Georgia Farm Bureau's November 23 GFB Field Notes

November 23, 2020

www.gfb.org

Vol. 2 No. 23

GFB MEMBERS SHARE WHAT THEY’RE THANKFUL FOR With Thanksgiving this week, we reached out to a handful of GFB members around the state and asked them what they’re thankful for. Here’s what they had to say. From all of us at GFB to all of you, have a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

GFB PRESIDENT GERALD LONG First and foremost, I’m thankful that I’m a Christian, and thankful that God watches over and protects us. I’m thankful for my family because there’s no way I could be up here doing the job as president of Georgia Farm Bureau without the support of my family back home, working on the farms. I’ve got so much to be thankful for. My health. I’m so thankful for that.

When we look around, we see many people that are not as fortunate as we are. There’s a lot of people right now, not only the coronavirus and the effect it has had on really the whole world. It doesn’t matter what profession you’re in right now. It’s all had an effect on all of us. Of course, I’m thankful that my family and I have been spared from the coronavirus so far.

But just thankful to be in a nation that we live in. I know we’ve got a lot of issues facing us. A lot of political issues that some of us don’t all agree with. But at the end of the day, we still know we can go lay our heads down at night and get a peaceful night’s rest.

I’m thankful that we have something to eat, pretty much 24/7. Any time we want to eat, we can eat. As you look around and see … I know we’ve got some in this country that go to bed every night hungry, but [the availability of food] I am so thankful for.

I am so thankful for this organization, for the opportunity that I’ve had to serve as president of this organization. I’m thankful for the support that I’ve had not only from the board, but from the employees of this organization, just to be able to speak to them each day and see that attitude that they have, to be thankful to work for a company like we all work for and enjoy what we’re doing.

HEATHER CABE Franklin County GFB State Women’s Committee Chairwoman When I think about Thanksgiving, I think about slowing down. A lot of people are hesitant to love this time of year. The time changes and the days are shorter, that’s hard. But as a farm wife, I’m thankful for the shorter days because that means more quality time with my husband inside -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 2 of 13 Continued from previous page and with our whole family together. It’s a different perspective on a farmer seeing the time change.

The one positive thing that’s kept me going is we have a Savior who never changes. He’s the same today, tomorrow and any other time. He never changes, He’s always there for us, the promises remain the same and the hope in tomorrow comes directly from that.

WILL GODOWNS Pike County State Young Farmers & Ranchers Chairman There are a lot of things to be thankful for, even in the worst of times. Some of those things for me that have probably stood out more this year than years when things are better and you’re busy, you just kind of go back to the basics. Your family and friends. We’ve had more time to spend with them this year and made connections that maybe had fallen apart. There’s been more time away from the noise of everyday life to spend with one-on-one relationships with people. That really, the older I get, the more things I see, the more value, more importance I see in relationships and how it can help me and can help others.

Still with all the craziness going on, I’m thankful that I’m living in the greatest country in the world, and all the opportunities that are afforded to us on a daily basis. Whether we like the current political environment or not, we are still afforded a lot of things that most humans across the globe don’t get. You have to remember and be thankful for those simple things. A lot of the problems that we want to get bogged down in are first-world problems and not third-world problems. You’ve really got to put it in perspective sometimes.

Technology and associations and federations that are willing to change and adapt and use technology to still reach out to folks, and still try to serve the purposes, to help the No. 1 industry here in Georgia, agriculture. I think if you look at 2020, the brightest shining star you can find is how COVID impacted agriculture and especially direct-to-consumer agriculture and being able to play a part in that or be a player in that game has been a phenomenal ride this year for me. That’s something I’m also thankful for.

JOHN DOUGLAS NEWTON Jenkins County Like a lot of people, I’m thankful for my family, my health, and to be able to farm and continue that tradition in our family.

I’ve had a best friend and his wife, she just lost her dad a couple of days ago due to the virus.

Their family has experienced three losses this year. She lost an uncle and a grandmother and her father this year. I guess just kind of being at the funeral and realizing how thankful we are to be here and to live another day. It kind of brought back some memories of when my father passed when I was young. Even though I didn’t really know him, it was kind of like wow, I’m thankful for the mother that I had and my brother, just kind of made the world seem really small.

All the things I worry about as far as, you know are you going to gather enough crop to pay our bills? We worry about this, and it just made the world seem really insignificant as far as the stuff we think about. The stuff I was fussing about the day before, it was like, wow, why was I even worried about that? It made no significance into the greater meaning of living.

-continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 3 of 13 Continued from previous page STEPHANIE MINTER ADAMEK Fayette County As we go into Thanksgiving I am incredibly thankful for all of our health up to this point.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to open up and sell trees and work with my family on a daily basis, even if we do sometimes fuss at each other about some of our chores that we have. But I’m grateful to have a job to be able to work outside and just be able to work with my family. Not many people get to do that. It’s nice to have that opportunity. One of my cousins said something about that when we were talking before, that it’s a whole different ballgame when it’s your family, your lifeblood, where you grew up, everything. It’s just nice to be able to share that with other folks, as well.

We’ve noticed, just talking to other farmers that were open for things in the fall, too, that they had busy years this year. We did sunflowers this year and it was really nice to be able to have something different than just produce. The Christmas trees are something that no matter how much work we all put into it, every single one of us have been out here at work, my mom, my dad and myself out here side-by-side working together to get these things done. It’s nice to see it all come together and have people appreciate it. I know a lot of people don’t fully grasp the time that goes into some of this stuff, but I’m grateful to teach them that, too.

It’s nice to have something to go to every day that I want to go to.

PLEASE CONSIDER GEORGIA AG EXPERIENCE FOR GIVING TUESDAY GIFTS Most Georgia elementary students are more than three generations removed from farming.

These students don’t know how farmers grow their food, cotton for clothes or trees for paper products and buildings.

The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture created The Georgia Ag Experience to give students who’ve never visited a farm a virtual field trip that will teach them about Georgia agriculture. The Georgia Ag Experience is a 36-foot mobile classroom dedicated to showcasing agriculture in local communities across the state.

The Georgia Ag Experience uses technology and digital learning to enable students in grades 3 through 5 to take a deep dive into seven different Georgia agriculture commodities. The mission of the Georgia Ag Experience is to inspire the next generation using agriculture and STEM- based educational programs.

Nearly 500,000 Georgia children live in low-income communities. Schools in these communities will need help to cover the $250 daily cost-of-operation fee to bring the mobile ag classroom to their students.

As Georgians support their favorite causes this Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, the foundation asks them to consider raising money for its Mobile Ag Ed School Assistance Fund. Donations could help a student learn that cows don’t produce chocolate milk, that peanuts don’t grow on trees and that farmers are their friends.

Visit www.georgiaagexperience.org/2020-giving-tuesday.cms to learn more and make a donation today. A donation of $100 or more qualifies the donor for a Georgia Ag Experience tshirt. Donations may also be mailed to Georgia Foundation for Agriculture P.O. Box 7068 Macon, Ga. 31209.

GFB Field Notes page 4 of 13 GA DELEGATION ASKS USTR TO BROADEN IMPORT INVESTIGATION

U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) along with U.S. Reps. Rick Allen (R-Dist. 12), Sanford Bishop (D-Dist. 2), Buddy Carter (R-Dist. 1) and Austin Scott (R-Dist.

8) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer requesting a broadening of USTR’s current Section 332 investigation for strawberries and bell pepper be broadened to include the impact of seasonal cucumber and squash imports on Southeastern markets.

“Fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico continue to dramatically impact U.S. markets and threaten the future of domestic farm production of perishable produce,” the senators wrote. “In the last twelve months, we have seen further growth in imports across several vegetable products.”

The senators noted that prices have followed supply, with growers reporting tumbling prices across the board for vegetables. Prices are now well below U.S. production costs for several of these commodities and appear to correlate directly with increasing fall shipments from Mexico.

“We were pleased to see that USTR has requested a Section 332 for strawberries and bell peppers. However, we believe the inclusion of other commodities, such as cucumbers and squash, in the Section 332 request, would provide some assistance to growers as they continue to struggle with seasonal imports for the upcoming harvest season,” wrote the congressmen.

In September, the USTR, USDA and the Department of Commerce launched a series of actions aimed at helping Southeastern produce growers overcome the effects of extensive produce imports.

AFBF SURVEY: THANKSGIVING DINNER COST LOWEST SINCE 2010 Thanksgiving celebrations will look different for many Americans this year due to the COVID19 pandemic. Gatherings are likely to be fewer and farther between, with social distancing and perhaps even remote family get-togethers. One tradition that continues this year is the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual cost survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table.

Farm Bureau’s 35th annual survey indicates the average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving feast for 10 remains affordable at $46.90 or less than $5 per person. This is a $2.01 decrease from last year’s average of $48.91.

“The average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner is the lowest since 2010,” said AFBF Chief Economist Dr. John Newton. “Pricing whole turkeys as ‘loss leaders’ to entice shoppers and move product is a strategy we’re seeing retailers use that’s increasingly common the closer we get to the holiday,” he explained.

The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – costs less than last year, at $19.39 for a 16-pound bird. That’s roughly $1.21 per pound, down 7% from last year. The survey results show that retail turkey prices are the lowest since 2010.

The shopping list for Farm Bureau’s informal survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty for leftovers.

In addition to turkey, foods that showed slight price declines include whipping cream and sweet potatoes. Foods showing modest increases this year included dinner rolls, cubed bread stuffing and pumpkin pie mix. After adjusting for inflation, the cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner is $18.01, down slightly from last year.

In recognition of changes in Thanksgiving dinner traditions, the Farm Bureau price survey also -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 5 of 13 Continued from previous page includes ham, potatoes and frozen green beans. Adding these foods to the classic Thanksgiving menu increased the overall cost by $13.21, to $60.11. This updated basket of foods also declined slightly in price (4%) compared to 2019.

Although it’s difficult to predict if panic purchasing will again become a concern due to the pandemic, “Turkeys – and other staples of the traditional Thanksgiving meal – are currently in ample supply at grocery stores in most areas of the country,” Newton said.

Farmers’ perseverance in continuing to produce food throughout the pandemic despite the challenges of volatile markets has been recognized by the public, according to recent AFBF public opinion research. Nearly nine in 10 adults (88%) trust farmers, a 4% increase from AFBF’s June 2020 polling. Further, the #StillFarming campaign tells the stories of farmers and ranchers still hard at work during the pandemic – and the challenges they are overcoming to feed America and the world.

This year’s national average cost was calculated using more than 230 surveys completed with pricing data from all 50 states. Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers were encouraged to check prices online using grocery store apps and websites due to the pandemic. They looked for the best possible prices without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals.

The AFBF Thanksgiving dinner survey was first conducted in 1986. The informal survey provides a record of comparative holiday meal costs over the years. Farm Bureau’s classic survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ALLIANCE UNVEILS RECOMMENDATIONS On Nov. 17, an alliance of groups representing farmers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments and environmental advocates unveiled an unprecedented set of recommendations to guide the development of federal climate policy.

Together, the group developed more than 40 recommendations based on three principles: agricultural and forestry climate policies must be built upon voluntary, incentive-based programs and market-driven opportunities; they must promote resilience and adaptation in rural communities; and they must be science-based. These recommendations share an overarching goal to do no harm. Climate policies will impact farmers, forest owners, ranchers, rural and limitedresources communities, wildlife and natural resources and must be thoughtfully crafted to account for any potential inequities, consequences and tradeoffs.

“We are proud to have broken through historical barriers to form this unique alliance focused on climate policy,” said Zippy Duvall, FACA co-chair and American Farm Bureau Federation president. “We began discussions not knowing whether we would ultimately reach agreement. It was important to me to reject punitive climate policy ideas of the past in favor of policies that respect farmers and support positive change. Our final recommendations do just that.”

The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) was formed in February by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Environmental Defense Fund, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and the National Farmers Union. The alliance has since expanded to include FMI – The Food Industry Association, National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and The Nature Conservancy.

-continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 6 of 13 Continued from previous page An overview of climate policy recommendations: • Provide voluntary, incentive-based tools and additional technical assistance for farmers, ranchers and foresters to maximize the sequestration of carbon and the reduction of other greenhouse gas emissions, and increase climate resilience; • Foster the development of private sector GHG markets. The public sector should ensure that verifiable reductions occur and provide farmers and forest owners with the technical support needed to participate; • Use an array of public and private sector tools to incentivize agricultural and forestry producers to prioritize and scale climate-smart practices; • Incentivize farmers to reduce energy consumption and increase on-farm renewable energy production, and make continued progress toward reducing the lifecycle GHG emissions of agriculture- and forestry-based renewable energy; • Reduce the GHG impact of food waste and loss by streamlining confusing consumer-facing packaging and implementing a public-private partnership to achieve a meaningful and workable food date-labeling program; • Increase federal investment in agriculture, forestry and food-related research substantially and continuously.

Read the full recommendations at www.agclimatealliance.com. They cover soil health, livestock and dairy, forests and wood products, energy, research, and food loss and waste.

The alliance welcomes additional members. Email inquires@agclimatealliance.com with questions about membership or the group’s climate policy recommendations.

UGA POULTRY SCIENCE CREATES HS CURRICULUM, TRANSFER PATHWAY Students interested in careers in the poultry industry will now have access to more poultry science-based resources and a new path to pursue an undergraduate degree through a transfer agreement between the University of Georgia and the University of North Georgia.

The opportunities for good-paying jobs in poultry and related industries are plentiful, with graduates receiving between one and five job offers, according to Todd Applegate, head of the UGA Department of Poultry Science in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

“We really need young people going into poultry across the entire sector. There’s a breadth of opportunity with integrated poultry companies and also other supporting companies such as finance, feed, equipment supply, pharmaceutical, food safety/quality and more. We try to communicate these options, as well as the available managerial roles and ability to move up in leadership through various companies,” he said.

With the high demand for graduates, the department is looking to improve visibility of the industry and pathways into the industry.

A new transfer agreement with UNG — with its main campus situated in Gainesville — builds on an existing partnership between the two universities and gives transfer students assurance that courses will transfer seamlessly.

In order to reach students before college, UGA’s Department of Poultry Science has also designed a new high school introductory course into poultry science and avian biology as part of -continued on next page

GFB Field Notes page 7 of 13 Continued from previous page the Georgia Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Pathways. The purpose is to establish an indepth understanding and appreciation of Georgia’s top agricultural industry among high school students.

Approximately 168,000 jobs are connected directly or indirectly to the poultry industry in Georgia, and producers in 101 counties generate more than $1 million worth of poultry at the farm level according to UGA research.

The high school presentations and activities introduce students to terminology and basic knowledge of modern poultry science and the commercial poultry sector, including anatomy and physiology, reproduction, genetics, nutrition, conventional and alternative housing/production methods, poultry varieties, avian health, processing, marketing and more.

“There are so many applications of STEM in the poultry industry, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. For students looking for real-world applications, I think they need those realworld applications much earlier to think about their careers. As we go into technology applications, this next generation is ready for that,” said Applegate.

Another set of lessons and activities developed by the department is geared toward elementaryaged students in partnership with Georgia Farm Bureau to use in elementary classrooms. They will be distributed to all of Farm Bureau’s 10 districts through the organization’s Ag in the Classroom and new Georgia Ag Experience mobile classroom.

NASS ADJUSTS GEORGIA SOYBEAN PRODUCTION FORECAST Georgia’s soybean crop could end up better than predicted earlier this year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service November Crop Production report released on Nov. 10.

Georgia’s soybean yield prediction was increased from 39 bushels per acre in October to a record-high 43 bushels per acre. If realized, Georgia soybean production in 2020 is forecast at 4 million bushels, up 328,000 bushels (10%) from NASS’ October forecast and up 60% from 2019.

The state’s estimated soybean yield was increased from 39 bushels per acre in October to 43 bushels per acre in November.

NASS’ predictions for corn, cotton and peanut production were unchanged from October to November.

With yield forecast at a record high 182 bushels per acre, corn for grain production is forecast at 69.2 million bushels in 2020, unchanged from last month but up 24% from 2019.

Georgia cotton production is forecast at 2.4 million bales, unchanged from last month and down 12% from 2019.

Peanut production is forecast at 3.60 billion pounds, unchanged from last month but up 31% from 2019, primarily due to an increase in planted acreage in 2020.

GFB Field Notes page 8 of 13 GEORGIA’S SMITTY LAMB ELECTED TO AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOC. BOARD Five new directors were elected to the 2020-2021 American Angus Association board of directors, including Smitty Lamb from Georgia, as well as a president and chairman, and a vice president and treasurer of the board, during the organization’s 137th Annual Convention of Delegates hosted in Kansas City, Missouri.

Directors can serve up to two, three-year terms on the board and, if elected, serve additional one-year terms in office as president and chairman and/or vice president and treasurer.

Smitty Lamb grew up on a small row crop farm in East Georgia where he discovered his passion for Angus cattle at an early age. He followed that drive to the University of Georgia (UGA) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in meat and muscle biology.

His career eventually led him to an opportunity in the cotton industry, but he always came home to Angus cattle. His family has owned and operated Ogeechee Angus Farm since 1997, and it has since become one of the most reliable sources for Angus genetics in the Southeast.

Since 2017, Ogeechee Angus Farm has marketed more than 100 bulls annually. Lamb has served in leadership roles with the Georgia Angus Association, as well as the chairman of the Southern National Angus Show committee and the co-committee chair of the 2009 National Junior Angus Show. The Lambs were honored as the Georgia Angus Association Member of the Year in 2017 for their service to the organization.

AG GROUPS SEEK USTR HELP REMOVING EU TARIFFS On Nov. 18, America’s leading agriculture commodity groups and trade associations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer asking that he and the Trump administration work to “deepen trade discussions” in order to bring about WTO compliance and removal of European Union (EU) retaliatory tariffs targeting U.S. food and ag exports. On Nov. 9 the EU imposed tariffs on American food and agricultural exports, including certain cheeses, agricultural equipment, distilled spirits, potatoes, nuts, fruits, juices, chocolate and ketchup.

According to AFBF, the European Union announced tariffs of $3.99 billion on U.S. aircraft, as well as a range of agricultural and industrial goods. This is the latest move in a long line of moves related to a dispute between the U.S. and the EU over the subsidizing of aircraft production. As is frequently the case, U.S. food and agriculture are being dragged into a dispute that they had nothing to do with. As the “tip of the spear” in trade disputes, U.S. agricultural producers’ goods are often first on the list in retaliatory tariffs, regardless of the type of goods and services directly related to the dispute.

The list of U.S. goods subject to EU tariffs has two different tiers: the first tier is limited to certain types of civilian aircraft at a rate of 15% and the second tier applies to a range of food, agricultural and industrial goods at a rate of 25%.

Food and agricultural goods make up 63% of the EU’s overall tariff lines. Unfortunately for agricultural producers, the targeting of farm and ranch goods for tariffs has become a somewhat normal occurrence. However, the total number of tariff lines can be quite misleading as many of them are goods the EU doesn’t import from the U.S. The list is skewed toward processed food and agricultural goods rather than bulk agricultural commodities. When looking at the most recent EU import data, the targeted goods in food and

-continued on next page GFB Field Notes page 9 of 13 Continued from previous page agriculture amounted to nearly $1.4 billion in 2019.

There are several key products that fare worse than most and make up a bulk of the total amount of the goods (by value) that are selected for retaliation. The most impacted group comprises alcohol, tobacco and cotton. The EU targeted U.S. liquor and wine producers heavily, and it shows in this list. The fact that the next largest category is oilseeds, oils and fats shows that this list takes aim at ingredients used in food manufacturing more so than raw agricultural commodities.

AFBF’s Market Intel report on the EU tariffs can be viewed at https://gfb.ag/EUtariffs. The ag groups’ letter can be accessed at https://gfb.ag/aggpstariffletter1120.

GFB Field Notes page 10 of 13 STAY AT HOME BEEKEEPING SERIES 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.

GEORGIA YOUNG PEANUT FARMER AWARD Deadline for nominations Dec. 1 Nominations are open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Tifton. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) and BASF. The award is open for any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, as of Jan. 21, 2021. The award is based on: the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership, civic, church and community service activities. An individual may receive the award only once. There is no limit on the number of applicants from each county in Georgia. Applications are due to the GPC office by Dec. 1. The award application is available online at www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting the GPC office at 229-386-3470.

51ST ANNUAL UGA PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE Dec. 4 NW Ga. Livestock Pavilion 12:30 p.m.

Calhoun UGA expects to catalog 86 bulls at this annual sale, including Angus (60), Charolais (1), Chiangus (2), Red Angus (2), Simangus (6) and Simmental (6). In addition to in-person bidding, the sale will be available on LiveAuctions.tv and via phone bidding. All bulls have been parentage tested and have genomic enhanced EPDs. Reports can be found at www.ugabeef.com/bulltest.

GEORGIA FARM FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS Dec. 9&10 10 a.m-4p.m Anderson Conference Center (50 in-person seats) Macon (50 virtual slots) Zoom This free hybrid in-person/virtual event will include workshops that cover the following topics: USDA Farm Service Agency loan programs (qualifications & closing process); Ag Georgia Farm Credit loans & services; credit management; budgeting; farm recordkeeping; farm inventory; identity theft; insurance; business planning & crop insurance. The 50 available seats for the inperson workshops and the 50 available seats for the virtual option via Zoom will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for both the in-person or Zoom option, visit www.bit.ly/fvsu-financial-literacy-2020. A discounted group hotel rate is available for conference attendees at the Comfort Inn & Suites Macon West at 5000 Harrison Road, Macon 31206 – 478-621-7977. This event has been organized by Fort Valley State University, FVSU Extension, Alcorn State University, USDA and the Southern Rural Development Center.

GFB Field Notes page 11 of 13 USDA OFFERS HELP TO FARMERS APPLYING FOR CFAP2 The USDA’s Farm Service Agency staff can help guide producers through the process of applying for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2), including preparing and submitting required paperwork. There is no need to hire a paid preparer. The deadline to apply is Dec. 11. Additionally, translation services are available in all USDA Service Centers, so one-on-one assistance with a Service Center employee can be translated in real time. To find the nearest USDA Service Center, visit www.farmers.gov/service-locator. A call center is also available for producers who would like additional support with the CFAP 2 application process. Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.

DAIRY MARGIN COVERAGE ENROLLMENT Dec. 11 deadline to apply The USDA is accepting applications for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2021 enrollment. DMC is a voluntary risk management program that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. DMC payments triggered for seven months in 2019 and three months so far in 2020. More than 23,000 operations enrolled in DMC in 2019, and more than 13,000 enrolled in 2020. For more information or to sign up for coverage, visit www.gfb.ag/21DMC. GA DEPT. OF AG GATE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS Annual renewal for the Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) program is now open.

Eligible farmers can renew their GATE card for 2021 online by visiting www.forms.agr.georgia.gov/GATE/. GATE cardholders who are to renew in 2021 will automatically be placed on the new three-year renewal program and will receive their renewal invoice in 2024. All current cards will expire Dec. 31, 2020. Cardholders currently on two and three-year renewals will receive their 2021 cards with the new expiration date of Dec. 31, 2021, and do not need to renew or apply for the 2021 year. Producers needing assistance can contact the GATE program team at 855-FARMTAX or farmtax@agr.georgia.gov.

GACD SCHOLARSHIP Dec. 31 deadline to apply The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts is offering a $1,000 scholarship to high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students studying fields related to agriculture and natural resources. Acceptable areas of study include, but are not limited to, agricultural education, agronomy, horticulture, plant pathology, and agricultural communications. The applicant may be a high school senior, or a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student from Georgia at any accredited college, school, or university in the United States. Applicants in their first semester of college should send their high school transcript and proof of college enrollment.

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.75 and be in need of financial assistance. There will be no discrimination on basis of race, sex, or religion. An individual may not compete for a scholarship that he or she has won in past years. The scholarship payments are disbursed according to the fund. For more information or to apply, visit www.gacd.us/scholarships.

GFB Field Notes page 12 of 13 21 SOUTHEASTERN FRUIT & VEGETABLE GROWERS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE Jan. 5-7 online The education, trade show, poster sessions and networking opportunities that traditionally take place in person in Savannah will take place through the Internet on a virtual platform that will be easy to use and navigate. The conference will have the latest in production and crop operational information that you have come to expect from the SE Regional Conference. All educational and exhibitor content will be available for on-demand viewing until April 30, 2021 to all registered attendees. All-Access Passes are $125 each and allow access to all education sessions, the virtual trade show, poster sessions and networking events until April 30, 2021. GFVGA members receive 15% off All Access Registration. Check your email for a discount code. Trade Show Passes are free, and the exhibits will be available until April 30, 2021. To register, visit https://gfb.ag/21SEFVGAConfreg.

45TH ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 20, 2021 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tifton Jan. 21, 2021 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Tifton Don't miss out on the 45th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show & Conference, set for Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 20-21, 2021, at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the show, which is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

For more information, visit www.gapeanuts.com.

FARM BUREAU ART & ESSAY CONTESTS Feb. 26, 2021 deadline to submit entries to county offices County Farm Bureau chapters across the state are accepting entries to the 2021 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Middle School Essay and High School Art Contests. GFB’s Certified Farm Markets are the focus of both contests. Middle school students entering the essay contest are being asked to discuss how GFB Certified Farm Markets and agritourism in general benefit farmers and consumers. High schoolers entering the art contest should draw a scene depicting one of the almost 80 GFB Certified Farm Markets located across Georgia. Students may enter the contests in the county in which they live or attend school but not both. To enter either contest, students should contact their county Farm Bureau for an official entry form and complete contest rules. County Farm Bureau contest winners will be entered in GFB district competition. All entries must be officially submitted by a county Farm Bureau to the Georgia Farm Bureau home office. All entries must be received at local county Farm Bureau offices by Feb. 26, 2021; county Farm Bureaus must submit their county winners to GFB for state judging by March 12, 2021. Visit www.gfb.ag/21artcontest or www.gfb.ag/21essaycontest for contest details.

GFB Field Notes page 13 of 13 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 enter the GFB Quality Hay Contest receive a free listing in the online GFB Hay Directory.

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.