Photo: Tara Green, Spalding County, 2020 GFB Photo Contest Honrable Mention
February 3, 2021
www.gfb.org
Vol. 3 No. 3
UGA CAES REPORTS RESULTS FROM SURVEY ON COVID-19 IMPACT ON AG Farmers encouraged to participate in year-end survey by Feb. 15 A survey by the UGA Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development revealed concerns about the health impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, UGA researchers revealed during the annual Ag Forecast, held virtually on Jan. 29. Dr. Sharon Kane, a senior public service associate with the CAES Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, encouraged Georgia farmers to participate in the Year-End COVID-19 Impact Study she is conducting. The participation deadline has been extended to Feb. 15. It initially ran from Dec. to Jan. 15. Please visit https://extension.uga.edu/story.html?storyid=8523... to take the survey. “It’s a pretty big undertaking to try to get this type of information from farmers,” said Kane. “We knew when we took the initial survey last May we were going to need more information as people were wrapping up their year-end books for tax purposes.” Current survey responses show that most farmers who responded to the survey estimate about 20% of their losses [due to COVID] have been or will be covered by relief programs. The Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) was the top relief program reported in both the May and initial year-end surveys. A number of respondents said that they were not participating in any program. “The more information we can gather, the more we feel we can understand what’s going on [regarding COVID’s impact on agriculture],” Kane added. Of all commodities, livestock was the most affected in the spring and initial year-end surveys. The top issues across all commodities were low prices and lack of markets in both surveys. As the year went on, more respondents were concerned about the health and emotional impacts of the pandemic. “We were surprised to see the difference in responses to the survey’s health concern question from the spring to year-end survey,” Kane said. The percentage of survey participants who said they were very concerned about the health impact COVID-19 is having on agriculture rose from 29.4% in the spring survey to 53.1% in the initial year-end survey. Survey participants who said they were very concerned about the emotional impact COVID-19 is having on members of the ag community rose from 35.7% last May to 45.9% -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 13 Continued from previous page in the initial year-end survey. Both Georgia Farm Bureau and the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture are supporting the UGA CAES in its efforts to conduct the COVID-19 Impact Study on Agriculture and encourage Georgia farmers and agribusiness owners to participate. Row crop outlook UGA Public Service Associate Amanda R. Smith gave an outlook for the 2021 peanut, corn and soybean crops during the annual UGA Georgia Ag Forecast. Smith said farmers can expect to see increases in the cost of land rent, machinery/equipment and labor. Good news is: interest rates are expected to decrease or remain low and fertilizers and fuel prices are expected to decrease. The cost of seed and chemicals is expected to be mixed. Smith encouraged Georgia farmers to use the UGA Row Crop Comparison Tool to crunch their individual farm numbers to determine which crops will profit their farms. “I really want to stress farmers use the UGA Row Crop Comparison Tool because we’re in a plateau phase in ag which means prices tend to cycle around the cost of production” Smith said. “Make sure you have a marketing plan and know your cost of production.” Farmers may access the row crop comparison tool at https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html . Smith encouraged farmers to control production costs by efficiently using crop rotation, tillage, precision application of chemicals, fertilizer and irrigation. Key take-aways for peanuts: The 2020 U.S. peanut crop is projected to have the third largest production at an estimated 3.07 million tons from 1.62 million harvested acres nationwide, up 16% over 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic changed consumer food purchases to favor peanut products as more consumers stayed home and bought more peanut butter. Key take-aways for soybeans: The 2020 U.S. soybean crop production is estimated to be 4.14 billion bushels, up 16.4 % from 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in demand and prices but at the end of last year, the sector saw a big increase in exports and prices as China increased its soybean imports to rebuild its swine herd. The global supply of soybeans is the lowest since 2013/14. Season average prices for Georgia soybeans in 2021 could average $10.85/bushel. Key take-aways for corn: The 2020 U.S. corn crop production, projected at 14.2 billion bushels, is an estimated 4.1% increase over 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic decreased demand and prices (primarily due to less corn used for ethanol, but like soybeans, the end of 2020 saw an increase in exports, which combined with a lower global supply sent prices up. Season average prices for Georgia soybeans could average $4.85/bushel in 2021. Dr. Yangxuan “Serinna” Liu presented the outlook for the 2021 cotton crop during the Georgia Ag Forecast. Her key take-aways were: 1) Cotton prices could range from 70-85 cents/lb. throughout the year but expect 75 cents for planning purposes; 2) Global economic recovery indicates recovery for cotton demand; 3) High uncertainty is expected for cotton acreage in the U.S. & Georgia this crop year. Liu said the four factors causing the surge in row crop prices are: 1) projected economic growth in the U.S. and globally; 2) Depreciation of the U.S. dollar, which makes U.S. crops more -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 13 Continued from previous page affordable to other countries; 3) COVID-19 stimulus relief packages Congress has already passed and is considering; 4) China’s increased ag purchases to fulfill its side of the Phase 1 trade agreement. Another thing helping the U.S. economy and agriculture is the relative stability of U.S. inflation in 2020. The U.S. inflation rate for all items last year was 1.4%. The inflation rate for energy was -7% which counterbalanced the 3.9% inflation rate rise for food last year. GOODMAN DONATION TO GA AG FOUNDATION WILL FUND SCHOLARSHIPS March 1 deadline to apply for 2021 GFA Scholarships Growing up during the Great Depression taught the late Dr. Jim Goodman the value of hard work and the importance of a quality education. That’s why Nora Goodman, of Paulding County, is honoring her husband’s memory with a noteworthy gift to the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture scholarship fund. Dr. Goodman’s desire to become a dentist was inadvertently sparked by one of his childhood teachers. When his teacher said her students could have a day off from school, if every student provided proof they had a dental exam, Jim feared he might be the reason no one got a holiday. As a child, Jim’s family could not afford routine dental checkups for him. “Jim’s understanding father sold some hogs and farm equipment so Jim could go for a checkup. While sitting in the office, Jim knew then and there he wanted to be a dentist someday,” Nora recalled. “He also knew becoming a dentist would require a good education.” Dr. Goodman worked hard to achieve his dream of becoming a dentist, holding down a full-time job at a nuclear plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, while he pursued a degree at the University of Tennessee. After graduating from UT, Jim entered the UT College of Dentistry in Memphis, where he lived and worked part-time at a mortuary in addition to working another part-time job. After serving a three-year stint as an Army dentis in German during the Korean Conflict as an Army dentist in Germany, he practiced dentistry in Chattanooga for a number of years until friends and family urged him to relocate to Paulding County. Once he moved to Paulding County, “Doc” as his friends called him, got back to his ag roots buying a farm to raise cattle and grow hay in addition to practicing dentistry. Dr. Goodman served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors from 1982 until his death in May 2003 and as president of Paulding County Farm Bureau from 1986-2003. He was also an active member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and served as GCA president in 1995. “We both felt for a person to move forward in their life they need to be armed with the best equipment and the most knowledge,” Nora said. “An education in agriculture fosters an appreciation for the land and for the life it provides. Being a good steward of the gifts we are given is the greatest lesson to learn.” Nora has been an active Farm Bureau member since 1971. She’s served in multiple roles for PCFB from Women’s Committee chairman to serving as county president from 2003 through the present. She also represents the 14 counties in GFB’s District 3 on the state board, a position she’s -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 13 Continued from previous page held since 2003. Nora commends the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture for the work it is doing to improve ag literacy. “The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is doing a great job of improving ag literacy in our state through the Ag in the Classroom program that focuses on teaching elementary students about agriculture and the Georgia Ag Experience mobile classroom that is taking the farm experience to students across the state,” Mrs. Goodman said. “The foundation is also doing a great job of investing in future Georgia ag leaders by offering scholarships for students pursuing ag-related degrees at college, technical college and vet school.” March 1 is the deadline for students to apply for one of the 24 scholarships the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is offering this year. The foundation is offering scholarships for graduating high school seniors, rising college juniors and seniors, technical college students and UGA College of Veterinary Medicine students specializing in large/food animals. Visit www.gfb.ag/GFAscholarships for more information and to apply. To learn more about the foundation visit www.gafoundationag.org. GEORGIA COTTON COMMISSION IN TIME OF TRANSITION As the Georgia Cotton Commission heads into 2021, it has a revamped staff and finds itself responding to new challenges that developed in 2020. Executive Director Taylor Sills was promoted when Richey Seaton retired last year, Caroline Snyder was hired to handle outreach and education, office manager Martha Harris is set to retire in March and Kelly Rodgers has been hired to step in as operations coordinator after Harris retires. “If I had to choose a word to talk about the work of the commission this week, I think I’d use the word transition,” said GCC Director Lee Cromley during the 2021 GCC Annual Meeting, held virtually on Jan. 27. “As I looked down the list of our speakers, that word transition applies to a lot of different organizations that you’ll hear from.” There are changes in the federal government, where Rep. David Scott is now chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, and state government, where there are new chairmen on the Senate and House agriculture committees. And of course, there is newly elected Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall, whose position is designated as an ex officio member of the GCC board. McCall told the state’s cotton producers about GFB’s efforts to educate the public about farming and shared a commitment to continue the organization’s work advocating for the cotton industry. “I appreciate the support of cotton with the mobile ag classroom that we have. We need to teach school-age kids where their food, fiber and shelter comes from. That’s probably one of the biggest things we’re working on right now. That’s what our foundation is doing,” McCall said. “Also, along with teaching the kids, we need to be teaching the adults that are generations away from what we all do, where their food and fiber comes from, and the fact that GMOs are not a bad thing. The folks that are buying the products we produce need to be educated, as well as the students.” -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 13 Continued from previous page House Ag Committee Chairman David Scott Scott spoke to meeting and emphasized the importance for agriculture groups to proactively pursue solutions to climate change, noting that the committee is planning to hold a hearing on climate change soon. The committee had no hearing scheduled at press time. “This is so important, because we in agriculture have got to get out and be at the point of the spear on this whole challenge with climate change,” Scott said. “This is because nobody, no entity, no industry is more impacted by the weather and climate as our industry, agriculture. It is essential that our industry get out front on this now. There are a lot of movements on climate change coming from different directions.” Scott also touched on promoting diversity, combating hunger, creating tax incentives to entice processors and manufacturers to locate in rural towns, and expediting disaster aid for farmers. Seed Coat Fragments One key issue that arose late in 2020 and continues as the 2020 crop is processed is the presence of seed coat fragments. Georgia growers produced 2.1 million bales; more than 40% of them were found to have seed coat fragments. By comparison, the 2019 crop of 3.5 million bales handled in the AMS’ Macon Classing Office had less than 5% contaminated with seed coat fragments. Darryl Earnest, USDA Deputy Administrator for the Agricultural Marketing Service’s cotton and tobacco program, and Dr. Ed Barnes, senior director of agricultural and environmental research for Cotton Inc., reviewed possible contributing factors. Both were convinced that wet weather at or just before harvest was the main culprit. Multiple small rain events preceded the landfall of Hurricane Sally on Sept. 16, and rains persisted into October. Earnest outlined how the classing office operates and noted that the Macon location did nothing different from other classing offices throughout the cotton belt. Barnes described how persistent rain could result in seed coat fragments. If the seed stays wet in the boll, it can sprout, which leads to seed coat fragments. If the seed is wet when it is ginned, the seed coat breaks apart when it is pulled through gin ribs. And when there is repeated wetting and drying, the cotton seed shrinks and swells, which weakens the seed coat. “It seemed like every time we turned around there was another hurricane on the horizon,” said Barnes. “Everything we’re seeing really indicates this was due to just a crazy weather event.” The extraneous material results in a diminished loan value. GCC Executive Director Taylor Sills said the seed coat fragment contamination will hurt farmers financially for the 2020 crop and could result in changing buying habits by cotton users in future years. “It also affects our reputation as a quality cotton state, but our industry has made strides. In 2020 we produced cotton with record staple length and record strength,” Sills said. Sills said diminished loan values resulting from seed coat fragments could cost Georgia cotton producers more than $10 million on the 2020 crop. Cotton Trust Protocol GCC Vice Chairman Matt Coley, who also sits on the board of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, briefed Georgia producers on the protocol, its purpose, how to participate and what benefits they -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 13 Continued from previous page should derive from it. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, Coley said, is going to measure, validate and verify the sustainability credentials for U.S. cotton. The plan to demonstrate sustainability arose from consumer demands for knowledge about farming practices. “Joining the Trust Protocol, you’re going to be able to demonstrate that your cotton is grown responsibly and sustainably, and you’re going to be able to demonstrate that the U.S. is a leader in sustainable growing practices,” Coley said. Participation includes a thorough self-assessment followed by a field print analysis. The selfassessment requires producers to answer questions about their farming practices, including things like tillage, water usage, and other topics. Coley discussed the process of filling out the online assessment tool. He noted that the data will not be shared on an individual farm basis. Rather, it will be aggregated to develop an industrywide picture of U.S. cotton practices. “Once you do the self-assessment questionnaire, the Trust Protocol will give you some insights and ideas on some of the best practices across the industry,” Coley said. “Over time, the Trust Protocol will ultimately be a tool to show us how we can improve our operations from an efficiency and sustainability perspective.” Coley said the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol included 560 growers in 2020, and that ultimately the hope is to have 50% of the U.S. cotton crop enrolled in the protocol. DICKEY, WALKER CHAIRING AG COMMITTEES IN GA LEGISLATURE Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) has been appointed as chairman of the Georgia House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee and Sen. Larry Walker (R-Perry) is the new chairman of the Georgia Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. Dickey, who has represented District 140 in middle Georgia since 2011, is a veteran of the Ag Committee and 2019 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Georgia Farmer of the Year. He heads the committee previously chaired by new Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) President Tom McCall. “I am humbled and honored by this appointment to chair the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee,” Dickey said. “Speaker David Ralston and the Committee on Assignments have given me big shoes to fill following the 16-year chairmanship of Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall. As a fourth-generation farmer, I am fortunate to be able to continue my family’s legacy and be a voice for agriculture and agri-business.” The House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee was scheduled to hold its first meeting on Feb. 3. Walker, who has served in the Georgia Senate since 2015, succeeds John Wilkinson, who stepped down after his term ended in 2020. Wilkinson is now president of North Georgia Technical College. “It is an honor to be given the opportunity to serve Georgia, in both new and current capacities, and I would like to thank Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan for his leadership and the confidence he has placed in me, especially to chair such an important committee,” said Walker. “Having previously served alongside my colleagues as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I understand -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 13 Continued from previous page how critically important our work is in growing Georgia jobs, especially in rural parts of our state. Agriculture, as we have seen, remains the largest industry in Georgia with an economic impact of $73 billion and an employment rate of roughly one in seven Georgians.” The Senate Ag Committee held its first meeting on Jan. 28 and heard from newly installed UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Dean Nick Place and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. On other key ag-related committees, Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) and Rep. Terry England (RAuburn) continue as chairs of the two appropriations committees. Sen. Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla) and Rep. Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) continue as chairs of the two chambers’ Natural Resources & Environment committees. GFVGA ANNOUNCES COVID-19 HANDBOOK FOR GA. AG LABORERS The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Department of Agriculture and the University of Georgia Extension, has developed a practical and comprehensive COVID-19 handbook for growers and farm labor contractors in the specialty crop industry. Written specifically for Georgia growers, “Protecting Yourself Against the Coronavirus” focuses on maintaining a safe and healthy workspace on the farm. This resource, available in both English and Spanish, contains science-based information to help growers maintain a safe and healthy environment for their workforce. “As employers, we come to value our employees and see them as members of our own extended family,” said Aries Haygood, GFVGA president. “Protecting them and their families during this ongoing pandemic is our number one priority and this handbook will help employers find answers to their questions.” All the information in the handbook is based on CDC and Georgia Department of Public Health guidance. “We are always excited to work together with our industry partners to better serve the specialty crop industry,” said Charles Hall, GFVGA Executive Director. “We think this handbook provides valuable information to help growers and their employees during the ongoing pandemic.” To download this free resource, visit www.gfvga.org/store. APPOINTMENTS MADE TO GEORGIA WINE AND GRAPE COMMISSION Five Georgia wine producers have been appointed to serve on the Georgia Wine and Grape Commission. Eric Seifarth of Towns County will represent the North Georgia region. Simone Bergese of Barrow County will represent the Central Georgia region and Gary Paulk of Irwin County will represent the South Georgia region. At-large members are Gary Engal of Gilmer County and Eric Miller of White County. Engal and Bergese will serve terms of three years and the other appointees will serve terms of two years. Following their terms, these individuals will be eligible to be reappointed. The Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Wine and Grapes was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 2020 at the request of the Georgia wine industry. The commission -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 13 Continued from previous page can implement a marketing order which will allow for collection of assessment from producers upon approval of the growers. Funds collected must be used for research, education and promotion of the commodity. For more information, contact Andy Harrison at Andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov or 404-07101196. USDA PUBLISHES FINAL RULE FOR THE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF HEMP On Jan. 15, the USDA announced its final rule regulating the production of hemp in the United States. The final rule incorporates modifications to regulations established under the interim final rule (IFR) published in October 2019. The modifications are based on public comments following the publication of the IFR and lessons learned during the 2020 growing season. The final rule is available for viewing in the Federal Register and will be effective on March 22, 2021. Key provisions of the final rule include: Licensing requirements; recordkeeping requirements for maintaining information about the land where hemp is produced; procedures for testing the THC concentration levels for hemp; procedures for disposing of non-compliant plants; compliance provisions; and procedures for handling violations. On Oct. 31, 2019, USDA published the IFR that provided specific details on the process and criteria for review of plans USDA receives from states and Indian tribes regarding the production of hemp and established a plan to monitor and regulate the production of hemp in those states or Indian tribes that do not have an approved state or Tribal plan. The IFR was effective immediately after publication in the Federal Register and provided a 60day public comment period. On Dec. 17, 2019, USDA extended the comment period until Jan. 29, 2020, to allow stakeholders additional time to provide feedback. USDA re-opened the comment period for 30 days, from Sept. 8 to Oct. 8, 2020 seeking additional comments from all stakeholders, especially those who were subject to the regulatory requirements of the IFR during the 2020 production cycle. In all, USDA received about 5,900 comments. On Feb. 27, 2020, USDA announced the delay of enforcement of the requirement for labs to be registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the requirement that producers use a DEA-registered reverse distributor or law enforcement to dispose of non-compliant plants under certain circumstances until Oct. 31, 2021, or the final rule is published, whichever comes first. This delay has been further extended in the final rule to December 2022. More information about the provisions in the final rule is available on the Hemp Production web page at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/hemp.
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 13 MARK MASTERS ELECTED GACD PRESIDENT The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts elected Mark Masters for a one-year term as president at is virtual meeting held on Jan. 15. He was also named 2021 District Supervisor of the Year for his contributions to his local Soil and Water Conservation District. As president, Mark will lead GACD as it works with federal and state partners at the USDA and with all 40 Georgia soil and water conservation districts in the promotion of natural resources conservation. Masters has replaced Woody Snell, who served as GACD president for four years. Masters has served as a district supervisor on the Lower Chattahoochee River Soil and Water Conservation District representing Terrell County since 2013. He has been instrumental in securing grants, coordinating outreach with local producers, and establishing and maintaining partnerships for his local conservation district. Mark was chosen as an inaugural participant of the National Conservation Foundation's “Next Generation Leadership Institute.” He was one of seven people selected nationwide and one of two from the Southeast. He currently serves as director of the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center (GWPPC) at Albany State University and is a leading expert in agricultural water use and policy in the Southeast U.S. Throughout his career, Masters has led numerous research and outreach projects related to water resources in Georgia and has positioned the GWPPC as a trusted technical resource for the state in its water planning efforts. Masters is active on a number of local, state and national advisory boards including the American Farm Bureau Water Advisory Committee, Governor’s Soil and Water Advisory Committee, and the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership. He resides in Dawson with his wife, Amy, and daughters Lilly, Sally and Molly. Tabatha Wooten of Jeff Davis County was elected as GACD vice president. Wooten previously served as GACD’s Group 4 alternate vice president, where she represented seven conservation districts covering 42 counties throughout Southeast Georgia. She has served as a district supervisor for the Altamaha Conservation District, representing Jeff Davis County since 2007. Wooten also operates T.O.P. Farms with her husband, Vann, where they have broiler houses, 150 head of cattle, and row crop and timber operations. She is a member of many state and local organizations including the Georgia Young Farmers Association, Jeff Davis County Young Farmers Association, Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, and the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association. She resides in Denton with Vann, son Derick, daughter Lauren and grandchildren Jackson and Blair. The following individuals were re-elected without opposition to serve one-year terms on the GACD Board: Roger Bowman, vice president, Catoosa County; Vikki Consiglio, treasurer, Henry County; Jake Ford, Secretary, Berrien County; and Danny Hogan, NACD Representative, Laurens County. Snell, of Cobb County, will serve as past president. The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts represents all 40 of Georgia’s conservation districts, which have 350 district supervisors representing every county in the state. GACD serves as the voice of conservation in Georgia and promotes conservation through educational and community outreach. More information can be found at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 13 GA VEGETABLE GROWERS VOTING ON STATE COMMISSION Georgia vegetable growers have until March 2 to get their mail ballots postmarked to determine the continuation of the Georgia Vegetable Commission (GVC) marketing order, which was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 2006 at the request of Georgia vegetable growers to implement research, education and promotion programs to benefit Georgia’s vegetable sector. The GVC marketing order applies to Georgia vegetable growers with 50 acres or more of total annual production of the following crops - beans, bell pepper, specialty pepper, broccoli, beets, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, greens (including collards, turnip greens, mustard and kale), squash (including yellow, zucchini and winter squash), sweet potato, and tomato. If you are a qualified grower and have not received a ballot in the mail by February 10, please contact Andy Harrison at andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov or 404-710-1196. The marketing order assesses growers at a rate of one cent per marketing unit of each applicable vegetable. Funds collected by the GVC are used for research, education and promotion of the crops mentioned above. The commission allocates at least 75% of money collected toward research projects by the University of Georgia and other research institutions that best serve Georgia growers. Some of the areas previously funded have focused on whiteflies, fungal disease diagnoses and control, viral diseases, variety development, fumigation, and weed control. Eligible Georgia vegetable growers vote on the marketing order every three years. The GVC marketing order must be reapproved by a two-thirds affirmative vote to continue.
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 13 2021 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DAY AT THE CAPITOL CANCELED Due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and other uncertainties in the state's capital, Georgia Farm Bureau has made the executive decision to cancel the annual Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol event, originally scheduled for Feb. 9 in Atlanta. Please mark your calendars for next year’s event, expected to take place on Feb. 8, 2022. 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 peanut producers. PECAN Feb. 9 9 a.m. online March 9 6 p.m. online Pesticide credits are being applied for and will be available for attendees. Please only register for one date. To register, visit https://ugapecan2021.eventbrite.com/. CORN & SOYBEAN Feb. 16 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. online Meeting will be held online, and some county Extension offices will host viewing sessions. To register, visit https://ugacornandsoybean2021.eventbrite.com/. PEANUT Feb. 18 6 p.m. – 8:30 online Feb. 22 9:30 a.m. – noon online Pesticide and CCA license credits are being applied for and will be available for attendees. Please only register for one date. To register, visit: www.2021ugapeanut.eventbrite.com. COTTON Feb. 24 9:30 a.m. – noon online Meeting will be held online. Pesticide and CCA license credits are being applied for and will be available for attendees. To register, visit https://2021ugacotton.eventbrite.com. GEORGIA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE VALENTINE’S DAY SALE Show your love for farming by supporting the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) this Valentine's Day! Visit the online shop to pre-order before Feb 14! GFA is selling jute/100% cotton tote bags featuring original watercolors of blueberries & peaches; baseball caps featuring the GFA logo & bees, and I support AG ED decals. Payment & delivery details are provided at the online shop website. Shoppers who make purchases for Valentine’s Day gifts will receive a downloadable letter via email to share with their Valentines to show their love. Items are expected to ship 2-3 weeks after sale ends Feb. 14. All proceeds from this sale will benefit the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. Contact Jennifer Farmer at jmfarmer@gafoundationag.org or 478-405-3463 for more information. Learn more about the foundation at www.GaFoundationAg.org.
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 13 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. 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 Field Notes page 13 of 13 TIFTON PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE March 3 UGA Tifton Bull Center Irwinville The sale will include 95 performance-tested, genetically enhanced and percentage-verified bulls from consigners located in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. The sale will be broadcast online live through LiveAuctions.tv. A determination on holding the sale in person had not been made at press time. The sale catalog is scheduled to be available online on Feb. 5 at www.ugabeef.com/bulltest. USDA QUALITY LOSS ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM March 5 Deadline to apply Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop quality losses due to natural disasters occurring in 2018 and 2019. For more information, visit www.farmers.gov/quality-loss, or contact your local USDA Service Center. Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364. 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. 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.