Georgia Farm Bureau's January 21 Field Notes

January 20, 2021

www.gfb.org

Vol. 3 No. 2

GFB MEMBERS LEAVE MARK ON 2021 AFBF VIRTUAL CONVENTION Those who watched the proceedings at the 2021 American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Virtual Convention saw farm videos and topics from all over the country, and Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) enjoyed a place of prominence throughout the event, held Jan. 10-13.

The event, originally scheduled for San Diego, California, went online in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

GFB was honored with state awards of excellence in: advocacy; engagement and outreach; leadership and business development; and membership value. GFB received the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Scholar Award, given to state Farm Bureaus which made the largest total donations in each of six membership groups. GFB was recognized with the State Leader Award, for state Farm Bureaus whose board members each donated at least $50 to the foundation, and Emanuel County Farm Bureau was recognized with the County Leader Award.

New GFB President Tom McCall participated in a video roll call of state presidents during the Jan. 11 general session. In the closing session, he invited AFBF members to Georgia for the 2022 AFBF Convention in Atlanta. Henry County Farm Bureau Director Jake Carter was part of a general session video detailing how farmers have kept going through the pandemic and was a speaker in the workshop “Communicating to Consumers During Extraordinary Times.”

Karen Garland, GFB’s 2020 Ag In the Classroom Teacher of the Year, was featured during the Foundation Night In session. Garland, who received one of the AFB Foundation’s WhiteReinhardt Ag Literacy grants, shared how she & Clark Creek Elementary in Cherokee County used the grant to develop an ag literacy curriculum for the school’s science lab. The lab includes ag bins equipped with resources for students to explore different aspects of agriculture.

“Many of our students have never put their hands in the dirt before so this was a perfect grant that helped us fund what we felt was a very important project,” Garland said.

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Book of the Year was Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish by Viola Butler and illustrated by Ward Jenkins. Jenkins is an illustrator & storyboard artist from Atlanta. In an interview that aired during the Foundation Night In, Jenkins thanked GFB, Ag in the Classroom and The Dairy Alliance for arranging tours of three Georgia dairy farms that inspired his illustrations for the book. The first 1,200 #AFBF21 virtual convention attendees who registered will be mailed a free copy of the book courtesy of the -continued on the next page

GFB Field Notes page 2 of 13 Continued from previous page Farm Bureau Bank.

In his annual address, AFBF President Zippy Duvall noted that while the past year has had enormous challenges, there have been silver linings like being able to attend the convention free of registration cost. Duvall said America's farmers have continued to meet high standards in spite of the pandemic, and that AFBF has continually pushed Congress to help farmers keep going.

Duvall highlighted AFBF’s work to persuade Congress and the federal government to provide $38 billion in ag relief programs, noted work to replace the Waters of the U.S. Rule with the new Clean Water Rule, worked for updates to policy in the Endangered Species Act and tax reform.

In general session remarks, outgoing Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue thanked Farm Bureau for its support for federal farm policy implemented by the USDA over the past four years. Perdue encouraged farmers to keep pushing forward to seek the freedom to innovate and pursue beneficial international trade deals. Perdue pointed out the USDA's support of farmers while the U.S. negotiated trade with China, as well as providing money to help farmers as they faced the challenges presented by COVID-19.

“It’s so refreshing to see the great patriots who selflessly commit their lives to feed and clothe their fellow citizens. It’s been a true honor to serve as secretary of agriculture and alongside of you all,” Perdue said.

Duvall and Land O’Lakes President/CEO Beth Ford had an insightful discussion regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted agriculture and highlighted that agriculture is a national security issue for America. Ford and Duvall discussed the American Connection Project (ACP) that Land O’Lakes spearheaded and AFBF is supporting with Cargill, Tractor Supply Company and Microsoft. The ACP is advocating for the federal government to allocate at least $80 billion to close the digital divide between rural and urban America. Duvall and Ford also discussed efforts AFBF and Land O’Lakes are taking to ensure that farmers have a seat at the table when climate policy decisions are made in the new Congress. Both organizations support the bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act. In general session remarks, Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver shared stories about travel, military life, and leadership. He emphasized constantly seeking improvement, staying calm and taking care of each other.

TV personality Mike Rowe visited with AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Sherry Saylor as the closing session keynote. Rowe reminisced about his experience at the AFBF Convention in 2011 in Atlanta and his experiences operating in the pandemic.

“You really don’t know what you’re in for. We didn’t know in March or April what we were really dealing with. It’s been humbling because you wake up every day to a new pivot,” Rowe said. “Farmers are at the very top of the food chain of essential workers.”

During the closing general session on Jan. 13, AFBF honored its retiring board members, including former GFB President Gerald Long, who served on the AFBF board from 2016 through 2020, when he retired as GFB president. Long, of Decatur County, held numerous Farm Bureau leadership positions at the county, regional & state level, including county Farm Bureau president, GFB 9th Dist. director, GFB South Ga. vice president and GFB first vice president. Long and his wife, Janice, have three adult children - Justin, Jared & Jeannie Long Izurieta and three grandchildren. The 2022 AFBF Convention is scheduled for Jan. 7-12 in Atlanta.

GFB Field Notes page 3 of 13 NOLANS NAMED RUNNERS-UP FOR AFBF NATIONAL AWARD Mathis named to top 10 for Excellence in Ag Award, Yopp in top 16 of Discussion Meet Wayne County Farm Bureau members Jacob and Emily Nolan were named second-place winners for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Achievement Award, which was announced during the AFBF Virtual Convention Jan. 13.

As second-place winners, the Nolans receive a Case IH Farmall 50A tractor, courtesy of Case IH. Monroe County Farm Bureau Vice President Melissa Mathis was named to the top 10 in competition for the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award. Tift County Farm Bureau member Ashley Yopp advanced to the Sweet 16 round in the AFBF Discussion Meet. The Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet competitions were held virtually; Mathis was one of 26 state winners to give presentations during the convention, while Yopp was one of 28 competitors in the Discussion Meet.

The Achievement Award recognizes outstanding young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farm operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. The Nolans, who won the 2020 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Achievement Award, own and operate Spring Fever Farms based in Screven. They grow corn, cotton, peanuts, pecans, satsuma oranges, strawberries and wheat, while raising a growing herd of Brahman and Hereford cattle. To learn more about the Nolans, visit https://gfb.ag/YFRAANolans.

Mathis, who won the 2020 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Excellence in Agriculture Award, runs farm and pet supply stores in Bolingbroke, Barnesville and Monticello. She and her husband, Bobby, also have a small cattle farm. They live in Forsyth with their children, Jane and Copelan.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award is given to recognize outstanding young farmers and ranchers who derive the majority of their income from vocations other than production agriculture, but who actively contribute and grow through their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

To learn more about Mathis, visit https://gfb.ag/YFREAMathis In her presentation, Mathis focused on how urban sprawl is affecting the growth of existing farms and the creation of new ones, increasing farm safety awareness and agricultural education.

Yopp is an assistant professor of agricultural leadership, education and communications at UGA’s Tifton Campus. She won the GFB 2020 YF&R Discussion Meet held virtually in October.

To learn more about Yopp, visit https://gfb.ag/YFRDMYopp.

The Discussion Meet is designed to simulate a committee meeting, where groups of individuals talk about a selected agricultural topic and seek ideas to resolve issues within that topic. In three rounds of competition, Yopp and her competitors discussed international trade, natural disasters and big data.

GFB Field Notes page 4 of 13 WORKSHOPS ADDRESS RANGE OF ISSUES FACING AMERICAN FARMERS During the American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention, attendees had access to a total of 20 workshops addressing subjects from enhancing Farm Bureau engagement to farm business practices to farm safety to agricultural economics. Two of them focused on a success story of engagement with a big corporation and approaches to maintaining positive rural mental health.

The Beef with Burger King: When national quick-serve chain Burger King asserted in advertising that bovine flatulence accounts for an inordinate share of methane emissions, Michelle Miller, known as The Farm Babe, knew the notion was overcooked. Miller has a large social media following – 166,000 followers on Facebook and nearly 16,000 on Twitter – and could have immediately cooked up some consumer backlash.

Instead, she reached out to Burger King Chief Marketing Officer Fernando Machado and invited him to her Iowa farm for a tour. With the help of Iowa Farm Bureau, Miller set up tours of nearby feed lot operations so Machado could see firsthand what ranchers do to conserve the environment.

“What we’re doing is really cool. What is the next big step? Could the next big marketing trend be highlighting farmers in a really cool way?” Miller asked. “When you dig into what we do, it is really cool and sexy.”

Machado and his team shot video of the tours and produced content highlighting what farmers do.

“It was very insightful for me to see all the hurdles farmers have to go through,” Machado said.

“You don’t think about that if you’re not living in that reality - all of the disinformation and people with not necessarily accurate knowledge of what happens on the farm. I think it was positive because we’re portraying farmers the way they really are.”

To see the Burger King video visit https://gfb.ag/BKvisitvid.

Farm State of Mind: Farm State of Mind: It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on people from all walks of life. In the Farm State of Mind workshop, Colorado Farm Bureau President Chad Vorthmann, Wisconsin dairyman Randy Roecker, This Farm Wife Meredith Bernard of North Carolina and Florida’s Marshal Sewell talked about their experiences and the factors contributing to behavioral and mental struggles among farmers nationwide.

The panel agreed that a sustained push for public awareness is a vital part of any strategy to address rural mental health.

“All the different factors that affect a farm or ranch that are completely out of our control,” said Bernard, who does This Farmer’s Wife blog and podcast. “It’s like that constant battle of trying to look in a crystal ball and try to anticipate what’s going to affect tomorrow.”

Roecker shared his story of falling into depression when he reached the conclusion that he would be the one who lost the family farm started in the 1930s by his grandfather. Roecker emphasized being a good listener and maintaining awareness of people.

“You feel like you’re losing a legacy for your children and their future,” he said.

Roecker has worked with his local health department to promote the QPR (question, persuade, refer) concept in the farm community in hopes of prompting people to look out for one another.

“The thing most important to me is just be there and support each other,” Roecker said. “The uniqueness of agriculture is [that we] just [have] to be there for each other.”

If you or someone you know are considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

GFB Field Notes page 5 of 13 CHINA, COVID-19 CONTINUE AS MAJOR ECONOMIC FACTORS FOR AG IN ’21 During the 2021 Economic Outlook Workshop in the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Virtual Convention, AFBF Chief Economist Dr. John Newton, AFBF Public Affairs Economist Michael Nepveux and AFBF Crop Economist Shelby Myers discussed how the 2021 U.S. crop and livestock markets will play out and major factors that will influence farm profitability this year.

According to Nepveux, the top five issues that will influence how the 2021 livestock market fares are: 1) China’s demand for protein. U.S. pork exports to China increased 45% from 575,000 metric tons (MT) in 2019 to 836,000 mts by Oct. 2020, mostly due to China’s pork herd being decimated

by African Swine Fever in 2018. U.S. beef exports increased 132% from 11,000 mts in 2019 to 25,000 mts by Oct. 2020. China’s demand for quality beef is growing as its middle class expand.

Australia, which has supplied a lot of China’s beef, struggled in 2020 with drought and wildfires.

2) Will COVID-19 cause future slaughter plant disruptions? Nepveux thinks most meat plants have figured out the best way to deal with COVID. “Even though we might still see some disruptions, I don’t believe we’ll see it to the same magnitude we saw in last spring and early summer of 2020,” he said.

3) Foodservice Recovery –how away-from-home food dollars are spent. Nepveux explained that pre-COVID, U.S. food supply chains were established to channel the food supply to restaurants since prior to COVID, the majority of money spent on food in the U.S. was spent away from home. When COVID hit the U.S. in March, it took time to move the food supply back to restaurants.

4) Drought & Cost of Feed. Fifty percent of the U.S. – mostly from Texas to California – is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions, Nepveux said. These drought conditions could increase feeding costs for livestock producers in portions of Mid-Western and Western states where a large percentage of beef production occurs.

5) Fight over price discovery in livestock markets.

The Holcomb plant fire in Kansas in late 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic caused meat prices to skyrocket while the price paid to farmers dropped, Nepveux said. Many producers began to demand price discovery and requiring a certain percentage of livestock to be sold through cash trade with delivery in 14 days. AFBF voting delegates adopted policy to support efforts to increase negotiated sales in fed cattle markets as a way to provide stability in markets. Delegates also called for increased transparency in livestock pricing.

The top five factors U.S. crop producers should watch in 2021 are: 1) Ending stock levels for the 2020 crops combined with ’21 projected crop estimates; 2) China’s increase of grain imports; 3) Decreased crop production in Brazil and Argentina combined with value of the U.S. dollar making our crops more competitive; 4) COVID impacts on crop demand (corn/ethanol); and 5) the revenue potential offered by enrolling in new sustainability programs, AFBF Economist Shelby Myers said. Lower ending stocks of corn and soybeans have pushed prices to -continued on the next page

GFB Field Notes page 6 of 13 Continued from previous page multi-year highs. Global demand is sending prices higher.

For the first time since 2013 corn prices have reached above $4/bushel while soybeans have rose above $10.50/bushel for the first time since 2014 and continue to rise into the teens, Myers said.

USDA forecasts U.S. soybean planted acreage will jump 6% to 89 million acres in 2021 from 83 million acres in 2020 and sit at about 90 million acres through 2030. For corn, USDA expects 2021 planted acres will drop to 90 million acres and sit between 89 to 90 million acres through 2030.

U.S. wheat acreage is projected to rise 4% in 2021 from 44.3 million to 46 million acres. Myers said lower global wheat supplies could lead to higher prices. Russia recently announced an export tax on its wheat that may make the U.S. crop more attractive to global buyers.

U.S. cotton acres are projected to drop slightly this year about 6% from 13.5 million acres to 11.9 million acres despite recent increases in global purchases of cotton. The USDA projects planted cotton acreage to sit around 12.8 million through 2030.

According to AFBF’s Newton, the top five policy issues U.S. agriculture will face in 2021 are: 1) COVID-19 recovery - Specifically how long until we see mass vaccinations and a return to normality; 2) Expected decrease in ad hoc support federal government gives agriculture after the $13 billion included in the latest COVID relief package is disbursed. Since 2018 agriculture has been allocated more than $45 billion in support to offset retaliatory tariffs and the impact of COVID19.

3)What happens with China trade negotiations & Phase 1. Newton said ag exports to China will most likely fall short of the $33/$36 billion the country agreed to buy in 2020, but exports would reach levels close to 2012’s record exports of $27 billion.

4) Need to strengthen safety net programs in 2023 farm bill: “When you look at the amount of disaster assistance and ad hoc support that has been needed for trade and Covid it’s become clear that the current safety net is not adequate enough to help farmers and ranchers,” Newton said.

5) Climate – ag having a seat at the table for policy discussions. “Climate smart agriculture is a public good so agriculture has to find a way to work with Congress and the Biden Administration and the USDA to provide the proper voluntary financial incentives [to farmers] to expand adoption of climate smart practices to make carbon sequestration a new revenue stream for ag.

USDA EXPANDS AND UPDATES CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM On Jan. 15, the USDA announced that it will provide additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), expanding eligibility for some agricultural producers and commodities as well as updating payments to accurately compensate some producers who already applied for the program. Producers who are now eligible and those who need to modify existing applications due to these updates can contact USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26. Some of these changes are being made to align with the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 while others are discretionary -continued on the next page

GFB Field Notes 7 of 13 Continued from previous page changes being made in response to ongoing evaluation of CFAP. Expanded Eligibility: Contract producers of swine, broilers, laying hens, chicken eggs and turkeys who suffered a drop in revenue in 2020 as compared to their 2019 revenue because of the pandemic now are eligible for assistance. Producers could receive up to 80% of their revenue loss, subject to the availability of funds.

Producers of pullets and turfgrass sod also now are eligible for CFAP payments. The commodities were not explicitly included in the initial CFAP 2 rule. Payments are based on eligible sales, and the payment calculation in the updated rule includes crop insurance indemnities, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) payments.

Updated Payment Calculations: The FSA adjusted the payment calculation to use the producer’s eligible 2019 calendar year sales, and 2019 crop insurance indemnities, NAP, and WHIP+ payments, multiplied by the applicable payment rate for all sales commodities, which include specialty crops, aquaculture, tobacco, specialty livestock, nursery crops and floriculture, for CFAP 2. Producers who applied during the sign-up period that closed Dec. 11, 2020, can modify an existing CFAP 2 application between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26, 2021.

Additionally, FSA adjusted the payment calculation for certain row crops for CFAP 2, specifically those for which a producer had crop insurance coverage but not an available 2020 Actual Production History (APH) approved yield. FSA is now using 100% of the 2019 Agriculture Risk Coverage-County Option (ARC-CO) benchmark yield to calculate payments when an APH is not available rather than 85%, which was in the original CFAP 2 calculations. This calculation change is only for producers with crop insurance coverage who grow barley, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, upland cotton and wheat. Producers who applied during the sign-up period that closed Dec. 11, 2020, can modify an existing CFAP 2 application between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26, 2021.

CFAP 1 ‘Top-up’ Payments for Swine: The FSA is providing an additional CFAP 1 inventory payment for swine to help producers who face continuing market disruptions from changes in U.S. meat consumption due to the pandemic. Swine producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will soon automatically receive a “top-up” payment of $17 per head, increasing the total CFAP1 inventory payment to $34 per head.

Newly eligible producers who need to submit a CFAP 2 application or producers who need to modify an existing one can do so between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26, 2021, by contacting their local USDA Service Center. New applicants can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364.

In addition to the changes being made to CFAP, per language in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, FSA will extend 2020 Marketing Assistance Loans to provide additional flexibilities for farmers. FSA is also preparing to move forward on implementation of the remaining provisions of the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

To learn more about this additional assistance, visit www.farmers.gov/cfap.

GFB Field Notes page 8 of 13 UGA EXTENSION COMMODITY PRODUCTION MEETINGS GO VIRTUAL The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension plans to hold its 2021 commodity production meetings online. Some county Extension offices will host viewing sessions. Meetings will be held for corn & soybean, cotton, peanut, and vegetable and peanut producers.

CORN & SOYBEAN: Meetings will be held online, and some county Extension offices will host viewing sessions.

Specialists from the University of Georgia Extension Grains Team will discuss current topics covering agronomics, fertility, irrigation, pest control, and economics with results from recent field trials. Pesticide and CCA license credits are available for attendees.

If you are going to watch the meetings from your own computer you must use the link below to register for the meeting in order to receive your access link. NOTE: Registration will close 24 hours prior to each meeting. For more information, contact your County Extension office. If you need CCA, CEU and/or GA Pesticide credits your license number and county information must be entered into the registration form as well. Zoom links to access the meetings will be emailed to the email address entered at registration the day of the meeting.

If you are attending a viewing session hosted by your county Extension office then preregistration via Eventbrite is not necessary; however, you MUST preregister with your local office to attend (in compliance with all UGA COVID-19 requirements). All CCA, CEU, and pesticide credit information will be collected in your county office. The dates are: Jan. 29, 9 a.m.

– 11:30 a.m. and Feb. 16, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

To register, visit https://ugacornandsoybean2021.eventbrite.com/.

COTTON: Specialists from the University of Georgia Extension Cotton Team will discuss current topics covering agronomics, fertility, irrigation, pest management, and economics with recent field trial results.

These talks will be presented on multiple days through January and February. Pesticide and CCA license credits are being applied for and will be available for attendees. Please only register for one date. The dates are: Jan. 28, 9:30 a.m. – noon; Feb. 2, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Feb. 24, 9:30 a.m. – noon.

To register, visit https://2021ugacotton.eventbrite.com.

PEANUT: Specialists from the University of Georgia Extension Peanut Team will discuss current topics covering agronomics, fertility, irrigation, pest management, and economics with recent field trial results. Registration for these meetings will close 24 hours prior to the meeting.

These talks will be presented on multiple days in February. Pesticide and CCA license credits are being applied for and will be available for attendees. Please only register for one date. The dates are: Feb. 3, 9:30 a.m. – noon; Feb. 18, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Feb. 22, 9:30 a.m. – noon.

To register, visit: www.2021ugapeanut.eventbrite.com.

PECAN: Specialists from the UGA Extension Pecan Team will discuss current topics covering agronomics, fertility, irrigation, disease & pest management, and economics with recent field trial results.

These talks will be presented on three separate days through January, February, and March to -continued on the next page

GFB Field Notes page 9 of 13 Continued from previous page accommodate your schedule as best possible. Pesticide credits are being applied for and will be available for attendees. Please only register for one date. The dates are: Jan. 21, 6 p.m.; Feb. 9, 9 a.m.; March 9, 6 p.m.

To register, visit https://ugapecan2021.eventbrite.com/.

VEGETABLE: Specialists from the UGA Extension Vegetable team will discuss current topics covering insects, plant diseases, variety trials and nematode and fumigation. Pesticide credits are being applied for and will be available for attendees. Attendees will just sign into the chat box at the beginning and sign out at the end of the meeting to get credit. The meeting will be held on Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. Pre-registration is not required. To attend, on Jan. 26, visit https://gfb.ag/UGAExtVegProdWkshp.

FINAL RULE MODERNIZES H-2A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM On. Jan. 15, The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule that modernizes the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Labor Certification Program.

The Department’s Employment and Training Administration and Wage and Hour Division issued this final rule in response to the extensive public comments received from farmers, farmworkers, as well as advocates and associations for both groups from across the country, according to a DOL press release.

The rule mandates electronic filing of job orders and applications, bringing the H-2A application process into the digital era. The DOL said this will harness the power of electronic filing through the Foreign Labor Application Gateway system to share information with federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, and with State Workforce Systems and domestic farmworkers.

It also provides small employers that cannot offer full-time work for their H-2A employees with an opportunity to participate in the H-2A program by establishing new standards that permit individual employers possessing the same need for agricultural services or labor to file a single application and job order to employ workers jointly in full-time employment.

Additionally, the rule will provide additional flexibilities that will reduce unnecessary burdens on the agricultural employers that use the program. These flexibilities include the ability to stagger the entry of workers into the country over a 120-day period, allowing agricultural employers the flexibility to file a single application for different start dates of need within a certified employment period instead of filing multiple applications.

The DOL said the rule will strengthen protections for U.S. and foreign workers by enhancing standards applicable to rental housing and public accommodations, strengthening surety bond requirements, and expanding the Department’s authority to use enforcement tools like program debarment for substantial violations of program rules.

Learn more about H-2A Temporary Agricultural Labor Certification Program at www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/programs/h-2a. The Department will publish the final rule in the Federal Register at a later date.

GFB Field Notes page 10 of 13 GEORGIA CORN, PEANUT, SOYBEAN PRODUCTION MADE GAINS IN 2020 Georgia corn, peanut and soybean producers significantly increased production in 2020, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Annual Crop Production report released Jan. 12.

Georgia corn for grain production totaled 70.2 million bushels, an increase of 25% from 2019, mainly due to a record high 180 bushels per acre year in 2020.

Conversely, peanut production, at 3.28 billion pounds, was up 19 percent from 2019 due to an increase in planted acreage.

Soybean production, at 3.90 million bushels, was up 56 percent from the previous year due to a 12 bushel increase in yield compared with 2019.

Cotton production, at 2.18 million bales, was down 20% from 2019, due primarily to a decrease in planted acreage.

With tobacco harvested acres at the lowest level since 1918, production in 2020 totaled 19.3 million pounds.

Georgia farmers planted an estimated 170,000 acres for crop year 2021, a decrease of 11% from 2020.

GEORGIA BLUEBERRY COMMISSION TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR ONE SEAT The Georgia Blueberry Commission is taking nominations for a person to fill the unexpired term of Russ Goodman. The deadline for applications is Jan. 31. If interested, a person must be a blueberry grower in Georgia and must be willing to commit to meetings and activities of the Blueberry Commission. The term will end in summer of 2023.

Goodman is stepping down from duties as a member of the Blueberry Commission to allow more time to devote to his responsibilities of representing District 8 in the Georgia State Senate.

Those interested can find a nominee form at www.agr.georgia.gov/cpf, under blueberry in the nomination forms column. Please complete, scan and email to andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov.

For more information contact Harrison at 404-710-1196.

GFB Field Notes page 11 of 13 MANAGING NEMATODES IN VEGETABLES WEBINAR Jan. 25 1 p.m.-4p.m.

Virtual Zoom Meeting

This will be an online workshop via ZOOM. Extension and USDA researchers from Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, South & North Carolina will discuss nematode management issues for pepper, cucumber, tomato, squash, watermelon, carrot, potato and sweet potato production. The workshop is open to faculty, students, Extension agents, agricultural consultants and growers. The zoom link will be sent to registrants via email one day before the meeting. Registration is free! To register, visit www.gfb.ag/vegetablenematodeworkshop.

CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR TOMATOES, PECANS Jan. 31 deadline to apply Georgia fresh market tomato and pecan producers have until Jan. 31 to apply for crop insurance coverage or make changes to existing coverage for the 2021 crop year. Coverage for fresh market tomatoes is available for growers in Colquitt, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole and Tift counties. Pecan coverage is available in select counties Please contact your insurance agent to see if your county is covered. Growers are encouraged to contact their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2021 crop year. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers by visiting the RMA agent locator at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.

USDA/1890 NATIONAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM Jan. 31, 2021 deadline to apply The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program. The program provides full tuition, fees, books, room/board & a summer internship to students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. When the student has completed the academic & summer work requirements of the scholarship, USDA may convert the student to a permanent employee without further competition. To apply, visit https://gfb.ag/USDA1890scholarsapp.

UGA 28TH GENETICALLY ENHANCED EPDs SALE Feb. 11 noon online only The UGA 28th Edition Focus on Genetically Enhanced EPDs sale will be conducted through LiveAuctions.tv2.0. The sale includes 52 Angus bulls, two Hereford bulls, one SimAngus bull, one registered Angus heifer and 10 Angus and Angus-cross commercial heifers. Contact Carroll T. Cannon at 229-881-0721, 229-881-2705 or CannonMarketingCompany@gmail.com for more information.

GFB Field Notes page 12 of 13 FARM BUREAU ART & ESSAY CONTESTS Feb. 26, 2021 deadline to submit entries to county offices County Farm Bureau chapters across the state are accepting entries to the 2021 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Middle School Essay and High School Art Contests. GFB’s Certified Farm Markets are the focus of both contests. Middle school students entering the essay contest are being asked to discuss how GFB Certified Farm Markets and agritourism in general benefit farmers and consumers. High schoolers entering the art contest should draw a scene depicting one of the almost 80 GFB Certified Farm Markets located across Georgia. Students may enter the contests in the county in which they live or attend school but not both. To enter either contest, students should contact their county Farm Bureau for an official entry form and complete contest rules. County Farm Bureau contest winners will be entered in GFB district competition. All entries must be officially submitted by a county Farm Bureau to the Georgia Farm Bureau home office. All entries must be received at local county Farm Bureau offices by Feb. 26, 2021; county Farm Bureaus must submit their county winners to GFB for state judging by March 12, 2021. Visit www.gfb.ag/21artcontest or www.gfb.ag/21essaycontest for contest details.

CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR MULTIPLE FIELD CROPS Feb. 28 deadline to apply Georgia producers of corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanut, sesame, soybean producers have until Feb. 28 to apply for crop insurance coverage or make changes to existing coverage for the 2021 crop year. Growers who are interested in the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) policy and are calendar year or early fiscal year filers, have until Feb. 28 to apply for crop insurance. Coverage is available for corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanuts, soybeans, and WFRP in select Georgia counties. Coverage is also available for sesame in Burke, Emanuel, Jefferson, and Jenkins counties. Please contact your insurance agent to see if your county is covered. Growers are encouraged to contact their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2021 crop year. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers by visiting the RMA agent locator at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html.

Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.

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 2020 GFB Quality Hay Contest receive a free listing in the online GFB Hay Directory.

GFB Field Notes page 13 of 13 DAIRY VOLUNTEERS LEND A LISTENING EAR FOR THOSE IN STRESS Are you a dairy farmer who would like to talk to a fellow farmer or industry friend about the stress you’re experiencing? Georgia Milk Producers has partnered with dairy groups in other Southeastern states to compile a list of dairy producers who are volunteering to talk with fellow farmers & dairy industry employees as the dairy sector navigates these difficult times.

Click here to access the list of volunteers & other tips/suggestions for dealing with stress.