June 20, 2012
www.gfb.org
Vol. 30 No. 25
GA. DOL SURVEY SHOWS FARMERS REQUIRE EXPERIENCED LABOR Requiring experienced workers, paying employees weekly and providing the tools, supplies and equipment needed to perform a task are prevailing practices when Georgia farmers hire workers, according to survey results released by the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) in a conference call June 15. GDOL surveyed more than 1,500 employers and received valid responses from 226 farms employing more than 10,000 seasonal workers. The Prevailing and Common Agricultural Practices Survey, conducted Jan. 24 to March 15 by the GDOL, was intended to provide data to help the GDOL in reviewing and approving H-2A contracts regarding the hiring practices of farmers who hire seasonal employees. The U.S. Department of Labor requires employers using the H-2A program to provide employee benefits and working conditions that conform to “common” practices within the same area and occupations. “This survey shows that Georgia farmers need experienced workers who are skilled at planting and harvesting their crops,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. “We are very grateful that the Georgia Department of Labor listened to farmers’ labor concerns and decided to conduct this survey to get insightful data that will help them review H-2A contracts and provide Georgia’s ag community with the experienced workforce it needs to feed America.” The GDOL has submitted the survey results to the U.S. DOL, and according to GDOL employee Angela Royal, who conducted the conference call, “For these practices in which the results are definitive, the Georgia Department of Labor plans to implement these immediately as part of our review process of all H-2A contracts unless otherwise directed by the U.S. DOL.” Georgia Farm Bureau was one of five ag organizations that promoted the survey to provide the GDOL with an accurate picture of the hiring practices of Georgia farmers. About 88 percent of the farmers who participated in the survey said they require experience ranging from one week to three or more years depending on the task. Georgia will accept experience requirements on contracts from employers without asking for the backup documentation required in the past, according to the letter GDOL submitted to the U.S. DOL announcing the survey results. Employers who offer contracts that do not include the prevailing practices will be required to provide a letter explaining why they cannot meet the prevailing practice. Providing family housing, using farm labor contractors to secure workers and paying transportation costs in advance for workers from the place of recruitment are not prevailing practices, according to the GDOL survey. The GDOL will accept contracts that include these non-prevailing practices, but employers who don’t use these practices will not be required to explain why.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 SENATE CONSIDERS 73 AMENDMENTS TO FARM BILL A total of 302 amendments were submitted for the U.S. Senate farm bill debate and on June 18 the Senate agreed to consider 73 of those beginning on June 19. The amendment submitted by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would establish care standards for egg-laying hens was not among the amendments to be considered. Georgia Farm Bureau opposed the measure, in keeping with the organization’s policy to oppose any laws mandating specific farming practices in livestock or poultry production. The Senate voted down an amendment from Rand Paul (R-Ky.) that would prohibit any farm payments to persons with adjusted gross income of $250,000 or more. Georgia Farm Bureau opposed it, and Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson both voted against it. The Senate passed Feinstein’s amendment calling for the USDA to study a crop insurance program to cover losses due to food safety or contamination issues. GFB supported the amendment, which Chambliss and Isakson both voted in favor of it. Chambliss said in published reports the he likely would not support the overall bill because it does not treat Southern farmers fairly. “It’s a Midwestern farm bill, and some of my friends in the Midwest aren’t particularly happy with it, and we hope that we can ultimately get it fixed in conference with the House,” Chambliss told Albany’s WALB-TV. RAISE A GLASS OF MILK IN HONOR OF NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH June is National Dairy Month and the dairy industry is conducting a monthlong promotion to enhance public knowledge of how dairy products are produced and how they fit into a healthy diet. The Southeast United Dairy Industry Association (SUDIA) is distributing facts about dairy production and has produced videos featuring dairy farmers, including Jones County Farm Bureau President Judd Chambers and his wife Teresa, Burke County Farm Bureau members Joel Coble and Eldon Eberly, Sumter County Farm Bureau Director Adam Graft and White County Farm Bureau member Scott Glover. Judd Chambers also chairs the Georgia Farm Bureau commodity advisory committee for dairy. The videos can be accessed online at http://www.dedicatedtodairy.com/ga-videos.aspx. In Georgia, there are 252 licensed dairy farms. In 2011, there were an estimated 79,000 dairy cows in Georgia that produced an average of 5.8 gallons of milk per day. To produce this much milk, an average cow consumes 50 gallons of water, 20 pounds of grain and feed and 55 pounds of corn silage. Georgia dairy farmers received about $1.92 for each gallon of milk they produced in 2011. During that time, the average retail price for a gallon of milk in the Atlanta area was $3.72. SUDIA is also touting evidence that consumption of dairy products are linked to improved bone health, particularly in children and teens. Dairy consumption also helps reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as lowering blood pressure in adults. For more information about National Dairy Month and to access great recipes, visit http://www.southeastdairy.org/june-dairy-month/.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 PEST TREATMENTS, VARIETY TRIALS DISPLAYED ON TOBACCO TOUR Participants in the 2012 Georgia-Florida Tobacco Tour got a first-hand look at how well pest treatments are working and had a chance to see variety trials in person. The tour started in Lake City, Fla., and made stops in Lowndes County, the UGA Tifton campus, Pierce County, Jeff Davis County and Coffee County. At the farm of Danny and Joey Herring in Lowndes County, UGA Extension Pathologist Dr. Paul Bertrand talked to the tour group about pesticide trials being conducted on the Herring farm. Bertrand said weather also factors into the prevalence of diseased plants. “We’re using the data from the untreated plants to create a model for predicting spotted wilt based on winter weather parameters,” Bertrand said. “The main one is January temperatures. That accounts for 70 percent of the variations in spotted wilt.” According to UGA Extension Agronomist Dr. J. Michael Moore, who coordinates the tour, the market should remain strong, though he expects Georgia’s tobacco acreage to be around 9,000, down from more than 11,000 in 2011. “There appears to be more interest from companies in coming to Georgia for purchasing tobacco,” Moore said. “Last year’s hurricane that wiped out about a third of the flue-cured crop in eastern North Carolina seems to have caused some people to realize you can’t plant it all very close to the processing plants and expect to harvest it every year and fill your needs. You need to continue the age-old process of purchasing tobacco up and down the Eastern coast.” At UGA-Tifton, the group visited the Black Shank Nursery and received information from UGA Professor Dr. Alex Csinos and graduate student Eddie Beasley about ongoing studies into black shank. BILL FOR PERMANENT TRADE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA INTRODUCED A bill to establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia was introduced on June 12 by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and cosponsored by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.). If passed, it would allow U.S. agriculture to participate in Russia’s upcoming World Trade Organization membership. The bill, which would provide a more open Russian market for American agriculture, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. “Russia PNTR is a critical step towards ensuring the U.S. benefits from Russia’s accession to the WTO and remains competitive in that market,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. “U.S. farmers will have more certain and predictable market access as a result of Russia’s commitment not to raise tariffs on any products above the negotiated rates and to apply international food safety standards in a uniform and transparent manner.” Prolonged negotiations on Russia joining the WTO resulted in the country being able to enact many trade-related reforms. Russia is expected to complete the adoption of the measures and formally join the WTO this summer. PNTR for Russia must be enacted by Congress in order to guarantee U.S. access to the market opening and legal aspects that are part of the Russia WTO agreement. Russia’s membership in the WTO will provide significant commercial opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 FSA TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR COUNTY COMMITTEES The Farm Service Agency is accepting nominations for county committees 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. For more information visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. FSA will mail ballots beginning Nov. 5. The ballots are due back to the local FSA office by Dec. 3. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 1, 2013. CHEROKEE COUNTY POLITICAL FORUM June 21 Cagle’s Family Farm, 362 Stringer Rd. 6:30 p.m. Canton The Cherokee County Farm Bureau, along with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, will sponsor a Political Forum on June 21 at 6:30 pm. The forum will be held under the wooden pavilion at Cagle’s Family Farm, 362 Stringer Road, Canton. All local, state and national candidates running for office in 2012 will be invited to attend. All candidates with opposition will have an opportunity to speak. Candidates with no opposition will be introduced. Questions from the audience will follow. Everyone will have time to meet and greet the candidates before and after the forum. Homemade ice cream will be served by Boy Scout Troop #465. The forum is open to the public. RSVP by calling Cherokee County Farm Bureau at 770-479-1481, ext. 0. DAWSON COUNTY FARM SAFETY FAIR June 23 Field on HWY 9@ canoe ramp near Riverview Middle Sch. Dawsonville The AGCO equipment company and Dawson County Farm Bureau are hosting a farm safety training from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for adults. AGCO will demonstrate new safety features available on hay equipment, and EMS personnel will give safety presentations. The local FFA will sell food as a fundraiser. For more information contact Tammy Wood at the DCFB at tewood@gfb.org or 706-265-3350. U.S. 9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATE POLITICAL FORUM June 26 Franklin Springs City Hall Franklin Springs The Banks, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Jackson and Madison County Farm Bureaus are sponsoring a political forum for candidates running for the recently redrawn U.S. 9th Congressional District. Candidates Doug Collins, Jody Cooley, Roger Fitzpatrick and Martha Zoller are scheduled to speak. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public. For more information contact Elbert County Farm Bureau Office Manager Rebecca Whitfield at 706-283-3675. GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE July 7-9 Westin Savannah Harbor Resort Hotel Savannah Critical issues for Georgia’s timber growers and forest product manufacturers will be front and center in Savannah in July. Come learn about the federalization of forest management, trends in conversion of forests to ag and timber market trends. Dr. Scott Angle, Dean of UGA’s College of Agriculture of Environmental Sciences, will speak on “Macro Trends in Food, Fiber and Fuel’. Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens will give the keynote address. For more information or to register, visit http://www.gfagrow.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=9 or contact Judy Couch at 478-992-8110 or
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 SUNBELT EXPO FIELD DAY July 12 Sunbelt Agricultural Expo, Spence Field Moultrie This complimentary preview for the Sunbelt Expo is an opportunity for farmers to see the latest seed varieties, chemical applications, irrigation technology and precision ag technology, all in an applied research setting. A biscuit breakfast reception with Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall begins at 7:15 a.m. Trams depart starting at 8:30 a.m. and a complimentary lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. Register before 8:15 a.m. for a chance to win a $100 early bird cash prize. Grand Prize and Door Prize Giveaways. Every attendee receives an Expo cap. For more information, call 229-985-1968 or visit http://www.sunbeltexpo.com. GEORGIA JUNIOR CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION FIELD DAY July 12 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Perry Join in for a Field Day of Olympic proportions! All ages are welcome. Events include an AGility course, beef-themed classes and other sporting events. To register, visit http://www.gabeef.org/gjca/contest.html. Cost by July 1: GJCA members $10, non-members $15 (includes meal and T-shirt) Cost after July 1 and at the door: GJCA members $10, non-members $15, T-shirts not included but can be purchased for an additional $5. UGA AG LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is now accepting applications for the inaugural class of the Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture program. Participants will attend eight sessions held across the state, and travel to Washington, D.C. and abroad to study Georgia’s involvement with international trade. The first class will be chosen through an application and nomination process, which will begin this month. The application deadline is July 13 for the program that begins in the fall. For more information visit http://www.agla.caes.uga.edu or call Rochelle Strickland at 706-542-1204. UPCOMING DEADLINES FOR FSA PROGRAMS Below are upcoming enrollment deadlines for programs administered by the Farm Service Agency: July 15 2011 Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) July 15 Certification of planted acres (all crops except tobacco) Aug. 1 Farm Reconstitutions (changes) for 2012 crop year Sept. 30 Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Dates vary Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), check with FSA service center for dates) and Crop Insurance (Contact a crop insurance agent or the regional Risk Management Agency (RMA) office.) For more information about FSA programs visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov. GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION SUMMER CONFERENCE July 26-29 Jekyll Island Kick off your boots and join us for another exciting summer event! Highlights include a golf tournament, keynote speeches by the Port Authority, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and the Georgia Department of Agriculture and plenty of social and business fun for the whole family. Visit http://www.gabeef.org/gca/summerconference.htm to register. Cost is $25 per family. Friday and Saturday meals are $15 each for adults and $10 each for children.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION RIBBON CUTTING & OPEN HOUSE July 31 New GPC headquarters building Tifton Join the Georgia Peanut Commission as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with the opening its new state-of-the art building on Fulwood Blvd., just off exit 63B on I-75. Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. For more information, call 229-386-3470. GARLICFEST 2012 Aug. 25 LoganBerry Heritage Farm 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cleveland This annual celebration of the Garlic harvest is a free and fun family event. It includes lots of garlic, chefs, creative food, cooking demos, tastings, live music, artisans and animals. For more information, contact LoganBerry Heritage Farm at 706-348-6068 or visit http://www.loganberryheritagefarm.com. 2012 AGROFORESTRY AND WILDLIFE FIELD DAY Sept. 20 University of Georgia Griffin Campus 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Griffin Registration is now being accepted for this unique educational event, sponsored by UGA, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Fort Valley State University, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the NRCS. The field day will provide information on ways land value can be enhanced. More than 25 topics will be showcased, including wildlife opening management; pond management; management for wild turkeys, doves and quail; selling and marketing timber; prescribed burning, cost-sharing assistance programs, GPS/GIS use in managing land and invasive insects, disease and plants. Registration is $25 before Sept. 3 and $35 after. Fee includes lunch, and those who register in advance will receive an Agroforestry & Wildlife Field Day baseball cap. For more information, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/events/awfd/index.html.