tons of stored peanuts in Cordele at GFA Peanut Company, resulted in approximately $750,000 worth of damage, including the value of the peanuts. The fire smoldered for several days and firefighters from Crisp, Worth and Sumter counties worked to extinguish the fire, the origin of which was attributed to overheating of a chemical applied to the peanuts.

GFB News Alert page 5 of 9 UGA CONDUCTING SURVEY ON FERAL SWINE DAMAGE University of Georgia researchers are surveying landowners in Georgia to quantify the economic damage feral swine are causing the state, according to a UGA press rlease.

A new survey, “Feral Swine on Private Lands in Georgia,” has been mailed to 3,000 landowners across Georgia and is being conducted by professor Michael Mengak and students in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. UGA Extension and the Warnell School are jointly funding the survey.

Feral, or wild, swine are estimated to cause in excess of $1.5 billion in damage nationwide, Mengak said.

“It is important to understand the nature of feral swine problems and the damage they cause on a local scale,” said Mengak, who also serves as associate dean for outreach in the Warnell School. “This data informs the Georgia state legislature and natural resource managers of the damage and financial hardship feral swine inflict on farmers and other landowners in Georgia.”

Mengak and UGA Extension surveyed landowners about feral swine in 2012. Results from that survey were compiled to calculate economic damages caused by feral swine, typically from damage to farmland through rooting and grubbing, and destroying crops of peanuts, corn and cotton. Feral swine caused more than $81 million in damage to crops and farmland in 41 Georgia counties in 2011, Mengak said.

The new eight-page survey will ask landowners a variety of questions about issues they’ve noticed with feral swine, how owners attempt to control them on their property and whether they feel that feral swine are a nuisance or a benefit. The survey was mailed to registered farmers and to rural landowners outside of metro areas who own at least 5 acres of land. Survey recipients were randomly selected from a large Georgia database.

The survey asks when damage was first noticed, what kind of damage was caused, what methods were used to control the feral swine — including lethal means — and how much money is estimated lost due to the feral swine. Researchers also want to know if any landowners prefer to see feral swine on their property and their opinions on whether they think the swine carry diseases or are harmful to other wildlife.

The survey was sent out the week ending Jan. 30. Landowners who receive the survey are asked to fill in as much as they can or wish to, then mail it back within two weeks of receiving it, Mengak said. Survey responses will remain anonymous, and recipients are provided with a postage-paid envelope.

The 2015 survey asks if landowners hunt feral swine on their property or allow others to do so, which is something many have suggested as a solution to control feral swine populations. But they can be tough to hunt, Mengak said.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services has in the past offered management solutions at a local level, but it is considering implementing a tougher management program that would span the country. However, the agency wants to see what landowners think before finalizing the plan. The agency’s environmental impact statement is currently under review.

GFB News Alert page 6 of 9 CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM ENROLLMENT DEADLINE FEB. 27 Farmers, ranchers and forest landowners have until Feb. 27 to apply for the USDA Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to ensure they are considered for this year’s program funding. The USDA will award $100 million this year through CSP, and the program is expected to enroll up to 7.7 million privately owned acres this year, according to a USDA release.

Although applications are accepted all year for the program, applications received after Feb. 27 will be considered for future funding.

“CSP is a way of incentivizing farmers, ranchers, and private forest managers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship,” said Georgia’s State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “By focusing on multiple resource concerns, landowners are able to achieve a sustainable landscape and maintain or increase the productivity of their operations.”

Through CSP, participants take additional conservation steps to improve the resource conditions on their land, including soil, air and habitat quality, water quality and quantity, and energy conservation. The 2014 Farm Bill brought changes to CSP including an expanded conservation activity list that will offer participants greater options to meet their conservation needs and protect natural resources on their land. These conservation activities, called enhancements, include cover crops, intensive rotational grazing and wildlife friendly fencing.

CSP will also help broaden the impacts of NRCS’ Landscape Conservation Initiatives through a new pilot effort, which accelerates private lands conservation activities to address particular goals, such as creating habitat for at-risk species and conserving and cleaning water. For Georgia this includes the Longleaf Pine Initiative.

Applications should be submitted to local NRCS offices. As part of the CSP application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete a resource inventory of their land, which will help determine the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities.

The applicant's conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments. A CSP self-screening checklist is available at http://tinyurl.com/CSPmoreinfo to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their farm. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types.

GFB News Alert page 7 of 9 WILKES COUNTY FRONT PASTURE HERD REPLACEMENT SALE Feb. 14 Wilkes County Stockyard Noon Washington, Ga. Sale features open heifers, bred heifers and first calf pairs. For more information contact David Reville at 706-678-5457.

BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE TRAINING Feb. 26 Brooks County Extension 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Quitman This training is for beef producers who have never been certified under the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program or those who need to renew their certification. RSVP by Feb. 12. A meal will be provided. For more information please contact Kurt Childers at 229-561-3466 or email him at kurtchilders@windstream.net.

2015 GEORGIA AGRITOURISM CONFERENCE Feb. 16-18 Rainwater Conference Center Valdosta This agritourism industry-focused conference features a jam-packed, 3-day program with agritourism farm tours, educational sessions, an exhibitor forum, the 2015 Georgia Agritourism Association Annual Meeting, the Best Ideas Competition, and lots of networking! For more information or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/gaaconf.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DAY AT THE CAPITOL Feb. 19 Georgia Depot and State Capitol 9:30 a.m.

Atlanta Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol is a chance for Farm Bureau members to meet with legislators and other government officials. Orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Blue Room of the historic Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, located next to Underground Atlanta. Free parking at Turner Field will be available with a shuttle service that runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information contact the GFB Legislative Department at 1-800-342-1192 ext. 5283 or your local county Farm Bureau office.

VETERANS AND SMALL FARMERS WORKSHOPS Feb. 19 Fort Valley State University Pettigrew Center Fort Valley March 12 Gwinnett Technical College Busbee Center Lawrenceville These one-day workshops are designed to provide veterans and small farmers with knowledge of funds and programs available to them. Each workshop begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and runs through 4:30 p.m. Early registration and payment of the $20 fee can be completed online at http://conta.cc/1vjYPvM or call 678-376-9518 with any other questions. Please select specific workshop location under session section of link.

GFB EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE March 6-7 Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Stone Mountain This annual event features fun and informative workshops. Cherokee County teacher Carmen Power will highlight activities she uses in her classroom. Chris Fleming of Tennessee Farm Bureau will conduct a workshop on how to connect the classroom to the farm through special internet programs. GFB Field Representative Clay Talton will lead a workshop on how to effectively use iPads and cameras to capture county activities. Attorney Will Thompson will address the topic of ensuring a solid progression of your farm to the next generation.

Registration deadline is Feb. 20. Check with your county Farm Bureau for information on registration and additional workshops.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 9 GEORGIA BLUEBERRY COMMISSION REFERENDUM UNDER WAY Georgia blueberry growers who annually produce one ton or more of blueberries that are commercially packed and marketed can vote in a mail ballot referendum until Feb. 20 to determine if they will continue the Georgia Blueberry Commission (GBC) Marketing Order.

This order authorizes the assessment growers who annually produce a ton or more of blueberries pay to fund the research, consumer promotion and education activities of the Georgia Blueberry Commission. The assessment rate has been set at $5 per ton since the marketing order began in 2009, according to information distributed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) announcing the referendum. If you are an eligible blueberry producer and did not receive a ballot, please contact GDA Commodity Commissions Manager Andy Harrison for more information about the referendum at 404-586-1405 or andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov.

SMALL FARM CONFERENCE Feb. 26-27 Unicoi State Park Helen The Broad River Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Upper Chattahoochee River Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is hosting this conference to educate farmers with small-scale operations on ways to improve their operations and make them run more efficiently and profitably. The conference will feature general sessions that will cover major agricultural topics. Registration for the conference is $225 per person. However, through sponsorship from the Broad River Soil and Water Conservation District, the first 120 people to reserve a spot will receive a fully-paid scholarship for the event. Registration must be received by Feb. 20. For more information, and to register for the event, contact the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Region II office in Athens at 706-552-4479.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA WATERMELON UPDATE Feb. 20 Vidalia Onion Research Center Noon – 2 p.m.

Lyons This area watermelon production meeting will give growers the latest updates on watermelon production. Growers will receive information on weed control, disease control, fertility, and variety selection. Sign-up is required. Please call the Tattnall County Extension Office at 912557-6724 to sign up. Lunch will be provided.

EXPORT SEMINAR FOR FOOD & AG COMPANIES Feb. 24 World Trade Center(131 Hutchinson Island Rd.) 12:30-5p.m.

Savannah This free seminar will cover the basics of exporting U.S. food and ag products. Learn how USDA programs can cut your international marketing budget in half, how to connect with foreign distributors, how to finance and protect your international transactions and about export readiness, foreign market research and assistance and shipping across international borders.

Advance registration is required.

To register visit www.susta.org/services/outreach_events_SavannahGA15.html For more information contact Kristin Core at Kristin@susta.org or call 504-569-5986 or contact Shehzin Jafar at sjafar@georgia.org or call 404-962-4036. Event is organized by the Southern U.S. Trade Association, Georgia Dept. of Economic Development and World Trade Center Savannah.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 9 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 and who have achieved excellence in their chosen field and/or in their community. 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.

UGA CAES ALUMNI FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS March 1 deadline to apply The CAES Alumni Association awards five scholarships for incoming freshmen to deserving students who have been accepted by The University of Georgia for study in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Selection is based on the student's scholastic achievement, leadership ability, and extracurricular involvement as they pertain to agricultural or environmental related areas. To access the application form for the Freshman Scholarships visit http://tinyurl.com/caesfrschol. The CAES Alumni Association also awards two non-renewable scholarships to the most outstanding transfer students from two- and four-year colleges who will be enrolling full-time at CAES. Selection is based on the student’s ability to make significant contributions to the academic and co-curricular campus environment. http://tinyurl.com/caestranschol.

PB&J DAY AT THE CAPITOL March 3 Georgia State Capitol, South Wing 9 a.m – noon Atlanta This event, hosted by the Georgia Peanut Commission and the National Peanut Buying Points Association, kicks off National Peanut Month and is free to all visitors. The Georgia Peanut Commission is accepting registration for exhibitors and sponsors. For more information, contact Joy Purvis at 229-386-3471 or joypurvis@gapeanuts.com.

ALFALFA IN THE SOUTH WORKSHOP Mar. 17 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena 9 a.m.

Athens This workshop will focus on how to successfully use alfalfa, including how to grow your own nitrogen and feed supplement by interseeding alfalfa into bermudagrass. Subjects covered include: site selection, establishment protocol, soil fertility, harvest management, and how to use this high quality and cost-effective crop. There will be a grower panel to hear how other producers are using alfalfa in bermudagrass across Georgia and the Southeast. Also included are visits to fields where alfalfa was interseeded into bermudagrass. Cost of the one-day workshop is $25 and includes lunch and refreshments, an “Alfalfa in the South” notebook, and other publications on alfalfa production and use in the South. To register, call Cathy Felton at 706310-3464 or send an email to feltonc@uga.edu.