Georgia Farm Bureau's Jan. 26 Field Notes

PEANUT SHOW SPEAKERS DISCUSS ALLERGIES & FARM BILL

Peanut producers and industry allies attending the 46th Annual Georgia Peanut Show Jan 19 heard updates on numerous policy issues from various speakers during the event lunch.

National Peanut Board President & CEO Bob Parker encouraged members of the peanut sector to submit comments before Feb. 21 asking the USDA Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) to include peanut butter in the food packages given to families through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Parker explained that the USDA FNS has proposed updates to its food package program that do not include peanut butter, which research has shown should be introduced to infants beginning as early as 4-6 months help prevent peanut allergies. The early introduction of peanut-containing foods is encouraged in the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Allergies are the biggest single barrier too peanut consumption,” Parker said. “Research has shown that giving children a little bit of peanut butter starting between four and six months of age reduces their risk of developing a peanut allergy by up to 86 percent. Early introduction of peanuts to children has the potential to prevent an estimated 34,000 peanut allergies each year among WIC recipients alone. If peanut protein is not included in the WIC food packages, peanut allergies could disproportionately affect food insecure families and health inequity will increase.”

Peanut groups calculate the cost of feeding an infant the amount of peanut butter it needs from six through 11 months to prevent allergies to be $4.88 while the estimated annual cost of managing a peanut allergy for a child is $4,184.

Visit www.earlyintroductionforall.org to learn more about the issue and to submit comments encouraging the USDA to include peanut butter to Food Package II for infants ages six through 11 months.

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee and Washington lobbyist Bob Redding discussed efforts being made to pass a new farm bill before the current one -continued on next page

Photo by Logan Thomas

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“It’s probably one of the toughest bills to get passed, so you need to work closely with your associations, and we need to know what you need sooner rather than later,” Scott said. “Over half of the House members have never voted on a farm bill and about one-third of the Senate hasn’t.”

Redding predicted that the new farm bill would result in minor changes to existing programs.

“These farm bills are evolutionary with minor changes or revolutionary with major changes,” Redding said. “This year is likely to be an evolutionary year, which is what you want.”

Georgia’s new Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper thanked his predecessor Gary Black for his service and for leaving Georgia’s Department of Agriculture in good standing.

“The transition we worked on together went very smoothly. We’re working hard to make certain your department of agriculture is one you can continue to be proud of,” Harper said. “You’ll see a few new faces but most of Commissioner Black’s staff we’re keeping and I told them to keep working hard to promote Georgia Grown products, including peanuts.”

GA PEANUT COMMISSION HONORS FARMERS & INDUSTRY SUPPORTERS

One of the highlights of the 46th Annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show & Conference held Jan. 19 was the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) honoring the individuals and teams who have helped advance Georgia’s peanut sector.

Before the show kicked off at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, the GPC and Agri Supply named the 2023 Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmers during a breakfast for the award recipients and their guests. This award is presented annually to a peanut producer from each of the commission’s five districts. The award recognizes farmers who have the passion, diligence, leadership and desire to see Georgia’s peanut industry continue to be the highest quality.

The Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmers for each GPC district are: District 1, St. Elmo Harrison of Grady County; District 2, Armond Morris of Tift County; District 3, Lamar Black of Jenkins County; District 4, Barry Martin of Pulaski County; and District 5, Jack Miller of Lee and Sumter counties. Each are Farm Bureau members in their respective counties.

Mitchell County Farm Bureau member Adam Curles received the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award from the GPC and BASF. Curles was recognized for utilizing innovative stewardship practices on the farm to reduce his carbon footprint and water usage. He is active with several community and ag organizations in Mitchell County and across Georgia.

The Honorable Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, was inducted into the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame. As the seventh recipient of this honor, a portrait of Perdue unveiled at the peanut show awards lunch, will be displayed at the GPC’s Tifton headquarters.

Prior to his current role, Perdue was the 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and led the USDA from 2017-2021. He also served two terms as the governor of Georgia from 2003-2011 and was a member of the Georgia Senate from 1991 to 2001, where he chaired the Senate Higher Education Committee and eventually became Senate President Pro Tem.

The GPC presented additional awards to individuals and businesses for their service to the peanut industry and promotion of peanuts. These awards and recipients are: Distinguished Service

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Award – Gary Black, former Georgia Agriculture Commissioner; Research and Education Award

Calvin Perry, retired superintendent of the University of Georgia’s C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park, and the UGA Peanut Team; Innovator Award – Dr. William D. Branch, UGA peanut variety breeder; Promotion Award - Bob Parker, National Peanut Board president; Media Award – Peanut Farm Market News, published by Tyron Spearman, Angela Elder and Rosalie Reeder; ; and the Georgia Peanut Special Award to Dr. Darlene Cowart, Birdsong Peanuts vice president of food safety/quality.

Cole Godowns of Louisville, Ga., won the show’s grand door prize donated by Kelley Manufacturing Co. - a season’s use of a new KMC peanut combine with the option to buy the combine from a KMC dealer with $15,000 off the list price after the 2023 season, as well as a cash prize.

Amadas Industries provided a grower door prize to Austin Griffin of Ocilla, Ga., and Gary Paulk of Wray, Ga. Griffin received a customized Grizzly cooler and a certificate towards the purchase of a new Amadas self-propelled peanut combine, pull-type peanut combine, peanut digger or peanut dump cart. Paulk received a customized Grizzly cooler and a certificate for Amadas parts.

CORN GROWERS LEARN LATEST CROP PRACTICES, RECOGNIZE TOP YIELDS

During the 2023 Georgia Corn Short Course, held Jan. 17 in Tifton, corn growers from around the state heard updates on irrigation scheduling, nutrient management the use of drones as sprayers and more, as well as recognized the state’s top producers.

Irrigation scheduling

UGA Extension Ag and Irrigation Specialist Wesley Porter detailed factors to consider when scheduling irrigation on corn.

“We won’t reduce our yield if we overirrigate,” Porter said. “We do reduce profitability, because watering is expensive.”

Irrigating using electric-powered pumping can cost about $7 per acre, while diesel-powered irrigation can cost $20 per acre. As a result, conserving water through scheduling to coincide with corn’s growth stages can help ensure that the water is used effectively.

Porter suggested using soil moisture sensors in combination with computer modeling to optimize water use.

Porter, who serves on the American Farm Bureau Federation Issue Advisory Committee for Technology, noted yield reductions for moisture stress at various stages of corn growth. In the vegetative stages up to tasseling, moisture stress can result in yield losses ranging from 10% to 40%. Moisture stress during tasseling and soft dough stages can reduce yields between 20% and 50%, and moisture stress occuring between soft dough and maturity can result in yield loss of 10% to 35%.

Porter said that although Georgia received twice as much rain in 2021 as in 2020, the timing of -continued on next page

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Continued from previous page the rainfall minimized its benefits to the state’s corn crop.

UGA offers a collection of budgeting tools for a variety of crops grown in Georgia at https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html.

Adaptive Nutrient Management

In a discussion of plant tissue analyses and adaptive nutrient management in corn, Dr. Henry Sintim pointed out that corn is very sensitive to nutrient imbalances, and symptoms can show up in less than two days.

Sintim, an assistant professor and Extension soil fertility expert, emphasized that soil testing is critical for making decisions on applying nutrients to soil where corn is grown. For a calculator to determine needed nutrient management implementation, click here.

(https://Aesl.ces.uga.edu/calculators/ugfertex)

Spray drones

Dr. Simer Virk, a UGA Extension precision agriculture specialist, shared the university’s research into use of drone sprayers, including the scale of possible use, how to organize aerial passes to achieve full coverage, Federal Aviation Administration regulations and how air disturbs from propellers can be turned into an advantage.

“Spray drone is another application tool for crop protection,” Virk said. “They are not here to compete with or replace ground application equipment.”

Drones currently available have limited battery life and payload capabilities, making them better suited for spot spraying relatively small areas, including those at field edges where primary spray equipment cannot reach.

Corn Yield Contest winners

UGA Extension honored the winners of the 2022 Georgia Corn Yield Contest. The winners were:

Conventional irrigated: First place - Jonathan Hitchcock, Washington County (324.7 bushels per acre); second place – James Hitchcock, Washington County (318.2 bushels per acre).

Strip-till irrigated: First place – James Hitchcock, Washington County (322 bushels per acre); second place – Jonathan Hitchcock, Washington County (312 bushels per acre); third place – Ben Jackson, Johnson County (302 bushels per acre).

No-till irrigated: First place - Jonathan Hitchcock, Washington County (319 bushels per acre); Second place - Steven Wischmeier, Bleckley County, (306.5 bushels per acre); third place - Mark Ariail, Franklin County (244 bushels per acre).

Conventional non-irrigated: First place – Wallace Anderson, Gilmer County (273 bushels per acre).

FARMERS GENERALLY HESITANT TO DIVE INTO CARBON MARKETS

There is a strong case that agricultural soil is a viable tool for storing, or sequestering, carbon. It can be done. On the question of whether doing so can be used to generate income through carbon markets, farmers aren’t yet sold.

A pair of Purdue University professors, Dr. Shalamar Armstrong and Dr. Nathanael Thompson, presented current information on field crops’ relationship with U.S. carbon markets during the 2023 UGA Corn Short Course, held Jan. 17 in Tifton.

Armstrong, an associate professor in the Purdue department of agronomy, reviewed how carbon sequestration works and offered research showing the potential carbon storage yield in the United States.

There are three general components in the short-term global carbon cycle: Pools, which have the capacity to store, accumulate or release carbon; sinks, which absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they release, and sources, which are natural or artificial producers of carbon or carbon-based compounds.

Soils are one of the main pools, and in agricultural situations they can be sinks with certain production practices, primarily through reduced tillage and double-cropping, Armstrong said. Tillage disturbs the soil, prompting microbial organisms to metabolize carbon in the soil release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Reducing tillage leaves carbon in the soil.

Carbon is captured through photosynthesis, so increasing the time that plants are photosynthesizing increases the amount of carbon captured.

“If you’re growing corn and then you come back and you grow rye behind it, you’ve just moved from a single-cropping carbon system to a double-cropping carbon system,” Armstrong said. “Two different crops, two different plants, two different sets of roots in the ground, multiple periods of time, causes greater photosynthetic capture of carbon. Then the potential increase in soil organic carbon, the conversion from those plants into some semipermanent pool of carbon .... that generates what we call a carbon credit.”

Nationally, U.S. agriculture has the potential to store as much as 187 million tons of carbon.

It's the credits that can be bought and sold. A company can buy a carbon credit from the government, allowing that company to generate defined quantities of CO2 gasses. Or, the company can buy carbon offsets from other non-governmental entities. A farmer who is generating carbon credits can sell them as offsets to an entity looking to reduce its carbon footprint.

Thompson, an associate professor of agricultural economics at Purdue, said that farmers to this point have been slow to enter the carbon markets. He cited data from the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, a survey of 400 farmers about their sentiments regarding the farm economy. Thompson noted that the survey pool is generally representative of U.S. agriculture, and it shows that between February 2021 and August 2022, less than 9% of respondents had discussions with companies about receiving payments for capturing carbon. And less than 1.5% entered into contracts to sell their carbon as offsets.

“These markets are in their infancy,” Thompson said. “There are a lot of unknowns, a lot of details that need to be figured out.”

In large part, farmers have been slow to enter the carbon market because the money being -continued on next page

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Continued from previous page offered falls short of offsetting the cost of adopting carbon-capturing practices. Current prices, he said, range between $10 and $20 per metric ton (2,205 pounds). The cost to convert from conventional tillage to conservation tillage is about $40 per acre. Thompson said that if a farmer is capturing 0.5 metric tons per acre, that farmer would have to sell at a price of $80 per acre to cover the cost of conversion.

“It all relates to economics in terms of cost vs. benefits,” Thompson said. “There’s quite a bit of work left to be done on the price side.”

REVIEW YOUR BROADBAND OPTIONS; STATE GRANTS AWARDED

Rural homes are beginning to see expansion of internet services in their areas, however many are not as fast as homeowners would like or as accurate as what information is being shared. A variety of internet providers claim to service particular areas without ever offering actual data to support that claim.

Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released what it is calling a “draft broadband coverage map.” This map offers Georgia residents an opportunity to review their home address to see what broadband and cellular services are available to them, while also challenging the map should they see invalid information.

It is important to take action to ensure that your information is being counted correctly. Georgia Farm Bureau encourages each family to take a few moments to view the FCC map.

(https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home)

Once you have entered your address, it will show you the providers that service your area, if any. If the reported information is not correct, you can submit your information immediately for review, once you have challenged the information listed.

As policymakers continue to prioritize expansion of rural broadband, they need the most accurate information to do so and this map will allow them to see real time, accurate information from the homeowners themselves.

For more information or to check your broadband services, please review the map. It will be a great assistance to those working toward improving the state of Georgia's rural options.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 4 the state announced more than $234 million in 29 preliminary grant awards for broadband internet expansion through the Capital Projects Fund Grant Program. These awards will improve connectivity for communities, households, businesses, and anchor institutions in 28 Georgia counties. When combined with significant capital matches from the awardees, almost $455 million will be invested to serve over 76,000 locations in communities with some the greatest need for high-speed internet access.

The Capital Projects Fund Grant Program, created in August 20220, utilizes funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget and the Georgia Technology Authority worked together to identify the most unserved and underserved counties in -continued on next page

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Continued from previous page the state and establish a competitive grant program.

The 29 awardees include 12 different internet service providers comprised of EMCs, large telecommunications companies, and local Georgia-based companies. The state will open a second round of the Capital Projects Fund Grant Program for the five eligible counties that did not receive an award this spring (Calhoun, Echols, Johnson, Miller, and Webster Counties).

To view the entire award list, click here. (https://gov.georgia.gov/sites/gov.georgia.gov/files/202301/Broadband_Awards_Jan._2023.jpg)

USDA ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE FOR DAIRIES

On Jan. 23, the USDA announced details of additional assistance for dairy producers, including a second round of payments through the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) and a new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). The update to PMVAP and the new ODMAP will enable USDA to better support small- and medium-sized dairy operations who weathered the pandemic and now face other challenges.

PMVAP assists producers who received a lower value due to market abnormalities caused by the pandemic and ensuing Federal policies. As a result of the production cap increase, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will make PMVAP payments to eligible dairy farmers for fluid milk sales between 5 million and 9 million pounds from July through December 2020. This level of production was not eligible for payment under the first round of the PMVAP.

Payment rates will be identical to the first round of payments, 80 percent of the revenue difference per month, on fluid milk sales from 5 million to 9 million pounds from July through December 2020. USDA will again distribute monies through agreements with independent handlers and cooperatives, with reimbursement to handlers for allowed administrative costs. USDA will contact handlers with eligible producers to notify them of the opportunity to participate.

As part of the first round, PMVAP paid eligible dairy farmers on up to 5 million pounds of fluid milk sales from July through December 2020. The first round of payments distributed more than $250 million in payments to more than 25,000 eligible dairy farmers. These dairy farmers received the full allowable reimbursement on fluid milk sales up to 5 million pounds.

More information about the PMVAP production cap increase is available at www.ams.usda.gov/pmvap

The new ODMAP, to be administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is intended to help smaller organic dairy farms that have faced a unique set of challenges and higher costs over the past several years that have been compounded by the ongoing pandemic and drought conditions across the country.

Many small organic dairy operations are now struggling to stay in business and FSA plans to provide payments to cover a portion of their estimated marketing costs for 2023. Final spending will depend on enrollment and each producers projected production, but ODMAP has been

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Continued from previous page allocated up to $100 million.

The assistance provided by ODMAP will be provided through unused Commodity Credit Corporation funds remaining from earlier pandemic assistance programs. The assistance will help eligible organic dairy producers with up to 75% of their future projected marketing costs in 2023, based on national estimates of marketing costs. This assistance will be provided through a application process based on a national per hundredweight payment. The payments will be capped at the first five million pounds of anticipated production, in alignment with preexisting dairy programs that target assistance to those smaller dairies that are most vulnerable to marketing challenges. This program is still in development.

Information about the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program will be available and updated at www.farmers.gov as more details are released in a Notice of Funds Availability later this year.

FARMS SUSTAIN DAMAGE FROM JAN. 12 TORNADOES

A series of Jan. 12 thunderstorms produced numerous tornadoes across the southern states, leaving at least nine people dead and a wide swath of damage to homes, businesses and property, including farms.

The National Weather Service confirmed a dozen tornadoes touched down in Georgia on Jan. 12, ravaging parts of Butts, Cobb, Henry, Jasper, McDuffie, Meriwether, Newton, Pike, Spalding and Warren counties

Multiple private farms and the UGA Griffin campus sustained damage to agricultural assets.

On Andy Garland’s family farm in southern Henry County, an 80-foot by 40-foot barn lost about half of its tin roofing, leaving equipment exposed. The barn is a converted poultry house that the family uses to store equipment, work inside and have family gatherings.

Garland said this was the third time this barn has lost roofing from strong winds since the family has farmed there.

“I’ve got tarps over my baler. All my tractors are in there,” Garland said. “It’s not just a building. There’s a lot of history in that building.”

In Meriwether County, cattleman Darrell McCoy lost a mile of fencing, had damage to his barn, had one steer killed and lost a stand of timber. McCoy, who owns Oak Hill Cattle, estimated his total damage at $750,000.

“It definitely could have been worse, because it could easily have moved probably 25 feet and it would have taken my entire house out,” McCoy said. “Or it could have went the other way and would have took our hay barn out that had just been finished this year.”

There were reports of pastured poultry operations in Newton County that were damaged by the storms.

At UGA Griffin, multiple greenhouses and other farm buildings were damaged, and the campus lost numerous large oak trees. Several campus buildings were damaged by falling trees, and the campus was closed for several days while cleanup work was being done.

UGA STUDY REVEALS DIFFICULTY IN SEEKING HELP FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Agribusiness is Georgia’s leading industry, but it takes a mighty toll on the mental health of the farmers driving it.

A new study from the University of Georgia, which was published in the Journal of Rural Mental Health, details the norms that make it hard for farmers to seek help when they’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. The results will be used to develop support programs that are tailored to farmers’ needs.

Owning and managing a farm incurs unique stresses on the farmers’ well-being.

“Farmers are not only physically at risk, but they’re also financially at risk, and the stress associated with both of those things are hurting their mental health, overall. In general, there’s a lot out of their control,” said principal investigator Christina Proctor, clinical assistant professor at UGA’s College of Public Health.

Farmers work long hours performing labor-intensive, repetitive tasks. This work can be dangerous, and accidents can be life-threatening. Then there’s the financial burden farms take on at the start of their season to grow crops or raise livestock. If there’s a bad year or an unforeseen disaster, like a major storm that wipes out crops or an outbreak of avian flu, there’s little aid to help farmers recoup losses.

“Having to count on everything lining up for you is a highly stressful kind of work environment,” said Proctor.

To cope, some farmers turn to alcohol or other substances, and suicide rates are on the rise. Yet, farmers tend to be overlooked in conversations about mental health.

This paper, led by public health doctoral student Noah Hopkins, investigated the cultural factors and norms in rural farming communities that create unique barriers to care beyond the health care access concerns that have been plaguing rural areas across the U.S.

They conducted in-depth interviews with 15 full-time farmers living in 10 rural counties across Georgia and identified four main themes that may prevent farmers from accessing health care: 1) cultural norms in the farming community, 2) normative beliefs about health care in the farming community, 3) stigma around mental health in the farming community, and 4) formal health care concerns.

All the farmers reported feeling immense stress in their work, and many of them experienced anxiety and some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet, reaching out for help, even to a neighbor, is perceived as a sign of weakness.

“Masculinity was a massive influence on the farmers that we spoke to and their intentions to even have a conversation about mental health care with their peers. We’re a long way away from somebody sitting down and talking to a therapist or a psychiatrist or anything like that,” said Hopkins.

The participants had watched their parents and grandparents deal with stress over the course of their lifetime.

“And so that reinforces this belief that if you’re a farmer, well if you’re a man in general, you are supposed to just take it on the chin and carry on and weather the storm in the face of tremendous -continued on next page

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Continued from previous page odds,” said Hopkins.

“There is also some reticence to acknowledge that that image of the resilient, tough farmer may not always be accurate,” he said.

Hopkins says he hopes this work can build awareness of the challenges farmers are facing among consumers who rely on them.

“This is a group of people that feeds the entire country. It’s a remarkably small amount of the population of the United States,” he said. “It is critical that our farmers are healthy and enjoying the work that they do and feel a part of the greater population.”

AFBF, AG AND BUSINESS GROUPS FILE LEGAL CHALLENGE TO WOTUS RULE

On Jan. 18, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and 16 other business and agriculture advocacy groups filed suit in federal court to stop the new Waters of the United States Rule set by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The rule was finalized on Dec. 29, 2022, and published in the Federal Register on Jan. 18.

“Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources we’re entrusted with. Clean water is important to all of us,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Unfortunately, the new WOTUS rule once again gives the federal government sweeping authority over private lands. This isn’t what clean water regulations were intended to do. Farmers and ranchers should not have to hire a team of lawyers and consultants to determine how we can farm our land.”

In the suit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court of Southern Texas, AFBF alleges that the rule makes clear that the EPA and Corps of Engineers are determined to exert Clean Water Act jurisdiction over an extensive range of dry land and water features - whether large or small; permanent, intermittent, or ephemeral; flowing or stagnant; natural or manmade; interstate or intrastate; and no matter how remote from or lacking in a physical connection to actual navigable waters.

The groups say their members will constantly be at risk that any sometimes-wet feature on their property will be deemed WOTUS by the agencies using vague and unpredictable standards making normal business activities in that area subject to criminal and civil penalties.

“The new rule is vague and creates uncertainty for America’s farmers, even if they’re miles from the nearest navigable water. We believe a judge will recognize these regulations exceed the scope of the Clean Water Act, and direct EPA to develop rules that enable farmers to protect natural resources while ensuring they can continue stocking America’s pantries.”

AFBF is joined in the suit by the American Petroleum Institute, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, the Associated General Contractors of America, the Leading Builders of America, Matagorda County (Texas) Farm Bureau, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Realtors, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Mining Association, the National Multifamily Housing Council, the National Pork Producers Council, the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, the Public Lands Council, Texas Farm Bureau, and the U.S. Poultry and Egg

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Continued from previous page Association.

To read the AFBF suit, click here.

The rule goes into effect March 20.

In a separate action, the state of Texas has also filed suit in the U.S. District Court of Southern Texas against the EPA and Corps of Engineers seeking to stop the WOTUS rule. Texas claims the rule is unconstitutional and reverses precedents already established by the Supreme Court.

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2023 GEORGIA AG FORECAST

Jan. 27 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center

8:30 a.m. Tifton

In this annual event, UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences economists provide an outlook of agricultural markets for the coming year and speakers focus on important and trending topics. USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board Deputy Chairman William Chambers will give the keynote address. To view the agenda and download the Georgia Ag Forecast Report, visit https://agforecast.caes.uga.edu/.

2023 FLAVOR OF GEORGIA FOOD PRODUCT CONTEST

Jan. 30 deadline to register

Registration is now open for the 2023 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. 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 March 6-8. Finalists will be announced March 10, and the final round will be held in Athens on March 28. To register and see full contest rules and more information about Flavor of Georgia, click here https://flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu/registration.html.

2023 MENTAL HEALTH DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Jan. 31 Georgia Freight Depot

8 a.m. - noon 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. For more information, click here.

BEEF CATTLE 101 EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Jan. 31-March 4 Barnesville Civic Center

685 Forsyth St. Barnesville

This innovative cattle workshop is sponsored by the Lamar County Soil & Water Conservation District, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, UGA Cooperative Extension and Two Rivers Soil & Water Conservation District. The course is designed for beginning and small farmers interested in farming operations and optimal farming techniques. Seminars will be held from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. each Tuesday Jan. 31 – Feb. 28, with a field day on Saturday, March 4 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Registration is $100 per person. Register in person at the Barnesville NRCS field office. For more information, contact Lisa Minick at 770-358-0787, ext. 3 or lisa.minick@usda.gov.

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CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE

Feb 6 deadline to submit responses

The USDA has mailed survey codes to all known agriculture producers across the 50 states with an invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at www.agcounts.usda.gov. The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and territory. Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release the results of the ag census in early 2024. To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. On the website, producers and other data users can access frequently asked questions, past ag census data, special study information, and more. For highlights of these and the latest information, follow USDA NASS on twitter @usda_nass.

AREA PRODUCTION MEETINGS HOSTED BY TATTNALL COUNTY EXTENSION

Tobacco

Feb. 8 Bevricks Restaurant noon Metter

Speaker: J. Michael Moore

Pesticide credits will be available

Contact Derrick Bowen at 912-557-6724 for more information

Pecan

Feb. 13 Evans County Recreation Dept. Noon Claxton

Speakers: Andrew Sawyer and Lenny Wells

Pesticide Credits will be Available

Contact Derrick Bowen at 912-557-6724 for more information

Weed Control

Feb. 21 Evans County Recreation Dept. Noon Claxton

Speakers: Eric Prostko and Stanley Culpepper

Pesticide Credits will be available

Contact Derrick Bowen at 912-557-6724 for more information

Prescribed Burning

March (Date TBD) Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center, Lyons

Speakers: David Clabo and Tattnall County Forestry Unit

Forestry Credits Available

Contact Derrick Bowen at 912-557-6724 for more information

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30th ANNUAL UGA Focus on Genetically Enhanced EPDs Sale

Feb. 9 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena Noon Athens

This sale will include 50 Angus and Hereford Bulls, three registered Angus open heifers and 20 Angus-cross commercial open heifers. Contact Carroll T. Cannon at 229-881-0721 or 229-8812705 or by email at CannonMarketingCompany@gmail.com.

GFB DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Feb. 14 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 Sheraton Atlanta Hotel parking deck, located at 165 Courtland Street NE, 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.

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CROP INSURANCE FOR FRESH MARKET SWEET CORN

Feb. 15 deadline to purchase/renew USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Georgia fresh market sweet corn growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2023 crop year is Feb. 15. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the Feb. 15 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 sweet corn in Toombs County. Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2023 crop year. 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. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov

GFB Field Notes 15 of 18

GA PORK PRODUCERS MEETING/ELECTION OF NPPC DELEGATES

Feb. 21 Ga. Farm Bureau Building Macon

The Georgia Pork Producers Association will hold its annual meeting with registration starting at 8 a.m. & the meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. Speakers from the University of Georgia and National Pork Producers Association will discuss issues of interest to producers. The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2024 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21 in conjunction with a Georgia Pork Producers Association Board of Directors meeting in the auditorium of the Georgia Farm Bureau building at 1620 Bass Rd, Macon, Ga. All Georgia pork producers are invited to attend. Any producer, age 18 or older, who is a Georgia resident and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more information, contact the Georgia Pork Producers Association, P.O. Box 1566, Bainbridge, Ga., or by telephone at 229-254-9355.

MIDDLE SOUTH GA SWCD FERAL SWINE WORKSHOP

Feb. 21 Worth County Ag Pavilion

102 Rebecca Dr Sylvester

A group of agricultural and natural resource organizations are partnering to bring Georgia’s top experts on feral swine together in a series of educational workshops and trapping demonstrations for farmers and landowners. The workshop will be from 8:30am to 1:00pm with lunch provided. This workshop is sponsored by the Middle South Georgia Conservation District. Topics will include disease issues, swine biology, economics, water quality issues, effective control techniques, transport issues, and regulations to be followed by a question and answer panel of experts. Each workshop will also include a feral swine trapping demonstration. There is no cost to attend the workshops, but space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Additional workshop opportunities will be announced soon. More details and registration information is available at www.GACD.us/events.

GFB Field Notes 16 of 18

GEORGIA FOUNDATION FOR AG 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 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 17 of 18

GFB MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL ART CONTESTS

March 10 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 2023 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. One state runner-up in the art contest will receive $150 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 10. 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 https://gfb.ag/UGA22agsnapshots to access info about Georgia agriculture.

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE NOW ACCESSIBLE AT 988

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a new name & number. It’s now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It 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. SAMHSA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Communications Commission & other suicide prevention and mental health partners worked together to create 988 and its expanded services. #988Lifeline.

GFB Field Notes 18 of 18

UGA PILOT PROGRAM OFFERS FREE TELE-COUNSELING

The past few years have been challenging. Sometimes it's hard to recognize the physical effects of stress and how it affects our lives. Talking to someone about your stress can help. The UGA Tattnall County Extension office is partnering with the UGA School of Social Work on a pilot program to offer farmers and members of the agricultural community access to up to six free online counseling sessions with a licensed counselor. Participants do not have to farm or live in Tattnall County to participate but should be farmers or members of a farming family. Call 706-510-6930, email gatelehealth@uga.edu for more information or visit https://gfb.ag/ugapilotaddressstress to complete a questionnaire to begin the enrollment process. Anyone who doesn’t meet the requirements for the grant funding will be provided appropriate counseling referrals. Symptoms of chronic stress include irritability, lack of focus, change in appetite, sleepiness or insomnia, aches/pains, headaches, emotional withdrawal, low energy, anxiety, increased alcohol/substance use. This work is supported by the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network- Southern Region [grant no. 2020-70028-32730 / project ascension no 1023989] and the Georgia Farmer Healthy Mindset [grant no. 13395431/2021-09304/ project ascension no 2021-70035575], from the US Department of Agriculture, National Institute on of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by counselors during the sessions should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.