February 19, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 7
GFB SUPPORTS AMENDMENTS TO FLINT RIVER DROUGHT PROTECTION ACT The Georgia House of Representatives is considering a bill that would make changes to the Flint River Drought Protection Act (FRDPA). The bill, SB 213, amends the FRDPA. Georgia Farm Bureau supports SB 213. On Feb. 10, GFB President Zippy Duvall wrote to members of the Georgia House asking them to support the bill. “SB 213 allows for more efficient management of water resources of the lower Flint and provides needed flexibility in the bidding process authorized in the Flint River Drought Protection Act,” Duvall wrote. Currently, if data shows hydrologic drought, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) director is required to declare drought by March 1 each year. When such a declaration is made, a bidding process to scale back irrigation in the Flint River basin is required. Farmers who opt to suspend their irrigation are to be compensated by the state. SB 213 gives the EPD director the ability to make this bidding process optional. This provision was requested by EPD Director Jud Turner, who in 2012 declined to declare a drought although hydrologic conditions on the Flint merited it, citing the fact that the state had no money to fund the required compensation and noting that suspension of irrigation would have minimal positive effect on stream flows. The bill addresses concerns under the Endangered Species Act. The lower Flint River is home to species of mussels that are on the federal endangered species list. SB 213 authorizes EPD to augment stream flows in times of extreme drought and restrict withdrawals from augmented streams with the goal of protecting endangered species without shutting down all irrigation withdrawals across the region. Duvall said the augmented stream flows would help to protect endangered species in the lower Flint River and reduce the likelihood of Endangered Species Act lawsuits that threaten farmers’ ability to irrigate. Previous court decisions in California and Texas regarding water use as it relates to endangered species have resulted in severe water use restrictions in those states, resulting in significant losses for farmers and other businesses. “SB 213 is a good faith effort to protect endangered species and thereby avoid water restrictions in one of Georgia’s largest farming regions,” Duvall wrote. SB 213 was introduced in 2013 by Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) and passed the Senate by a 52-1 vote last March. It is expected to be brought up for a House vote in coming weeks.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 7 STABENOW VISITS WITH GFB LEADERS U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) met with Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) leaders and staff at the organization’s state office in Macon Feb. 18. Stabenow and the GFB leaders, who included GFB President Zippy Duvall, GFB Legislative Committee members GFB Middle Georgia Vice President Robert Fountain Jr., GFB North Georgia Vice President Bernard Sims and GFB Directors Ben Boyd and Randy Ruff, discussed the recently passed farm bill and other issues impacting agriculture including the need for immigration reform, the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to regulate Stabenow and Duvall agriculture and genetically modified crops. “We have a really good farm bill for Georgia and for the country. There are areas that need to be worked out that deal with commodities, and we need to get that done as quickly as possible so that farmers know information when they make a choice as to which [crop insurance] program to be involved in,” Sen. Stabenow said. “Our top priority is to provide a peanut revenue program through crop insurance. Dairy needs to get implemented, and there are a number of other areas that need to be implemented that I know the Department [of Agriculture] is working very hard on. The most important thing is we have the certainty of a five-year farm bill. We know what the parameters are. We know it’s good for agriculture. Now we just have to take the next step to get it implemented in a way that makes sense for farmers and ranchers.” Duvall thanked Stabenow for her work to get the farm bill passed and especially for not including language that would have regulated layer hen enclosures. “We’re very appreciative of the work you did on the farm bill,” Duvall said. “I know in the beginning of the farm bill talks there was some consideration of including a proposal [that would have regulated egg production], and I want to say thank you for backing away from that. We have grave concerns about the federal government setting any rules and regulations about animal husbandry. We feel it’s best to let the marketplace deal with that.” U.S. Senate Candidate Michelle Nunn accompanied Sen. Stabenow on her visit to GFB, expressing her interest in and support of Georgia agriculture. LABOR DEPARTMENT WITHDRAWS SMALL FARM ENFORCEMENT MEMO The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has removed from its website a 2011 memorandum that allowed for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement activities on small farms that store or dry grain. The memorandum circumvented the small farm exemption from a 1978 law governing OSHA inspections. The exemption applied for farms with 10 or fewer employees. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) assisted members of Congress in drafting letters to the DOL recording the memo. In a Feb. 10 letter to the House Education & the Workforce Committee, Assistant Labor Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Brian Kennedy said the 2011 memorandum was intended to provide clarification rather than to change previous OSHA policy. Kennedy wrote that the DOL would remove the memorandum from the OSHA website and that it would issue new guidance and consult with the USDA and organizations representing farmers.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 7 HAY PRODUCERS, CATTLEMEN CONCERNED OVER LOW-QUALITY HAY Last summer’s rain is having a lingering effect on Georgia’s cattlemen and hay producers. University of Georgia beef experts have been inundated with calls from producers concerned about the forages their cattle are consuming, and in some cases, reporting their cows dying from poor nutrition, according to a story from Georgia FACES. “What’s happened is we have a tremendous forage quality problem in Georgia right now. We had a very, very wet summer [in 2013] that caused a lot of our hay to stay in the field too long and that forage is deficient in energy for these cattle,” said Jacob Segers, a beef cattle specialist with UGA Extension. Hay left in the field for too long lost most of its nutritional value. According to members of the Georgia Farm Bureau Hay Commodity Advisory Committee, the persistent rains of 2013 kept a lot of hay in the fields. “We try to cut our hay between four and six weeks [of growth], when it’s at its best quality,” said Gene Hart of Effingham County. “When it gets over two months old, the quality goes back down.” In addition to the quality issues, many farmers only harvested two cuttings of hay when in a normal season they would have up to four cuttings. Wet conditions in many Georgia hay fields during the growing season kept producers from running hay equipment when it was time to cut. GFB Hay Committee Chairman Farrell Roberts of Tift County said the opportunities for early cuttings did not materialize. “We only had two days in June and three days in July,” Roberts said. “You can’t get hay up in three days. So our first cutting really was in August, and by then we had poor quality.” Both Hart and Roberts said they were nearly out of hay to supply to their customers. In normal years their supply lasts until April or May. According to Lee Jones, a veterinarian with UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine, poor forage quality has led to increased instances of impactions - when food can’t pass through the cattle’s digestive system. The forage clogs the cow’s intestines, which has led to death in numerous cases. CONGRESSMEN ASK OBAMA FOR HELP ON PROPANE SUPPLY ISSUE With propane withdrawals already at record levels and a month of winter remaining, a group of more than 70 congressmen, including seven from Georgia, wrote to President Barack Obama on Feb. 10 asking for assistance in addressing propane market supply issues. “Any further reduction in supply threatens to leave many Americans without the fuel necessary to heat homes, businesses and livestock and poultry operations,” the congressmen wrote. The letter noted several factors in addition to the record cold, including a wet grain harvest in the Midwest that resulted in inordinate propane usage for drying and transportation issues. The Obama administration had already eased transport rules for propane trucks in eight southern states, including Georgia. Georgia Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-2nd District), Paul Broun (R-10th District), Doug Collins (R- 9th District), Tom Graves (R-14th District), Austin Scott (R-8th District) and David Scott (D13th District) were among those who signed the letter.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 7 USFRA HOLDING ESSAY CONTEST IN CONJUNCTION WITH FFA WEEK The United States Farmers & Ranchers Alliance is holding an essay contest in conjunction with FFA Week (Feb. 17-22). FFA members are encouraged to draft and post a brief social-media friendly “essay” (no more than 400 words) that starts with the writing prompt, “I am the future…” This post should incorporate #FarmlandFilm and describe the role they can play in the future of agriculture. Once the post is made, entrants must fill out the application form and provide the link to the post on FoodDialogues.com. An entry will be selected at random on or around Mar. 5 to receive all-expenses paid trip for the author and two guests to Washington, D.C., for Ag Day. During this trip, they will also have the chance to attend an invite-only, sneak peak of Farmland, a film by James Moll, which gives an up close and personal look at six farmers and ranchers who are taking generational responsibility for the running of their family business. Additional details and essay contest rules can be found at http://www.FoodDialogues.com GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION FARM BILL WEBINAR Feb. 24 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 10:30 a.m. Tifton This webinar meeting, intended to address questions arising from the recently passed farm bill, will be streamed live from the UGA Tifton location. There are five other viewing locations: the Emanuel County 4-H Building in Swainsboro; the Mitchell County Ag Center in Camilla; the Oconee Fall Line Technical College in Dublin, the Sumter County Extension Office in Americus and the UGA Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in Reidsville. For more information contact the GPC at 229-386-3470 or info@gapeanuts.com. FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR VALUE-ADDED PRODUCER GRANTS The USDA has announced the availability of nearly $10.5 million in Value-Added Producer Grants, intended to help agricultural producers create new products, expand marketing opportunities, support further processing of existing products or goods, or to develop specialty and niche products. They may be used for working capital and planning activities. The maximum working capital grant is $200,000; the maximum planning grant is $75,000. Grant applications are due by Feb. 24. For more information about how to apply visit http://tinyurl.com/mc3ncwc or contact any USDA Rural Development state office. 6th ANNUAL PEANUT PROUD FESTIVAL March 22 Downtown Square Blakely Come “Celebrate Everything Peanut” during the daylong festival that begins at 8 a.m. with a 5K & Fun Run, followed by a parade at 10 a.m. More than 100 vendors will sell merchandise, and samples of fried peanuts and grilled PB&J sandwiches will be available. Free entertainment will perform during the day including Nashville recording artist Mark Wills. There will also be a kids’ obstacle course. The festival ends with a street dance that begins at 7 p.m. featuring music by the band “The Atlanta Allstars.” Pre-festival events include the Peanut Proud Beauty Pageant to be held March 9 at 2 p.m. at the Early county High School for girls ages 2-20. Feb. 24 is the deadline to apply. A Poker Run motorcycle ride will be held March 1 and a Farmers Appreciation Breakfast will be held March 21. For more information please call Marcie Justice at 229-724-7322 or visit http://www.peanutproudfestival.com or the Peanut Proud Facebook page.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 7 BEEF REFERENDUM HEARING Feb. 28 Macon Farmers Market 10 a.m. Macon This is a public hearing regarding the proposed marketing order for the Georgia Beef Commission 3. 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: Nathan Wilson, Commodities Promotion Manager, Ga. Dept. of Agriculture, 19 MLK Jr. Dr. S.W., Room 324, Atlanta, Ga. 30334 or via email to Nathan.wilson@agr.georgia.gov. Written comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 in order to be considered. The proposed marketing order would assess cattle owners $1 per head to be collected when cattle are sold. Cattle that sell for less than $100 per head would be exempt from the assessment. Order buyers would be exempt from paying $1 for cattle owned for 10 days or less. RESCHEDULED GEORGIA AG FORECAST MEETINGS Feb. 28 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton March 7 Clarence Brown Conference Center Cartersville These two installments of the Georgia Ag Forecast Meetings were postponed because of the winter storm that occurred the last week in January. For the Tifton meeting, check-in begins at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast at 7:30 and the program at 8. The Cartersville meeting begins with check-in at 9 a.m. followed by the program at 10 and a networking luncheon at 11:30. UGA economists will give the annual ag economic outlook and guest speakers, including experts on farm succession planning. For more information, visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com to register, call 706-583-0347 or send an email to carlam@uga.edu. Follow the meetings on Twitter @GaAgForecast and join the conversation with #agforecast. 6TH ANNUAL SOUTHEAST HAY CONVENTION March 11-12 Oconee County Civic Center Watkinsville Web-based registration is now open for this annual event, designed to provide the latest information for both beginning and veteran hay producers. The convention begins at 8:00 a.m. on March 11 and will include two days of learning and interacting with fellow hay producers and university specialists. The registration fee for this year's event is $150 per person ($100 for each extra person from the same farm) if attendees register by March 1. The fee covers the cost of a 400+ page Southeast Hay Convention notebook, a weed identification book, and many other reference materials. Lunch and refreshments on both days are also included in the registration fee. For more information, visit http://www.georgiaforages.com. PECANS: THE BRAIN FOOD POSTER CONTEST March 2 Deadline for entries Jointly sponsored by the Georgia Pecan Commission and the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, this contest is open to students in grades K-6 at public and private schools in Georgia. Entries must focus on the nutritional health benefits of pecans and the brainpower the nut provides. Posters will be uploaded to the Georgia Pecan Commission Facebook page for public judging between March 10 and 30. Ten elementary schools will be chosen as finalists and also invited to the April 9 luncheon and ceremony. Each of the 10 schools will receive a $500 cash award to fund a school need. For complete contest rules and entry instructions visit http://www.georgiapecans.org/component/content/article/115. For more information contact Cheryl Miller at 813 251-4242 (ext. 222) or cmiller@atthetablepr.com.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 7 GFB EXTENDS DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS Georgia Farm Bureau will award a total of $14,250 in scholarships to 10 high school seniors who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or a related agricultural field. The deadline to apply has been extended to March 7. The top three students will each receive a scholarship of $3,000. The remaining seven students will each receive a $750 scholarship. Students submitting an application must currently be a Georgia high school senior and plan to enroll in a unit of the University System of Georgia or Berry College during the 2014-2015 academic year. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information or an application. Applications must be approved and signed by the Farm Bureau president of the county in which the applicant resides or attends high school. You may also download a copy of the application by visiting http://www.gfb.org, selecting Programs and then Ag in the Classroom. The Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and the GFB Women’s Leadership Committee sponsor the scholarship program. Winners will be announced in May. GFB EXTENDS DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ART, ESSAY CONTESTS Georgia Farm Bureau has extended the entry deadlines to March 7 for the GFB Art Contest for high school students and the GFB Essay Contest for middle school students. For more information, contact your county Farm Bureau office. QUALIFYING OPEN FOR GSWCC DISTRICT SUPERVISORS The Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission has announced that the qualifying period has begun for candidates seeking election as Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors. The deadline to qualify is March 7. More than 100 counties in the state will hold elections to select individuals to represent their county on local soil and water conservation district boards. As non-partisan state officials, Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors set local priorities for improving and protecting soil and water resources in their communities. To qualify, a candidate must be a citizen of Georgia, a qualified voter and a resident of the county in which seeking office. Those interested in becoming candidates for office must submit a petition to their local election officials containing the signatures of 25 qualified registered voters in their county before the qualifying deadline. A financial disclosure statement must be submitted within 15 days of qualifying. Upon approval of the petition by local election officials, the candidate’s name will appear on the General Election Ballot in November. For information on the counties conducting elections this year, and for more information on the elections process, visit http://tinyurl.com/kfcvoas or call the GSWCC at 706-552-4470. USDA ACCEPTING FY 2014 CIG GRANT APPLICATIONS The USDA is accepting applications for conservation innovation grants (CIG) to develop and accelerate conservation approaches and technologies on private agricultural and forest lands. The deadline to apply for FY2014 CIGs is March 7. About $15 million will be made available nationwide by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). State and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, non-governmental and educational organizations, private businesses and individuals are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to applications that relate to nutrient management, energy conservation, soil health, air quality, climate change, wildlife, economics, sociology, environmental markets, food safety, historically underserved groups, or assessments of past CIG projects. For more information on this grant opportunity, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/index.html. To apply electronically, visit www.grants.gov.
Leadership Alert page 7 of 7 PECANS IN SCIENCE EXPERIMENT CONTEST March 16 Deadline for entries Jointly sponsored by the Georgia Pecan Commission and the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, this contest gives students in grades 7-12 the chance to win $500 and spend a day with UGA pecan researcher Dr. Ronald Pegg. To enter, students must submit an experiment, investigation and/or invention, which highlights Georgia Pecans. The contest is open to public, private and homeschooled students throughout Georgia. For contest rules and entry instructions, visit http://www.georgiapecans.org/component/content/article/116. For more information contact Cheryl Miller at 813 251-4242 (ext. 222) or cmiller@atthetablepr.com.
USB’ A SOYBEAN’S JOURNEY: SEE FOR YOURSELF PROGRAM The United Soybean Board (USB) invites soybean farmers to participate in this program, which provides farmers with the chance to learn about and evaluate specific investment areas of the soy checkoff, such as international marketing, animal agriculture, industrial uses and soybean farmers’ freedom to operate. All U.S. soybean farmers over the age of 18 can apply now for the seventh annual See for Yourself program. To apply, visit the USB website, http://www.UnitedSoybean.org/SeeforYourself, through April 4. A group of 10 U.S. soybean farmers will first travel to St. Louis to witness firsthand the operations of the checkoff and visit local sites related to domestic uses for soybeans. Then, since about half of the soy produced in the United States is exported, participants will travel internationally to experience how international customers use soy. The program is scheduled to take place Aug. 15-22 and USB will cover all related rooming, meal and travel expenses. IFYE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM Young adults age 19 and over are encouraged to apply for the 2014 International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) Program. Individuals who have developed leadership skills in programs such as Young Farmers & Ranchers, 4-H, FFA or similar organizations, as well as those with a background in various agriculture-related fields and consumer sciences are particularly well suited for a primarily rural living experience. Successful applicants will participate in various young adult programs abroad such as Young Farmers, Rural Youth, etc. Participating countries in 2014 may include Austria, Botswana, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Wales. Additional countries may be added. For further information, please contact Alan Lambert, National IFYE Program Director, at 605-366-6107 or by email at alanelambert@gmail.com. Completed applications are due by April 15. Visit the IFYE website at www.ifyeusa.org/ to learn more about the program and obtain an application.