Photo by Christie Montford
January 10, 2024
www.gfb.org
Vol. 6 No. 1
GA ATTORNEY GENERAL JOINS AG GROUPS SEEKING AEWR TRANSPARENCY Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has joined the call for DOL to provide meaningful explanations of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) and to pause the scheduled increases to allow for a long-term solution to be developed. Carr wrote to acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Dec. 29, noting concerns about cost increases for producers and rising food prices for consumers. In his letter, Carr wrote, “The lack of transparency concerning the methodology can only lead our constituents to reasonably assume these mandated wage increases were established arbitrarily and without regard for the wellbeing of Georgia farmers. Therefore, we ask for more information on what methodology and raw data was used to justify the substantial wage increase and the discrepancy between the proposed AEWR and private sector rates. We also request that the increases are halted while we await the responses from your agencies and our office has the opportunity to evaluate them.” New AEWRs for users of the H-2A program went into effect Jan.1. Following a 21% increase in the wage in the last 14 months, Georgia’s AEWR is now set at $14.68 for H-2A workers for 2024. Georgia House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairmen Robert Dickey and Russ Goodman have organized letters to Georgia’s congressional delegation, and other agricultural organizations, including Georgia Farm Bureau, are working to make Georgia growers’ concerns over AEWR known to the state’s members of Congress. On Jan. 2, the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) wrote to acting Secretary Su, emphasizing that Georgia growers now find themselves at the intersection of trade policy that will increase our nations reliance on others to provide our food and an H-2A program that is cost prohibitive for growers to use. GFVGA has worked with members of the Georgia congressional delegation to meet with USDA -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 19 Continued from previous page and DOL in an attempt to shed light on the process that determines the AEWR. Coupled with the complexity and administrative cost to use the program, the escalating wage increases are making the program unaffordable for growers who depend on H-2A workers to produce the fresh fruits and vegetables that feed our nation. Recently, members of the Georgia House and Georgia Senate appealed to the Georgia Congressional Delegation to address critical issues impacting Georgia growers. GFVGA has also joined with organizations including the National Council of Agricultural Employers to submit an official petition to the Department of Labor(Link to GFVGA AEWR Petition) requesting the department amend or repeal the AEWR methodology so that it conforms with the law that sets forth the rules for the program. The GFVGA petition draws a clear line between rising AEWR rates and how they will ultimately lead to more imports of fruits and vegetables as Georgia growers have no choice but to cut production acres. Based on the number of H-2A workers in Georgia, the GFVGA estimated that the AEWR increase will cost Georgia growers more than an $150 million in additional wages. The GFVGA noted that hiring domestic workers would be ideal, but that it is clear U.S. workers are not interested in production agriculture. “The current AEWR scheme, to protect U.S. domestic workers who do not exist, is driving the AEWR to a level that leaves U.S. growers uncompetitive and will ultimately result in fewer acres being produced in the US, more imports and a growing reliance on other counties to feed ourselves,” the GFVGA wrote. LONG-TIME GFB DIRECTOR NORA GOODMAN DIES Nora Goodman, who served as a Georgia Farm Bureau 3rd District Director and as Paulding County Farm Bureau president since 2003, died on Jan. 9 She was 83. Mrs. Goodman had been a Georgia Farm Bureau member for 45 years. She served on various GFB commodity advisory committees and represented the organization as a voting delegate to the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We are deeply saddened at the loss of Mrs. Nora, who served GFB and agriculture with dignity and grace,” said GFB President Tom McCall. “She was a constant, welcoming presence at Farm Bureau gatherings and kept a strong commitment to the state’s farmers. She will be missed.” In addition to her Farm Bureau leadership, Goodman was an active member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, was a director of the Georgia Agriculture Land Trust and served as a director of the Paulding County Hospital Authority. She was also a member of the Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association. She was preceded in death by her husband, late PCFB President Dr. Jim Goodman, who passed in 20032, and her son, John Achter, who died in 2022. Clark Funeral Home in Hiram is handling memorial arrangements. Check here for updates.
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 19 FARMERS CAN NOW ENROLL IN ARC & PLC FOR 2024 CROP YEAR The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting enrollment in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year, and the deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15. 2024 Elections and Enrollment Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County (ARC-CO) or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual (ARC-IC), which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2024 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Also, if a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm it will continue for 2024 unless an election change is made. If producers do not submit their election revision by the March 15 deadline, their election remains the same as their 2023 election for commodities on the farm. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the cropland. Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. 2022 Crop Year Payments During Fall 2023, FSA issued payments totaling more than $267 million to agricultural producers who enrolled in the 2022 ARC-CO option and the ARC ARC-IC option for covered commodities that triggered a payment. Payments through the PLC option did not trigger for the 2022 crop year. ARC and PLC payments for a given crop year are paid out the following fall to allow actual county yields and the Market Year Average prices to be finalized. These payments help mitigate fluctuations in either revenue or prices for certain crops. Payments for crops that may trigger for the 2023 crop year will be issued in the fall of 2024. Crop Insurance Considerations ARC and PLC are part of a broader USDA safety net that also includes crop insurance and marketing assistance loans. ARC and PLC elections and enrollments can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products. Producers on farms with a PLC election can purchase Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their approved insurance provider; however, producers on farms where ARC is the election are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres for that crop on that farm. Unlike SCO, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by an ARC election. Producers may add ECO regardless of the farm program election. Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan (STAX) on their planted cotton acres for that farm. Web-Based Decision Tools Many universities offer web-based decision tools to help producers make informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations. Producers are encouraged to use the tool of their choice to support their ARC and PLC elections. For more information on ARC and PLC, producers can visit the ARC and PLC webpage or contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also make elections and complete enrollment online by logging in here with level 2 eAuth.
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 19 AMERICAN PEANUT COUNCIL, NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD NAME OFFICERS Donald Chase of Macon County has been appointed as chairman of the American Peanut Council (APC) and Casey Cox Kerr, who farms in Mitchell County, was named a vice chairperson of the National Peanut Board (NPB). Donald Chase, owner of Chase Farms, will serve the 2024 term as APC chairman. He was elected at APC’s Board of Directors meeting during the organization’s annual Insights Summit conference in Washington, D.C. Chase, together with his wife, Michelle, and parents grow peanuts, corn and sweet corn on 600 acres of irrigated land. Chase Farms also produces poultry. Chase serves on the board of the Georgia Peanut Commission and several other peanut organizations, as well as on the board of Flint Energies. He is the immediate past chairman of APC’s sustainability committee and immediate past vice chair of APC’s Board of Directors. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Adventist University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Chase succeeds 2023 APC Chair Collins McNeil, president of M.C. McNeill & Co. APC’s 2024 elected board officers include: Vice Chair - Anne-Marie DeLorenzo, Mars Wrigley; Secretary/Treasurer - Clint Piper, Golden Peanut. APC’s 2024 executive committee includes: Greg Baltz, National Peanut Board; Tim Burch, Georgia Peanut Commission; Dell Cotton, Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association; Greg Harnish, Birdsong Peanuts; Lauren Marcinkoski, Luray Peanut Company; Collins McNeill, McNeill & Company; Patricia Moody, OFI; John Powell, American Peanut Shellers Association; Brian Reed, The JM Smucker Company; Rachel Santos, Premium Peanut; Joel Sirmon, Alabama Peanut Producers Association and Larry Don Womack, Texas Peanut Producers Board. The National Peanut Board held its last meeting of the year on December 6 – 7, in Washington, D.C. The Board approved a new slate of officers for a one-year term beginning on January 1, 2024. The 2024 roles are: Baltz, of Arkansas as chairman; Cox Kerr of Georgia as vice-chairman; Neal Baxley of South Carolina as treasurer; and Jeff Roper of Texas as secretary. GFB member Wesley Webb of Calhoun County serves as an alternate board member representing Georgia on the NPB. Cox Kerr is a sixth-generation grower who farms along with her father, Glenn. Cox Kerr is the president and CEO of Longleaf Ridge Farms. They grow runner peanuts, sweet corn, field corn, soybeans and timber. Cox Kerr graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation. Cox Kerr is married to Chris Kerr. Cox Kerr is involved in a number of industry and professional organizations. She is a shareholder/member of American Peanut Growers Group LLC and serves as a board member on the Georgia Seed Development Commission and Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Cox Kerr is currently the vice chair of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Dean’s Advisory Council and member of the Lower FlintOchlockonee Regional Water Council. Cox Kerr also serves on the Georgia Peanut Commission Advisory Board and the American Farm Bureau Federation Farm Policy Committee. She is on the board of directors for the Mitchell County Farm Bureau and Mitchell County Boys and Girls Club. Additionally, Cox Kerr is the former executive director of the Flint River Soil and Water -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 19 Continued from previous page Conservation District and currently serves as a district supervisor. Baltz previously served as vice chairman, treasurer and secretary; Cox Kerr previously served as treasurer and secretary; and Baxley previously served as secretary; and this is Jeff Roper’s first appointment as an officer for NPB. In related NPB news, Ryan Lepicier began serving as president & CEO of the organization on Jan. 1. He succeeds Bob Parker who retired last year. To read more about Lepicier click here. https://www.gfb.org/news/ag-news/post/national-peanut-board-names-lepicier-as-newpresident-ceo On Feb. 7 at noon, during its annual Research Report Day, the Georgia Peanut Commission will hold a nominations election to select two nominees each to serve as a member and alternate to the NPB for terms to begin Jan. 1, 2025. The meeting will be held at the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory (NESPAL), located on the University of Georgia Tifton Campus at 2360 Rainwater Road, Tifton, Georgia. 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. Casey Cox Kerr of Camilla is the current Georgia National Peanut Board member and Wesley Webb of Leary serves as the alternate. The terms for the current Georgia board member and alternate expire Dec. 31, 2024. The USDA requires two nominees for each position of member and alternate. The National Peanut Board will submit Georgia’s slate of nominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the appointments. The NPB encourages inclusion of persons of any race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status. 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. OSSOFF PUSHES U.S. CBP TO BOOST DEMAND FOR GEORGIA PECANS U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff has successfully pushed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to help Georgia farmers sell more pecans. In October, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry with CBP urging them to begin collecting assessments on imported pecans, which funds domestic programs aimed at boosting sales of American pecans and leveling the playing field for domestic pecan producers. The American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB) is funded by these collected assessments, but CBP had not yet begun collecting assessments on imported pecans at the time of Sen. Ossoff’s inquiry. Now, at Sen. Ossoff’s request, CBP has begun collecting these assessments, which will help the APPB strengthen the Pecan Research and Promotion Program (PRPP), created in 2021 to maintain and expand markets for pecans. “Effective implementation of this program is essential to the success of the pecan industry in Georgia and across our nation, and the most efficient collection of import assessments is through -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 19 Continued from previous page CBP,” Sen. Ossoff wrote. “However, this cannot occur until CBP implements its new automatic collection system, which has been delayed on multiple occasions. I therefore urge you to stand up the new system as soon as possible.” Sen. Ossoff continues to be a strong advocate for Georgia’s pecan growers. Last summer, Ossoff and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to follow through on a promise by the Biden Administration to help Southeastern seasonal producers affected by unfair trade practices. Earlier in 2023, following Sen. Ossoff’s push, the Republic of India announced a major 70% cut to tariffs on U.S. pecan exports, a big win for Georgia farmers. Sen. Ossoff heard directly from farmers and growers in Georgia about the needs of their industries and how he can best fight for them in the Senate. WINE & GRAPE ACC TO HOLD HEARING ON PROPOSED MARKET ORDER On Jan. 29, the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Wine & Grapes (Georgia Wine & Grape Commission) will hold a public hearing pertaining to the proposed Market Order for Wine and Grapes to be voted on Feb. 1 – March 2 by licensed Georgia wineries. This hearing will be held at noon at the Macon Marriott City Center located a 240 Coliseum Drive in Macon. At the hearing, any persons desiring to comment, must register to speak. Only those registering to speak will be allowed to comment. The proposed market order would allow for the assessment at a rate of 5 cents per liter of wine produced by licensed Georgia wineries as reported on the Georgia Farm Winery Report, Schedule A, Line 8. This is applicable to wineries producing 1,000 or more liters of wine annually. There are approximately 105 wine producers licensed by the Georgia Department of Revenue. The Georgia Wine & Grape Commission was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 2019. The first referendum on a proposed marketing order failed in 2022. For passage, there must be an affirmative vote on 66% of eligible ballots returned. If passed the market order is in effect for three years and it must be voted on again to be continued. Funds collected from assessments can only be used for the purpose of research, education, and promotion. Current members serving on the Wine & Grape Commission are Gary Engel of Ellijay, Eric Seifarth of Young Harris, Eric Miller of Cleveland, Simone Bergese of Braselton and Gary Paulk of Wray. For more information, contact Georgia Department of Agriculture Manager of Commodity Commissions Andy Harrison at Andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov or 404-710-1196.
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 19 GFB COOKBOOK TO SUPPORT IMPACT FUND With the New Year comes new opportunities and Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is extremely excited to announce the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Cookbook. Georgia Farm Bureau members are invited to submit their favorite recipes. Those who submit recipes will receive credit next to their recipe, so be sure to include all the requested information. The process is simple and convenient. To submit your recipe today, click the link here, submit your recipe, and/or pre-order your Georgia Farm Bureau Cookbook. (https://georgiafarmbureau.regfox.com/2023-pac-cookbook-). The deadline to submit all recipes is Jan. 26. The deadline to pre-purchase a cookbook is March 4. Cookbooks will be printed and delivered in June. All proceeds from this fundraiser will directly benefit the Georgia Farm Bureau Federal ImPACt Fund. To purchase a cookbook, you must be a current Georgia Farm Bureau Member. If you would like to purchase a cookbook and aren’t yet a Georgia Farm Bureau Member, we invite you to join today. You can become a member HERE, and once completed, you can pre-purchase your book from the link provided. (https://www.gfb.org/join/join-today) If you have questions about the submission process, contact Keaton Walker at kgwalker@gfb.org. We sincerely appreciate your support of the Georgia Farm Bureau Federal PAC Fund and look forward to sharing all the delicious recipes with you! GEORGIA COTTON COMMISSION PRESENTS 2023 KING COTTON AWARDS By Caroline Gentry, Georgia Cotton Commission UGA Cooperative Extension Agents Scott Carlson of Worth County and Benjamin Reeves of Berrien County received King Cotton Awards from the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) during the Georgia Association of County Agricultural Agents annual meeting in November. County Extension agents are an important resource for Georgia cotton farmers. Agents are known for delivering timely and accurate information, which is instrumental for the success of Georgia’s farmers. They also perform community-specific research, education and outreach programs designed to help farmers maximize yields and efficiency. The GCC sponsored the King Cotton Awards to recognize outstanding contributions of county agents to Georgia cotton producers. The Senior Award honors agents with 10 or more years of experience. The Junior Award, named the Allen B. Fulford Award, honors the accomplishments and memory of Allen B. Fulford, who served as a county Extension agent and state cotton agronomist. This award credits those with less than 10 years of service. The Georgia Cotton Commission is proud to salute the excellent work that County Extension Agents do for farmers across the state. Carlson serves as the Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent in Worth County. He graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and continued pursuing his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia, focusing on agribusiness and crop science. He began his UGA Extension career in 1996 and has served in Irwin, Ben Hill, Tift, and Worth counties. Carlson has worked with cotton producers and the UGA Cotton Team members through on-farm -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 19 Continued from previous page cotton variety trials for more than 20 years. Throughout his years in Extension, he has assisted growers in management decisions including plant growth regulators, fungicide applications, and insect management. In recent years, a main area of focus has been on Silverleaf Whitefly (SLWF) monitoring and sharing treatment thresholds with cotton growers in South Georgia. The Allen B. Fulford Award winner, Reeves, serves as the Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent for Berrien County. He began his career with UGA Extension in 2018, where he first served in the same role in Candler County. Reeves holds annual cotton production meetings for local farmers on topics such as agronomy, economics, and pest management are discussed. Throughout his career, he has conducted and collaborated on several cotton research trials. These include the statewide on-farm variety trials, the evaluation of cotton seed mixing on net returns and evaluating insecticides for cotton aphid control. Reeves holds a bachelor’s in horticulture from Auburn University and a master’s in entomology from the University of Georgia. USDA NOW ACCEPTING FARM LOAN APPLICATIONS ONLINE On Dec. 5, the USDA launched an online application for direct loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a direct loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan. According to a USDA press release, this tool is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, improve customer service, and expand credit access. Farmers who would like to apply in person at USDA service centers may still do so. The online farm loan application replicates the support an applicant would receive when completing a loan application in person with an FSA farm loan officer, while continuing to provide customers with one-on-one assistance as needed. This tool and other process improvements allow farmers and ranchers to submit complete loan applications and reduce the number of incomplete and withdrawn applications. Through a personalized dashboard, borrowers can track the progress of their loan application. It can be accessed on www.farmers.gov or by completing FSA’s Loan Assistance Tool at www.farmers.gov/loan-assistance-tool. To use the online loan application tool, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication (“eAuth”) account or a Login.gov account. For the initial stage, the online application tool is only available for producers who will be, or are currently, operating their farm as an individual. FSA is expanding the tool’s availability to married couples applying jointly and other legal entities in 2024. Farm Loan Improvement Efforts The FSA has a significant initiative underway to streamline and automate Farm Loan Program customer-facing business processes. For the over 26,000 producers who submit a Direct Loan application to FSA annually, and its 85,000 Direct Loan borrowers, FSA has made improvements this year, including: • A simplified direct loan paper application, reduced from 29 pages to 13 pages. • The Loan Assistance Tool on www.farmers.gov that provides customers with an interactive online, step-by-step guide to identifying the Direct Loan products that may be a fit for their -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 19
Continued from previous page business needs and to understanding the application process. Farm Loan Info Sessions Georgia Farm Service Agency Executive Director Arthur Tripp is hosting four learning sessions on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 to educate producers about USDA loan programs available to help them start, expand or enhance their ag operations. On Jan. 17, Farm Loan Info Sessions will be held at 10 a.m. in Tifton at the Tift County USDA Service Center 1468 Carpenter Rd S, Tifton, GA 31793 & at 2 p.m. in Dawson at the Terrell County USDA Service Center 955 Forrester Dr, Dawson, GA 39842. On Jan. 18, Farm Loan Info Sessions will be held at 10 a.m. in Colquitt at the Miller County Extension Office 406 W Crawford Street Colquitt, Ga 39837 & at 2 p.m. in Moultrie at the Colquitt County USDA Service Center 350 Veterans Pkwy N Bldg 3, Moultrie.
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 19 2024 SOUTHEAST FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 11-14 Savannah Convention Center Savannah A must-attend event for fruit and vegetable growers, the Southeast Fruit & Vegetable Conference is sponsored in part by Georgia Farm Bureau. The event features educational workshops on federal rules compliance, production tips, limiting risk and managing pests, as well as one of the south’s largest trade shows for specialty crops. Attendees also have the opportunity to earn pesticide CEU credits. For more information, visit https://seregionalconference.org/. To register, click here. USDA DISCRIMINATION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Jan. 13 Application deadline Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021 and/or are currently debtors with assigned or assumed USDA farm loan debt that was subject to USDA discrimination occurring prior to January 1, 2021, have until Jan. 13, 2024, to apply for financial assistance. Visit the program website https://22007apply.gov to file an application and for more information on the program. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs USDA to provide financial assistance to producers who have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs and has $2.2 billion for this program. Under the law, the Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for administering the assistance through qualified nongovernmental entities under standards set by USDA. Applications will be reviewed in November and December, with payments reaching recipients soon thereafter, according to USDA statements. USDA has become aware of some lawyers and groups spreading misleading information about the discrimination assistance process, pressuring people to sign retainer agreements, and asking people to fill out forms with private and sensitive information. The official application process is free and does not require an attorney. GEORGIA DAIRY CONFERENCE Jan. 15-17 Marriott Savannah Riverfront Savannah The Georgia Dairy Conference is the Southeast's premier dairy management conference featuring 16 guest speakers, the region's largest dairy trade show, and a pre-conference symposium highlighting the latest innovations in dairy production. The full conference agenda, registration information, and more can be found at the conference website www.gadairyconference.com.
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 19 USDA & DEPT. OF ENERGY SOLAR ENERGY LISTENING SESSIONS The USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are hosting a series of listening sessions to get insight from farmers & rural residents on the benefits and challenges of the rapidly increasing levels of clean energy being placed on farmland and in rural communities. Stakeholders should register to participate in the public listening sessions that are available virtually by clicking on the registration link(s) appropriate below: • Government permitting and policy representatives at state, county & local levels Jan.12 at 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Register here https://gfb.ag/usdacleanenergygovpolicyreps • Agricultural producers Jan. 16 at 10 – 11:30 a.m. Register here https://gfb.ag/usdacleanenergyagproducers • All stakeholders & members of the public Jan. 16 at 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Register Here https://gfb.ag/allstakeholdersgeneralpublic • Rural electric coops and clean energy developers Jan. 17 at 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Register Here https://gfb.ag/ruralemcscleanenergycomps • ALL stakeholders should submit written comments by Jan. 20 to CleanEnergySiting@USDA.gov. USDA FARM LOAN INFO SESSIONS Jan. 17 & 18 Georgia Farm Service Agency Executive Director Arthur Tripp is hosting four learning sessions to educate producers about USDA loan programs available to help them start, expand or enhance their ag operations. Jan. 17 10 a.m. Tift County USDA Service Center 1468 Carpenter Rd S. Tifton Jan. 17 2 p.m. Terrell County USDA Service Center 955 Forrester Dr. Dawson Jan. 18 Jan. 18
10 a.m. Miller County Extension Office 406 W Crawford St. Colquitt 2 p.m. Colquitt County USDA Service Center 350 Veterans Pkwy N Bldg. 3 Moultrie
GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 18 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This annual show is free and open to all farmers and industry representatives to attend. The show is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit with more than 100 agribusinesses and organizations in the peanut and agricultural industry. Farmers will be able to earn private and commercial pesticide applicator certification, as well as learn about cutting-edge research and developments during the University of Georgia Peanut Production Seminar and industry-wide sponsored Peanut Seed Seminar. More details at https://bit.ly/49jHWIU.
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 19 2024 SOUTHEAST GEORGIA MASTER CATTLEMAN PROGRAM Jan. 22 – March 11 Toombs County Extension Mondays, 6 p.m. Lyons This educational series meets on Mondays and will cover nutrition management, forage management, beef cattle economics, external parasites, fencing & facilities, evaluation & selection, Beef Quality Assurance, herd health and reproduction. The Toombs County Extension office is located at 300 Bulldog Rd., Lyons, GA 30436. Registration to attend in person is $90 and includes a notebook, hat, snacks and meals at the first and last meetings. Registration to attend via Zoom s $20. Click here to register. (https://estore.uga.edu/C27063_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=547&SINGLESTORE=t rue) 2024 GEORGIA CORN SHORT COURSE Jan. 23 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Tifton This annual program will include discussions on carbon credit markets, spray drones, irrigation management, plant tissue analysis, variable rate nitrogen, pest management an economic outlook. This program has been approved for the following CEUs: Pesticide Applicators: 5 hours in Cat 21 (Plant Agriculture); 1 hour in Cat 10 (Private); CCA: 2 Nutrient Management, 1 Soil & Water Management, 1 Integrated Pest Management, 1 Crop Management, 1 Sustainability, 1 Precision Ag. Registration is $15 for in-person attendance and $10 for livestream audience. The link for livestream attendance will be sent following registration. Morning refreshments and lunch are included. To register and view the full agenda, visit http://bit.ly/3W09zQ7. For more information call 229-386-3416. 2024 MENTAL HEALTH DAY AT THE CAPITOL Jan. 24 Georgia Freight Depot 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Atlanta Each year the Behavioral Health Services Coalition, a group of advocates supporting behavioral health in Georgia, organizes Mental Health Day at the Capitol. Anyone whose life is impacted by mental health concerns is welcome including: people in recovery, families, political leaders, service providers, community support organizations, faith leaders, law enforcement, first responders, other advocates, and anyone else who wants to support behavioral health in their communities. Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. in the Freight Room. Sponsors will be set up in the Blue Room as in the past with loads of great information and resources for all. The main event begins at 9 a.m. sharp in the Freight Room. A variety of guest speakers will share about Behavioral Health in Georgia. At 11a.m., attendees will transition to the Capitol to hear from and meet legislators. For more information or to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/MHD12424 . UGA AG FORECAST Jan. 26 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. Tifton This annual seminar shares the latest research and information from UGA faculty to help farmers and agribusinesses in Georgia's No. 1 industry. For more information, visit agforecast.caes.uga.edu.
GFB Field Notes page 13 of 19 14th ANNUAL GFB DISTRICT 2 STEER & HEIFER SHOW Registration deadline is Jan. 12 Jan. 27 Jackson County Agricultural Facility Jefferson The show will be a one-day show. Check-in will be 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Jan. 27. The barn will be open on Jan. 26 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for early arrivals. Show will begin at 9:30 a.m. with showmanship classes. Entries are non-refundable/non-returnable. The entry fee is $25 per animal for Farm Bureau members or $35 per animal for non-members. Membership must belong to the exhibitor and/or their immediate family. Membership can be obtained at your local County Farm Bureau office or online for $35. There will be a $10/head late fee for late entries. T-shirts will be available for purchase: short sleeve - $20, long sleeve - $25. The show is open only to Junior Beef Cattle exhibitors of the counties listed above. For the purposes of show communication, please make sure the correct mailing address and email address is listed in your registration. Directions to the Jackson County Agricultural Facility can be found via GPS at 1869 County Farm Rd., Jefferson, GA 30549. Entry forms are available at https://gfb.ag/district2cattleshow. Deadline for registration is Jan. 12, 2024! Senior exhibitors, don't forget out our senior scholarship! Applications are available on the website. REGIONAL PECAN PRODUCTION WORKSHOP Jan. 29 Evans County Recreation Department noon Claxton For details or to register, contact Tattnall County Extension ANR Agent Derrick Bowen at derrick.bowen@uga.edu or 912-253-3515. The Evans County Recreation Department is located at 11093 U.S. Highway 280 in Claxton. 2024 FLAVOR OF GEORGIA FOOD PRODUCT CONTEST Jan. 30 5 p.m. EST deadline to enter Registration is now open for the 2024 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. Registration is required prior to submitting samples and must be completed online. Products must be registered and paid by 5 p.m. EST Jan. 30. All entry fees are non-refundable. Held annually since 2007, Flavor of Georgia has launched new products into success and garnered more publicity and sales for products already in the market. From rural farmers to urban businesses, successful and talented food artisans have emerged from all over Georgia to create delicacies from the abundant agricultural products our state has to offer. More than 1,500 products have entered the contest since it began. Products are to be submitted between March 11-13. Finalists will be notified via email on March 15, and the final round will be held at the Classic Center in Athens on April 4 during an event open to the public. To register and see full contest rules and more information about Flavor of Georgia, click here. https://flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu/registration.html.
GFB Field Notes page 14 of 19 GA COTTON COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING/UGA COTTON WORKSHOP Jan. 31 UGA Tifton Conference Center 7:30 a.m.-4p.m. Tifton This 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. The program speakers are Micah Brown, National Ag Law Center attorney; Bruce Atherley, Cotton Council International executive director; & Jim Davis, Southern Cotton Growers CEO There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is requested to help with meal plans. For more information visit https://georgiacottoncommission.org/ or call 229-386-3416. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION FOR SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM Jan. 31 Deadline to apply for 2023 program year The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program provides assistance to specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety program expenses. These operations incur significant costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements each year with little opportunity to recover increased costs. To be eligible for FSCSC applicants must be a specialty crop operation, have obtained or renewed a 2023 food safety certification issued during calendar year 2023 and have paid eligible expenses. The applicants must also meet the definition of a small business or very small business and be located in the United States or its territories. Specialty crop operations may receive reimbursement for developing an initial food safety plan, maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan, food safety certification, certification upload fees, microbiological testing, and training. Specialty crop operations who obtain their food safety certification through a group model under a food safety management system are eligible for their share of eligible expenses paid by the group, in addition to any eligible expense incurred individually. Eligible specialty crop operations may apply for FSCSC by completing the FSA-888, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops application, and submitting it to any FSA county office. Application forms may be downloaded at www.farmers.gov/food-safety.
GFB Field Notes page 15 of 19 CROP INSURANCE FOR TOMATOES AND PECANS Jan. 31 deadline to enroll or renew 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 2024 crop year is Jan. 31. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the January 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 2024 crop year. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov. The Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company contracts with three companies -Rain & Hail, Sompo, and Crop Risk Services to offer crop insurance. GFB has over 70 experienced crop insurance agents (and growing) across the state to help their members protect their investment. Find your local agent and learn more at GFBInsurance.com or email crops@gfbinsurance.com for more details. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
GFB AG IN THE CLASSROOM EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS Feb. 2 (Registration deadline Jan. 19) Sumter Co. High School, Americus March 22 (Registration deadline March 8) UGArden, Athens April 12 (Registration deadline March 29) Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton Georgia Farm Bureau is hosting three Ag in the Classroom Educator Workshops & Tours in 2024 to introduce teachers to resources and teaching strategies to incorporate agriculture into their classrooms using curriculum that meets required teaching standards for STEM and STEAM. All workshops are open to any Georgia teacher. Teachers can choose from any of the three dates/locations. Each workshop will begin at 8 a.m. and end by 3:30 p.m. The cost to attend the workshop is $35, which includes lunch. Each workshop has a capacity of 30 teachers. Workshops are for teachers who have not previously attended a GFB Educator Workshop in the past two years. Teachers interested in attending may register at www.gfb.ag/Spring24Workshop by the deadline or until the 30 slots for each class or filled. County Farm Bureaus are encouraged to recruit a local teacher who hasn’t previously attended a GFB Educator workshop to attend and to consider paying the teacher’s registration fee, reimbursing the teacher’s mileage to/from the workshop &/or covering the hotel cost for the night before the workshop if the teacher is traveling a long distance. Teachers or county Farm Bureaus with questions should contact Lauren Goble at ldgoble@gfb.org or 478.474.8411, ext. 5135. 31st ANNUAL UGA FOCUS ON GENETICALLY ENHANCED EPDs BULL SALE Feb. 8 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena Noon Athens This sale will include 30 Angus and Hereford Bulls, three registered Angus open heifers and 25 Angus-cross commercial open heifers. For more information, please contact Carroll T. Cannon at 229-881-0721 or 229-881-2705 or by email at CannonMarketingCompany@gmail.com.
GFB Field Notes page 16 of 19 GFB DAY AT THE CAPITOL Feb. 13 Georgia Freight Depot & State Capitol 9:30 a.m. Atlanta Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Blue Room at the Georgia Freight Depot. The Depot is located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, one block northwest of the Capitol, at Underground Atlanta. After orientation, GFB members are encouraged to visit with their legislators at the Capitol and return with them to the complimentary lunch at the Depot beginning at noon. Lunch invitations will be sent to all legislators, but a personal invitation from you would be especially helpful and effective. Complimentary security parking is located at the Georgia State University Blue Lot located at 76 Fulton St. SW, and the shuttle bus service will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Renee Jones at 478-474-0679, ext. 5130 or rejones@gfb.org. GEORGIA CITRUS ASSOCIATION 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Feb. 27 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tifton The seventh annual Georgia Citrus Association Conference takes place on February 27th in Tifton. Get the latest on disease, pests, cold protection and this year a special Farm to Market growers panel that you won't want to miss. The Georgia Citrus Association is growing, so become involved today! Memberships, which include your conference ticket, are $75 now and $100 at the door. Limited vendor space and sponsorships are available. Early bird pricing ends February 16, so visit georgiacitrusassociation.org to register today. https://geca.memberclicks.net/conf24?servId=10685#!/ USDA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 1890 NATIONAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM March 1 deadline to apply The USDA is accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue food and agriculture career paths. Administered through USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college as well as rising college sophomores and juniors. The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between USDA and the 19 historically Black land-grant universities that were established in the Morrill Land Grand Act of 1890. USDA partners with these 1890 universities to provide scholarship recipients with full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Scholarship recipients attend one of the 1890 universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship also includes work experience at USDA through summer internships. Scholars accepted into the program are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with USDA upon successful completion of their degree requirements by the end of the agreement period. The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program awarded 100 scholarships in the 2023 cohort of 1890 Scholars. Learn more and apply online at USDA 1890 National Scholars Program. For more information, contact partnerships@usda.gov.
GFB Field Notes page 17 of 19 GEORGIA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIPS March 1 deadline to apply The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) is offering $70,000 in scholarships to Georgia students pursuing a degree in agriculture, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences or a related field. The GFA will award scholarships in the following four categories. Scholarship for Agriculture – This scholarship is for high school students who plan to enter a college that is part of the University System of Georgia, Berry College, Emmanuel College or any accredited college/university in Georgia with an ag program during the 2023-24 academic year to pursue an undergraduate degree in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or a related agricultural field. College Scholarship for Agriculture – This scholarship is for students who will be enrolled in a Georgia accredited technical college and major in an area of agriculture or an ag-related field of study, such as welding, mechanics, culinary arts, or commercial truck driving. Visit https://gfb.ag/gfatechscholarshipmajors for a list of eligible schools and majors. Rising College Junior/Senior Scholarship for Agriculture – This scholarship is for college students who have at least two semesters of college remaining to receive an undergraduate degree from a unit of The University System of Georgia, Berry College, Emmanuel College or any accredited college/university in Georgia with an ag program. Applicants must be majoring in agriculture and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or an ag-related field. UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship - This scholarship is for students currently enrolled in the UGA Veterinary Medicine program specializing in large animal/food animal practice. Visit www.gafoundationag.org/scholarships for a list of eligible majors/schools for all scholarships, applications, and instructions to apply. All applications must be submitted online by March 1, 2023. Transcripts and letters of recommendation must be submitted online with the application. The scholarship recipients will be announced in spring of 2023. Scholarship checks will be sent to the qualifying college/university the recipient is attending and placed in their school account upon verification the student has met all qualifications for the scholarship. Scholarships awarded to graduating high school seniors will be distributed for spring 2024 upon receipt of first semester college transcript indicating the recipient is pursuing an ag-related course of study and has at least a 3.0 GPA.
GFB Field Notes page 18 of 19 GFB MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL ART CONTESTS March 8 deadline for county offices to submit entries Contact your county Farm Bureau office to learn deadline for its local contests Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is now accepting entries for the 2024 Georgia Farm Bureau Middle School Bookmark and High School Art Contests. Students who submit their artwork have the chance to win some great cash prizes! The GFB Middle School Bookmark Contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students statewide. The 10 GFB district winners of the bookmark contest will receive $100 each and compete for the state prize of $150. County Farm Bureaus may also offer prizes to their local winners. The GFB High School Art Contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled students in ninth through twelfth grades. The 10 GFB district art contest winners will receive a cash prize of $100. The 10 GFB district art contest winners will compete for the state prize of $250 cash. County Farm Bureaus may also offer prizes to their local winners. Middle school students will be given a blank bookmark and asked to draw a picture that depicts some aspect of Georgia agriculture. Students may use crayons, markers or colored pencils to create their bookmark that illustrates agriculture. High schoolers entering the art contest should draw a scene depicting Georgia agriculture. Artwork submitted in the high school art contest must be on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper and should be created in the colors black, white and gray. Contestants may use a variety of media to create their artwork including graphite, charcoal, pastel, chalk, colored pencil, pen-and-ink, ballpoint pen or mixed media appropriate for printing. Artwork entered in both contests will be judged on 1) how well the artwork represents modern agriculture found in the artist’s county or Georgia and 2) artistic merit. Students may enter either contest in the county in which they live or attend school but not both counties. To enter either contest, students should contact their county Farm Bureau for an official entry form and complete contest rules. Contact your county Farm Bureau to learn its February deadline for entering the contests. County Farm Bureaus must submit their entries to Georgia Farm Bureau for the state contest by March 8. Entries are limited to one per person in both contests. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Previous state winners are not eligible for either contest. For more information about the contests contact your county Farm Bureau office or visit www.gfb.ag/contests. Students and teachers may visit https://gfb.ag/video to view a video about Georgia agriculture and to access info about Georgia agriculture. 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.
GFB Field Notes page 19 of 19 CONSERVATION DISTRICTS OFFER NO-TILL EQUIPMENT FOR RENT Ongoing Local Conservation Districts and their partners help farmers try a number of conservation practices by purchasing equipment and making it available to rent. Some districts offer no-till drills, PVC pond pipe systems and repair parts, as well as geotextile fabric for agricultural and road use. To see what equipment is available in your conservation district, click here. 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE OFFERS SUPPORT The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988 or chatting on 988lifeline.org. 988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support. You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out. 988 trained crisis counselors can help you through whatever mental health challenges you are experiencing.