June 25, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 25
CHAMBLISS, ISAKSON CO-SPONSOR BILL TO STOP EPA WATER RULE Georgia Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss joined 28 other senators in introducing legislation to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating nearly all private and state water in the United States. The Protecting Water and Property Rights Act of 2014, introduced on June 19, would prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) from finalizing their March 2014 proposed rule which would significantly expand federal authority under the Clean Water Act. “The EPA wants to regulate not just ‘navigable’ waters, but every water,” said Isakson. “This is yet another overstep by the administration that will harm not only landowners but our entire agriculture industry in Georgia. I will continue to push to repeal onerous regulations and to prevent the administration from imposing new taxes through more regulations.” “Bureaucratic decision-making has no place in Georgia farm country,” said Chambliss, former chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “Landowners have dealt with overreaching federal regulations for too long and this latest move by the administration claiming they are ‘helping’ farmers and landowners is outrageous.” The legislation was introduced by Senators Pat Roberts, R-Kan., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., David Vitter, R-La., Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Roy Blunt, R-Miss., Mike Johanns, R-Neb., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas. In addition to Isakson and Chambliss, the legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., John Cornyn, R-Texas, John Thune, R-S.D., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Marco Rubio R-Fla., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Pat Toomey, R-Pa., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, John Boozman, RArk., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Rand Paul, R-Ky., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., John Hoeven, R-N.D., Mike Lee, R-Utah and Richard Burr, R-N.C. The proposed rule would provide EPA and the Corps, as well as environmental groups, with a powerful tool to delay and prevent development and land use activities on property owned by homeowners, farms, small businesses and municipalities. Federal bureaucrats—and not state and local authorities—could assert control over thousands of streams, creeks, wetlands, ponds, and ditches throughout the country. Georgia Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation have voiced opposition to the EPA/Corps proposed rule. To submit a public comment on the rule visit http://www.gfb.org/ditchtherule. The deadline to submit comments is Oct. 20.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 FMCSA GRANTS EXEMPTION TO LIVESTOCK HAULERS The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced on June 9 that drivers of vehicles hauling livestock will be granted a one-year exemption from the 30-minute break requirement during the first eight hours of a shift. This requirement is part of the current hours of service rules for truck drivers to prevent fatigued-related crashes, although drivers transporting agricultural commodities, including livestock, within a 150air mile radius of the source of those commodities are already exempt from the HoS rules and are not affected by this action. In 2013, FMCSA granted livestock haulers a 90-day waiver during the hot summer months with no adverse effects to safety. As authorized by Congress, FMCSA carefully considers and collects public comments on all applications for exemptions from federal regulations, including hours of service for truck drivers. To date, FMCSA has received four petitions for exemptions, which only address the 30 minute break requirement of the HoS rule, and this is the second to be granted. The notice, which has been sent to the Federal Register, can be found at http://tinyurl.com/fmcsaexemption. UGA SCIENTISTS HELP COMPLETE BEAN GENOME SEQUENCING University of Georgia researchers recently worked with a team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy to help sequence and analyze the genome of the common bean, phaseolus vulgaris, according to a June 13 release issued by UGA. Black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, green beans, pole beans and others are varieties of the common bean. The common bean ranks as the 10th most grown food crop worldwide. In addition to being an important source of protein and calories for millions of people, common bean is also important as an agricultural tool for its ability to fix nitrogen-poor soils. All plants require nitrogen to thrive. However, many agricultural lands are deficient in nitrogen, leading farmers to rely on chemical fertilizers to supply the needed nutrient for their crops. Legumes—such as the common bean and soybean—form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which maximize the amount of useable nitrogen plants can extract from the soil. Understanding how such symbiotic relationships are formed and sustained is crucial to improving agricultural practices, as increasing crop yields are desired both for fuel and food production. For the study, the team sequenced and assembled a 473-million basepair genome of the common bean. Thought to have originated in Mexico more than 100,000 years ago, the common bean was domesticated separately at two different geographic locations in Mesoamerica and the Andes. The team looked for regions associated with traits such as low diversity, flowering time and nitrogen metabolism. They found dense clusters of genes related to disease resistance and identified a handful of genes involved in nitrogen fixing. This information could be beneficial for farmers practicing the intercropping system known as milpa, in which beans and maize or, occasionally, squash are planted either simultaneously or in a relay system where the beans follow maize. The practice ensures the land can continue to produce high-yield crops without resorting to fertilizer inputs or other artificial methods of providing nutrients to the soil. The team’s presentation of its findings can see at http://bit.ly/JGIUM9McClean.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 USDA ISSUES LICENSE FOR PEDV VACCINE The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a conditional license to Harrisvaccines, Inc. of Ames, Iowa, for a vaccine that may aid in the control of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) in swine, according to an APHIS press release. This is the first USDA-licensed vaccine for PEDv. It will be used to vaccinate sows to help them build antibodies and transmit the antibodies through their milk to newborn piglets. It is intended to protect the piglets against PEDv. APHIS licenses veterinary biologics products for use in controlling diseases of animals. Conditional licenses are issued based on full safety, purity testing and an expectation of efficacy. Preliminary studies have been promising, producing data indicating the vaccine will be effective. The company will continue working toward completing the requirements for a full license. There are no restrictions on vaccine use under the conditional license. Porcine epidemic diarrhea is a disease that causes significant sickness in swine, affecting their growth and health, and causes high mortality in piglets. The disease is common in parts of Asia and Europe, but is not reportable to the World Organization for Animal Health. PEDv only affects pigs and poses no risk to people or pets. It is not a food safety concern. According to the release, APHIS supports and encourages the rapid development of new vaccines, particularly in emergency situations. Conditional licenses allow important disease management tools to be brought to producers safely and quickly. Full licensing can occur subsequently while producers get the products they need to protect animal health. Recently APHIS announced the availability of $26.2 million in funding to combat swine diseases and issued a federal order requiring the reporting of new detections of PEDv and other new swine enteric coronavirus diseases to APHIS or state animal health officials. FSA COUNTY COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS UNDERWAY The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting nominations for its 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 where the person is 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 the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2014 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1. Elections will take place this fall. While FSA county committees do not approve or deny farm ownership or operating loans, they make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members who are elected by eligible producers. FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 3. Ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 1. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 1, 2015.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 GEORGIA GROWN FARMERS SHOWCASE June 28 Atlanta Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Atlanta This family-friendly event features numerous vendors from around the state, with a wide variety of products from Georgia farms. For more information about the Georgia Grown program, visit http://www.georgiagrown.com. 16TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN PEANUT GROWERS CONFERENCE July 24-26 Edgewater Beach Resort Panama City Beach, Fla. This event brings peanut farmers and industry representatives to Florida for a three-day conference, which features sessions covering long-term peanut markets and creating new demand. In addition to the conference sessions, the event offers a ladies program and a golf tournament. Registration is $125 per person through June 30. For more information or to register, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229386-3470 or visit http://www.southernpeanutfarmers.org/spff/spgc.asp. GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 21 Cobb Galleria Center Atlanta Tickets are on sale for this annual event, which features platinum country group Diamond Rio scheduled to perform. Early bird tickets are available at discounted prices until July 1. Early bird ticket purchasers will be entered into a drawing for one of 12 great prizes including a one night stay on November 21 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel; one of three Field of Dreams ticket books; or one of eight autographed CDs. Visit https://connect.computility.com/f/fid.php?id=955559f0f92e71e5e95de669f5af3da0 to buy tickets. For more information about Harvest Celebration, please contact GAC’s Christy Page at cpage@ga-agribusiness.org or 800/726-2474. SUNBELT EXPO FIELD DAY July 10 Sunbelt Ag Expo Farm, Spence Field Moultrie This free event gives farmers a chance to see the crops and research projects being conducted at the Expo farm on seed varieties, irrigation, crop protection, precision ag technology, soil fertility and organic farming. University researchers and ag company representatives conducting the trials will give presentations on their research. Registration for door prizes begins at 7:15 a.m. followed by a free biscuit breakfast and welcome from Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Dept. of Agriculture representatives. Trams will depart for field tours at 8 a.m. sharp. Tours will end by noon. Attendees will receive a grab & go BBQ lunch courtesy of Ameris Bank. A crop-dusting demonstration will be held after the field tours. GEORGIA JUNIOR CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION FIELD DAY July 10 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter 9 a.m. Perry This one-day event features tracks for ages 10 & under, 11-14 and 15 & over. Registration is $15 until July 1 and $20 onsite for GJCA members. Non-members are required to join the GJCA; annual dues are $15. Field day stations include Beef Quality Assurance certification, stockman’s quiz, scholarship tips & tricks, careers in ag, a hula hoop contest, photo booth and more. For more information call 478-474-6560.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 MASTER GOAT FARMER CERTIFICATION TRAINING Aug. 5 – Sept. 9 Camp Fulton Truitt College Park This six-week course, sponsored by the UGA Cooperative Extension in Fulton County, provides training for goat producers on topics related to managing and producing goats for meat. Topics include nutrition, body condition scoring, goat selection, breeds, reproduction & kidding, hoof trimming, health & diseases, pasture management, basic dairy goat management, goat handling equipment, fencing displays, parasitology and business & marketing. Classes meet on Tuesday, with refreshments served at 6 p.m. followed by class from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Class size is limited to 75 participants. Registration deadline is July 11. Cost is $100, which includes study materials, refreshments, a t-shirt and graduation certificate. Camp Fulton Truitt is located at 4300 Herschel Rd. in College Park. To register, contact the Fulton County Extension office at 404-762-4077. NUT HACCP FOOD SAFETY COURSE July 29-31 UGA Food Science Building Athens The UGA Food Science Extension Outreach Program and the American Peanut Council (APC) are co-sponsoring this program specifically designed for the nut industry to teach safe handling and processing practices for nut product manufacturers. Registration is $800 per person, and the deadline to register is July 18. APC Members receive a discount. Space is limited. For more information and to register, visit http://tinyurl.com/nuthaccp. ALTERNATIVE FOREST ENTERPRISES August 20-21 Flinchum’s Phoenix Athens A combination of classroom presentations will provide participants the opportunity to develop new knowledge and basic skills associated with non-timber products management, forest farming and silvopasture techniques for Georgia. July 30 is the deadline to register. For more information call 706-583-0566 or visit http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/courses/altforent. FSA ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR COUNTY COMMITTEES The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting nominations for its county committees through Aug. 1. Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level. Farmers who serve on committees help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer. They work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers. Elections will take place in November and newly elected county committee members take office on Jan. 1, 2015. Nomination forms may be requested from the local USDA Service Center or obtained online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. ASA DUPONT YOUNG LEADER PROGRAM The American Soybean Association (ASA) and DuPont are seeking applicants for the 2015 ASA DuPont Young Leader Program. The deadline to apply is Aug. 1. The program is a challenging and educational two-part training program. Phase 1 will take place at the DuPont Pioneer headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, Nov. 18-21, 2014. The program continues Feb. 24-28, 2015, in Phoenix, Ariz., with training held in conjunction with the 20th annual Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show. To apply visit http://soygrowers.com/learn/young-leader-program/. One couple or individual per state will be selected to participate. For information, contact Christine Luelf at 314-754-1291 or cluelf@soy.org.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 NORTHWEST GEORGIA MASTER CATTLEMEN’S PROGRAM Sept. 8 – Oct. 27 Carroll County Ag Center Carrollton This eight-week course will meet on Mondays from 6:30 pm. to 8:30 p.m. Each week’s class focuses on a single aspect of beef cattle production. Participants who attend six of the eight classes will receive a certificate of completion and a UGA Master Cattlemen’s cap. Registration is $60 per person and includes a dinner on the final night. Advance registration deadline is Aug. 25. For more information contact Jason Duggin at 706-624-1403 or jduggin@uga.edu or Paula Burke at 770-836-8546 or pjburke@uga.edu. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS September 9-10 Rome-Floyd County ECO Education Center Rome The purpose of this course is to provide a working knowledge of conservation easements as a land-use control. It provides guidance on drafting conservation easement agreements to achieve landowner goals for their property. Land Trusts discuss their philosophy of land use protection and what they can offer landowners. This course offers a comprehensive overview of legal, appraisal, base line information, tax incentives, and other inputs needed for a successful conservation easement agreement. Sept. 5 is the deadline to register. For more information call 706-583-0566 see http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/courses/conseaserome. ‘CHICKEN SCRATCH’ PHOTO EXHIBIT Through Sept. 6 Georgia Museum of Agriculture Tifton The Gallery at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will showcase Fitzgerald’s wild chicken population with this new photography exhibit, “Chicken Scratch”, from Atlanta photographer Nicole Walker. The “Chicken Scratch” exhibit and is dedicated to the beauty, legacy, and companionship of these magnificent plumed gifts of Mother Nature. This exhibit is presented by Fitzgerald resident Sue Rochfort who is a TV host, teacher, author, cook, and antiques appraiser. For more information on Chicken Scratch, please contact GMA curator Polly Huff at phuff@abac.edu.