March 23, 2022
www.gfb.org
Vol. 4 No. 7
MARCH 12-13 FREEZE CAUSES SOME DAMAGE, DELAYS FRUIT CROPS The freezing temperatures that swept across Georgia on March 12 and 13 resulted in some damage to the state’s fruit crops, the worst of which appears to be in blueberries grown in the southernmost portion of the state. The consensus feeling among the growers GFB media talked to was thankfulness. “It was bad, but it certainly could have been worse,” said Tim McMillan, who runs Southern Grace Farms in Berrien County and chairs Georgia Farm Bureau’s Fruit Committee. Strawberry and peach growers sustained losses in early-blooming fruit plants. Growers still anticipate strong crops, though the prospect of another freeze event is a cause for concern. In the mid-March event, temperatures plunged to the mid-20s in South Georgia and the teens in the North Georgia mountains, posing a variety of challenges for producers of most of the state’s major fruit crops. On March 22, Georgia Blueberry Commission Chairman Jerome Crosby said growers are still reviewing – he had crop scouts scheduled to survey his fields later this week – but early-blooming highbush blueberries were the hardest hit. “If you had high bush without frost protection, it’s gone,” Crosby said. “The fruit was so mature and the cold so severe, it was an immediate death to that crop.” Crosby said about 40% of Georgia highbush blueberries do not have frost protection. Even with frost protection - irrigation that combines with the freezing temperatures to form an ice capsule around the berries – growers could still have damage to 15% to 20% of their berries. Rabbiteye blueberries, which bloom later, generally escaped serious damage, Crosby said. The diminished crop generated other concerns. Retailers waiting on the arrival of early season blueberries can resort to buying imported berries. Crosby worried that domestic producers might not regain that shelf space next year. Blueberry packing facilities, many of which had already purchased materials and arranged for labor, will likely suffer financial harm with no early fruit on their processing lines. “Most of the farmers have crop insurance, but they don’t want to farm crop insurance. Big losers are packing facilities. There will be no revenue without fruit going down the processing line. That’s tough,” Crosby said. -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes 2 of 13 Continued from previous page A sampling of fruit growers from around the state: PEACHES Some early blooms on peach trees were lost. The main concerns arising from this event for Dickey’s Peaches in Crawford County and Jaemor Farms in Hall County are limited availability of fruit early in the season and the potential for more freezing weather in the coming weeks. “It’s really around a few particular varieties,” Lee Dickey said. “It affected mostly some early peaches. The good thing is we’ve got fruit pretty much everywhere, so it’s not a total wipeout of any one variety or anything like that.” Jaemor owner Drew Echols said that the trees’ tendency to overproduce blooms in stages could mitigate the loss from this event. He said about 30% of the blooms on Jaemor’s trees had bloomed, and those blooms were wiped out by the March 12-13 freeze. “We lost those first ones but we had plenty of blooms that were still closed down that had not opened yet,” Echols said. “We’re still looking at a phenomenal crop, one of the better crops of fruit that I’ve seen set in a long time. I feel good about it right now, but it’s still early. It’s shaping up to be a good year. It was a scary weekend. It probably took a couple of years off of my life sitting around worrying about it all weekend.” Dickey and Echols both said other growers he’d talked to were optimistic about the crop, as well. STRAWBERRIES The fact that strawberry plants continuously bear fruit means losses from the March 12-13 freeze could be minimized. Like most commercial growers, Southern Belle Farm in Henry County put out ground covers to shield its strawberry plants from the cold and limit crop loss. In a video on social media, Southern Belle owner Jake Carter marveled at the heartiness of the plants. “I tell you these strawberry plants are resilient,” Carter said. “We did lose some blooms. It got down to 22 degrees. We had this white fabric cloth that we call row covers over the top of the plants. It’s just a really little cloth material to give us a little separation or else we would have lost all the blooms.” Carter’s video can be viewed here. “We’re very blessed that we didn’t receive more damage than we did. So we’re very thankful for that,” he said. “We’re very optimistic about this year’s crop.” Strawberries pose a big concern for Echols, who said he lost approximately 5,000 gallons of berries on his 22-acre plot, the equivalent of about 10% of his total crop. That’s an estimated value of $80,000. Since strawberries continuously produce fruit through their growing season, Echols is optimistic that the fruit will be plentiful, but the loss is compounded by delayed customer traffic in Jaemor’s stores. “It killed the blooms and any green fruit that I had out there,” Echols said. “We were shaping up to be a little bit early; right on time to a little bit early. What that actually does for me is it’s not just that $80,000, for an operation like mine with all the retail, it’s getting so many customers in -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes 3 of 13 Continued from previous page the door earlier. I mean yeah it was $80,000 worth of strawberries but it was probably another at least $80,000 worth of product that these folks would have been buying out of the market and things like that. It hurts your feelings, but again, it could be a lot worse.” At Southern Grace Farms in Berrien County, owner Tim McMillan used row covers and said his strawberries came through fine. APPLES In Gilmer County, Andy Futch of R&A Orchards said his apple trees had little, if any damage. “We just haven’t progressed far enough along to get much damage out of it,” Futch said. “Apples haven’t come out yet. Usually April is the month that gives us trouble.” OTHER FRUIT McMillan, who produces commercial crops of blackberries, said the plants were early enough in their yearly growth cycle that they were not affected. His satsuma crop, which he also produced commercially, sustained some leaf damage, but he didn’t expect adverse effects on the fruit. USDA COMMITS MONEY TO FUND MEAT PROCESSING STARTUPS, EXPANSION On Feb. 24, the USDA announced the availability of up to $215 million in grants and other support to expand meat and poultry processing options, strengthen the food supply chain, and create jobs and economic opportunities in rural areas. USDA Rural Development will make $150 million available in grants to fund startup and expansion activities in the meat and poultry processing sector. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will provide another $40 million for workforce development and training, and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will provide $25 million to offer technical assistance to grant applicants and others seeking resources related to meat and poultry processing. Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program USDA Rural Development is making $150 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding available through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). USDA is offering grants of up to $25 million each to expand processing capacity through a variety of activities, including but not limited to construction, expansion of existing facilities, and acquisition of equipment. USDA encourages applications that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, Tribes and tribal producers, socially disadvantaged producers, military veteran producers, and underserved communities. Visit www.rd.usda.gov/mppep for more information about the program or to apply by April 11 at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be submitted through the website or sent to MPPEP@usda.gov. Meat and Poultry Processing Workforce Development NIFA will invest an additional $40 million through existing workforce development programs to provide a pipeline of well-trained workers to meet the demand for both current processors and increased independent processing capacity. The primary investment will be through competitive grants to support workforce training at community, junior and technical colleges with programs specifically for meat and poultry processing. A request for applications will be published in April. Additional investments will leverage existing regional USDA education and Extension networks -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes 4 of 13 Continued from previous page and establish new, or supplement select existing, centers of excellence at minority-serving institutions focused on meat and poultry research, education and training. Each of these investments is designed to deliver needed support more quickly. Additional investments, either through the same or new programs and partnerships, are expected later this year. To sign up for notifications of these and other NIFA funding opportunities, visit the NIFA website. (https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDANIFA/subscriber/new?qsp=USDANIFA_2) USDA expects to continue working with the Department of Labor to support and encourage the development of good jobs in the agricultural sector, including jobs in meat and poultry processing. Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance USDA also is helping to ensure that entities proposing independent meat and poultry processing projects through MPPEP have full service technical assistance from application through postaward. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will provide approximately $25 million in American Rescue Plan funding to establish partnerships with organizations that will provide technical assistance to MPPEP applicants, recent recipients and future applicants of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program, and to entities who require general guidance and resources on meat and poultry processing. Of the $25 million, AMS will utilize $10 million to implement the first phase of support by establishing an initial technical assistance network and lead coordinator. More information about the technical assistance is available at the Meat and Poultry Supply Chain website. (https://www.usda.gov/meat) SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AWARDED $49.8 MILLION FOR DEEP WATER WELLS Georgia Gov Brian Kemp, joined by members of the Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee and state leaders, awarded the Albany State University (ASU) Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources, a preliminary grant of $49.8 million under the American Rescue Plan Act. The project will also utilize $3.7 million in local matching investments. The Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council will also play an important role in project implementation. “Agriculture water infrastructure is an integral part of Southwest Georgia’s economy and the sustainability of the community. We are elated that our partnership with Georgia Environmental Protection Division has received official approval to move forward with a project that will be sure to enhance the lives of our community members and students for generations,” said ASU President Marion Ross Fedrick. “I am proud that ASU has the opportunity to participate in this endeavor through the Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center.” This grant will fund the conversion of surface water irrigation in Southwest Georgia to deep groundwater sources. Reducing the surface water use, particularly in times of drought, will improve water supply security and protect the rivers and streams of the Lower Flint River Basin. The project will make the region more resilient to drought and sustain its economy, natural -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes 5 of 13 Continued from previous page systems, and communities. “Agricultural irrigation is the lifeblood of the economy of Southwest Georgia. This project is a giant step forward in water management that will have economic and environmental impacts that benefit this region for generations,” said Mark Masters, director of the Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center. Over the last 20 years, multiple severe droughts have created uncertainty over water supplies and threatened the viability of the agricultural economy and natural systems, particularly in the in the region’s Lower Flint River Basin. This project will restore and protect these waters to the benefit of farmers and natural systems in the region, while providing farmers with more reliable water supplies. Water resource planning and assessment in the region indicates that deeper aquifers can support more use, but this project will not assume deeper aquifers are unlimited resources. The project will assess the sustainability of increased use of these aquifers through monitoring and modeling. “This project will not only enhance the region’s capacity to respond to drought, but it will also provide the state with important information about our deeper aquifers that will support sustainable water management decisions,” said Anna Truszczynski, Watershed Protection Branch chief with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Highly efficient irrigation systems are found on more than 93% of the irrigated acreage in the Lower Flint region, and farmers employ a host of other water conservation practices. However, greater investments are needed to prepare for severe droughts and protect the region’s unique aquatic ecosystems. “This project will completely change how many farmers that I know use water. We want to protect and sustain this region – its water, its people – and we’ll be able to do that much better now,” said Jimmy Webb, a farmer from Calhoun County. Converting irrigation withdrawals to deep aquifers is recommended by the water planning councils active in this region. “This project will greatly enhance our ability to provide water for all needs in our region. We are pleased to see the Council’s recommendation become a reality,” said Lower Flint-Ochlockonee Regional Water Council Chairman Richard Royal. In addition to installing approximately 240 deep aquifer wells in Southwest Georgia, this project will also support conservation planning at each participating farm, environmental monitoring and assessment of groundwater aquifers and aquatic ecosystems, and stakeholder-driven water resource and endangered species management planning. It will also enhance an existing flow augmentation system near Colquitt, Georgia, and install a new flow augmentation system in another part of the Lower Flint River Basin. These augmentation systems provide flows to important aquatic habitats during drought. This project will benefit a region that includes 27 counties with a population of approximately 590,000 people. Farming accounts for 24% of the regional economy and more than 70% of the water use in the region.
GFB Field Notes 6 of 13 AFBF: PRODUCTION COSTS OUTPACING COMMODITY PRICES The cost of growing crops could outpace revenue for many farmers in 2022, making it more difficult to break even despite rising commodity prices and increased demand both domestically and globally. The American Farm Bureau Federation is launching a series of Market Intel articles examining rising farm production expenses. The first report concludes that farm production costs are likely to increase 6% in 2022, which follows a 12% increase in 2021. This continues a trend stretching back several years. Since 2013, farmers have seen almost all production expenses increase. For example, livestock and poultry expenses have gone up 46% and marketing, storage and transportation costs have increased 59%. Farmers are seeing a number of production cost increases including: • Rising fertilizer, seed and chemical prices, which now make up to 17.5% of on-farm expenditures; • Rising fuel and energy prices, exacerbated by uncertainty due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict;’ • Increased costs of labor, both on-farm and for agribusinesses serving farms; • COVID-19 disruption of labor markets and production. “The rising prices for fuel, fertilizer and other supplies create an unwelcome counterforce to higher commodity prices,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Higher prices for crops are getting a lot of attention right now and of course help farmers balance the books, but when expenses are rising just as quickly or even outpacing revenue, the financial gains evaporate. Right now, there are serious concerns about whether farmers will be able to access the supplies they need to put a crop in the ground.” AFBF is working to ensure the Biden Administration and Congress understand the severity and potential implications of increased production costs and the limited availability of some supplies. Future Market Intel articles will explore the rising cost of production expenses like seed, pesticides, energy, machinery, land, labor, credit and water. A Market Intel analyzing fertilizer prices was published in December 2021. Read the entire Market Intel here. On March 11, the USDA announced it will support additional fertilizer production for American farmers to address rising costs and spur competition. USDA will make available $250 million through a new grant program this summer to support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers. Additionally, to address growing competition concerns in the agricultural supply chain, USDA will launch a public inquiry seeking information regarding seeds and agricultural inputs, fertilizer, and retail markets. The United States is a major importer and dependent on foreign fertilizer and is the second or third top importer for each of the three major components of fertilizer. The top producers of the major components of fertilizer include China, Russia, Canada and Morocco, with Belarus also providing a significant share of potash. USDA will use funds that the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) set aside in September for market disruptions to develop a grant program that provides ‘gap’ financing to bring new, independent domestic production capacity on line—similar to the recently announced meat and -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes 7 of 13 Continued from previous page poultry grants that are designed to promote competition and resilience in that sector. The new program will support fertilizer production that is independent, made in America, innovative, sustainable and farmer-focused, according to a USDA press release. Details on the application process will be announced in the summer of 2022, with the first awards expected before the end of 2022. GEORGIA APPLE ASSESSMENT APPROVED; WINE /GRAPE CHECK-OFF FAILS Georgia apple producers voted to continue the Georgia Apple Commission Marketing Order for an additional three years. The new marketing order will allow the assessment rate to be changed from the current two cents per marketed bushel to a range of two to four cents per marketed bushel. The final rate will be established by the five members of the Georgia Apple Commission prior to each season and will become effective upon notification to the applicable producers. Established by the General Assembly in 1962, the Georgia Apple Commission is one of the oldest Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commissions. Funds collected by the commission are used for education, promotion, and research on topics or areas pertaining to apples. The continuation of marketing orders is voted on every three years. Georgia wine producers recently voted against implementing a marketing order that would create an assessment on all taxable wine produced by licensed Georgia wineries. Georgia wine producers would have paid the assessment. Of the 58% of the eligible growers who voted between Feb. 8 and March 9, only 38% voted in favor of the marketing order. The order would have allowed the Georgia Wine & Grape Commission to assess wine produced by licensed Georgia wineries at a rate between 5 and 20 cents per taxable liter. The final rate would have been set by the members on the commission after establishing budgetary goals and priorities for the funds. The assessment would have been effective upon notification to the licensed wine producers. The Georgia Wine & Grape Commission, which was created by the Georgia General Assembly in 2019 at the request of the Georgia wine industry, proposed the marketing order to raise funds for research on grape and wine issues and promote Georgia wines. If the commission desires, it can attempt to pass a marketing order again in twelve months. NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS AG’S IMPACT ON U.S. & GA ECONOMIES VITAL Georgia’s farmers serve a healthy helping to the state economy, according to the 2022 Feeding the Economy Report, a national study released on March 22, National Ag Day. The report shows that food and agriculture support 1,412,382 jobs in Georgia, providing $68.3 billion in wages, $21.3 billion in taxes and $4.2 billion in exports. All told, the state’s ag and food sectors have a $230.7 billion economic impact. A group of 30 food and agriculture groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, released the sixth annual Feeding the Economy report, a historic farm-to-fork economic analysis revealing how these sectors influence the local and broader United States economies. Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s study highlights how the industries remained resilient to -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes 8 of 13 Continued from previous page provide Americans with jobs, economic opportunity and safe food. This study sheds light for policymakers on how the food and agriculture sector not only feeds Americans, but also feeds the U.S. economy. The economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic has only served to further highlight the critical importance of the food and ag industries. The economic impact study released on March 22 shows that 17.77% of the nation’s economy and 29.14% of American jobs are linked to the food and agriculture sectors, either directly or indirectly. Additionally, the analysis broke down the food and agriculture sectors’ economic impact by state and congressional district. Here are the key findings for each of Georgia’s 14 congressional districts: 1st District – 104,347 jobs, $4.5 billion in wages, $14.2 billion economic impact 2nd District – 101,973 jobs, $5.1 billion in wages, $20.1 billion economic impact 3rd District – 83,182 jobs, $3.8 billion in wages, $13.6 billion economic impact 4th District – 61,264 jobs, $2.9 billion in wages, $8.4 billion economic impact 5th District – 171,764 jobs, $9.8 billion in wages, $30.9 billion economic impact 6th District – 135,229 jobs, $6.7 billion in wages, $22.3 billion economic impact 7th District – 111,017 jobs, $5.6 billion in wages, $17.4 billion economic impact 8th District – 100,146 jobs, $4.6 billion in wages, $16.8 billion economic impact 9th District – 123,274 jobs, $6.1 billion in wages, $24.9 billion economic impact 10th District – 75,291 jobs, $3.4 billion in wages, $11.1 billion economic impact 11th District – 118,633 jobs, $5.5 billion in wages, $18.8 billion economic impact 12th District – 94,874 jobs, $4.2 billion in wages, $14.2 billion economic impact 13th District – 72,005 jobs, $3.3 billion in wages, $9.6 billion economic impact 14th District – 59,384 jobs, $2.6 billion in wages, $8.4 billion economic impact To measure the total economic impact of the sectors, the analysis also includes the direct and indirect economic activity surrounding these industries, capturing both upstream and downstream activity. For example, when a farm equipment retailer hires new employees because farmers are buying more tractors, experts consider the new salaries an indirect impact. Similarly, when a retail associate spends her paycheck, an induced economic impact occurs. Together, these have a multiplier effect on the already formidable direct impact of food and agriculture. The full analysis underscores the importance the food and agriculture industries have on jobs, wages, exports, and taxes in our nation. The data provided includes the indirect and induced economy activity surrounding these industries. Visit www.FeedingTheEconomy.com to view the entire report.
GFB Field Notes 9 of 13 2022 PEANUT PROUD FESTIVAL March 26 Downtown area Blakely Come celebrate all things peanut at the annual Peanut Proud Festival on the town square. The daylong celebration begins with a 5k and 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 such as fried peanuts and grilled PB&J sandwiches. Go to www.peanutproudfestival.com or find us on Facebook and Instagram for all the details. GSWCC EROSION CONTROL DAY March 29 UGA Continuing Education Center Athens Please join GSWCC for Erosion Control Day, which features more than 25 vendors with cuttingedge erosion control products to use on construction sites while land disturbing activities are taking place. There will also be demos including sediment basin design and use. Speakers will cover a wide variety of topics including: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Skimmers, slopes stabilization, polymers, rainfall trends, protecting wetlands and waters of the U.S. GSWCC and EPD will be on hand to answer any questions. Lunch will be offered. Cost is $35.00. There is limited seating so register today! CULTIVATING YOUR POTENTIAL: USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY WEBINAR March 29 6.p.m. Virtual-Zoom Fort Valley State University's Cooperative Extension Program is hosting this free webinar to educate farmers about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs. FSA personnel will be available to discuss loans and other programs such as Farm Enrollment, Agriculture Risk Programs, Emergency Conservation Programs and Tree Assistance Programs. To register for this webinar series, visit, https://bit.ly/351q8pO. For more information, contact Moten-Thomas at (478) 825-6954 or thomasb@fvsu.edu. GEORGIA PECAN GROWERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW March 29-31 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The 57th Annual GPGA Educational Conference & Trade Show features an additional day of conference activity! For the 2022 show, the conference returns to Perry to the Georgia National Fairgrounds. The Annual Golf Tournament will kick off at lunchtime that day in Hawkinsville, while the 1st Annual Skeet Shoot Tournament will take place in Forsyth on March 29. That evening, a welcome reception will be held in Perry at the main exhibit hall of the fairgrounds. On March 30, the first day of the conference sessions launches with complimentary coffee and doughnuts beginning at 7:30 a.m. and includes the annual awards luncheon at noon in Heritage Hall at the fairgrounds. Second-day conference activities include educational sessions and will wrap up at 5 p.m. On March 31, conference activities begin registration and breakfast at 7:30 a.m., with Beginners Pecan Production Course running from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. that day with lunch provided. For registration information and updates to the sessions and speakers, stay tuned through our social media channels, email newsletter, and the GPGA website, www.georgiapecan.org.
GFB Field Notes 10 of 13 UTILIZING PRECISION AG TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS March 29 Ogeechee Technical College 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Statesboro March 31 Merry Acres Inn & Event Center 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Albany These free workshops will provide information about irrigation, precision planting, sustainability, economics and field demos. Lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Yangxuan Liu at yangxuan.liu@uga.edu or 229-386-3512. GEORGIA MILK CHECKOFF REFERENDUM March 30 deadline to send ballots Georgia dairy producers’ ballots regarding the 10 cents portion of your assessment should be mailed to Andy Harrison at 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, by March 30. Remember, 5 cents (of the 15 cents/cwt total deduction) is automatically sent by mandate to the national checkoff program, while producers do have a say about where the Georgia Milk Commission directs the remaining 10 cents for promotion and education. If you have not received a ballot in the mail, contact Paul Johnson at 229-220-3170, and he can see that you get one. AGDISCOVERY YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM March 31 www.aphis.usda.gov/agdiscovery Application deadline June 13-24 on-campus residency Fort Valley State University Are you a high school student (grades 9-12) interested in a career in veterinary medicine or animal science? Check out this exciting summer internship the USDA and Fort Valley State University are offering! As an AgDiscovery student, you’ll live on a college campus for 2–4 weeks and learn from university professors and USDA experts—plant and animal scientists, biotechnologists, veterinarians, wildlife biologists, administrative professionals, and others. You’ll gain hands-on experience through labs, workshops, and field trips; participate in character- and team-building activities; and join in many other fun and educational events. It’s a unique chance to get a firsthand look at the many exciting career paths in agriculture. The AgDiscovery program is free. USDA covers tuition, room and board, lab supplies, meals, and activity fees. You are only responsible for the cost of traveling to the university campus on opening day and returning home at the end of the program. Selected students will be notified the week of May 2 if you’ve been selected for this summer’s AgDiscovery program. Students must be available to attend the program in its entirety, including weekends and opening- and closing-day activities. In addition to Fort Valley State, the AgDiscovery Youth Program is offered at 20 other ag colleges/universities across the U.S. Participating schools offer one of three disciplines: agribusiness, animal science or a combination of animal, plant & agribusiness. Students may not repeat participation in a discipline they previously completed. For more information visit www.aphis.usda.gov/agdiscovery or contact: Karla M. Hollis, (202) 253-4218, karla.hollis@usda.gov ; Dr. Brou Kouakou, (478) 8273091, kouakoub@fvsu.edu; or Dr. Ralph Noble, (478) 825-6327, ralph.noble@fvsu.edu.
GFB Field Notes 11 of 13 23 FARM BUREAU AG INNOVATION CHALLENGE Arpil 29 deadline to enter in its ninth year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Farm Bureau is offering $165,000 in startup funds throughout the course of the competition, which will culminate in the top 10 semi-finalists competing in a live pitch competition in front of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives at the AFBF Convention in January 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ten semi-finalist teams will be announced Sept. 13. Each of the semifinalist teams will be awarded $10,000 and a chance to compete to advance to the final round where four teams will receive an additional $5,000 each. The final four teams will compete to win: Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, for a total of $50,000; Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-up, for a total of $20,000; People’s Choice Team selected by public vote, for an additional $5,000 (all 10 semi-finalist teams compete for this honor). Entrepreneurs must be members of a county or parish Farm Bureau within their state of residence to qualify as top 10 semi-finalists. For more information, visit https://www.fb.org/land/ag-innovation-challenge. Applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can visit https://www.fb.org/about/join to learn about becoming a member. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION WORKSHOP June 12-17 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton The Natural Resources Conservation Workshop is available to Georgia’s Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. This workshop focuses on the value, protection, and conservation of Georgia’s wildlife, forestry, soil, and water resources, including conservation in Georgia’s mining industry. The workshop provides students with a taste of college life while delivering valuable insight into careers through their counselors and instructors. (Students who have previously attended the workshop are not eligible. Students scoring well on the workshop exam may be awarded a college scholarship. A limited number of scholarships are awarded based on exam scores and specific scholarship guidelines and criteria. Registration will be open from April 1-30. For more information, visit www.abac.edu/nrcw. KEL-MAC SADDLE CLUB TRAIL RIDE April 2 Heritage Park/2543 Macon Hwy. 10 a.m. Watkinsville The Kel-Mac Club invites riders to bring their horses to enjoy a trail ride and meet & greet at the Heritage Park in Oconee County. Event is free and lunch will be provided. BETTER BEEF SYSTEMS EXTRAVAGANZA April 5 UGA Tifton Animal Science Farm 8 a.m. Tifton This beef and forage field day, sponsored by the University of Georgia and the Georgia Beef Commission, will feature presentations on sustainability, feeding cattle in Georgia, alfalfa, precision agriculture in hay fields, bull development, management strategies and more. Registration is $10 and includes lunch and refreshments. For more information or to register, contact your local county Extension agent or UGA Assistant Professor of Animal & Dairy Science Francine Henry at Francine.henry@uga.edu or 229-386-3328 or visit www.ugabeef.com/betterbeefsystems.
GFB Field Notes 12 of 13 KEL-MAC SADDLE CLUB HORSE SHOWS April 9, May 14, Sept. 17 & Oct. 8 Morgan Co. Ag Center Madison These shows are open to equestrians of all ages and experience levels. Classes include hunter/jumper, western, gaited, trail obstacles, halter/showmanship, beginner, open, minis, & a costume contest at the Oct. 8 show. All shows begin at 9 a.m. - rain or shine. Entry fee per class is $10 and $12 for championship classes. For more information call Susie at (706) 342-3775 or visit the Kel-Mac Saddle Club Facebook page or www.kel-mac.com. These volunteer-run shows generate funds to benefit equestrian related charities. The Kel-Mac Saddle Club has donated an estimated $157,050 back to Georgia’s Piedmont region through its 45 years including: the Georgia Equine Rescue League, the Morgan County Sherriff’s Empty Stocking Fund, the Calvin Center’s Horses & Warriors program, a student scholarship and the equestrian facilities of state & county Parks such as A. H. Stephens, Hard Labor Creek, Don Carter, Watson Mill Bridge and Heritage Park. 94TH GEORGIA FFA STATE CONVENTION April 28-30 Macon Centreplex Macon More than 4,000 Georgia FFA members, teachers, and guests are expected to attend this nnual event. The Georgia FFA Foundation will hold its Sponsors' Dinner on April 28 at 5:00 p.m., followed by the first general session of the convention. The convention includes workshops and competitions, including the Discussion Meet sponsored by Georgia Farm Bureau. For more information or to register, visit www.gaaged.org/page.aspx?ID=45. GFB AMBASSADOR PROGRAM May 2 www.gfb.ag/ambassadors Application deadline Georgia Farm Bureau is looking for enthusiastic students between the ages of 18-22 to serve as GFB Federation Ambassadors during fall 2022. Ambassadors will receive credit for a 30-plus hour internship and compensation for their service to Georgia Farm Bureau. Each ambassador must work three full days at the Georgia National Fair on Oct. 7-9 or Oct. 14-16. For more information or to apply, visit www.gfb.ag/ambassadors. Questions? Contact Slayten Carter at smcarter@gfb.org. 30TH ANNUAL YOUNG HARRIS/UGA BEEKEEPING INSTITUTE May 18-21 Young Harris College Young Harris More than 90 bee-related lectures and workshops, improved honey show with $1,000 in cash prizes, local and national vendors, training and certification for the Georgia Master Beekeeping Program, Welsh Honey Judge, and the newly added Honey Bee Control and Removal Operator. This year will also include a Thursday cake and ice-cream anniversary gathering, along with a Friday night social and dinner, with live music and awards, so bring your dancing shoes. For more information, visit https://bees.caes.uga.edu/yhc-uga-beekeeping-institute.html.
GFB Field Notes 13 of 13 WINTERGREEN 2022 June 21-23 Gas South Convention Center Duluth Wintergreen, Georgia’s premier multi-day trade show and conference for the green industry, boasts more than 250 exhibitors and thousands of attendees each year. The event offers three days of industry educational sessions and updates to keep producers ahead of the competition. The Gas South Convention Center is located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. For more information, visit www.mywintergreen.com. 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.