June 15, 2011
www.gfb.org
Vol. 29 No. 24
DEAL REQUESTS DISASTER DECLARATIONS FOR DROUGHT
Gov. Nathan Deal wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on June 3 asking for secretarial disaster designations in 22 Georgia counties. In a follow-up letter members of the Georgia congressional delegation wrote Vilsack on June 9 urging him to consider designating those counties as disaster areas. In that letter, Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson noted that as much as 54 percent of the state has been documented as suffering from extreme drought conditions by the U.S. Drought Monitor through June 2. Georgia Reps. Jack Kingston (R-1st Dist.), Sanford Bishop (D-2nd Dist.), Austin Scott (R-8th Dist) and John Barrow (R-12th Dist.) also signed the letter. Noting that Georgia farmers have already experienced extensive losses to numerous crops, Deal asked for designations for Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Chatham, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Dodge, Effingham, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Telfair, Thomas, Wayne and Wheeler counties. According to Deal’s letter, the United States Department of Agriculture’s County Emergency Boards have prepared loss adjustment reports which have been reviewed by the USDA State Emergency Board (SEB). The SEB agreed with the loss information as reported and has recommended the secretarial disaster declaration, which would make farmers in those counties eligible to apply for assistance, including emergency loans and benefits under the 2008 farm bill. Georgia FSA Director Hobby Stripling has also submitted those 22 counties for secretarial disaster designation, the next-to-last step in the process. To qualify for a secretarial designation, a county must have a 30 percent production loss in at least one crop due to a natural disaster. It is possible that the SEB, which meets monthly, could recommend other counties in Georgia for secretarial disaster declarations due to drought conditions. The hot and dry weather is likely to continue, according to State Climatologist David Stooksbury. In his summer climate outlook, Stooksbury said that most of the state will experience warmer and drier than normal weather through the middle of August. “Drought and warmer-than-normal temperatures go together and typically reinforce each other,” Stooksbury wrote. “Dry soils mean that more energy from the sun heats the soil and the air above it.” In response to the drought conditions, the University of Georgia is holding a seminar on drought management for forage and livestock producers on June 20 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It will be held on the UGA Tifton Campus and broadcast by webinar. For information visit http://www.georgiaforages.com.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LABOR SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED Georgia farmers need 11,080 workers to fill jobs available in the state’s ag industry, according to a survey recently conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) at the request of Gov. Nathan Deal to assess the current ag labor situation in the state. Survey participants indicated that the duration of the jobs range from one day to a year. “The agriculture industry is the number one economic engine in Georgia, and it is my sincere hope to find viable and law abiding solutions to the current problem our farmers face,” Gov. Deal stated in a release summarizing the survey issued by his office June 14. “I asked Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens and [Agriculture] Commissioner [Gary] Black to review the current situation and offer possible options. Commissioner Owens has indicated that there are 100,000 probationers statewide, 8,000 of which are in the Southwest region of the state and 25 percent of which are unemployed.” According to Deal’s office, Owens and Black are working with other state agencies to connect unemployed probationers, especially those in the Southwest part of the state, and others who are preparing to re-enter the workforce to employers who are seeking labor. Deal asked Black to conduct the labor study in late May. The GDA conducted the survey for 15 days and sent the results to Deal June 10. A total of 233 producers, who grow a wide variety of Georgia commodities, from 76 counties, responded to the survey. “Responses suggest a degree of unmet labor needs this season. The spring vegetable harvest is rapidly drawing to a close,” Black wrote to Deal in the letter and survey summary he submitted. “The purpose of this study is to explore trends regarding the availability of agricultural workers in Georgia. In the interest of time, a non-scientific survey was developed and administered to various agricultural commodity commissions and agricultural- based trade associations in Georgia. I believe the methods utilized - though not thoroughly scientific - have generated sound, honest and clearly reported data.” According to the survey summary, the most responses came from Bacon County followed by Appling, Coffee, Brooks and Clinch counties. Crops represented in the study included cotton, blueberries, corn, peanuts, soybeans, wheat, watermelons, bell peppers, cucumbers, squash and pecans. Cotton has become more labor intensive in recent years as farmers hire workers to hand pull pigweed. “We urged farmers to participate in this survey because it’s important to know the full extent of the labor problems farmers face,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “We hope this data will help state officials more clearly see the predicament farmers are in.” Most survey participants currently employ 25 or fewer employees. Survey participants indicated that they have 6,307 farm jobs available, paying an hourly wage between $7.25$8.99; 3,236 farm jobs open that pay between $9-$11 an hour; 1,368 jobs available that pay $12-$15 an hour and 169 available jobs that pay $16 or more an hour. A majority of the survey participants (41.4 percent) use farm labor contractors to recruit farm employees; 32.3 percent use word of mouth to recruit workers; 18.8 percent use the Department of Labor as a source of employees; 7.5 percent use the federal H-2A program. According to the survey summary, the GDA will continue to review the survey results and incorporate the findings into a comprehensive, scientific study that will explore the labor issue in a detailed manner as delegated to the department by Georgia House Bill 87, which goes into effect July 1.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6
GFB VOICES CONCERNS ON AG APPROPRIATIONS BILL The U.S. House of Representatives has begun debating a 2012 Ag Appropriations bill, and both Georgia Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau have expressed concerns over some of the bills provisions, particularly amendments pertaining to farm bill payments, commodity storage payments, the Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) and others. On June 14, GFB President Zippy Duvall sent a letter to Georgia’s delegation in the U.S. House urging opposition to these amendments. The bill was approved by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month. An amendment by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) would prohibit funds for certain farm bill programs from being paid to applicants whose adjusted gross incomes (AGIs) exceed $250,000. Duvall said this measure would undermine confidence in current farm law and create uncertainty for farmers and lenders. Another Flake amendment would reduce direct payments to cotton growers by $147 million, equal to the amount of a payment by the Commodity Credit Corporation to the Brazilian Cotton Institute. These funds were part of a settlement agreement between the U.S. and Brazil, and failure to honor that agreement would expose a hundred or more American products to Brazilian tariffs estimated to be in the range of $800 million. House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) succeeded in removing the AGI and cotton trade agreement payments from the appropriations bill, but alternative amendments could be offered. The bill included language to eliminate funding for the implementation of proposed GIPSA rules. Elimination of the GIPSA funding would prevent the United States Department of Agriculture from completing a review of more than 60,000 comments submitted regarding the rule. SENATE CONSIDERING BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE VEETC The U.S. Senate began debating S. 782, the Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011, which included amendments by John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that would severely affect the ethanol industry. The McCain amendment would prohibit the use of federal funds to build ethanol blender pumps or storage facilities. Coburn’s amendment would have eliminated the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), but according to published reports it fell short of the 60 votes necessary for passage. Georgia Farm Bureau maintains that ethanol is a significant part of efforts to make the U.S. energy independent and encouraged Georgia Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson to vote against both amendments. AFRICANIZED HONEYBEES FOUND AND DESTROYED IN BAINBRIDGE Entomological tests have confirmed that a suspect feral colony of honeybees found and destroyed in Bainbridge in May was the Africanized honeybee strain, according to a press release from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Traps have been put in place to see if there are other Africanized bees in the area. Local beekeepers and local emergency personnel are being notified. No other Africanized bees have been found. Tips for dealing with Africanized honeybees may be found on the Georgia Department of Agriculture website (www.agr.georgia.gov).
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 CORN SILAGE & FORAGE FIELD DAY June 16 UGA Tifton Campus Tifton Registration for this workshop, hosted by the University of Georgia and University of Florida, begins at 7:30 a.m. with the program starting at 8 a.m. Attendees will have the chance to tour variety test plots and hear university specialists discuss improving nitrogen fertilizer use, weed control in corn and forage sorghum, forage preservation, ways to use byproducts to supplement forages for beef cattle and dairy cattle, reducing feeding losses of hay and processing baleage and hay f or use in TMR. For more information visit http://bit.ly/lXnW2o contact Dr. John K. Bernard at 229-391-6856 or jbernard@uga.edu. TRACTOR SUPPLY FFA FUNDRAISER Through June 19 Shoppers at local Tractor Supply Company stores will have the opportunity to support their nearby FFA chapters by purchasing paper FFA emblems by adding increments of 25 cents to their purchase at checkout. Customers who make a donation up to $5 will receive a blue emblem, and customers who give more than $5.00 will receive a gold emblem. All funds raised through “Change for the Future” will benefit FFA members. CATTLE DROUGHT MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP June 20 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton University of Georgia livestock specialists will discuss ways cattlemen can deal with the effect the drought is having on the state’s pastures and hayfields, most of which are rated to be in poor to very poor conditions. The free meeting will start at 6 p.m. and run to 8 p.m. It will be broadcast on the web. For more information or directions to view the meeting online, visit the website www.GeorgiaForages.com, or contact your local UGA Cooperative Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1. PESTICIDE USE, SAFETY & HANDLING TRAINING CLASS June 21 Houston Co. Cooperative. Ext. Office 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Perry Earn five hours of commercial pesticide credit in multiple categories. Class costs $40 and includes materials. Lunch is on your own. To register contact Karen Atkins at 478-987-2028 or via email at atkinsk@uga.edu or find a registration form online at http://www.ugaextension.com/houston (under News & Events). To receive information about future recertification classes, please email Karen Atkins at atkinsk@uga.edu. UGA COTTON SCOUT SCHOOL June 21 Southeast Research & Education Center Midville This program offers basic information on cotton insects and scouting procedures and will serve as a review for experienced scouts and producers and as an introduction to cotton insect monitoring for new scouts. Both schools run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Peyton Sapp at 706-5542119. GA PORK PRODUCERS CONGRESS & PORK ACT DELEGATE ELECTION June 22 Georgia Farm Bureau Home Office Macon Georgia pork producers will meet for their annual meeting at 8:30 a.m. Representatives of the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences will give an update on swine research at Double Bridges Farm. A National Pork Board representative will give an update on the national and international outlook for the swine industry. Melony Wilson and Dr. John Worley will conduct a producer certification training course on waste management during the morning session that will provide two hours of continuing education credit for attendees. At 2 p.m. Georgia pork producers will elect delegate candidates to represent Georgia at the 2012 National Pork Producers Delegate Body as outlined in the Pork Act. To be eligible as a delegate candidate or to participate in the election, producers must be 18 or older and should bring a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff was paid. For information, contact the Georgia Pork Producers Association at 229-336-7760.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 62nd ANNUAL GEORGIA WATERMELON DAYS FESTIVAL Through June 25 Various locations Cordele/Crisp County Events take place throughout June beginning June 3. The main day of the festival is June 25 with events including a parade, arts and crafts show, antique tractor display, contests, entertainment, free watermelon slices and more. Visit http://www.cordelecrispga.com or call 229-273-1668 for more information and a schedule of festival events. LOCALLY PRODUCED MEAT WORKSHOP June 28 UGA Edgar Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Science Athens This workshop, sponsored by Cooperative Extension agents in Elbert, Greene and Jasper counties, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Topics include cattle and swine management and nutrition, beef and port quality, grass vs. grain effects on beef quality, beef and pork yield, pork carcass fabrication and marketing and economics of local food production. Registration is $25 per person and the deadline is June 24. To register, contact the Elbert County Extension office at 706-283-2037. U.S. BLUEBERRY COUNCIL REFERENDUM July 5-26 The USDA will conduct a referendum July 5-26 to ask blueberry growers if they want to continue the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. Under the marketing order, the USDA is required to conduct a continuation referendum of the national research and promotions program every five years. The USDA will mail ballots directly to blueberry growers and importers in late June. If you do not receive ballot by July 5, contact the USDA or the Highbush Blueberry Council at jgowan@blueberry.org. The results will be based on a simple majority of the number voting and a majority of the volume voted. 2011 SUNBELT EXPO FIELD DAY July 7 Spence Field 8:30 a.m. Moultrie This free event gives farmers and the public a chance to see research projects in progress and talk with the researchers involved in the experiments. But it also provides the opportunity to view the latest in modern agriculture. Topics include GPS navigation, irrigation technology, test plots for switchgrass and miscanthus, organics and peanuts, variety tests on cotton, corn and soybeans and tractor technology. Lunch is included and each attendee will receive an Expo cap. For more information, call 229-985-1968 or visit http://www.sunbeltexpo.com. FSA TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR COUNTY COMMITTEES The nomination period for Farm Service Agency county committees opened June 15 and runs through Aug. 1 To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate. Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others, and organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. For more information visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. FSA will mail ballots beginning Nov. 4. The ballots are due back to the local county office by Dec. 5. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 2, 2012. WOMEN AND HISPANIC FARMERS CAN APPLY FOR A USDA CLAIMS PACKAGE USDA recently announced the establishment of a process to resolve the claims of Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who assert that they were discriminated against when seeking USDA farm loans. Those wishing to register to receive a claims package or to request more information can visit www.farmerclaims.gov or can call the Farmer and Rancher Call Center at 1-888-508-4429. USDA cannot provide legal advice to potential claimants. Persons seeking legal advice may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider.