December 1, 2021
www.gfb.org
Vol. 3 No. 25
GFB MEMBERS TO RECONNECT AT ANNUAL CONVENTION Gov. Kemp, Commissioner Black to speak Dec. 6 Georgia Farm Bureau members will gather on Jekyll Island Dec. 5-7 for the organization’s 84th annual convention. Gov. Brian Kemp, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Dist. 1) and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black will address convention attendees during the general session on Dec. 6 between 8:30 a.m. and noon. “Last year the COVID pandemic prevented Farm Bureau from holding its traditional convention, so we’re excited to return to Jekyll for our annual meeting and reconnect with our members in person, in one place,” GFB President Tom McCall said. “Our members will enjoy catching up with friends, hearing updates on ag issues and determining the position our organization takes on issues impacting their farms and rural communities. We’re honored that Gov. Kemp, Congressman Buddy Carter and Commissioner Gary Black are coming to speak to us. Addressing our members shows they appreciate the $70.1 billion economic impact agriculture and related businesses have on Georgia’s economy.” Convention activities begin at 10 a.m. on Dec. 5 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Sunday events include the opening of a trade show with more than 55 exhibitors representing Georgia agricultural organizations, agencies and businesses. During the Celebrating Ag Leaders event from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., GFB will recognize agricultural advocacy and promotion efforts by county Farm Bureaus and a teacher who has included agriculture in her lessons through the Ag in the Classroom program. The first day of the convention will close with a memorial service at 4:15 p.m. On Dec. 6, the general session runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Rep. Carter will offer greetings to GFB members from his coastal district where the convention is being held. GFB President Tom McCall, who was elected last year, will deliver his first annual address. Agriculture Commissioner Black will provide an update on Georgia Department of Agriculture activities, and Gov. Kemp will offer remarks. During the general session, GFB will present its state legislative committee award and will present the McKemie Awards to three outstanding county Farm Bureaus for their overall programs. The GFB office manager of the year and two runners-up will be honored during an invitation event earlier that morning. -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 7 Continued from previous page On Dec. 6, the convention trade show opens at 9 a.m. and closes at noon. Monday afternoon, a series of 12 commodity meetings will be held 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 include: forest carbon markets, food safety for you-pick and commercial farms; on-farm sale & processing of meat; Georgia’s animal disease program; working with local governments, and the 2023 farm bill. Speakers will also give presentations addressing aquaculture, cotton, dairy, hay, pecan, pollinator, poultry, tobacco, and water issues. On Dec. 7, 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 2022. Delegates will also elect the 2022 GFB Board of Directors. GA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE OFFERS $65,000 IN AG SCHOLARSHIPS The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture continues to invest in students pursuing careers in agriculture or a related field. For 2022, the foundation is offering a total of $65,000 in scholarships for graduating high school seniors, rising college juniors and seniors, technical college students and UGA College of Veterinary Medicine students specializing in large/food animals. Visit www.gafoundationag.org/scholarships for a list of eligible majors and schools for each scholarship category and to apply. Applications must be submitted online only by March 1, 2022. Transcripts and letters of recommendation must be uploaded with the application. The four scholarship categories the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture offers are: • Scholarship for Agriculture - Ten scholarships of $3,000 are available for graduating high school seniors. The top three ranking applicants will be eligible for an additional $1,000 bonus. Applicants must: be a Georgia resident, during the 2022-23 academic year; be enrolled in a unit of The University System of Georgia, Berry College, Emmanuel College or Georgia accredited college/university with an ag program; pursue an undergraduate degree in agricultural & environmental sciences, family & consumer sciences or a related ag field; have a minimum 3.0 GPA their first semester of college and be engaged in high school leadership activities. • Technical College Scholarship for Agriculture - Four scholarships of $1,500 are available. Applicants must: be a Georgia resident; be enrolled in a Georgia accredited technical college during the 2022-23 academic year; majoring in an area of study related to agriculture and have a minimum 2.8 GPA. • Rising College Jr./Sr. Scholarship for Agriculture - eight scholarships of $2,000 are available. Applicants must: be a Georgia resident majoring in agricultural & environmental sciences, family & consumer sciences or a related ag field; be a sophomore or junior with at least two semesters remaining to receive an undergraduate degree at a unit of The University System of Georgia, Berry College, Emmanuel College or any Georgia accredited college/university with an ag program; be engaged in college leadership activities and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. • UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship - Two scholarships of $5,000 are available. Applicants must: be a Georgia resident; be a current University of Georgia veterinary medicine student specializing in large animal/food animal practice and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information, contact Lily Baucom at info@GaFoundationAg.org or 478-405-3461.
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 7 NOMINATION MEETINGS SET TO FILL GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION POSTS Nomination meetings to fill three positions on the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) Board of Directors will be held Dec. 20 and 21 in Ocilla, Cochran and Americus. The Georgia Farm Bureau Federation will conduct the meetings, during which peanut producers will nominate peers to represent the Peanut Commission’s Districts 2, 4 and 5. The terms of the commission members who currently represent these districts expire Dec. 31. “I encourage peanut growers in these districts to attend the meeting for their district and participate in the nomination process for these Georgia Peanut Commission positions,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall said. “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 or she is nominated. The GPC District 5 nomination meeting will be held on Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. at the Sumter County Farm Bureau Office located at 141 Highway 27 East, Americus, Georgia. Donald Chase of Macon County is the district incumbent. Counties in District 5 include Chattahoochee, Clay, Lee, Macon, Marion, Peach, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Terrell and Webster. The GPC District 2 nomination meeting will be held on Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. at the Irwin County Farm Bureau office located at 495 Lax Highway, Ocilla, Georgia. Armond Morris is the incumbent in the district. Counties in District 2 include Atkinson, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth. The GPC District 4 nomination meeting will be held on Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. at the Bleckley County Farm Bureau Office located at 157 West Dykes St., Cochran, Georgia. Rodney Dawson of Pulaski County is the District 4 incumbent. Counties in District 4 include Bleckley, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Laurens, Pulaski, Telfair, Twiggs, Wheeler, Wilcox and Wilkinson. Any peanut producer may be nominated or make nominations at the meeting for the peanut district in which he or she lives. Incumbents are eligible for renomination. If more than one person is nominated, an election will be conducted by mail ballot at a date to be announced. 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 board. If only one person qualifies for the position, no election is required and the nominated person automatically becomes a member of the Georgia Peanut Commission Board. Commission members serve terms of three years. For more information about the nomination meetings or process, please contact Raynor Churchwell at 1-800-342-1196 or Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690.
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 7 52nd ANNUAL UGA BULL TEST SALE Dec. 3 Northwest Georgia Livestock Pavilion 12:30 p.m. Calhoun This annual sale will feature 80 performance-tested bulls from Angus, Black Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental and Simangus breeds. All bulls are genomic-enhanced and parentage-verified. The auction will be broadcast online at www.liveauctions.tv. For catalog and sale information, contact Jason Duggin at jduggin@uga or 706-624-1403. U.S. COTTON TRUST PROTOCOL ENROLLMENT WEBINARS Dec. 9 9 a.m. Dec. 14 9 a.m. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will present six live enrollment webinars focusing on how the program helps U.S. cotton producers meet the changing demands from their end customer while also better documenting/verifying their on-farm sustainability practices and advances. Enrollment for the 2021 crop is open. For producers not yet participating, the webinars will provide an opportunity to learn about program benefits and ask questions. Speakers include Trust Protocol representatives and producer members. Producers can register at https://trustuscotton.org/enrollment-webinar-live-sessions/. For more information, visit www.TrustUSCotton.org. RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY SWEET CORN LISTENING SESSION Dec. 17 Virtual session via Zoom Corn producers are invited to participate in a listening session with Agralytica, which is working under contract for USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Agralytica wants feedback about a potential production and revenue history (PRH) policy for fresh market sweet corn. The sessions are for fresh market sweet corn growers in areas covered by the Fresh Market Sweet Corn Dollar Plan of Insurance, as well as industry members and regional insurance representatives. For more information contact Andre Williamson, President of Agralytica, with any questions regarding the content of this invitation or to provide additional feedback regarding production and revenue history coverage for fresh market sweet corn. Williamson may be reached at 240-432-0308 or awilliamson@agralytica.com. If you email, please include “Sweet corn PRH insurance” as your subject line. Public comments will be accepted by phone or email until Dec. 31. To participate in the Zoom session, visit https://bit.ly/3n0E1Li. If prompted for a passcode, enter “corn”. GACD 2022 SCHOLARSHIPS Dec. 31 deadline to apply The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts is now accepting scholarship and award applications. To encourage study and careers in soil and water conservation related fields, GACD administers one $1,000 scholarship each year. The scholarship is given to high school, undergraduate or graduate students majoring in, or intending to major in, a soil and water conservation related area. Applications are due Dec. 31. To apply, click here. (https://www.gacd.us/scholarships)
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 7 2022 SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Jan. 5, 2022 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Georgia/Florida Soybean Association and The Georgia Soybean Commodity Commission invites soybean and small grain producers, users and buyers to this event, which will provide upto-date marketing projections and the newest production techniques, as well as remarks from University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences leaders. Attendees are invited to visit with our exhibitors who will showcase the latest in new varieties, pest control, and products. To register, call 706-542-3793. The registration is $20 at the door and $10 in advance. 2022 SE REGIONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 6-9 Savannah International Trade & Convention Center Savannah The South’s premier fruit and vegetable show celebrates 20 years with its collection of 15 commodity and agribusiness sessions, as well educational seminars and the always-popular trade show. Special sessions include Getting Started with Blackberries, Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training and Social Media Boot Camp. Georgia Farm Bureau is among the sponsors for the educational sessions. For more information or to register, click here. (https://seregionalconference.org/) 103rd AMERICAN FARM BUREAU CONVENTION Jan. 7-12, 2022 Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta If you want the inside scoop when it comes to policies and perspectives that will affect your farm or agribusiness in 2022, don’t miss the 103rd consecutive American Farm Bureau Convention. This is your opportunity to help set the agenda for the leading voice of agriculture in Washington, D.C., and so much more. Participate in educational workshops to advance your leadership skills, expand your business acumen, and gain insight into the trends and realities impacting food production. Witness cutting-edge innovation in agriculture, hear from powerful speakers, and explore the trade show to build a stronger network, shop featured products, and idea-share with other state and county Farm Bureaus. For more information, visit https://annualconvention.fb.org/. CLIMATE ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY SURVEY If you are a cattle or cotton farmer in Georgia, please consider completing a survey being conducted by a University of Georgia graduate student regarding farmers’ willingness to adopt various technology for your farm as well as your perceptions on climate change. It should take just 20 minutes to complete, and the information collected goes to help the graduate student \complete her degree. To participate in the survey, please visit https://gfb.ag/UGAclimatetechsurvey. For more information on the survey contact Julian Worley at julian.worley@uga.edu. Participants are asked to respond by Jan. 15, 2022.
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 7 2022 GEORGIA DAIRY CONFERENCE Jan. 17-19, 2022 Savannah Marriott Riverfront Savannah Online registration is now open for the 2022 GA Dairy Conference! This event is a “must attend” for the Southeast dairy sector. It provides companies the option to network with dairy producers and industry leaders, while extending a company’s brand with several sponsorship opportunities. Dairymen from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia have attended this conference in the past. Registration is free for Georgia dairy farmers. For more information or to register, visit www.gadairyconference.com/. WINTERGREEN 2022 Jan. 18-20 Gas South Convention Center Duluth Georgia’s premier multi-day trade show and conference for the green industry, Wintergreen boasts more than 250 exhibitors and thousands of attendees each year. The event offers three days of industry educational sessions and updates to keep producers ahead of the competition. The Gas South Convention Center is located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. For more information, visit www.mywintergreen.com. EXECUTIVE FARM MANAGEMENT TRAINING Jan. 18-21 Pawley’s Island, S.C. Jan. 31-Feb. 3 Raleigh, N.C. Feb. 20-23 Savannah The Executive Farm Management (EFM) program is offered by North Carolina State Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson Cooperative Extension, East Carolina University College of Business and UGA Cooperative Extension. The 2022 program will consist of 9 days of content and curriculum taught across 3 sessions in 3 states over the course of 6 weeks. EFM is designed to increase the management competencies and profitability of large farms by utilizing a holistic operation-focused curriculum. Returning participant fee is $5,500. Discounts apply for extra participants from the same farm. For more information or to register, visit https://execfarmmgmt.ces.ncsu.edu/2022-program-info/, or contact EFM Director Blake Broan (919.515.4536 or abbbrown@ncsu.edu) or Margaret Huffman (919.515.4498 or mmhuffm2@ncsu.edu. 2022 GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 19-20, 2022 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton To better accommodate social distancing, this always-popular show will be open for two days. 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 on the show, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission office at 229-386-3470 or visit www.gapeanuts.com. Potential exhibitors can click here for the exhibitor packet.
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 7 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.