Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - February 29, 2012

February 29, 2012

www.gfb.org

Vol. 30 No. 9

MONSANTO ANNOUNCES DONATION PROGRAM WINNERS Georgians in 31 counties have each been awarded a $2,500 donation for their favorite local charity through the Monsanto Fund's America’s Farmers Grow Communities. The program drew nearly 60,000 applicants from 38 states, including more than 500 in Georgia. In addition to the $2,500 direct charitable donations, Monsanto plans to give $1 on behalf of each applicant to local United Way Chapters.

The program was open to farmers ages 21 and older who actively farm 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 one of the 31 Georgia counties eligible to participate. Counties qualified for the contest by meeting the following criteria: a total of at least 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton, or 30,000 acres of vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, cucumbers, melons, watermelons, spinach, squash, pumpkins, sweet corn, lettuce, peas and garden beans) planted per calendar year based on January 2011 USDA data; or the county was eligible to participate in prior Grow Communities programs.

Georgia winners, their counties and their designated charities are: Paschol Pearce (Appling), Appling County High School track team; Chad Mathis (Baker), Patmos Volunteer Fire Department; Williams Brothers Farm (Berrien), Young Farmers of Berrien County; Wanda Davis (Bleckley), Bleckley County FFA; Johnny Hagan (Brooks), Brooks County High School FFA; Keith and Elise Boyett (Bulloch), Bulloch Academy; Sam and Julie Story (Burke), The Center for New Beginnings; Thomas Jackson (Calhoun), Edison Community Chest; Kerry Van Moore (Coffee), Citizens Christian Academy; Garrett Wingate (Colquitt), Colquitt County Young Farmers; Steve Bullard (Cook), Cook County FFA; Wesley Mathis (Crisp), Crisp County Young Farmers; Steve Brock (Decatur), Decatur County Young Farmers; Peavy Farms (Dooly), Vienna Volunteer Fire Department; Mike Grebel and family (Early), Early County Museum; Godwin Farms (Grady), Grady County 4-H; Brenda Morris (Irwin), Irwin County Library; Stephen Nikkel (Jefferson), Hillcrest Volunteer Fire Department; Rodney Harrell family (Lee), Terrell Academy; Ray Henley (Miller), Miller County Nursing Home; Kent Grogan (Mitchell), Mitchell County 4-H; Teresa Thompson (Screven), United Way of Screven County; Brad Clarke (Seminole), Seminole County 4-H; Jesse Williams Jr. (Sumter); Sumter County 4-H; David Neil Rogers (Tattnall) Reidsville Volunteer Fire Department; Lee Trice (Terrell), Bronwood Volunteer Fire Department; Ashley Rowland (Thomas), Hands on Thomas County; Branch and Branch Farms (Tift), Tiftarea Academy; Marilyn Collins (Turner), Turner County 4-H; David and Tammy Selph (Wilcox), Wilcox County 4-H; Dennis James (Worth) Worth County 4-H.

Leadership Alert page 2 of 10 GFB SPONSORS LIVESTOCK GRAND CHAMPIONS More than 1,600 4-H and FFA members from across Georgia gathered Feb. 22-26 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry to compete in the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show.

The exhibitors showed more than 4,000 head of livestock in showmanship and species competitions. Georgia Farm Bureau sponsored the grand champion prizes for all species shown in the show.

Colquitt County FFA member Jonathan Mobley won the Grand Champion Breeding Heifer Award. Jonathan, a senior at Colquitt County High School, has shown cattle for seven years and is the son of Mike and Torina Mobley.

Jeff Davis County FFA member Balie Herndon won the Grand Champion Market Barrow with her crossbred hog. Balie, a sophomore at Jeff Davis High School, is the daughter of Wayne and Rhonda Herndon and has been showing hogs for five years.

Putnam County FFA member Magen Moore won the Grand Champion Commercial Dairy Heifer Award with her Holstein calf. Magen, a senior at Putnam County High School, has been showing for four years and is the daughter of James and Terri Moore of Eatonton.

Decatur County 4-H member Bo Bailey won the Grand Champion Market Steer Award with his Charolais steer. Bo, the son of Cliff and Cindy Bailey of Bainbridge, is a freshman at Grace Christian Academy and has been showing for five years.

Mitchell County 4-Her Mattison Barnes won the Grand Champion Market Gilt Award with his crossbred hog. Mattison, a sophomore at Baconton Community Charter School, has been showing hogs since he was three.

Elbert County 4-Her Anna Ruff won the Grand Champion Breeding Ewe Award. Anna, a home-schooled sophomore who has been showing lambs for two years, is the daughter of Greg and Shannon Ruff of Elberton.

COLEY, WEBB ELECTED TO NCC POSITIONS Chuck Coley of Dooly County was elected chairman of the National Cotton Council (NCC), and Jimmy Webb of Calhoun County was elected president of Cotton Council International (CCI) during the NCC’s annual meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, Feb. 10-12.

Coley, a Dooly County Farm Bureau member, has been active in national, regional and state associations. He is a current board member for Southern Cotton Growers Association and has served as president of the National Cotton Ginners Association and the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association.

Webb, who is vice president of Calhoun County Farm Bureau, will preside over CCI, the NCC’s export promotions arm. He serves on the Edison Gin Co-Op board and chairs the NCC’s Conservation Task Force. Kent D. Fountain of Appling County was re-elected to the CCI board.

GA. SENATE AG COMMITTEE MAKES APPOINTMENTS The Georgia Senate Agriculture Committee appointed Crisp County Farm Bureau member Buddy Leger as an ex officio member of all of Georgia’s agricultural commodity commissions and Jimmy Clements of Baker County to the Georgia Seed Development Commission.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 10 BWEF ANNOUNCES 2011 PROGRAM RESULTS, NEW OFFICERS No boll weevils were reported in 2011, and 2012 officers were installed during the board meeting of the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (BWEF) of Georgia on Feb. 15 in Perry.

Herbert Price of Brooks County was named chairman of the BWEF board for 2012, Billy Sanders of Dooly County was named vice chairman and Ronald Lovell of Polk County was named secretary/treasurer.

The board received reviews of program activities and updates on web mapping schemes now in use. Statewide, a total of 1,587,777 acres of cotton were certified in the program. When the boll weevil eradication program began in 1987, the state’s cotton growers planted an estimated 250,000 acres. The 2011 acreage was the most since the program began.

While the targeted trap ratio for 2011 was one for every 120 acres, the state’s cotton growers averaged one for every 65 acres.

With no boll weevils trapped during 2011 and with the last reported weevil reproduction in the state being in 2002, the board agreed that the current program is working well and voted to continue the 50-cents per bale assessment that was in place for 2011, which was down from 65 cents per bale in 2010.

The board also approved giving the Georgia Agriculture Commissioner authority to require use of EPA-approved pesticides on organic farms where organic treatments for boll weevil outbreaks are insufficient to prevent infestations from spreading to other farms.

U.S., CHINA SIGN AG COOPERATION AGREEMENT During a U.S. visit by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in mid-February, officials from the United States and China reached an agreement that will guide the two countries’ agricultural relationship for the next five years. China also signed agreements to purchase 13.4 million metric tons of soybeans from U.S. suppliers during Xi’s visit, which included the first U.S.-China agriculture symposium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Xi is expected to become the Chinese president in 2013.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and his Chinese counterpart, Han Changfu, signed the Plan of Strategic Cooperation, which outlines shared objectives and responsibilities of each nation and establishes how the two countries will deal with issues of food safety, food security, sustainability and trade.

“This plan builds on the already strong relationship our nations enjoy around agricultural science, trade and education. It looks to deepen our cooperation through technical exchange and to strengthen coordination in priority areas like animal and plant health and disease, food security, sustainable agriculture, genetic resources, agricultural markets and trade, and biotechnology and other emerging technologies,” Vilsack said.

China became the top U.S. ag export destination in 2011, buying $20 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products. According to the USDA, the value of U.S. farm exports to China supported more than 160,000 American jobs. According to the U.S.-China Business Council, China was Georgia’s second-largest export market in 2010 even with steep tariffs on U.S. poultry products that sharply reduced the volume of the state’s largest commodity being sold in China. Georgia businesses exported $2.4 billion worth of goods from all economic sectors to China in 2010, including $524 million worth of paper products.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 10 GA. PEANUT COMMISSION SEEKING FUNDING FOR AN ENTOMOLOGIST The Georgia Peanut Commission is encouraging all farmers and industry representatives to contact their state legislators request funding for a peanut entomologist at the University of Georgia. There is an opportunity to fill limited positions at the University of Georgia that have been vacant for a while. The Commission Board Members have made this a top priority due to the increased insect pressure farmers have faced in recent years. Find your Georgia state senator and representative online at http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/SenateMembersList.aspx and http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/HouseMembersList.aspx.

BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE (BQA) TRAINING & CERTIFICATION March 8 Brooks County Extension Office 5 p.m.

Quitman This class, sponsored by the Brooks County Cattlemen’s Association, the Brooks County Farm Bureau Beef Committee, Brooks County Extension, Brooks County Young Farmers Association and Pfizer Animal Health, costs $25 per person, will be followed by a supper. Please register by March 2 by calling 229-561-3466 or 229-263-4103.

UGA CONDUCTING FERAL HOG SURVEY The Warnell School of Forestry at the University of Georgia is conducting a survey of randomly selected landowners in Southwest Georgia to gauge the extent and economic impact of feral hogs. The survey is being conducted by Dr. Mike Mengak, a UGA professor of wildlife ecology and wildlife outreach specialist. Responses are anonymous and will be kept confidential.

Landowners who received the survey are urged to fill it out and return it by March 1.

Wildlife students from the Warnell School will compile the results and issue a report on their findings by late spring. For information, contact your UGA Cooperative Extension office or Dr. Mengak at 706-583-8096 or mmengak@uga.edu.

CAES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS March 1 Deadline to apply for Freshman Scholarship June 1 Deadline to apply for Transfer Scholarship The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association is accepting applications for its Freshman Scholarship, for freshmen entering UGA in fall 2012 and the Transfer Scholarship for students considering transferring into a CAES program in fall 2012. For more information or to download the application form, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.

GEORGIA COTTON WOMEN BANQUET March 10 Tifton Conference Center Tifton Bonnie Duvall, who raises broilers, beef cattle and grows hay with her husband, Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, on their Greene County farm, will be the guest speaker. An alumna of the UGA Terry College of Business, mother of four and grandmother of two, Mrs. Duvall will talk about her experience of being a farmer's wife and raising a family on the farm.

Awards and door prizes will also be presented. Event begins at 7 p.m. Please RSVP by March 2 by calling Mary Walker at 229-386-5567. For more information about the event please contact Charlotte Wingate at 229-985-1435 or Nancy Coleman at 229-941-2930 or rosehillfarms@windstream.net.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 10 PROPOSALS FOR NRCS WATER PROJECTS DUE MARCH 2 The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals for water quality credit trading projects through March 2. Water quality credit trading is a market-based approach to lowering the costs of reducing pollution, and has the potential to engage more farmers and ranchers in water quality improvement efforts through the implementation of more conservation practices on agricultural lands. To apply electronically, visit http://www.Grants.gov or contact a local NRCS office. The complete announcement of program funding can be viewed online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig. For more information about NRCS conservation programs visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/home or visit your local USDA service center.

8TH ANNUAL FFA WILDLIFE CAMP BANQUET March 3 Old Wal-Mart Building, Hwy. 278 Covington The Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center is hosting a smoked pork chop dinner to benefit the FFA Wildlife Camp and FFA Horse Camp. The banquet will feature a live auction, a silent auction and raffles for hunting and fishing supplies, a variety of guns, outdoor gear, a hidden treasure gun safe and more. Individual tickets are $25 apiece and sponsorships start at $200. Ticket order forms and banquet flyers can be downloaded at http://georgiaffacamp.org/WildlifeCamp.htm.

For more information, contact Marketing Director Beverly Stahl at 770-786-6926, ext. 3 or BStahl@GaAgEd.org.

5th ANNUAL SOUTHEAST HAY CONVENTION March 6-7 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton The convention, dedicated to growers who are serious about commercial hay production and want a thorough “A to Z coverage” of the subject. Sessions will cover hay production economics and outlook, climate, fertilization, pest control, marketing tips, irrigation and many more.

Registration before Feb. 17 is $170 for the first person and $100 for each additional person from the same farm. After Feb. 17, it is $195 for the first person and $125 for each additional person.

Fees cover instructional materials, lunches and refreshments. Deadline to register is March 2.

For more information about the convention, please visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/forages/events/SHC12/SHC12.html or contact Dr. Dennis Hancock by email at dhancock@uga.edu or by phone at 706-614-2275.

TIFTON BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE March 6 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Registration starts at 9 a.m. For more information contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu.

VEGETABLE GARDENING 101 March 12 Houston County Extension Office 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Perry This informative one-night seminar will provide information on seed propagation, soil preparation, plant selection and planting techniques. Cost is $10 per person. Preregistration and advance payment is required before 5 p.m. on March 7. Interested persons may send an email message to mg@uga.edu to have a form sent to them by email, and the registration form may also be downloaded at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston/news.html.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 10 TIFTON PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE March 7 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Dr. Ronnie Silcox at 706-542-9102 or rsilcox@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu.

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM GENERAL SIGN-UP The USDA will conduct general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) from March 12 to April 6. CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers with expiring contracts and producers with environmentally sensitive land are encourased to evaluate their options under CRP. For more information on CRP or other FSA programs, visit your nearest FSA service center or http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

AGRICULTURAL WEEK IN GEORGIA KICK-OFF March 13 Georgia Depot Atlanta Gov. Nathan Deal and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black will host this event. Exhibits, food and entertainment will begin at 11 a.m. The program starts at 12:30 p.m. and includes the announcements for the Environmental Stewardship Award for Agriculture and the grand price winner of the Flavor of Georgia Food Contest. For more information contact Steven Meeks by phone at 912-207-0813 or by email at steven@fmrburchfarms.com or meekss@me.com.

NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD NOMINATION MEETING March 15 Georgia Peanut Commission headquarters 1:30 p.m.

Tifton During this meeting, the Georgia Peanut Commission will select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board (NPB). All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop. John Harrell of Whigham is the current Georgia National Peanut Board member and Andy Bell of Climax serves as the alternate.

The term for the current Georgia board member and alternate expires December 3. NPB encourages all persons who qualify as peanut producers to attend the meeting and run for nomination. It is USDA's policy that membership on industry-government boards and committees accurately reflect the diversity of individuals served by the programs. For more information on the nomination meeting, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229-3863470 or via email at info@gapeanuts.com.

UGA CAES ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS DEADLINE IS MARCH 15 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 35 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.

Hall of Fame nominations must be postmarked by March 15. The Young Alumni Achievement and Alumni Excellence awards must be received by March 15. For more information or to make nominations for these awards, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 10 GEORGIA DOL AG PRACTICES SURVEY DEADLINE IS MARCH 16 The Georgia Department of Labor is conducting a voluntary survey of the state’s fruit and vegetable growers to determine the “valid prevailing and common agricultural practices in Georgia.” The results of the survey will be used by the U.S. Department of Labor to determine employee benefits and working conditions to be provided by Georgia agricultural employers who use the H-2A program.

The survey can be filled out online at http://www.research.net/s/AGSurvey2012. Georgia Fruit & Vegetable growers who did not receive a survey should contact the Georgia DOL Agricultural Services Unit at 404-232-3500.

RAY CITY OLD FASHION PLOW DAY March 17 Ray City This event features an antique tractor show and plowing demonstration with antique tractors and mules and horses plowing in the field just like they did 100 years ago. Parade begins at 11 am and plowing to follow. Arts & Craft vendors, Food vendors, fun and games for kids, bluegrass gospel concerts featuring the bluegrass gospel band, the Wauka Mountain Boys, a baking contest with prizes, frying pan toss contest, and much more. Free admission. Join us for a day of agricultural history. For more info contact Greg Harrell 229-237-3223.

PEANUT PROUD CELEBRATION March 24 Downtown square 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Blakely This fourth annual event begins with a 5K fun run and ends with an evening street dance. In between, visitors will enjoy annual Peanut Proud parade, live music from the Blakely Mass Choir, country artists Daryle Singletary and John Berry and others, a wrecking ball, train rides, trampoline jump, recipe contests and much more. For more information, visit http://www.peanutproud.com.

GFB CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT SEMINAR March 26–27 GFB Home Office Macon Individuals interested in running for public office will have a chance to gain valuable tips on how to conduct an election campaign during the campaign management seminar, hosted by Georgia Farm Bureau in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation. The event will be facilitated by AFBF Director of Grassroots/Political Advocacy Cody Lyon and will cover various aspects of campaign strategy, fund-raising, interaction with media and much more. The fees to attend are $150 for Farm Bureau members, $200 for non-members and $75 for candidate spouses and campaign managers attending with their candidates. Enrollment is limited to 30 people and the registration dadline is Feb. 24. For more information, contact the GFB Field Services or Legislative department at 478-474-8411.

OLD SOUTH FARM CAMP March-May 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. Pre-registration is required. For registration information and specific camp dates call Paul Bulloch 706-975-9136 or visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com.

Leadership Alert page 8 of 10 GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION 51ST ANNUAL CONVENTION April 4-7 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This jam-packed four-day event covers all things beef, including a forage conference conducted

by UGA’s Dr. Dennis Hancock; a herbicide calibration clinic offering CEU credit hours; Pfizer Cattlemen’s College seminars on the topics of political/regulatory issues, risk management, nutrition and road safety; a livestock marketing seminar conducted by UGA’s Dr. Curt Lacy; the annual awards banquet; a “Beef Rocks” seminar hosted by the Georgia Cattlewomen’s Association; the GCA general membership meeting; angus, hereford, commercial heifer and club calf sales; the annual Cattlemen’s Ball; coffee and donuts with new Georgia State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb and a new products and junior awards luncheon. For more information or to register, visit http://www.gabeef.org/gca/conventionregistration.htm.

GEORGIA BEEF AMBASSADOR CONTEST April 7 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Georgia Beef Ambassador Contest, held in conjunction with the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention and Beef Expo, is open to you ages 12 – 20. Its purpose is to advance youth knowledge of the nutritional values, cooking principles, safe handling and versatility of beef, as well as the importance of beef as an agricultural product. Contest entry forms must be received by March 1. Contest rules and entry forms can be found at http://www.gabeef.org/gcwa/contest.html.

2012 OTTAWA FARMS STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL April 14-15 Ottawa Farms Bloomingdale This annual event is filled with family fun, including cloggers, hayrides, cow train rids, a wild west show, the Mobile Dairy Classroom, Corn Cannon, pig races at the Ottawa Speedway and much more. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 14 and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 15. Admission is free for children under age 6 and $5 for everyone age 6 and up. For more information call 912748-3035.

INAUGURAL GOLDEN ONION COOKING COMPETITION April 22 Vidalia Community Center 12:30 p.m.

Vidalia This competition, presented by the Vidalia Onion Committee, will serve as the official kick-off of the 35th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival. This professional competition will feature chefs from across Georgia preparing dishes featuring Vidalia onions. Prizes are $500 for first place, $250 for second and $100 for third. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, visit http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com.

HEIFER EVALUATION &REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE April 24 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229/386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu.

35th ANNUAL VIDALIA ONION FESTIVAL April 26-29 Vidalia This four-day event offers the Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant, a children’s parade, outdoor music concerts, arts and crafts festival, street dance, car show, the Kiwanis Onion Run, the Vidalia Onion Festival Rodeo and the famous onion-eating contest. For more information visit http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com.

Leadership Alert page 9 of 10 GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1 Applications are being accepted for the Georgia Centennial Farm Program, which recognizes farms continuously operated by members of the same family for at least 100 years. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia EMC and the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. Application forms are available online at http://www.georgiashpo.org/historic/centennial_farms. For more information, contact Steven Moffson at 404-651-5906 or steven.moffson@dnr.state.ga.us.

EARLY DAYS OF YESTERYEAR May 11-12 Copeland Hall, Bowdon-Tyus Road Bowdon This free event will feature antique farm equipment and engines, tools, antique cars, entertainment, activities for children, vendors and food. For more information, contact Gearald Fielder at 770-228-9502 or GFIELDER@aol.com.

MONROE COUNTY HERD SALE May 12 Sleepy Creek Farm 12:30 p.m.

Forsyth More than 80 bred heifers will be fore sale during the event. Data available on the heifers includes A.I. breeding and sire EPD’s, pelvic area, frame score, disposition score, weight per day of age and average daily gain. For more information contact the Monroe County Extension office by phone at 478-994-7014 or by email at uge2207@uga.edu. Information about the sale may also be found online at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/monroe/HERDProgram/herd.html.

GEORGIA COTTON WOMEN SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE IS MAY 15 The John M. and Connie H. Mobley Memorial Scholarship is presented annually by the Georgia Cotton Women to the child or grandchild of an active Georgia cotton producer with priority given to children of Georgia Cotton Women members. In the event there is no child or grandchild of a GCW member eligible for the scholarship, the GCW Scholarship Committee has the discretion to present the award to another qualified candidate. This scholarship was established by the late John M. Mobley. It was continued by his wife Connie and is now carried on by their family. The $1,500 scholarship will be payable one-third each quarter or one-half each semester.

Scholarship applications may be downloaded at http//:www.georgiacottonwomen.org. For more information contact Charlotte Wingate at 229985-1435 or Nancy Coleman at 229-941-2930 or rosehillfarms@windstream.net. The deadline for application is May 15.

CALHOUN BEEF CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP May 29 NW GA Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 6 p.m. Contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706/624-1398 - pworley@uga.edu for more information.

HEIFER EVALUATION & REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE May 30 NW GA Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or pworley@uga.edu

Leadership Alert page 10 of 10 GEORGIA EGG ASSOCIATION 51st ANNUAL MEETING June 20-22 King & Prince Beach & Golf Resort St. Simons Island The Georgia Egg Association meeting offers educational sessions, reports from the American Egg Board, United Egg Producers and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. The association will also hold its awards banquet, a spouse’s breakfast and much more. For more information, call 770-932-4622.