iStock photo
December 14, 2023
www.gfb.org
Vol. 5 No. 23
GEORGIA FARM BUREAU MEMBERS “DIG IN” AT 86TH ANNUAL CONVENTION Some 1,411 Georgia farmers and agribusiness leaders from across the state met on Jekyll Island Dec. 3-5 for the 86th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Convention. The three-day event included a trade show, awards presentations and educational sessions that briefed farmers on policy and production issues affecting Georgia’s major commodities. Jekyll Island Authority Executive Director Mark Williams welcomed convention guests at the start of the general session on Dec. 4. GFB President Tom McCall delivered his annual address and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper gave an overview of what the Georgia Department of Agriculture has accomplished during his first year in office. Motivational speaker Matt Lohr encouraged members of Georgia’s agriculture community to create a lasting legacy that positively impacts others. Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, both in Atlanta due to a special session of the Georgia General Assembly, provided video messages to GFB members. The convention’s “Diggin’ In ” theme referenced how GFB has given Georgia farmers a united voice in the legislative halls of Atlanta and Washington, D.C., since it began in 1937, and gave GFB members a chance to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills with a series of speakers. Convention events also highlighted the leadership development and ag awareness programs the organization’s 158-chapter offices and volunteer members conduct statewide to prepare the next generation of ag leaders and connect with consumers. McCall highlights GFB’s legislative work, announces intent to seek re-election GFB President Tom McCall celebrated the organization’s successes in 2023 during his annual address. McCall highlighted GFB legislative achievements during the past year and issues the organization is addressing. Legislative successes included influencing the increased truck weight variance for agricultural and forestry products up to 88,000 pounds and helping to establish the Georgia Ag Conservation Easement Program, which will provide state funds to preserve farmland from development. “No matter what circumstances we face, resilience and perseverance are characteristics that -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 23 Continued from previous page make farmers who they are,” McCall said. “My hope is that you will keep that attitude of diggin’ in top of mind when you think about how you can help Farm Bureau remain the voice of agriculture in our great state.” He said GFB is also working to address deer crop damage, fighting for reasonable H-2A labor provisions, protecting private property rights and access to water, pushing back against burdensome EPA regulations, protecting funding for natural disaster assistance and fighting unfair trade impacts from cheap imports. McCall pointed out that GFB hasn’t wavered from its founding purpose 86 years ago to provide leadership and assistance to farmers to ensure agriculture is a thriving business. “As a membership organization, our members are our mission. They are the reason we were founded, and they’ll be the reason why we have a sustainable future,” he said. McCall, who is beginning the second year of his second, two-year term, announced that he plans to run for re-election in 2024. “We have new fields to sow, challenges to overcome and victories to be won. That is why today, with humility and dedication, I am announcing my intention to run for re-election as president of Georgia Farm Bureau,” McCall said. Kemp: Still pushing initiatives to support farmers and rural Georgia Via video, Gov. Kemp said that in Fiscal Year 2024 the state is making additional funds available to support research positions for citrus, blueberry, peach and peanut projects, saying these studies “are important steps in securing a prosperous future for our farmers.” He also noted the opening of a new dairy processing facility in Lowndes County, as well as the suspension of fuel and diesel taxes during the fall harvest season. “I look forward to working alongside partners like Commissioner Harper and all of you to protect the resources our farming families depend on,” Kemp said. Lt. Gov. Jones thanked the state’s farmers for their work to provide food, clothing and shelter. “I just want to tell you how much I appreciate Farm Bureau and all its members and what you do for the great state of Georgia. Agriculture is the number one industry, and it can't be said enough,” Jones said. “We can't ever forget what our small and large farmers do for our state's economy.” Harper says GDA working hard for Georgia farmers & consumers Georgia’s 17th Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper gave an overview of what the Georgia Department of Agriculture has accomplished since he took office in January. “Your Georgia Department of Agriculture staff works on your behalf day in and day out. We issue over 70 different licenses for Georgians,” said Harper, a seventh-generation farmer from Irwin County. “I can’t think of another state agency that impacts every Georgian every day. Harper discussed the GDA’s efforts to increase consumers’ understanding of agriculture. “Urban Georgians depend on rural Georgia to feed and clothe them. Rural Georgians depend on urban Georgians to buy their products,” Harper said. “We [farmers] have to make others understand how we do what we do and why. Most people think agriculture is cows, sows and plows. We’ve got to educate consumers to realize the technology and innovative production -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 23 Continued from previous page practices farmers are using to grow their food while protecting the soil and water on their farms.” One way the GDA worked to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers this year was by partnering with the Atlanta Braves to promote its Georgia Grown program that spotlights food items grown and processed in the state. Harper said the GDA Food Safety Team passed its third-year audit and that the GDA Meat Inspection Team is doing such a good job that the USDA has asked it to teach inspectors in other states. Since the first non-native Yellow-Legged Hornet was detected in the U.S. in the Savannah area on Aug. 9, Harper said the GDA has worked with the USDA Animal Protection Health Inspection Service and UGA College of Agriculture staff to identify, trap and eradicate five nests of the invasive species. The GDA has prioritized eradicating and limiting the spread of the hornet because it is a predator of pollinators. There are more than 100 different commodities that rely on pollinators to crossfertilize crop plants and make a crop such as watermelons, blueberries, strawberries, corn and many vegetables grown in Georgia, according to the GDA. Harper has said in previous statements that pollinators have about a $450 million impact on Georgia agriculture. The GDA has launched a biweekly newsletter, The Yellow-Legged Ledger, to provide important updates. Sign up for the Yellow-Legged Ledger here. Harper said the GDA is working to address the feral hog population in rural Georgia causing significant crop loss. “We’ve reinstated the feral hog task force and we’re working alongside the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Service to implement trapping and eradication programs,” Harper said. He thanked Farm Bureau for partnering with the GDA on projects and praised GFB’s advocacy and agriculture awareness efforts. “You have a phenomenal team working to promote agriculture, to educate others about it and to represent agriculture in Atlanta and D.C.,” Harper said. Motivational speaker Lohr gives tips for leaving a positive legacy While delivering the GFB annual convention keynote speech, fifth-generation farmer, father and agriculture advocate Matt Lohr encouraged members of Georgia’s ag community to create a lasting legacy for agriculture that positively impacts others by making their voice heard. Through the years, Lohr has advocated for agriculture in numerous roles which include USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief under former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and now as Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. Lohr encouraged convention attendees to persevere and draw on their faith when tough times come. He discussed the importance of accepting that although life isn’t fair, you can turn negatives into positives by being determined and playing the hands you’ve been dealt wisely. Lastly, Lohr encouraged Farm Bureau staff and volunteers to gladly serve others by loving, growing and serving. “Welcome and greet customers when they come in the door. Bad or good interactions can stay with people for years,” Lohr said. “It’s the little things we do that will make the greatest impact -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 23 Continued from previous page and make a difference in someone’s life to leave a positive legacy.” Lohr and his two children own Valley Pike Farm in the Shenandoah Valley where they produce poultry, beef, sweet corn and soybeans. Williams welcomes GFB members to Jekyll Island Jekyll Island (JI) Authority Executive Director Mark Williams gave a preview of some improvements the authority is making to expand the JI Campground and to improve the golf courses. The authority is adding 56 camping sites and six yurts to the campground, Williams said. “This is the highest volume campground in Georgia’s State Park system,” said Williams, who previously served 14 years as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Williams said the Mercer University Medical School has opened a clinic in JI’s main shopping village on the beach that offers urgent and primary medical care for Jekyll visitors, the island’s 600 permanent residents and area residents. “State legislation mandates that 65% of the island must remain undeveloped, and we’re about maxed out on development” Williams said. He encouraged convention attendees to drive around the island at night to enjoy the Holly Jolly Christmas Light display that JI employees started putting up in July. “We appreciate Georgia Farm Bureau continuing to hold your convention here and look forward to you returning,” Williams said. Stuckey shares leadership tips she’s using to rebuild family business Since buying back her family’s business in 2019, Stephanie Stuckey has utilized leadership lessons she learned from her grandfather to bring back the Stuckey’s brand in what she calls the “Stuckey’s Comeback Journey.” Stephanie shared these leadership lessons while speaking at a lunch to honor county Farm Bureau presidents and office managers at the 2023 GFB Convention, Stephanie discussed why she was inspired to buy the family business back and how she has reinvigorated the brand and product line now offered online, at 65 licensed locations and more than 200 retailers. She is the third generation of her family to run the business her grandfather, W.S. Stuckey Sr. started in 1937 with a pecan stand in Eastman, Ga. Stuckey’s grandmother, Ethel, elevated the humble pecan stand to a roadside destination by making and selling pecan logs at her husband’s request. These and other pecan candies Mrs. Ethel made inspired W.S. Stuckey to create a chain of rest stop stores headquartered in Dodge County. Stuckey’s became the Buc-ees or QuickTrip of its day – a must-stop destination for Americans traveling across the U.S. in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. At its peak, the Georgia-based company had 368 teal-roofed stores in 30-plus states. More than 4,000 billboards beckoned weary travels to take a break from the road to refuel with snacks and souvenir shopping. “The comeback story is universal, and so much of my story that I’ve been sharing [leadership lessons I’ve been learning] is universal,” Stephanie said. Stuckey’s Leadership Lessons 1) Embrace Change When Stuckey’s stores first opened, they were strategically located on major U.S. highways like -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 23 Continued from previous page the Dixie Highway Network, Route 66, and the Lincoln Highway, all which ran through the heart of towns and cities. In 1956, Congress passed and funded legislation to build a network of federal interstates that bypassed downtown business areas. “Change happens. Change is what forces us to get out of our comfort zone and build back better. My grandfather had to accept change was happening and move his stores to survive,” Stephanie said. “My grandfather didn’t just accept change. He embraced it. He made the best of a really hard situation. He built his new interstate stores with a consistent architectural style with those iconic teal roofs. We broke up the monotony of miles and miles of gray cement the interstates created.” 2) Create a Sense of Place & Belonging “Our Stuckey’s stores offered unique items that reflected the location where they were,” Stephanie said. “For example, in a California area that grew dates, the store offered a date shake. Stores in areas where fishing was big sold fishing gear. My grandfather brought Main Street America to the interstate.” 3) Have a Purpose For the Stuckey family, the purpose of their stores was “Every traveler is a friend.” This included African Americans during segregation when there were few Southern restaurants and motels that would serve them. “My grandfather ran the business so that every customer was treated with warmth and appreciation,” Stephanie said. “Stuckey’s was never segregated during the Jim Crowe Era. Stuckey’s was listed in the [annual] Green-Book.” Stephanie said that 30 years after her grandfather died in 1977, when she was running for a Georgia House seat in Metro-Atlanta, a prominent African American pastor endorsed her because her grandfather had served African Americans during segregation. “I share this story to illustrate that your purpose will live on for decades after you’re gone. Treating people with respect and kindness is the “secret sauce,” Stephanie said. Restoring the Stuckey’s legacy Stephanie – a former member of the Georgia House for 14 years and an environmental lawyer hadn’t planned on buying the family business. “I was minding my own business saving the environment, and I get the unexpected opportunity to buy my family’s business,” she recalled. “The business was six figures in debt and all but 12 of the 368 stores were completely shuttered.” She recalled going to her father, Billy, to get his blessing for her endeavor. He gave her his blessing, but it came with a strong dose of reality. “‘You’ve never even run a lemonade stand. What makes you think you can run Stuckey’s,’” Stephanie recalled her father asking. Her dad’s response didn’t deter her. “It’s those moments when people tell you that you can’t do something that make you want to do it,” Stephanie said. After purchasing the company, Stephanie and a friend began visiting the remaining stores. One store had a hole in the roof and “looked awful.” She asked a man standing in line to make a purchase why he was there at a rundown store to which he replied, “Maybe Stuckey’s has seen better days, but I still remember what a special place it was as a kid.” -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 23 Continued from previous page When her grandfather was running Stuckey’s, the business bought Georgia pecans. “We always sold pecan products sourced direct from local farmers in Georgia,” Stephanie said. “When I bought the company, we were getting our nuts from Mexico.” Stephanie has gone back to the company’s roots and is once again using only Georgia-grown pecans to make her products. She’s partnered with R.G. Lamar from Hawkinsville to source pecans and has a candy factory in Wrens, Ga., that makes and distributes Stuckey’s candy and nuts. “All of our products are sourced 100 percent with pecans grown in Georgia,” Stephanie said. “I’m keeping the lessons I learned from my grandfather to bring back our brand.” GEORGIA FARM BUREAU ELECTS 2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS GFB President McCall continues serving second term as GFB president Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) voting delegates elected the organization’s 2024 board of directors Dec. 5 during the 86th Annual GFB Convention held on Jekyll Island. GFB President Tom McCall begins the second year of his second, two-year term. He was first elected in 2020. McCall and his family grow a variety of grain crops, sweet corn, hay and straw along with beef cattle, hogs and sheep on their farm in Fortsonia in Elbert County. He and his wife, Jane, have two adult living children: Al (daughter-in-law Rachel) and Katie M. Archer (son-inlaw Bristol), two grandsons and one granddaughter. Their oldest son, Bud, died in 2000. The McCalls are of the Methodist faith. McCall has been a Farm Bureau member since 1978. His first leadership role with Farm Bureau was serving as the chairman of the Elbert County Farm Bureau (ECFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee. He represented GFB’s 2nd District on the GFB YF&R Committee in 1981-82 and chaired the state committee in 1982. McCall represented GFB’s 2nd District on the GFB Board of Directors from 1984-1996. He also served as ECFB president for several years. McCall served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 26 years from Jan. 9, 1995, when he was sworn into office, until he retired from the legislature at the end of his 2020 term. As a state representative, McCall represented Georgia’s House Dist. 33, which at the time included Elbert and Lincoln counties and portions of Madison, Wilkes and Columbia counties. McCall chaired the Georgia House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee from January 2005-2020. GFB South Georgia VP Johnson redesignated GFB 1st vice president GFB voting delegates redesignated GFB South Georgia Vice President Daniel Johnson of Pierce County as the organization’s 1st vice president from among the organization’s three regional vice presidents, a position he has held since 2021. The GFB first vice president would be tapped to lead the organization should the president be unable to serve. Daniel begins the second year of his third, three-year term representing GFB’s South Georgia region that consists of 53-counties in the southern third of the state. Johnson, who grows tobacco, corn, cotton and peanuts, previously represented the organization’s 10th District on the GFB Board of Directors from 2006-2016. He is vice president of Pierce County Farm Bureau and previously served as PCFB president for 25 years. Johnson chairs the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Tobacco. He and his wife, Patricia, -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 23 Continued from previous page have four children and three grandchildren. Sims re-elected GFB North Georgia vice president GFB members in the organization’s north region re-elected Bernard Sims of Catoosa County to his sixth, three-year term as the GFB North Georgia vice president. Sims was first elected to the position in 2008. The GFB North Georgia Region includes 49 county Farm Bureaus in the upper third of Georgia. Sims serves as the Catoosa County Farm Bureau president, a position he has held since 1979. Sims and his wife, Janet, grow turf grass, small grains and hay and raise cattle. The Sims have two surviving adult children and eight grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. They are members of Burning Bush Baptist Church. Caldwell continues serving as GFB Middle Georgia vice president Ralph Caldwell of Heard County begins the third year of his three-year term as GFB Middle Georgia vice president, which members in the organization’s Middle Georgia Region elected him to in 2021. The GFB Middle Georgia Region includes 56 county Farm Bureaus in the middle third of Georgia stretching from the Alabama line to the South Carolina line. Caldwell and his wife, Kim, raise poultry and cattle while growing corn and soybeans. The couple’s son, Colton, who is married to Delayna, helps on the farm when he isn’t at his law practice. Caldwell, a preacher for more than 30 years, is currently serving as a fill-in pastor for area churches. Caldwell began serving as a Heard County Farm Bureau director in 1990 and has served as the HCFB president since 2003. He served on the GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee from 1992-1994. GFB members in the organization’s north region re-elected Bernard Sims of Catoosa County to his sixth, three-year term as the GFB North Georgia vice president. Sims was first elected to the position in 2008. The following were reelected without opposition to serve two-year terms on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors: Bill Bryan of Chattooga County, 1st District; Gilbert Barrett of Habersham County, 2nd District; Brad Marks of Newton County, 3rd District; Russ Wilburn of Barrow County, 4th District; Leighton Cooley of Crawford County, 5th District; James Malone of Laurens County, 6th District; Gary Bell of Evans County, 7th District; Scotty Raines of Turner County, 8th District; Paul Shirah of Mitchell County, 9th District and David Lee of Bacon County, 10th District. GFB directors beginning the second year of the two-year terms they were elected to in 2022 are: Wesley Hall of Forsyth County, 1st District; Russ Moon of Madison County, 2nd District; Nora Goodman of Paulding County, 3rd District; Skeetter McCorkle of McDuffie County, 4th District; Matt Bottoms of Pike County, 5th District; James Emory Tate of Jeff Davis County, 6th District; Ben Boyd of Screven County, 7th District; Don Wood of Wilcox County, 8th District; Lucius Adkins of Baker County, 9th District; and Lamar Vickers of Berrien County, 10th District. Cleve Jackson of Floyd County was named chairman of the GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 23 Continued from previous page Committee. Stephanie Branch of Rabun County was selected to chair the GFB Women’s Leadership Committee. Each will serve a one-year term as committee chairmen and will sit on the GFB Board of Directors. Appointed officers of the GFB Board of Directors include General Counsel Duke Groover, Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Treasurer David Jolley, Chief Administrative Officer Jeffrey Harvey, Corporate Secretary & Senior Counsel Jeanna Fennell, and Assistant Corporate Treasurer Rachel Mosely. Delegates also voted on policy that will direct the organization’s stance on legislative issues pertaining to agriculture in the coming year. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU PRESENTS STATE AWARDS In ceremonies during the 86th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Convention, the organization announced the recipients of its Rewarding Excellence in Ag Program (REAP), as well as honoring 10 Volunteers of the Year and presenting the Ag In The Classroom Teacher of the Year Award. REAP honors county chapters for activities they did in five program areas: organization/membership, advocacy, leadership development, education, and outreach between Sept. 1, 2022, and Aug. 31, 2023. The REAP Awards are divided into three tiers, with tier winners in three membership categories. The county winners in the top tier, HARVESTER, are: Small Farm Bureau counties – Bacon (President David Lee, Office Manager Jeanne Taylor), Crawford (President Edward Harris), Dooly (President Teel Warbington, Office Manager Angela Barton), Turner (President Ross Kendrick, Office Manager Karen McCurdy) and Worth (President Ronald Sumner, Office Manager Connie Melton; Medium Farm Bureau counties – Banks (President Jimmy Morrison, Office Manager Julie Jackson), Berrien (President Lamar Vickers, Office Manager Vanna Boykin), Clarke (President Dale Wood, Office Manager Katy Seagraves), Dawson (President Wayne Bennett, Office Manager Tammy Wood) and Harris (President Gilbert Andrews, Office Manager Linda Luttrell); Large Farm Bureau counties – Carroll (President Doug Smith, Office Manager Jennifer Dixson), Cherokee (President William Grizzle, Office Manager Rhonda Stargel), Effingham (President Stuart Exley, Office Manager Theresa Peavey), McDuffie (President Mark Rodgers, Office Manager Kim-Cora Kay) and Walker (President Mike Bunn, Office Manager Kyla Compton). Each Harvester County received a plaque & $1,500. Each county president received an embroidered jacket, and each county office manager received a $750 gift card. The county winners in the second tier, PLANTER, are: Small Farm Bureau counties – Crisp (President Kenny Sheffield, Office Manager Macey Dennard), Marion (President Ray Rustin, Office Manager Brianna Weber), Taliaferro (President Tucker West, Office Manager Melanie Finney),Treutlen (President Kim Thompson) and Warren (President Tammy Cheely, Office Manager Lisa Smith); Medium Farm Bureau counties – Bryan (President Shaun Page, Office Manager Brianna -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 23 Continued from previous page Oglesby),Greene (President Dene Channell, Office Manager Shirley Duvall), Jeff Davis (President James Emory Tate, Office Manager Regina Barton), Polk (President James Casey, Office Manager Sue Cuzzort), and Screven (President Joe Boddiford, Office Manager Beth Reddick); Large Farm Bureau counties – Coffee (President Derek Pridgen, Office Manager Carla Palmer),Colquitt (President Stanley Bass, Office Manager Greta Collins), Elbert (President Mandy Williams, Office Manager Haley Oakley), Franklin (President Michael Thomason, Office Manager Rebecca Whitfield) and Henry (Outgoing President Ross McQueen, Office Manager Jean Dykes); Each Planter County will receive a plaque. Each county president will receive an embroidered vest, and each county office manager will receive a $500 gift card. The winners in the third tier, CULTIVATOR, are: Small Farm Bureau Counties – Ben Hill (President Glenn Stokes, Office Manager Denise Coleman), Jasper (President Scotty Dumas, Office Manager Loretha Gage), Long (President Manuel Sneed, Office Manager Margaret Bess), Putnam (Outgoing President Jesse Patrick, Office Manager Marjorie Hanson), and Upson (President Marcus South, Office Manager Judy Warren); Medium Farm Bureau Counties – Decatur (President Judson Hornsby, Office Manager Lisa Green), Dougherty (President Laney Wooten, Office Manager Cindy Drew), Floyd (President Carey Harris, Office Manager Kelli Shaw), Monroe (outgoing President Clete Sanders, Office Manager Sandi Williams), and Toombs (President Chris Hopkins, Office Manager Shelby Galbreath); Large Farm Bureau counties – Barrow (President Russ Wilburn, Office Manager Ashley Lowery), Habersham (President Chip Brooks), Haralson (President Jack Williams, Office Manager Kim Hindmon), Madison (President Russ Moon, Office Manager Lauren Lord), and Newton (President Chuck Berry, Office Manager Mary Corley). Each Cultivator County received a plaque. Each county president received an embroidered shirt, and each county office manager received a $300 gift card. Samantha “Sam” Camp of Mount Zion Elementary School in Carroll County was presented Georgia Farm Bureau's Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom 2023 Teacher of the Year Award. The award is given in recognition of teachers who incorporate agriculture topics into their class curriculum. Camp teaches Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) to kindergarteners through fifth grade. She has been teaching for seven years and wants to ensure that her students understand the importance of farming and growing crops to survive. Her students love going outside, getting their hands dirty and taking care of the animals on the school campus. As the award winner, Camp receives $500 courtesy of Georgia EMC and a trip to the 2024 National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City next June sponsored by the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. GFB also recognized 10 district Volunteers of the Year for extraordinary efforts to promote agriculture in their local communities. The Volunteers of the Year are: 1st District – Frank Wright, Gilmer County; 2nd District – Zach McCann, Banks County; 3rd District – Cam Floyd, Douglas -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 23 Continued from previous page County; 4th District – Christan Rosier, McDuffie County; 5th District – Melissa Mathis, Monroe County; 6th District – Fran Watts, Treutlen County; 7th District – Charlene Morgan, Effingham County; 9th District – John Takash, Dougherty County and 10th District - Peggy Lee, Bacon County. LAURENS COUNTY FARMER WINS GFB HAY CONTEST Laurens County Farm Bureau member Jeff Bacon won the 2023 Georgia Farm Bureau Quality Hay Contest. As the top prize winner in the hay contest, Bacon receives a year’s use of a Vermeer Mid-Size Trailed Mower, with the option to purchase it at a reduced price at the end of the year. The contest analyzed the quality of the hay grown by entrants using the University of Georgia’s Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) testing method, which measures nutrient content and digestibility of the hay. For more about the lab and how the hay is tested visit www.gfb.ag/ugahaylab. GFB sponsors the annual contest to encourage superior hay production in the state. Entered samples are required to have nitrate levels below 4,500 parts per million and moisture content of 18% or less to be eligible for contest prizes. The winners were announced on Dec. 4 during the Georgia Farm Bureau Convention on Jekyll Island. Bacon’s sample of Coastal Bermuda hay achieved an RFQ score of 163. The contest drew 47 entries and the average RFQ score for all entries was 144. Garren Hall of Franklin County took second place with an RFQ score of 155. Second prize was a Georgia Farm Bureau cooler provided by Corey Tyre and a $200 gift card and gift bag provided by Georgia Farm Bureau. Guerry Hall, also of Franklin County (Alicia Bermuda), claimed third place with an RFQ score of 148. Third prize, provided by GFB, was a $100 gift card and a gift bag. Michael Powell of Atkinson County (Alicia) was fourth at 143 and receives a $100 gift card and gift bag provided by Georgia Farm Bureau. Tony Petty of Gordon County took fifth place with an RFQ of 152. Fifth prize was a $100 gift card and gift bag provided by Georgia Farm Bureau. USDA WAIVES SOME LOSS REQUIREMENT NOTICES FOR ELAP & LIP To streamline the application process producers must go through to access critical support they can receive from the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) for 2023 natural disasters, the USDA has waived certain notice of loss requirements. The USDA Farm Service Agency is waiving the requirement to submit ELAP or LIP notices within a predetermined number of days for 2023. Instead, producers have the flexibility to submit 2023 notices of loss as soon as possible once losses are realized after a natural disaster event or no later than the established annual program application for payment deadlines for each program. For 2023, FSA is waiving the regulatory requirement for producers who are eligible for ELAP to file a notice of loss with FSA within 30 calendar days from when the loss first became apparent for livestock and farm-raised fish and 15 calendar days for honeybees. Under this waiver, notices -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 23 Continued from previous page of loss are to be completed by the eligible producer and submitted to FSA no later than the annual program application deadline of January 30 following the program year in which the loss occurred. Therefore, producers who incurred ELAP-eligible losses in 2023, will need to submit a notice of loss by Jan. 30, 2024. For 2023, FSA is waiving the regulatory requirement for producers who are eligible for LIP to file a notice of loss within 30 calendar days from when the loss first became apparent. Under this waiver, producers are still required to complete and submit the notice of loss to FSA no later than the annual program payment application date, which is 60 calendar days following the program year in which the loss occurred. The LIP payment application and notice of loss deadline is Feb. 29, 2024, for the 2023 program year. To learn more about Georgia counties that have received USDA disaster designations due to natural disasters in 2023 visit https://gfb.ag/23usdagadisasterdesignations . Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish ELAP provides recovery assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish losses due to an eligible adverse weather or loss condition, including blizzards, disease, water shortages and wildfires. ELAP covers grazing and feed losses, transportation of water and feed to livestock and hauling livestock to grazing acres. ELAP also covers certain mortality losses for livestock including honeybees and farm-raised fish as well as honeybee hive losses. ELAP is designed to address losses not covered by other FSA disaster assistance programs. Livestock Indemnity Program LIP provides disaster recovery assistance to livestock owners and contract growers who experience livestock deaths, in excess of normal mortality caused by eligible loss conditions including adverse weather, disease and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law, including wolves and avian predators. LIP also helps livestock owners who must sell livestock at a reduced price because of an injury from certain loss conditions. 2023 Disapproved Applications FSA county committees are being asked to re-evaluate all 2003 ELAP and LIP notices of loss that were previously disapproved for the 2023 program year due to late filing and re-evaluate the applications to determine if the waiver applies. To receive ELAP and LIP benefits, producers will still need to file an application for payment by the established program deadline for the 2023 program year. Producers who are unsure about the status of their notice of loss or application for payment, should contact their local FSA county office as soon as possible. Supporting Documentation Accurate records and loss documentation are critical following disaster events and are required when filing notices of loss with FSA. Acceptable loss documentation includes: • Documentation of the number, kind, type, and weight range of livestock that have died, supplemented, if possible, by photographs or video records of ownership and losses. • Rendering truck receipts by kind, type, and weight - important to document prior to disposal. • -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 23 Continued from previous page • Beginning inventory supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts. • Documentation from Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Natural Resources, or other sources to substantiate eligible death losses due to an eligible loss condition. • Documentation that livestock were removed from grazing pastures due to an eligible adverse weather or loss condition. • Costs of transporting livestock feed to eligible livestock, such as receipts for equipment rental fees for hay lifts and snow removal. • Feed purchase receipts if feed supplies or grazing pastures are destroyed. • Number of gallons of water transported to livestock due to water shortages. More Information The improvements to ELAP and LIP build on others made since 2021. This includes ELAP benefits for above normal costs for hauling feed and water to livestock and transporting livestock to other grazing acres during a qualifying drought. FSA also expanded eligible livestock under ELAP, LIP, and the Livestock Forage Disaster Assistance Program, and increased the LIP payment rate for beef, beefalo, bison, and dairy animals less than 250 pounds and most recently beef calves over 800 pounds. Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs on farmers.gov. On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet and Loan Assistance Tool can help producers and landowners determine disaster protection and recovery program or loan options. For more information about FSA programs, contact your local USDA Service Center. GEORGIA AEWR PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY $1 PER HOUR IN 2024 On Nov. 22, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released its semi-annual Farm Labor Report (FLR), which is used as basis for setting the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) agricultural producers must pay migrant farm workers hired under the H-2A program. In 2022, the AEWR in Georgia was $13.67; the FLR notes the Georgia AEWR at $14.68 in 2023. The report includes quarterly estimates of the number of hired workers, average hours worked per worker and average hourly wage rates. The report also provides an annual weighted average hourly wage rate for field workers, field and livestock workers combined, and all hired workers, based on the quarterly estimates. “Escalating wages are a major concern for our farmers, who in recent years have dealt with rampant increases in other costs like fertilizer and fuel,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall said. “Our producers already operate on thin financial margins, and another imposed wage increase will put some on really shaky financial ground.” According to a Dec. 4 article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the AEWR increase in 2023 cost Georgia farmers more than $100 million. The field and livestock workers’ combined wage rate for 2023 contained in the FLR becomes the AEWR utilized in the H-2A program in 2024. The rates don’t become official until they are released by the Department of Labor in the Federal Register, usually around mid-December, but the rates published in the Federal Register are typically unchanged from what is published in the -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 13 of 23 Continued from previous page FLR. The fiscal year 2023 U.S. average field and livestock workers’ combined wage rate rose, but the 5.6% fiscal year-over-fiscal year increase outpaced the 4.3% end-of-fiscal year-over-end-of-fiscal year growth in seasonally adjusted average hourly earnings of all private employees. According to American Farm Bureau’s Dec. 4 Market Intel, this increase will continue to put significant pressure on the bottom lines of farmers with significant labor needs. The field and livestock workers’ combined wage rate is the basis for the AEWR, but the AEWR is not a national rate. Rather, it is set by farm labor region as defined in the FLR. There are 15 farm labor regions, plus individual rates for California, Florida and Hawaii. While the 2023 U.S. average field and livestock workers’ combined wage rate was $17.55 per hour, up 93 cents per hour, or 5.6%, from 2022, there are considerable differences between regions. In the Southeast Region, which includes Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, the wage rate rose from $13.67 in 2022 to $14.68 in 2023, an increase of 7.4%. According to U.S. Department of Labor data, Georgia producers hired 37,536 H-2A workers in 2023, ranking the state third behind Florida (51,987) and California (40,758). Georgia’s number accounts for 9% of H-2A workers nationwide and is about 2,000 more than Georgia H-2A workers hired in 2021. SEN. WARNOCK SUPPORTS LEAVING DISASTER ASSITANCE IN FARM BILL On Dec. 8, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture committee, traveled to Albany and met with local growers on a pecan farm damaged by severe storms to highlight his commitment to Georgia farmers. Warnock discussed his efforts to secure federal disaster assistance for farmers impacted by these storms and protect permanent disaster assistance to provide relief following future natural disasters and stronger storms. The Senator toured the farm with Justin Jones, owner of Jones Planting Company and Maryanne Brown, president of the National Pecan Federation. “It’s these hard-working farmers, as well as the families they serve across our state, who I have in mind as I work on the farm bill as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee,” Sen. Warnock said following his visit. “We must protect farmers in the face of severe weather and increasingly disastrous storms. I know communities in South Georgia know too well the damage that Hurricane Idalia caused, for instance. Our climate is changing. Our farmers have been trying to adapt. But they need Congress to adapt to our new reality, too.” Earlier this year Sen. Warnock introduced bipartisan legislation with Republican Sen. Tillis of North Carolina to protect America’s orchardists and growers by reforming the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) – a critical farm safety net program. The Protecting America’s Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act includes provisions that would lower the orchard mortality threshold to be in line with similar programs, expand eligibility to include biennial crops and damage caused by pests, and allow farmers more than 12 months to replant a crop. The bill would also allow farmers to replant with a more resilient variety as long as the cost is less than or equal to the original. “My legislation would help more farmers replant alternative, more resilient trees and bushes -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 14 of 23 Continued from previous page after disasters by expanding eligibility for federal relief. This legislation is good for Georgia’s economy and will help make the agriculture sector more resilient to climate change. I’m going to push to make sure this critical legislation is included in the farm bill.” After Hurricane Idalia, Sen. Warnock secured passage of an amendment securing billions for Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Small Business Administration to address storm damage. In October, Sens.Warnock and Jon Ossoff secured additional funding for USDA disaster recovery in any forthcoming supplemental appropriations request. GJLF EXPO GIVES GEORGIA LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS A CHANCE TO SHINE The 2023 Georgia Junior Livestock Foundation Expo drew exhibitors and animals from multiple Southern states, but it served as another opportunity to compete for Georgia livestock show participants. Close-up might well have been the central theme for the show, which drew approximately 650 exhibitors from six states but was particularly popular with livestock training youth within shouting distance of the Perry facility. “I was really excited when I heard about it,” said Ella Dowd, a senior at Perry High School and a member of the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter (GNFA) Livestock Ambassadors Team. “I thought it was great because I get to sleep in my own bed.” GJLF President Phil Page said livestock exhibitors who cannot travel to other states to participate in the larger shows got their chance at the Expo, which featured nearly 1,400 animals. The show began 12 years ago as the Jackson County Young Farmers Show held at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, where youth showed hogs, Page said. The event outgrew the Gwinnett facility and was moved to Athens. In 2018 the show added cattle. The GJLF took over and moved it to the GNFA last year. The 2023 show, for which Georgia Farm Bureau was a presenting sponsor, marked the first time the event was open to all species – adding goats and sheep divisions. “The response has been fantastic,” Page said. “There’s a lot of options for kids now for shows. There’s actually a show in our local ag facility [in Jackson County], they’ve got 300 head of hogs there this weekend. There’s a big show in Florida. The Mississippi Youth Expo is going on. There are lots of different options for folks to go to, so for us to have the numbers we’ve got, we’re excited.” Competitors traveled to Perry from Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina, in addition to the ones from around Georgia. On Dec. 9, 11-year-old Adah Barkley of Lee County, Georgia, who has been showing animals for three years, stepped into the ring for Market Doe division for goats. “It was really good competition,” Adah said. “Being in the ring, it’s exciting and when I’m out there I’m happy because I’m with the animals and I really love it.” Page said one of the goals the GJLF board had for the development of the Expo was to make it a marquee event that was easy for exhibitors in Georgia to get to. “The goal of our whole board is to create a premier livestock event for all species, that’s right here in town, and make this a destination event, for kids to come from other states where they’ve -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 15 of 23 Continued from previous page got to travel,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have the fairgrounds. This facility is second to none. We’ve got the facility, we’ve got the kids here that need to be highlighted and so if we made that premier event here, we’ll draw people from everywhere.” GNFA Junior Livestock Ambassador James McNeal, who is also from Perry, relished the chance to show his market steer. “I think it’s a really awesome event,” McNeal said early Saturday morning. “I know that it took a lot of hard work and time and effort, but it looks really good so far and I can’t wait to show.” Page said the GJLF board hopes the event will grow to the point where Georgia kids will fill out the field of competitors. Cattle exhibitor Carter Mitchell of Warner Robins is sold. “We try to go to shows close by,” Mitchell said. “Warner Robins to Perry is 20 minutes.” GFB SPONSORS GA MARKET GOAT & LAMB GRAND CHAMPIONS Georgia Farm Bureau supported Georgia’s 4-H and FFA livestock programs by sponsoring the species grand champion prizes for the Georgia Jr. Market Wether, Market Doe and Market Lamb Shows held Oct. 6-8 at the Georgia National Fair. These three shows are part of the Georgia Junior National Livestock Program for Georgia 4-Hers and FFA members. The Ga. Jr. shows for other species are held each February. GFB also sponsored prize premiums for all of the livestock shows at the fair. Market Wether – Levi Roberts, Worth County Worth County 4-Her Levi Roberts won the 2023 Georgia Jr. Market Wether Grand Champion prize of $1,500 Oct. 6 at the Georgia National Fair. Levi is the son of Justin and Jennifer Roberts of Sylvester. He is a second grader at Worth County Primary School, and this was his third year showing goats. Levi won with a Boer goat that he named Tarzan after watching the movie at school. He practiced with his goat in the morning and evening to prepare for the state show, his mom, Jennifer said. Levi’s uncle, Mike Roberts, has been coaching Levi during his morning training sessions that begin at 6:30 a.m. Levi’s family has a history of showing livestock. His dad, Justin, showed pigs and cows. His first cousin, Chase, won multiple Ga. Jr. championships showing market does, wethers and breeding does during his showing career. Levi captured the 2022 Reserve Champion Market Wether award. North Carolina State 4-H Livestock Specialist Brent Jennings judged the Georgia Jr. Market Wether Show. Market Doe –Aubrey Welch, Lincoln County Lincoln County High School FFA member Aubrey Welch exhibited the goat selected as the 2023 Georgia Jr. Market Doe Grand Champion on Oct. 7 and won $1,500. Aubrey, the daughter of John and Nikki Welch, of Lincolnton, has been showing goats for 10 years. She is a junior. Aubrey won with a Boer goat she named Peaches that she describes as being spunky. -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 16 of 23 Continued from previous page “She’s real chill most of the time except today in the ring,” Aubrey said. North Carolina State 4-H Livestock Specialist Brent Jennings, who judged the Georgia Jr. Market Doe Show, looked past Peaches show ring antics and saw the doe’s structure and muscling to pick her as his champion. Aubrey who got Peaches in April, says she practices twice a day. “I practice right when I get home from school and then later in the evening with the family,” Aubrey said. Last year Aubrey captured the 2022 Reserve Champion Market Doe award. Aubrey had a great weekend showing her goats at the 2023 Georgia National Fair. She showed the Reserve Grand Champion Georgia Jr. Market Wether and had the 3rd place wether in that show. “It’s been great. I had a good weekend,” Aubrey said. When asked what she likes most about showing, Aubrey answered, “The friends and people feel like family.” Showing goats has been a family affair for the Welches for years as both Aubrey and her older sister Madie graduated high school. Market Lamb – Laurel Christopher, White County White County High School FFA member Laurel Christopher exhibited the lamb selected as the 2023 Georgia Jr. Market Lamb Grand Champion on Oct. 8 and won $1,000. Laurel, the daughter of Scott and Cam Christopher, of Cleveland, has been showing lambs for 7 years. She is a senior and also shows goats. Laurel won with a black-face cross lamb she named Mr. John after the breeder she got him from. “Honestly we thought the other lamb we had would win, but this one finally came on and decided it wanted to win,” Laurel said. When asked what it takes to exhibit a grand champion, Laurel replied, “You can never work too hard. If you put in the hours [practicing] it will all weigh out in the arena.” Laurel started showing after her ag teacher said she was starting a lamb program. “She said we want you to be in it, and the rest is history,” Laurel said smiling. Laurel said what she enjoys most about showing is “The people. The show community.” Marvin Ensor, who recently retired from Texas A&M Extension Service, judged the lamb show. BALDWIN COUNTY’S JACKSON NAMED GA CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR Jon Jackson, founder of Comfort Farms located in Milledgeville, has been named the 2023 Conservationist of the Year by the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) for his outstanding contributions to natural resources conservation. After completing six deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Jon Jackson left the military and founded Comfort Farms, a 38-acre, 100% regenerative, working farm that helps veterans in crisis. The farm has a focus of growing a variety of vegetables and livestock, and sells goods onsite. In addition, Jackson and Comfort Farms provide educational opportunities that give veterans in need a place to use their skills and energy to fulfill a purpose. Comfort Farms has provided services to several hundred veterans and their families resulting in thousands of visitors. Through funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Comfort -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 17 of 23 Continued from previous page Farms utilizes several practices around the farm which give the workers and community a better understanding of conservation. The farm uses a combination of underground drip irrigation and wobble-head irrigation to improve water efficiency. A well was installed on the farm that provides 100% of its irrigation and water needs. Cover crops are used between crop rows to improve soil health and provide habitat for local pollinators. The use of a hoop house gives a more controlled growing environment and extends the vegetable growing season. Terraces are utilized in the orchard and include wood chips between berms to help with moisture absorption and control water flow. The farm utilizes heavy use fencing to control livestock movement, to help the land recover, and for farm attendants to safely move livestock from one area to another. From the vegetable and livestock production on the farm, Jackson sells several varieties of produce and meats to restaurants, markets, and community members. Jackson also provides educational opportunities and tours on the farm to help participants learn more about soil health, composting, water conservation, and raising livestock. Jackson works to ensure that every veteran who comes through the program will find the strength to do something great again through a structured, friendly, creative work environment that respects diverse ideas and hard work ethic. As a farm and program that was born from despair to help others to now also educating the community and selling fresh produce and meat, Jon Jackson is a true friend of conservation. “In agriculture, our greatest resource is the land, and as farmers, it is our duty to be good stewards of that land for future generations,” noted GACD President Jake Ford. “It’s outstanding to see the spotlight on someone who embodies the commitment to conservation this award was designed to acknowledge all while taking time to mentor and support veterans in his community. We congratulate Jon on this honor and wish him luck as he competes to represent Georgia for the national Friend of Conservation award to be announced soon.” GACD’s Conservationist of the Year award is chosen in conjunction with Georgia’s USDANRCS and recognizes producers who are conducting exemplary conservation work on their land and have demonstrated a strong commitment to soil and water conservation through stewardship, outreach and community interactions. Jon was nominated for this award by the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District. The mission of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve. GEORGIA, ALABAMA SETTLE SUIT OVER WATER FROM CHATTAHOOCHEE On Dec. 12, Govs. Brian Kemp of Georgia and Kay Ivey of Alabama announced that the two states have reached an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that is expected to end a lawsuit brought by Alabama over availability of water from the Chattahoochee River. According to a joint press release, the agreement assures sufficient minimum water flows to both states’ citizens who live and work in the Mid- and Lower Chattahoochee River Basin during -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 18 of 23 Continued from previous page times of drought. Under the agreement, the Corps of Engineers will begin formally considering a first-of-its-kind proposal to operate its dams and reservoirs to achieve minimum water-flow objectives at Columbus, Georgia, and Columbia, Alabama on the Chattahoochee River along the States’ border. The proposal also provides that the Corps would continue to maintain the necessary minimum elevation at Lake Seminole, located in southwest Georgia, approximately twenty miles southwest of Bainbridge. “We are very pleased to see an agreed path forward, settling this decades-long dispute with our neighbors to the west,” Georgia Farm Bureau Public Policy Director Alex Bradford said. “Agriculture depends on long-term certainty like this agreement will provide to plan for the future. This resolution is also critical for agriculture’s consumers and Georgia’s growing population throughout the entire basin. We appreciate the diligent leadership of Governor Kemp and Attorney General Carr navigating these negotiations. This is yet another significant step forward, coupled with the earlier resolution of the lawsuit with Florida and the ongoing work by EPD to responsibly enhance access in the lower Flint, that will ensure the viability of our state’s number one industry for future generations.” Ivey and Kemp both referred to the agreement as a “win-win.” “The Chattahoochee River is the lifeblood of southwest Georgia, and this proposal would give citizens and businesses certainty about the flow of water they need for business and leisure alike,” Kemp said. “Just as significant, adoption of this proposal would end the current issues related to water supply for metro Atlanta at Lake Lanier, which is crucial to the future of our State.” Alabama filed the suit in 2017, challenging the Corps’ operations in the region, including the Corps’ policy allowing Georgia to make water supply withdrawals near Atlanta. Although this specific case was filed in 2017, litigation between the parties over these issues has been in the courts since 1990. “Alabama and Georgia have a lot in common, but we have spent a lot of time — and a lot of money on attorney fees — fighting in court over water,” Ivey said. “This proposal is a big deal for Alabama as the Corps has never before set minimum water-flow objectives in the parts of the Chattahoochee that affect us.” The Corps’ consideration of the proposal will be subject to a public-comment period and environmental review that could last several months. If the Corps adopts the proposal, Alabama will dismiss its appeal in this matter following a one-year review period, and the litigation will end. If the Corps does not adopt the proposal, Alabama’s lawsuit will resume. GFB SEEKS ENTRIES FOR ’24 MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL ART CONTESTS Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is now accepting entries for the 2024 Georgia Farm Bureau Middle School Bookmark and High School Art Contests. Students who submit their artwork have the chance to win some great cash prizes! The GFB Middle School Bookmark Contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students statewide. The 10 GFB district winners of the bookmark contest will receive $100 each and compete for the state prize of $150. County Farm Bureaus may -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 19 of 23 Continued from previous page also offer prizes to their local winners. The GFB High School Art Contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled students in ninth through twelfth grades. The 10 GFB district art contest winners will receive a cash prize of $100. The 10 GFB district art contest winners will compete for the state prize of $250 cash. County Farm Bureaus may also offer prizes to their local winners. Middle school students will be given a blank bookmark and asked to draw a picture that depicts some aspect of Georgia agriculture. Students may use crayons, markers or colored pencils to create their bookmark that illustrates agriculture. High schoolers entering the art contest should draw a scene depicting Georgia agriculture. Artwork submitted in the high school art contest must be on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper and should be created in the colors black, white and gray. Contestants may use a variety of media to create their artwork including graphite, charcoal, pastel, chalk, colored pencil, pen-and-ink, ballpoint pen or mixed media appropriate for printing. Artwork entered in both contests will be judged on 1) how well the artwork represents modern agriculture found in the artist’s county or Georgia and 2) artistic merit. Students may enter either contest in the county in which they live or attend school but not both counties. To enter either contest, students or teachers should contact their county Farm Bureau for an official entry form and complete contest rules and to learn the county’s February deadline for entering the contests. County Farm Bureaus must submit their entries to Georgia Farm Bureau for the state contest by March 8. Entries are limited to one per person in both contests. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Previous state winners are not eligible for either contest. Contact your county Farm Bureau to learn its February deadline for entering the contests. County Farm Bureaus must submit their entries to Georgia Farm Bureau for the state contest by March 8. Entries are limited to one per person in both contests. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Previous state winners are not eligible for either contest. All artwork submitted in both contests must be original and becomes the property of Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) once submitted. GFB may use artwork from both contests on various products distributed or sold by the organization to promote agriculture. Between the crops Georgia farmers grow and the jobs agriculture creates to harvest, process and transport these crops, agriculture contributed $73.2 billion to Georgia’s economy in 2021, according to the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. For more information about the contests contact your county Farm Bureau office or visit www.gfb.ag/contests . Students and teachers may visit https://gfb.ag/video to view a video about Georgia agriculture and gfb.ag/UGA23agsnapshots to access info about Georgia agriculture.
GFB Field Notes page 20 of 23 RMA LIVESTOCK ROADSHOW Dec. 19 Grady County Agri-Center noon – 2 p.m. Cairo To help livestock producers know what insurance resources are out there and answer any questions, the USDA’s Risk Management Agency is hosting this workshop for producers to learn about updates and improvements to several livestock risk management products. The improvements and expansions are based on feedback from America’s livestock producers. Topics include: Annual Forage; Dairy Revenue Protection; Livestock Gross Margin; Livestock Risk Protection; Pasture, Rangeland and Forage and Weaned Calf Risk Protection. The Grady County Agri-Center is located at 65 11th Ave NE in Cairo. For more information, contact Davina Lee in the Valdosta regional office at rsoga@usda.gov. 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. 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 DAIRY CONFERENCE Jan. 15-17, 2024 Marriott Savannah Riverfront Savannah The Georgia Dairy Conference is the Southeast's premier dairy management conference featuring 16 guest speakers, the region's largest dairy trade show, and a pre-conference symposium highlighting the latest innovations in dairy production. The full conference agenda, registration information, and more can be found at the conference website www.gadairyconference.com.
GFB Field Notes page 21 of 23 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. 2024 SOUTHEAST GEORGIA MASTER CATTLEMAN PROGRAM Jan. 22 – March 4, 2024 Toombs County Extension Mondays, 6 p.m. Lyons This educational series meets on Mondays and will cover nutrition management, forage management, beef cattle economics, external parasites, fencing & facilities, evaluation & selection, Beef Quality Assurance, herd health and reproduction. The Toombs County Extension office is located at 300 Bulldog Rd., Lyons, GA 30436. Registration to attend in person is $90 and includes a notebook, hat, snacks and meals at the first and last meetings. Registration to attend via Zoom s $20. Click here to register. (https://estore.uga.edu/C27063_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=547&SINGLESTORE=t rue) UGA AG FORECAST Jan. 26, 2024 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. Tifton This annual seminar shares the latest research and information from UGA faculty to help farmers and agribusinesses in Georgia's No. 1 industry. For more information, visit agforecast.caes.uga.edu. 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.
GFB Field Notes page 22 of 23 GA COTTON COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING/UGA COTTON WORKSHOP Jan. 31,2024 UGA Tifton Conference Center 7:30 a.m.-4p.m. Tifton This annual meeting is held in conjunction with the UGA Cotton Production Workshop conducted by the UGA Research & Extension Cotton Team. The UGA Cotton Production Workshop will feature breakout sessions where attendees will learn the latest technical production strategies from the researchers whose projects are funded by the Commission’s research program. The Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting will follow the breakout sessions and feature speakers from several industry organizations. The program speakers are Micah Brown, National Ag Law Center attorney; Bruce Atherley, Cotton Council International executive director; & Jim Davis, Southern Cotton Growers CEO There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is requested to help with meal plans. For more information visit https://georgiacottoncommission.org/ or call 229-386-3416. 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.
GFB Field Notes page 23 of 23 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.