Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - January 5, 2011

January 5, 2011

www.gfb.org

Vol. 29 No. 1

FSIS UNVEILS NEW ENFORCEMENT STEPS, NEW LABELING REQUIREMENTS

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced last month new measures in the enforcement of humane handling laws for the slaughter of cattle.

According to a USDA press release, the FSIS will begin issuing procedures to inspection personnel to clarify that all non-ambulatory mature cattle must be condemned and promptly euthanized regardless of the reason for the animal’s non-ambulatory status.

The FSIS will respond to and solicit comments on petitions from the Humane Society of the United States and Farm Sanctuary.

An ombudsman will be appointed in the Office of Food Safety, designated specifically for humane handling issues. The ombudsman will provide FSIS employees a channel of communication to voice concerns when standard reporting mechanisms do not adequately address outstanding issues.

The FSIS will request that the USDA Office of Inspector General audit industry appeals of noncompliance records and other humane handling enforcement actions by FSIS inspection program personnel.

Enhanced, situation-based humane handling training will be provided to inspectors.

For more information about how humane handling laws are applied to cattle slaughter, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Humane_Methods_of_Slaughter/index .asp.

The agency also published its final rule for nutrition labeling of ground or chopped meat and poultry products.

Beginning in 2012, nutrition labels will be required on meat packaging or at the point of purchase for major cuts of single-ingredient raw meat and poultry products. The labels will appear on 40 of the most commonly purchased cuts of beef, lamb, pork and poultry.

Documentation of the number of calories and grams of total fat and saturated fat in a product will be required on the labels. Products whose labels list a lean percentage statement will have to also list its fat percentage, making it easier for consumers to understand the amounts of lean protein and fat in their purchase.

To view the entire final rule, visit http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2010/12/29/2010-32485/nutrition-labeling-ofsingle-ingredient-products-and-ground-or-chopped-meat-and-poultry-products.

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TOLAR APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL Bryan Tolar has been appointed as president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC), effective Jan. 1.

“We are very excited to have Bryan lead this organization and to continue the great leadership that has been provided to the council,” GAC Chairman David Skinner said. “We look forward to continued success and growth of the GAC and AgriTrust of Georgia under Bryan’s leadership.”

Tolar, of Douglasville, is a 1992 graduate of the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He has been with the GAC since 1997, serving stints as a member services representative, as director of marketing, education and environmental programs and as vice president of public affairs.

Prior to joining the GAC, Tolar worked in the Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division.

He succeeds Gary Black, who resigned last year to run for election as the state’s commissioner of agriculture.

ARCH SMITH NAMED GEORGIA 4-H STATE LEADER Arch Smith, who has served 4-H in a number of capacities over his 25-year career, has been named state leader and director of Georgia 4-H. Smith has served as interim state 4-H director for the past year, leading the organization through the 2010 budget process. In that time, he helped form the official response to budget proposals that included the elimination of the 4-H program.

“Arch has done a remarkable job in his interim role of leading Georgia 4-H through some difficult challenges,” said Dr. Beverly Sparks, associate dean for extension for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “I am confident he will continue to provide outstanding leadership and build additional support for our program.”

Smith graduated from the University of Georgia in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from West Georgia.

Smith worked as a county 4-H agent in Carroll County from 1985 to 1988 before joining the state 4-H staff as director of the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. In 1995 he became associate state 4-H leader and executive director of the Georgia 4-H Foundation.

SURE SIGNUP TO BEGIN JAN. 10 Enrollment for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program begins Jan. 10 for losses that occurred during the 2009 crop year. SURE is one of five disaster programs offered by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to assist farmers who have sustained losses due to natural disasters.

To be eligible, a farm must have at least a 10 percent loss of production on a crop of economic significance. In addition, it must have a policy or plan of insurance on the affected crop, and it must be located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county under a secretarial disaster designation.

For more information, visit any FSA county office or http://www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.

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EPD REVISES REGIONAL WATER PLANNING SCHEDULE Responding to requests from several of the state’s regional water councils for additional time to refine management practices, Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Director Allen Barnes has revised the regional planning schedule issued in July 2010.

Barnes, who has been reappointed as EPD director by Gov.-elect Nathan Deal, commended the water councils on their progress toward preparing draft plans, but noted that some are still considering results of plan studies.

Councils are to select water management practices to adjust demand and resource capacity through April, previously scheduled through January. The regional water plans are to be submitted to Barnes no later than May 2. The previous deadline was Jan. 31.

EPD will make public notice to start a 45-day public comment period no later than May 9.

The previous date for public notice was Feb. 7.

The regional water councils are to complete their reviews of public comments and plan revisions and submit final recommended regional water plans to Barnes no later than Sept.

30. The previous deadline was June 30.

NRCS SOLICITING PROPOSALS FOR TWO CONSERVATION PROGRAMS The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals for projects under the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) and the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). The deadline to submit proposals for each program is Jan. 31.

The requirements for submitting proposals to both programs can be found at http://www.regulations.gov.

“Farmers, ranchers and owners of forest land play pivotal roles in protecting and enhancing natural resources,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Our goal is to support projects that will improve the health of the natural resources on their land and bring the environmental and economic benefits of conservation to their local communities.”

CCPI is open to federally recognized Indian tribes, state and local units of government, producer associations, farmer cooperatives, institutions of higher education and nongovernmental organizations that work with producers. The NRCS approved 26 CCPI projects in 14 states for FY 2010.

AWEP is open to federally recognized Indian tribes, state and local governments, agricultural and forestland associations and nongovernmental associations. A total of 28 AWEP projects in nine states were approved in FY 2010.

Under the CCPI, the NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers in approved project areas. The CCPI is designed to encourage beneficial land conservation practices by farmers, ranchers and private nonindustrial forest landowners. The NRCS and its partners will combine resources to allow participants to implement soil erosion practices, manage grazing lands, improve forestlands, establish cover crops, reduce on-farm energy usage and other conservation measures.

Through AWEP, the NRCS provides support for projects that conserve and improve water quality, use irrigation water efficiently, mitigate the effects of drought and climate change and take other actions that benefit water resources.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 4 GEORGIA/FLORIDA SMALL GRAIN/SOYBEAN EXPO Jan. 13 Georgia National Fairgrounds/Agricenter Perry Program topics will include the 2011 world outlook for southern commodities, soybean pest and disease issues and small grain production. For more information contact Terry Hollifield at 706-542-2351.

NRCS ALTERNATIVE FARMING WORKSHOP Jan. 13 Macon State Farmer's Market 8:30 a.m.

Macon The first in a series of free workshops will cover topics related to alternative farming for underserved farmers in Baker, Bibb, Bleckley, Brooks, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Cook, Colquitt, Crisp, Crawford, Decatur, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Harris, Houston, Lee, Marion, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Seminole, Steward, Sumter, Tift, Talbot, Taylor, Terrell, Thomas, Turner, Twiggs, Webster and Worth Counties. For more information, contact Naomi Davis at 478-836-4564 or via e-mail at davisfarmscsa@aol.com FREEDOM GIANT MISCANTHUS FIELD DAY Jan. 13 REPREVE Renewables farming facility 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Soperton This field day will cover the planting and harvesting of giant miscanthus as a biomass energy crop. Event will include field tours, a harvesting demonstration, a baling demonstration and equipment display.

Researchers from the University of Georgia, Mississippi State and Appalachian State University will discuss growing the crop and its potential as a fuel source. The field day is open to the public, but advance registration is required. Visit http://www.freedomgiantmiscanthus.com/fieldday/ to register.

CORN SHORT COURSE AND GEORGIA CORN GROWERS MEETING Jan. 19 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Tifton This annual event will feature sessions on disease and pest prevention, nutrient needs, irrigation studies, a market outlook for corn and more. Registration is $5 in advance and $10 at the door. For information, contact your local Extension office or call 229-386-3416.

GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 20 Albany Civic Center 8:30 a.m.

Albany More than 65 exhibitors will display the latest in peanut equipment and technology. Event includes production and seed seminars and numerous door prizes. For more information call Rebecca Whitehead at 229-386-3502 or e-mail at: Rebecca@gapeanuts.com.

Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association Short Course Jan. 22 Atlanta Botanical Garden Atlanta Registration is underway online for this short course. The registration fee is $95 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, parking and presentations from educators and urban beekeepers. For the agenda or to register, visit http://www.beekeepingshortcourse.com.

GEORGIA COTTON COMMISSION 4TH ANNUAL MEETING Jan. 26 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m.

Tifton This meeting, which will be held in conjunction with the Georgia Cotton Production Workshop, provides a day of education for Georgia's cotton farmers with up-to-date technical production strategies and current industry information. A sponsored lunch is included.

For more information, visit http://www.georgiacottoncommission.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. The deadline to register is Jan. 21.