November 29, 2023
www.gfb.org
Vol. 5 No. 22
GFB MEMBERS WILL “DIG IN” TO AG AT ANNUAL CONVENTION Georgia Farm Bureau members will gather on Jekyll Island Dec. 3-5 for the organization’s 86th annual convention. Attendees will be ‘Diggin’ In’ to agriculture issues and advocacy as they participate in event activities. This year marks the 59th time GFB has held its convention on Jekyll Island. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper and motivational speaker Matt Lohr will address convention attendees during the general session on Dec. 4 between 8:15 a.m. and noon. “Georgia Farm Bureau members enjoy traveling to Jekyll Island each December to attend our annual convention and celebrate Georgia’s top economic industry, which contributed $73.2 billion to the state’s economy in 2021,” GFB President Tom McCall said. “Our members will enjoy catching up with lifelong friends, hearing updates on farm issues and determining the position our organization takes on issues impacting their farms and rural communities.” Convention activities begin at 10 a.m. on Dec. 3, at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Sunday events include the opening of a trade show with more than 65 exhibitors representing Georgia agricultural organizations, agencies and businesses. A new event will be the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture’s Christmas on the Farm Bingo to be held Sunday, Dec. 3, from 1-2:30 p.m. at the convention center. Guests will enjoy 10 rounds of bingo, door prizes, a raffle, music, refreshments, and a pop-up shop from Brittany’s Closet, a Jekyll Island boutique. Visit www.gafoundationag.org/bingo for complete details and to buy advance tickets. Tickets will also be sold at the convention. During the Celebrating Ag Leaders event at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 3, GFB will recognize agricultural advocacy and promotion efforts by county Farm Bureau volunteers and teachers’ work to include agriculture in their lessons through the Ag in the Classroom program. The first day of the convention will close with a memorial service at 4:30 p.m. Al McCall and Mark Wallace will provide music, and Rev. Edmund Thrift of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Alma will deliver the devotion. On Dec. 4, the general session runs from 8:15 a.m. to noon. Jekyll Island Authority Executive Director Mark Williams will welcome convention guests. GFB President Tom McCall will deliver -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 14 Continued from previous page his annual address. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper will provide an update on the many things the Georgia Department of Agriculture has accomplished during his first year in office. During the general session, motivational speaker Matt Lohr will share what he’s learned about leadership and advocating for agriculture during his career as a farmer, elected official and former USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service chief. On Dec. 4 the convention trade show opens at 9 a.m. and closes at noon. A series of seven commodity meetings will be held Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. featuring speakers who will address management and policy issues for the major commodities grown in Georgia. Commodity meeting topics will cover protecting Georgia farms from foreign animal diseases, agricultural labor, navigating farm liability, water issues, farm vehicle regulations, forestry issues, and specialty crop economics. On Dec. 5 GFB voting delegates will discuss and approve policy resolutions submitted by county Farm Bureau chapters statewide. The resolutions approved by the delegates will become the organization’s official policy that will guide its legislative efforts in 2024. Delegates will also elect the 2024 GFB Board of Directors. HPAI CONFIRMED IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA COMMERCIAL DUCK FLOCK On Nov. 21, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a commercial duck breeding operation located in Sumter County tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). This is the first confirmation of HPAI in a commercial waterfowl flock in Georgia. Avian influenza does not pose a risk to the food supply, and no affected animals entered the food chain. The risk of human infection with avian influenza during poultry outbreaks is very low. “For the first time in 2023, HPAI has been confirmed in a commercial Duck breeding operation in Georgia,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “Our team of Animal Health Specialists responded immediately by quarantining the affected premises, beginning depopulation of all birds on site to prevent further spread of the disease, and they continue to monitor all other flocks within the control area. While HPAI does not represent a significant threat to humans or the safety of our food supply, its impact on poultry is devastating, and we’ll continue to work overtime with our partners at APHIS to protect Georgia’s poultry industry.” On Nov. 18, the flock owner noticed signs of neurological impairment followed by increased mortality the next day. Samples were taken on Nov. 19 and HPAI was identified on Nov. 20 by UGA’s Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. These results were further confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, late in the evening on Nov. 21. Animal health officials with the GDA immediately issued a quarantine on the affected premises, and the affected flock of approximately 30,000 birds was euthanized to prevent further spread of the disease. Officials will test and monitor any additional flocks within a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) radius of the affected premises and no other flocks within the surveillance area have tested positive or experienced any clinical signs to date. APHIS is working closely with GDA’s animal health staff -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 14 Continued from previous page to monitor the situation and prevent further spread of the disease. The announcement follows similar confirmations from Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida in recent weeks. Wild birds are the source of the virus. Avian influenza virus strains often occur naturally in wild birds and can infect wild migratory birds without causing illness. Owners of poultry flocks are encouraged to closely observe their birds and report a sudden increase in the number of sick birds or bird deaths to the Avian Influenza Hotline at 770-766-6850. More information is available on the Department’s website. For more updates and information regarding biosecurity tips visit: Defend the Flock - Resource Center (USDA APHIS) Avian Influenza FAQ Protect Your Livelihood PDF GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION NOMINATION MEETINGS SET Nomination meetings to fill two positions on the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) Board of Directors will be held during simultaneous meetings on Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. in Colquitt and Swainsboro. The Georgia Farm Bureau Federation will conduct the meetings to fill terms, which expire Dec. 31 in the GPC Commission’s Districts One and Three. The GPC District One nomination meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Miller County Farm Bureau Office at 314 East Bremond Street in Colquitt, Ga. 39837. Tim Burch of Baker County is the incumbent in this district. Counties in District One include: Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell and Seminole. The District Three nomination meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Emanuel County Farm Bureau office at 320 Lambs Bridge Road in Swainsboro, Ga. 30401. Joe Boddiford of Screven County is the incumbent in this district. Counties in District Three include: Appling, Bacon, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Washington and Wayne. “Georgia Farm Bureau encourages peanut growers in these districts to attend the meeting for their district and participate in the nomination process for these Georgia Peanut Commission positions,” says Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall. “The Georgia Peanut Commission plays an important role in promoting Georgia peanuts by supporting research that addresses production issues growers face, educating producers about peanut industry issues, and promoting the nutritional benefits of eating peanuts to consumers.” The Georgia peanut production area is divided into five districts based on acreage distribution and geographical location with one board member representing each district. Each nominee must produce peanuts and live within the district for which he/she is nominated. Any producer living in the district may be nominated or make nominations at the meeting. Incumbents are eligible for renomination. If more than one person is nominated, an election will be conducted by mail ballot. Commission by-laws state that a person must receive a majority of the votes cast for a position in order to be elected to the commission board. If only one person qualifies for the position, no election is required, and the nominated person -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 14 Continued from previous page automatically becomes a member of the commission board. Commission members serve terms of three years. If multiple people are nominated for a GPC seat, then the current director will continue to serve until the election is completed. To learn more about the GPC, visit www.gapeanuts.com. GFB YOUNG FARMERS & RANCHERS WINNERS GEAR UP FOR AFBF CONTESTS Pierce County’s David and Lindsey Morgan, Cole and Nicole Roper of Franklin County and Andy Paul of Oglethorpe County, winners of the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) 2023 competitive events, are preparing for national competitions to be held at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, in January. The YF&R program helps young Farm Bureau members shape their future and American agriculture through leadership development and personal growth opportunities. These competitions enable members to showcase their leadership experience, communication skills and successful business plans as they compete against the best of the best from each state Farm Bureau. As part of the YF&R competitions, the top four competitors in the AFBF Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Ag areas will receive: Winner (First Place): $35,000 credit toward a new Ford vehicle and paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, courtesy of Ford. Runner-up (Second Place) receives: $25,000 credit towards new Case IH piece of equipment, courtesy of Case IH. Third Place receives: A $2,500 Investing in Your Future cash prize, courtesy of AmericanAg™, $2,500 worth of Stanley Black & Decker merchandise, courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker plus a Case IH branded safe, courtesy of Case IH. Fourth Place receives: A Case IH branded Solo Stove, courtesy of Case IH. David and Lindsey Morgan won the 2023 GFB YF&R Achievement Award. David is a third-generation farmer who grows cotton and peanuts as well as vegetables and a variety of grains. He also owns timber land and provides land-clearing services. Lindsey teaches social studies at Ware County High School. The Morgans co-chair the Pierce County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. David has been involved in the YF&R program since 2006 and Lindsey since 2011. Cole and Nicole Roper won the 2023 GFB YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award. The Ropers raise cattle and grow corn, which they sell in their GFB Certified Farm Market, Cole’s Sweet Corn. Cole works as a broiler supervisor for Fieldale Farms. Nicole is an agriculture teacher at West Oak Middle School in Westminster, South Carolina. Andy Paul won the 2023 GFB YF&R Discussion Meet, held in July during the GFB YF&R Summer Leadership Conference on Jekyll Island. Paul, a former state and national FFA president, works as a public relations representative for Georgia EMC.
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 14 GEORGIA DOG VIES FOR NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CHOICE PUP Vote to recognize heroic Great Pyrenees that killed 8 coyotes protecting sheep By Jennifer Whittaker Casper, a Great Pyrenees who came close to losing his life a year ago while protecting his sheep from 11 coyotes on his DeKalb County farm, is competing against four other dogs across the U.S. to earn the title of People’s Choice Pup in the 2024 Farm Dog of the Year Contest. American Farm Bureau coordinates the annual contest supported by Purina. You can help Casper earn this title by voting for him at www.gfb.ag/voteforcasper . This contest, based on popular vote, is a perfect chance to help a Georgia farm dog be recognized for his heroism. Voting ends Dec. 20. You may vote once per day per IP address. Multiple votes can be cast for a single IP address over the course of the contest. The winner will be announced in January at the American Farm Bureau Convention. Casper is one of six livestock guard dogs (LGD) that Georgia Farm Bureau member John Wierwille uses to protect the sheep he leases out to clients to clean brush and invasive plant species off their property. Wierwille’s Ewe Can Do It Naturally landscaping business serves clients across Metro Atlanta and to cities within three hours of Atlanta. When Wierwille leases his sheep, he sometimes sends at least one LGD with the flock to protect it against coyotes, hawks, owls and two-legged thieves. Wierwille and his family have an urban farm in Decatur that includes sheep, chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Casper, and his mate, Daisy, also a Great Pyrenees, came to the Wierwille’s farm in October 2022 from a goat farm in Tennessee. Wierwille got the pair after the family lost another Great Pyrenees, Shebah. “Casper is a goofball. He loves other animals to come around him. He lets chickens sit on his head, and he’ll walk up to the sheep and just lay his head on their backs,” Wierwille said. “Daisy is more reserved. She hangs back and will growl at you.” With his fluffy white fur and outgoing demeanor, Casper was obviously named for the friendly ghost. While Casper has the gentle, loving disposition Great Pyrenees are known for, he is living proof that his breed will turn into ferocious warriors to protect any livestock or family members threatened by predators. In the wee hours of Nov. 4, 2022, a pack of 11 coyotes threatened to attack six sheep that Casper and Daisy were guarding near the Wierwilles’ home. Casper took out three coyotes that made it inside the pen and then leapt the 4-foot hog wire fence to pursue the rest of the pack. Daisy, who was only nine days away from delivering puppies, stayed with the sheep. “He just charged them. Maybe in ten seconds he had the first three dead methodically. Just one, two, three,” Wierwille recalled. “Casper saw me, and I think he thought ‘The boss is here, I can go after them.’ He leaped the fence in one bound and went after the rest of the pack chasing them through neighbors’ yards and carports. It went on for about 30 minutes. The next morning, we found coyotes along the railroad tracks that Casper killed. In all he killed eight of the eleven coyotes.” After the battle was over, Casper was missing in action, and he stayed away for two days. When -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 14 Continued from previous page Casper returned home, he was so badly injured Wierwille feared the dog wouldn’t make it. “I didn’t think he’d make it another couple of hours. He was terrible. He had these huge wounds, and they were infected,” Wierwille said. “He had a bad wound on his side and on his neck, and half of his tail was gone.” The Wierwilles cleaned Casper up, evaluated his injuries and took him to an emergency vet where he had multiple surgeries and spent about 15 days. On Nov. 13, while Casper was still recuperating at the emergency clinic, Daisy gave birth to nine puppies. The Wierwilles initially kept Linus from that litter to train as a guard dog for their sheep. They later realized Linus was better suited for protecting larger livestock, so he now lives on a beef farm. The family brought Casper home from the emergency clinic for a brief period, but decided they weren’t equipped to manage his wounds nor were they able to restrain a large, determined dog accustomed to being outside. The Wierwilles found LifeLine Animal Project in Atlanta, founded by CEO Rebecca Guinn. Under the guidance of LifeLine Director of Medical Services Dr. Susan Brosman, the clinic cared for Casper for 30 days with follow-up visits. “She and the team over there were wonder workers,” Wierwille said. “They really were amazing. He became the boss of the clinic, nosing into everything.” Mainstream and social media coverage of Casper’s ordeal raised about $15,000 in donations to LifeLine via their online donation link. Once donations exceeded the amount needed for Casper, the extra money was used to save the lives of other animals. “We didn’t know what to expect. He came in and he had this wound that was massive, but he was still in good spirits and such a good boy,” said LifeLine Vet Tech Katrina Coleman. Casper’s injuries left him with a spot on his back where fur still hasn’t grown in, and he has a scar on one ear where it was split. Because his tail was infected, the vet decided it best to dock it. “Not having a tail doesn’t keep Casper from expressing his happiness. Now he just wags his whole body starting with his shoulders down to his haunches,” Wierwille said. “It’s a remarkable site to see.” Being on the injured list also didn’t keep Casper and Daisy from expanding their family. In May, Daisy gave birth to another litter of pups. This was their last litter together as Daisy was spayed after complications with mastitis while nursing. “Casper loved his puppies. He’s just a big, strong, I’m going-to-be-here dog,” Wierwille said. By June 1 Casper had made a full recovery and was back on the job getting hamburgers as a reward for chasing coyotes away. “Great Pyrenees are so loyal. They’re determined to stay with their animals. I couldn’t do my job without them because I can’t be out with my sheep 24 hours a day, but the dogs can. The dogs make a lot of decisions if a threat like coyotes come along. Casper and our other livestock guard dogs are an incredibly important part of our business.” ABOUT THE BREED - Great Pyrenees, which originated on the French side of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, are working dogs bred to protect sheep and other livestock from wolves and other predators on snowy mountains. The breed’s fluffy weatherproof coat is layered and is usually all white or white with black, tan, -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 14 Continued from previous page reddish-brown or gray markings. Males can be as tall as 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh as much as 160 pounds. Females can be as tall as 29 inches at the shoulder with a maximum weight of 110 pounds. Great Pyrenees can make great pets, but they are instinctively working dogs. They need to have a job or may get into mischief if bored. They have extremely sensitive hearing and are prone to bark, especially at night. Great Pyrenees may only be barking at squirrels, possums or armadillos, but they will patrol their perimeter letting the whole neighborhood know they are on duty. They also need fences to let them know what the perimeters of the territory that are to protect is. Without a fenced perimeter the breed is prone to roam. SIX MORE GEORGIA COUNTIES DESIGNATED AS NATURAL DISASTER AREAS On Nov. 21, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) presidential disaster declaration for Burke, Montgomery, Toombs and Treutlen counties due to damage sustained from Hurricane Idalia. Producers in contiguous Appling, Candler, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall and Wheeler counties, as well as producers in Aiken, Allendale and Barnwell counties in South Carolina, are eligible for assistance under this declaration. In a second presidential declaration also announced by FEMA on Nov. 21, Johnson and Worth counties were also named as contiguous counties. This presidential declaration allows the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend muchneeded emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. Additionally, this specific presidential disaster declaration for Georgia counties affected by Hurricane Idalia is classified as a “Major Disaster Declaration,” Major Disaster Declarations through FEMA provide Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation Assistance to both primary and contiguous counties. Individual assistance provides things like crisis counseling and disaster unemployment assistance to affected communities, while public assistance provides funds for debris removal, infrastructure repairs, and more. The application deadline under this declaration is June 3, 2024. Producers with operations in the contiguous and primary counties from the presidential and secretarial designations should contact their local FSA Farm Loan office to confirm the deadline for applying for our emergency loans. For more information about FSA’s full site of disaster recovery options, producers can visit farmers.gov, where the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help determine program or loan options. ERP 2022 The USDA recently announced that it will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2022. Eligible impacted producers -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 14 Continued from previous page can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The program will help offset the financial impacts of crop yield and value losses from qualifying disasters occurring in 2022. The application opened on Oct. 31, 2023. The application deadline has not yet been determined and will be announced at a later date. More information on ERP 2022 eligibility details is available on the emergency relief website. Livestock Forage Disaster Program Eligibility The USDA Farm Service Agency is now accepting application for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to provide financial assistance to eligible producers for 2023 grazing losses due to a qualifying drought. The deadline to apply is January 30, 2024. To date, twenty-four Georgia counties have met the drought severity levels that triggers LFP eligibility for the 2023 program year. Habersham, Rabun, Towns, and White counties were announced as eligible for the program on Nov. 28. Previously announced eligible counties are Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Dawson, Decatur, Early, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpkin, Miller, Murray, Pickens, Seminole, Union, Walker, and Whitfield. For LFP, qualifying drought triggers are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor. LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage of native and improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or acreage planted specifically for grazing. Grazing losses must occur on land physically located in a county experiencing a qualifying drought 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, ostrich, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period.
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 14 UPCOMING EVENTS AT GFB CERTIFIED FARM MARKETS Georgia Farm Bureau’s Certified Farm Markets have a variety of events coming up, and GFB Farm Passport travelers can take advantage of book signings, antique tractor days, sheep shearing, Santa and more. Crops in season right now: • Apples: Apple Pecan Salad Recipe • Beans • Broccoli • Cabbage & Lettuce: Unwrapped Cabbage Rolls Recipe • Carrots: Carrot Turkey Meatloaf Recipe • Citrus *Upick available! • Collards, Turnips, Spinach, Kale & other greens: Collard Green Salad with Blueberry Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette Recipe • Mushrooms: Sausage Stuffed Mushroom Recipe • Pecans: Apple Pecan Cornbread Dressing Recipe • Sweet Potatoes: Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe , Pineapple Sweet Potato Waffles Recipe • Squash • Keep in mind some farms have gift baskets put together like Calhoun Produce (D.8), Hillside Orchard Farm (D.2) & Red Apple Barn (D.1) Christmas Trees • Cut your own at 7G’s Family Farm* (D.2), Berry’s Tree Farm* (D.3), Sleepy Hollow (D.3), Yule Forest** (D.3), Days of Creation Christmas Tree Farm* (D.7) • Asterisk notes Trees for Troops & double asterisk is also a Toys for Tots drop off. Events: North GA • Rosemary & Thyme Creamery: Dec. 9 Sheep Shearing 9 a.m. (RSVP by Dec 8) o Lunch, mutton, cheese & free wool will be available o Click here to visit the farm’s Facebook page. (https://gfb.ag/RosemaryThymeFBpage) Warbington Farms: Christmas on the farm. Nov. 25 & Dec. 9 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. All info is here: https://www.warbingtonfarms.com/events-calendar/christmas-on-the-farm Middle GA • Berry’s Christmas Tree Farm, Covington o Antiques and Others Car Show Dec. 10, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. § Benefits Relay for Life § $25 per vehicle exhibitor fee § FREE to the public § Rain Date – Dec. 17 § Click here to visit Berry’s Facebook page. § (https://gfb.ag/BerrysTreeFarmFBpage) o Community Movie Night (The Grinch 2018) Dec. 15 6:30 p.m. § FREE to the public •
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 14 Country Garden Farm, Newnan: Christmas taste of the farm on Saturday December 9th o Drop in anytime between 10 and 2 on Saturday December 9 for a free tasting no registration required. Judy will have lots of good food prepared from our farm that you can taste. She will be preparing different foods that we either we grow on our farm or from one of our local artisanal food producers like cheeses from sweet grass dairy. o Click here to visit the event Facebook page. (https://gfb.ag/CountryGardenFarmFBpage) • Lane Southern Orchard, Fort Valley https://lanesouthernorchards.com/pages/events o Breakfast with the Grinch Dec. 9, o Breakfast with Santa Dec. 16, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. South GA • Daylily Store, Homerville: Poinsettia Sale Dec. 9, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Click here for more information about the Daylily Store. • JoNina Farms, Ochlocknee Clip ‘n Sip events – Dec. 2 & Dec. 9 Clip N Sip Events featuring satsumas, wagon rides and live music. Click here for more information. • Paulk Vineyards, Wray o Christmas Candle Class (ticketed) Dec. 7 https://www.facebook.com/events/304403185697074 • Pittman’s Country Market, Lyons o Book Signing for Bob Tales, a children’s book by Susan Sullivan on Dec. 16 o Follow Pittman’s Facebook page for their big discount days. They typically have great deals for home décor and gift items on select days during this season. • Raisin’ Cane, Valdosta o Antique Tractor Day, Dec. 16, 8 a.m. – noon. o Features cane grinding, syrup cooking, & tractor pulling ttps://facebook.com/events/s/cane-grinding-antique-tractor/875591224010883/ •
54TH ANNUAL UGA GEORGIA BULL EVALUATION TEST SALE Dec. 1 Northwest Ga. Livestock Pavilion 12:30 p.m. Calhoun The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Bull Evaluation Center in Gordon County will hold its annual sale of bulls that have participated in an 84-day evaluation program under uniform conditions to verify the bulls’ health, breeding soundness and ability to gain weight. Top performing Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, SimAngus and Simmental bulls consigned by producers in Georgia and surrounding states will be sold. Contact UGA Extension Beef Specialist Jason Duggin at 706-728-4354 or jduggin@uga.edu for more details. The Northwest Georgia Livestock Pavilion is located at 1286 Highway 53 Spur SW, Calhoun, Ga.
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 14 GA FOUNDATION FOR AG FARM TO FUTURE ONLINE CHARITY AUCTION Ongoing through Dec. 6 online Join us for the GFA Online Charity Auction opening on Cyber Monday! Our goal is to raise at least $25,000. Support GFA programs such as the mobile ag classroom while getting a head start on your Christmas shopping. With more than 150 items up for grabs, you'll find something for everyone. This year's auction will feature great items such as sporting tickets, local experiences, overnight stays, tech gadgets, home decor, family activities and more. Consider a donation or just purchasing a raffle ticket to support our organization. You can be entered to win one of three raffle items, like 50 half chickens! GFA is seeking sponsors and item donors. Follow the GFA Facebook page for updates! CROP INSURANCE FOR PASTURE, RANGELAND, FORAGE AND APICULTURE Dec. 1 deadline to enroll or renew The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Georgia forage, livestock, and honey producers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2024 crop year is December 1. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the December 1 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Acreage intended for grazing and haying is insurable under the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program, and colonies of bees are insurable under the Apiculture program. The PRF and Apiculture programs for 2024 are under the Rainfall Index insurance plan. Coverage is available for PRF and Apiculture in all Georgia counties. For more information regarding coverage, producers can access RMA Apiculture Grid ID Locator and the PRF Support Tool online. Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2024 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 rma.usda.gov. The Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company contracts with three companies -Rain & Hail, Sompo, and Crop Risk Services to offer crop insurance. GFB has over 70 experienced crop insurance agents (and growing) across the state to help their members protect their investment. Find your local agent and learn more at GFBInsurance.com or email crops@gfbinsurance.com for more details. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 14 NOMINATIONS FOR OUTSTANDING GA YOUNG PEANUT FARMER AWARD Dec. 1 deadline for nominations Nominations are open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, in Tifton, Georgia. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and BASF. The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award is based upon the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership, civic, church, and community service activities. The award is open for any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, before Jan. 18, 2024. 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 Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. The award application is available online at www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690 or joycrosby@gapeanuts.com. 2023 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU ANNUAL CONVENTION Dec. 3-5 Jekyll Island Convention Center Jekyll Island Georgia Farm Bureau members trek to the Georgia coast for this annual must-attend event featuring the always-popular trade show, finalization of GFB’s 2024 policy stances, board elections, renewal of long-time friendships and much more! Speakers will include Gov. Brian Kemp via video, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper and motivational speaker Matt Lohr. A full slate of speakers will discuss a variety of policy & production issues affecting Georgia’s major commodities during breakout sessions to be held Monday, Dec. 4 at 2 and 3:30 p.m. Outstanding County Farm Bureaus will be recognized for their work throughout the year to promote agriculture. A new event will be the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture’s Christmas on the Farm Bingo to be held Sunday, Dec. 3 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the convention center. Colquitt County Farm Bureau Office Manager Greta Collins and the Farm Monitor’s John Holcomb will emcee the event. For $20, guests will get 10 bingo cards, and enjoy door prizes, a raffle, music, Christmas goodies, and a pop-up shop visit from Jekyll Island women's clothing boutique Brittney's Closet. Visit https://www.gafoundationag.org/bingo for complete details & to buy advance bingo tickets. Tickets for Bingo will be sold at convention but advance ticket purchases are encouraged. 2024 SOUTHEAST FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 11-14, 2024 Savannah Convention Center Savannah A must-attend event for fruit and vegetable growers, the Southeast Fruit & Vegetable Conference is sponsored in part by Georgia Farm Bureau. The event features educational workshops on federal rules compliance, production tips, limiting risk and managing pests, as well as one of the south’s largest trade shows for specialty crops. Attendees also have the opportunity to earn pesticide CEU credits. For more information, visit https://seregionalconference.org/. To register, click here.
GFB Field Notes page 13 of 14 14th ANNUAL GFB DISTRICT 2 STEER & HEIFER SHOW Jan. 27, 2024 Jackson County Agricultural Facility Jefferson The show will be a one-day show. Check-in will be 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Jan. 27. The barn will be open on Jan. 26 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for early arrivals. Show will begin at 9:30 a.m. with showmanship classes. Entries are non-refundable/non-returnable. The entry fee is $25 per animal for Farm Bureau members or $35 per animal for non-members. Membership must belong to the exhibitor and/or their immediate family. Membership can be obtained at your local County Farm Bureau office or online for $35. There will be a $10/head late fee for late entries. T-shirts will be available for purchase: short sleeve - $20, long sleeve - $25. The show is open only to Junior Beef Cattle exhibitors of the counties listed above. For the purposes of show communication, please make sure the correct mailing address and email address is listed in your registration. Directions to the Jackson County Agricultural Facility can be found via GPS at 1869 County Farm Rd., Jefferson, GA 30549. Entry forms are available at https://gfb.ag/district2cattleshow. Deadline for registration is Jan. 12, 2024! Senior exhibitors, don't forget out our senior scholarship! Applications are available on the website. USDA DISCRIMINATION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Jan. 13, 2024 Application deadline Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021 and/or are currently debtors with assigned or assumed USDA farm loan debt that was subject to USDA discrimination occurring prior to January 1, 2021, have until Jan. 13, 2024, to apply for financial assistance. Visit the program website https://22007apply.gov to file an application and for more information on the program. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs USDA to provide financial assistance to producers who have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs and has $2.2 billion for this program. Under the law, the Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for administering the assistance through qualified nongovernmental entities under standards set by USDA. Applications will be reviewed in November and December, with payments reaching recipients soon thereafter, according to USDA statements. USDA has become aware of some lawyers and groups spreading misleading information about the discrimination assistance process, pressuring people to sign retainer agreements, and asking people to fill out forms with private and sensitive information. The official application process is free and does not require an attorney. GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 18, 2024 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This annual show is free and open to all farmers and industry representatives to attend. The show is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit with more than 100 agribusinesses and organizations in the peanut and agricultural industry. Farmers will be able to earn private and commercial pesticide applicator certification, as well as learn about cutting-edge research and developments during the University of Georgia Peanut Production Seminar and industry-wide sponsored Peanut Seed Seminar. More details at https://bit.ly/49jHWIU.
GFB Field Notes page 14 of 14 GFB AG IN THE CLASSROOM EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS Feb. 2 (Registration deadline Jan. 19) Sumter Co. High School, Americus March 22 (Registration deadline March 8) UGArden, Athens April 12 (Registration deadline March 29) Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton Georgia Farm Bureau is hosting three Ag in the Classroom Educator Workshops & Tours in 2024 to introduce teachers to resources and teaching strategies to incorporate agriculture into their classrooms using curriculum that meets required teaching standards for STEM and STEAM. All workshops are open to any Georgia teacher. Teachers can choose from any of the three dates/locations. Each workshop will begin at 8 a.m. and end by 3:30 p.m. The cost to attend the workshop is $35, which includes lunch. Each workshop has a capacity of 30 teachers. Workshops are for teachers who have not previously attended a GFB Educator Workshop in the past two years. Teachers interested in attending may register at www.gfb.ag/Spring24Workshop by the deadline or until the 30 slots for each class or filled. County Farm Bureaus are encouraged to recruit a local teacher who hasn’t previously attended a GFB Educator workshop to attend and to consider paying the teacher’s registration fee, reimbursing the teacher’s mileage to/from the workshop &/or covering the hotel cost for the night before the workshop if the teacher is traveling a long distance. Teachers or county Farm Bureaus with questions should contact Lauren Goble at ldgoble@gfb.org or 478.474.8411, ext. 5135. 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. CONSERVATION DISTRICTS OFFER NO-TILL EQUIPMENT FOR RENT Ongoing Local Conservation Districts and their partners help farmers try a number of conservation practices by purchasing equipment and making it available to rent. Some districts offer no-till drills, PVC pond pipe systems and repair parts, as well as geotextile fabric for agricultural and road use. To see what equipment is available in your conservation district, click here. 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE OFFERS SUPPORT The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 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.