Georgia Farm Bureau's Feb. 15 Field Notes

February 15, 2024

www.gfb.org

Vol. 6 No. 3

GFB MEMBERS VISIT STATE CAPITOL EN MASSE Bearing messages on nuisance wildlife, private property and water rights, relief from frivolous lawsuits and farm labor, approximately 600 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members visited the Georgia Capitol on Feb. 13 as part of the annual GFB Day at the Capitol event.

The day was the 20th day of the 40-day legislative session, and in observance of Mardi Gras, general assembly staff members handed out slices of King Cake to visitors.

The GFB group heard briefings from Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Russ Goodman (R-Homer) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Robert Dickey (R-Musella) during the pre-visit orientation at the Georgia Depot, then walked to the capitol, where they talked over farm issues with elected members of the Georgia General Assembly. Back at the Georgia Depot, GFB hosted members and legislators for lunch, during which they heard remarks from Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and House Speaker Jon Burns.

GFB President Tom McCall encouraged members to interact with their representatives and speakers.

“I also want you to tell them thank you,” said McCall, a former long-time state representative and House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman. “They get a lot of requests and it’s not often they hear thank you. Let them know you appreciate what they’re doing for you.”

GFB shared key issues with legislators: Seeking ways to mitigate the effects of wildlife damage to crop production; defending the historical understanding of private property and water rights in the state; reforming the current legal environment to better support farmers and small business owners and provide relief from frivolous lawsuits; maintain access to and availability of an affordable and legal workforce.

Sen. Goodman pointed out that Chinese ownership of U.S. agricultural land has increased from 10,000 acres to 400,000 acres since 2010 and mentioned legislation to prohibit foreign ownership of ag land.

Goodman noted that the proposed state budget includes $2 million in seed money for the Georgia Farmland Conservation Act, which passed in 2023, saying the state has lost 20% of its farmland since 1974. The U.S., he said, is losing 2,000 farmland acres a day.

Dickey thanked Farm Bureau for its support and pointed out that GFB members’ efforts to -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 2 of 16 Continued from previous page interact with state legislators has made quite an impression on the state’s elected officials.

“I remember we were about to vote on the Right to Farm bill, and I stood up there with the cards you all had sent in,” Dickey said. “It was a really thick stack. I think you changed some votes on that bill.”

During the lunch, Lt. Gov. Jones discussed a bill to reform liability limits in lawsuits against small businesses, and said the state is moving toward relaxing water permit moratoriums in the southern part of the state.

“There’s a lot of folks from small communities representing you in the capitol and we are focused on things pertaining to Farm Bureau, forestry and the Agribusiness Council.”

Harper celebrated the data presented in the 2024 Ag Snapshots produced by the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, which revealed agriculture’s value in the state at nearly $84 billion, and that as an economic sector it supports more than 323,000 jobs.

“Agriculture is truly the backbone of who we are,” Harper said. “It’s the backbone of our economy and our rural economy.”

Harper noted some points of concern, including increasing labor costs under the H-2A program, a court decision that bans the use of dicamba to protect crops from pests, and a USDA forecast that net farm income will decline by 25% in 2024. He also noted farmers’ protests in Europe over government farm policy limiting farmers’ income.

“We’ll be pushing back,” Harper said. “We don’t need that in American agriculture. If we can’t feed and clothe ourselves, we can’t defend ourselves.”

Sen. Burns said the state’s budget surplus is being put to good use, noting that the legislature is working on bills that would raise the homestead tax exemption and the amount individuals can deduct for childcare expenses, as well as trimming the state income tax rate.

GFB Advocacy and Policy Development Specialist Keaton Walker shared information about the GFB Cookbook project, for which recipes and book orders are being accepted through March 18. Proceeds from the book sales will benefit the GFB Federal ImPACt Fund.

Click here to submit a recipe, pre-order your books and to learn more about the GFB Policy Department Fundraiser. https://georgiafarmbureau.regfox.com/2023-pac-cookbookCOTTON GROWERS RECEIVE UPDATES DURING GCC MEETING During the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) Annual Meeting, the state’s cotton growers heard presentations from GCC, the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC), Cotton Council International and Southern Cotton Growers.

GCC Executive Director Taylor Sills reviewed the commission’s activities over the past year and its plans for 2024.

In addition to presenting cotton information at farm days, through broadcast advertising and social media, Sills said the organization is working with Georgia Public Broadcasting to provide educational materials for teachers to use.

“We’re continuing to do the things that work,” Sills said. “One of the things I’ve picked up over -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 3 of 16 Continued from previous page the years is to meet people where they are to maximize those efforts.”

The GCC is coordinating with the Savannah College of Art and Design fibers and merchandising students on the benefits of cotton.

The GCC is providing $1.5 million in support of 18 different UGA research projects in 2024.

Sills said an increasing number of Georgia cotton growers are enrolling in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP), which aids in promoting U.S.-grown cotton around the globe and provides financial incentives for growers to sign up. Growers who wish to sign up for USCTP should contact Grower Enrollment Specialist Chaz Holt at cholt@cotton.org. Growers who want to participate in USCTP for the 2024 crop should enroll by April 30 at TrustUSCotton.org.

Sills invited growers to participate in the Cotton Board’s video conference series, “Cotton and Coffee,” which usually takes place monthly via Zoom on the third Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. Topics for 2024 topics include soil health, engineered fiber selection, USCTP, consumer attitudes, cotton entomology, cotton production evaluation and more.

The National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) provides objective, non-partisan research and information on laws and regulations affecting agriculture. NALC also produces The Feed, a bimonthly review of ag law and policy developments.

Staff attorney Micah Brown with the NALC covered key topics of interest for cotton growers, including proposed new restrictions for pesticide use under Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The new restrictions, known as “early mitigations” are likely to affect all pesticide users. The NALC will present an in-depth look at the proposal in a Feb. 21 webinar. For more information or to register, visit https://nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/epa-fifra/.

Cotton Council International (CCI) Executive Director Bruce Atherley, provided data on cotton exports and apparel imports. Atherley noted that over the past three years, Cotton Brazil has expanded its promotional efforts and improved its cotton systems. Every bale of cotton produced in Brazil is now classed and carries a QR code that allows the cotton to be traced back to the farm where it was grown.

In competing with Brazilian-grown cotton, U.S. cotton has two advantages, Atherley said. First is the USCTP and second is Cotton USA Solutions, a set of business-building programs designed to show mills how using U.S. cotton can make them more productive, efficient and profitable.

EPA ISSUES EXISTING STOCKS ORDER FOR DICAMBA AFTER COURT RULING On Feb. 14, the EPA issued an existing stocks order for Dicamba products previously registered for over-the-top use on Dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybean crops. The order authorizes limited sale and distribution of dicamba products that are already in the possession of growers or in the channels of trade and outside the control of the pesticide companies.

Agricultural groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), expressed appreciation for the agency’s order, which gives a temporary reprieve to farmers who use dicamba to protect against weeds in their crops.

“We are grateful to EPA for hearing farmers’ and ranchers’ concerns and addressing them quickly to ensure we have access to the critical tools needed to protect our crops this season.

-continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 4 of 16 Continued from previous page Without EPA stepping in, farmers and ranchers across the country were facing uncertainty and financial risk,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a prepared statement. “Farmers are committed to the safe use of all crop protection tools, and many had already made planting decisions with dicamba-tolerant crop systems in place for the season. We rely on science-based guidance from EPA, and we appreciate the agency standing by farmers and science in this decision today.”

The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC), National Cotton Council (NCC) and American Soybean Association (ASA) also issued statements applauding the existing stocks order.

The EPA’s order came after a Feb. 6 ruling in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona vacated EPA registration for Dicamba products XtendiMax, Enginia and Tavium.

Arizona District Court Judge David Bury ruled that the EPA did not follow “notice-andcomment” provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) when the agency issued an unconditional registration for the products in 2020.

In the wake of the ruling, AFBF, the GCC, NCC and ASA all sent letters to the EPA requesting help for farmers, many of whom had already made key decisions for their 2024 crops, including purchasing decisions for crop protection products.

In the GCC letter, Chairman Bart Davis pointed out that those decisions often hinge on the availability of dicamba as a tool for weed control. Davis also noted that more than 17,000 Georgia growers have participated in “Using Pesticides Wisely,” a cooperative training effort by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and UGA Cooperative Extension Service. The science-based training is designed to reduce off-target movement of pesticides.

9-8-8 IS THE 9-1-1 FOR MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES NOTE: This is an editorial piece written by Commissioner Kevin Tanner, Ga. Dept. of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities Farming can be the greatest job in the world. But the reality is it’s also an incredibly stressful and isolating job.

I know this firsthand.

I’m from Dawson County and grew up on land that’s been in my family since 1850.

I’ve come to realize farming is a 24-hour job. You’re NEVER off the clock.

There are many factors outside our control – natural disasters, extreme weather events, financial pressures due to fluctuating commodity prices, and labor shortages, just to name a few.

As a farmer, we can do everything right and still fail.

I also know farmers are proud people who bottle up their emotions. They’re expected to be tough, or at least they think that’s what is expected of them.

I’m here to tell you it’s okay to not be okay. And it’s more than okay to reach out for help.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis or just need someone to talk to, call or text 9-8-8, the crisis lifeline.

When you dial or text 9-8-8, you’ll find caring, compassionate and certified counselors on the other end of the line. All of these calls are confidential.

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GFB Field Notes page 5 of 16 Continued from previous page Think of 9-8-8 as the 9-1-1 for mental health emergencies.

Just talking about mental health with your fellow farmers will help us reduce the stigma associated with it.

Visit https://988ga.org/farmstress for more resources to deal with a crisis related to mental health, substance use or a developmental disability.

EPD TO ALLOW SOME NEW SURFACE WATER WITHDRAWALS IN SW GEORGIA The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is modifying the 2012 agricultural permitting suspension in Southwest Georgia to allow new and modified surface water withdrawal permits in the Suwannee and Ochlockonee portions of the suspension area.

“Today’s announcement is the first step in a process that will deliver the relief our hardworking farmers in southwest Georgia need to remain successful,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “I look forward to continued progress on this program that will ensure we remain good stewards of our natural resources while empowering our state’s number one industry to continue putting food on the tables of Georgians and those far beyond our state.”

Since 2012, no new or modified agricultural water withdrawal permits from surface water and the Floridan aquifer have been issued. This permitting suspension was put in place to make sure that surface water and the aquifer were not overconsumed.

“A lot of work has been done since 2012. From the metering program, we have strengthened our technical understanding of surface water and groundwater in the Lower Flint,” said Director Jeff Cown. “The Regional Water Plans and Habitat Conservation planning supports existing water users, including farmers, and sets the stage to make room for new ones. It is time to start moving forward.”

Each year, EPD evaluates this suspension. In 2023, EPD recommended a limited modification to allow some frost protection permitting in portions of the suspension area.

EPD also recommended continuing to explore limited modifications to the suspension.

From this initial exploration, EPD identified the opportunity to allow new and modified surface water withdrawal permits in the Suwannee and Ochlockonee portions of the suspension area. This modification is supported by assessments that additional surface water withdrawal from those areas would have no impact on stream flows in the Flint basin.

This modification only applies to surface water withdrawals. Agricultural water withdrawal permitting from the Floridan aquifer remains suspended in the Suwannee and Ochlockonee portions of the suspension area. EPD will continue to evaluate the 2012 suspension to identify additional opportunities for modification. That evaluation includes a stakeholder process, with meetings being held throughout the affected area to solicit feedback on potential modifications to the 2012 suspension. The meeting schedule is: April 18th – Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center, 2500 E. Shotwell St., Bainbridge GA 39818 May 23rd – Candy Room, 125 Pine Ave., Albany GA 31701 June 13th – Goolsby Farm Supply, 2943 Callis Rd., Dawson GA 39842 Meeting registration will open at 9:30 A.M., and the meetings will start at 10 A.M. More information about agricultural water withdrawal and the 2012 suspension is available at EPD’s website: https://epd.georgia.gov/water-withdrawal-permitting.

GFB Field Notes page 6 of 16 ’22 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE: THE NUMBERS ARE IN

By Jennifer Whittaker, Georgia Farm Bureau Analysis of the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture report is in full swing after the USDA released it Feb. 13. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the Census of Agriculture (COA) every five years. NASS reports that the response rate for the 2022 COA was 61%; more than 40% of responses were submitted online.

The census shows there are 1.9 million farms and ranches in the U.S. That’s down 7% from the 2017 census when there were 2.04 million. The total amount of farmland in the U.S. is 880.1 million acres, down 2% from 900 million in 2017.

Census data shows there are 39,264 farms in Georgia. In 2017, 42,439 farms were reported.

That’s a loss of 3,175 farms in the past five years.

The amount of farmland ini Georgia, however, changed very little comparatively in the past five years. The 2022 census shows there are 9.939 million acres of farmland in Georgia. In 2017, Georgia had 9.953 million acres of farmland. That’s a difference of 14,417 acres.

One possible explanation is that more farmers retired, retained ownership of their land and are renting it to other farmers resulting in fewer producers farming about the same amount of land.

Between 2017 and 2022, the number of U.S. producers held steady at 3.4 million. The average age of the U.S. farmer is 58.1 years, up 0.6 years from 2017.

Georgia has 67,082 producers the 2022 census shows, while it had 68,087 producers in 2017.

That’s a decrease of 1,005 producers in the past five years. The average age of Georgia farmers is 59 years.

“We saw similar changes in other states,” said Anthony Prillaman, director of the USDA NASS Southern Region, which covers Georgia, Alabama, Florida & South Carolina. “In terms of farm numbers, the census data showed that most of the decline occurred in farms that have less than 180 acres.”

The average size of a U.S. farm is 463 acres, up 5% in the past five years from 441 acres. The median size of U.S. farms - the number that separates the higher half of a set of numbers from the lower half – is 72 acres; it was 75 acres in 2017.

The average size of farms in Georgia is 253 acres. In 2017 it was 235 acres. The median size of Georgia farms - the number that separates the higher half of a set of numbers from the lower half – is 70 acres. In 2017 it was 67 acres.

"I want to thank all the farmers and ranchers who responded to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. said Prillaman. “The Census of Agriculture remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agricultural data for the U.S. The data will inform decisions about policy, farm and conservation programs, rural development, research, technology development, ag education, and more over the next several years.”

Farmers by age People between the ages of 35-64 account for 53% of U.S. producers. People 65 years and older make up 38% of U.S. farmers. People under 35 years account for 9% of U.S. producers. National statistics show on average, producers are older in Southern states and younger in Midwestern -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 7 of 16 Continued from previous page states.

In Georgia, there are 35,365 producers between the ages of 35-64 the 2022 census shows. There are 26,686 producers 65 years and older. The 2022 census shows Georgia has 5,031 young producers under age 35.

Farmers by gender In Georgia, the 2022 census shows 43,322 producers were male and 23,760 were female. In 2017, Georgia had 44,839 male producers and 23,248 female. Female producers increased by 512 during the past five years while there are 1,517 fewer male producers.

The 2022 census shows 2.149 million of U.S. producers are male and 1.224 are female. In percentages, 64% of U.S. producers are male. In 2017, the U.S. had 2.172 male producers and 1.227 female producers.

Farming fulltime vs parttime Nationwide, 38% of U.S. producers reported they did not work off the farm in 2022. Another 22% reported working off the farm 1 to 199 days and 40% worked off the farm 200 or more days.

There were 25,197 Georgia producers who said they didn’t work off the farm in 2022. Another 15,224 Georgia producers reported working off the farm 1 to 199 days, and 26,661 Georgians reported working off the farm 200 or more days.

Farmers by ethnicity For 2022, the ethnic and racial description of Georgia farmers is as follows: there are 996 producers of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin; 55 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; 229 American Indian or Alaska Native; 584 Asian; 2,700 Black or African American; 62,985 White; and 529 reported more than one race.

Nationwide, the 2022 census shows the ethnic or racial identities of U.S producers to be: 112,379 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin; 3,419 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; 22,788 Asian; 41,807 Black or African American; 56,203 American Indian or Alaska Native; 30,564 reported more than one race; 3.2 million are white.

Beginning farmers are middle aged Beginning farmers have 10 or fewer years farming experience regardless of their age.

Nationwide, beginning producers increased in both the number of producers as a category and share of all producers. Slightly more than 1 million of the 3.4 million U.S. producers in 2022 were beginning farmers. Their average age was 47.1 and their farms were smaller than average in acres and sales.

Georgia ranked 7th in the U.S. for its percentage of total producers - 34.4% - that are beginning farmers. Rhode Island, Alaska, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire, Hawaii ranked above Georgia.

Idaho, Nevada and Florida ranked below Georgia.

Georgia had 23,085 farmers in the 2022 census classified as beginning farmers. These producers are associated with 14,543 Georgia farms that account for 2.46 million acres of farmland.

Georgia’s ranking in this category fell from 2nd in the 2017 census when it had 22,743 beginning farmers associated with 14,786 farms.

“Today’s Census of Agriculture Report underscores it’s imperative that we continue to deliver agriculture policies that create multiple streams of income and new, more competitive models for -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 8 of 16 Continued from previous page small- and mid-sized farms,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in a statement following the release of the 2022 Census of Agriculture. “A combination of trade wars, the pandemic and policies that furthered a ‘get big or get out’ mentality pushed more people out of farming in the five years since the last Census, more than in any other Census period this century.

America, and especially our rural communities, cannot afford this trajectory toward larger, but fewer, farms.”

The U.S. Agriculture Census was first conducted in 1840 in conjunction with the U.S. Census every 10 years. Since 1997, the USDA National Statistics Service – the federal agency responsible for producing official U.S. agriculture data - has conducted the census every five years.

GFB Field Notes page 9 of 16 GA VEGETABLE COMMISSION REFERENDUM Through March 2 Mail balloting The Georgia Dept. of Agriculture has mailed ballots to eligible Georgia vegetable growers to vote on whether to continue the Georgia Vegetable Commission marketing order which allows assessment of one cent per marketing unit of vegetables as described in the current marketing order. The marketing order applies to 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 potatoes, and tomatoes. Funds collected by the Georgia Vegetable Commission are used for research, education, and promotion of these crops.

It is the policy that the commission allocates at least 75% of the money collected toward research projects by the University of Georgia and other research institutions that best serve the Georgia Growers. Read the 2023 Commission Report here. Previously funded research has addressed but has not been limited to: whiteflies, fungal disease diagnoses & control, viral diseases, variety development, fumigation, and weed control. The Georgia Vegetable Commission was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 2006 at the request of Georgia vegetable growers. The marketing order must be reapproved by a vote of the eligible vegetable growers every three years by a two-thirds affirmative vote. If you are a qualified grower and have not received a ballot in the mail by Feb.10, please contact Andy Harrison at andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gove or call 404710-1196. Ballots must be postmarked by March 2 to be counted.

ACC FOR CITRUS PUBLC HEARIINIG Feb. 20 UGA Tifton/NESPAL Building 1 p.m.

Tifton The Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Citrus (Georgia Citrus Commission) will hold a public hearing pertaining to the proposed Market Order for Citrus to be voted on March 30 by Georgia Citrus producers. The NESPAL Building is located at 2356 Rainwater Dr. in Tifton.

Those wishing to comment can register at the hearing. Only those registering to speak will be allowed to comment. Comments should be brief and to the point. The proposed market order will allow for the assessment at a rate of not more than two tenths cent ($0.002) per pound on citrus fruits produced and marketed in Georgia. Growers who annually produce or have the potential to produce and market 50,000 pounds or more are eligible to vote. For passage, there must be an affirmative vote on 66% of eligible ballots returned. If passed, the market order is in effect for three years and it must be voted on again to be continued. Funds collected from assessments may only be used for the purpose of research, education, and promotion. For more information contact Andy Harrison, Georgia Department of Agriculture manager for commodity commissions at Andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov or 404-710-1196.

GFB DISTRICT 8 FARM SAFETY DAY Feb. 23 SW Ga. Research & Ed. Ctr. 8:30 a.m. Plains This second annual event will cover mental health, trucking safety and surprise inspections, grain bin safety, farm electrical safety, livestock safety and harvest safety. Registration is free and can be done by visiting www.gfb.ag/D8FarmSafety. The registration deadline is Feb. 20. Lunch will be available as a donation fundraiser for a local youth ag organization.

GFB Field Notes page 10 of 16 GEORGIA CITRUS ASSOCIATION 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Feb. 27 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tifton The seventh annual Georgia Citrus Association Conference will provide the latest on disease, pests, cold protection and this year a special Farm to Market growers panel that you won't want to miss. The Georgia Citrus Association is growing, so become involved today! Memberships, which include your conference ticket, are $75 now and $100 at the door. Limited vendor space and sponsorships are available. Early bird pricing ends February 16, so visit georgiacitrusassociation.org to register today. https://geca.memberclicks.net/conf24?servId=10685#!/ GA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Feb. 28 State Capitol rotunda 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Atlanta This year the Georgia Department of Agriculture – the nation’s oldest state department of agriculture - is celebrating 150 years of service to the people of Georgia and our state’s #1 industry.

The department is hosting a 150th Anniversary Celebration on Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda. This event is open to the public.

CROP INSURANCE: SPRING CROPS, WHOLE FARM REVENUE PROTECTION Feb. 28 deadline to enroll or renew The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Georgia corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanut, sesame, and soybean growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2024 crop year is Feb. 28. Growers who are interested in the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) policy and are calendar year or early fiscal year filers, have until February 28 to apply for crop insurance. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the February 28 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 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 and to learn specific details for the 2024 crop year. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov. The Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company contracts with three companies - Rain & Hail, Sompo, and Crop Risk Services to offer crop insurance. GFB has more than 70 experienced crop insurance agents (and growing) across the state to help their members protect their investment. Find your local agent and learn more at GFBInsurance.com or email crops@gfbinsurance.com for more details. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

GFB Field Notes page 11 of 16 GEORGIA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIPS March 1 deadline to apply The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) is offering $65,000 in scholarships to Georgia students pursuing a degree in agriculture, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences or a related field. The GFA will award scholarships in the following four categories. Scholarship for Agriculture – This scholarship is for high school students who plan to enter a college that is part of the University System of Georgia, Berry College, Emmanuel College or any accredited college/university in Georgia with an ag program during the 2023-24 academic year to pursue an undergraduate degree in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or a related agricultural field. College Scholarship for Agriculture – This scholarship is for students who will be enrolled in a Georgia accredited technical college and major in an area of agriculture or an ag-related field of study, such as welding, mechanics, culinary arts, or commercial truck driving. Visit https://gfb.ag/gfatechscholarshipmajors for a list of eligible schools and majors. Rising College Junior/Senior Scholarship for Agriculture – This scholarship is for college students who have at least two semesters of college remaining to receive an undergraduate degree from a unit of The University System of Georgia, Berry College, Emmanuel College or any accredited college/university in Georgia with an ag program. Applicants must be majoring in agriculture and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or an ag-related field. UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship - This scholarship is for students currently enrolled in the UGA Veterinary Medicine program specializing in large animal/food animal practice. Visit www.gafoundationag.org/scholarships for a list of eligible majors/schools for all scholarships, applications, and instructions to apply. All applications must be submitted online by March 1, 2023. Transcripts and letters of recommendation must be submitted online with the application.

The scholarship recipients will be announced in spring of 2023. Scholarship checks will be sent to the qualifying college/university the recipient is attending and placed in their school account upon verification the student has met all qualifications for the scholarship. Scholarships awarded to graduating high school seniors will be distributed for spring 2024 upon receipt of first semester college transcript indicating the recipient is pursuing an ag-related course of study and has at least a 3.0 GPA.

GFB Field Notes page 12 of 16 USDA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 1890 NATIONAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM March 1 deadline to apply The USDA is accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue food and agriculture career paths.

Administered through USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college as well as rising college sophomores and juniors. The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between USDA and the 19 historically Black land-grant universities that were established in the Morrill Land Grand Act of 1890. USDA partners with these 1890 universities to provide scholarship recipients with full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Scholarship recipients attend one of the 1890 universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship also includes work experience at USDA through summer internships. Scholars accepted into the program are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with USDA upon successful completion of their degree requirements by the end of the agreement period. The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program awarded 100 scholarships in the 2023 cohort of 1890 Scholars.

Learn more and apply online at USDA 1890 National Scholars Program. For more information, contact partnerships@usda.gov.

U.S. CLIMATE SMART COTTON & U.S. COTTON TRUST PROTOCOL PROGRAMS March 1

Deadline to submit data for ’23 crop for U.S. Climate Smart Program

Cotton growers currently enrolled in Level 1 of the Climate Smart Cotton Program must enter their fieldprint data and upload their 2023 cotton bales by March 1 to receive payment. Growers can get started today at TrustUSCotton.org.

April 30

Deadline to enroll in ’24 U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Climate Smart Programs

Launched in 2020, the Trust Protocol was designed to set a new standard in more sustainably grown cotton. Producers enrolled in the voluntary Trust Protocol are eligible to participate in the Climate Smart Cotton Program, which will provide technical and financial assistance to 1,650 U.S. cotton farmers with acres available for Climate Smart practice changes. Growers also receive personalized data that can be used to help improve their sustainability efforts and yield, as well as gain closer communication with their end customer. Data growers provide is secure and remains confidential. It is used only in aggregate form. Crop consultants can be authorized to enter information on the grower’s behalf. Additionally, the John Deere Operations Center can prepopulate up to 40% of the data needed to complete the fieldprint analysis for those who utilize the platform. Growers can enroll and complete their data entry at TrustUSCotton.org. Enrollment for the 2024 crop is open. For help enrolling, contact info@trustuscotton.org.

GFB Field Notes page 13 of 16 LINCOLN COUNTY NO-TILL SEED DRILL WORKSHOP March 6 Lincoln County Agricultural Building 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Lincolnton The Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Lincoln County UGA Extension, and the Lincoln County Conservation District are partnering to present a free informational workshop for local homeowners, property owners, and anyone who wants to learn more about No-Till Seed Drills.

This workshop will discuss general practices and options for caring for no-till drill systems. Come learn the benefits of using no-till drilling, how to increase water infiltration into soil, and how to use our new drill. The no-till drill is great for pasture and hayland renovations, seeding cover crops, grain crops, and more. The Lincoln County Agricultural Building is located at 2080 RowlandYork Dr. in Lincolnton. Dinner will be served. The event is free but registration is required by March 1. To register, contact at jennifer.standridge@gaswcc.ga.gov or (706) 431-0405.

GFB MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL ART CONTESTS March 8 deadline for county offices to submit entries Contact your county Farm Bureau office to learn deadline for its local contests Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is now accepting entries for the 2024 Georgia Farm Bureau Middle School Bookmark and High School Art Contests. Students who submit their artwork have the chance to win some great cash prizes! The GFB Middle School Bookmark Contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students statewide. The 10 GFB district winners of the bookmark contest will receive $100 each and compete for the state prize of $150. County Farm Bureaus may also offer prizes to their local winners. The GFB High School Art Contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled students in ninth through twelfth grades. The 10 GFB district art contest winners will receive a cash prize of $100. The 10 GFB district art contest winners will compete for the state prize of $250 cash. County Farm Bureaus may also offer prizes to their local winners. Middle school students will be given a blank bookmark and asked to draw a picture that depicts some aspect of Georgia agriculture. Students may use crayons, markers or colored pencils to create their bookmark that illustrates agriculture.

High schoolers entering the art contest should draw a scene depicting Georgia agriculture. Artwork submitted in the high school art contest must be on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper and should be created in the colors black, white and gray. Contestants may use a variety of media to create their artwork including graphite, charcoal, pastel, chalk, colored pencil, pen-and-ink, ballpoint pen or mixed media appropriate for printing. Artwork entered in both contests will be judged on 1) how well the artwork represents modern agriculture found in the artist’s county or Georgia and 2) artistic merit.

Students may enter either contest in the county in which they live or attend school but not both counties. To enter either contest, students should contact their county Farm Bureau for an official entry form and complete contest rules. Contact your county Farm Bureau to learn its February deadline for entering the contests. County Farm Bureaus must submit their entries to Georgia Farm Bureau for the state contest by March 8. Entries are limited to one per person in both contests. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Previous state winners are not eligible for either contest. For more information about the contests contact your county Farm Bureau office or visit www.gfb.ag/contests. Students and teachers may visit https://gfb.ag/video to view a video about Georgia agriculture and to access info about Georgia agriculture.

GFB Field Notes page 14 of 16 UGA EXTENSION GOAT & SHEEP PRODUCTION SUMMIT March 8 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena Athens Hear speakers from Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, UGA Animal & Dairy Science Department & UGA Extension Forages Team discuss production issues for new and experienced producers. Price per participant is $45 to cover all course materials and lunch. Register at https://t.uga.edu/9Ga . Contact shanna.reynolds@uga.edu if your business is interested in a booth at the event. The event venue is located at 2660 South Milledge Ave. Athens, Ga. 30605.

USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY GEORGIA FARM LOAN INFO SESSIONS March 12 10 AM Dodge Co. Rec Dept. Alco Building Eastman Located at 1027 Dublin Hwy., 31023 March 12 2 PM Billy Walker Agricultural Center Douglas Located at 901 GA-206, 31533 March 13 10 AM Wayne Co. Extension Office Jesup Located at 1900 Sunset Boulevard, 31545 Join Georgia Farm Service Agency Executive Director Arthur Tripp, Jr. to learn more about FSA capital assistance options. Average interest rates for farm operating loans are 5.125%;farm ownership loans are 5.375% & farm storage facility loans are 4%. Please RSVP to gaoutreach@usda.gov .

GFB AG IN THE CLASSROOM EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS March 22 (Registration deadline March 8) UGArden Athens April 12 (Registration deadline March 29) Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton Georgia Farm Bureau is hosting Ag in the Classroom Educator Workshops & Tours in 2024 to introduce teachers to resources and teaching strategies to incorporate agriculture into their classrooms using curriculum that meets required teaching standards for STEM and STEAM. All workshops are open to any Georgia teacher. Teachers can choose from any of the three dates/locations. Each workshop will begin at 8 a.m. and end by 3:30 p.m. The cost to attend the workshop is $35, which includes lunch. Each workshop has a capacity of 30 teachers. Workshops are for teachers who have not previously attended a GFB Educator Workshop in the past two years.

Teachers interested in attending may register at www.gfb.ag/Spring24Workshop by the deadline or until the 30 slots for each class or filled. County Farm Bureaus are encouraged to recruit a local teacher who hasn’t previously attended a GFB Educator workshop to attend and to consider paying the teacher’s registration fee, reimbursing the teacher’s mileage to/from the workshop &/or covering the hotel cost for the night before the workshop if the teacher is traveling a long distance.

Teachers or county Farm Bureaus with questions should contact Lauren Goble at ldgoble@gfb.org or 478.474.8411, ext. 5135.

GFB Field Notes page 15 of 16 2024 CROP YEAR ARC & PLC ENROLLMENT March 15 deadline to enroll The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting enrollment in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year, and the deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15. For more information on ARC and PLC, producers can visit the ARC and PLC webpage or contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also make elections and complete enrollment online by logging in here with level 2 eAuth.

GFB COOKBOOK TO SUPPORT IMPACT FUND March 18 deadline to submit recipes or order a book Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is extremely excited to announce the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Cookbook. Anyone is welcome to submit their favorite recipes. Those who submit recipes will receive credit next to their recipe, so be sure to include all the requested information. The process is simple and convenient. To submit your recipe today, click the link here and/or pre-order your Georgia Farm Bureau Cookbook. (https://georgiafarmbureau.regfox.com/2023-pac-cookbook-).

The deadline to submit all recipes is March 18. The deadline to pre-purchase a cookbook is March 18. Cookbooks will be printed and delivered in June. All proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will directly benefit the Georgia Farm Bureau Federal ImPACt Fund. To purchase a cookbook, you must be a current Georgia Farm Bureau Member, though memberhip is not required to submit a recipe. If you would like to purchase a cookbook and aren’t yet a Georgia Farm Bureau Member, we invite you to join today. You can become a member HERE, and once completed, you can prepurchase your book from the link provided. (https://www.gfb.org/join/join-today) For more information, contact Keaton Walker at kgwalker@gfb.org.

16TH ANNUAL PEANUT PROUD FESTIVAL March 23 9 a.m.-11 p.m.

Downtown Square Blakely Early County’s day-long celebration of Georgia peanuts begins with a 5k and Fun Run. It includes a parade, over 100 vendors, a kids’ peanut butter obstacle course, free entertainment, and much more. Free specialty products such as fried peanuts and grilled PB&J sandwiches will be served.

Visit www.peanutproudfestival.com or the Peanut Proud Festival Facebook page for all the details.

Call 229-724-7322 for more information.

GFB Field Notes page 16 of 16 USDA VALUE-ADDED PRODUCER GRANTS April 11 deadline for electronic applications April 16 deadline for paper applications The USDA is accepting applications for grants to help agricultural producers maximize the value of their products and venture into new and better markets. USDA is making the grants available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program. The grants help farmers and ranchers generate new products, create marketing opportunities, and increase their incomes through value-added activities. Eligible applicants include independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. USDA may award up to $75,000 for planning activities or up to $250,000 for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product Planning activities may include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans. Working capital expenses may include costs associated with processing, marketing, advertising, inventory and salaries. To learn more, read the full Grant Opportunity Announcement. (https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/download/usda-rd-sa-vappg-foa-01172024.pdf) 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.

CONSERVATION DISTRICTS OFFER NO-TILL EQUIPMENT FOR RENT Ongoing Local Conservation Districts and their partners help farmers try a number of conservation practices by purchasing equipment and making it available to rent. Some districts offer no-till drills, PVC pond pipe systems and repair parts, as well as geotextile fabric for agricultural and road use. To see what equipment is available in your conservation district, click here.

988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE OFFERS SUPPORT The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988 or chatting on 988lifeline.org. 988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support. You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out. 988 trained crisis counselors can help you through whatever mental health challenges you are experiencing.