May 22, 2019
www.gfb.org
Vol. 37 No. 10
U.S. HOUSE PASSES DISASTER ASSISTANCE BILL On May 10 the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2157, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019. The bill, which was approved by a 257-150 vote, would provide $19.1 billion in supplemental funds for damage resulting from a variety of natural disasters, including Hurricane Michael, that occurred in 2018 and 2019. The USDA would have access to a total of $3.76 billion of these funds, including $480 million to the Farm Service Agency and $125 million to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. At press time the bill awaited a vote in the Senate. A major stumbling block for disaster aid has been whether to include additional funding for Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Senate leaders had reached an agreement on aid for Puerto Rico and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) indicated he would bring a disaster relief bill to a vote before Congress leaves for its Memorial Day recess, according to published reports. Georgia Reps. Rick Allen (R-12th District), Sanford Bishop (D-2nd District), Buddy Carter (R1st District), Hank Johnson (D-4th District), John Lewis (D-5th District), Lucy McBath (D-6th District), Austin Scott (R-8th District) and David Scott (D-13th District) voted in favor of H.R. 2157. Georgia Farm Bureau has consistently urged members of Congress to provide funding to help Georgia farmers recover from Hurricane Michael, which caused approximately $2.5 billion in damage, devastating numerous farms in Southwest Georgia. Many farms were days or weeks from harvest when Michael struck on Oct. 10, 2018, wiping out row crops, pecan orchards and timber stands and mangling chicken houses, farm buildings and destroying farm equipment. Michael’s damage exceeded $5.5 billion across multiple southern states. GFB leaders visited Washington in early May and one of their key messages was that the state’s farmers are struggling and federal government help is needed as quickly as possible.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 13 GFB FOUNDATION AWARDS $57,000 TO AG SCHOLARS A crop of 29 students from across Georgia was selected to receive a total of $57,000 in scholarships from the Georgia Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for the 2019-2020 academic year. The scholarships are awarded to students who have excelled academically and in their extracurricular activities. The selected students must intend to pursue or be pursuing degrees in agriculture, forestry or family and consumer sciences at a school that is part of The University System of Georgia, Berry College, Emmanuel College or any accredited college/university in Georgia with an ag program or a Georgia accredited technical college. “Georgia Farm Bureau is committed to investing in the future of Georgia agriculture, which is why our organization proudly offers scholarships each year to students who want to pursue a career in agriculture,” GFB President Gerald Long said. “We are happy to offer scholarships this year to students who plan to become ag teachers, welders, veterinarians, ag mechanics, ag engineers, ag business employees and ag lawyers.” The scholarships were awarded to graduating high school seniors headed to college or a technical college in the fall, rising college juniors and seniors and students enrolled in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine who plan to care for farm animals. Recipients are: College Freshman Scholarship for Agriculture Five students planning to enter college as freshmen at either Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) or the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) were awarded scholarships of $3,000 each: Dawson Adams, Coffee County; Kirk Beacham, Colquitt County; Annelies Carr, Gordon County; Levi Martin, Houston County and Will Woodard, Morgan County. These students plan to pursue degrees in ag business, ag engineering, ag education or animal science. An additional seven students were selected to receive scholarships of $1,500: Taylor Barber, Decatur County; Hailey Craig, Henry County; Clifton Edwards, Mitchell County; Parker Garrett, Habersham County; Amber Martinez, Cherokee County; Bryce Roland, Houston County; and Ava Jane Teasley, Newton County. These students plan to attend ABAC or UGA CAES to pursue degrees in animal science/animal health, ag economics, ag education and ag communications. Technical College Scholarship for Ag Shelby Dalton, Banks County; Hunter Moss, Towns County; Jacob Wood, Laurens County; and James Harris Youmans, Candler County were each selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Dalton plans to pursue a degree in agriculture at North Georgia Technical College. Moss plans to study welding at North Georgia Technical College. Wood plans to study welding at Oconee Fall Line Technical College. Youmans plans to study ag diesel mechanics at Southeastern Technical College. Rising College JR/SR Scholarships for Ag The foundation awarded 10 scholarships of $2,000 each to these rising college juniors and seniors: Savannah Austin, Butts County; Savannah Brannen, Screven County; Kylie Bruce, Franklin County; Dalton Green, Walker County; Morgan Hart, Colquitt County; Sadie Hobbs, -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 3 of 13 Continued from previous page White County; Sadie Lackey, Gilmer County; Ben Parker, Houston County; Morgan Rowan, Lowndes County; and Rebecca Wallace, North Fulton County. All plan to attend UGA CAES in the fall and are studying animal science, ag education, ag communications or applied biology. UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Brooke Helton, White County; Erik Ragan, Catoosa County and Michelle Sheffield, Dodge County were chosen to receive scholarships of $2,500 each as they study to become food animal veterinarians at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Visit www.gfbfoundation.org to learn more about the GFB Foundation for Agriculture or to make a tax-deductible donation. Instructions for applying for the 2020 scholarships will be announced on the foundation website in the fall. BURGAMY TO LEAD GFB INFORMATION /PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT Kenny Burgamy is now leading the Georgia Farm Bureau Information/Public Relations Department, GFB President Gerald Long announced May 20. Burgamy’s appointment follows the April resignation of former department director Andy Lucas. “I am excited to be working with a great group of professionals in our department,” Burgamy said. “It is a pleasure advocating for the Georgia Farm Bureau brand.” Burgamy, a Macon native, joined GFB as a co-anchor and field reporter for the organization’s Farm Monitor television program in 2014. He has been serving as associate director of the department since 2018. He studied mass communications at Macon College and graduated from Atlanta’s Columbia School of Broadcasting. Through the years, Burgamy Kenny Burgamy has worked in various capacities in radio and television broadcasting. Burgamy and his wife, Dawn, have been married for 35 years. The couple has one daughter, Morgan Adams. DAIRY FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO VOTE IN GA MILK REFERENDUM The Georgia Department of Agriculture is conducting a referendum on the continuation of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk. Ballots must be postmarked by May 30 to be eligible. If your farm has not received a ballot, please contact Andy Harrison with the Georgia Department of Agriculture at 404-710-1196. Ballots must be postmarked by May 30 to be eligible.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 13 FARMERS, DON’T LET STRESS STEAL YOUR JOY Note: In recognition of May as National Mental Health Month, we’re republishing this article that ran in the February/March Georgia Farm Bureau News. Farming is stressful. Work days that begin before dawn and end long after dark. Equipment breakdowns. Crop yields lessened by adverse weather. Sick livestock. Low commodity prices. “It’s no wonder that farming ranks in the top ten most stressful occupations in America,” Dr. Sean Brotherson, a family science specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension, said. Recognizing that Georgia farmers and their rural communities are facing stress levels comparable to those of the farm crisis in the early 1980s, several University of Georgia colleges teamed up to hold a Rural Stress Summit in Atlanta in December. The event, sponsored by the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, College of Family & Consumer Sciences and School of Social Work, featured rural stress experts from across the U.S. “Everyone knows what it’s like to have stress, anxiety and to be burned out. People in rural areas suffer just like those in metro areas. They just may not know where to seek help for a behavioral health issue,” CAES Dean & Director Dr. Sam Pardue said. Multiple summit speakers acknowledged that addressing rural stress is complicated because farming is more rooted in heritage and emotions than most jobs. “For families who have chosen farming it is more than a means of making money. It is a generational way of life,” Brotherson said. “When it comes to the impact of a farming economic crisis on families and communities, it is about more than making money. It is about the continuance of a generational way of life rooted in history.” Common signs of stress • Physical signs: headaches, backaches, eating too much/little, sleep problems, frequent sickness, ulcers, exhaustion • Emotional signs: depression, anger/blame, anxiety, loss of spirit, loss of humor • Behavioral signs: irritability, acting out, withdrawal, heavy drinking or violence • Cognitive signs: memory loss, lack of concentration, indecisiveness Causes & risks of stress Stress usually stems from factors perceived as being beyond our control. For farmers, this may include weather, tariffs and the general economy. “No matter how hard you work, you can’t guarantee that you’re going to have a positive outcome and that feeling of helplessness can really be associated with depression and with risk for suicide,” said Anna Scheyett, dean of the UGA School of Social Work. Some farmers are able to cope with the stress of farming until the loss of a loved one or a relationship ends. “In rural communities, people are obviously more isolated. That means the relationships that farmers do have, they lean on them and count on them more,” Scheyett said. “So, any disruption in their relationship, breakup with a family member, somebody passing in the family is going to put them at greater risk.” Ignoring emotions caused by stress factors can eventually take its toll on a farmer’s physical and emotional health. -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 5 of 13 Continued from previous page “In general, you’re looking for changes in behavior. People who stop eating, increase drinking, whose sleep gets disrupted, who isolate, who don’t want to go to church anymore, don’t want to do the things they used to do anymore,” Scheyett said. Untreated stress can lead to depression or suicide. The suicide rate among farmers is the third highest of any vocational group, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. “Some high-end warning signs that people may not think about include things like people starting to show loved ones where they keep all their important papers, wanting to give things away, wanting to make sure they know what's going on with insurance and such," Scheyett said. On May 15 UGA released the results of a study Scheyett led in collaboration with epidemiologists from the Georgia Department of Public Health. The study, “Characteristics & Contextual Stressors in Farmer and Agricultural Worker Suicides in Georgia from 2008-2015” looked at 106 suicides among farmers and ag workers that occurred in Georgia from 2008 to 2015 as reported in the Georgia Violent Death Reporting System. Relationship difficulties/endings, health problems and financial problems were most commonly associated with farmer suicides, the study found. Farmers who died by suicide were predominantly white men more than 50 years old, statistics that reflect the demographics of the majority of Georgia’s farmers. The study suggested that rural health care providers who treat farmers and farm workers experiencing illness, pain or disability should be trained in self-harm risk detection and in giving referrals for counseling. Scheyett and the other researchers also recommend that service providers who may be aware of relationship problems or loss farmers are experiencing – clergy, funeral home directors or lawyers – could also be trained to encourage their clients to seek counseling. Managing stress • Talk with someone you trust about your feelings. • Eat healthy. • Exercise regularly. • Avoid using drugs or alcohol. • Get enough “good” sleep. Don’t take electronics to bed. Avoid drinking caffeine/alcohol at least an hour before bed. • Reach out to family/friends for support. Ask for what you want/need from people likely to give it. • Choose to be hopeful. Focus on the good in your life. • Find professional support if feelings of stress continue & affect daily activities. Stress management is farm management Farmers wouldn’t let a sick cow go without veterinary care or leave a field infested with insects or weeds unsprayed. But they’re liable to ignore their own health, especially emotional health issues. “Your health is your most important asset as a farmer, rancher or agricultural worker,” said Brotherson. “Farmer and farmworker health and safety is the most important priority in managing -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 6 of 13 Continued from previous page any farm or ranch operation.” While farmers are usually among the first to offer others help, they often can’t ask for it for themselves, Brotherson said. A willingness to seek help is crucial as is the development of a social support system to help not only an individual but a family navigate stressful situations. A survey Brotherson took of farmers indicates they are most likely to seek social support from: 1) spouses, 2) friends, 3) children, 4) church, 5) parents, 6) relatives or lenders, 7) neighbors, 8) farm organizations, 9) community and 10) social services. “While it’s really hard to talk about, I think talking about it is important and saying to somebody that you love, ‘I love you. I care about you. I’m seeing these differences. I’d like to take you to talk to someone,’ ” Scheyett said. “Maybe it’s somebody that person trusts, maybe it’s a clergyman the person feels good about and that you know understands these issues, maybe it’s a primary care provider.” If you have a loved one, friend or neighbor exhibiting signs of stress, you should do something, Ted Matthews, director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health, said. During his more than 30 years of counseling in rural areas, Matthews has partnered with sheriff’s departments, Extension agents and social services to help farmers and rural residents struggling with stress issues. “If they go to church and they haven’t gone to church for three weeks in a row, talk to the minister and say ‘What’s going on with Bob or Joan? They haven’t been to church in three weeks’,” Matthews said. A sincere, loving inquiry toward someone exhibiting signs of emotional stress might prevent them taking desperate action. When it comes to stress, Matthews said women are more likely to want to talk while men tend to pull away. For every suicide, there are 25 attempts, Matthews said. More women attempt suicide than men, but men are more successful. It's OK to seek help South Georgia farmers are still recovering from Hurricane Michael. Realizing the stress the storm would cause rural Georgia, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) secured funding last fall to implement the Georgia Recovery Project (GRP). This project provides crisis counselors to offer a listening ear for disaster survivors to discuss how they’ve been affected by the storm. If farmers need more than a listening ear, GRP counselors can provide referrals to resources that can provide the help needed. Individual and group crisis counseling is available. All services are free and confidential. “The Georgia Recovery Project has a network of people who can offer varying degrees of help. Some of our team members are counselors. Some are retired pastors, and some are certified peer specialists, who have been in the shoes of those seeking help,” said Jennifer Dunn, a regional services administrator for the DBHDD Region 4. The GRP, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will operate through Oct. 11. The program is available to residents in -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 7 of 13 Continued from previous page counties that received a presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance. Residents of Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Miller, Randolph, Terrell and Worth counties should call Aspire Behavioral Health at 229-430-6037 to be connected with a GRP counselor. Residents of Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole and Thomas counties should call the Georgia Pines Community Service Board at 229-977-6134 to access GRP support. Georgians experiencing emotional distress related to a natural disaster who live in counties outside of the GRP coverage area can seek crisis counseling through the Disaster Distress Helpline provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at 1-800-985- 5990. The hotline is operational 24 hours, seven days a week. “If someone has breath in their lungs, then there’s hope. We don’t want people to be without hope,” Dunn said. All Georgians dealing with emotional issues may seek help through the Georgia Crisis & Access Line at 1-800-715-4225 24 hours, seven days a week. This hotline offers crisis services for those considering suicide and connects Georgians with services to help with emotional health or substance abuse issues. Help on the Line Georgia Recovery Project - For Southwest Ga. residents experiencing stress from Hurricane Michael, 229-977-4885; Disaster Distress Helpline - For anyone experiencing stress due to a natural disaster. 1-800-985-5990; Georgia Crisis & Access Line - Provides suicide prevention/counseling & access to emotional health & substance abuse services, 1-800-715-4225; National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 24-hour crisis intervention, 1-800-273-TALK. WOMEN ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THE AFBF WOMEN IN AG SURVEY The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program has launched a Women in Ag online survey that aims to gauge the goals, aspirations, achievements and needs of women who hold various roles in the American agriculture industry. All women who are farmers, ranchers, farm/ranch employees, employed in agricultural businesses, pursuing ag-related higher education or supportive of agriculture in other ways are invited to participate in the survey at www.fb.org/women. Respondents must reside in the United States. Farm Bureau membership is not required to participate. Data collected from respondents will be used to gauge trends related to the achievements of women in agriculture, including leadership positions, business successes and election to public office. Results from the survey are slated for release in the fall and will add to findings from a similar survey conducted in 2014. The AFB Women’s Leadership Committee is sponsoring the survey and is working with other farm and agriculture organizations to encourage participation. Participants will be entered to receive one of five $100 “thank you” gift cards after the survey closes on June 21.
GFB News Alert page 8 of 13 GEORGIA SOYBEAN COMMISSION ANNOUNCES 2019 FUNDING Earlier this year, the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Soybeans approved over $200,000 in funding for 13 separate research and extension projects as well as promotional activities. The research projects funded included: soybean production research, the continuation of soybean IPM sentinel plots, support of the statewide variety testing program, development of high yielding soybean varieties, soybean improvement via insect resistance, development of irrigation strategies specific to soybeans, sponsorship of the annual soybean & small grain expo and continued support of the Georgia Automated Weather Network. Like producers of other commodities, such as corn, cotton and peanuts, Georgia’s soybean farmers collectively invest a portion of their revenue to fund research and promotion efforts. This investment is called a checkoff. The soybean checkoff is a nationwide effort supported entirely by soybean farmers with individual contributions of 0.5% of the market price per bushel sold each season. Success for soybean farmers in today’s market takes more than just a good harvest. Increasing demand for soybeans is an essential part of the equation. The soybean checkoff helps facilitate market growth and creation by funding research at land-grant universities as well as promotional efforts. In Georgia, 76% of checkoff funds collected go to fund research – which is crucial in the development of new varieties, improvements in production efficiency, and advancements in insect, weed and disease management. By investing in research and building demand, the U.S. Soybean Checkoff helps ensure a sustainable and profitable future for soybean farmers in Georgia and across the nation. For more information on the soy checkoff or to receive the Georgia Soybean News, contact Billy Skaggs at gasoybean@gmail.com. For more information on the soybean checkoff, visit www.unitedsoybean.org. UGA DEVELOPS NEW VEGETABLE IRRIGATION TOOL University of Georgia scientists have created a new app to help Georgia vegetable growers irrigate their crops more efficiently. Irrigating, an internet-based app, provides users with the crop’s water requirements during the growing season. It was created by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist Andre da Silva in collaboration with UGA Extension vegetable specialist Tim Coolong and Assistant Professor Erick Smith, whose specialty is growing fruit. The app combines 18 years of historical weather data with vegetable crops’ coefficients for water requirements to calculate the water demand in each stage of a crop’s development. This is also known as crop evapotranspiration. The irrigation app includes a wide variety of vegetables, including bell pepper, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, onion, squash, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon and zucchini. Improper irrigation can lead to plant stress caused by water deficiency or waterlogging, he said. Plant stress affects crop yield. Proper irrigation management also reduces nutrient leaching, which affects what farmers spend on fertilizer inputs. To access the app visit https://irrigating.uga.edu/irrigating-app/.
GFB News Alert page 9 of 13 USDA ANNOUNCES TOP SITES FOR ERS, NIFA RELOCATIONS On May 3, the USDA announced the finalists to become the new homes for its Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Athens and Griffin, Georgia’s top contenders, survived the first round of eliminations but were not among the finalists. The finalist locations are: Indiana (multiple locations, including Purdue University); Kansas/Missouri (the Greater Kansas City Region) and North Carolina’s Research Triangle region. Alternate locations include St. Louis, Missouri, and Madison, Wisconsin. As part of the site selection process, USDA narrowed the Expressions of Interest list using a set of established criteria defined by USDA, NIFA, and ERS leadership. The criteria included: Quality of Life: Subcategory examples include diversity index, residential housing costs, access to healthcare, and home and community safety ranking. Capital and operating costs: Subcategory examples include commercial real estate costs, CPI Index, and wage costs. Workforce: Subcategory examples include labor force growth rate, unemployment rate, and the labor force population. Logistics / IT Infrastructure: Subcategory examples include lodging availability, proximity to customers, and airport accessibility. The top Expressions of Interest were reviewed in detail, and USDA selected a short list of locations offering existing buildings with sufficient space to meet ERS and NIFA requirements. In a related development, on April 22 the House Committee on Appropriations released a draft of its agriculture and rural development funding bill for FY2020. The bill includes language that would block the proposed relocation of ERS and NIFA away from the national capital region. GEORGIA FSA PAYS TRIBUTE TO THOMAS R. BREEDLOVE SR. The Georgia State Farm Service Agency Office joined with the family of Thomas R. Breedlove, Sr. to remember and pay tribute to his achievements with a special program held in his honor. Thomas R. Breedlove, Sr. was the first and longest serving Georgia State Director for the Agriculture Adjustment Administration (“Triple A”), now known as the Farm Service Agency (FSA). President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Breedlove in 1939, and he served as State Director for 16 years, until 1955. Three of Breedlove's grandchildren, Bill and Thomas Verner and Sally Verner Tuell, as well as his great-grandson, Thomas R. Breedlove IV, attended the FSA program and shared personal memories, before presenting a framed portrait and bio of Breedlove to the Georgia State FSA Office. On September 25, 2015, Thomas R. Breedlove Sr. was posthumously recognized for his outstanding service to Georgia agriculture with his induction into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame.
GFB News Alert page 10 of 13 AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY COMMISSIONS TAKING BOARD NOMINATIONS The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commissions for beef, cotton, equine, soybeans and tobacco are accepting nominations to fill term-expiring board positions. Eligible candidates must be active producers of the commodity and commit to attending commodity commission meetings. Term-expiring board members are also eligible for reappointment. Nominations can be submitted using the Nominee Information Form found at commoditypromotion-forms.aspx and mailing them to: Andy Harrison, Georgia Department of Agriculture, 19 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., Room 320, Atlanta, GA 30334 Nomination forms may also be faxed to 404-656-9380 or emailed to Andy.Harrison@agr.georgia.gov. The deadline for submissions is May 30. The nominees will be certified by the Georgia Department of Agriculture to ensure they are active Georgia producers of the commodity. Geographic representation is considered during the appointment process. Final appointments will be made by the Agriculture Commodity Commission Ex Officio Committee in July. Producers may contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture at 404-586-1405 with questions. Georgia’s agricultural commodity commissions are farmer-funded programs to enhance research, promotion and education for specific commodities. Commissions are authorized by Georgia law under the Commodity Promotions Act.
GFB News Alert page 11 of 13 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. Fees are waved for collegiate members. For more information contact GFB YF&R Coordinator Erin Nessmith at ennessmith@gfb.org or 478-474-0679, ext. 5232. CLINCH COUNTY FARMERS MARKET First Saturday each month 8 a.m. – noon Empire Plaza Homerville This monthly farmers market co-hosted by Clinch County Farm Bureau and Homerville Main Street features a variety of locally produced treats, arts and crafts. Empire Plaza is located at the water fountain behind Heritage Bank on U.S. Highway 84. COBB COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS MARKET Tuesdays through September 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Lost Mountain Park Powder Springs The public is invited to check out a variety of vendors with locally grown produce, baked goods, strawberries, peaches, jams, jellies and much more. Lost Mountain Park is located at 4845 Dallas Highway in Powder Springs. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/cobbcofarmbureau/ or call 770-943-3531. 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/.
GFB News Alert page 12 of 13 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 are available 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. Tuition is $200 per student to attend the workshop. The 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. PRESCRIBED FIRE WORKSHOP June 6 Chattahoochee Technical College 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Jasper University of Tennessee Extension Wildlife Specialist Dr. Craig Harper will be a featured speaker at this one-day workshop, which will include sessions on the effects of wildlife, air quality and more. Registration fee of $35 includes a light breakfast and lunch plus handouts. Early registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, visit www.garxfire.com/events, or call Kim McCollom at 706-894-1591. 2019 GEORGIA-FLORIDA TOBACCO TOUR June 10-12 Various locations Blackshear, Ga. – Live Oak, Fla. This annual tour of South Georgia and North Florida tobacco fields and research plots kicks off on June 10 with a 7 p.m. supper at Johnson’s Pond House in Blackshear. Tour includes on-farm demonstrations and interaction with producers, as well as a stop at the Bowen Farm at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton. Visit https://gfb.ag/19GaFlatobaccotour for more information or to register. 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.” 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. 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. 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 13 of 13 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.