Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - January 14, 2015

January 14, 2015

www.gfb.org

Vol. 33 No. 2

GFB MEMBERS SHINE AT AFBF ANNUAL CONVENTION Hall County Farm Bureau Director Drew Echols and his wife Shelly were named to the top 10 in the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Contest, highlighting Georgia Farm Bureau activities during the 96th AFBF Annual Convention, held Jan. 9-14 in San Diego.

The Echols family runs Jaemor Farms, a farm, roadside market and agritourism operation in Alto and Commerce. Drew and Shelly competed against winners from other states, making presentations on Jan. 10.

Brittany Ivey of Stephens County advanced to the Sweet 16 round in the Young Farmer & Rancher Drew and Shelly Echols Discussion Meet, competing against other state winners.

During the first round the competitors discussed how the condition of government-managed lands might change if they were managed privately. During the second round the topic was whether a safety net for livestock producers should be developed and what provisions it might include. In the Sweet 16 round the discussion centered on how U.S. policies should balance concerns over food insecurity against safety and environmental impact of modern agricultural practices.

Trisha Lastly of Madison County competed in the Excellence in Agriculture contest, also competing against other state winners. The Excellence in Agriculture competitors made presentations before judges on Jan. 10 and 11.

More than 150 GFB leaders attended the meeting, which offered a variety of informational sessions and the IDEAg trade show at the San Diego Convention Center.

On Jan. 9, the GFB group had breakfast aboard the USS Midway, a decommissioned aircraft carrier that has been converted into a museum. The breakfast was followed by a tour aboard the ship that served as the planning center for U.S. naval operations during Operation Desert Storm.

Crawford County Farm Bureau President Leighton Cooley spoke during the Leadership Luncheon on Jan. 11, discussing his passion for farming and his leadership training through Farm Bureau. Cooley, one of six farmers featured in the documentary film “Farmland,” also talked about his family’s decision to be a part of the movie.

GFB received AFBF Awards for Excellence in education and outreach, leadership development, member services, membership initiatives and public relations and communications.

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman gave his annual address during the opening -continued

GFB News Alert page 2 of 10 AFBF, continued session on Jan. 11, recognizing host state California and military veterans while lauding the perseverance of farmers. Stallman discussed challenges from government, including the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule and AFBF's “Ditch the Rule” campaign.

“I have two more words for the EPA and Corps: That's Enough,” Stallman said.

Stallman talked about AFBF's GO (Grassroots Outreach) Team, a group of Farm Bureau volunteers who perform advocacy for agriculture. He also spoke of AFBF's efforts to help push ag-friendly legislation through Congress.

During the Jan. 12 general session, Henry County’s Jake Carter was recognized for his service as chairman of the AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Committee.

U.S. Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver was the keynote speaker for the Jan. 12 general session. Denver talked about leadership and the value of training. He drew a connection between farming and military service.

“I’ve been to every hot spot in the world, and I can tell you that when people are hungry, they start killing each other. So when you do your job, I don't have to do mine,” Denver said. “I mean this sincerely: Thank you for what you do for this country.”

During the event’s closing general session, Farm Bureau members from around the country were entertained by long-time Tonight Show host Jay Leno.

On Jan. 13, GFB voting delegates worked with their counterparts from other states to set AFBF policy for 2015.

GEORGIA BLUEBERRY COMMISSION REFERENDUM SET FOR JAN. 21 – FEB. 20 Georgia blueberry growers who annually produce one ton or more of blueberries that are commercially packed and marketed have the opportunity to vote in a mail ballot referendum from Jan. 21 to Feb. 20 to determine if they will continue the Georgia Blueberry Commission Marketing Order. This order authorizes the assessment growers pay to fund the research, consumer promotion and education activities of the Georgia Blueberry Commission.

Affected blueberry producers originally approved the Georgia Marketing Order for Blueberries in a referendum in early 2009 and it went into effect April 1, 2009. Georgia blueberry producers voted to continue the marketing order in 2012 and it is effective until March 31. By state law, affected producers must vote to determine if they will continue the order every three years.

The order established that an assessment of no more than $10 per ton be collected from Georgia blueberry growers who annually produce one ton or more of blueberries that are commercially packed and marketed to finance the Blueberry Commission activities on behalf of the growers. The assessment rate has been set at $5 per ton since the order began in 2009, and according to information distributed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) announcing the referendum, the assessment rate will remain $5 per ton until further notice.

Some of the projects funded by the Georgia Blueberry Commission include research to control the invasive Spotted Wing Drosophila insect, horticultural research projects, blueberry bush -continued

GFB News Alert page 3 of 10 Blueberries, continued disease identification and control, weather monitoring and prediction research, research on the health benefits of eating blueberries and consumer promotion and public awareness campaigns of the health benefits of blueberries. Members of the Georgia Blueberry Commission are: Chairman Joe Cornelius Jr. of Manor, David Lee of Alma, Steve Mullis of Alma, Russ Goodman of Homerville and Albert Wildes of Alma.

The GDA is in the process of mailing ballots to affected producers. Ballots must be signed and postmarked by Feb. 20. If you are an eligible blueberry producer and do not receive a ballot by Jan. 21, please contact GDA Commodity Commissions Manager Andy Harrison for more information about the referendum at 404-586-1405 or andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU NAMES COMMODITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) has named the chairmen of its 2015 Commodity Advisory Committees. Each committee meets several times during the year to address issues related to its commodity and assist with GFB’s policy development process. Georgia Farm Bureau has 20 Commodity Committees.

Chairmen of the 2015 GFB Commodity Committees are as follows: Aquaculture, Terry Bramlett, Fannin County; Beef Cattle, Sammy Perkins, Grady County; Cotton, Eddie Green, Dooly County; Dairy, Bud Butcher, Coweta County; Direct Marketing/Agritourism, Jake Carter, Henry County; Environmental Horticulture, Matt Bottoms, Pike County; Equine, Gary Walker, Tift County; Feedgrain/Soybean, James Gaston, Sumter County; Forestry, John Mixon, Pike County; Fruit, Bob McLeod, Wilcox County; Goats & Sheep, Greg Phillips, Whitfield County; Hay, Farrell Roberts, Tift County; Honeybees, B.J. Weeks, Cherokee County; Peanuts, John Harrell, Grady County; Pecans, Garrett Ganas, Ware County; Poultry, Wade Castleberry, Forsyth County; Swine, Terry Danforth, Berrien County; Tobacco, Jerry Wooten, Jeff Davis County; Vegetables, Brad Calhoun, Turner County; and Water, Bubba Johnson, Mitchell County.

This year GFB formed a new Direct Marketing /Agritourism Committee in response to the growing number of farmers marketing directly from the farm and producing locally grown food.

Committee members were selected from GFB members who offer agritourism activities at their farms or own farm markets that sell directly to consumers.

Each committee chairman serves on the GFB Policy Development Committee. The GFB Commodity Committee chairmen make an important contribution to Farm Bureau by providing knowledge of their commodity and leadership for their committee. The input the committee chairmen provide is an important link back to the farm and helps maintain GFB’s strong grassroots representation.

During the upcoming spring committee meetings, the committees will discuss and make recommendations on policy implementation. The committees will meet again on Aug. 13 during the GFB Commodity Conference.

GFB News Alert page 4 of 10 GEORGIA VEGETABLE COMMISSION SETS REFERENDUM FOR MARCH 1 - 31 The Georgia Department of Agriculture held a public hearing Jan. 6 at the Macon State Farmer’s Market to receive public comments on a proposal by the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Vegetables to re-establish a marketing order authorizing the collection of an assessment to fund activities to promote Georgia vegetables.

After receiving written comments from interested persons from Dec. 5 through Jan. 5 and the comments made at the hearing, members of the Vegetable Commission voted to hold a mail ballot referendum from March 1-March 31 to allow vegetable producers to determine if they will pay to fund research, promotion & education activities coordinated by the Bo Herndon testifying commission.

The commission is proposing to establish a marketing order for bell peppers, specialty peppers, beans, broccoli, beets, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, greens, squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Growers, who produce 50 acres or more of the vegetables listed above, would pay an assessment of not more than 1 cent per marketing unit for each vegetable.

During the public hearing, Charles Hart, president of Fresh Plants, Inc., based in Sumter County, which primarily produces snap beans, encouraged Georgia vegetable producers to vote yes in the upcoming referendum to re-establish the commission.

“Unfortunately, during the reauthorization balloting of the marketing order in 2014, we did not mobilize our growers. With very few growers participating, the voting failed by only four percent,” said Hart, president of the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association. “As growers, we have seen our input costs continue to escalate. We must find ways to help reduce these dramatic increases in our input costs. It is only through applied agriculture research that we can accomplish this. Since the passage of the original marketing order in 2009, this commission has committed over $700,000 to research projects that are helping our growers. The use of the assessment funds for research is critical to the long-term growth of the vegetable industry in Georgia.”

Dr. Scott Angle, dean of the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, testified that state and federal budget cuts make producer-funded research a necessity.

“As time has gone on, it’s been more and more difficult to fund research as state and federal research funds have declined. It’s unlikely that we’ll see more funds in the future. You have a very strong and influential way to address your industry’s research needs by passing this referendum to collect an assessment to support your industry,” Angle said. “As producers you can identify the problems you need addressed, instruct us to address them, fund the research, and we’ll address them.”

Bo Herndon, who grows numerous vegetables on his Toombs County farm and has served as chairman of the Georgia Vegetable Commission since 2006 when the commission was first formed, explained the commission’s purpose.

“We believe the marketing order we are bringing forth is fair and will provide an avenue for growers to help themselves through research, promotion and education. This commission has been able to address production issues for our growers such as soil fumigants, fungus and bacteria disease prevention, pest management systems and irrigation efficiencies.”

GFB News Alert page 5 of 10 SOUTHEASTERN FRUIT & VEGETABLE GROWERS MEET IN SAVANNAH More than 3,200 fruit & vegetable growers from across the Southeast attended the 2015 Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference held Jan. 8-11 in Savannah. The event included a trade show and educational programs covering blackberries, blueberries, organic production, peaches, roadside markets, vegetables and food safety.

One of the popular topics at the conference was potential use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones, in agriculture. UGA researcher Dr. Harold Scherm, Roderick Gilbert, senior coordinator with the Georgia Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, and Georgia Tech Principal Engineer Associate Director Gary McMurray gave peach growers an overview of a collaborative project that representatives of UGA, Georgia Tech, Middle Georgia State College and the University of Florida are conducting to evaluate the needs and opportunities for drone use in specialty crops.

The researchers are seeking input from specialty crop producers on ways they would like to use drones in their production practices and plan to develop a road map outlining future drone research and use of drones in agriculture. Producers who would like to offer suggestions for possible use of drones in specialty crop production should contact Dr. Scherm at scherm@uga.edu by the end of March.

Barry Pritchett, an apple producer from Ellijay whose family’s Red Apple Barn is a member of the Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market Program, spoke during the Roadside Markets Conference, sharing how his family has incorporated agritourism activities such as hayrides, you-pick, a pumpkin patch and a wedding venue to grow their business.

“The thing that’s changed most in the last five years for us is agritourism. It’s been the best cash crop for us,” Pritchett said. “The recent recession hurt our business, but offering agritourism activities turned it around.”

Pritchett said families thinking about offering agritourism activities should identify the thing that will bring people to the farm and capitalize on that.

Brandon Ashley, coordinator of the GFB Certified Farm Market program, told event attendees that GFB is currently accepting applications for its 2015 program. Visit www.gfb.org/commodities/cfm/default.html for more information about the program, which promotes farmer-owned roadside markets that sell the commodities they grow straight to consumers and/or offer agritourism activities. GFB promotes the markets through its media and a brochure distributed statewide.

During the conference, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) unveiled its new Produce Food Safety Services (PFSS) program, formerly known as the Georgia Good Agricultural Practices Food Safety Program.

“The newly named Produce Food Safety Services program provides participating operations with the expertise, professional resources and assurances that will give them peace of mind,” said Beth Bland Oleson, director of education and food safety for GFVGA and director of PFSS. PFSS will provide clients with affordable options for developing all aspects of a customized food safety program such as mock audits for farm, harvest and facility operations, HACCP plans and microbiological plans.

GFB News Alert page 6 of 10 U.S. AG COALITION LAUNCHES PUSH TO LIFT CUBA EMBARGO Following President Obama’s announcement in December that the United States will begin moving to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba, a group of about 30 food and farm organizations announced Jan. 8 it is launching an effort to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

The U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba, which includes the American Farm Bureau, American Meat Institute, American Soybean Association, International Dairy Foods Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Chicken Council, U.S. Canola Association and Cargill, formed in early 2014 to advance trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

“We are re-energized to establish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture products,” said USACC Chairwoman Devry Boughner Vorwerk at the coalition’s launch in Washington, D.C. last week. “We would like to offer high-quality, affordable, safe food to the Cuban citizens.”

Since 2001, select ag exports have been allowed to Cuba, but the embargo places financing and trade restrictions that limit the U.S.’ ability to compete with other foreign exporters and market share is shrinking.

According to the National Corn Growers, a member of the coalition, U.S. corn exports to Cuba have decreased from nearly 800,000 metric tons in 2008 to 200,000 tons in 2013 due to the trade restrictions the U.S. faces.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Cuba is a $1.7 billion market, importing about 80 percent of its food. He noted that trade changes would benefit U.S. farmers and improve the quality of life for Cuba’s 11 million citizens.

“These changes will expand choices for Cuban shoppers at grocery stores and create a new customer base for America’s farmers and ranchers,” Vilsack said.

GEORGIA MEMBERS OF 114TH CONGRESS TAKE OFFICE Georgia’s U.S. Congressional delegation took office Jan. 6, as the 114th Congress began. Vice President Joe Biden swore in the Senate members while Speaker of the House John Boehner delivered the oath of office in the House of Representatives.

New members of Georgia’s delegation include U.S. Sen. David Perdue, Rep. Buddy Carter (RDist. 1), Rep. Jody Hice (R-Dist. 10), Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Dist. 11) and Rep. Rick Allen (R-Dist. 12). Carter replaces Jack Kingston; Hice replaces Paul Broun and Loudermilk replaces Phil Gingrey. Kingston, Broun and Gingrey ran to replace former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, rather than their congressional seats. Allen defeated former Rep. John Barrow.

Returning members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation include U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-Dist. 2); Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Dist. 3); Rep. Hank Johnson (DDist. 4); Rep. John Lewis (D-Dist. 5); Rep. Tom Price (R-Dist. 6); Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Dist.

7); Rep. Austin Scott (R-Dist. 8); Rep. Doug Collins (R-Dist. 9); Rep. David Scott (D-Dist. 13) and Rep. Tom Graves (R-Dist. 14).

Visit www.gfb.org/legislative/directory.html to access a directory of Georgia’s Congressional delegation including contact information.

GFB News Alert page 7 of 10 2015 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 15 Clarence Brown Conference Center Cartersville Jan. 16 Cloud Livestock Facility Bainbridge Jan. 21 Toombs County Agricenter Lyons Jan. 22 UGA Conference Center Tifton Jan. 23 Georgia Farm Bureau Macon This series focuses on how technology is being used to solve problems for the ag industry along with the 2015 economic outlook for agricultural commodities. Check-in for all of the meetings, except Tifton, begins at 9 a.m. with seminars starting at 10 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Check-in for the Tifton event starts at 7 a.m., breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. followed by the seminar from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.georgiaagforecast.com, call 706-583-0347 or email carlam@uga.edu. Follow the meetings on UGA CAES Facebook or on Twitter @GaAgForecast and join the conversation with #AgForecast.

GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 15 UGA Tifton Conference Center 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Tifton This annual must-go event features 100 exhibits, nearly $40,000 in door prizes, a free farmer lunch and educational sessions, including pesticide applicators certification classes. For more information contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229-386-3470 or info@gapeanuts.com, or visit the GPC website at www.gapeanuts.com.

BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING Jan. 15 Holiday Inn Express (1502 Sam Nunn Blvd.)

Perry Meeting, which begins at 1 p.m. will provide a program update for 2015. Call 1-800-269-9926 to RSVP or for more information.

UGA DAIRY HEIFER SHOW Feb. 6-7 UGA Livestock Arena Athens State Junior Commercial Dairy Heifer Show rules and regulations apply. Entry fees are $12 per heifer and entries must be postmarked by Jan. 15. All heifers entered must have been individually tagged by Nov. 14. A contest to design the show t-shirts is being held, with a $50 prize to the winner. Entries for the t-shirt design contest are also due Jan. 15. A dairy judging contest for FFA and 4-H students will be held Feb. 6. Entry fees for the judging contest are $5.

For a printable entry form visit http://tinyurl.com/ugadairyheifer. For more information contact Dr. William Graves at wgraves@uga.edu.

2015 GFB DISTRICT II YOUNG FARMER STEER AND HEIFER SHOW Jan. 17 White County Agri-Science Center Cleveland Come out to see junior beef cattle exhibitors from Union, Towns, Rabun, Lumpkin, White, Habersham, Hall, Banks, Stephens, Franklin, Jackson, Madison and Elbert counties. For more information contact Will Cabe at 706-988-0018 or willcabe@yahoo.com, Matthew London at 706-969-9284 or mlondon9284@gmail.com, or Clay Talton at 706-988-0153 or cstalton@gfb.org.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 10 VETERANS AND SMALL FARMERS WORKSHOPS Jan. 22 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton Feb. 19 Fort Valley State University Pettigrew Center Fort Valley March 12 Gwinnett Technical College Busbee Center Lawrenceville These one-day workshops are designed to provide veterans and small farmers with knowledge of funds and programs available to them. Each workshop begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and runs through 4:30 p.mEarly registration and payment of the $20 fee can be completed online at http://conta.cc/1vjYPvM or call 678-376-9518 with any other questions. Please select specific workshop location under session section of link.

INAUGURAL ABAC YOUNG FARMERS STEER AND HEIFER SHOW Jan. 23-24 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry 4-H and FFA members from across Georgia in grades 4-12 will compete in this show organized by the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Farm Bureau chapter. For more information contact Charlsy Anesetti at 770-490-6391 or canessett@stallions.abac.edu or Johnathan Barrett at 706-499-3456 or j24barrett@gmail.com.

GACDS ANNUAL MEETING Jan. 23-24 Columbus Convention & Trade Center Columbus The Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors’ annual meeting includes supervisor training, the GACDS Annual Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner, an exhibit showcase and breakout sessions, including one on feral hog control, and a tour of the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. On-site registration is $300. For more information, visit www.gacds.org or contact Kim McCollum at 706-552-4470 or kmccollum@gaswcc.org.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DAY AT THE CAPITOL Feb. 19 Georgia Depot and State Capitol 9:30 a.m.

Atlanta Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol is a chance for Farm Bureau members to meet with legislators and other government officials. Orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Blue Room of the historic Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, located next to Underground Atlanta. Free parking at Turner Field will be available with a shuttle service that runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Registration deadline is Jan. 26. For more information contact the GFB Legislative Department at 1-800-342-1192 ext. 5283 or your local county Farm Bureau office.

GEORGIA DAIRY FINANCIAL & MANAGEMENT DECISION WORKSHOPS Jan. 26 Macon County Extension Office 478-472-7588 Oglethorpe Jan. 27 Putnam County Extension Office 706-485-4151 Eatonton Jan. 29 Brooks County Extension Office 229-263-4103 Quitman Feb. 3 Burke County Extension Office 706-554-2119 Waynesboro The University of Georgia Extension, along with the University of Florida, are releasing three new printed and electronic dairy budgets for dairy producers using conventional, grazing, or hybrid production systems. The two universities will also be releasing several stand-alone decision-aids. These workshops are designed to help dairy producers and managers learn to utilize these free Excel budgets and decision-aids programs for their operations. The workshops are free, but pre-registration is requested to plan for meal and laptop usage. Please call the phone number provided for each meeting. When registering, please indicate whether you will bring your own laptop or would like one provided for you.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 10 GCC ANNUAL MEETING & UGA COTTON PRODUCTION WORKSHOP Jan. 28 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m.

Tifton Featured speakers for the Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting are Mark Messura, Senior Vice President for Global Marketing, Cotton Incorporated; John Maguire, Senior Vice President of the National Cotton Council, and a representative for Southern Cotton Growers. The UGA Cotton Production Workshop, conducted by the Research & Extension Cotton Team, provides the latest technical production strategies from the researchers whose projects were funded by the Commission using growers’ dollars. There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is requested to help with meal plans. Register online at www.ugatiftonconference.org or call 229.386.3416. For more information call 478-988-4235 or visit http://tinyurl.com/cottonmtg.

VEGETABLE GROWERS WORKSHOP Jan. 30 UGA Griffin Student Learning Center 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Griffin This program will cover many aspects of how to grow vegetables for food and/or profit. The workshop will cover a range of topics, including how to select varieties and grow from transplants, understanding Georgia soils, planting and maintenance of vegetables and more. The program will provide handouts and includes lunch and break refreshments. Pesticide credits will be offered. Cost is $30 and preregistration is required.

To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/pjabm69. For more information contact Beth Horne at 770-228-7214.

2015 GA/FLA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Feb. 5 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Expo will provide up-to-date marketing projections and the newest production techniques, as well as remarks from University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences leaders. Featured speakers are UGA Extension Economist Dr. Nathan Smith, who will give a world outlook for southern ag commodities; American Farm Bureau Federation Deputy Chief Economist John Anderson, who will discuss the 2014 farm bill and Dow AgroSciences Field Specialist Dr. Ralph Lassiter, who will discuss Dow Enlist technology. The registration fee is $10 for advance registration or $20 on the date of the Expo. Please make checks payable to the Georgia /Florida Soybean Association, mail to 2425 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30605. Registration must be received before Feb. 1. For more information contact the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association at 706-542-3793 should you have questions or comments.

OLD SOUTH FARM MUSEUM HOG KILLING DEMONSTRATION Feb. 7 Old South Farm Museum 8:30 a.m.

Woodland This event will demonstrate how farmers once slaughtered hogs on their farms for their families and the many products made from hogs. Program includes a meat-cutting class and demonstrations on making various products from pork including sausage, Brunswick stew, meat skins and lye soap. Classes run from 8:30 a.m. into the afternoon. Breakfast and lunch will be sold at the museum. The fee to observe and receive free sausage is $12 per person. The fee is $35 to participate in the workshop demonstrations with hands-on experience and receive pork products. Feb. 2 is the deadline to pre-register. For more information or to register, contact Paul Bulloch at 706-975-9136 or visit www.oldsouthfarm.com to print the registration form to be mailed with payment to Bulloch.

GFB News Alert page 10 of 10 NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD NOMINATION MEETING Feb. 11 UGA NESPAL Building 8:30 a.m.

Tifton The Georgia Peanut Commission will hold a meeting to select two nominees to represent Georgia on the National Peanut Board and two nominees to serve as alternate. All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to attend the meeting and are eligible for nomination. Eligible producers are defined as those who grow and sale peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop. USDA requires each peanut producing state to nominate two nominees for the position of board member and two for alternate. The National Peanut Board will submit Georgia’s slate of nominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the appointments. John Harrell of Whigham is the current Georgia NPB Board member. Andy Bell of Climax serves as the alternate. Their terms expired Dec. 14, 2014.

UGA ACCEPTING CAES ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association invites you to make nominations for its Young Alumni Achievement Award, Alumni Award of Excellence and the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame. The Young Alumni Achievement Award is for alumni who are 35 years old or younger and who have achieved excellence in their chosen field and/or in their community. The CAES Alumni Award of Excellence recognizes extraordinary CAES alumni 36 years or older. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals making unusual and extraordinary contributions to agriculture and agribusiness industries in Georgia.

The Young Alumni Achievement and Alumni Excellence awards must be received by Feb. 28. Hall of Fame nominations must be postmarked by March 15. For more information or to make nominations for these awards, visit www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.