Georgia Farm Bureau's July 13 Field Notes

Page 1

July 13, 2022

www.gfb.org

Vol. 4 No. 15

AFBF: RISING FUEL COSTS CONTINUE TO IMPACT FARMERS Like all Americans, farmers and ranchers are facing higher prices at the fuel pump, as well as on the farm. Growers felt these price increases throughout the spring as they worked to plant during one of the most important crop years in recent history, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s June 28 Market Intel. Growers have expressed concerns about the availability and delivery of diesel fuel when they need it most, especially as they have faced delayed planting in many areas. The window to plant crops this year was smaller than usual, so fuel delivery needed to be timely, but it also was very expensive. Gasoline prices hit a new high, rising above $5.01 in June, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Diesel prices rose to $5.72 per gallon in June, up $2.43 per gallon, or 74%, compared to $3.29 per gallon in June 2021. The current high price of diesel is more than two times the price paid before 2020. Looking back to the end of February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the price of diesel jumped by $1.15 per gallon within the two weeks following. The U.S. Energy Information Administration breaks down the costs within a gallon of fuel. As of April 2022, the most recent data available, 60% of the cost of regular gasoline is crude oil, 17% is the cost to refine, 11% is costs associated with distribution and marketing, and 12% is taxes, which vary based on the state in which you are pumping gasoline. In April, the cost of diesel, the primary fuel option for farmers and ranchers, was made up of four parts – 49% is based on crude oil, 28% is refining, 12% is costs associated with distribution and marketing and 11% is taxes, which varies by state. The U.S. supply of weekly crude oil stocks, similar to ending stocks of corn or soybeans, is at its lowest point since 2004. While the U.S. is relatively behind its normal domestic production of crude oil and limited imports are causing supplies to be short, demand is rising, both domestically and globally. As noted, mid-March through the end of September is the peak demand time for gas and diesel, so it is normal for inventories to lower during this time. What makes the situation difficult this year is that the U.S. does not have the same quantity of additional supplies, like imports, to supplement the increased demand. The East Coast will continue to see fewer imports. In addition, East Coast ports are likely to have an increase in exports as the U.S. supplements demand from European and Latin American -continued on next page


GFB Field Notes 2 of 15 Continued from previous page countries that would normally secure supplies from Russia. This dynamic, however, is creating a market force that puts U.S. consumers at a disadvantage. Crude oil, gasoline and diesel are all considered global commodities. Global market forces in the short-term are incentivizing suppliers to sell off inventory at the cash price today, rather than the lower posted future price. This creates a disincentive for suppliers to hold back any inventory that would likely move through domestic channels, thus shortening domestic U.S. supplies. It has been reported that the spread between current and future prices has been as much as $1 per gallon. This would mean that suppliers would lose as much as $1 per gallon if they were to hold on to inventory for 30 days or more. Fuel prices have risen sharply since Russia invaded Ukraine, and high fuel prices continue to add to the conversation of high input prices for all agricultural producers. In 2020, fuel represented about 3% of total on-farm expenditures. Earlier this year, USDA expected fuel costs to increase more than 2% as part of net farm income projections compared to the cost of fuel in 2021 and we expect that increase to be larger when USDA updates those numbers in September. Since 2013, fuel has increased as a farm production expenditure cumulatively by 3%. This expectation comes with the latest USDA cost of production data, which estimates that the cost of fuel, lube and electricity combined is projected to increase 34% in 2022 compared to 2021, after just a slight cost reduction, decreasing 1% from 2020 to 2021. A glimmer of hope for farmers is USDA’s estimate that the price of fuel may decrease about 18% in 2023 compared to 2022, but these projections are very early and there is significant uncertainty. It is getting more costly to farm and while some – not all – commodity prices have increased, farmers are not necessarily making more money. In fact, with higher expenses, many farmers and ranchers are concerned they will not be able to break even, let alone make any kind of profit. And, if the market takes an unexpected turn that pushes commodity prices lower, farmers will likely not be able to make enough revenue to cover these high production costs. Beyond the farm, diesel and gasoline are used to transport farm products to and from the farm. The rising cost of diesel and gasoline will inevitably increase the cost of the food consumers buy at the grocery store. To read the entire Market Intel report, click here. NASS: GA FARMERS EXPECTED TO PLANT LESS ACREAGE IN FIELD CROPS Georgia farmers are expected to plant 35,000 fewer of the state’s major field crops, according to the June Acreage Report released on June 30 by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Corn, peanuts and soybeans are forecast for reduced acreage in 2022 compared with acres planted in 2021. Meanwhile, Georgia cotton growers are expected to add 30,000 acres, from 1.17 million in 2021 to 1.2 million in 2022, an increase of 2.6%. NASS forecasts Georgia corn planted area for all purposes at 430,000 acres in 2022, down 10 percent from 2021, when the state’s corn growers planted 480,000 acres. Peanuts, estimated at 730,000 acres in 2022, are down 3 percent from 2021, when Georgia -continued on next page


GFB Field Notes 3 of 15 Continued from previous page farmers planted 755,000 acres. Soybean planted are estimated at 130,000 acres, down 7 percent from 2021, when Georgia growers planted 140,000 acres. Hay producers are expected to harvest 560,000 acres in Georgia in 2022, up 20,000 acres (3.7%) from 2021, when they planted 540,000 acres. The harvested acreage for tobacco harvested area, at 8,000 acres, is unchanged from the previous year. Winter wheat planted area, at 210,000 acres, is down 5 percent from 2021. PLUNGE IN COTTON PRICES PLAGUING GROWERS In most years, cotton growers would take commodity prices exceeding $1.00 per pound with little hesitation. If you’d told them that the price for their crop would be near $1.40 per pound, as it was on May 4 according to multiple price indexes, they probably would have felt good about it. However, according to cotton economists Yangxuan Liu and Don Shurley, inflation has affected cotton prices two ways, causing prices to fall from earlier this year. Yangxuan, assistant professor of agricultural and applied economics, at the University of Georgia, pointed out in a June 28 article posted on the Georgia Cotton Commission website how inflation has affected cotton prices. “Cotton and cotton-related products are discretionary items,” Yangxuan wrote. “Thus, cotton prices tend to follow the economy, with rising cotton prices during economic growth and declining cotton prices during recessions.” Consumers faced with rising prices for food, fuel and other living expenses can choose not to spend their money on discretionary items like clothing that are produced from cotton fiber, thus reducing demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, consumers paid 8% more for goods and services in May 2022 than they did in May 2021, the largest 12-month increase since 1981. Of particular concern to farmers, prices for energy were up 34% in May 2022 over the previous year. So not only are prices declining because of reduced demand, the cost of production has gone up. “With much higher costs this season, the present demise in price is reason for much concern,” Shurley wrote in the Southern Cotton Growers newsletter, Cotton Marketing News. “Profit will depend on marketing (how much is already priced, will prices recover and how much, and remaining price decisions), yield and fiber quality.” Using a cost comparison tool developed by UGA Senior Public Service Associate Amanda Smith and Yangxuan, cotton production cost is around $1,200. At that cost and a selling price of 99 cents per pound, a grower would have to achieve yield of 994 pounds per acre. Georgia growers’ average yield in 2021 was 931 pounds per acre according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. According to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, December cotton futures contracts are selling for 94.84 cents per pound. Shurley said recent price drops may also be attributed to the June 30 USDA National Ag Statistics Report that shows nationwide cotton acres planted is 244,000 acres more than what farmers said they intended to plant when surveyed in March. Shurley said cotton prices will continue to move on future crop reports regarding the U.S. cotton crop’s condition, yield and acres abandoned.To read Yangxuan’s analysis, click here. To read Cotton Marketing News, click here.


GFB Field Notes 4 of 15 GEORGIA’S NATALIE MURRAY SELECTED FOR NATIONAL AITC AWARD Douglas County teacher Natalie Murray received national honors for her efforts to incorporate agricultural topics into her lessons during the 2022 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, held June 28-July 1 in Saratoga Springs, New York. Murray teaches music to kindergarten through fifth grade students at Mirror Lake Elementary in Villa Rica using a large garden program to teach weekly lessons in agriculture, conservation, environmental stewardship and healthy living. Murray is one of eight teachers from across the country honored with the 2022 National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award. Murray received Georgia Farm Bureau’s Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom 2021 Teacher of the Year Award. The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO), U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and Farm Credit partner each year to honor teachers in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (Pre-K-12) from around the country for the innovative ways they use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies, STEM, STEAM and more. The other winning teachers are: Abby Plummer (Northport, Maine); Jennifer Nichols (Lake City, Michigan); Jennifer Bailey (Argyle, New York); Lisa Durham (Westminster, South Carolina); Meaghan Porritt (Lewiston, Utah); Brad Hay and Paul King (Flemingsburg, Kentucky); and Tiffany Kobbermann, (Glenwood, Minnesota). Through the activities of county Farm Bureau volunteers in their local communities and through teacher training courses held throughout the state, the Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom program works to increase agricultural literacy among children and the general public. The program provides tools for more effective teaching about agriculture and its role in an interdependent society, and to assist Georgia’s educators in implementing the instruction of agriculture-related concepts in the classroom. For more information about Georgia Ag In the Classroom and to access educational resources using agricultural topics, visit https://www.gfb.org/ag-in-the-classroom/about.cms. GA AG EXPERIENCE, BANKS CO. FARM BUREAU RECEIVE AFBF GRANTS The Georgia Ag Experience mobile classroom and Banks County Farm Bureau each received Fall 2022 grants from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s White-Reinhardt Fund. The Georgia Ag Experience, a 36-foot mobile classroom, was launched in 2021 to showcase Georgia agriculture under direction of the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. The Georgia Ag Experience will use grant funds to create a sensory-based learning station and lesson/activity for special needs and Early Intervention Program students. This will allow all students to see where their food comes from and see the real-world opportunities in agriculture. Banks County Farm Bureau, along with Banks County Elementary School will use its grant to update the school’s pollinator garden. By adding more plants and flowers, students will be able to study different pollinators in the area. Banks County will also add a vertical garden and cooking equipment so students will be able to see the process from seed to plate. The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture awarded $9,400 in grants to recognize the remarkable agricultural literacy programs of ten state and county Farm Bureaus. The grants are -continued on next page


GFB Field Notes 5 of 15 Continued from previous page funded through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education program, which acknowledges communities that are engaging with students on the fundamental role of agriculture in the everyday lives of all Americans. “We are excited to highlight so many outstanding projects and celebrate the educators and communities that created these programs,” said Daniel Meloy, executive director of the Foundation. “Agricultural literacy programs like the ones selected for grants are inspiring students to understand where their food comes from and how they can be part of innovative solutions to keep agriculture sustainable for generations to come.” State and county Farm Bureaus may apply for $1,000 grants in support of education programs for grades K-12 in order to initiate new ag literacy programs or expand existing programs. Organizations and schools can work with local Farm Bureaus to apply for the grants, which are available on a competitive basis. Grants are awarded twice a year, in the spring and fall. The White-Reinhardt Fund is a project of the AFBF Foundation that sponsors scholarships and grants in cooperation with the AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee. The fund is named in honor of Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, two former committee chairwomen. The other Fall 2022 White-Reinhardt Grant Recipients: • Union County Farm Bureau, Illinois - Union County Farm Bureau will work with elementary schools in the county to introduce AeroGarden kits for students. The garden container system will be able to be used by multiple classes in each school and show students different growing methods, the plant life cycle and where their food comes from. They will also donate accurate ag books to take learning further for the students; • Sedgwick County Farm Bureau, Kansas - The Sedgwick County Farm Bureau Agricultural Association is partnering with the newly created PBS Kansas Cochener-Garvey Foundation Children’s Education & Discovery Center in Wichita. The center will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics topics for young learners and families. The WhiteReinhardt grant will be used for a beef display and model that explains beef cuts and other beef facts; • Sherman County Farm Bureau, Kansas - The Sherman County Farm Bureau is creating an Ag Ambassador program for incoming 2022-2023 seniors at Goodland High School. The high school seniors will teach other youth about agriculture with this curriculum and resources. With grant funds, they will also create curriculum for K-12 students that engages each child at an ageappropriate level through agriculture literature, hands on experiments, demonstrations and games. The high school seniors will also use this curriculum to teach other youth about agriculture. • Newton County Farm Bureau, Missouri - The Seneca FFA chapter Agricultural Literacy and Environmental Committees and Newton County Farm Bureau will create an augmented reality sandbox. The sandbox is a 3D, interactive, dynamic educational tool to help understand mapping, topography, watersheds and natural hazards. This display will be used in high school and elementary school classrooms so all students can learn about watersheds and their impact on agriculture; • Wood County Farm Bureau, Ohio - Wood Soil and Water Conservation District will take part -continued on next page


GFB Field Notes 6 of 15 Continued from previous page in National Read a Book Day, using the Foundation’s Book of the Year, “How to Grow a Monster.” Representatives and members of the local agriculture community will visit county elementary schools to read the book, talk about agriculture and donate books to each library for future use; • Matagorda County Farm Bureau, Texas - Matagorda County Farm Bureau and the Matagorda County Soil & Water Conservation District will purchase a vertical, indoor aeroponic tower growing system to be used for the formation of a “Good-to-Grow” project. This project will consist of a group of students engaging in two different agricultural production methods for growing produce on their school campus: a traditional outdoor soil garden and an indoor aeroponics tower garden. The project is available for all five school districts and the home school association within the county; • Utah Farm Bureau - The Utah State Farm Bureau Women’s Committee will expand its “Seedstock” ag literacy starter kits for each of the 29 counties in Utah. The kits include accurate ag books, lesson plans and other materials. This year, the committee will add six egg hatching brooder kits which include all the supplies to incubate eggs and hatch chicks. These kits will be shared among the 29 counties so every student will be able to see egg incubation and hatching; • Mercer County Farm Bureau, West Virginia - The Wade Center in Mercer County, West Virginia, provides a safe, creative place for at-risk elementary school children to receive afterschool help with their homework, reading and math skills and computer proficiency. The grant will allow the Wade Center to incubate and raise a flock of chickens, giving the children a firsthand look at the life cycle, farming practices and the importance of nutrition. JOBY YOUNG NAMED AFBF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT The American Farm Bureau Federation has named Joby Young the organization’s next Executive Vice President, stepping into the role in mid-July following the retirement of Dale Moore. As executive vice president, Joby will serve in a chief of staff role at AFBF, managing across departments and working closely with state Farm Bureaus to achieve organizational goals. It’s a familiar role for Young who previously served in the same capacity at USDA and in Congress. “Joby is going to be a fantastic addition to our team at Farm Bureau,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “He has more than a decade of experience in food and agriculture policy, from the halls of Congress to the highest levels of the Executive Branch. The Farm Bureau family will be well-served by his strong leadership skills.” Young, a native of Douglas County, said he looks forward to starting in the new role. “I’m honored to join the talented team at the American Farm Bureau Federation,” Young said. “Having worked alongside the Farm Bureau community nationwide throughout my career, there is no better team to work with and no better mission than to serve America’s farm families and rural communities.” Young is currently a partner at Horizons Global Solutions LLC, a consulting firm where he advises clients in the food and agriculture sectors. Young previously served as chief of staff in a variety of USDA offices and mission areas, including the Office of Congressional Relations and Rural Development, before becoming the -continued on next page


GFB Field Notes 7 of 15 Continued from previous page chief of staff to the deputy secretary and ultimately serving in that role for the entire department under the Secretary of Agriculture. He also served as a chief of staff in the U.S. House of Representatives. Young holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law and Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and communications from the University of Georgia. LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS IN SEVEN GEORGIA COUNTIES ELIGIBLE FOR LFP The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to provide financial assistance to eligible livestock producers for 2022 grazing losses due to a qualifying drought. The deadline to apply for 2022 LFP assistance is Jan. 30, 2023. As of July 11, seven Georgia counties had met the drought severity levels that trigger LFP eligibility for the 2022 program year. The counties now eligible are Bulloch, Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Long, Liberty and McIntosh. For LFP, qualifying drought triggers are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor. Visit the FSA LFP webpage for a list of eligible counties and grazing crops. “Persistent severe and extreme drought conditions in many Georgia counties have caused substantial economic distress for agricultural and livestock producers” said Arthur Tripp, State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Georgia. “Eligible producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office to schedule an appointment to apply for LFP drought recovery assistance.” LFP provides payments to eligible livestock producers and contract growers who also produce forage crops for grazing and suffered losses due to a qualifying drought or fire during the normal grazing period for the county. Eligible livestock include alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo/bison, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period. To expedite the application process, producers are encouraged to gather and submit records documenting 2022 losses. Supporting documents may include information related to grazing leases, contract grower agreements, and more. LFP is part of a broader suite of disaster assistance available through USDA. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), which also has a Jan. 30, 2023, deadline, provides eligible producers with compensation for certain feed losses not covered by LFP. ELAP also covers above normal costs associated with hauling water to livestock and transporting feed to livestock. Additional relief is also available through ELAP to help producers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres. More disaster assistance information can be found on farmers.gov, including the Farmers.gov Drought Webpage, Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool. For FSA and Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, including LFP and ELAP, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent.


GFB Field Notes 8 of 15 GA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LIFTS POULTRY ACTIVITIES SUSPENSION On July 1, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) announced that the suspension of certain poultry and feathered fowl activities that was issued on Feb. 16 has been lifted. The suspension was put into place in response to outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in other parts of the U.S. and cases of HPAI in wild birds in Georgia. Exhibitions, shows, sales (flea markets, auction markets), swaps, and meets pertaining to poultry and feathered fowl can resume within the state of Georgia, though GDA continues to urge poultry producers attending such events to follow strict biosecurity. HPAI continues to be a threat nationwide. Please see the USDA’s web page on Commercial, Backyard, & Wildlife cases (USDA APHIS) for more information about HPAI detections in the United States. Good biosecurity practices are the best defense against infection and poultry producers must take the following measures to protect their flocks: • Isolate new birds for 30 days prior to introducing them to your flock; • Implement strict biosecurity both at home and at events; • Monitor flocks for clinical signs consistent with AI; With HPAI, birds may become quiet, not eat and/or drink, have diarrhea, and have discolored combs and feet. Birds may also die suddenly with no signs of disease. Report any concerns to your veterinarian, state animal health official or federal animal health official immediately. Avian influenza is a reportable disease in Georgia. If you suspect your birds have avian influenza, call the AI Hotline at 770-766-6850. For more information, visit the GDA’s frequently asked questions page. (https://agr.georgia.gov/avian-influenza-faq.aspx) TOOMBS COUNTY GROWER RECALLS VIDALIA ONIONS A&M Farms of Lyons has voluntarily recalled select whole Vidalia onions packed on one pack line between June 20 - June 23, 2022, because they have the potential to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. The onions were available for sale by the pound on June 22 – 24 at Georgia Publix stores in Barrow, Clarke, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Oconee and Walton counties. The recalled Little Bear onions were also available for sale to consumers June 22 – 24 at Publix stores in Florida and on June 23 and 24 at Wegmans stores in Massachusetts and at the Erie West and Erie Peach Street Wegmans stores in Pennsylvania. The recalled onions had the Little Bear brand on the price lookup sticker. No other Vidalia onions are included in this recall notice. To date, no illnesses or adverse events have been reported. The company shipped the recalled product directly to retailer distribution centers in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The distribution centers further distributed the recalled product to retail stores in Florida, Georgia, New -continued on next page


GFB Field Notes 9 of 15 Continued from previous page York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The recall comes after internal company testing at A&M Farms detected listeria on a single pack line. Although the company cleans and sanitizes its pack lines regularly, it is recalling onions packed on the implicated packing line before and after June 21 out of an abundance of caution. No other products grown, packed, or sold by A&M Farms are affected by this recall. Anyone who has the recalled product in their possession should not consume it. The product should be disposed and may return to the place of purchase with a receipt for a refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company’s information desk at 1-912-585-2058, M-F, 8 am – 4 pm EDT. A&M Farms immediately notified customers who received the recalled product directly from the company and requested that they remove it from inventory. As a result, the product was available for retail purchase only at the stores and during the dates listed in the table. A&M Farms is issuing this press release and keeping the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Georgia Department of Agriculture informed of its recall process to assure that consumers are properly alerted. “The health and safety of consumers are our top priorities here at A&M Farms. We are glad that most of the implicated product never reached stores, but we are focused intently on alerting consumers in those areas that did receive the onions.” said Aries Haygood, co-owner of A&M Farms. “We stopped packing on the implicated line, and I am personally overseeing a full cleaning and sanitation of the equipment and an internal review of our processes.” For more information, click here.


GFB Field Notes 10 of 15 FARM BUREAU FARM DOG OF THE YEAR July 15 deadline extended Farmers are invited to submit nominations for the 2023 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, supported by Purina. This is the fifth year of the contest, which celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers in producing nutritious food for families and their pets across America. The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year's worth of Purina dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in January 2023. Up to four regional runners-up will each win $1,000 in prize money. The 2023 Farm Dog of the Year will also be featured in a professionally produced video. The profile of 2022 Farm Dog of the Year Fit can be viewed at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty. Desired attributes for the Farm Dog of the Year include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience. Farm dog owners must be Farm Bureau members to enter their dogs in the competition. Prospective applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can visit fb.org/join to learn about becoming a member. Eligibility guidelines and submission requirements are available at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty. Farm Dog of the Year nominations, which include written responses to questions, at least one still photo and a video clip (optional), must be received by July 15 for consideration. The Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest is sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The third annual social media contest, People’s Choice Pup, was a popular element of the Farm Dog of the Year competition in 2022 – reaching 133,000 people – and will return for 2023. Profiles of several dogs nominated for the contest will be shared beginning in October, with the public invited to vote. Bragging rights and a year’s worth of dog food from Purina will be awarded to the People’s Choice Pup. GCC SEEKING POTENTIAL NOMINEES FOR COTTON BOARD In July, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will convene a caucus of certified producer organizations representing cotton producers in Georgia to nominate individuals to serve as members and alternates of the Cotton Board, which administers the Cotton Research & Promotion Program, for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2023. Current board members’ terms expire on Dec. 31. The Georgia Cotton Commission is seeking nominees for vacant positions. The Georgia Cotton Commission is focused on finding the USDA fully realize their commitment to full representation of women, minorities, and opinions on research and promotion board by nominating individuals of diverse backgrounds, farming practices, operational sizes, and geographical locations. Interested individuals should email the GCC office at info@georgiacotton.org.


GFB Field Notes 11 of 15 SUNBELT FIELD DAY TO FEATURE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH July 21 Sunbelt Ag Expo 8 a.m. Moultrie Farmers are invited to join the Expo to learn practical information from the region’s top agricultural scientists about the newest technologies that farmers can use to improve their operations. Field Day features a driving Tour of the Darrell Williams Research Farm. The halfday event is free for anyone who works in agriculture. Visitors should arrive thru Gate 2 anytime between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to begin the tour. Signs will direct those in attendance to a red tent where they will register, receive a welcome bag including snacks, register for CCA credits, and begin the tour. Visitors are encouraged to bring a friend to experience the event with you. Be sure to have a smartphone or tablet with you to view the research videos during the tour. Videos will be accessible using the Official Sunbelt Ag Expo app, web site, or YouTube channel. Connect your device to your vehicle Bluetooth before you arrive. Plan to chat with researchers and vendors at plots that specifically interest you. Prepare to explore and learn on the research farm, all while enjoying your comfortable vehicle! UGA researchers, Extension Specialists, and ag chemical representatives conduct numerous trials at the Sunbelt farm for all major southern agronomic crops. To view more specific Field Day details, download the Sunbelt Ag Expo app or visit www.sunbeltexpo.com. STARTING A NEW FOOD PRODUCT BUSINESS WORKSHOP July 21&22 Georgia Museum of Agriculture Tifton The UGA Small Business Development Center and UGA Department of Food Science are hosting this workshop designed to help food entrepreneurs learn more about the business aspect of starting a new food product business. This class will provide food entrepreneurs with a variety of services (both technical and educational) that are available to those looking to launch a food business. A team of experts from the UGA Food Science and other programs including FoodPIC, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the UGA Small Business Development Center and experienced food entrepreneurs will discuss how to successfully navigate the process of starting a food product business. Topics to be covered include: Product & Process Development; Label & Nutritional Facts Development; Information on Facility Licensing & Regulatory Compliance; Resources for Co-packing facilities; Packaging Design & Sensory Testing; Ingredient Technology & Functionality; Food Safety & Sanitation; and Product Marketing. The cost to attend is $125 and includes lunch both days. The workshop is set to begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Those interested in attending should preregister at https://ugasbdc.training/alb/0218-004. Contact Rob Martin at albany@georgiasbdc.org or call 229-420-1144 for more information.


GFB Field Notes 12 of 15 CROP INSURANCE FOR FRESH MARKET SWEET CORN, PEPPERS July 31 deadline to apply/renew Georgia fresh market sweet corn growers and pepper growers have until July 31 to apply for crop insurance or make changes to their existing coverage. Coverage is available for fresh market sweet corn in Colquitt, Decatur, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Tift, and Worth counties. Coverage is also available for peppers in Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Grady, Lowndes, Thomas, Tift, Ware, and Worth counties. Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2023 crop year. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov. GA VET LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM Aug. 1 deadline to apply The Georgia Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Program (GVELRP or Program) is accepting applications for funding for FY2021 through Aug. 1. The GVELRP provides financial relief, by way of student loan purchases, for veterinarians willing to provide veterinary services for food animals in areas of Georgia that need livestock veterinarians. The application and supporting documents can be found here. Completed applications can be returned via email to statevetedboard@agr.georgia.gov or mailed to: Georgia Department of Agriculture, Attn: Bo Warren, 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. SW Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30334. Inquiries about the program can be made to Bo Warren at Bo.warren@agr.georgia.gov. For more information, including complete application instructions and eligibility requirements, visit https://www.agr.georgia.gov/georgia-veterinary-education-loan-repayment-program.aspx. GACD CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR Aug. 1 deadline for nominations The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) is accepting nominations for its Conservationist of the Year Award. The award honors farmers and/or landowners who are conducting exemplary conservation work on their land and have demonstrated a strong commitment to soil and water conservation. Past and present local conservationists of the year are eligible. Only one nominee per conservation district can be submitted. Nominees do not have to be district supervisor. The award recipient will be submitted for consideration for the National Association of Conservation Districts’ Friend of Conservation award. Robbie Faust of Terrell County was the GACD and NACD award recipient for 2021. Nominations are due to GACD by Aug. 1. GEORGIA AG COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES MEET & GREET Aug. 4 Homerville Train Depot, 40 East Plant Ave. 6 p.m. Homerville All qualified candidates have been invited to meet the public at this event, hosted by Clinch County, Atkinson County, Echols County and Lanier County Farm Bureaus.


GFB Field Notes 13 of 15 NATIONAL CATTLEMAN'S ASSOCIATION STOCKMAN & STEWARDSHIP EVENT Aug. 12 & 13 Auburn University Equestrian Center Auburn, AL This two-day event sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Merck Animal Health, and the Beef Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance program, will kick off Friday afternoon with farm production tours of Collins Farm and RL&M Cattle Company. These tours will highlight value-added programs, selection methods, local processing facilities and product marketing tools for seedstock breeders and commercial cattlemen. Following the tours, a welcome dinner will be held at Lazenby Farm featuring keynote speaker, Nic Cornelison, of Lake Majestik Farm. The Cornelison family has strong roots in the Southeast and are premiere Brangus breeders. Saturday classroom sessions will cover niche beef production, tools for improved sustainability, forage management, animal health, reproductive management, risk management for cow calf operations, and advocacy. Stockmanship experts Curt Pate and Dr. Ron Gill will give live demonstrations on working cattle. A unique program designed for teen junior cattlemen members will also be offered. All attendees can become BQA certified and the program has been approved for 1.6 continuing education units. The full registration fee of $100 includes all events and meals, and student pricing ($50) and one-day registration options of $30 for Friday and $80 for Saturday are available. For more information, complete agenda, fees and to register, visit www.StockmanshipAndStewardship.org. Cattle producers attending Stockmanship & Stewardship are eligible for reimbursement through the Rancher Resilience Grant. To apply for a grant to cover registration costs and two nights hotel, visit www.ncba.org/producers/rancher-resilience-grant.

JOINT CHAIRMEN AG ISSUES SUMMIT Aug. 30 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Perry The summit will feature updates on agriculture-related legislative issues from Georgia Sen. Larry Walker (R-Perry) and Georgia Rep. Robert Dickey (R - Musella), chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, respectively. Additional speakers will focus remarks on the economic outlook for Georgia’s farmers, water infrastructure funding, and integrated precision agriculture. 2022 GEORGIA PEANUT TOUR Sept. 13-15 Multiple locations Tifton The 34th annual Georgia Peanut Tour will be held Sept. 13-15 in Tifton and the surrounding area. The tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a first-hand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut producing counties surrounding Tifton. Attendees can expect to see firsthand nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. This year’s tour includes on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, as well as research at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus. The Georgia Peanut Commission, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the USDA-ARS National Peanut Laboratory coordinate the tour. Registration is $125 prior to Aug. 5. Visit www.georgiapeanuttour.com for more information.


GFB Field Notes 14 of 15 PICNIC ON THE FARM EVENTURE September 17 Engelheim Vineyards 12 – 4 pm Ellijay Join the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture on September 17 for a one-of-a-kind agricultural and culinary experience you won’t soon forget. Georgia’s best chefs fill the picnic baskets for GFA’s signature eventure, Picnic on the Farm. Guests will receive a blanket and picnic basket with a 3course, chef-created lunch to share with friends or family anywhere on the farm. The 2022 event is celebrating all things about Georgia’s wine and grape sector. Guests will enjoy beer and wine, live music, farm tours, silent auction, lawn games and other kids’ activities, against the beautiful backdrop of North Georgia’s wine country. Picnic on the Farm is perfect for families, couples, colleagues and clients or a fun girls’ trip with good food and friends. Make a weekend of it and explore what North Georgia has to offer. Engelheim Vineyard is one of Gilmer county’s most scenic vineyards, located just off Ga. Hwy. 52 aka Apple Alley. Tickets are $75 for a two-person basket and $150 for a four-person basket. VIP-designated picnic areas are $600 with picnic baskets for up to eight people and wine included. VIP areas offer a scenic, themed picnic set up for your group and exclusive offers for additional activities. Attire for the event is farm chic. Learn more and sign up soon by visiting https://www.gafoundationag.org/picniconthefarm. Events such as this help support the mission of the foundation. Any support is appreciated to help make this signature event a success! Sponsorship opportunities from $50 to $10,000 are available. Please inquire by emailing jmfarmer@gafoundationag.org. All proceeds benefit the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture’s core program areas: elementary ag classroom learning, higher ag education, farmbased mentorship, professional learning and farmer mental health. The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is on a mission to develop a pipeline for Georgia’s next generation of farmers and agricultural leaders. For more information, visit www.gafoundationag.org. 2022 PEANUT DISEASE TOUR Sept. 20 Tifton Sept. 21 Headland, Alabama Sept. 22 TBA, Florida This annual event will allow participants to see firsthand research being conducted by UGA and Auburn University into diseases that affect peanuts. RSVP to Dr. Albert Culbreath at spotwilt@uga.edu or 229-386-3156. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DAY AT THE BRAVES Oct. 2 Truist Park 1:35 p.m. Atlanta This will be a great time for Georgia Farm Bureau members, volunteers and employees from around the state to network, enjoy our national pastime and support a great cause! Tickets for the Braves-Mets game are $28 each and proceeds will benefit the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. Tickets can be purchased individually or as a group. Exclusive GFA Day at the Braves t-shirts are $15. To purchase tickets and t-shirts, click here.


GFB Field Notes 15 of 15 GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 18 The Classic Center Athens Early bird tickets are on sale now for the Harvest Celebration, the focal event of the year for agribusiness in Georgia. The evening unites leaders from every agriculture sector and corner of the state in a festive salute to the industry. On November 18, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the Live Auction, Silent Auction and Field of Dreams raffle, and listen to entertainment provided by The Swingin’ Medallions at the event’s new location, The Classic Center in Athens, GA! The cut-off date to be listed in the Harvest Celebration program as a ticket purchaser or a table sponsor is Oct. 21. Those who register by Aug. 1 have a chance at one of four prizes. To register, visit https://www.ga-agribusiness.org/Events.aspx, call the GAC office at 706-336-6830 or send an email to Maggie Wooten at mwooten@ga-agribusiness.org. KEL-MAC SADDLE CLUB HORSE SHOWS 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. 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.


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