Georgia Farm Bureau's March 11 GFB Field Notes

February 19, 2020

www.gfb.org

Vol. 2 No. 4

2020 CERTIFIED FARM MARKET PASSPORT PROGRAM LAUNCHES MARCH 16 We all have to eat. It’s biology, right?

While you are meeting that requirement through the rest of 2020, Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) has a recommendation to enhance the experience: Visit a Certified Farm Market (CFM) near you.

Starting March 16 GFB launches the second year of its CFM Passport program. The best part? You can make it your custom without going through customs! Just hit the road in Georgia, and chances are you’re within an hour of straight-from-the-farm goodness, whether it’s strawberries or peaches in the spring, fresh vegetables during the summer, apples in the fall or Christmas trees at year’s end.

The passport guides travelers across Georgia to farms that offer food items for virtually any taste. Travel with the passport to live out your love of exploring Georgia, supporting local farms and eating fresh. Passport holders will discover where their food comes from, meet the people who grow it, and see our state’s agricultural diversity firsthand!

In 2019, farm passport travelers made more than 2,400 visits to CFMs. Two of them – Warner Robins couple Skip Mills and Dennie Douglas - visited 63 of the 67 markets across the state.

“For me, it was a chance to get to see a part of Georgia that I had never really seen, to go to these small farms, these family-run farms,” Douglas said. “Even though I was born and raised in Georgia, there are lots of these areas that I’ve never actually been to.

It was neat to see the seasons change. We started in May, and then July, and then it was November when we stopped. It really made me appreciate Georgia and everything we have here. All the different places and things you can do. It was nice to interact with all these different folks. They were so nice and welcoming, and appreciative. They were generous.”

In 2020, there are more markets for passport participants to visit, and they can earn some fun prizes. Turn in your passport with stamps from five or more CFMs and you get a special CFM -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 2 of 12 Continued from previous page t-shirt. Stamps from 10 or more farms nets the t-shirt and assorted ag swag items like sunglasses, bumper stickers, hand sanitizer and more. Travelers who get stamps from 15 or more CFMs get all that plus their choice of selected CFM products. Get 20 or more stamps and receive a farm-totable dinner and farm tour along with all the other prizes.

“I think the beauty of the program is it advertises what is already around you and available that people may not be aware of because a lot of the farmers, they don’t have billboards up, but they’re out there,” Mills said. “Some of them are just feeding the members of their local community.

They’re feeding them the squash and the okra and the tomatoes or the pork or the beef. For those that like to get out, that like agritourism, there’s your motivation. Go beyond your locale and visit some of these people. They’d love to have you.”

The Georgia Farm Passport is available at county Farm Bureau offices and at the 78 farms participating in the GFB Certified Farm Markets (CFM) program. To find participating farms, visit www.gfb.ag/farmpassport. The deadline to submit your passport for prizes is Jan. 8, 2021.

The GFB Certified Farm Markets are listed in the passport. These markets grow a majority of what they sell on their farm or they offer farm tours. Some farms have corn mazes and farm games, offer educational opportunities, or host special events.

One passport allowed per person. One stamp allowed per farm per person. As you visit, share your journey with #farmpassport #gafarmbureau. While no purchase is required to participate, please be kind and make one since these farms are their owners’ livelihoods. Email cfm@gfb.org for questions.

SIGN UP FOR FARM RECOVERY BLOCK GRANTS FROM MARCH 18 TO APRIL 8 The Georgia Department of Agriculture will begin accepting online applications for $347 million in block grant funds on March 18.

The grant program is for farmers and forest landowners with operations in 95 eligible Georgia counties, who suffered losses to beef, dairy, fruit and vegetable, pecan, poultry, timber, and eligible uninsured irrigation equipment or farm structures as a result of Hurricane Michael. The federal block grants seek to help recover losses not covered under existing USDA Farm Service Agency programs.

Only online applications will be accepted. While mobile phones may be used to sign up and log in, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application using a computer to ensure proper upload and attachment of required documents.

All applications must be completed and submitted by April 8, 2020.

For more information about the Farm Recovery Block Grant, please contact GDA at farmrecovery@agr.georgia.gov.

To help growers prepare for the grant application, the GDA has published a guide offering tips on how to apply and a map indicating eligible counties. Access the guide at www.farmrecovery.com.

Georgia agriculture suffered a $2.5 billion loss from Hurricane Michael. Under the $3 billion Disaster Relief Act of 2019, USDA earmarked $800 million in block grant funds to aid states impacted by disasters. USDA allocated $347 million for Georgia.

GFB Field Notes page 3 of 12 REGISTRATION OPEN FOR YF&R CONFERENCE, CONTEST ENTRIES Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is now accepting registration for the 2020 GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Summer Leadership Conference, entries to the 2020 GFB YF&R competitive events and the YF&R Photo Contest.

The Summer Leadership Conference, using the theme “Building Our Future,” will take place July 15-18 on Jekyll Island. Registration is $100 per member and the deadline to register is June 1. Registration fees will be waived for college students. To register for the conference, visit www.gfb.ag/20yfrslc.

The deadline to enter the competitive events is also June 1. The GFB YF&R program, which is for agriculturalists between the ages of 18 and 35, offers competition for the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, the Excellence in Agriculture Award, the YF&R Discussion Meet and YF&R Member of the Year. Details on all four events, including entry applications can be viewed at www.gfb.ag/20YFRawards.

The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who earn the majority of their income from production agriculture. The dates for the on-farm interviews for the top three competitors have been set for June 25 and 26. The state winner will receive $500 cash, a four-seat John Deer ATV with trailer, a year’s use of a Kubota M Series tractor and an expense-paid trip to the ’21 AFBF Convention in San Diego, California. The two runners-up will each receive $500 cash.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes agriculturalists who earn the majority of their income from something other than production agriculture. The top three contestants will give presentations during the Summer Leadership Conference, and conference attendees are invited to sit in and observe. The state winner will receive $500 cash, a two-seat John Deer ATV with trailer, and an expense-paid trip to the ’21 AFBF Convention in San Diego, California.

The YF&R Discussion Meet puts competitors in a committee-style forum, during which they exchange ideas on a specified ag-related topic and are judged on their subject knowledge, cooperation in the discussion and other factors. The state winner will receive $500 cash, a twoseat John Deer ATV with trailer, and an expense-paid trip to the ’21 AFBF Convention in San Diego, California. The three runners-up will each receive $350 cash.

The YF&R Member of the Year is determined by a vote during the conference. The YF&R Member of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding YF&R member who is active with their local YF&R Committee, county Farm Bureau and ag community. The award highlights how YF&R members can have an impact by participating in county, district and state level events and work to encourage, educate and lead other YFR&R members.

Judges will select the top three applicants. These applicants will be interviewed by the Farm Monitor for a YF&R Spotlight Video that will be shown at the YF&R Summer Leadership Conference. YF&R members attending the conference will vote for the YF&R Member of the Year. The application counts for 70% of the applicant’s score and onsite voting accounts for 30%.

The winner will receive a $250 cash prize, a paid trip to the 2021 AFBF Fusion Conference and a $150 cash award for the recipient’s county Farm Bureau to develop YFR&R programs. The 2nd and 3rd runners-up will each receive a $150 cash prize and a $150 cash award for the recipient’s -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 4 of 12 Continued from previous page county Farm Bureau to develop YFR&R programs.

The GFB YF&R Committee is again sponsoring the annual ‘Picture Agriculture’ photo contest.

The contest rules, minor release form, and submission information can be found at www.gfb.ag/yfrphoto. Any GFB member can enter, and cash prizes will be awarded. The top 12 photos will be on display during the Summer Leadership Conference, where attendees will vote to determine the winners. The top 12 will also be featured in the 2021 YF&R Calendar, with the statewide winner as the cover photo. The deadline to submit photos is June 1.

For more information, contact Erin Nessmith at ennessmith@gfb.org.

GFB OFFERING NEW HEALTH COVERAGE OPTION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is excited to partner with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia to provide new health coverage options to small businesses.

“In 1959, Georgia Farm Bureau started an insurance company to meet the insurance needs of its members, particularly those living and working in rural Georgia,” GFB President Gerald Long said. “Now, sixty years later, we are partnering with Anthem to continue the tradition of meeting the insurance needs of our members by providing a health insurance program that will reach all areas of Georgia, both rural and urban.”

The GA FARM Bureau Health Care Plan offers potential savings for small business employers if they are a sole proprietor or a group with at least two enrolled and no more than 50 eligible employees who fall within a broad range of agricultural Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes.

The GA FARM Bureau Health Care Plan offers employers choices from a variety of competitive plans and a broad network of health care providers.

Employees must be GFB members to participate in the plan. For just $35 annually, you can become a member of GFB and help support a safe and abundant supply of Georgia food and fiber.

The GA FARM Bureau Health Care Plan is a self-funded trust established to offer group insurance. It is governed by trustees and by-laws that satisfy Georgia Department of Insurance requirements.

For more information about the plan, email the GFB’s Member Services Department at websites@gfb.org or call 800-633-5432, option 1.

GFB HOLDS SPRING COMMODITY MEETINGS Georgia Farm Bureau members attending the organization's Spring Commodity Meetings March 4-5 heard from Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman, Georgia's state economist, UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) Dean Sam Pardue, GFB President Gerald Long and GFB Public Policy Director Jeffrey Harvey.

Dorfman explained that while Georgia is doing well economically with record high employment numbers, the economy is only growing by a little bit overall, making it necessary to cut the state budget so that the state has adequate rainy-day funds in case a recession should hit.

“We can have numbers at record highs but still not be doing a whole lot better,” Dorfman said.

“During the last two recessions the state went right through the rainy-day fund necessitating -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 5 of 12 Continued from previous page severe budget cuts, hence the governor’s proposed budget cuts. What the governor is encouraging agencies to do is increase their efficiency not cut services. He wants us to be prudent users of Georgia taxpayers’ money.”

The state currently has about $2.8 billion in its rainy-day fund, Dorfman said.

Georgia’s economy is dependent on international trade, so the state could experience a little bit of economic slowdown due to the coronavirus and the top trading partners of the U.S. being in recession (China, Japan, German and the United Kingdom), Dorfman said.

The service sector generates about 70% of the U.S. economy, Dorfman said. At some point in the future, Georgia may have to consider taxing services such as dry cleaning and haircuts to generate more state tax revenue, Dorfman said.

“As we buy fewer goods and more services, we may need to look at taxing services because we’re spending so much more of our money on services,” Dorfman said.

At the March 4 meeting, CAES Dean Pardue, who announced in January that he will retire June 30, outlined eight trends that will shape our world in coming years: high health care costs, U.S. national debt, climate variability, urbanization, declining birth rates, demographic shifts, emerging diseases and farm bankruptcies.

“We’ve seen a growth in farm bankruptcies of about twenty percent since 2014. From 2010 to 2019, Georgia ranked in the top three states for farm bankruptcies behind California and Wisconsin.” Pardue said.

Most farmers are filing Chapter 12, which protects the farm while its owners pay off debt, Pardue said.

GFB Public Policy Director Jeffrey Harvey encouraged Commodity Committee members to call Georgia state senators and ask them to vote for HB 545 to protect farmers against nuisance lawsuits.

“For decades, we have relied on Georgia’s current ‘Right to Farm’ law to protect our farms but recent cases in other states have demonstrated that Georgia’s laws are no longer adequate,” Harvey said.

Commodity advisory committee members attended their committee meetings before or after a lunch presentation each day with 10 committees convening each day to review GFB policy.

“Thank you for being willing to serve and give our input on our polices pertaining to your commodities,” GFB President Gerald Long said. “You’re not only representing your farm but you’re also representing farms in your counties.”

GFB Field Notes page 6 of 12 USDA TO OPEN WHIP+ SIGNUP ON MARCH 23 On Feb. 28, the USDA announced additional disaster assistance available to agricultural producers, including producers impacted by drought and excess moisture. The Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Plus (WHIP+), is intended to help producers recover from losses related to 2018 and 2019 natural disasters.

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will open signup on March 23 for producers to apply for eligible losses of drought (D3 or above) and excess moisture.

In June 2019, Congress made more than $3 billion available through a disaster relief package.

In December 2019, Congress passed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, which provides an additional $1.5 billion for the continuation of disaster assistance program delivery.

The Appropriations bill added excessive moisture and D3 and D4 drought as qualifying losses for WHIP+ assistance.

Beginning March 23, producers who suffered either of these types of loss in 2018 and/or 2019 can apply for WHIP+ assistance at their local FSA office. For drought, a producer is eligible if any area of the county in which the loss occurred was rated D3 (Extreme Drought) or higher on the U.S. Drought Monitor during calendar years 2018 or 2019.

In addition, producers have reported widespread crop quality loss from eligible disaster events that results in price deductions or penalties when marketing the damaged crops. The Appropriations bill expands WHIP+ to include assistance for crop quality loss. FSA is gathering data and input from producers and stakeholders regarding the extent and types of quality loss nationwide.

To be eligible for WHIP+, producers must have suffered losses of certain crops, trees, bushes, or vines in counties with a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or a Secretarial Disaster Designation (primary counties only) for hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, wildfires, and excessive moisture that occurred in 2018 or 2019. Also, losses located in a county not designated by the Secretary as a primary county may be eligible if the producer provides documentation showing that the loss was due to a qualifying natural disaster event.

For drought, counties having a D3 or D4 Drought Monitor classification in any portion of the county anytime during calendar year 2018 or 2019 will also be eligible.

A list of counties that received qualifying hurricane declarations and designations is available at www.farmers.gov/recover/whip-plus. The U.S. Drought Monitor is available at www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

Because livestock losses are covered by other disaster recovery programs offered through FSA, these losses are not eligible for WHIP+.

GFB Field Notes page 7 of 12 GNFA DEDICATES NEW LIVESTOCK ARENA TO FORMER GOV. SONNY PERDUE 4-Hers and FFA members showing sheep and goats at the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show Feb. 19-22, were sheltered from cold weather as they exhibited their animals in Perdue Arena at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter (GNFA). Exhibitors and spectators appreciated the warmth of the climate-controlled building as the goat and sheep shows have been held in a covered, but open-sided arena in recent years.

Located just inside the GNFA East Gate, the new 59,824 square-foot building has a 250-foot by 125-foot show ring with 486 stadium seats and an attached 20,272 square-foot covered shed. JMA Architecture designed the building and International City Builders Construction built it.

Fittingly, the Breeding Ewe Show was taking place inside Perdue Arena on Feb. 22 as the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority (GAEA), which oversees the Agricenter, held a ceremony outside the new building dedicating it to former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.

“Congratulations Sonny! We couldn’t think of anyone more deserving, and we sincerely appreciate all you’ve done for us. Thanks to you for your keen wisdom and your support of this campus,” GAEA Chairman Foster Rhodes said in his remarks.

Rhodes explained that the authority asked Perdue to support expanding GNFA facilities while he was governor. Perdue told authority members the expansion needed to be done in phases due to budget concerns caused by the recession at the time. Rhodes thanked the Georgia Legislature, Govs. Nathan Deal and Brian Kemp for their continued support of the three-phase expansion.

Perdue Arena is the last of a three-phase expansion to the Agricenter’s livestock and equestrian facilities. Phase 1 included the Sutherland Arena building, a covered practice ring, the east gate, east restroom facility, guard house and public safety building. Phase 2 included a covered practice ring and a 103,000 square-foot horse barn with 480 stalls.

Speaking during the ceremony, U.S. Sen. David Perdue said the arena dedication to his first cousin was appropriate for the contributions Sonny made to the state while he served as governor.

“He did things as governor, such as funding the Savannah Port that positioned Georgia to be the best state in which to do business,” Sen. Perdue said.

While speaking at the ceremony, former Gov. Sonny Perdue said, “A better name for this arena would be the People’s Arena because the people of Georgia invested in this facility. What’s going on at this facility this weekend with youth showing livestock and the life lessons they’re learning is what this facility is all about.”

The GAEA presented former Gov. Perdue with a replica of the dedication plaque that will hang in Perdue Arena and the Georgia National Fairgrounds Youth Ambassadors presented Perdue with a belt buckle naming him an honorary ambassador for the GNFA. Sonny Perdue’s wife, Mary, the couple’s four children and their spouses, and 14 grandchildren attended the ceremony with him.

GFB Field Notes page 8 of 12 USDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SUSPENSION OF DICAMBA USE The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee has recommended the suspension of dicamba registration to prevent produce crop harm resulting from off-target movement when the herbicide is applied to non-produce row crops.

The dicamba suggestion is one of 33 requests the committee made in its 2018-2020 recommendations, submitted on Feb. 21. The 24-member committee recommended USDA actions to address food safety, labor, trade and production.

The group asked that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue work with the FDA and EPA to address concerns about dicamba, a multi-action herbicide used by soybean and cotton growers to control invasive weeds.

Specifically, the committee asked federal agencies to recognize that dicamba will move off target and to establish a “reasonable residue tolerance.” The recommendations included one-mile buffers between the application site and the closest sensitive, non-target plant. The group also recommended limiting dicamba application to periods of “more desirable circumstances,” like lower temperature and humidity, pre-plant and preseason, and other factors that would reduce the potential for the chemical moving off target.

Dicamba’s current registration expires in December. The committee recommended that the registration for certain dicamba products not be renewed until research shows that specialty crop producers will not be harmed by off-target movement. The committee also recommended that the USDA and EPA evaluate dicamba products and make a determination about their continued use in 2020 before the registration expires.

The committee’s key recommendations on other topics: • That the USDA collaborate with the FDA to ensure that foreign produce supply is held to the same standards as domestic supply related to Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance.

• That the Agriculture Secretary work with Congress and the administration for legislative agricultural immigration reforms. The fruit and vegetable industry has identified access to labor as its most critical need, and that reforms should allow the industry to retain the current workforce in light of their ongoing critical contributions to the supply chain as well as create a new future flow of labor that makes their workforce affordable, predictable and sustainable.

• That the Agriculture Secretary consider meaningful improvements in the guidance for and enforcement of Buy American requirements for school food purchases under the 2018 farm bill.

Visit https://gfb.ag/2020FVIACrecs to view the complete list of the committee’s recommendations.

GFB Field Notes page 9 of 12 USDA OKS GA HEMP PLAN; LICENSE APPLICATIONS OPEN MARCH 23 The USDA has approved the Georgia Hemp Plan, which allows the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) to begin the process of accepting online applications for hemp grower licenses on March 23.

The hemp grower license is issued by the GDA under the authority of the Georgia Hemp Farming Act, which authorizes cultivation and handling of hemp in Georgia. The initial license fee is $50 per acre intended to be cultivated (up to a maximum fee of $5,000) and is payable once the GDA approves the application.

The hemp grower license application can be completed and submitted online only. Eligible applicants must provide sufficient information that proves that the applicant is qualified for licensing. For a detailed application guide and additional information, visit http://agr.georgia.gov/georgia-hemp-program.aspx or send an email to hemp@agr.georgia.gov.

Georgians interested in processing hemp can now apply for a hemp processing permit. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) requires any person processing or intending to process hemp to hold a valid Hemp Processor Permit before receiving, processing, handling or storing hemp.

The initial fee for a Hemp Processor Permit is $25,000, and the annual renewal fee is currently $10,000 per year. Processors must also obtain a $100,000 surety bond and documentation listed at https://gfb.ag/GDAhemppermits, where the permit applications may also be accessed.

Georgia permitted processors can process and handle hemp produced by an out-of-state grower if the grower is authorized to produce hemp under a hemp plan approved by the USDA or grower license issued by USDA.

GFB Field Notes page 10 of 12 DEADLINE TO ENROLL IN ARC/PLC IS MARCH 16 Farmers have until March 16 to elect either Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) in order to receive payments for the 2019 crop year. ARC and PLC are administered by the Farm Service Agency, and farmers are urged to contact their local FSA office to schedule an appointment. To find your local office click here.

2020 GEORGIA FORAGE AND GRASSLAND COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING March 17 Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Watkinsville Keynote speaker is Dr. Matt Poore of North Carolina State University. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Incorporating Technology into Forages”. The event is free but registration is requested. To register visit https://gfb.ag/GFGC2020mtg.

SOLAR ENERGY IN RURAL GEORGIA: OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDOWNERS March 26 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Tifton This free workshop, hosted by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, will help landowners understand the benefits and possible liabilities of hosting solar panels on their land.

Speakers from UGA Extension, Georgia Tech, the USDA and the University of Tulsa will cover what landowners and communities need to consider before they decide to install solar panels or contract with a solar energy company. The public is welcome, but registration is required. For more information, contact Amanda Smith at aziehl@uga.edu or 229-386-3512.

APPLE GRAFTING WORKSHOPS March 26 Ball Ground Community Center 2 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Ball Ground The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office in Cherokee County will host two applegrafting classes, covering the science behind grafting and grafting techniques, with hands-on training. Participants will be provided with all the materials needed to graft, including five semidwarf rootstocks and a wide variety of scions to choose from. The classes will be held from 2 p.m.

- 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 - 8 p.m. Registration cost is $35. For more information on how to register for one of the upcoming sessions, call the Cherokee County Extension office at 770-721-7803 or visit https://gfb.ag/applegrafting2020.

CHEROKEE COUNTY FARM BUREAU AG EXPO March 27 Hickory Flat Fellowship Church 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Canton In celebration of March being National Agriculture Month, Cherokee County Farm Bureau cosponsors this free annual event with the Cherokee County Extension Office, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Woodstock. The event will feature tractors and gardening classes, a children's area with planting, animals and games, teacher and student friendly booths, food and drinks. Door prizes, including a $100 gift card, will be given. For more information or to arrange for a booth, contact Shirley Pahl at sfpahl@gfbco.org or 770-479-1481 ext. 0, or visit www.cherokeeagexpo.info.

GFB Field Notes page 11 of 12 PEANUT PROUD FESTIVAL March 28 Town Square Blakely Come celebrate all things peanut at the annual Peanut Proud Festival. The day-long celebration begins with a 5K & fun run and ends with a street dance. In between are a parade, more than 100 vendors, a kids’ peanut butter obstacle course, free entertainment and much more. Come sample specialty products like fried peanuts and grilled PB&J sandwiches, then visit the Peanut Proud Store. For more information, visit www.peanutproudfestival.com or search for Peanut Proud Festival on Facebook.

GA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW April 2-4 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This annual event features the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association’s annual awards banquet, educational events, the Cattlemen’s Ball & Reception, the Georgia Forage Conference, livestock auctions and much more. To register, visit www.GeorgiaCattlemen.org. For a schedule of events, please see the GCA Facebook page, the current issue of the Georgia Cattleman magazine, or call 478-474-6560.

46TH ANNUAL GREAT SOUTHLAND STAMPEDE RODEO April 16-18 UGA Livestock Arena 2600 S. Milledge Ave. Athens The UGA Block & Bridle Club will host the largest student-run rodeo in the nation April 16-18, at the UGA Livestock Arena located at 2600 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30606. Doors open at 6 p.m. each evening with the rodeo beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday will be Student Night, Friday Breast Cancer Awareness Night and Saturday Veterans Night. Donations will be given to a cause based on the nightly theme. Until Friday, April 3, pre-sale tickets are $10 for children and $17 for adults. Beginning April 4, tickets will be $15 for children and $20 for adults. UGA students may buy discounted tickets for $13 at the door on April 16 only with a valid UGA ID. Tickets may be purchased at the rodeo website at www.gssrodeo.com. Prices do not include EventBrite ticket processing fee for tickets purchased online.

GFB Field Notes page 12 of 12 GEE HAW WHOA BACK RODEO AT ABAC April 3-4 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton Enjoy the ropes and reigns at the Gee Haw Whoa Back Rodeo on ABAC's campus! This rodeo is PCA sanctioned and hosted by 4L & Diamond S Rodeo Company. See all your favorites including steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, bull riding, and more! Tickets will be available at the door: $15 for adults, $5 for students ages 6-18, free for children 5 & under, and free for ABAC students with ID. Visit www.abac.edu/homecoming for more details.

GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS ANNUAL MEETING April 5-7 Callaway Resort and Gardens Pine Mountain The theme of this year’s meeting is “Focus on Water Quality in 2020”. The agenda offers important updates regarding water resources usage, protection and rights, and farm bill elements to our conservation partners. Special guests include American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall and NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. Presentations topics include: 2018 farm bill programs, high hazard watershed dams and the water conflict between Georgia and Florida. For more information, visit www.gacd.us/annualmeeting.

CARROLL COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OFFERING SCHOLARSHIP April 15 deadline to apply The Carroll County Master Gardeners Association is accepting applications for a $1,000 scholarship for students from Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties who are studying agriculture, consumer science, landscaping, plant science, environmental science, natural resources, horticulture, forestry or a related field. Students already attending college or a graduating high school senior planning to major in one of the related fields of study are encouraged to apply. An essay is required along with three references and an official transcript. For more information, call 770.836.8546 or email khlittleton@yahoo.com.

MAY 1 IS DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR CENTENNIAL FARM AWARD If your farm is at least 100 years old, then it may be eligible for one of three awards the Georgia Centennial Farm program presents each fall. The Centennial Family Farm Award recognizes farms owned by members of the same family for at least 100 years. The Centennial Heritage Farm Award honors farms listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and owned by the same family for 100 years or more. The Centennial Farm Award doesn’t require continual family ownership, but farms must be at least 100 years old and listed in the NRHP. Farm owners interested in applying for the 2020 awards should visit www.georgiashpo.org or contact Allison Asbrock at 770-389-7868 or Allison.asbrock@dnr.ga.gov.