October 26, 2022 www.gfb.org
4 No.
GEORGIA FARM BUREAU URGES FARMERS TO MAKE VOICE HEARD AT POLLS
Early voting is underway, and Georgia Farm Bureau is using its “I farm. I vote.” campaign to encourage its members across the state to participate in the democratic process. For information about the campaign, when and where to vote and more, visit www.gfb.org/ifarmivote.cms.
The mission of the I Farm. I Vote. campaign is to ensure the voices of farmers and rural communities are heard and provide them with the legislative support they need to continue to feed and clothe our state and nation.
GFB is also asking voters to support Ballot Referendum B, which would clarify that two individually qualifying family farm entities that have merged to form a singular entity would still qualify for ad valorem tax exemption on certain farm products.
This change is designed to help small farmers. From farm equipment to land to livestock, the business of farming has very high input costs. A small farm may not be able to afford these inputs on their own, but could if they partner with another farm to shoulder the costs.
Citizens all across Georgia have access to a wide variety of agriculture products, and they have local farmers to thank for that. Agriculture is Georgia’s largest economic sector and the lifeblood of rural communities, employing one in seven Georgians supplying food and fiber for the nation.
Those elected to govern impact all aspects of rural life and business, from taxes and environmental regulation to healthcare and education. The I Farm. I Vote. campaign aims to provide unbiased information so Georgians can make an informed decision and support leaders who promote Georgia farmers and Georgia grown products.
Early voting schedules can vary by county Look for the list of sites in your county and their hours.
Election Day is Nov. 8. Learn more by visiting the Georgia Secretary of State's How To Guide for Voting.
GFB A KEY PRESENCE AT SUNBELT AG EXPO
Whether it involved farm practices, hardware, software, footwear, headgear or food, the 2022 Sunbelt Agricultural Expo was there to make sure its visitors had access to the latest, and Georgia Farm Bureau, located just inside the front gate in the Georgia Agriculture Building, was front and center Oct. 18 20 in Moultrie.
GFB welcomed tens of thousands of Expo patrons from the Southeast and beyond with open arms, with free peanuts, GFB swag and information about the state’s largest general farm organization, including its I Farm. I Vote. campaign.
One of GFB’s own, 8th District Director Scotty Raines, was honored as the Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Expo Georgia Farmer of the Year during the Willie B. Withers Sunbelt Luncheon, where state winners from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia were introduced. Virginia’s Robert Saunders, a horticulture and fruit producer from Piney River in the western portion of the state, was named Southeastern Farmer of the Year.
GFB President Tom McCall competed in the Sunbelt Milking Contest against Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. Duvall, a former dairyman, won the event and McCall finished second.
GFB also sponsored the 2nd Annual Advocacy in Action contest to prepare the next generation of ag advocates.
College and high school students competing in the event, held Oct. 19, experienced what it’s like to be a lobbyist as they sought support for ag legislation.
Morgan County High School (MCHS) FFA prevailed over Crisp County High School FFA and Villa Rica FFA from Carroll County for top honors in the high school division of the contest. The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences team beat Auburn and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the collegiate division.
As they traveled the Expo grounds meeting with Georgia Rep. Sam Watson, Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler and Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Dale Sandlin, all teams pitched legislation that would permanently increase the amount trucks hauling ag goods can carry from the current 80,000 lbs. (plus a 5% variance) to 95,000 lbs. In the past two years Gov. Brian Kemp has issued multiple executive orders granting this increase on a temporary basis to ease supply chain issues.
Each team was paired with an ag policy professional who lobbies for Georgia agriculture to give the contestants pointers as they delivered their pitches. GFB appreciates Nathan Humphrey of the National Federation of Independent Small Business, Hunter McBrayer with Alabama Farmers Federation and Jake Tench with the Georgia Agribusiness Council for serving as team coaches along with GFB policy staffers Jeffrey Harvey, Alex Bradford and Jake Matthews.
The top three high school teams were selected from 15 high school teams that entered. ABAC, Auburn and UGA were the only college teams to enter. All teams that entered the first round of competition were asked to submit a 2 3 minute video discussing the importance of tax exemptions for farms and agribusinesses.
The MCHS FFA team, consisting of Jalyn Fish, Sydney Fish and Karoline Norton, advised by Rachel Kinsaul, won $1,000. The CCHS FFA team comprised of Maelee Dean, Ryan Kelly and Abigail Kendrick, advised by Jesse Kelly, won $800 as the 2nd place winners. Villa Rica FFA’s continued on next page
Continued from previous page team of Brody Blair, Chesnee Cartwright and Kalaya Willliams, advised by Bennett Jacobs, won the 3rd place prize of $600. Humphrey coached the MCHS team. Matthews coached the CCHS team. Bradford coached the Villa Rica team.
UGA team members Kaelyn Morgan, Benjamin Easter and Sydney Lamberth, advised by Drs. Jessica Holt and Abigail Borron of the CAES Agricultural, Leadership, Education & Communication Department, won the $1,000 1st place collegiate prize. The 2nd place prize of $800 went to the Auburn team comprised of Kade Griffith, Abigail Lane and Hunter Watkins, advised by Dr. Kim Mullenix. ABAC team members Maddie Anne Davis, Nate McKinney and Colton Peacock, advised by Greta Collins, won the $600 3rd place prize. Harvey coached the UGA team. McBrayer coached Auburn, and Tench coached ABAC.
Arkansas made its second appearance as the Sunbelt Spotlight State. Part of the state’s exhibit was Arkansas Farm Bureau's AgTech Training Lab, which has heavy equipment simulators that are used to train FFA students across the state. Inside the Spotlight State Building, Arkansas shared its agriculture and tourism. The state is the nation’s largest producer of rice, second in turkey production and third in broilers and cotton. At the Withers lunch, Arkansas Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Cynthia Edwards gave away a genuine Arkansas diamond from the United States’ only producing diamond mine to one lucky attendee.
During the Withers Lunch, Sunbelt Executive Director Chip Blaylock presented Gary Black with a plaque in appreciation for Black’s efforts to support the state’s agriculture during his three terms as commissioner of agriculture.
KEATON WALKER JOINS GFB PUBLIC POLICY TEAM
Georgia Farm Bureau has hired Keaton Walker as advocacy an policy development specialist. Walker began her duties on Oct. 17.
Walker grew up in Colquitt County on her family’s cattle and quail farm, which produced approximately 150,000 quail annually. She has an associate degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from the University of Georgia.
She most recently worked as chief marketing and public relations officer for Circle F Farms and its affiliated businesses in Baxley and previously worked as chief marketing and business development officer for Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter.
In her work with GFB, Walker will manage GFB’s annual process of establishing its positions on a variety of farm related issues, as well as working to promote the organization’s stances through outreach campaigns. Her duties will include working with GFB staff and volunteer leaders to engage with elected officials at local, state and federal levels, as well as providing GFB members and external stakeholders information about the organization’s legislative programs. She will also assist with the implementation of the GFB Impact Fund political action committee.
Keaton and her husband, Dr. Clay Walker, live in Hawkinsville with their son Canaan. The Walkers recently purchased a small farm in Pulaski County and plan to raise beef cattle and swine.
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR IRRIGATORS IN LOWER FLINT RIVER BASIN
The sign up period for a new cost share program for irrigation wells in Southwest Georgia is now open. The Drought Source Water Alternatives Program (SWAP) is designed to install deep aquifer wells for irrigators who rely on surface water in the Lower Flint River Basin. If you are interested in participating, please visit the Drought SWAP webpage (https://ga fit.org/drought swap/) to learn more, check your eligibility and submit an application. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.
Drought SWAP is funded by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget via allocations established by the American Recovery Plan Act for infrastructure development. Administered by the Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center at Albany State University, Drought SWAP is a component of the Georgia Flow Incentive Trust (GA FIT), an effort focused on enhancing drought response capacity to protect our farmers, regional economy and natural systems. For more information, visit www.GA FIT.org send an email to info@ga fit.org or phone 229 430 2900.
MANY TOBACCO GROWERS AND HEIRS ELIGIBLE FOR SETTLEMENT FUNDS
Many tobacco growers are eligible for settlement funds available as a result of lawsuits directed toward the U.S. Tobacco Cooperative, formerly known as the Flue Cured (FC) Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corporation.
Included in the settlement are farmers and heirs of farmers who grew flue cured tobacco anytime from 1967 to 1973, based on the sale of tobacco to the cooperative, and from 1982 to 2004 based on their contribution of no net cost assessments on all tobacco sold. All tobacco producers who sold tobacco were members of the cooperative and received an FC number/membership card. Proof of claim forms consisting of three pages must be filed by Dec. 12.
Documentation of membership in the cooperative can be established without knowing or including the FC membership number. This information is included in the files which have been provided to the attorneys and the firm charged with settling these claims. The original owner’s name and addresses where they resided when obtaining membership and throughout their career as tobacco farmers should be provided. Heirs can establish inheritance of FC numbers and proof of claim using family wills, letters of administration or letters of testamentary usually accessible from a probate court office.
Proof of claim forms, a list of frequently asked questions and additional information can be found here. (https://omniagentsolutions.com/lewissettlementclasstrust)
IAN CAUSED BETWEEN $787 MILLION AND $1.56 BILLION IN FLA. AG DAMAGE
Hurricane Ian made landfall on the southwest coast of Florida on Sept. 28 and swept across the entire Florida peninsula, causing damage on more than five million acres of agricultural land on which more than $8 billion worth of crops and livestock are produced annually, according to a preliminary assessment of the state’s ag damage by the University of Florida. The assessment was published on Oct. 17.
The assessment listed total estimated agricultural losses between $786 million and $1.56 billion. The study’s authors provided ranges because of uncertainty surrounding percentage production losses in hardest hit areas of the storm. The state’s vegetable and melon growers had the largest continued on next page
Continued from previous page lost crop values, ranging from $208 million to $393 million. Citrus producers’ damage is estimated between $146 million and $304 million; horticulture producers’ damage is estimated between $153 million and $297 million; animal and animal product damage is estimated between $113 million and $221 million; field and row crops between $86 million and $160 million and non citrus fruit and tree nuts between $78 million and $184 million.
These estimates are for crop and product losses and do not include value of stored inputs, started harvested products, or damage to infrastructure.
Approximately 60% of the farmland affected by the storm was grazing land. More than 700,000 acres were exposed to Category 4 hurricane conditions, and an addition 500,000 acres were affected by category 1 3 conditions.
Florida Farm Bureau has created a hurricane relief fund that will assist Florida farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Ian.
The Hurricane Ian Relief Fund for Agriculture will provide support for farm families statewide who have experienced a Hurricane Ian inflicted agricultural loss. All donations will be tax deductible.
Donors can make checks payable to: Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Fund
Memo: Hurricane Ian Relief Fund for Agriculture P.O. Box 147030 Gainesville, FL 32614
Online donations to the Hurricane Relief Fund can be made here
For more information, contact ianfund@ffbf.org.
Meanwhile, estimates of Puerto Rico’s agricultural damage from Hurricane Fiona are estimated at $159 million, according to The Associated Press, mostly from what was termed historic flooding, as well as landslides. Fiona, which made landfall on Puerto Rico’s southeast coast as a Category 1 storm on Sept. 18, wiped out fields of plantains, bananas and other crops. Consistent winds from the flattened young plantain and banana trees, which bend easily with sustained winds as low as 20 mph, the AP reported.
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE NOW ACCESSIBLE AT 988
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a new name & number. It’s now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It can be reached by calling or texting 988 or chatting on 988lifeline.org. 988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support. You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out. 988 trained crisis counselors can help you through whatever mental health challenges you are experiencing. SAMHSA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Communications Commission & other suicide prevention and mental health partners worked together to create 988 and its expanded services. #988Lifeline
USDA CONSERVATION PRACTICES SURVEY
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will continue collecting responses to the Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey over the coming weeks. Survey recipients may respond securely online at www.agcounts.usda.gov, by phone or mail. A representative for NASS may call producers to set up an interview to assist in the completion of the questionnaire. In late May, NASS mailed the survey to nearly 2,700 farmers and ranchers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. A joint project between NASS and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), this survey is aimed at better understanding conservation practice adoption and the role of technical and financial assistance. The data will be used to guide the implementation of NRCS programs in the future. There are two versions of the survey this year one requesting information on crop conservation practices and one for confined livestock conservation practices. Data from both versions of the survey will be available later this fall on NASS’s website at www.nass.usda.gov. All information reported by individuals will be kept confidential, as required by federal law. For assistance with the survey, producers can call the NASS Southern Region Field Office at (800) 253 4419.
GFB 2022 HAY CONTEST
Oct. 31 deadline to enter Georgia Farm Bureau is calling all members who grow any variety of Bermudagrass hay to enter its annual hay contest. Hay entered in the 2022 GFB Quality Hay Contest will be tested at the UGA Feed & Environmental Water Lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which provides an analysis of the nutritional value of the hay. Winners will be determined by the RFQ analysis and announced in December at the GFB Convention. Prizes will be presented to the top five producers. Entry forms outlining complete contest rules may be picked up at your county Farm Bureau office or downloaded from the GFB website www.gfb.ag/HayContest. There is a $20 fee for each entry to cover the cost of the lab test. Producers may enter more than one sample. Checks should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. Contest participants will receive a detailed copy of their hay analysis and may choose to have a free listing in the ’22/’23 online GFB Hay Directory. Producers must be a GFB member to enter the contest or list hay for sale in the hay directory. The deadline to enter contest is Oct. 31. The cost to list hay in the directory alone is $10 and may be submitted at any time.
2022 GEORGIA AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS FORUM
Nov. 9-10 Georgia Museum of Agriculture
Tifton
This event, hosted by the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association and sponsored in part by Georgia Farm Bureau, is suited for all owners, operators, office managers, personnel managers and service providers for the produce, nursery, landscape, dairy and cotton sectors, as well as any other agricultural professional dealing with agricultural labor relations. The Georgia Museum of Agriculture is located at 1392 Whiddon Mill Rd., Tifton, GA 31793. Contact Chris Butts, cbutts@asginfo.net or visit www.GeorgiaAgLaborForum.com for more information.
GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL HARVEST CELEBRATION
Nov. 18 The Classic Center Athens
This evening unites leaders from every agriculture sector and corner of the state in a festive salute to the industry. 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! 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
CROP INSURANCE FOR APPLES, BLUEBRRIES, PEACHES AND WHOLE FARM
Nov. 20 deadline to apply/renew Georgia apple, blueberry and peach growers have until Nov. 20 to apply for crop insurance or make changes to their existing coverage. Growers who are interested in the Whole Farm Revenue Protection policy and are late fiscal year filers have until Nov. 20 to apply for crop insurance. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the November 20 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop insurance helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Coverage is available for apples in Fannin, Gilmer, and Rabun counties. Coverage is available for blueberries in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Burke, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Long, Pierce, Ware, and Wayne counties. Coverage is available for peaches in Bacon, Banks, Bleckley, Brooks, Crawford, Dooly, Hall, Henry, Macon, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, Peach, Pierce, Pike, Schley, and Taylor counties. Coverage is available for Whole Farm Revenue Protection in all Georgia counties. 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 https://www.rma.usda.gov/en.
GEORGIA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE ONLINE AUCTION
Nov. 28 Dec. 7, 2022
Sign up at https://gfb.ag/2022auction by Nov. 26 to receive auction alerts. Bids will be accepted Nov 28 Dec. 7. Get a jump start on your Christmas shopping while supporting the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. This year’s auction will feature great items such as: football tickets, tech gadgets, home décor, food items, family activities & much more. GFA is a 501(c3) nonprofit registered charity. Donations are tax deductible. All auction proceeds will benefit the Georgia Foundation of Agriculture programs including: Georgia Ag Experience mobile ag classroom; scholarships for students pursuing ag careers; ag teacher workshops; mental health research for farmers and more. For more information, contact Lily Baucom at lrbaucom@gfb.org or 478.405.3461.
DAIRY MARGIN COVERAGE PROGRAM
Dec 9 application deadline
Dairy producers can now enroll for 2023 coverage through the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program, an important safety net program from USDA that helps producers manage changes in milk and feed prices. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering a new Supplemental DMC program and updating its feed cost formula to better address retroactive, current and future feed costs. For more information or to enroll, click here.
2022 SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO
Dec. 15 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry
This event is for soybean/small grain growers, UGA researchers, county agents and others to attend. For more information, contact Terry Hollifield at terry.hollifield@georgiacrop.com or 706 542 2351.
UGA PILOT PROGRAM OFFERS FREE TELE COUNSELING
The past few years have been challenging. Sometimes it's hard to recognize the physical effects of stress and how it affects our lives. Talking to someone about your stress can help. The UGA Tattnall County Extension office is partnering with the UGA School of Social Work on a pilot program to offer farmers and members of the agricultural community access to up to six free online counseling sessions with a licensed counselor. Participants do not have to farm or live in Tattnall County to participate but should be farmers or members of a farming family. Call 706 510 6930, email gatelehealth@uga.edu for more information or visit https://gfb.ag/ugapilotaddressstress to complete a questionnaire to begin the enrollment process. Anyone who doesn’t meet the requirements for the grant funding will be provided appropriate counseling referrals. Symptoms of chronic stress include irritability, lack of focus, change in appetite, sleepiness or insomnia, aches/pains, headaches, emotional withdrawal, low energy, anxiety, increased alcohol/substance use. This work is supported by the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Southern Region [grant no. 2020 70028 32730 / project ascension no 1023989] and the Georgia Farmer Healthy Mindset [grant no. 13395431/2021 09304/ project ascension no 2021 70035575], from the US Department of Agriculture, National Institute on of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by counselors during the sessions should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.
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.