July 1, 2015
www.gfb.org
Vol. 33 No. 26
STATES SUE EPA, CORPS OF ENGINEERS OVER WOTUS RULE Calling the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule an “unlawful and unprecedented expansion of federal power over private property owners and state and local matters,” the state of Georgia, joined by eight other states, filed suit against the agencies on June 30 seeking relief from the WOTUS rule. The final WOTUS rule was published in the Federal Register on June 29 and is scheduled to become effective on August 28. “The scope of the Waters of the U.S. rule is breathtaking and will directly impact the everyday lives of Georgians, from farmers to homeowners,” Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens said in a press release. “Under this excessive and expensive rule, a farm pond or even a homeowner’s back yard could be subject to federal regulation.” The suit is one of several filed by states against the agencies over the WOTUS rule, which the agencies proposed in April 2014 and finalized this spring. A group of 13 states, led by North Dakota, sued in the federal district court in Bismarck, N.D. Ohio and Michigan sued in the District Court of Southern Ohio, and the state of Texas, joined by Louisiana and Mississippi, filed suit in the Southern District court in Texas. Georgia’s lawsuit, filed in the federal court for the Southern District of Georgia, was joined by Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The Georgia group complaint alleges that the WOTUS rule violates the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and the U.S. Constitution while usurping states’ primary responsibility for the management, protection and care of intrastate waters and lands. The states are asking the court to declare the WOTUS rule unlawful, that the court order the agencies to set aside the rule in its entirety, issue an injunction that prohibits its enforcement and send the rule back to the agencies to issue a rule that complies with the CWA and the APA. Georgia Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) have opposed the rule since it was proposed, maintaining that the WOTUS rule greatly expands the jurisdictions of the EPA and the Corps of Engineers while circumventing the will of Congress and going against multiple Supreme Court decisions, which is also noted in the Georgia-led lawsuit. “This rule was never really about protecting water sources: It’s about giving EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the power to regulate any activity on the land that they choose to regulate. And that’s what the rule does,” AFBF President Bob Stallman wrote in his July 2015 blog. An AFBF analysis showed that the final rule makes major changes under the category “other waters/case specific waters,” adds a new definition to “tributary” that is even broader than the proposed rule and expands “adjacent” category beyond wetlands to include any type of water.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 9 GFB PUSHES FOR CHANGES TO HIP RULES FOR FARM BILL PROGRAMS Saying the current implementation of Historical Irrigation Percentage (HIP) rules prevents farmers from the common practice of combining farms, often referred to as reconstitution, Georgia Farm Bureau wrote to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) requesting that changes be made that will allow reconstitution. The FSA is implementing HIP under the crop insurance programs included in the 2014 farm bill. GFB President Zippy Duvall wrote a June 17 letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking that HIP be adjusted to allow traditional reconstitution of farms. “This new feature was not communicated to farmers before the deadline of selecting either ARC or PLC for each covered commodity,” Duvall wrote. “If farmers were made aware of this provision, many would have made a different decision in their selection of ARC versus PLC.” In addition to the letter, Duvall has discussed the issues surrounding HIP with Georgia FSA Director Dr. Fred Harrison, who acknowledged the concerns and indicated that FSA is working to resolve the issue. In May, the FSA implemented HIP, which allows crops enrolled in Agricultural Risk Coverage-County option (ARC-CO) to be designated as irrigated or non-irrigated, using each farm’s HIP from crop years 2009-2012. The HIP program does not apply to crops enrolled in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) crop insurance program. The way HIP is being implemented limits farmers’ ability to reconstitute farms, which in the past they have used to reduce paperwork and enhance farm efficiency. The FSA has indicated that the software being used to calculate HIP cannot service changes needed to reconstitute a farm. SENATE PASSES TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY On June 24 the Senate passed the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (H.R. 2146), by a 62-38 vote. Both Georgia senators, Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, voted in favor of the bill, which now awaits the president’s signature to become law. Both Georgia Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation supported the measure, which among other things would allow the president to negotiate trade agreements with foreign countries, subject to congressional approval without amendment. Commonly referred to as “fast track” authority, TPA also sets criteria international trade agreements must meet. “You can’t negotiate with all 535 individuals in Congress and expect healthy trade. This legislation provides for unprecedented congressional oversight of the trade agreement negotiating process and it bars agreements from making any changes to U.S. law without further congressional action,” Isakson said in a statement. “Under this legislation, Congress retains the authority to either approve any trade agreement, or to determine that an agreement will not benefit the United States and to vote it down. Without Congress setting out clear negotiating objectives, the president could negotiate a trade deal without Congressional input or oversight.” International trade is a key economic component for agriculture. In 2013, Georgia exported nearly $3 billion in agriculture products up from $1.8 billion in 2009, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Georgia exports help boost farm prices and income, while supporting about 22,500 jobs, both on the farm and in related industries such as food processing, transportation and manufacturing according to the USDA. Nationwide, U.S. food and agriculture exports reached a record $150.5 billion in 2014, supporting more than one million American jobs.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 9 USPOULTRY OFFERS FREE BIOSECURITY TRAINING USPOULTRY’s biosecurity training program for the poultry industry entitled, “Infectious Disease Risk Management: Practical Biosecurity Resources for Commercial Poultry Producers,” is available, free of charge, to all USPOULTRY members, producers, growers and allied industry. The program was created to aid in developing more effective biosecurity practices and is designed to be used as a program development tool for personnel training and teaching. “We have supplied almost 1,500 copies of this program since March, as there is a thirst for knowledge to protect poultry operations. We hope this reminder of the availability of this tool will spur more producers and growers to request a copy and strengthen their biosecurity programs,” said Dr. John Glisson, vice president of research programs for USPOULTRY. The biosecurity program was developed under the guidance of industry and academia members. The program is interactive, very user-friendly and includes educational videos and content, including an introduction video. The program is a multi-purpose, reference, employee training and teaching resource tool. The program can be ordered by visiting http://www.uspoultry.org/biosecurity/index.cfm. To view all of the educational programs USPOULTRY offers, please visit www.uspoultry.org. HOUSE PASSES MANDATORY PRICE REPORTING ACT On June 9 the U.S. House passed the Mandatory Price Reporting (MPR) Act of 2015 (H.R. 2051) by voice vote. MPR is scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, and the bill extends MPR for beef, swine, and sheep/lambs through September 2020. MPR is set to expire on Sept. 30. It includes some modifications to the swine and lamb provisions. The bill is awaiting consideration in the Senate Ag Committee. For hogs, the bill adds a new category for “negotiated formula purchase,” which consists of transactions for delivery within 14 days on which the price is not fixed at the time the hogs are committed to the packer. The bill also modifies the daily morning price report to include any transactions that take place after the 1:30 pm deadline on the previous day. The changes will improve the precision of hog price reports and should help capture some transactions currently not making it into the daily reports. Both of these changes are broadly supported within the industry. For lamb, the bill lowers the size threshold for automatic inclusion in MPR requirements for importers and packers. This should bring additional transactions into the current reports. H.R. 2051 includes a change to the “Emergency Authority” section of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 that would ensure a continuation of price reporting in the event of a government shutdown. This provision appears to prevent a repeat of a 2013 situation in which price reporting was suspended for almost two weeks as a result of the government shutdown.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 9 FMCSA GRANTS EXTENSION OF WAIVER FOR LIVESTOCK CARRIERS On June 12 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) renewed an exemption from the 30-minute rest break provision of the agency’s hours of service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers transporting livestock. The exemption renewal was requested by the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference of the American Trucking Associations. In 2011, the FMCSA published a final rule amending its HOS regulations, including a provision requiring a 30-minute rest break during the workday under certain circumstances. The FMCSA granted a 90-day waiver in 2013 during hot summer months following a request from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), which asserted that compliance with the 30minute rest rule would force the livestock industry and its drivers to choose between humane handling of animals or compliance with the rule. The FMCSA again granted the waiver for a period from June 2014 to June 2015. The renewal is in effect until June 2017. The exemption is limited to drivers engaged in interstate transportation of livestock. Additionally, motor carriers are required to notify the FMCSA within five business days of any accident that occurs while its driver is operating under the terms of its exemption. Visit http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FMCSA-2013-0283 for more details about the FMCSA waiver. NINE GA STUDENTS GET SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH MONSANTO PROGRAM Nine Georgia students were awarded a total of $13,500 in college scholarships this spring from America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. The new program encourages rural youth to remain in agriculture and provides $1,500 scholarships to support their education. Farmers play a vital role by promoting the opportunity to local students and endorsing their applications. By participating in the program, farmers are helping to develop new talent for the future of ag. The career paths most frequently cited by this year’s scholarship recipients are agronomy and farming, agricultural education and agricultural science and research. While many of the students come from farming families, some had little or no previous exposure to agriculture, but developed a strong interest in the industry through participation in FFA or other ag-related youth programs. The Georgia recipients are: Jenny Bullard of Cook County; Kelly Childers, Crisp County; Kyla Enfinger, Seminole County; Daniel McMillan, Berrien County; Megan Oliver, Tattnall County; Bryan Tucker, Irwin County; Jeffrey Warren, Early County, Jarrett Williams, Appling County and James Woods, Screven County. Grow Ag Leaders scholarships, administered by the National FFA Organization, are available to high school seniors and college students pursuing degrees in ag-related fields. Applicants do not have to be FFA members but are required to receive endorsements from at least three local farmers. With support from the Monsanto Fund, more than $500,000 in scholarships has been awarded to students nationwide this year. For more information, visit GrowAgLeaders.com.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 9 See page 7 for a list of ongoing Farm Bureau-affiliated farmers markets! GEORGIA JUNIOR CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION FIELD DAY July 9 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Perry The field day is divided into tracks for ages 10 and under, 11 – 14 and 15 and over. Activities include a fitting demo, a hula hoop contest, coloring, a scavenger hunt and much more. Visit http://www.georgiacattlemen.org/fieldday.aspx for more information or to register. STRIPLING IRRIGATION RESEARCH PARK FIELD DAY July 8 Stripling Irrigation Research Park Camilla Information from a variety of SIRP projects will be shared with visitors during this annual field day. For more information, call 229-522-3623. SUNBELT AG EXPO FIELD DAY July 9 Spence Field Shuttles begin at 9 a.m. Moultrie Farmers will get a chance to see the crops and research projects being conducted at Expo’s Darrell Williams Research Farm during this free event. Registration for door prizes begins at 7:15 a.m. followed by a free biscuit breakfast and welcome from Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Department of Agriculture representatives. Trams will depart for field tours at 8 a.m. sharp. University researchers and representatives from 30 of the top ag companies will provide the latest information on soil fertility, weed management, crop protection products, water management and irrigation and seed variety trials for cotton, peanut, corn and soybeans. For more information call 229-985-1968 or visit www.sunbeltexpo.com. YOUNG, BEGINNING, SMALL AND MINORITY FARMERS WORKSHOP July 17 UGA Tifton Campus Conf. Center 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tifton Aug. 28 University of West Georgia Coliseum 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Carrollton Sponsored by AGAware, this workshop is designed to assist young, beginning, small and minority farmers with developing a strong farm plan. Topics include income statements, applying for financing, preparing a business plan, risk management and federal government programs through the USDA, the Small Business Administration and other. Lunch will be provided. For more information or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/agawarewkshp. GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION SUMMER CONFERENCE July 23-25 Sea Palms Resort St. Simons Island Registration is now open for this key GCA event. Speakers include Kim Stackhouse, Director of Sustainability Research with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and NCBA President Philip Ellis, who will share their experiences with NCBA and cattle operations throughout the U.S. In addition to committee meetings, there is a tour of the Georgia Ports Authority, a golf tournament, Georgia Junior Cattlemen’s Association Games on the Beach, a low country boil at Bennie’s Red Barn and much more for the whole family. For more information or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/gcasumconf.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 9 17TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN PEANUT GROWERS CONFERENCE July 23-25 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain This three-day event provides farmers with information on peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions. In addition to the numerous conference sessions, the event focuses on the family by offering a ladies program and a golf tournament. For more information visit http://www.southernpeanutfarmers.org/spgc.asp. CHEROKEE COUNTY POLITICAL FORUM July 28 Cagle’s Family Farm 6:30 p.m. Canton Local, state and national candidates for office in 2015 and 2016 are invited to attend and will have two minutes to speak. Questions from the audience will follow. Current elected officials will be introduced and attendees will have time to meet and greet the candidates both before and after the forum. Homemade ice cream will be served by Boy Scout Troop 465, and drinks and peanuts will be provided by Cherokee County Farm Bureau. RSVP by July 24 by contacting Shirley Pahl at 770-479-1481 ext. 0 or sfpahl@gfb.org. USDA PUBLIC HEARING FOR PECAN FEDERAL MARKETING ORDER July 27-29 Hilton Garden Inn 8 a.m. – 5 pm. Tifton Pecan growers and other industry stakeholders, including handlers and shellers, will have a chance to offer testimony regarding the proposed federal marketing order for pecans that the American Pecan Board is working to implement. Witnesses are expected to testify regarding the costs, benefits and other potential impacts of the proposed marketing order. Individuals who wish to testify will register on the sign-up sheet on the day of their arrival and should be prepared to speak when the administrative law judge facilitating the hearing calls them. The proposed draft of the marketing order is available for review at www.pecanboard.com. For more information about the hearings or proposed marketing order call 903-649-2077 or email bmichaeladams@gmail.com. FSA TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR COUNTY COMMITTEES The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting nominations for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees through Aug. 3. To be eligible to serve on a FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency-administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where they are nominated. Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2015 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 3. FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 9, 2015. Ballots will be due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 7, 2015. Newly elected committee members and alternates will take office on Jan. 1, 2016.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 9 AM. PEANUT SHELLERS/PEANUT BUYING POINTS JOINT CONVENTION Aug. 4-5 Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club Cordele Shellers and buying point managers meet to talk peanut issues, host an auction, present awards and install officers. For hotel rooms, call 800-459-1230. For more information, call 229-8882508 or 229-386-1716 or visit www peanut-shellers.org. GEORGIA STATE TRAIL RIDE & CHUCKWAGON COOKOFF CANCELED The trail ride and cookoff, scheduled for Aug. 8 at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge, has been canceled. SE GEORGIA RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER FIELD DAY Aug. 12 Southeast Georgia Research and Education Center Midville Hear research specialists talk about crops, technology, and hear about research. For more information call 478-589-7472. 26TH ANNUAL BROOKLET PEANUT FESTIVAL Aug. 15 Brooklet th Located just 45 minutes from Savannah in Bulloch County, the 25 Annual Peanut Festival includes a peanut run, a parade at 10 a.m., arts and crafts, exhibits and entertainment. Visit www.brookletpeanutfestival.com for more information. ENROLLMENT UNDER WAY FOR FARM BILL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS Farmers have until Sept. 30 to formally enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety-net programs for 2014 and 2015 according to a USDA press release. Farmers and producers had until April 7 to make a one-time choice of the program in which they would participate. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. ONGOING FARMERS MARKETS SHIELDS-ETHRIDGE HERITAGE FARM CULTIVATORS’ MARKET July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17 Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 2355 Ethridge Rd. Jefferson Jackson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) is sponsoring this monthly open-air market that will allow local farmers and entrepreneurs to sell products they make or grow in a festival atmosphere. The market will include live music, games and exhibitions of farming practices to entertain and educate visitors as they shop. Each month’s market will have a different theme. Market will be held rain or shine. Please leave pets at home. The Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm is an outdoor ag museum that functions as an educational and interpretative facility. The farm is unique for its collection of intact historic buildings that exist in their original location and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Proceeds from the market will be used for restoration projects at the farm. Vendors will be selected based on quality and originality of product according to the theme of homesteading practices. If you are interested in having a booth at the market, contact JCFB Office Manager Denise Temple at dftemple@gfb.org or call 706-367-8877 or visit www.shieldsethridgefarminc.com to complete an application online.
GFB News Alert page 8 of 9 PAULDING COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays until Nov. 19 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Paulding County High School Paulding County Farm Bureau is accepting vendors for its weekly farmers market that will be held each Thursday from April 16 to Nov. 20. There is no fee to participate but vendors must be Farm Bureau members so that the market qualifies as a Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market. If you would like to participate in the PCFB Farmer’s Market, please contact Tracy Grice at Paulding County Farm Bureau at 770-445-6681 or email her at tcgrice@gfb.org. Vendors may sell locally grown produce or other ag commodities or homemade crafts. PCFB is teaming up with the Paulding County High School this year to host the market in the north parking lot of the school located at 1297 Villa Rica Hwy., Dallas, Ga. 30132. HINESVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays until Nov. 19 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Downtown Hinesville This market, sponsored by the Liberty County Farm Bureau, offers customers fresh local produce and other farm items, cut flowers, plants, baked goods, specialty foods, prepared foods, and original crafts. Market is held in Bradwell Park on Commerce St. across from the Hinesville City Hall. To apply to be a vendor or for more information call the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority at 912-877-4332. MONROE FARMERS’ MARKET Saturdays through Oct. 10 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Court Street Downtown Monroe This market features vegetables and other ag commodities grown in Walton County along with homemade products made by county residents. Walton County Farm Bureau is one of the sponsors of the market, which is located on Court Street in downtown Monroe. Visit www.monroedowntown.com for more information or contact Cheryl Brady at 770-722-9145 or monroefmdowntown@gmail.com. ROCKDALE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Through Nov. 21 Tuesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. – noon, Thursdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Rockdale County Extension office, 1400 Parker Road Conyers Rockdale/DeKalb County Farm Bureau manages this market with support from the Rockdale County Extension, set up to allow farmers to sell locally grown products directly to the public. Farmers wishing to participate can sign up at the Rockdale/DeKalb Farm Bureau office. Vendors must be current Farm Bureau members in order to participate. For more information or to receive a vendor application contact RDCFB Office Manager Susanne Bell at shbell@gfb.org or call 770-922-3566. WHITE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Saturdays through Sept. 27 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Freedom Park near downtown square Cleveland White County Farm Bureau helps sponsor this market, where customers can shop for some of the freshest produce around while listening to local musicians. The market also features themed market days throughout the season with recipes, taste testing, and other fun events. For more information contact the White County Extension Office at 706-865-2832. Vendors can rent space at the market for $10 per Saturday. Vendors must be residents of White County and or adjacent counties and goods must be grown or locally made.
GFB News Alert page 9 of 9 UNION COUNTY FARMER’S MARKET Saturdays through Oct. 31 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 27 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. 148 Old Smokey Road Blairsville This market, supported by the Union County Farm Bureau, offers locally grown produce, farmfresh eggs and meats, artisan cheeses, breads, jams, jellies, honey and other delicious prepared foods. The market also features handmade crafts such as pottery and paintings. Special event days are: Ramp (Wild Onion) Day May 9, Strawberry Day May 23, Greenbean Festival July 25 & Tractor Show/Parade Sept. 5. For more information contact Mickey Cummings or Kristy Peney at farmersmarket@uniongov.com or 706-439-6043.