April 17, 2019
www.gfb.org
Vol. 37 No. 8
AG CENSUS RESULTS SHOW SIZE OF GA FARMS SHIFTED The 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture shows the biggest change in Georgia agriculture since 2012 has been a shift in the size of farms. Census results the USDA released April 11 show Georgia has 42,439 farms. Of these, 3,540 farms had acreage changes between 2017 and the last ag census of 2012. Georgia’s number of small (10-179 acres) and mid-size (180-999 acres) farms decreased while micro farms (1 to 9 acres) showed a significant increase and large farms (1,000 acres or more) showed a slight increase. The census, conducted every five years by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, indicates more Georgians were farming in 2017 than in 2012 when the last ag census was taken. The number of Georgia farms increased from 42,257 in 2012 to 42,439 in 2017. That’s an increase of 0.4% or 182 farms. Acres of land farmed in Georgia increased from 9.6 million acres in 2012 to 9.95 million acres in 2017. That’s an acreage increase of 3.5% (up 332,894 acres). Georgia’s average farm size increased from 228 acres in 2012 to 235 acres in 2017, up 3.1%. But, put in a historical perspective, the latest census numbers show Georgia has lost 6,904 farms since the 1997 ag census and 1.35 million acres of land being farmed. Georgia had 49,343 farms in 1997 and 11.26 million acres of land being farmed. To put the census numbers in context, you also need to know the USDA defines a farm as any place from which $1,000 or more of ag products were produced and sold or normally would have been sold in a census year. The national census shows the U.S. had 3.4 million producers in 2017 and 2 million farms. There were 3.18 million producers nationwide in 2012 and 2.1 million farms. Other Georgia highlights of the 2017 census: • The number of producers associated with Georgia’s farms totaled 68,087, up from 61,053 (the 2017 census allowed farms to report multiple producers involved with decision making up to 5 producers/farm) • The market value of ag products sold by Georgia farms was $9.6 billion, up from $9.3 billion in 2012 and $5.2 billion in 1997 • Georgia continues to rank #1 in the U.S. for market value of poultry & eggs sold. Georgia has 5,271 poultry farms that produced $5.4 billion. Georgia produced 11% of the $49.2 billion of -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 2 of 20 Continued from previous page poultry products sold in the U.S. • Georgia’s farming population is 66% male, 34% female. • The average age of Georgia farmers is 57.9 years, up from 57.7 in 2012. • Georgia had 5,721 farmers under the age of 35 in 2017. They made up 8.4% of Georgia’s farmers. • Georgia ranks #2 in the U.S. for its percentage (33%) of producers who have been farming 10 years or less • Georgia has 122 USDA Certified Organic farms with total sales of $29.9 million. Shift in farm size The 2017 census shows Georgia farms 1 to 9 acres in size grew in number from 3,003 in 2012 to 4,520 in 2017. That’s an increase of 1,490 farms in this category. Farms between 10 to 49 acres dropped by 390 farms from 13,830 in 2012 to 13,440 in 2017. The largest decrease in farm size occurred in the 50 to 179-acre range with this category plunging from 14,670 farms in 2012 to 13,480 farms in 2017 for a total decrease of 1,190 farms. Farms between 180 to 499 acres increased by 180 from 6,330 in 2012 to 6,510 in 2017. Farms between 500 to 999 acres decreased by 500 from 2,280 in 2012 to 2,230 in 2017. Farms 1,000 acres or more increased by 150 farms from 2,110 in 2012 to 2,260 in 2017. Farmers by gender In Georgia, 66% of our 68,087 farmers are male (44,839) and 34% are female (23,248). The number of female farmers in Georgia increased 30.8% in the past five years. Nationwide, 64% of all farmers are male while 36% are female. The increase in Georgia female farmers is because the census questionnaire changed the way demographic questions were asked Jaqueline Moore, deputy director of the Southern Region NASS office said. Farms were allowed to report multiple producers and most of the newly reported producers were female. If you’re wondering how the ratio plays out in Georgia’s young producers (age 35 years or less), it’s almost identical to the overall population. of all Among Georgia farmers age 35 years & younger 65% are male (3,717) and 35% (2,004) are female. The average age of Georgia’s female farmers is 57.1 years and the average age of male farmers is 58.3 years. Farmers by age The average age of Georgia farmers saw the slightest of increases from 2012 to 2017 as it went from 57.7 years to 57.9 years. The average age of the U.S. farmer is 57.5 years. Georgia had 5,721 farmers under the age of 35 in 2017. The average age of these farmers was 29.5 years. This age group made up 8.4% of Georgia’s farm population and 9.4% of the U.S. farm population. This age category is engaged mostly in beef/hay farming, poultry farming or fruit/nut farming and 84% of the young farmers have been farming less than 10 years. -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 3 of 20 Continued from previous page New & beginning farmers are middle-aged Georgia ranked second in the U.S. behind Alaska for having the largest percentage (33%) of producers who are considered new and beginning farmers. One might assume this refers to young farmers, but the 2017 census shows this isn’t the case. The USDA uses this term to refer to producers who have farmed 10 years or less. Georgia has 22,743 farmers who fall in this category. Their average age is 48.6 years. They farm on 14,786 farms in Georgia and the average size of their farms is 161 acres. This category of farmers produced a total of $2.3 billion in sales in 2017 of which $746 million came from crops and $1.6 billion came from livestock. The average total value of production that these farms produce is $155,690. It’s worth noting that 2,199 of these farmers had military service. Farmers by ethnicity While 64,574 of Georgia’s farmers are caucasian, the ethnic makeup of Georgia’s producers is more diverse than expected. There are 2,870 African American producers; 922 Hispanic producers; 524 American Indian producers; 494 Asian producers and 43 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander producers. The number of farms associated with each ethnicity is as follows: White- 40,284; African American: 2,055; Hispanic – 804; American Indian: 446; Asian: 326 and Native Hawaiian: 38. Organic farms Georgia’s number of USDA Certified Organic farms increased by 35.6% from 90 in 2012 to 122 in 2017. These farms sold a total of $29.9 million in products in 2017 up from $5.7 million in 2012. In 2017, 53 of the organic farms reported sales up to $4,999 on the low end and 44 farms reported sales of $50,000 or more. There are 273 producers associated with Georgia’s organic farms. Of these, 170 are male and 103 are female. The average age of Georgia’s organic farmer is 52 years. Thirty-four of the producers served in the military and 169 producers have been farming 10 years or less. Ga. ag commodities ranked by market value sold In 2017, the market value of ag products sold by Georgia farms in 2017 was $9.6 billion, up from $9.3 billion in 2012 and $5.2 billion in 1997. Commodities ranked by sales value in Georgia are as follows: • Georgia’s 5,271 Poultry & Eggs farms ranked #1 in the state & U.S. for sales of $5.4 billion, accounting for 57.3% of the state’s total sales. • Georgia’s hay & peanut crops (census combines these) ranked #2 in Georgia for sales of $847 million. A total of 10,691 farms reported selling these crops. Peanuts were grown on 2,838 farms. • Georgia’s 2,550 cotton farms ranked #3 in Georgia for sales of cotton & cottonseed totaling $776 million. • The 1,899 Georgia farms growing vegetables, melons, potatoes & sweet potatoes had a sales -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 4 of 20 Continued from previous page value of $566 million ranking #4 in the state. • The 3,865 Georgia farms growing fruits, pecans & berries had a sales value of $422 million ranking #5 in the state. • Georgia had 13,234 farms that sold cattle/calves in 2017 with a sales value of $362 million ranking it #6 for sales. Note that 17,387 Georgia farms reported having cattle in 2017. • Georgia’s 243 dairy farms ranked #7 for the $331 million sales value of milk produced. • Georgia’s 933 nursery, greenhouse, floriculture & sod farms ranked #8 for the $322 million sales value they produced. • The 3,013 Georgia farms growing grains (corn, wheat. oats, sorghum, barley) soybeans, dry beans & dry peas ranked #9 for the $283 million in sales they produced. • Georgia’s 811 farms raising pigs ranked #10 for the $53 million in sales they produced. For Georgia 2017 Census of Agriculture data, visit www.nass.usda.gov. For U.S. census data visit www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. FIRST RESPONDERS GET TRAINING FOR LIVESTOCK HIGHWAY INCIDENTS Since May 17, 2018, there have been at least four accidents involving tractor-trailers hauling cattle in metro Atlanta as well as an incident on I-16. With the number of cattle haulers moving through Georgia, it’s a fairly safe assumption there will be more. The Bovine Emergency Response Plan (BERP) training is designed to give first responders – law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel and highway emergency response teams – a framework of knowledge to help manage the incidents when they occur. The installment held at Henry County Extension in McDonough drew approximately 40 first responders, about three-fourths of whom had worked situations involving cattle. Fewer than five indicated they had experience or training to handle cattle. “You just want to give people a little bit of background of experience, so they can prevent themselves from getting hurt and have a good outcome from a consumer perception standpoint,” said UGA Extention Animal & Dairy Science Public Service Assistant Jason Duggin. Approximately 125 first responders from around Georgia received BERP training the week of April 8-12. The one-day sessions included planning tips, a survey on livestock behavior (particularly cattle), hazards involved with transporting livestock, biosecurity concerns, animal care and handling and euthanasia. Extension specialists from North Dakota State University, West Virginia University, Ohio State University, Iowa State University and the Georgia Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Division led the training, which was sponsored in part by Georgia Farm Bureau and developed through funding from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The key messages were to emphasize human life over animal welfare and to have a plan and an established response team ahead of time. “The accident scene is not the place to build your team,” said Jerry Yates of West Virginia University Extension. “You never know what you’re rolling up on. Be prepared for anything.” The plan should include a contact sheet of key personnel, including state and local livestock -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 5 of 20 Continued from previous page veterinarians, local Extension agents, livestock transporters, livestock producers who can help with handling the animals, holding facilities, portable containment equipment, someone trained in proper euthanasia techniques and animal disposal facilities. The trainers emphasized using calming techniques. First responders arriving at the scene should be aware that the animals are likely to be highly stressed and that some normal tactics – like use of lights and sirens or constantly squawking radio equipment, even reflective surfaces on safety equipment – can further agitate the animals. Verbal interactions with cattle should also be done in a calm, soothing voice. First responders should assess the scene and make sure a containment system is in place before beginning to free animals from the trailer to avoid releasing additional animals onto the roadway. Yates led participants on a tour of the inside of a double-decked livestock trailer to give them a sense of the situation the animals might experience. Dr. Jan Shearer of Iowa State University presented information about proper euthanasia, noting that while some animals may have to be put down in highway accident situations, there is a difference between euthanizing them and simply killing them. Euthanasia, a Greek term meaning “good death,” is where the death of the animal is accomplished while avoiding pain and distress in the animal. Shearer covered some situations when euthanasia is called for, such as when the animals have irreparable fractures to their legs, hips or spine. “The best we can, we want to try to avoid causing a slow and miserable death,” Shearer said. Shearer demonstrated use of a penetrating captive bolt and allowed participants hands-on practice with it. He showed them how to mark the animal to determine the best location to deploy the bolt. Once the accident scene has been cleared, the trainers recommended holding a debriefing session to help responders deal with the mental stress that can come with working the scene. To arrange for similar training using the BERP model, contact Duggin at jduggin@uga.edu, UGA Tifton Diagnostic Lab Veterinarian Dr. Lee Jones at leejones@uga.edu or Courtney Wilson with the Georgia Department of Agriculture at Courtney.Wilson@agr.georgia.gov. GFB GEORGIA FARMER’S FORUM UP AND RUNNING The Georgia Farmer’s Forum message board is up and running. Georgia Farm Bureau developed the forum so GFB farmer members will have a platform for to openly discuss on farm topics. The forum is intended to allow participants to post important information, ask questions, buy, sell and trade, receive updates and receive alerts or warnings on topics related to agriculture. This is a private forum and registration using your GFB membership number is required in order to register. To register, visit www.gfb.ag/GaFarmersForumreg. To join Georgia Farm Bureau visit www.gfb.ag/join.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 20 GFB EQUIPS COUNTY VOLUNTEERS & STAFF TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE County Farm Bureau volunteers, staff and school teachers attending Georgia Farm Bureau’s annual Educational Leadership Conference got their batteries recharged to educate students and consumers about agriculture. The GFB Women’s Leadership Committee hosted the conference held April 12-13 at Callaway Gardens. “Ag literacy is one of Georgia Farm Bureau’s primary programs. I’m grateful we have so many of you here this weekend who want to share your passion for agriculture with others,” said GFB Women’s Committee Chairman Nancy Kennedy, who represents the GFB 4th District. A highlight of the conference for many attendees was getting to meet children’s book author Lisl Detlefsen, author of “Right This Very Minute,” the 2019 American Farm Bureau Foundation Book of the Year. County Farm Bureau staff and volunteers have been delivering copies of this book to all of the public libraries in Georgia on behalf of the Georgia Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and Georgia EMC. “Right This Very Minute” explores how farmers grow some of the common food kids eat throughout the day. The story is paired with colorful drawings that accurately portray modern production practices and technology farmers use. “Part of my mission in writing is to be a voice of agriculture and tell our story,” Detlefsen said. A city girl who married a cranberry farmer, Detlefsen’s first book, “Time for Cranberries,” tells the story of how her family harvests cranberries on their sixth-generation Wisconsin farm. She said getting the book published was a 10-year journey as she searched for a publisher and it was revised 34 times along the way before being printed in 2015. Detlefsen praised the AFBF Foundation for establishing its Feeding Minds Press to publish books for children that accurately portray agriculture. While there are lots of children’s books that feature farms and farm animals, Detlefsen pointed out that many of these depict the animals having human characteristics or portray outdated farming practices. “One of the problems we face as farmers is public perception,” Lisl said. “Kids need to see their life reflected back to them like a mirror, but they also need windows into aspects of life they aren’t exposed to. My books provide a mirror for farm kids and a window for kids who don’t live on farms.” EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: Building farmer/consumer relationships During a workshop on building relationships between farmers and consumers, GFB Women’s Committee members Chy Kellogg and Melissa Mathis gave tips for talking to consumers about misconceptions surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), organic food and hormones and antibiotics in meat. They also demonstrated hands-on activities volunteers can use to teach students about GMOs. Kellogg said the main message to get across to consumers who have questions about organics and GMOs is, “All food is good food as long as it’s nutritious. Encourage people to compare the nutrition information on the food label of products made with GMOs, such as cereal, so they can see there is no difference nutritionally.” She said doing a blind taste test of cereal made with GMO grain and an organic version is a great -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 7 of 20 Continued from previous page way to let kids taste that there’s no difference between the two types of cereal. It’s important to make sure consumers and students realize the only genetically modified crops currently being grown are corn, soybeans, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets, canola, papaya, apples, potatoes and squash. Most GMO corn and soybean crops are grown to feed livestock. Mathis, whose family raises beef cattle, addressed misconceptions consumers have regarding meat labels that say hormone free, antibiotic free, grass fed or grain fed. “I get asked a lot if I raise grass fed or grain fed beef. I explain that we raise cattle both ways. I explain that it doesn’t matter what the cattle eat because we’re producing safe food either way because we use safe growing practices,” Mathis said. Mathis stressed that all animals naturally have hormones, so it’s misguided for a meat product to be labeled as hormone free. She said by law all animals must be free of antibiotics before they are slaughtered or milked, so products labeled as antibiotic free are also misguided. “If I treat a sick cow with antibiotics, by law, I must wait the appropriate number of days for the antibiotic to leave its body before I can sell the cow for meat. It’s a USDA regulation and the animals are inspected,” Mathis said. The same regulation applies to dairy cows. All milk produced by a dairy cow given antibiotics must be discarded until the medicine has left the cow. Milk is tested at several steps before it’s bottled to be sure it’s free of antibiotics. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: GFB highlights farm markets with passport program GFB Certified Farm Market Coordinator Kelly Thompson discussed the CFM Passport available at county Farm Bureau offices and all GFB Certified Farm Markets. Consumers are encouraged to visit as many CFMs as possible until Dec. 31. Travelers who get their CFM Passport stamped at 5 farms are eligible to receive a CFM t-shirt. Participants earn an insulated tumbler with 10 stamps; a $15 gift certificate to the CFM of their choice with 15 stamps; and a farm tour with a Farm to Table meal for 20 stamps. Passports must be returned to GFB by Jan. 10, 2020, to claim prizes. Visit www.gfb.ag/cfm for complete details. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: Celebrating Ag Week GFB 2nd District Women’s Committee Chairman Heather Cabe shared how she helped kindergarten through second-grade students at the three elementary schools in Franklin County celebrate Ag Week. She used contacts she had at each school – a principal, teacher and friends who knew teachers – to get the schools on board with observing Ag Week. She asked teachers what subjects they wanted covered. Then, Cabe utilized the curriculum matrix section of the National Agriculture in the Classroom website - www.agclassroom.org - to download numerous lessons that meet curriculum teaching standards for math, science, social studies & English for the various grade levels. She provided copies of these materials to the teachers along with instructions and materials for hands-on activities and YouTube links of various children’s books about ag being read that the teachers used in their classes. Cabe made Xerox copies of the lessons at her county Farm Bureau office and got -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 8 of 20 Continued from previous page local ag businesses to sponsor supplies. “I wanted to make it as easy for the teachers as I possibly could. I took a variety of lessons and activities to the teachers and let them select what works for them,” Cabe said. “If you don’t have a lot of volunteers or funds in your county, it’s not impossible to do Ag Week in your county.” Cabe and other members of the Franklin County ag community visited each school to deliver an assembly program so the students could meet real farmers and people who work in agriculture, such as an auctioneer and livestock photographer, who each had five minutes to discuss their jobs. Cabe also took the students on a virtual field trip of her family’s farm via a video, “Once Upon a Farm,” that showed cattle, sheep and goats grazing pastures and baby calves and piglets nursing. Other scenes showed chickens inside the poultry houses that protect them from the weather and provided a glimpse of the waterers and feeders chickens eat and drink from. The video also showed farm equipment cutting and baling hay and sheep being shorn. Cabe worked with a videographer over two months to shoot the video of her farm. She plans to make a series of videos featuring other Georgia farms teachers can use to introduce their students to different types of agriculture. She’s looking for a dairy farmer and farmers who produce blueberries, corn, hogs, peaches and pecans who would be willing to have video footage shot on their farm. Interested farmers should contact Cabe at 706-207-7499 or heatherecholscabe@gmail.com. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: Traveling trunks hold forestry & peanut resources Thanks to the Destination Ag Program at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the Harley Langdale Foundation, county Farm Bureaus in each Georgia Farm Bureau district have access to two different “traveling trunks” that highlight Georgia’s forestry industry and peanut farmers. The trunks are full of resources to take into classrooms to teach students everything they need to know about growing trees or peanuts and the products made from each crop. County Farm Bureaus interested in using the trunk should contact their district Georgia Farm Bureau Field representative. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: Social media tips Farm Monitor reporter John Holcomb gave tips for publicizing their farms and telling their story on social media, including the Friends of GFB Facebook page. His tips included: 1) Use high quality photos 2) Post short video clips of farm events or Ag in the Classroom activity, like reading a book 3) Don’t punctuate hashtags I.e. #YFRS NOT #YFR’S 4) Don’t use abbreviations such as OMG or LOL 5) Use correct grammar 6) Tag Georgia Farm Bureau in your social media posts by using the following: Facebook - @GeorgiaFarmBureau Instagram - @gafarmbureau Twitter - @gafarmbureau
GFB News Alert page 9 of 20 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: Food-based learning Kelley Toon, an academic nutritionist with the Georgia Department of Education (GDE) and Georgia Department of Agriculture Farm to School Nutrition Coordinator Misty Friedman discussed programs they are doing to connect students with food. The Georgia Departments of Education and Agriculture are working together to reach students through the Farm to School and the 2020 Vision for School Nutrition programs. As school cafeterias work to serve food grown in Georgia, Toon and colleagues are working to get teachers to talk about how the crops are grown in their classes using standard based lessons. “What students see served in the cafeteria is also being talked about in the classroom,” Toon said. “Students can meet curriculum standards by charting the number of students who like or dislike a food item then convert the numbers into fractions or percentages. To meet English standards, they can describe what a food tasted like. Food taste testing is also a way to teach manners, to say please or no thank you.” A POTENTIAL SOLUTION FOR DEER MANAGEMENT IN COTTON The threat of deer eating the cotton grown on local farms prompted UGA Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent Katie Burch to search for a solution. With the help of UGA East Georgia Agronomist Mark Freeman, the Burke County agent may have found one. Although the potential solution needs further research for verification, Burch believes Milorganite, a fertilizer made from sewage collected in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is an effective deterrent. Milorganite was chosen because of its pungent smell and likely foul taste. Conducting her own research last year, Burch spread the fertilizer over cotton plots, then checked a week later to see if deer had been browsing the plots. From all visible signs, the Milorganite had deterred the deer. “Visually and percentage-wise for the counts that we took in the field, you can tell where the deer were deterred — where the Milorganite was spread — versus where they weren't,” Burch said. The fertilizer treatment was applied once a week for four weeks. On the plots that weren't treated with the fertilizer, deer continued to mow through the cotton. Burch started the project after she began working for UGA Extension in 2016, when deer caused major yield losses for a farmer in Burke County. Prior to testing Milorganite, Burch tried various chemicals and found none were an acceptable solution. “This trial saw more success and the producer was happy about it,” she said. “This is something I think a lot of growers across the state can benefit from if we do find that it is successful longterm.” According to Burch, deer are known to damage at least 50 percent of farmers’ crops across Georgia. This represents a major profit loss for farmers. Annually, a farmer will spend thousands of dollars to try to stave off wildlife pressure. Some of those alternatives include night hunting equipment and traps, which are costly and not completely effective. For more information about how to manage wildlife on your property, see the UGA Extension Wildlife Management Series at www.extension.uga.edu/publications.
GFB News Alert page 10 of 20 GA FORAGES CONFERENCE: WE HAD A REALLY WET WINTER. WHAT NOW? Extended periods of soggy conditions caused a myriad of problems for Georgia cattlemen and hay producers. Speakers at with the 2019 Georgia Forage Conference, organizers offered tips on what may come next and what can be done about it. The conference, held April 4 as part of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show, featured presentations on effects of excess water, from nutrient loss to weed pressure. UGA Agricultural Climatologist Pam Knox suggested Georgia weather overall could be warmer and wetter than normal through most of the year and recommended that producers pay close attention to weather developments in the tropics. “A lot of the warmer temperatures are going to be night-time temperatures,” Knox said. “That will increase evaporation rates. If night-time temperature is high and you have animals outside that don’t like the heat, they’re not going to be happy if they can’t cool off at night. Reclaim or renovate? UGA doctoral student Tayler Denman presented a plan for producers to follow to determine whether to perform light maintenance on their pastures or to renovate them entirely. Denman shared the pasture condition scoring system developed by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The system accounts for 11 indicators of pasture health and combines them into simple overall 1-5 scoring as a decision tool for producers. The factors are percentage of desirable plants, plant cover, plant diversity, plant residue, plant vigor, legume content, uniformity of use, severity of use, livestock concentration areas, soil compaction and erosion. “All of these can be greatly affected by the past rainy conditions we’ve had,” Denman said. The NRCS has a worksheet available at https://gfb.ag/NRCSPastureCondWksht to help producers through the scoring process. Scores of 3 and higher indicate pasture management is appropriate, Denman said, outlining three steps: Taking soil samples, managing weeds in the pasture, and fertilizing after the weeds are under control. Scores of 1 or 2 indicate the pasture is too damaged to manage and should be renovated. She said this involves taking soil samples, planning what types of forage they want to plant, destroying the existing stand with herbicides. Effects of excess water on soil nutrient content UGA Extension Forage Agronomist Lisa Baxter reviewed the possible effects of excess water on nutrients in soil – runoff, leaching, volatilization, denitrification and acidic rainfall. “The consequences of wet soil conditions really depend on where we are in the state,” Baxter said. “If we’re in the coastal plain, we have really sandy soil and low water-holding capacity and we’re going to have a lot of leaching going on. If we get up into the mountains, we have a lot of steep hill banks, that’s where we start getting into runoff,” Baxter said. Runoff is where flowing water carries away nutrients at or near the top of the soil. Leaching is where excess water moving down through the soil carries nutrients with it. Volatilization is where nutrients are lost to the atmosphere when water triggers their conversion to vapor or gas form. Denitrification is where nitrates are lost to the atmosphere by the same process. These things happen at varying rates depending on the nutrient mobility. -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 11 of 20 Continued from previous page Acidic rainfall isn’t as common in Georgia, though Baxter said if extreme rainfall conditions continue, it can alter the pH balance in the soil, causing it to become acidic over time. Baxter, too, recommended soil testing, as well as splitting fertilizer application, which in continued wet conditions can help improve yield. In drought conditions, it helps prevent damaging effects like nitrogen toxicity. For nitrogen application, splitting applications helps match plant needs, Baxter said. Ideally nitrogen should be applied after each harvest. For potassium, she suggested applying 40% to 50% of it in late spring and the rest midway or late in the season. Increasing potassium improves stand density by increasing the number of rhizomes in Bermudagrass. Combating Weed pressure UGA Assistant Professor of Crop & Soil Sciences Nick Basinger discussed how wet conditions contribute to weed concerns in forage land. First, he noted that at any give time in the soil there is a weed seed bank, a collection of seeds that survived from previous years and is waiting for the right conditions to germinate. “The ones that make it through are your weed problem,” Basinger said. ‘They’re the problems you’re dealing with.” He reviewed some key species of weeds that thrive in wet areas, particularly varieties of sedges, foxtail, Japanese stiltgrass and buttercup. Buttercup is especially troublesome in pastures because it is toxic to livestock. Basinger said buttercup can be controlled by mowing before flowering, which reduces the number of flowers and seed production. Spraying 2-4D can be effective if used when the plants are small. Basinger recommended maintaining strong stands of desired grasses to combat weeds and to avoid overgrazing. “If you’re overgrazing, you’re just asking for a weed problem,” he said. GA PRODUCERS EXPECTED TO PLANT MORE PEANUTS, HAY AND CORN IN ’19 Georgia’s peanut, hay and corn growers are expected to plant more of those crops in 2019 than they did in 2018 according to the Southern Region Prospective Plantings report released on March 29 by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Georgia farmers intend to plant less cotton, soybeans and tobacco in 2019. The state’s peanut producers are projected to plant 670,000 acres in 2019, up from 665,000 acres in 2018, a 1% increase. Alabama and Florida are both expected to have slight increases in planted peanuts. Nationwide, peanut acreage is forecast at 1.45 million acres in 2019, up 2% from 2018. Georgia hay growers are forecast to harvest 610,000 acres in 2019, up from 600,000 acres in 2018, an increase of 2%. South Carolina growers harvested 270,000 acres in 2018 and were expected to maintain that acreage in 2019, while Florida is forecast for a 7% jump, from 280,000 acres in 2018 to 300,000 acres in 2019. Nationally, hay acreage is expected to remain virtually the same in 2019 at 53.1 million acres. Corn growers in Georgia are expected to make a 17% increase, from 325,000 acres in 2018 to 380,000 acres in 2019. South Carolina is expected to make a similar increase, from 340,000 acres -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 12 of 20 Continued from previous page in 2018 to 400,000 acres in 2019. Nationally, corn acreage is forecast at 92.8 million acres in 2019, up from 89.1 million acres in 2018, a 4% increase. Georgia cotton producers are forecast for a 6% decrease, from 1.43 million acres in 2018 to 1.35 million acres in 2019. South Carolina is forecast for a 3% decrease, from 300,000 acres in 2018 to 290,000 acres in 2019. Nationally, cotton acreage is expected to reach 13.78 million acres, a 2% decrease from 2018, when U.S. growers planted 14.1 million acres of cotton. Perhaps reflecting an ongoing concern about difficulties in international trade, Georgia’s soybean producers are expected to trim acreage from 145,000 acres in 2018 to 130,000 acres in 2019, a decrease of 10%. South Carolina and Florida are expected to make significant decreases in their soybean acreage, as well. South Carolina growers are expected to plant 330,000 acres in 2019, down 15% from 2018, when they planted 390,000 acres. Florida growers are expected to cut soybean acreage from 345,000 in 2018 to 280,000 in 2019. Nationally, soybean acreage is forecast at 84.6 million in 2019, down 5% from 2018. Georgia tobacco acreage is expected to decline from 12,500 acres in 2018 to 12,000 acres in 2019, a 4% drop. South Carolina’s tobacco acreage is expected to decrease from 12,300 acres in 2018 to 11,000 acres in 2019 (11%). Overall, U.S. tobacco growers are expected to plant 244,000 acres in 2019, down 47,400 acres (16%) from 2018. Georgia oat producers are forecast to plant 70,000 acres in 2019, up 17% from 2018 (60,000 acres). Nationwide, oat acreage is expected to decrease by 7%. The state’s winter wheat producers are expected to plant 210,000 acres in 2018, up 5% from 2018 (200,000 acres). U.S. winter wheat producers are expected to plant 31.5 million acres in. 2019, down 3% from 2018 (32.5 million acres). FARMS FROM MINNESOTA TO MISSISSIPPI PLAGUED WITH FLOODING More than 2 million acres of farm land along the Mississippi River, Great Plains and Midwest have been inundated with flood waters, according to published reports, and more could be on the way after the blizzard that struck Minnesota and North Dakota April 11 and 12. Some areas of southwest Minnesota received as much as 30 inches of snow. Mississippi Farm Bureau reported that 500,000 acres of farmland in Mississippi are under water, delaying planting for multiple crops. MFB President Mike McCormick and his staff took an aerial tour of the Mississippi Delta to gauge the extent of the flooding. “This flood is going to have an impact on the farmers and their ability to get their crops in this year,” McCormick said. “It’s going have a huge impact on the towns up and down the Mississippi River and in the Delta.” An estimated 500,000 acres of Iowa and Nebraska farmland flooded in March, as well as an estimated 1.1 million acres in the Midwest, according to an April 1 article on the Successful Farming website. The flood waters are likely to delay planting of corn and soybeans in the affected areas, as well as presenting challenges with managing livestock.
GFB News Alert page 13 of 20 EXPANDED DISASTER APPROPRIATIONS BILL INTRODUCED IN U.S. HOUSE On April 9, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-New York), introduced H.R. 2157, which would expand emergency disaster assistance funding for area affected by recent natural disasters, including Georgia, where Hurricane Michael inflicted billions of dollars’ worth of damage in October 2018. Lowey’s bill was assigned to the House Appropriations Committee. Congressional members from both major political parties lamented the role politics has played in delaying the delivery of disaster aid. “In January, the House passed an Emergency Disaster Appropriations bill that allocated $14.17 billion in emergency spending to help families and communities recover from hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters,” said Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia), a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Since then, this bill has been stalled in the Senate due the president’s political feud with Puerto Rico. This has left millions of Americans unable to rebuild or recoup crop losses. It has also left families hungry from nutrition cuts.” Bishop said Lowey’s new bill adds $3 billion to address those disasters and brings the appropriations total to $17.2 billion, which would cover all disasters. Meanwhile, Georgia’s U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue expressed disappointment in Congress’ failure to deliver critical disaster aid to states to help recovery efforts from natural disasters in 2018 and 2019. They pointed out that six months have passed since Hurricane Michael. “This lack of funding has put Georgia farmers at the breaking point. It is a shame that politics has again gotten in the way of aid for the people of our states who are in desperate need and for farmers who put food on our tables,” Isakson (R-Georgia) said in a statement released April 11. “I am extremely disappointed that Congress will be leaving for a two-week state work period without a resolution and much-needed funding on the way for our states, which have already been pressed to cover disaster recovery expenses beyond what they can afford.” On April 11, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) delivered statements to the House and Senate Appropriations committees, urging them to move past the political impasse that has stalled delayed supplemental disaster relief. AFBF explained that farms and ranches across the country endured several weather disasters in 2018 and pointed out that the trend is continuing in 2019 with historic hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and wildfires. “Losses total more than $8 billion, and the full impact of recent flooding in the Midwest is still being assessed. Many of the farmers impacted are facing near-complete losses of their crops, livestock and farm infrastructure,” the group wrote. “At the same time, Puerto Rico’s humanitarian crisis continues and reauthorizing the Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico program at $600 million is critical.”
GFB News Alert page 14 of 20 USDA ACCEPTING BALLOTS IN NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD REFERENDUM The USDA has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a referendum among eligible producers of peanuts to determine whether they favor continuance of the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order, which authorizes the National Peanut Board. The referendum will be conducted through May 3. USDA will provide the option for electronic balloting. Further details will be stated in the official ballot instructions, which will be sent by regular U. S. mail or by electronic means to all eligible peanut producers. Voters must return ballots postmarked by May 3, 2019. Ballots returned via express mail or electronic means must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on May 3. To be eligible to vote in this continuance referendum, persons must have produced peanuts and been subject to assessments during the representative period from June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018. Under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996 (Act), the USDA must conduct a referendum every five years or when 10 percent or more of the eligible peanut producers petition the Secretary of Agriculture to hold a referendum to determine if persons subject to assessment favor continuance of the order. The USDA will continue the order if continuance is approved by a simple majority of the producers voting in the referendum. Jeanette Palmer and Heather Pichelman, PED, SCP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0244, are designated as the referendum agents to conduct this referendum. Any eligible producer who does not receive a ballot should contact the referendum agent as soon as possible. Palmer may be reached at (202) 720-9915 or Jeanette.Palmer@ams.usda.gov. Pichelman may be reached at (202) 720-9915 or heather.pichelman@ams.usda.gov.
GFB News Alert page 15 of 20 GFB YF&R CONFERENCE, COMPETITIONS June 1 deadline to register/enter Registration is underway for the 2019 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Summer Leadership Conference, July 17-20 on Jekyll Island. GFB is also taking applications for its YF&R competitive events and the Picture Agriculture photo contest. All applications, photo submissions and conference registration should be completed online and are due by June 1 at 5 p.m. To register for the competitive events - YF&R Achievement in Ag Award, Excellence in Agriculture Award, YF&R Member of the Year, and Discussion Meet – visit www.gfb.ag/yfrcompete. Also new in 2019, GFB will recognize a YF&R Member of the Year. To learn more about this award, visit www.gfb.ag/yfrcompete. The GFB YF&R Committee is sponsoring the annual Picture Agriculture photo contest. The contest rules, minor release form, and submission information can be found at www.gfb.ag/yfrphoto. The GFB YF&R Committee encourages every county to send a YF&R representative to the conference. Each county Farm Bureau will have two free registrations for first-time attendees. To register YF&R members visit www.gfb.ag/yfrslc. Registration fees are waved for collegiate members. For more information contact GFB YF&R Coordinator Erin Nessmith at ennessmith@gfb.org or 478-4740679, ext. 5232. SIGN-UP FOR AID FOR AG AND FOREST HURRICANE DAMAGE April 19 deadline to apply On March 19, the USDA announced another sign-up the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for Georgia’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who suffered damage to working lands due to Hurricane Michael but were not eligible for previous sign ups. Agricultural producers and non-industrial forestland owners in these counties: Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brooks, Burke, Calhoun, Clay, Colquitt, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Emanuel, Grady, Houston, Irwin, Jenkins, Laurens, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Peach, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Taylor, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Turner, Twiggs, Washington, Webster, Wilcox, and Worth are eligible to apply. This does not apply to local governments or other entities in these counties. For more information or to sign up, call or visit the nearest USDA Service Center. For more information on the different types of disaster assistance available from USDA, visit www.farmers.gov/recover. NRCS CONSERVATION EASEMENT SIGN-UP April 19 deadline to apply for FY2019 The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia is accepting enrollment for this year’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP, created through the 2014 farm bill and included in the 2018 farm bill, is a program that has two components, known as Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE). For FY 2019 only, NRCS will be operating under 2014 farm bill rules. Any changes made in the ACEP program in the 2018 farm bill will begin in FY 2020. To learn more about ACEP and other farm bill programs in Georgia, visit http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov.
GFB News Alert page 16 of 20 COOSA RIVER CONSERVATION DISTRICT TREE GIVEAWAY April 29 Walker County Agriculture Center 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Rock Spring The Coosa River Conservation District, in partnership with UGA Extension, the Georgia Forestry Commission and the LaFayette FFA, will be giving away Loblolly and Slash Pine trees in celebration of Stewardship Week to promote soil and water conservation. The Walker County Agriculture Center is located at 10052 U.S. Highway 27 in Rock Spring. For more information visit www.gacd.us/coosariver. USDA 1890 NATIONAL SCHOLARS FUNDING April 30 deadline to apply The USDA is accepting applications for the 2019 cycle of the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program. The program aims to increase the number of minority students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and other agriculture-related disciplines. The program is available through the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is available to high school seniors entering their freshman year of college, and rising college sophomores and juniors. General requirements include U.S. citizenship, a cumulative year-end GPA of 3.0 or higher, and acceptance to, or current attendance of, an 1890s institution to study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences and related academic disciplines. To download and print the 2019 high school application, visit www.gfb.ag/USDA1890hsapp. To download and print the 2019 application for current college students visit www.gfb.ag/USDA1890collapp. GA DEPARTMENT PROPOSED CITRUS RULES April 30 deadline for comments The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is holding a public hearing regarding the proposed adoption of citrus regulations on May 1 at 1 p.m. at the Macon State Farmers Market, located at 2055 Eisenhower Pkwy, Macon, Georgia 31206. The GDA will accept written comments until 4:30 p.m. on April 30. The GDA is proposing to adopt Chapter 40-4-26, entitled “Citrus Regulations and Quarantine,” a set of proposed rules to minimize the spread of diseases, pathogens and nematodes by citrus. All comments will be considered on May 2. Please submit written comments to: Mike Evans, Program Director - Plant Protection Section Georgia Department of Agriculture, 1109 Experiment Street, Redding Building, Room 213, Griffin, Georgia 30223. Evans may be reached by phone at 404-586-1140 or by fax at 770-228-7219. Interested persons may call or submit a written request to obtain a copy of the proposed rules. A copy of the synopsis and the proposed rules may be downloaded from the Georgia Department of Agriculture website at www.gfb.ag/19propGAcitrusrule.
GFB News Alert page 17 of 20 CROP INSURANCE DEADLINES NEAR FOR MULTIPLE GA COMMODITIES Georgia farmers who operate nurseries have until May 1 to apply for crop insurance coverage or make changes to their existing coverage. All applications, including those for new or amended coverage, are subject to a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. Coverage begins 30 days after receipt of a signed application. The Plant Inventory Value Report for each insured practice, and two copies of the grower’s most recent wholesale catalog or price list. Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2020 crop year. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers by visiting the RMA agent locator at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. Growers can use the RMA cost estimator at bit.ly/rmacost to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov. MAY 1 IS DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR CENTENNIAL FARM AWARD The Centennial Family Farm Award recognizes farms owned by members of the same family for at least 100 years. The Centennial Heritage Farm Award honors farms that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and owned by the same family for 100 years or more. The Centennial Farm Award doesn’t require continual family ownership, but farms must be at least 100 years old and listed in the NRHP. To apply, visit www.georgiacentennialfarms.org or contact Sarah Love at 770-389-7856 or sarah.love@dnr.ga.gov. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION WORKSHOP OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS More than $17,000 in college scholarships, back-to-nature field trips, and a true taste of college life will be on the line for high school students who attend the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop (NRCW) June 9-13 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Students participating in the workshop will attend lectures and hands-on activities to boost their knowledge of Georgia’s vital natural resources. Local, state, and federal natural resource agencies and specialists from universities will host these sessions. The workshop also provides students with a taste of college life while delivering valuable insight into careers through their counselors and instructors. Tuition is $175 per student before May 1. After May 1, tuition increases to $200 per student to attend the workshop. The final application deadline is June 1. Tuition is usually provided to the students by local conservation districts, local businesses, and individuals. The workshop application process is available online at www.abac.edu/nrcw. UGA TIFTON CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION May 3 UGA Tifton Campus Tifton Come celebrate 100 years of research and education at the UGA Tifton Campus. UGA President Jere Morehead and UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Dean Sam Pardue are scheduled to speak. Activities include a student research poster symposium, a formal celebration ceremony in the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, dedication of the Centennial Garden behind the Tift Building and an ice cream social with music and fireworks. For more information visit https://gfb.ag/UGA-Tifton-turns-100.
GFB News Alert page 18 of 20 WATER MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS May 7 Dougherty County Extension Office Albany May 13 Gordon County Extension Office Calhoun May 15 Cobb County Water Lab Marietta These free workshops will explain the efficiencies of impact sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, how to develop an Irrigation Water Management Plan and hands-on activities assembling basic irrigation systems. Each workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register online visit www.tinyurl.com/CRSSWater or contact Dr. Gary L. Hawkins at 706-310-3526 or 706-310-3464. DAIRY PRODUCERS ENROLLED IN LGM ELIGIBLE FOR 2018 MPP Dairy producers who elected to participate in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program (LGM-Dairy) now have the opportunity to participate in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) for 2018 coverage. Sign-up will take place through May 10. This retroactive signup is only for dairy producers with 2018 LGM coverage who produced and commercially marketed milk in 2018 but did not obtain full-year MPP-Dairy coverage. FSA will notify eligible producers by postcard and provide a one-time payment for all of the months in 2018 that had margins triggering MPP-Dairy assistance. Eligible producers can enroll during the sign-up period at their local USDA service center. To locate your office, visit www.farmers.gov. ATTENTION! LATE MAY/EARLY JUNE VEHICLE TAG RENEWALS Beginning Tuesday, May 21, some Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) location hours may be reduced to prepare for a system upgrade. County tag offices statewide will not be able to process vehicle tag, registration or title transactions on May 24. All online motor vehicle related services, including online tag renewals, will not be available May 21 – May 27. Motor vehicle self-service kiosks will also be offline May 21-May 27. To avoid delays, the DOR is recommending that Georgians with May and June renewal dates renew their tags before May 20. Those who ordinarily renew online should be able to do so after May 27 and are not expected to experience delays. Visit www.georgiadrives.com for more information. 28TH ANNUAL YOUNG HARRIS BEEKEEPING INSTITUTE May 22-25 Young Harris College Young Harris This is the most comprehensive beekeeping educational event in the Southeast, offering a full plate of classes for anyone interested in beekeeping, from brand-new beginner to advanced. The Institute is home to the Georgia Master Beekeeper program and the Welsh honey judge training program. Speakers include experts from University of Sussex in England, NC State, and Emory - as well as more than 25 home-grown Georgia beekeeping educators. This is “the” event of the year for anyone interested in learning to keep bees and promote pollinators. For more information or to register visit www.bees.caes.uga.edu/yhc-uga-beekeeping-institute.html.
GFB News Alert page 19 of 20 GA DEPT. OF REVENUE ACCEPTING TIMBER TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS Eligible taxpayers have until May 31 to apply for a Timber Tax Credit to assist in offsetting the substantial economic losses incurred during Hurricane Michael. Under House Bill 4EX, eligible timber properties must be located in the disaster area established in Executive Order 11.06.18.01, which includes the following counties: Baker, Bleckley, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay, Colquitt, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Laurens, Lee, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pulaski, Randolph, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox, and Worth.To learn more about the submission process for the Timber Tax Credit applications, please visit the department’s website at https://dor.georgia.gov/. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR RURAL BROADBAND USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for funding opportunities in support of rural broadband projects. The ReConnect Program offers funding for telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers and municipalities. The program is intended to connect rural areas that currently have insufficient broadband service. Specific requirements apply. The application deadline varies but will not be earlier than May 31. For more information visit https://gfb.ag/USDAreconnect. For information about USDA Rural Development telecom programs, visit https://gfb.ag/USDARDtelecom. In addition to the USDA Rural Development programs, the Universal Service Administrative Company’s Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program offers assistance to healthcare providers for eligible expenses related to broadband connectivity based on the urban-rural price difference in an area. Application deadline is May 31. For more information, visit https://gfb.ag/USACrural-health. 2019 CORN SILAGE AND FORAGE FIELD DAY June 20 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This field day presents an opportunity to tour corn and forage test plots and hear tips on best management practices for making silage, managing Bermudagrass stem maggot, using dairy wastes and other byproducts for growing forage, weed control and incorporating legumes into summer grasses. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the event starts at 8 a.m. www.ugatiftonconference.caes.uga.edu/events.html. COLBERT 50TH YEAR JULY 4 CELEBRATION FOCUSES ON AGRICULTURE Since July 4, 1970, the city of Colbert in Madison County has celebrated Independence Day with its “July 4th Homecoming.” This year the celebration will honor Colbert’s agricultural heritage and spotlight surrounding farming communities. A farmers market will be set up for anyone interested in selling fresh homegrown produce, fruits, and vegetables. Vendors may also reserve a space to display homemade and/or pre-fabricated items, as in the past years. Vendor registration forms are available at the Colbert city hall or on the city website www.colbertgeorgia.com. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Old Colbert Elementary School. Those interested in being in the parade should plan to be there by 7:30 a.m. Activities are planned for the entire day, including a “best home-made pie” contest. The pies should be homemade apple, blueberry, and/or peach. To enter the pie-baking contest, register at city hall. Call 706-788-2311 to receive more information.
GFB News Alert page 20 of 20 SOUTHERN PEANUT GROWERS CONFERENCE July 18-20 Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort Panama City Beach, Florida The 21st Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference will provide farmers with information about peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions.In addition to the conference sessions, the event focuses on the family by offering a ladies program and a golf tournament. For more information about the conference and sponsorship opportunities visit www.gfb.ag/19SPGconference. Resort reservations can be made by calling 1-855-512-3843 and ask for the “Southern Peanut Growers Conference Rate� or use the Booking ID: 10Z6G7. Visit www.resortcollection.com/resorts/edgewater/ to book rooms online. Rooms are available at the group rate until June 14.