June 4, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 22
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES PASS AG SPENDING BILLS The House and Senate Appropriations Committees each passed bills to fund programs in agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other programs for fiscal year 2015. The House Appropriations Committee passed its version on May 29 by a 31-18 vote. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version on May 22 by a 30-0 vote. Both bills move to their respective chamber floors, though no dates for deliberations have been announced. The House bill contains $20.9 billion in discretionary spending, the same amount enacted for fiscal year 2014. The Senate bill provides $20.575 billion in discretionary spending, including $100 million in disaster relief funds. The House version includes an amendment by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) that would increase Agricultural Research Service (ARS) funding by $155 million to reconstruct the USDA Southeastern Poultry Lab in Athens. Georgia Farm Bureau has asked members of Congress to approve the funding for improvements to the poultry lab, which for decades has provided some of the world’s leading research into the reduction and elimination of avian influenza. The House bill also included an amendment from Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) that would prohibit the USDA from purchasing poultry processed in China for use in the National School Lunch Program. The House bill provides $869 million for conservation funding, $43 million more than the 2014 spending level. Both bills included amendments to prohibit the USDA from spending federal dollars to inspect horse processing plants. According to a Senate Appropriations Committee summary, the Senate bill’s discretionary spending is $90 million less than the fiscal year 2014 enacted level but $228 million more than the president’s budget request. It contains $1.023 billion for the Food Safety Inspection Service. The Senate bill includes a $4 million increase in research funding to study pollinator health and enable ARS to develop and test best management practices to help prevent colony collapse disorder. Also included in the Senate bill are $1.183 billion for the Farm Service Agency, $3.5 billion for farm ownership loans and $2.645 billion for farm operating loans. The Senate package allots $20 million in the feral swine eradication program and $2 million in additional funding for research and surveillance to combat Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv).
Leadership Alert page 2 of 5 GFB TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR 2015 COMMODITY COMMITTEES Georgia Farm Bureau is now accepting nominations for individuals to serve on its commodity advisory committees for calendar year 2015. There are 20 committees, members of which are appointed by the GFB president with the approval of the state board of directors. The committees serve in an advisory capacity to the president, board and staff. They also make recommendations to the GFB Policy Development Committee relative to their commodity. All counties within each district may nominate members to serve on a committee for a one-year term. Every county Farm Bureau is encouraged to review its candidates and make nominations to each commodity that is applicable. Please remember that a person can only be nominated to serve on one commodity committee. The chairperson of each committee will be appointed for a one-year term. Exceptions will be made in situations where a member has a vast knowledge of that commodity. For 2015 GFB is adding a full committee on direct marketing/agritourism. The feed grain and soybean committees are being combined into one committee. Direct marketing of farm products and inviting the public to come onto working farms has become a growing and vitally important area of agriculture. It is imperative that the public understand how food, fiber and fuels are produced and these farm operations allow just that. To be eligible to serve on a GFB commodity advisory committee, a person must be a member of the county Farm Bureau from which he/she is being nominated, be an active producer of the commodity and have knowledge on all aspects of the commodity. Nominations must be submitted and received no later than Aug. 18. For more information contact your county Farm Bureau office or the GFB Commodities Marketing Department at 1-800-342-1196. HARRISON NAMED NEW GEORGIA FSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently appointed Dr. Fred Harrison Jr. as the new state executive director for the USDA Georgia Farm Service Agency (FSA). Harrison is a native of Winterville in Clarke County and jointed the Georgia FSA team on June 2. Harrison has served on the Georgia FSA State Committee since 2010 and is the owner and operator of Harrison Farms. He is a former dean of the Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, Home Economics and Allied Programs. He also served as Administrator/Director of Fort Valley State’s Cooperative Extension Program. Harrison is a recipient of the Award of Excellence from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association. He holds a Ph.D. from Ohio State University in Extension Program Development, Administration and Community Resource Development. He recently served as a member of the Georgia Rural Development Council. As FSA state executive director, Harrison will oversee FSA programs that protect agricultural practices to ensure a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food supply for consumers. Harrison takes over for David Laster, who served as acting director following the retirement of Hobby Stripling in early 2013.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 5 UGA, FVSU GET FUNDS FOR FARM BILL EDUCATION The USDA is awarding $6 million to universities and state Cooperative Extension programs to develop online decision tools and other materials and train experts to educate producers about several key farm bill programs. The new Web tools will help farmers and ranchers determine what participating in programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill will mean for their businesses. Half of the money will be used in the development of online decision tools to help farmers decide which programs are best for them. USDA will also award $3 million to state Cooperative Extension programs—a nationwide network of experts based at land-grant universities—for outreach and education on the new Farm Bill programs. Funds will be used to conduct public education outreach meetings where producers can speak with local extension agents and Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff. The University of Georgia was awarded $48,601 and Fort Valley State was awarded $21,067. The University of Illinois - lead for the National Coalition for Producer Education - along with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri and the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M - co-leads for the National Association of Agricultural and Food Policy - will receive a total of $3 million to develop the new online tools and train state-based extension agents who can help educate farmers. For more information, visit http://www.usda.gov/farmbill. GA. SOYBEAN COMMISSION APPROVES RESEARCH FUNDING The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Soybeans approved $213,910 in funding for a wide range of research projects and select promotional activities during its March board meeting. The research projects funded include soybean production research, soybean stem canker research, the continuation of soybean integrated pest management sentinel plots, development of herbicide-tolerant soybean varieties, soybean variety evaluation and continued research on kudzu bug resistance. In addition, the commission approved funding in support of the Georgia Weather Network, the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association and a new Extension soybean yield contest. Like producers of other commodities, such as cotton, peanuts and dairy, Georgia’s soybean farmers collectively invest a portion of their revenue to fund research and promotion efforts. This collective investment is called a check-off. The soybean check-off is a nationwide effort supported entirely by soybean farmers with individual contributions of half a percent of the market price per bushel sold. Increasing demand for soybeans is an essential part of the equation. The soybean check-off helps facilitate market growth and creation by funding research at land-grant universities as well as promotional efforts. In Georgia, more than 75 percent of the check-off funds collected go to fund research – which is crucial in the development of new varieties, improvements in production efficiency, and advancements in insect and disease management. The 2014 Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Soybeans consists of Chairman Greg Mims of Seminole County, Glenn Waller of Washington County, W. Irwin Bagwell of Floyd County, Joe S. Moore of Gordon County and Brian Ogletree of Lamar County.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 5 INTERPLANTED ALFALFA FIELD DAY June 5 Putnam County Cooperative Extension 10:30 am - 2:00 pm Eatonton Join us as UGA Extension Forage Specialist Dr. Dennis Hancock explains the benefits of interplanting alfalfa with forage grasses. Dr. Hancock will detail site preparation, fertility requirements and variety selection to assure successful stand establishment. After the educational program a sponsored lunch will be provided and then visit a Putnam County Farm where alfalfa has been successfully interplanted with Bermuda. Mr. Donald Wood, Research Professional at the UGA Center for Applied Genetic Technologies will join Dr. Hancock on site to discuss management techniques and harvesting strategies. For more information contact Putnam County Extension Coordinator Keith Fielder at 706-485-4151 or kfielder@uga.edu. UGA COTTON SCOUT SCHOOLS June 9 UGA Tifton Campus Tifton June 17 Southeastern Research & Ed Center Midville UGA entomologists Phillip Roberts and Michael Toews will lead this free training, designed to teach individuals about cotton growth and development, the structure of a cotton plant, pest insects, beneficial insects and how to report information to a grower. The sessions will begin at 9 a.m. in a classroom and conclude with a short field trip, adjourning at 12:30 p.m. No registration is required. For more information visit http://www.ugacotton.com. 2014 GEORGIA-FLORIDA TOBACCO TOUR June 9-11 Live Oak, Fla. – Baxley, Ga. This annual tour provides up-to-date information on variety trials, control of tomato spotted wilt virus, insect controls and much more. The tour will begin with a kick-off supper in Live Oak at 7 p.m. on June 9. For more information or to register, visit http://tinyurl.com/gftobaccotour or contact Dr. J. Michael Moore at 229-386-3006 or jmmoore@uga.edu. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER GRANTS June 12 Deadline to apply for FY2014 The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) assists new farmers and ranchers through grants to organizations that offer education, training and mentoring programs. The 2014 farm bill provides $19.2 million in grants under the BFRDP. The program includes three types of grants, which are specified in the legislation. Standard grants directly serve beginning farmers and ranchers; each can be up to $250,000 per year for up to 3 years. Educational Enhancements grant develop resources and provide coordination and support to standard grants for a particular topic or region. One Clearinghouse grant for a national site to house curricula, training materials, and other information for new farmers and ranchers and organizations that work with them. Visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/beginningfarmersandranchers.cfm for more information. GEORGIA GROWN FARMERS SHOWCASE June 14 Savannah Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Savannah June 28 Atlanta Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Atlanta Sept. 6 Moultrie Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Moultrie These family-friendly events feature 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.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 5 GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATIONANNUAL CONFERENCE July 19-21 Westin Resort Hilton Head Island, S.C. Duncan Davies, president and CEO of International Forest Products Inc., will provide the keynote address at this annual event, which offers educational and networking opportunities for forest landowners, forest industry professionals and forest-based businesses. Continuing education credits are available, and session topics include a post-recession outlook, succession and estate planning, and forest advocacy. Registration until June 18 is $375 for GFA members, $450 for non-members and $190 for spouses, guests and teens. For more information or to register, visit http://www.gfagrow.org/annualconference. NRCS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SIGNUP FOR N. GA. IRRIGATION PILOT Farmers and landowners, who wish to conserve and preserve water through the North Georgia Irrigation Pilot Program (NGIPP) have until June 20 to apply. The two areas of improvement are water conservation and water quantity. The NGIPP provides both technical and financial assistance to farmers interested in improving the water quality and quantity of their operation. Applicable counties are; Banks, Barrow, Butts, Carroll, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fayette, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Hart, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pike, Putnam, Rockdale, Spalding, Stephens, Troup, Upson, Walton, White and Wilkes. For more information about NRCS’ programs, initiatives and services in Georgia, visit us online at http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov or visit your local NRCS office. Applications are due by June 20. 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. 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. 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.