August 5, 2020
www.gfb.org
Vol. 2 No. 15
SUNBELT EXPO CANCELS 2020 SHOW AND FARMER OF THE YEAR EVENTS For the first time since its beginnings in 1978, the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will not take place. The Sunbelt Board of Directors voted to cancel the 43rd Annual show scheduled for Oct. 20-22. The decision was announced with a press release on July 24. Sunbelt officials said the Expo staff has worked diligently over the past several months to put together an action plan that would enable a safe and successful show, but concluded that a safe blend of networking, commerce and education could not be done while representing the rich history of the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Additionally, the board’s decision to cancel the 2020 Sunbelt Ag Expo was made out of concern for attendees’ and exhibitors’ expenses and their need to plan. According to the press release, Sunbelt will continue promoting education and implementation of the latest agricultural technology, research and equipment this fall through its social media channels. Expo staff will reach out directly to exhibitors concerning fees and plans for the 2021 show. Events related to the 2020 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year have been pushed back to 2021. Georgia Farmer of the Year Lee Nunn and his counterparts in nine other states will host judges next year and a winner will be unveiled at the 2021 show. A new class in 2021 will not be selected. “We have considered virtual options for the judging tour and the awards ceremony, but the Farmer of the Year program is not a virtual event,” said Sunbelt Executive Director Chip Blalock. “The program is about so much more – the interaction amongst our 10 state winners and the 265 winners who have been awarded over the last 30 years cannot be replaced. To have a Farmer of the Year class not be able to experience the in-person judging tour, the trip to South Georgia and the Sunbelt Ag Expo is not an option in our book.” Sunbelt’s Holiday Arts and Crafts Show, hosted by the Sunbelt Ag Expo, is still scheduled at this time for Nov. 14-15. The Sunbelt Ag Expo looks forward to greeting visitors again in 2021 as it showcases the latest in farming technology, Oct. 19-21.
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 11 GFB “DIGS IN” WITH ENGLAND, TILLERY DURING VIDEOCONFERENCE Georgia’s agriculture-related state agencies sustained some budget cuts, but it could have been worse, Rep. Terry England and Sen. Blake Tillery told Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members during the first installment of “Digging In,” an occasional webinar series hosted by the GFB President Gerald Long and the GFB Public Policy Department. England, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, and Tillery, the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, detailed the challenges – both physical and fiscal – the Georgia Legislature faced in a session interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We tried to provide some certainty where we could in a lot of uncertain times,” said Tillery, who took over the Appropriations chairmanship following the death of long-time Sen. Jack Hill in April. Even with drastically reduced revenue, England said the budget provided the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with funding to address key functions. GDA was allotted funding for food safety inspectors. DNR received funding for scientists to help develop the growing oyster industry off the Georgia coast. For other areas of state government, the mindset was to have damage control. “Sometimes you look at our state budget and realize that the best you can hope for is to stay where you were and not go backward, or not go far backward,” England said. He pointed out that while Georgia Agricultural Education and the UGA Cooperative Extension Service did see their state funding trimmed the budget writers looked for ways to soften the cuts. “We realize how important those programs are for training youth not only necessarily in production agriculture, but in the leadership side of agriculture we’re going to need in our communities going forward,” England said. Across the board, state agencies saw funding cut by 10% by the time the session closed. When the Legislature reconvened in June after three months out of session, the prevailing expectation was for a 14% cut. The House and Senate got this down to 11%, and Gov. Brian Kemp tapped into the state’s reserve to get it to 10%. “That one percent truly made a difference in what we were able to do,” England said. “It lessened significantly the amount of pain that would be inflicted by some of the reductions, either through furlough days or reductions in force.” More than 100 people registered and signed in for the webinar. The GFB Public Policy Department is planning future installments. FARM BUREAU AWARDS REP. BISHOP GOLDEN PLOW AWARD The American Farm Bureau Federation presented U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga. 2nd Dist., with its Golden Plow Award during a ceremony at the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) office in Macon Aug. 4. This award is the highest honor AFBF gives to sitting members of Congress in recognition of recipients’ representation of farmers and ranchers. “Congressman Bishop is a strong advocate and friend of farmers across Georgia and across America,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. Throughout his career, Bishop has worked across the aisle to address the broken H-2A visa program, repeal the death tax, and broaden global market access for farmers, Duvall noted. “He is the rare statesman who places the people he serves first, -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 11 Continued from next page and Farm Bureau is grateful for his service to American agriculture.” GFB nominated Bishop for the award because of his exemplary work on behalf of U.S. agriculture and his commitment to addressing the needs of his constituent farmers in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District and their counterparts across the nation. Bishop’s district includes Baker, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Macon, Marion, Miller, Mitchell, Peach, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Terrell and Webster counties. Portions of Bibb and Muscogee counties are also part of the district. “Without the leadership of members like Congressman Bishop, American agriculture would be in a far worse position in Washington, D.C., and the increasingly interconnected world in which our farmers compete,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long said. “Georgia’s farmers are fortunate to have Congressman Bishop serving in the nation’s capital.” Long praised Bishop for his efforts to help the 2nd District recover from Hurricane Michael by working with a bipartisan coalition of Georgia officials to secure disaster aid for Georgia farmers and rural residents who sustained damage in the 2018 storm. Long also thanked Bishop for his efforts to help secure the workers farmers needed to harvest their produce this year. “I am deeply honored and humbled by the American Farm Bureau and Georgia Farm Bureau’s decision to give me the Golden Plow Award. It has been my privilege to serve the farmers and ranchers who work hard to provide quality, economical food, fiber, and fuel for American families,” Rep. Bishop said. “Because of the American and Georgian Farm Bureaus, we have been able to work together to keep American agriculture the best in the world.” Bishop is a long-time member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and chairs the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies. He was first elected to Congress in 1992 and is the senior member of Georgia’s U.S. Congressional delegation. AFBF presents the Golden Plow Award annually. Recipients are chosen for having a philosophy or record that demonstrates a commitment to sound agricultural policies supported by Farm Bureau, the private enterprise system, fiscal conservatism and reduced federal regulation of businesses and individuals. In nominating Bishop for the award, GFB said the congressman has prioritized “what the farmers need” from disaster relief to agriculture research funding, since his early days in Washington and been a leader on a range of issues including labor reform, taxation, trade, and farm bill implementation.
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 11 SOME MYSTERY SEEDS IDENTIFIED, FEDERAL AGENCIES INVESTIGATING The USDA and other federal agencies are investigating unsolicited packages of seeds received in the mail by citizens around the country, including numerous ones in Georgia, and has identified several of the seeds by plant. The unsolicited seeds sparked concerns about possible invasive plant species and other potential issues. According to Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) officials, almost 1,000 Georgia residents have reported receiving the seeds. GDA is advising people not to open the packages or plant the seeds. The USDA is asking those who receive the seeds in the mail to send them to USDA APHIS PPQ, Attn: SITC Officer, 1220 Toffie Terrace, Atlanta, GA 30354. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Information Service (APHIS) has identified at least 14 seed species in the packages, according to published reports. Among the identified species were seeds for mustard, cabbage, morning glory, mint, sage, rosemary, lavender, hibiscus and roses. The USDA said there is no reason to believe the seeds are anything other than a “brushing” scam, where people receive unsolicited items from a seller, who then posts fabricated customer reviews to boost sales. Reports of the seed packets began surfacing across the U.S. the week of July 27. Chinese writing on the packets led to speculation that the seeds had been shipped from China. For more information about the seeds from the USDA, visit https://gfb.ag/USDAunkseedsinfo. GFB MOURNS LOSS OF CHILDS, FORMER ORGANIZATION LEADER Longtime Georgia Farm Bureau leader Donald Childs of Jackson County inspired many Farm Bureau members to follow his example of service to the organization during his 64 years as a member. Childs died on July 24 at age 87. Graveside services were held July 27 at Erastus Christian Church where Mr. Childs was an elder and served as Sunday School chairman for many years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Merle Childs; son, Steve Childs; and parents Charlie and Mazelle Childs. He is survived by his son, Jerry Childs, and brother, Sammy Childs, both of Commerce; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Childs grew up on his family’s farm, helping to grow wheat, soybeans, hay and other crops along with chickens and beef cattle. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and resumed farming after returning home. He joined Farm Bureau in 1956 and began serving on the Jackson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) Board of Directors. In 1978 Childs was elected JCFB president, serving until 1982 and again from 2003 to 2006. He served as county vice president for many years and was a county director when he died. Childs was elected to the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors in 1979 as a GFB 2nd District Director and held this position until 1984 when he was elected as one of the organization’s three vice presidents. In 1994 GFB voting delegates designated Childs to serve as the organization’s 1st vice president, a position the voting delegates continued to entrust him with until he stepped down in 2008. Childs served 29 years on the GFB Board of Directors. “Georgia Farm Bureau is a better organization thanks to the dedication and service Donald Childs provided as a county and state leader for over 64 years,” GFB President Gerald Long said. -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 11 Continued from previous page “I had the privilege of serving with Donald on the state board for nine years. I was always impressed with the thoughtfulness with which Donald considered the issues and the quiet dignity he brought to a room.” During his time on the GFB Board, Childs served as a GFB voting delegate at the American Farm Bureau Convention numerous times and sat on the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company Board of Directors from 1995 through 2008. Childs, who opened Childs Equipment and Farm Supply in Commerce in 1990, worked for years with the GFB Hay Advisory Committee to help acquire Vermeer hay equipment as first-place prizes for the organization’s annual hay contest. The Georgia General Assembly honored Childs with a resolution in 2009 honoring him for his service to Farm Bureau. GFB awarded Childs its Commodity Award in 2011. He previously was named Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1971 by the Soil Conservation Service and in 1989 the Atlanta Farmer’s Club named Childs its Farmer of the Year. In addition to his Farm Bureau activities, Childs was active in the Jackson County and Georgia Cattlemen’s Associations. He served on the Jackson County School System Ag Advisory Committee and was a long-time supporter of 4-H, FFA, the Young Farmers Association and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Childs also served on the Georgia Seed Development Commission and the Georgia Well Water Committee. APPELLATE COURT REJECTS CHALLENGE TO ENLIST DUO REGISTRATION On July 22, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied plaintiffs’ requests in two cases to remove EPA approval for Enlist Duo, Corteva Agriscience’s weed-control product that combines 2,4-D with glyphosate. Enlist Duo has EPA registration in 34 states, including Georgia. A group of organizations led by the National Family Farm Coalition, filed the suit seeking a reversal of the Enlist Duo registration issued by the EPA in 2017, arguing that the agency failed to follow required procedures outline in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The court found that the EPA did not adequately address Enlist Duo’s risk to monarch butterflies under rules in the ESA but allowed the herbicide’s registration to remain in force while the agency works to remedy its oversight. The three-judge panel also ruled that the EPA used appropriate procedures in issuing the registration under FIFRA. To read the complete ruling, visit www.gfb.ag/072220enlistduodecision.
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 11 FARMERS DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN MILK PRICING POLICY On July 28, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its final report on priorities for milk pricing reform, calling for more democracy and a more equitable program for dairy farmers. Among AFBF’s priorities is amending the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act to give dairy farmers an opportunity to directly vote on Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) issues. Currently, only dairy farmers who are independent and not members of cooperatives may cast individual ballots. Cooperatives may allow their members to vote independently, but then lose their ability to bloc vote on behalf of their non-participating members. AFBF supports allowing modified bloc-voting, which would allow co-op members to vote independently and confidentially, while allowing cooperatives to cast ballots for farmers who choose not to cast an individual ballot. “I appreciate all the work our members have done to give individual farmers a stronger voice in the milk pricing and pooling regulations,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Farm Bureau has been outspoken on the disparities in the beef and hog markets, and we are just as concerned about the large imbalances in the pricing and pooling of milk – which ultimately cost dairy farmers hundreds of millions of dollars.” A Farm Bureau Federal Milk Marketing Order Working Group, consisting of grassroot dairy farmer members, worked for a year to examine the system and develop recommendations to modernize the current FMMO system. Farm Bureau delegates voted to approve the group’s proposals. “Wild price swings during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted how important fair systems are to the well-being of America’s farmers and ranchers,” Duvall said. “By giving dairy farmers a seat at the table, we can begin addressing the challenges of the current FMMO system and work toward a more equitable compensation system for the hardworking men and women in the dairy industry.” Although FMMOs have been a pillar of the dairy industry for more than 80 years, outside of the 2018 farm bill, the program has not undergone substantial change in almost two decades. “COVID-19 has resulted in unprecedented volatility in agricultural markets, especially milk and dairy commodity prices,” AFBF Chief Economist Dr. John Newton said. “The price volatility, a record-large spread between prices for the various milk classes, mass de-pooling and record-large milk check deductions take money out of farmers’ pockets at a time when they desperately need it. Moreover, it highlights the urgent need for dairy farmers and the industry to collectively consider ways to modernize the FMMO system and improve prices paid to farmers.” Other recommendations in the final report include expanding price discovery and examining alternative ways to price fluid milk and improve risk-sharing between farmers and processors. To read a summary of the recommendations, visit www.gfb.ag/AFBFFMMOreport.
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 11 GEORGIA BEEF PRODUCERS APPROVE CONTINUATION OF STATE CHECKOFF Georgia beef producers voted to continue the $1 per head assessment for beef cattle through the renewal of the Beef Commission Marketing Order. Voting members renewed the assessment to fund the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Beef with a 79% favorable vote. The referendum took place during June. “The 79.48% was a strong affirmation by Georgia beef producers that the funds are important and the projects funded are important to the cattle industry of Georgia,” said Georgia Beef Commission Chairman John Callaway. The Georgia Beef Commission was established by the Georgia legislature in 2013 and a commission marketing order was created in 2014. The order requires an assessment to be collected on all animals sold for beef in Georgia and must be voted on every three years for continuation. Assessments collected by the Georgia Beef Commission support education and research projects on wellness, feed, breeding and career development for in-state education. Additionally, the commission supports promotion activities to encourage awareness on the nutritional qualities of beef. Since the inception of the Georgia Beef Commission, approximately 2.5 million dollars has been put to work for the Georgia beef producers. STUDY SHOWS BLUEBERRY GROWERS STRENGTHEN GEORGIA, U.S. ECONOMY Georgia highbush blueberry producers generate an annual economic impact of $521.8 million, according to economic analysis released July 30 by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). In addition, highbush blueberries, which account for the majority of Georgia’s fresh blueberry sales, create more than 4,000 jobs and $11.3 million in indirect business taxes. “That’s highbush only,” said Georgia Blueberry Commission Chairman Jerome Crosby, who grows blueberries on a commercial scale from his farm based in Atkinson County. “The frozen side of blueberry production is not a very measured product at all. There’s not a lot of good data on it.” Crosby noted that highbush berries accounted for about 80% of Georgia’s fresh blueberry sales in 2019. Rabbiteye blueberries account for about half of Georgia’s total blueberry acreage and about half the total production [expressed in pounds], according to Crosby. In 2019, Georgia’s blueberry growers produced 88 million pounds of highbush and rabbiteye berries combined. Crosby said rabbiteye berries make up 80% of the Georgia’s frozen blueberry market and estimated that rabbiteyes generate another $200 million-$250 million in economic impact. Nationwide, highbush blueberry growers generate more than $4.7 billion in annual economic impact, translating to more than $12.7 million flowing into the U.S. economy every day of the year.
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 11 MIDVILLE VIRTUAL FIELD DAY Aug. 12 SE Georgia Research & Education Center 9:30 a.m. Midville The agenda for this annual event includes coverage of peanut breeding plots, soybean breeding for drought tolerance, precision ag and irrigation, planter control systems, row crop disease management, cotton integrated pest management, cotton replant strategies and more. Pesticide credits are available. To register, visit www.segeorgia.caes.uga.edu. 2021 AFBF AG INNOVATION CHALLENGE August 14 Deadline to enter extended The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is accepting online applications for the 2021 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. This national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies that are addressing challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Farm Bureau will award $145,000 in startup funds provided by sponsors Farm Credit, John Deere, Bayer Crop Science, Country Financial, Farm Bureau Financial Services and Farm Bureau Bank. Entrepreneurs must be Farm Bureau members to qualify as top 10 semi-finalists. Applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can join a state Farm Bureau of their choice. Visit www.gfb.org/membership/join-today.cms to learn about becoming a member. Detailed eligibility guidelines, the competition timeline, videos and profiles of past winners are available at www.fb.org/challenge. Applications must be received by midnight Eastern Daylight Time on August 14. WEBINAR: HOW TO SELL MY BEEF TO THE PUBLIC Aug. 18 7 p.m. online This webinar is hosted by Oglethorpe County Extension, Morgan County Extension, Oglethorpe County Cattlemen’s Association and Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association. Topics covered include licensing with the Georgia Meat Inspections Service, selling farm-raised beef at retail, and where steak comes from. For more information, contact Shanna Reynolds of Oglethorpe County Extension at 706-743-8341. To register, visit https://cattlemensprogram08182020.eventbrite.com. 2021 AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FARM DOG OF THE YEAR CONTEST Aug. 20 deadline to enter Calling all farm dogs! Aug. 20 is the deadline to enter the 2021 American Farm Bureau Farm Dog of The Year contest, sponsored by Purina. A grand prize winner and up to four regional runnersup will be recognized. Visit www.gfb.ag/21farmdogcontest for complete details and to enter. The grand prize winner receives a year’s worth of Purina dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The four regional runners-up will win $1,000 each. Dog owners must be a Farm Bureau member to enter. Anyone with a great dog who isn't a Georgia Farm Bureau member can join at www.gfb.ag/join.
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 11 GREAT GEORGIA POLLINATOR CENSUS Aug. 21-22 statewide Students and families are encouraged to participate in the second annual Great Georgia Pollinator Census on August 21-22 coordinated by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. About 4,500 participants documented more than 131,000 insect sightings as part of the inaugural census in 2019, and more than 100 events related to the project took place around the state. Census takers are asked to count pollinators on a favorite pollinator plant with abundant insect activity for 15 minutes each day using the provided observation sheet. An Insect Counting and Identification Guide gives detailed instructions on counting and photo examples for classification. Those interested in counting should visit www.ggapc.org to sign up and subscribe to the monthly newsletter about pollinator gardening and insect identification. For more information including publications on recommended plants to attract pollinators, visit www.extension.uga.edu/topicareas/timely-topics/pollinators. STAY AT HOME BEEKEEPING SERIES Aug. 25 Jennifer Berry, UGA/Varroa mites 7:30 p.m. online Sept. 29 Jack Rowe, Ala. Ext./Winter bee biology 7:30 p.m. online Oct. 27 Anthony Abbate, Auburn/Wildflower meadow 7:30 p.m. online Nov. 24 Jeff Harris, MSU/Getting started 7:30 p.m. online Dec. 29 Beekeeping Boxing Day Sales 7:30 p.m online The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is offering members of beekeeping clubs the opportunity to attend these free online meetings, each of which will bring participants up to date on timely beekeeping topics. Time for Q&A is included. Watch with Zoom at https://auburn.zoom.us/j/904522838 stream via Facebook live at www.facebook.com/LawrenceCountyextension/. For more information, visit Allyson Shabel at ams0137@aces.edu. CROP INSURANCE FOR ONION PRODUCERS Aug. 31 deadline to apply Georgia onion producers have until Aug. 21 to apply for crop insurance coverage or make changes to existing coverage for the 2021 crop year. Coverage is available for onions in Appling, Bulloch, Candler, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Laurens, Long, Montgomery, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wayne counties. Please contact your insurance agent to see if your county is covered. Growers are encouraged to contact their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2021 crop year. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers by visiting the RMA agent locator at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 11 2020 NORTHWEST GEORGIA MASTER CATTLEMAN PROGRAM Sept. 3 – Oct. 22 Webinars each Thursday 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. online Learn practical, science-based management techniques to increase profitability and sustainability in your beef cattle operation in this series of webinars hosted by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Advance registration of $60 is required by Aug. 24 and includes program materials for all eight live webinar sessions. The first 20 paid registrants receive a free forage sample lab analysis. For more information, contact Heather Kolich with Forsyth County Extension at 770-887-2418 or hnkolich@uga.edu. GEORGIA PECAN GROWERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE Originally scheduled for March 24-25, The Georgia Pecan Growers Association annual conference is postponed to Sept. 10-11. The conference will remain in Tifton for the fall event and will essentially combine with GPGA’s annual fall field day. The GPGA uses the conference as its primary fundraiser to offset operating costs throughout the year. Registration will remain open online until the event occurs in September. All planned events will proceed at the fall event, including the golf tournament, orchard tour, welcome reception, and annual awards luncheon. U.S. CENSUS TIMELINE ADJUSTED The self-response phase of the 2020 U.S. Census, originally scheduled to run through July 31, then extended to Oct. 31, was on Aug. 3 shortened to Sept. 30, one of multiple adjustments to the Census calendar in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a Census Bureau press release. In announcing the new deadline, the Census Bureau said it is hiring more employees to accelerate the completion of data collection ad apportionment counts by its statutory deadline of Dec. 31, 2020. Delivery of states’ population totals, which determine how many seats states have in the House of Representatives, will be delivered to the president by April 30, 2021. For more information, visit https://census.georgia.gov/ and www.census.gov. GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 20 Cobb Galleria Centre Atlanta The GAC’s focal event of the year for Georgia agribusiness, the Harvest Celebration unites leaders from every agriculture sector and corner of the state in a festive salute to the industry. For the first time the Harvest Celebration will be hosted by the GAC Foundation, the 501(c)3 partner of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, and contributions will directly benefit initiatives that support agriculture education, research, leadership develop, and agriculture policy studies. We hope that you will join us for a celebration that will honor our past and provide vital support for the future of agribusiness leadership in Georgia. The evening’s activities include a silent auction at 5:30 p.m. and a unique Field of Dreams reception that precede dinner at 7:30 and entertainment at 9. Entertainment will be provided by The Kinchafoonee Cowboys! For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.ga-agribusiness.org/Events.aspx.
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 11 ASA CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE YOUNG LEADER PROGRAM The American Soybean Association (ASA) and Corteva Agriscience are seeking applicants for the 2021 ASA Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program, a two-phase educational program for actively farming individuals and couples who are passionate about the future possibilities of agriculture. The women and men who participate in this program will be the leaders that shape the future of agriculture. Phase I of the 2021 ASA Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program will take place Dec. 1 – 4, 2020, at Corteva’s Global Business Center in Johnston, Iowa. The program continues March 2 – 6, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with the annual Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show. Soybean grower couples and individuals are encouraged to apply. For more information or to apply, visit www.gfb.ag/21ASAYoungLeaders. DAIRY VOLUNTEERS LEND A LISTENING EAR FOR THOSE IN STRESS Are you a dairy farmer who would like to talk to a fellow farmer or industry friend about the stress you’re experiencing? Georgia Milk Producers has partnered with dairy groups in other Southeastern states to compile a list of dairy producers who are volunteering to talk with fellow farmers & dairy industry employees as the dairy sector navigates these difficult times. Click here to access the list of volunteers & other tips/suggestions for dealing with stress