January 5, 2021
www.gfb.org
Vol. 4 No. 1
GFB BOARD SETS 2022 PRIORITY ISSUES At the 2022 Georgia Farm Bureau Annual Convention, members from across the state met to discussed and voted on policy positions to guide our grassroots organization. Following the convention, the GFB Board of Directors identified priority issues the organization will focus on this year, topics of highest impact and importance to Georgia’s farmers. These priorities focus on protecting farmers’ private property rights; access to and stewardship of natural resources; crucial tax programs such as the Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA), Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE), ad valorem exemptions, the federal stepped-up basis provision; and a healthy regulatory framework that doesn’t unduly restrict agricultural practices. The board took further action, elevating the passage of meaningful Right to Farm legislation to a spotlight issue for the 2022 legislative session. This issue, which has been discussed in previous years, would provide farmers with meaningful protection from nuisance lawsuits when they are simply farming the land in accordance with laws and regulations. Agriculture in Georgia has seen an increase in this threat as population growth pushes development into traditionally agricultural areas. These new residents to ag communities then file complaints against the existing farming operations for the sights, dust, or smells that accompany farming. Right to farm legislation is also important for rural development, to provide the reasonable protection for new and young farmers to take on the intense capital investment required to begin farming. GFB is joined by multiple other agriculture organizations and allies in their support for passing Right to Farm
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 12 GEORGIA FARMERS, AG WORKERS ASKED TO TAKE RURAL STRESS SURVEY The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is partnering again with the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center at Mercer University to study the mental well-being, stressors, and coping mechanisms for Georgians in farm occupations. These organizations kicked off a survey Jan. 3 that runs through the end of February. Visit www.gafarmsurvey.org to participate. Responses will remain anonymous. Participants will receive $10 for taking the survey. The organizations conducted a pilot study in 2021 to gauge the stress levels of farm owners, workers and others who work in Georgia agriculture. The results from the organizations’ pilot survey, conducted last May and June, were released in November. The foundation and rural health innovation center received responses from more than 500 farm owners, farm workers, farm managers, and their spouses about mental well-being topics, including negative emotions, perceived stress, time spent worrying, conditions that cause stress and coping mechanisms. “This preliminary research is an important first step in laying the groundwork for our foundation’s response to this growing challenge for Georgia farmers,” GFA Executive Director Lily Baucom said. “The statewide survey will help inform our strategy on this important issue long-term.” The pilot study found that that although half of the farmers are happy with their occupation, they do experience a lot of stress from a variety of sources. Most farmers worry at least one to three hours per day, and about half felt loneliness, sadness, or depression, with a third feeling hopeless. Almost one-third (31%) had suicidal thoughts at least once in the past year. Less than a quarter of participants indicated they had access to a psychologist. About 12% said they would like to visit a mental health professional but have not done so yet. The effects of COVID-19 were among the top stressors for both farm owners and farm workers. Farm workers were predominantly worried about retirement savings, while farm owners were focused on the effect of the weather on their income. Almost half of survey participants said they worried about succession planning. Farmers who do not have access to emergency medical care, in-office routine medical care, telephone access for routine medical care, or telephone access to a psychologist had significantly higher perceived stress. Farmers who experienced the highest perceived stress were also more likely to use unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as hitting or injuring themselves, hitting or kicking things, or using over-the-counter and illicit drugs. Two-thirds of survey participants indicated they did not have access to recreational activities generally considered to be healthy coping mechanisms. To access the complete pilot study report, click here.
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 12 GFB YF&R WINNERS GEARING UP FOR NATIONAL COMPETITION AT AFBF Spalding County Farm Bureau members Steven and Tara Green, Morgan County Farm Bureau member Jessica Lance and Floyd County Farm Bureau member Cleveland Jackson are off to Atlanta to compete for national honors in American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) competitive events, which will be held during the AFBF Annual Convention that begins Jan. 8. The Greens, who won the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) 2021 Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award during the GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference last July, will compete with other state Achievement Award winners from around the country. The Achievement Award recognizes farmers and ranchers between the ages of 18 and 35 who earn the majority of their income from production agriculture. The Greens raise broilers and cattle, grow hay and you-pick flowers, and sell and spread chicken litter. Steven is vice president of Spalding County Farm Bureau and chairs the GFB Poultry Commodity Committee. Tara has served on the SCFB YF&R, Women’s Leadership and Promotion & Education committees since 2014. Lance will vie for the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award. Lance, who won the Georgia Farm Bureau 2021 Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award during the GFB YF&R Leadership Conference, faces off with other state winners from around the country. The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes an individual or couple for their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture and their leadership ability. Ideal candidate(s) for this award do not make the majority of their income from farming. However, the award is not solely based on the applicant(s)’ occupation. Lance grew up working on her parents’ produce farm in South Carolina. After teaching school for two years, she returned home to manage the family’s agricultural trucking business. This experience led Lance in 2017 to start her own logistics company that hauls raw grains from farms to processors and livestock feed to feed mills and farmers. Her company, The Go Ag Group, also hauls fertilizers, biosolids and landscape products. Lance and her husband, Brian, started a Red Angus cow-calf operation in 2019. She is an active member of the MCFB YF&R Committee, for which she has served as treasurer since 2017. Jackson is set to compete in the AFBF Discussion Meet. Jackson, who won the Georgia Farm Bureau 2021 Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet during the GFB YF&R Leadership Conference, faces off with other state winners from around the country. The discussion meet is set up in rotating groups of competitors who hold a committee-style conversation on preselected topics relating to agriculture and Farm Bureau. Questions contestants will address during the AFBF competition include how Farm Bureau can increase participation in its YF&R programs, how to ensure long-term economic viability for livestock processing while ensuring employee health, how to promote good mental health for farmers and rural communities, preventative on-farm safety measures, and how to continue increasing efficiency while transitioning to alternative sources of energy for use on the farm. Jackson, who serves as Floyd County Farm Bureau vice president, is a sales representative for Elanco Animal Health’s poultry products and runs a commercial cow/calf operation. -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 12 Continued from previous page Participants for all of the AFBF YF&R Awards will compete for the following prizes: • Winner (first place) - A new Ford truck or vehicle valued at $35,000 courtesy of Ford Motor Company and paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, February 25 - 28; • Runner-up (second place) - A Case IH Farmall 50A tractor valued at $27,699 courtesy of Case IH; • Third place - A Case IH 40” Combination Roll Cabinet & Top Chest valued at $3,035, a $2,500 Investing in Your Future cash prize, courtesy of American Agricultural Insurance Company, $1,850 worth of Stanley Black & Decker merchandise (PROTO, DeWalt, Stanley, Lenox & Irwin) and a $500 Case IH parts card courtesy of Case IH; • Fourth place - A Case IH 40” Combination Roll Cabinet & Top Chest valued at $3,035 and a $500 Case IH parts card courtesy of Case IH. The national YF&R awards will be presented during the closing general session of the AFBF Convention on Jan. 10. GFB MOURNS THE PASSING OF JANICE LONG, WAYNE TALTON Janice Long, wife of former Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long, and Houston County Farm Bureau President Wayne Talton have passed away. Long, of Decatur County, died on Jan. 4 at the age of 71. Talton, of Houston County, died on Jan. 1 at the age of 72. Janice McCorkle Long was born May 18, 1950, in Blakely, Georgia the daughter of Pat W. McCorkle and Dorothy Widner McCorkle. She was a graduate of Early County High School, Class of 1968; and received her associate degree in home economics from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and her bachelor’s degree in home economics from Georgia Southern University. Janice taught elementary classes at Calvary Christian School, Gadsden Christian Academy, and the Miller County School System. Known as the "Tater Lady", she farmed and managed the vegetable operation of G. W. Long Farms for more than 30 years. She loved cooking and taking care of her yard and flowers. Janice loved her family and always took care of others. She was a member of Bainbridge First Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Gerald; sons, Justin Long (Kelli) of Bainbridge, and Jared Long (Lori) of Moultrie; her daughter, Jeanie Izurieta (Diego) of College Station, Texas; her brothers, Dan McCorkle of Charleston, S.C., and Don McCorkle (Frances) of Blakely; and her grandchildren, Addie Long, Wyatt Long, and Warren Long. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Jan. 7 at Black Jack Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. James Forrester and Rev. Chris Humphries officiating. Due to the ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, those attending are asked to maintain the recommended safe social distancing of six feet and/or wear protective masks in accordance with the State of Georgia guidelines. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lighthouse Children's Home, 7771 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL, 32309, or Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, 1620 Bass Road, Macon, GA, 31210. -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 12 Continued from previous page Houston County Farm Bureau President Wayne Talton, a longtime agricultural ambassador in Houston County, died on Jan. 1 from injuries sustained when an air compressor exploded in his farm shop. He was 72 years old. For more than 40 years, Wayne was involved in the farming industry in Middle Georgia. He lived and breathed agriculture and the farm lifestyle, working for many years at Houston Fertilizer and Grain before he started a position at RW Griffen. A true servant for the farming community, he had served on the board of the Houston County Farm Bureau for 32 years, since 1990. He was the HCFB president for 12 years, from 1995 to 1996 and again from 2012 until the time of his passing. Wayne started and served as president of the Houston County Cattlemen's Association for a number of years. In 2015, Wayne was recognized for his achievements and was awarded with a Georgia FFA Association Honorary State Degree. He was born on July 20, 1949, in Perry, Georgia, to the late Henry Andrew Talton, Sr. and Lucy Wilder Talton. Farming was in his blood and growing up, Wayne was heavily involved in agriculture as he was raised on a dairy farm in Kathleen. While attending Perry High School, Wayne was very active with the Future Farmers of America and held two offices, one year as a sentinel and, in his senior year, he served as president. During his middle and high school years with the FFA, Wayne competed in several Career Development Events, showing livestock, and competing on the livestock judging teams. After graduation, he attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College before transferring to the University of Georgia. While at UGA, his education was interrupted as he served the United States Army Reserves before returning to UGA, where he graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy. Left to treasure Wayne’s memory are his wife of 35 years, Kathy Fountain Talton; children, Chris Joyner (Robin), Ryan Talton (Amber), Leslie Cox (Kenny), and A.C. Talton (Ashtan); grandchildren, Brooke Arrington (Robert), Caitlynne Cox, Lucille Talton, Sara Talton, Braxton Talton, Stella Talton, Parker Cox, Reagan Talton, and Rhett Talton; great grandchild, Drake Arrington; brothers, Andy Talton Jr (Louise), Seabie Talton (Sandy), and Warren Talton (Cheryl); and sister, Kathy Coffee (Eddie): as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. Talton’s funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Jan. 6, at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins. Officiating will be Jim Perdue, Sonny Perdue, and Jake Redmon. Wayne will be laid to rest in Perry Memorial Gardens. For friends and family unable to attend, the service will be streamed live via the Second Baptist Church Facebook page at www.facebook.com/secondfamilywr/. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in Wayne Talton’s memory to the Georgia Foundation of Agriculture to support Ag in the Classroom, 1830 Macon Road Perry, GA 31069 or to the Houston County Young Farmers Local Livestock Show, 1307 North Avenue Perry, GA 31069.
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 12 USDA, JUSTICE DEPT. SEEK SOLUTIONS TO MEAT PRICING WOES Speaking at a Jan. 3 White House event focused on competition in agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed their shared commitment to effectively enforcing federal competition laws that protect farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers and growers from unfair and anticompetitive practices, including the antitrust laws and the Packers and Stockyards Act. “Producers all across the country for too long have faced a marketplace that benefits a few large companies over those who are growing our food,” said Vilsack. “This means that consumers are paying more and farmers, ranchers and producers see less of the profits. The pandemic only further disrupted these challenges across the supply chain, exposing a food system that was rigid, consolidated, and fragile. Antitrust and market regulatory enforcement is essential to enabling the competition necessary to transform our concentrated supply chains in favor of diversified, resilient food systems. These are complex, difficult areas of law, and our authorities are 100 years old or more, but I'm heartened by reaffirming our shared commitment to tackle these challenges together.” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall welcomed the agencies’ efforts to ensure U.S. farmers and ranchers enjoy access to the benefits of a fair market. “AFBF appreciates the Biden administration’s continued work to ensure a fair and competitive meat processing system. We must get to the bottom of why farmers and ranchers continue to receive low payments while families across America endure rising meat prices,” Duvall said. “Farmers and ranchers want a fair shake. The joint initiative between USDA and the Department of Justice to create an online portal to report competition law violations, and efforts to strengthen the Packers & Stockyards Act, will go a long way to ensuring fairness in the industry. More accurately defining ‘Product of the USA’ labeling will also allow families to make more wellinformed decisions at the grocery store.” The USDA and Department of Justice (DOJ) indicated that they are already working together to support enforcement efforts under these laws. As one step in that continuing process, on Jan. 3 they released the following statement of principles and commitments: • The agencies will jointly develop within 30 days a centralized, accessible process for farmers, ranchers, and other producers and growers to submit complaints about potential violations of the antitrust laws and the Packers and Stockyards Act. The agencies will protect the confidentiality of the complainants, if they so request, to the fullest extent possible under the law and also commit to supporting relevant whistleblower protections, including newly-applicable protections for criminal antitrust complainants against unlawful retaliation; • The agencies will work together to promote effective information sharing and case cooperation, including processes the agencies will follow to efficiently address a complaint; • Both agencies commit to vigorously enforce the laws that protect farmers, ranchers, and other producers and growers from unfair, deceptive, discriminatory, and anticompetitive practices. As appropriate, USDA will make reports or refer potential violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act to the Justice Department to better enable its Antitrust Division to pursue competition-related cases and to allow the agencies to collaborate on issues of mutual interest. Additionally, The Justice Department and USDA will work together to identify and highlight areas where Congress -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 12 Continued from previous page can help modernize these toolkits. “The Justice Department takes very seriously the responsibility we share with our partners across the federal government to protect consumers, safeguard competition, and ensure economic opportunity and fairness for all,” said Garland. “Over the past ten months, we have stepped up our efforts to ensure competition and counter anticompetitive practices across sectors – from airlines to insurance brokers to book publishers. And we will continue to vigorously enforce our antitrust laws, no matter the industry, no matter the company, and no matter the individual.” GEORGIA WINNERS NAMED IN NATIONAL CORN YIELD CONTEST The National Corn Growers Association recently announced the winners in the National Corn Yield Contest. State winners in Georgia, with their hometown, variety and yield in bushels per acre are: • Conventional Non-Irrigated: 1. Wallace C Anderson, Ellijay, Pioneer P1185YHR, 308.4083; 2. Jerry Smith, Dawsonville, Pioneer P1870YHR 241.7101. • Strip, Min, Mulch, Ridge-Till Non-Irrigated: 1. Logan Poppell, Odum, AgriGold A6544 VT2PRO, 205.5942; 2. Kenny Poppell, Jesup. AgriGold A647-35 AS5222, 203.3002; 3. Will Foster, Blakely, Dyna-Gro D58VC65, 181.8345. • No-Till Irrigated: 1. Jonathan Hitchcock, Tennille, DEKALB DKC63-58, 324.9537; * James W. Hitchcock, Tennille, DEKALB, DKC62-06, 306.1589; • Strip, Min, Mulch, Ridge-Till Irrigated: * Jonathan Hitchcock, Tennille DEKALB DKC6206, 314.8872; * James W Hitchcock, Tennille, AgriGold, A6659 Conv., 313.5400; 1. Jed Daniel, Dawson, Dyna-Gro D58VC65, 280.2285; 2. Caleb Traugh, Blakely, Hefty Seed H6552, 270.1417; 3. Kevin Tabb, Damascus, Dyna-Gro D58VC65, 240.9135. • Conventional Irrigated: 1. James W. Hitchcock, Tennille, DEKALB DKC62-06, 323.1831; * Jonathan Hitchcock, Tennille, AgriGold A6659 Conv., 302.5053; 2. John Williams Jr., Colquitt, Dyna-Gro D58VC65, 277.9129; 3. Jerry Heard, Newton, Pioneer P1197YHR, 270.0069. *Same grower has the high yield across multiple classes; same grower can only win one class.
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 12 CANCELED – 2022 SMALL GRAIN/SOYBEAN EXPO Jan. 5 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Georgia/Florida Soybean Association and The Georgia Soybean Commodity Commission has canceled the 2022 Small Grain Soybean Expo in light of the recent spike in cases of COVID-19. For more information, call 706-542-3793. 2022 SE REGIONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 6-9 Savannah International Trade & Convention Center Savannah The South’s premier fruit and vegetable show celebrates 20 years with its collection of 15 commodity and agribusiness sessions, as well as educational seminars and the always-popular trade show. Special sessions include Getting Started with Blackberries, Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training and Social Media Boot Camp. Georgia Farm Bureau is among the sponsors for the educational sessions. For more information or to register, click here. (https://seregionalconference.org/) GFB CERTIFIED FARM MARKETS PASSPORT Jan. 7 deadline to mail in passports for prizes You’ve made the trips, created the memories, enjoyed the fresh locally grown food land collected the stamps. Now it’s time to rake in the prizes! Mail your Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Markets 2021 Passport in by Jan. 7 to qualify for prizes. All passports returned with at least one stamp will be entered in a drawing to win a basket of favorite products from CFMs ($100 value); five stamps - limited edition T-shirt; 10 stamps – awesome ag swag and ball cap; 15 stamps – choice of product from Certified Farm Market (honey, pecans, or fruit jam) plus prizes listed above; 20 stamps - full access pass farm tour with Farm to Table meal in spring of 2022 plus all of the above. For more information about the GFB Certified Farm Market program, visit www.gfb.ag/passport. Mail in your passport by Jan. 7. 2022, and GFB will return it to you with your prizes! Mail passports to GFB Certified Farm Markets, P.O. Box 7068, Macon, GA 312097068. 12TH ANNUAL GEORGIA FARM BUREAU 2ND DISTRICT STEER & HEIFER SHOW Jan. 22 Jackson County Agricultural Facility 9:30 a.m. Jefferson Deadline to register for this show is Jan. 7. The show is open to youth who exhibit beef cattle residing in District 2 counties: Banks, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union & White. Visit https://gfb.ag/District2CattleShow for show details & to register. Entry fee is $25 per animal for Farm Bureau members or $35 per animal for non-members. Membership can be obtained at your local County Farm Bureau office for $35. There will be a$10/head late fee for late entries. Senior exhibitors are eligible for a Senior Academic Scholarship of $250. Senior participants must contact Katie Murray at kamurray@gfb.org or 229-454-0239 for a scholarship form. The application must be received along with cattle show entry form by Jan. 7. The show committee will select one winner. The scholarship will be awarded at the show. Additionally, the committee will give a $250 scholarship to the senior showmanship winner. Show will be held at Jackson County Agricultural Facility, 1869 County Farm Rd, Jefferson, Ga. 30549.
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 12 103rd AMERICAN FARM BUREAU CONVENTION Jan. 7-12 Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta If you want the inside scoop on policies and perspectives that will affect your farm or agribusiness in 2022, don’t miss the 103rd American Farm Bureau Convention. This is your opportunity to help set the agenda for the leading voice of agriculture in Washington, D.C., and so much more. Participate in educational workshops to advance your leadership skills, expand your business acumen, and gain insight into the trends and realities impacting food production. Witness cuttingedge innovation in agriculture, hear from powerful speakers, and explore the trade show to build a stronger network, shop featured products, and idea-share with other state and county Farm Bureaus. For more information, visit https://annualconvention.fb.org/. GEORGIA WINE & GRAPE COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING Jan. 11 Chateau Elan 9 a.m. Braselton This is a reminder of the Public Hearing for the Wine & Grape Commission Market Order during the Wine Producers Conference at Chateau Elan. The address is 100 Rue Charlemagne Dr. Please note, affected producers can attend even if not registered for the conference. Time will be allowed for testimony. After the meeting, a referendum will be held to approve the marketing order and set the assessment to be paid by producers as required by law. Ballots will be distributed at this meeting and voting will take place Jan. 15-Feb. 14. In order for the marketing order to be approved, at least 25% of the ballots mailed to the best available list of eligible producers of record must be returned and 66.3% of the returned ballots that are declared valid must have voted affirmatively. The Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Wine and Grapes was created by HB1093 of the Georgia General Assembly in 2020 at the request of Georgia wine producers and was signed into law in August 2020 by Governor Kemp. The establishment of the Georgia Wine & Grape Commission allows the creation and passage of a marketing order by vote of the affected producers of Georgia wine and grapes. If approved, this marketing order will allow for an assessment of all Georgia produced wine by producers who produce not less than 1,000 liters or more on an annual basis. The funds collected by the Georgia Wine and Grapes Commission shall only be used for the purpose(s) of research, education, and promotion of Georgia produced wines and the Georgia wine industry. Decisions on how the funds will be used will be determined by the five members of the Georgia Wine and Grapes Commission, which consists of Georgia wine producers appointed by the Georgia Commodity Commission Ex Officio Committee. The proposed marketing order would allow an assessment between a range of 5 cents ($0.05) to twenty cents ($0.20) per taxable liter of wine. The payment of the assessment to the Georgia Wine and Grape Commission shall be monthly and reported on the Georgia Wine and Grape Commission reporting form.
GFB Field Notes 10 of 12 GEORGIA APPLE COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING Jan. 11 Gilmer County Farm Bureau 1:30 p.m. Ellijay The Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Apples, which was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 1962 under the Commodity Promotion Act, is submitting for approval an amendment to its marketing order that changes the range of assessment. If approved, the amended marketing order will change the current amount of assessment from 2 cents ($0.02) per bushel, to a range of 2 cents ($0.02) to 4 cents ($0.04) per bushel on Georgia produced apples. This amendment would allow for the Georgia Apple Commission to approve an assessment within this range through a majority vote of a quorum of members that would then become effective upon notice to affected growers. The purpose of this amendment is to allow for a change in the assessment, without the added process of amending the marketing order, in case an issue arises where more funding is needed. The Georgia Apple Commission can only use funds collected through assessments for the purpose of research, education, and promotion of Georgia Apples or the Georgia Apple Industry. CLIMATE ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY SURVEY If you are a cattle or cotton farmer in Georgia, please consider completing a survey being conducted by a University of Georgia graduate student regarding farmers’ willingness to adopt various technology for your farm as well as your perceptions on climate change. It should take just 20 minutes to complete, and the information collected goes to help the graduate student \complete her degree. To participate in the survey, please visit https://gfb.ag/UGAclimatetechsurvey. For more information on the survey contact Julian Worley at julian.worley@uga.edu. Participants are asked to respond by Jan. 15, 2022. 2022 GEORGIA DAIRY CONFERENCE Jan. 17-19 Savannah Marriott Riverfront Savannah Online registration is now open for the 2022 GA Dairy Conference! This event is a “must attend” for the Southeast dairy sector. It provides companies the option to network with dairy producers and industry leaders, while extending a company’s brand with several sponsorship opportunities. Dairymen from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia have attended this conference in the past. Registration is free for Georgia dairy farmers. For more information or to register, visit www.gadairyconference.com/. WINTERGREEN 2022 Jan. 18-20 Gas South Convention Center Duluth Wintergreen, Georgia’s premier multi-day trade show and conference for the green industry, boasts more than 250 exhibitors and thousands of attendees each year. The event offers three days of industry educational sessions and updates to keep producers ahead of the competition. The Gas South Convention Center is located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. For more information, visit www.mywintergreen.com.
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 12 EXECUTIVE FARM MANAGEMENT TRAINING Jan. 18-21 Pawley’s Island, S.C. Jan. 31-Feb. 3 Raleigh, N.C. Feb. 20-23 Savannah The Executive Farm Management (EFM) program is offered by North Carolina State Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson Cooperative Extension, East Carolina University College of Business and UGA Cooperative Extension. The 2022 program will consist of 9 days of content and curriculum taught across 3 sessions in 3 states over the course of 6 weeks. EFM is designed to increase the management competencies and profitability of large farms by utilizing a holistic operation-focused curriculum. Returning participant fee is $5,500. Discounts apply for extra participants from the same farm. For more information or to register, visit https://execfarmmgmt.ces.ncsu.edu/2022-program-info/, or contact EFM Director Blake Broan (919.515.4536 or abbbrown@ncsu.edu) or Margaret Huffman (919.515.4498 or mmhuffm2@ncsu.edu. 2022 GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 19-20 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton To better accommodate social distancing, this always-popular show will be open for two days. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the show, which is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. For more information on the show, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission office at 229-386-3470 or visit www.gapeanuts.com. Potential exhibitors can click here for the exhibitor packet. GEORGIA COTTON COMMISSION 15TH ANNUAL MEETING Jan. 26 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 7:30 a.m. Tifton The annual meeting is held in conjunction with the UGA Cotton Production Workshop conducted by the UGA Research & Extension Cotton Team. The UGA Cotton Production Workshop will feature breakout sessions where attendees will learn the latest technical production strategies from the researchers whose projects are funded by the Commission’s research program. The Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting will follow the breakout sessions and feature speakers from several industry organizations. There will also be an area for interested producers to ask questions and sign up for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, the Cotton Industry’s sustainability platform. The program speakers are National Cotton Council Chairman Kent Fountain, The Cotton Board Chairman Jimmy Webb; and Cotton Incorporated Senior Vice President for Consumer Marketing Kim Kitchings. Following the annual meeting speakers, the Commission will host lunch where door prizes will be given away, and the Georgia Quality Cotton Awards for the 2021 crop will be awarded. The meeting, production workshop, and lunch are open to cotton growers and anyone interested in the cotton industry. The UGA Cotton Production Workshop breakout sessions will be repeated after lunch. There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is requested to help with meal plans. To view the agenda, click here. Register online at www.ugatiftonconference.caes.uga.edu or call (229) 386-3416. (https://georgiacottoncommission.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2022-GACottonConferenceAgenda.pdf)
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 12 CROP INSURANCE FOR TOMATO, PECAN PRODUCERS Jan. 31 deadline to apply/re-enroll The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Georgia fresh market tomato and pecan growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2022 crop year is Jan. 31. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the Jan. 31 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Coverage is available for fresh market tomatoes in Colquitt, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole, and Tift counties. Coverage is available for pecans in select counties. Please contact your insurance agent to see if your county is covered. Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2022 crop year. RMA is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims, and agreements. RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail and electronically to continue supporting crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with crop insurance questions or needs should continue to contact their insurance agents about conducting business remotely (by telephone or email). More information can be found at www.farmers.gov/coronavirus. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available online using the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can use the RMA Cost Estimator to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online. 29th ANNUAL UGA FOCUS ON GENETICALLY ENHANCED EPDS SALE Feb. 9 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena Athens Sale will feature 43 Angus bulls, 4 Hereford bulls, 4 SimAngus bulls, 2 Registered Angus open heifers, and 12 Angus-cross commercial open heifers. For more information, call Carroll T. Cannon at 229-881-0721 or 229-881-2705 or email CannonMarketingCompany@gmail.com. GFB HAY DIRECTORY GFB is accepting listings for its online hay directory. Farm Bureau members with hay for sale or who offer custom harvesting or custom sprigging services are invited to list their hay and/or services in the GFB Quality Hay Directory published on the GFB website. Hay for sale or services can be listed or removed from the directory throughout the year. To be included in GFB’s online hay directory, complete a submission form by visiting your county Farm Bureau office or online at www.gfb.ag/hay. Please include a $10 check made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau for each listing of hay, custom harvesting or custom sprigging. Multiple listings are allowed. Listings can be updated in the directory throughout the year as hay inventories change. Hay producers who entered the 2021 GFB Quality Hay Contest receive a free listing in the online GFB Hay Directory.