Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - January 26, 2011

January 26, 2011

www.gfb.org

Vol. 29 No. 4

MARKET BULLETIN READERS URGED TO PAY SUBSCRIPTIONS BY APRIL

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is urging readers of the Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin to pay for their subscriptions by April 20 to ensure the 94-yearold publication continues. Last year, due to the state budget crisis, the Georgia General Assembly eliminated funding for the Market Bulletin but adopted legislation allowing for subscription fees, donations, or other funds from the department to be used to continue its publication if deemed appropriate.

Last summer the GDA asked readers to begin paying a $10 subscription fee to continue receiving the biweekly newspaper, but as of mid-January, only about 14,000 readers had paid for their subscriptions, according to the department.

“Due to the challenges with the state budget it has become necessary for the Market Bulletin to finance itself with paid subscriptions rather than state funds,” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black said. “The crisis we face with the Market Bulletin is real. If our readers value this Georgia tradition and want to continue receiving it in a printed format we need you to send in your subscriptions as soon as possible. There will not be a printed Market Bulletin if we do not get at least forty-four thousand more paid subscribers by the end of April.”

The Market Bulletin is valued by its readers for its classifieds which serve as a marketplace to connect readers who want to sell or buy livestock, hay, farm equipment, flowers, produce and much more. Georgia Farm Bureau voting delegates adopted policy at the organization’s 2010 convention that supports the continued paper publication of the Market Bulletin.

Subscription fees are $10 per year (26 issues) for Georgia subscribers and $20 per year for out-of-state subscribers.

The GDA is asking readers who want to renew their subscription via U.S. mail to send a check or money order made payable to Market Bulletin addressed to: Market Bulletin, Georgia Department of Agriculture, 19 MLK Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30334-4250. Please include your mailing address label from the Market Bulletin to help speed processing of your payment. Also include a daytime phone number in the event the Bulletin staff needs to contact you concerning your subscription. Please do not include ads or other dated correspondence with your subscription payment. You will receive a new expiration date on your mailing label once your payment has been processed.

The GDA is establishing a secure web site dedicated to the Market Bulletin, which soon will allow subscribers to make payments for renewals and new subscriptions online at www.thegamarketbulletin.com. Subscribers will be notified via the Market Bulletin as soon as this payment method is available.

Leadership Alert page 2 of 5

MEMBERS NAMED TO SPECIAL JOINT REVENUE COMMITTEE Members of a 12-person committee made up of leaders of the Georgia House and Senate have been named to study the recommendations the Special Council for Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians released Jan. 7.

HB 1405, which the General Assembly passed last year, created the tax council, the joint committee and the process by which the study and possible reform would proceed. The Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure is charged with studying the tax council report and taking legislative action on it with up or down votes in each chamber.

The joint committee consists of eight appointees designated by position: President Pro Tempore of the Senate - Sen. Tommie Williams; Speaker Pro Tempore of the House - Rep. Jan Jones; Senate Majority Leader - Sen. Chip Rogers; House Majority Leader - Rep. Larry O'Neal; Senate Minority Leader - Sen. Robert Brown; House Minority Leader - Rep. Stacey Abrams; Senate Finance Committee Chair - Sen. Bill Heath; House Ways & Means Committee Chair - Rep. Mickey Channell. Two posts were appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (Sen. Bill Cowsert and Sen. Steve Thompson) and two were appointed by House Speaker David Ralston (Rep. Allen Peake and Rep. Bob Bryant).

GEORGIA CORN GROWERS NAME EFFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS David Stafford of Murray County took the top prize in the non-irrigated high yield and production efficiency category of the 2010 Georgia Corn Yield Contest, sponsored by the Georgia Corn Growers Association. Stafford produced 216.8 bushels per acre of Anderson's SX 723 variety at a cost of 80 cents per bushel, claiming the $400 overall top prize.

Kevin Cobb of Jefferson County won in the irrigated high yield category, producing 283.1 bushels per acre of the Pioneer 2023 variety. Mike Newberry of Early County won in the irrigated production efficiency category, producing 255.3 bushels per acre at a cost of $2.48 per bushel. Cobb and Newberry each received a $300 cash prize, and all three winners received plaques.

EPA APPROVES E15 FOR MORE MODEL YEARS The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Jan. 21 approved an increased ethanol content for gasoline used in cars and light trucks from model years 2001 to 2006.

The allowed ethanol content, previously at a maximum of 10 percent (E10), may be increased to 15 percent (E15) for those model years.

The EPA decision followed a study by the U.S. Department of Energy, which found that E15 caused no damage to engine parts in cars for those model years. In October 2010, the EPA approved E15 for cars from years 2007 and newer, a move that has been challenged through lawsuits by coalitions of livestock, food manufacturing and petroleum groups.

The waiver, which will allow nearly two-thirds of all cars and light trucks on the roads to use E15, does not include motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles or non-road engines. The agency stated that there is no testing data to support a waiver for those vehicles.

The E15 waiver was requested by Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association and other groups out of concern that the ethanol industry would produce more ethanol than the market could consume at the E10 level.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 5

PEANUT GROWERS TURN OUT FOR ANNUAL SHOW The mood was upbeat at the 35th Annual Georgia Peanut Show Jan. 20 at the Albany Civic Center thanks to the high yield last year's peanut crop produced and overall good crop prices.

More than 1,600 peanut growers turned out to walk through the displays of a record 78 exhibitors and attend production seminars presented by University of Georgia and various industry specialists.

UGA plant pathologist Dr. Bob Kemerait encouraged growers to consider planting disease-resistant varieties.

“Don't make your variety decision based on yield potential alone. Planting increased disease-resistant varieties allows flexibility in a management program and can be a costsaving measure because more resistant varieties can decrease your reliance on fungicides and nematicides,” Kemerait said.

Greg Mims, a Seminole County Farm Bureau member, received the 2011 Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award in recognition of his overall farm operation and community service activities. Mims farms in partnership with his dad and brother, raising cattle and growing peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and snapbeans on their 4,000-acre operation. Mims' leadership activities include serving as the Georgia Young Farmers Association treasurer and as a Georgia delegate for the National Cotton Council.

Other award recipients included: Distinguished Service Award - former Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin; Research/Education Award - Dr. Jim Todd, UGA entomology professor emeritus; Export Award - Stephanie Grunenfelder, American Peanut Council vice president of international marketing; Special Award - Sally Wells, Birdsong Peanuts Southeast Division logistics and administrative manager; and Media Award - Jennifer Whittaker, Georgia Farm Bureau News editor.

Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director, announced that a public hearing will be held Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. in Tifton at the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory (NESPAL) facility to discuss a proposal to increase the assessment growers pay to fund the commission from $2 a ton to $3 a ton.

“A survey of growers conducted last year at county production meetings indicated support for increasing your assessment by $1 a ton, so we will hold a hearing on this and proceed from there,” Koehler said. “The assessment hasn't been increased since 1980 and with the current state budget we're going to have to help fund more research.”

CHAMBLISS RELINQUISHES SENATE AG COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP POST Sen. Saxby Chambliss will step down as ranking member on the Senate Committee for Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry in order to become the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. While serving in the House of Representatives, Chambliss served as chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Chambliss will retain his seat on the Ag Committee. The Progressive Farmer reported Jan. 20 that Senate Ag Committee chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said Sen. Pat Roberts (RKan.) will replace Chambliss as ranking member. Roberts supported direct payments for farmers while serving as chairman of the House Ag Committee in the 1990s.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 5 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 27 GSU Nesmith Lane Conference Center Statesboro Feb. 9 Carroll County Ag Center Carrollton Feb. 10 GFB Building Macon This Farm Bureau-sponsored series begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. Seminar from 10 a.m. to noon followed by a networking lunch. UGA economists will give the annual ag economic outlook. Visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com to register or call 706-583-0347 for more information. The registration fee is $30 per individual or $200 for a table of eight.

GEORGIA WATERMELON ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION Jan. 28 – 30 Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club For more information, call 706- 845-8575 or email dcheplick@asginfo.net GEORGIA YOUNG FARMERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION Jan. 28-29 Savannah Marriott Riverfront For more information call 229-386-3429 or visit www.georgia youngfarmers.org.

Cordele

Savannah

GEORGIA DAIRY CONFERENCE Jan. 31-Feb. 1 Savannah Marriott Riverfront Savannah Event includes industry updates from various dairy organizations, workshops on management issues such as reducing somatic cell counts and the kickoff fundraiser for the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation. To register or for more information call Farrah Newberry at 706-310-0020.

CONSERVATION PRODUCTION SYSTEMS TRAINING CONFERENCE Feb. 1–2 Bainbridge College Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center Bainbridge This regional conference begins at 9 a.m. and is designed for farmers to learn about new advances in agricultural conservation production systems. Speakers include farm operators, USDA–NRCS conservation planners, UGA/UF extension agents and agricultural researchers from across the Southeast.

Topics will include: water quality, water conservation, soil quality and nutrient cycling, animal grazing and rotation, weed control with residue management, vegetables in conservation tillage, organic production, conservation on small farms, conservation calendars, federal conservation programs, and the emergence of sod based rotation as an important conservation tool for the Southeast. Field tours will showcase conservation tillage systems in practice and a set of nearby sod based rotation demonstration sites. The registration fee is $150 per person. For more information, please contact Renae Woods at 229-386–3416 or e-mail her at rltwoods@uga.edu. Registration is also available online at www.ugatiftonconference.org.

MASTERS EQUINE PROGRAM Feb. 1 - March 8 Habersham Aquatic Center Clarkesville This program of Tuesday night classes covers a wide range of equine industry topics, from horse nutrition to horse rescue and business plans. Classes run from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The $125 registration fee includes meals, a master equine handbook, a CD of course presentations and more. For more information, contact the Habersham County Extension office at 706-754-2318.

OLD SOUTH FARM MUSEUM HOG KILLING DEMONSTRATION Feb. 5 Old South Farm Museum 8:30 a.m.

Woodland Event will demonstrate how Southerners once harvested pigs and the many products they made from them. Event includes sausage making, meat curing, making of Brunswick Stew, head cheese, cracklin’s and skins, soap and more. A working smoke house will be in operation. Interested persons must register to participate in this event. For more information or to register contact Paul Bulloch at 706-975-9136 or visit www.oldsouthfarm.com.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 5 GFB DAY AT THE CAPITOL Feb. 8 Georgia Railroad Freight Depot/Georgia Capitol 9:30 a.m.

Atlanta Orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Blue Room at the historic Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, located next to Underground Atlanta. After orientation, members will visit legislators in the Capitol and return to the Depot for lunch at noon. Please invite your legislators to attend. Free parking will be available at the Turner Field Gold Lot and shuttle service will run from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. All Farm Bureau Day events are complimentary. Contact the GFB Legislative Department at 1-800-342-1192 for more information.

GEORGIA FORESTRY DAY Feb. 9 Georgia Capitol North lobby Atlanta State business, civic and environmental leaders will gather at 10:30 a.m. for the unveiling of a study that will show the economic value of the environmental services Georgia’s forestland provides such as protecting the state’s air and water. Dr. Rebecca Moore at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources oversaw Georgia’s first study of forest-related ecosystem services.

UGA 19TH ANNUAL FOCUS ON EPD’S BULL SALE Feb. 10 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena Contact Dr. Ronnie Silcox at 706-542-9102 or rsilcox@uga.edu for information.

Athens

GREEN UP LANDSCAPE UPDATE Feb. 15 Macon State College Macon This one-day seminar provides training, pesticide certification credits, networking and face-to-face interaction with suppliers. Registration fee is $40 before Feb. 5 and $50 after. Visit http://www.ugaextension.com/houston/ or contact Karen Atkins at 478-987-2028 or atkinsk@uga.edu.

COMMITMENT TO AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE Feb. 15 Monsanto and the national Association of Farm Broadcasters will award a total of 100 to high school seniors who plan to pursue careers in agriculture. To qualify, high school seniors must come from a farming family, plan to enroll as a full-time student in an agriculture-related program from an accredited school and commit to pursing a career in agriculture. Applications are available online at www.monsanto.com/scholarships.

GEORGIA VEGETABLE COMMISSION REFERENDUM DEADLINE February 21 is the deadline to return a ballot in the mail ballot referendum currently in progress to reaffirm the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission. The Agricultural Commodity Commission for Vegetables Marketing Order assesses growers who annually produce 50 acres or more of beans, bell pepper, cabbage, cantaloupe, cucumbers, leafy greens, squash, sweet corn and tomatoes or have a combined annual production of 50 acres of these crops. The assessment is one cent per marketing unit.

The Commission committed that at least 75% of collected funds each year be used for vegetable research. Since its inception in 2008, the Commission has approved more than $330,000 dollars for various research projects. If you should have received a ballot and have not, please contact Marcia Crowley at (404) 656-3678.

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR FLAVOR OF GA CONTEST FEB. 18 Judges are looking for market-ready foods – already commercially available or prototypes. Entries will be judged on flavor, best use of Georgia ingredients, Georgia theme, unique qualities, commercial appeal and originality. The UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development (CAED) will reveal the winners during Georgia Ag Day March 22. Semifinalists will be announced in February. Final judging will be March 21 at the Freight Depot in Atlanta. Register online at www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu.

For more information, call Sharon Kane at (706) 542-9809 or e-mail spkane@uga.edu.