January 4, 2012
www.gfb.org
Vol. 30 No. 1
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RELEASES AG LABOR REPORT Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black released a report on agriculture labor in Georgia, offering practical solutions to address the concerns of Georgia’s largest and oldest industry. The report, required by Georgia House Bill 87, was delivered to Governor Nathan Deal, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Speaker David Ralston on Jan. 3. “The results of this survey continue to make clear that the solution to labor issues facing Georgia producers rests in the hands of the federal government,” Black said. “Agriculture is our state’s number one industry, yet the federal government is failing to provide our farmers with the skilled labor they need to harvest crops in a legal and efficient manner. It is time that our friends in Washington step up to the plate and provide us with a system that works.” The first recommendation in the report points out that only the federal government has the ability to reform existing agriculture guest worker programs to make them useful and effective for farmers. Available options for farmers are too cumbersome, unreliable and bureaucratic to be practical in today’s modern economy. The report also recommends that more resources be put in place for educating the agriculture industry about the federal H-2A program. The final recommendation suggests more research be conducted in order to fully understand agriculture labor in Georgia. The 189-page report included the results of the GDA’s survey. The study obtained responses from 138 Georgia counties, with more than 800 producers responding to the survey, including those from small and large scale operations. One fourth of those surveyed indicated they had lost income in 2011 because of a lack of available laborers. Of the survey respondents who are producers of blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupe, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, squash, tobacco and watermelons, more than 50 percent reported income losses. The report provides a summary of federal legislation attempting to address agricultural guest worker issues, including the Better Agricultural Resources Now (BARN) Act introduced by Reps. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) and the Helping Agriculture Receive Verifiable Employees Securely and Temporarily (HARVEST) Act introduced by Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss. “We need senators and representatives from other states to join this effort in creating a solution to fix the problem,” he said. “Our livelihoods are at stake.” It also included a summary of new immigration laws and initiatives in other states, as well as Black’s testimony before Congress on migrant farm labor and the text of HB87. The full report is available online here: http://www.agr.georgia.gov/AgLaborReport.pdf.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 DEAL APPROVES WATER SUPPLY TASK FORCE REPORT Gov. Nathan Deal has approved the final report of the Water Supply Task Force, which outlines water supply initiatives and recommendations for the Governor's Water Supply Program. The final report, which is available at www.GeorgiaWaterSupply.org, was submitted by the WSTF on Dec. 15. “I appreciate the work of the Water Supply Task Force in developing this plan to improve Georgia's water supply resources,” said Deal. “The state, local governments and our citizens share a mutual interest in making sure Georgia has an adequate and sustainable water supply for the future.” Through the GWSP, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs will allocate $300 million over the next four years to support water supply projects. The GWSP will support local government projects and will tailor its financing to meet the unique needs of individual projects. Eligible projects include new reservoirs, expanding existing reservoirs, system interconnections, wells, water supply planning, indirect potable reuse, and aquifer storage and recovery. To aid the launch of the GWSP, Deal instructed GEFA and DCA to open the GWSP in January with the goal of making funding awards by summer 2012. He also directed GEFA and DCA to work closely with local governments to help them access the program, which includes conducting workshops for prospective applicants. GFB TO HOST CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT SEMINAR Individuals interested in running for public office will have a chance to gain valuable tips on how to conduct an election campaign during the Campaign Management Seminar, hosted by Georgia Farm Bureau in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation, to be held March 26 and 27 at the GFB home office in Macon. The event will be facilitated by AFBF Director of Grassroots/Political Advocacy Cody Lyon. On the first day, the seminar will provide insights on how to evaluate the candidate and the electorate, how to approach announcing candidacy and filing of campaign application documents, as well as the role of the candidate’s spouse. Participants will be guided through the process of selecting a campaign theme and the campaign issues and receive training on handling aggressive reporters. Campaign finances will be addressed, including information to consider while preparing a budget, tips on raising money, how to use a finance committee and managing government reports. The second-day agenda will begin with a review of campaign television interviews. A breakdown of campaign organization will be covered, including the role of the campaign manager, use of support committees, selection and operation of campaign headquarters, working with the news media, promotional activities, recruiting and coordinating volunteers and the formation and use of allies and coalitions. A presentation on various aspects of campaign strategy will also be offered. The fees to attend are $150 for Farm Bureau members, $200 for non-members and $75 for candidate spouses and campaign managers attending with their candidates. Enrollment is limited to 30 people. For more information, contact the GFB Field Services or Legislative department at 478-474-8411.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 SOUTHWEST GEORGIA ETHANOL EXITS BANKRUPTCY Southwest Georgia Ethanol LLC (SWGE) successfully emerged from its Chapter 11 restructuring on Dec. 31, 2011, the company announced in a press release. SWGE, located in Mitchell County, will retain all of its 64 employees and its management team. During the Chapter 11 process, SWGE maintained full production levels and continues to produce ethanol. SWGE President Murray Campbell said the company would continue to be an economic engine for Southwest Georgia, contributing to local tax coffers and generating revenue for area businesses. “SWGE will continue to offer competitive prices to our local corn farmers and provide quality distillers grains for local livestock. We appreciate our corn farmers, distillers grains customers and our vendors for working with us. We are also very proud of our employees’ dedication as we worked toward this day,” Campbell said. Campbell will serve on the company’s board of managers, which will be chaired by James Continenza, who has experience in the ethanol industry and has served as a senior executive while assisting in the recovery of underperforming businesses in a variety of industries. Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the requirement for four renewable fuel categories that are part of the Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2) created in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Under RFS2, the annual renewable fuel volume targets are gradually increased to reach 36 billion gallons in 2022. To meet this goal, EPA each year determines a percentage-based standard for renewable fuel. Refiners and importers use the standard to determine the minimum volume of renewable fuel it has to put in its transportation fuel. CONGRESS URGES DOL TO WITHDRAW PROPOSED CHILD LABOR RULES Members of the U.S. Senate and House sent letters to U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis asking that the Department of Labor abandon its proposed child farm labor rules. The house letter, signed by 129 congressmen, advised Solis that the regulations would be overly burdensome and would punish agriculture, which “has made significant gains in the safety of its younger workers over the last several decades.” Georgia Reps. Paul Broun (R-10th District), Phil Gingrey (R-11th), Tom Graves (R-9th), Austin Scott (R-8th) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-3rd) signed the letter, which emphasized that training the next generation of farmers is necessary to ensure a stable food supply for the U.S. The congressmen also expressed concern that the family farm exemptions included in the proposed rules would not apply to many farms partly owned by relatives. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) sent a letter signed by 28 senators, including Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), also asking Solis to withdraw the proposed rules, which would place a variety of restrictions on farm work by youth under the age of 16. Georgia Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation, along with numerous other agricultural groups, submitted comments on the proposed rules.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 ENTRIES BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2012 FLAVOR OF GEORGIA CONTEST Product registrations are being accepted for the Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. The deadline for entries is Feb. 10. Winners in six food categories will be announced on March 13 during Georgia Ag Awareness Day celebration. Contestants can register online at http://www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu and save $10 off registration fees. For information contact contest director Sharon Kane at 706-542-9809 or spkane@uga.edu. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 5-8, 2012 International Trade and Convention Center Savannah Conference workshops will focus on improving crop production and the latest in produce trends as well as the latest legislative updates from Washington and Atlanta. For information or to register, visit http://www.seregionalconference.com. GEORGIA AGRITOURISM CONFERENCE Jan. 5-6, 2012 Westin Hotel Savannah Owners and operators from the state’s newest, oldest and most successful agritourism destinations will meet for this conference, held in conjunction with the 2012 Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. Participants will get a professional development experience and receive presentations from an array of speakers, business-to-business prospects, networking opportunities, trade show access and interaction with industry leaders. More information can be found on the GAA website: http://georgia-agritourism.org/conference/ NORTHEAST DISTRICT BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE Jan. 10, 2012 UGA Livestock Arena 9 a.m. Athens This one-day course will feature sessions on marketing options for cattle producers, calf nutrition, forage feeding and testing, bull and heifer selection and much more. Registration is $15 per participant, which includes a meal and instructional materials. Deadline to register is Jan. 5. For more information and to register, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu and search for Northeast Beef Cattle Short Course. 2nd ANNUAL FREEDOM GIANT MISCANTHUS FIELD DAY Jan. 10-11, 2012 Repreve Renewables Farm Soperton Those interested in learning about giant miscanthus will have a chance to interact with industry experts on giant miscanthus research and end uses, take field tours and see demonstrations. The event is open to the public but advance registration is required. To register, visit http://www.repreverenewables.com/fieldday. 36th ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 19, 2012 Albany Civic Center Albany This event offers farmers the chance to view the products and services of more than 75 exhibitors and attend marketing and production workshops with UGA peanut specialists. The show provides exhibitors with an opportunity to highlight their products or services to nearly 1,500 farmers from across the Southeast.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 2012 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 23 Georgia Farm Bureau Building Macon Jan. 24 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton Jan. 25 Nesmith Lane Conference Center, GSU Campus Statesboro Jan. 26 Georgia Mountains Center Gainesville Jan. 27 Carroll County Ag Center Carrollton These meetings are a UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences program made possible through an endowment from Georgia Farm Bureau and support from the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Agribusiness Council. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The seminar will be held from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. followed by a luncheon. UGA ag economists will give the 2012 economic outlook for agriculture. The keynote speaker will give an update on current farm labor issues. Registration is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Call 706583-0347 or visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com for more information or to register. FOURTH WEEK IN JANUARY IS POULTRY WEEK Gov. Nathan Deal has proclaimed the fourth week in January as Poultry Week to coincide with the International Poultry Expo at the Georgia World Congress Center Jan. 24-26. 2012 SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Jan. 26, 2012 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Expo will provide soybean and small grain producers with up-to-date marketing projections and the newest production techniques. The event will also feature presentations from UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences professors on climate variability, maximizing yields, world outlook for southern commodities and others. Pesticide credits are available. For more information, contact the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association at 706-5423793. GEORIGA COTTON COMMISSION 5TH ANNUAL MEETING Feb. 1, 2012 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This sponsored event is free but registration is requested and features morning and afternoon cotton production workshops. Guest speakers included Southern Cotton Growers President Mike Tate, Cotton Board CEO Bill Gillon, Cotton Incorporated Fiber Quality Research Vice President Mike Watson and National Cotton Council Senior Director of Governmental Relations John Maguire. Late Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. To register, visit http://www.ugatiftonconference.org between Dec. 1, 2011, and Jan. 18, 2012 or call 229-3863416. For more information about the conference, email Richey Seaton at gactn@windstream.net or Karen Nikitopoulos at cotton@windstream.net or call 478-988-4235. UGA 20TH ANNUAL FOCUS ON EPD'S BULL SALE Feb. 2, 2012 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena Athens Sale begins at noon. For more information contact Dr. Ronnie Silcox at 706-542-9102 or rsilcox@uga.edu.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 OLD SOUTH FARM MUSEUM HOG KILLING DEMONSTRATION Feb. 4, 2012 Old South Farm Museum 8:30 a.m. Woodland This event will demonstrate how hogs were once harvested and the products made from them. Program includes a meat-cutting class and demonstrations on making various pork products. The fee to observe and receive free sausage is $12 per person. To participate in the workshop, gain hands-on experience and receive pork products, the fee is $35. Registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Paul Bulloch at 706-975-9136 or visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com. ENTRIES BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2012 FLAVOR OF GEORGIA CONTEST Product registrations are being accepted for the Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest. The deadline for entries is Feb. 10, 2012. Semifinalists will be announced in February. Final judging and the announcement of the winners in six food categories will be announced on March 13 during Georgia Ag Awareness Day festivites at the Georgia Depot in Atlanta. Contestants can register online at http://www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu and save $10 off registration fees. For more information contact contest director Sharon Kane at 706-542-9809 or spkane@uga.edu. TIFTON BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE March 6, 2012 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Registration starts at 9 a.m. For more information contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. TIFTON PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE March 7, 2012 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Dr. Ronnie Silcox at 706-542-9102 or rsilcox@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. 7TH RAY CITY OLD FASHION PLOW DAY March 17, 2012 Ray City Antique tractor show and plowing demonstration with antique tractors and mules and horses plowing in the field just like they did 100 years ago. Parade begins at 11 am and a plowing demonstration will follow. The event also features arts & crafts vendors, food vendors, fun and games for kids, bluegrass gospel concerts featuring the bluegrass gospel band, the Wauka Mountains Boys, a baking contest with prizes, frying pan toss contest, and much more. Free admission. Join us for a day of agricultural history. For more info contact Greg Harrell 229-2373223. GA HEIFER EVALUATION &REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE April 24, 2012 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. Contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229/386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu for more information. CALHOUN BEEF CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP May 29, 2012 NW GA Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 6 p.m. Contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706/624-1398 - pworley@uga.edu for more information.
GA HEIFER EVALUATION AND REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE May 30, 2012 NW Ga. Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or pworley@uga.edu