July 29, 2015
www.gfb.org
Vol. 33 No. 30
SEN. PERDUE MEETS FARMERS, TOURS ABAC/UGA TIFTON CAMPUS U.S. Sen. David Perdue met with farmers in Tifton July 25 during a breakfast held at ABAC's recently renovated Tift Hall. Perdue told the group he fought to be seated on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee to represent Georgia's largest industry - agriculture. “I know the first thing I have to do is be here and listen. I take my seat on the agriculture committee very seriously,” Perdue said. “I’m so proud to be from a state where agriculture is the largest industry and contributes more than 50 percent to the state economy.” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall introduced Sen. David Perdue. “As a state Farm Bureau president, I travel the country, and I hear other state Farm Bureaus complain about their legislators and elected officials not appreciating the importance of agriculture. Georgia is different. We are blessed to still have people that are public servants who realize agriculture is still the largest industry, and we are blessed to have state officials who support agriculture. Georgia Farm Bureau promotes Georgia agriculture, and we invite anybody to be part of our mission and I’m proud to be part of it,” Duvall said. “Sen. Perdue has shown his interest in agriculture and he brings along his business experience and realizes no one can be successful with undue regulations.” Sen. Perdue told breakfast attendees government works at the state level because state governments are run by citizen legislators who have real jobs and they stay in their local communities. “The number one thing I’m trying to fight is to become Washingtonized. In the Senate we have 36 senators who have been in office for more than 20 years. Our founding fathers never intended this.” Perdue said. He criticized President Obama for running the U.S. by circumventing Congress and implementing regulations through federal agencies and Perdue expressed concern over the U.S. debt crisis and the nuclear deal recently negotiated with Iran. Following the breakfast, ABAC President David Bridges and Dr. Jerry Baker, dean of ABAC's School of Agriculture & Natural Resources, gave Perdue and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and GFB President Zippy Duvall a tour of the ABAC & UGA Tifton Campus. UGA Crop Physiology and Management Professor Dr. Craig Kvien welcomed Perdue, Black and Duvall to the UGA Future Farmstead house. This house is designed to be a zero-net energy house through the use of solar film on the roof, a geo-thermal HVAC system and insulation made of recycled blue jeans. UGA Irrigation Specialist Wesley Porter gave Perdue an overview of the variable rate irrigation research UGA is conducting to help farmers use water as efficiently as possible in row crop production.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 10 GFB ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2015 PHOTO CONTEST Bridget Hitchcock of Washington County won the grand prize in the GFB Membership Category of the 2015 Picture Agriculture in Georgia Photo Contest for her photo titled “Baby Love.” As the overall winner, Hitchcock’s photo will be featured on the cover of the 2016 GFB Young Farmer Calendar, which will feature the 12 finalist photos. The contest drew 258 entries. A group of judges selected the final 12 and the winners were determined by votes from attendees at the 2016 GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference, held July 15-18 on Jekyll Island. There were 11 honorable mention winners: Crecia Ariall, Franklin County; Sharon Fausett, Dawson County; Jesse Flemming, Houston County; Caroline Lewallen, Hall County; Suzie Miller, Dodge County; Robin Porter, Fayette County; William Rodgers, Bleckley County; Jonathan Smith, Telfair County; Kim Thompson, Treutlen County; Dwight Wallace, Peach County and Cindy Wells, Screven County. Schley County Farm Bureau Office Manager Katina Fields received the grand prize in the GFB Employee Category for her photo titled, “Cow Scratchin.” GFB 5th District Field Representative Cliff Bowden won second place with his photo titled, “1, 2, 3 … Ready or not, here I come!” Tift County Farm Bureau Secretary Kayla House took third place with her photo, “Like Father, Like Son … Generations of Farming.” To see all the winning photos visit http://www.gfb.org/programs/yf/photo_results.html. USDA DEREGULATES DOW’S HERBICIDE RESISTANT COTTON On July 22 the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced its decision to deregulate herbicide-resistant cotton developed by Dow AgroSciences. Dow’s Enlist cotton trait makes the cotton resistant to a blend of 2,4-D and glyphosate and to glufosinate. The 2,4-D/glyphosate blend is used in Dow’s Enlist Duo herbicide, which the company developed to provide row-crop farmers with weed control options. The USDA completed its regulatory review process for Enlist traits on corn and soybeans in September 2014. Enlist Duo is in the process of being reviewed by the EPA. “I think folks are kind of being cautious about it,” said Georgia Farm Bureau Cotton Committee Chairman Eddie Green. “If the technology is the latest technology available and if it’s used in a judicious way, it gives growers another option for weed control.” The caution is based in part on the potential for chemical drift in diversified operations or cotton farms located next to farms producing other crops. "Dicamba or 2,4-D based systems, once registered, can be used to improve weed control and our data even suggests input costs as well as hand weeding can be reduced," said UGA Extension Weed Scientist Stanley Culpepper. "The challenge and concern is our ability to collectively manage off-target movement of 2,4-D and dicamba in such a diverse state." The Enlist Duo herbicide product is awaiting registration by the EPA. According to a Dow press release, once registered by the U.S. EPA for use on Enlist cotton, growers will be able to apply Enlist Duo herbicide on cotton with the enlist trait from burndown until mid-bloom. Dow rival Monstanto received deregulation notification in January for herbicide-resistance traits in its cotton and soybean seeds as part of its dicamba weed-control system.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 10 HOUSE PASSES FOOD LABELING BILL The U.S. House passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 (H.R. 1599) on July 23 by a 275-150 vote. Both Georgia Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation supported the bill. Members of Georgia’s U.S. Congressional delegation voting for the bill were: Reps. Rick Allen, Sanford Bishop, Buddy Carter, Doug Collins, Tom Graves, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk, Tom Price, Austin Scott, David Scott, Lynn Westmoreland and Rob Woodall. H.R. 1599 is a compromise that would create a voluntary certification program for producers of food products. If the bill becomes law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will develop a certification program whereby a particular farm or food company can label their products as “GMO Free” or some other similar designation. The legislation prevents individual states from passing mandatory biotech labeling laws. The bill sets up a mechanism for USDA certification for food companies that choose to market their products to specific consumers who oppose the use of biotechnology. At the same time, it continues to allow farmers to utilize the technology to produce more food at less cost for other consumers. CORN PRODUCERS SUING SYNGENTA An attorney representing corn farmers expects more than 100,000 corn farmers to file or join lawsuits against Syngenta over losses in 2013 and 2014, according to an article written by attorney Dayna J. Sondervan published by Growing Georgia on July 24. The suits stem from price drops by as much as 50 percent that Mikal Watts, one of the attorneys representing farmers, says resulted from China’s refusal to import U.S. corn over concerns it contained Syngenta’s Agrisure Viptera variety of corn, a genetically modified variety that is resistant to insects. Twenty percent of corn produced by U.S. farmers is exported internationally, according to a release from Watts’ firm, Watts Guerra, based in Texas. The release said that when GMO corn sold by Syngenta caused China to reject all corn shipments from the U.S. in late 2013 and throughout 2014, the U.S. corn industry sustained billions of dollars in losses. Although this Syngenta corn accounted for a small portion of the U.S. crop in those years, there was no way to keep it segregated from the massive amount of corn produced across the country. China's refusal to accept millions of bushels of American corn caused a dramatic drop in the price of corn that affected hundreds of thousands of corn farmers across the country. "We want to help recover the ongoing financial damages by Syngenta's actions," Watts said. "Those who have suffered financially due to the decline in corn prices may be able to join the thousands of farmers already filing suit against Syngenta in 20 states, as well as in various federal courts.” In a press release on the company website, Syngenta maintains that it acted appropriately and that the lawsuits are baseless.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 10 FORMER HOUSTON COUNTY FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT WEIR DIES Richard Daniel "Dick" Weir died on July 13 after an extended illness. He was 79. Weir was president of Houston County Farm Bureau from 1999 to 2011 and he served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Hay Committee in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Weir was the owner and operator of D & D Bull Motel, an artificial insemination business for cattle. Weir was born in Canandaigua, N.Y., to the late Daniel and Lillian Bryant Weir. He married Joy Danzig in 1955, and they moved to the Americus/Sumter County area in 1957. They moved to Houston County in 1974. Weir was preceded in death by his brother Robert. Survivors include his wife, Joy, of Elko; his children, Donald Weir of Elko, Kathy Weir of Byron, and Donna Boatright (Steve) of Blackshear; grandchildren Dustin Weir, Daniel Weir, Margaret West (Holden), and Stephen Boatright; great-granddaughter Dawson West; sister Marion Golisanno (Fred) of California; and brother William Weir (Miriam) of Hephzibah. Condolences for the family may be entered by signing the Watson Hunt Funeral Home online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com or mailed to 455 Ga. Hwy. 26 Elko, GA 31025. BAILEY TAKES REINS AS FVSU INTERIM PRESIDENT Dr. Jessica Bailey has been named interim president of Fort Valley State University. Bailey previously served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fort Valley State. She assumed presidential responsibilities on May 16 and became interim president July 1 after Ivelaw Griffith stepped down June 30. Previously, Bailey held the position of dean for the School of Business and Economics at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. While there, she initiated an academic reorganization and secured a $1.25 million grant in support of the school. She also successfully chaired the school’s reaffirmation of Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACBS) accreditation. Prior to her service at Winston-Salem State University, Bailey served as dean of the Sydney Lewis School of Business at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Her primary responsibilities included administration of academic programs and school services, development and implementation of community outreach programs and supervision of faculty and staff. Bailey earned master’s degrees in vocational rehabilitation counseling from Coppin State University in Baltimore, Md., and in business administration from the University of MissouriColumbia, where she also earned a doctorate in marketing.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 10 FVSU EXTENSION ANIMAL SCIENCE SPECIALIST GETZ DIES Fort Valley State University Professor and Extension Animal Scientist Specialist Dr. Will R. Getz died on July 20. He was 73. He was born in Springfield, Ohio, on July 10, 1942, to Roger W. and Genevieve (Jesson) Getz. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and animal science from Oklahoma State and masters’s and doctorate degrees from Ohio State. Getz had worked at Fort Valley State since 1997, when he began work in the animal extension, research and teaching program. A major part of his career focused on international animal agriculture, taking him to more than 30 countries. Survivors include his wife Elizabeth (Liz), his son Michael of Fort Valley, his daughter Natalie Buckwalter and her husband, Andrew of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., grandsons Bryce, Graham, and Hudson; brothers Jack, Bob and Stephen Getz; sister Ellen Ellis. A service will be held at Fort Valley United Methodist Church, 301 West Church Street in Fort Valley, at 3 p.m. on Aug. 3 with a reception to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to: Bacone College, 2299 Old Bacone Road, Muskogee, OK 74403 or Fort Valley United Methodist Church, 301 W. Church St., Fort Valley, GA 31030. Condolences may be sent to Getz’s family at 3594 GA Hwy 96 West in Fort Valley. Rooks Funeral Home in Fort Valley is in charge of arrangements. AFBF, MEASURE RELEASE SURVEY ON BENEFITS OF DRONES On July 21 the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and Measure released a study that identifies and quantifies the benefits of drone technology in precision agriculture, as well as a tool farmers can use to estimate the return on investment (ROI) for drone use, according to a joint press release. Version 1.0 of the ROI Calculator will be available as a web-based application on the Measure website in the coming weeks; additional functionality will be added over time to include more drone applications and types of crops. “This study and the ROI Calculator will help make drones a reality for farmers and ranchers,” said Julie Anna Potts, executive vice president and treasurer for AFBF. “Every year we must feed more people on the same fields while protecting the environment we all share. Precision agriculture and drones in particular will be an important part of executing on that mission.” The ROI Calculator quantifies the economic benefits of Measure’s “Drone as a Service” for three applications: field crop scouting, 3D terrain mapping, and crop insurance. It initially covers three of the largest production crops—corn, wheat, and soybeans—allowing growers to quickly and easily determine if drone technology warrants further exploration after they input information about their farm into the ROI Calculator. For example, the findings show that for the average U.S. farmer using Drone as a Service® to enhance crop scouting, ROI is $12 per acre for corn, $2.60 per acre for soybeans, and $2.30 per acre for wheat. “While lots of drone hardware has been sold to farmers, until today no tool existed to help growers actually quantify whether the benefits exceed their costs, especially when farmers want to outsource these types of services. Working with the Farm Bureau and our partners, we have created the only ROI Calculator for drone use in precision agriculture,” said Justin P. Oberman, President of Measure. “This tool will help growers understand how drone technology can improve their performance for the benefit of consumers in the U.S. and around the world.”
GFB News Alert page 6 of 10 See page 9 for a list of ongoing Farm Bureau-affiliated farmers markets! 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. 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. 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 their research. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. For more information call 478-589-7472. 26TH ANNUAL BROOKLET PEANUT FESTIVAL Aug. 15 Brooklet Located just 45 minutes from Savannah in Bulloch County, the 25th 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. YOUNG, BEGINNING, SMALL AND MINORITY FARMERS WORKSHOP 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 agencies. Lunch will be provided. For more information or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/agawarewkshp.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 10 AGROFORESTRY AND WILDLIFE FIELD DAY Sept. 17 Westbrook farm, UGA Griffin Campus 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Griffin This event, hosted by UGA Griffin every three years, will provide attendees with information on ways to increase the value of their land. Federal and state government agency officials and representatives of private business will provide management recommendations and demonstrate real-life techniques at this unique educational event, which features more than 30 topics, including wildlife openings, pond management, feral hog issues and many more. Continuing Education Credits (CEU) are available for several fields, including pesticide (several categories), forestry, loggers, arborist and wildlife. Registration is $25 prior to Sept. 3 ($30 after) and includes lunch. Pre-registrants will receive an Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day ball cap. Field trip opportunity and special pricing is available for high school students. For more information or for registration information, visit www.caes.uga.edu/events/awfd/index.html. 20TH ANNUAL LUMBER CITY FARM DAY FESTIVAL Sept. 11 & 12 Downtown Lumber City Festival events begin Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. with a fish fry at the Lumber City American Legion on Hwy 341. The opening ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Main Street with entertainment by Old Souls of the South from Atlanta. Events on Sept 12 begin with breakfast at the Lumber City Methodist Church from 6:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., followed by a 5K run/walk at 7:45 a.m. ($20 5K registration includes a free breakfast for all runners), a dog show at 9 a.m. and parade at 10 a.m. Other events will include live stage entertainment, an amusement park, cakewalk, arts & crafts, and food vendors all day. A street dance will be held from 7-ll p.m. featuring the Soul Purpose Band from Atlanta, admission is free for all festival events except 5k. A community church service will be held Sunday at 9 a.m. on Main Street. For more info visit www.lumbercityfarmday.org or call 912-363-4341. 2015 GEORGIA PEANUT TOUR Sept. 15-17 Thomasville and surrounding area The 29th annual Georgia Peanut Tour brings the latest information on peanuts. Tour stops will be made in several peanut producing counties including Thomas, Grady, Decatur, Seminole and Early County. This year's tour includes on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, peanut processing facilities, and several special highlights which include research at the University of Georgia Research & Education Center in Attapulgus, Lewis M. Carter Manufacturing, FudgeBirdsong Peanuts Buying Point and Birdsong Peanuts shelling plant. Hotel accommodations can be made at the Best Western in Thomasville by calling 229-226-9998. Rooms are available at the rate of $101 for a single/double room and $115 for a suite. Once the Best Western is full, additional hotel accommodations can be made at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites by calling 229-226-4666. Be sure to ask for the Georgia Peanut Tour room block. To register online visit http://2015gpt.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=2139089481. To download a registration form, visit http://tinyurl.com/pnuttoursignup. Registration is $75 per person until Aug. 14 and $90 per person after Aug. 14.
GFB News Alert page 8 of 10 2015 GEORGIA APPLE FESTIVAL APPLE PIE RECIPE CONTEST Oct. 10 Lions Club Fairgrounds 10 a.m. Ellijay This annual contest is part of the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay. The 1st winner will receive $300 and a ribbon. The 2nd place winner will receive $100 and a ribbon. To enter, submit an entry form and the recipe (Attn: Recipe Contest) to the Gilmer Extension office in Ellijay. Only put your name (contestant name) on the back side of the recipe, not on the front. All recipes must be received by noon on Sept. 18 and all recipes must use fresh Georgia apples. Five finalists will be selected from the entries. There are no kitchen facilities available at the festival, so upon notification, final contestants will bring their prepared apple pie to the Lions Club Fairgrounds Oct. 10 by 9:45 a.m. Judging begins at 10 a.m. Eligibility rules apply. Only one entry per family and only one entry per person. Contestant must be age 10 years old, or older. For more details or to get an entry form, call the Gilmer County Extension office at 706-6354426 or visit the office at 1123 Progress Road in Ellijay. Office hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – noon and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Georgia Apple Festival “recipe contest” is coordinated by the University of Georgia Gilmer County Extension office and sponsored by the Georgia Apple Festival in cooperation with the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Apples. TRAVELER'S REST PIONEER DAY Sept. 19 Traveler’s Rest State Historic site 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Toccoa The public is invited to join in this celebration of 200 years of history. Traveler's Rest Stagecoach Inn opened for business around 1815. All ages will enjoy the Pioneer era demonstrators, musicians, crafts, and samples of open-hearth cooking. Tour this historic Inn, which still has some of the original family furnishings from the 1800's. Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site is located at 4339 Riverdale Road in Toccoa. For more information visit www.gastateparks.org/TravelersRest or call Tugaloo State Park at 706-356-4362. On Saturdays and Sundays call Travelers Rest Inn 706-886-2256 ENROLLMENT UNDERWAY 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.
GFB News Alert page 9 of 10 ONGOING FARMERS MARKETS 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. SHIELDS-ETHRIDGE HERITAGE FARM CULTIVATORS’ MARKET 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. 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.
GFB News Alert page 10 of 10 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. 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.