March 26, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 12
GFB PREPARES MEMBERS FOR AGRICULTURE ADVOCACY More than 250 Georgia Farm Bureau members and staff learned how to advocate for agriculture while attending the organization’s annual Educational Leadership Conference in Augusta March 21 and 22. Debbie Lyons-Blythe, the 2012 America’s Farmers Farm Mom of the Year, delivered the keynote speech at the conference. Blythe, whose family raises Angus cattle, shared how she uses her blog “Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch” to inform consumers about farm life and how beef is raised. “We’ve got to be able to tell consumers why we do things before the media or activists give consumers their take on it,” Blythe said. While Blythe stressed the importance of farmers using social media to reach consumers, she encouraged members of the ag community who don’t feel comfortable using it to talk to consumers face-to-face by asking their local grocery store to hand out samples of their commodity when it’s on sale or by wearing a t-shirt promoting their commodity at community events. Johnna Miller, director of media and advocacy training for American Farm Bureau, echoed Blythe’s message in her workshop on social media, saying, “We can’t afford to ignore social media any more because this is where people are getting their information and where the conversations are happening.” Dennis Peavy, the 2013 recipient of GFB’s Georgia Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Educator Award, shared activities and resources he uses in his Houston County elementary class to teach his students about agriculture while meeting state standards. GFB Women’s Leadership Committee members Angel Page and Brenda Cooley led a class on ag careers during which they shared Ag in the Classroom materials volunteers can use such as the My American Farm games and Ag Mags to teach students about the many careers agriculture offers in addition to farming. GFB Field Services Department Director Mike Copeland told attendees about the Linking Families & Food program through which GFB can promote all aspects of agriculture’s story year-round. This program replaces Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week program that promoted the affordability of America’s food. GFB Women’s Leadership Committee members Angie Durham and Nichelle Stewart shared games that can be used to teach kids about nutrition or ag facts. “Agriculture is important, and we should not neglect any opportunity we have to tell our story,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “I encourage you to take what you’ve learned today and use it because it is extremely important to let these young people in our communities know about agriculture.”
Leadership Alert page 2 of 9 NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL HOSTS FARM BILL SEMINARS The National Cotton Council (NCC) hosted a series of meetings to inform growers about the cotton provisions in the 2014 farm bill. There were 15 meetings throughout the Cotton Belt, including five in Georgia between March 19 and 21. NCC Senior Vice President of Washington Operations John Maguire led the Georgia meetings, reviewing key points of the plan for 2014 and the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) that becomes effective for most producers in 2015. Approximately 300 people attended the five Georgia meetings, according to the Georgia Cotton Commission. Because the time involved in implementing STAX makes it unavailable for the 2014 crop year, cotton growers will be under a transitional payment program in 2014. The transition payments, Maguire said, will equate to 5.4 cents per pound on 2013 base cotton acres and direct payment yields. The transition payments will extend to 2015 at 3.3 cents per pound in counties where STAX is not available. The transition payments are subject to a limit of $40,000 per legal entity, and eligibility is not affected by other program choices or planting decisions. Payments for the 2014 crop will occur on or after Oct. 1. STAX is a federally subsidized insurance program that will cover the portion of cotton acreage not covered by standard catastrophic coverage, allowing growers to insure up to 90 percent of their crop. Under STAX, which will be administered by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, the federal government will provide an 80 percent subsidy for premiums. Indemnity payments will be made if the actual county cotton revenue falls below 90 percent of the expected county cotton revenue. Maguire said the RMA’s county data will be published this summer. Along with STAX, the farm bill establishes a Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), which also becomes available in 2014. SCO will cover the 10 percent deductible. The NCC presentation and a summary of farm bill provisions are available for National Cotton Council members at http://www.cotton.org (login required). GFB PHOTO CONTEST OPEN FOR ENTRIES The GFB Young Farmer Committee is accepting entries for its 5th Annual Picture Agriculture in Georgia Contest. This contest is open to any Georgia Farm Bureau member who is an amateur photographer (receives no income from photography). Cash awards will be presented in two categories – Farm Bureau Members and Farm Bureau Employees. Prizes for the member category are: 1st Place - $150; 11 Honorable Mentions - $75 each. The winner of the member category will be featured on the front of the 2015 GFB Young Farmer Calendar. Prizes for the employee category are: 1st Place- $100; 2nd Place- $75; 3rd Place- $50. Only digital photos that are a minimum of 1 megabyte (MB) in file size may be submitted with a limit of two entries per person. All photos must have been shot in Georgia in 2013 or 2014. Photos altered in any way will not be judged. All photos become the property of GFB. Digital photos must be sent as a JPEG file attachment via email to yf@gfb.org by 4:30 p.m. on May 6. If children or people are included in photos, you must complete a Model Release Entry Form that must be received by GFB at the time of the deadline. Visit your county Farm Bureau office for contest rules, entry instructions and the model release form or visit the GFB website at http://www.gfb.org .
Leadership Alert page 3 of 9 DEAL ORDER ALLOWS INCREASED LOAD LIMITS ON LOG TRUCKS The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) is partnering with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to verify timber tracts damaged in the February ice storm, so damaged timber can be promptly harvested and removed. The project involves GFC personnel inspecting stands of timber that were damaged in the recent ice storm. This is a cooperative project with GDOT in response to Gov. Nathan Deal’s March 3 executive order allowing increased load limits (up to 95,000 pounds) for loggers during a 90-day period. GFC and GDOT will ensure the timber harvested comes from ice storm-damaged stands and help landowners and loggers transport it to mills in a timely manner before the timber degrades from decay or pests. Loggers applying to GDOT for increased load limits must first obtain a salvage verification affidavit from the GFC in the county where the damaged timber is located. GFC county unit contact information can be found at http://gatrees.org/about-us/contact-us/county-units/ index.cfm . GFC personnel will conduct a site visit with the logger, complete the salvage verification affidavit form and upload it to an online database. The logger will then receive an affidavit number for submission to GDOT for its permitting process. More information about the truck weight permitting process can be found on the Georgia Department of Transportation website at http://www.dot.ga.gov . COURT UPHOLDS CHALLENGE ON VIDALIA ONION PACKING DATE The Fulton County Superior Court struck down the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) mandatory uniform packing date for Vidalia Onions in a March 19 ruling. Judge Cynthia D. Wright issued the ruling in a suit brought by Bland Farms against the GDA. Bland Farms Owner and President Delbert Bland filed suit last fall after the GDA set the mandatory packing date. In August 2013 the GDA, citing quality concerns, set the date as the Monday of the last full week of April. The court’s ruling invalidates that standard and paves the way for licensed Vidalia onion growers to continue shipping the onions on their traditional timetable, which set an opening date but allowed growers to ship earlier with federal-state inspection certificates verifying the onions met established grade requirements. “Mother Nature will decide when our Vidalia sweet onions are ready to ship, not an arbitrary date on the calendar. I’m glad that we’ll be able to ship our onions on the normal timetable and our customers can expect that,” Bland said in a release. Bland, represented by former Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers, argued that while the Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 allows the GDA to set shipping dates each year, it does not authorize the GDA to establish a packing date. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black expressed disappointment in the court’s decision and said the GDA is appealing. “We believe that the packing rule does not in any way conflict with the provisions of the Vidalia Onion Act,” Black said in a March 24 statement, noting that his office is charged with protecting the Vidalia onion trademark and that the majority of Vidalia onion growers were in favor of the rule.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 9 SOUTHWEST GEORGIA BEEKEEPERS BEE SCHOOL March 29 Parks at Chehaw 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Albany This workshop, sponsored by the Southwest Georgia Beekeepers Club and the Dougherty County Extension office, will cover the art of beekeeping, hive equipment, honey production and how to manage a hive for pollination. Participants will work with live bees (if they desire) and receive a “My Hive Tool” DVD. The $30 registration fee includes the course, take home materials, lunch and a club membership. Register online at http://www.sowegabeekeepers.org . For more information about the club or the bee school, call 229-336-5952 or send an email to info@sowegabeekeepers.org . GEORGIA PECAN ASSESSMENT REFERENDUM DEADLINE NEARS March 30 is the deadline for Georgia pecan growers to submit their votes on a proposal to increase the assessment they pay to fund the Georgia Pecan Commission (GPC). Pecan producers growing 30 or more acres of pecans currently pay a half-cent per pound on in-shell nuts at time of sale to finance the commission’s promotion, education and research programs. Pecan industry leaders are proposing that the assessment be increased to one-cent per pound for in-shell nuts. Producers growing 30 or more acres of pecans are eligible to vote in the statewide referendum being conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). Eligible producers who do not receive a ballot should contact Nathan Wilson at nathan.wilson@agr.georgia.gov or 404-656-3678. State law requires that 25 percent of the mailed ballots must be returned to the GDA for the ballots to be counted. At least 66 2/3 percent of the producers voting must vote in favor of the assessment increase for it to pass. AMERICA’S FARMERS MOM OF YEAR CONTEST ACCEPTING ENTRIES Nominations are being accepted for the 2014 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year Contest until 11:59 p.m. March 31. To nominate someone for the award, visit http://www.americasfarmers.com and select the Farm Mom icon. Submit a short essay of 300 words or less that explains how the nominated farm mom contributes to her family, farm, community and agriculture. Complete rules and nomination instructions are available at the aforementioned website. Nominations using the form printed from the website may be submitted by mail to, Paradowski, Attn: Sue Dillon, America’s Farmers Mom of the Year, 349 Marshall Ave. Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63119. Mailed entries must be postmarked by March 31 and received by April 2. A panel of judges from American Agri-Women and Monsanto will select five regional winners around April 11. Online votes cast for the regional winners from April 25 to May 6 will determine the national winner, who will be announced around May 8. Each regional winner receives $5,000, and the national winner gets another $5,000. 2014 GEORGIA AGRITOURISM ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE March 31 - April 1 The Classic Center Athens Hosted by the Georgia Agritourism Association in Partnership with Chick-fil-A, the conference opens with a tour of Northeast Georgia farms on March 31. April 1 sessions include agritourism operators sharing their experiences with Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA), food service and food products on and from the farm and marketing strategies. For more details or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/me5wdhl or call the Georgia Agritourism Association at 706-845-9085.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 9 GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION 53rd ANNUAL CONVENTION April 2-5 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This jam-packed four-day event covers all things beef, including a forage conference led by UGA’s Dr. Dennis Hancock, Cattlemen’s College seminars on a variety, a livestock marketing seminar conducted by UGA’s Dr. Curt Lacy; the annual awards banquet; the GCA general membership meeting; angus, hereford, commercial heifer and club calf sales; the annual Cattlemen’s Ball and junior awards luncheon. For more information or to register http://www.gabeef.org/gca/annual_convention_and_beef_expo.html . 2014 FARM BILL EDUCATION MEETINGS April 4 GA/FLA Tobacco Exchange 9:30 a.m. - noon Alma April 7 Cloud Livestock Facility 9:30 a.m. - noon Bainbridge April 8 UGA Tifton Conference Center 9:30 a.m. - noon Tifton April 10 Burke County Office Park Noon - 2:30 p.m. Waynesboro April 11 Captain’s Corner Restaurant Noon - 2:30 p.m. Vidalia April 14 Sumter County Extension Office 9:30 a.m. - noon Americus These meetings, sponsored by Georgia Farm Bureau, Farm Credit and the UGA Extension, are designed specifically for Georgia row-crop producers and landowners. Presentations and discussions will be led by UGA agricultural economists Don Shurley and Nathan Smith. Topics include Price Loss Coverage (PLC), Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC), base acreage decision options, payment yield update decisions, generic base decisions, cotton transition assistance, marketing loans, the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) for cotton and Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO). Coffee and biscuits will be served at the morning meetings. Lunch will be served at the noon meetings. To attend, contact your local county Extension office. AMERICA’S FARMERS GROW RURAL EDUCATION FUND April 6 Nomination deadline April 21 School application deadline Monsanto is accepting nominations from farmers in 33 Georgia counties for grants of up to $25,000 from Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Fund. Eligible counties are Appling, Baker, Berrien, Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth. Visit http://www.growruraleducation.com and click the “Farmers Nominate Now” button or call 1877-267-3332 to submit a nomination. Complete rules and eligibility requirements are posted on the website. Once nominated, school districts will be notified and sent an invitation code to apply for their choice of a $10,000 or $25,000 grant. Charter schools are eligible if their National Center for Education Statistics is located in an eligible county. Nominations are limited to one per farmer. Grants promoting math and science will be awarded based on merit, need and community support based on the number of farmer nominations a school district receives. BEEKEEPER’S SCHOOL April 12 Dawson County Extension 1 p.m. Dawsonville This three-hour workshop covers the history of beekeeping, tools and equipment, feeding and caring for bees and much more. The event is sponsored by the Amicalola Beekeepers Association. Registration costs $7 for members and $35 for non-members. Fees cover the cost of a beekeeping book. Visit http://www.amicalolabeekeepers.com/bee_school.htm or call 706-3643660 for more information.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 9 IFYE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM Young adults age 19 and over are encouraged to apply for the 2014 International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) Program. Individuals who have developed leadership skills in programs such as Young Farmers & Ranchers, 4-H, FFA or similar organizations, as well as those with a background in various agriculture-related fields and consumer sciences are particularly well suited for a primarily rural living experience. Successful applicants will participate in various young adult programs abroad such as Young Farmers, Rural Youth, etc. Additional countries may be added. For further information, please contact Alan Lambert, National IFYE Program Director, at 605-366-6107 or by email at alanelambert@gmail.com. Completed applications are due by April 15. Visit the IFYE website at www.ifyeusa.org/ to learn more about the program and obtain an application. MULTICULTURAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE April 17 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council, Inc., in partnership with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, will host a conference for multicultural farmers and producers from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Registration fee is $20 per person, which covers the cost of lunch and conference materials. Topics include muscadine wine production, building a diverse urban farm enterprise, growing farm profits, pecan and peanut production and many more. For updates on speakers, classes, agenda and to register, visit http://tinyurl.com/mecjba8. For more information contact the Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council, Inc. at 678-376-9518 or USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Lawrenceville Service Office at 770-963-9288. SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM April 18 Deadline to apply The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is pleased to announce the competitive solicitation process to award the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that “enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.” Specialty crops are defined as: fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass/sod, nursery and greenhouse crops, including floriculture. For a listing of all eligible crops visit www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/scbgp. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will make grant funding available, with Georgia’s share being approximately $1.2 million. Please refer to the links available on the GDA grants webpage located at www.agr.georgia.gov/grants.aspx for the grant application, guidelines, and additional information. For additional questions please contact Jeanne Maxwell at Jeanne.Maxwell@agr.georgia.gov or 404-657-1584. IFYE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM Young adults age 19 and over are encouraged to apply for the 2014 International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) Program. Individuals who have developed leadership skills in programs such as Young Farmers & Ranchers, 4-H, FFA or similar organizations, as well as those with a background in various agriculture-related fields and consumer sciences are particularly well suited for a primarily rural living experience. Successful applicants will participate in various young adult programs abroad such as Young Farmers, Rural Youth, etc. For further information, please contact Alan Lambert, National IFYE Program Director, at 605-366-6107 or by email at alanelambert@gmail.com. Completed applications are due by April 15. Visit the IFYE website at www.ifyeusa.org/ to learn more about the program and obtain an application.
Leadership Alert page 7 of 9 MULTICULTURAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE April 17 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Perry The Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council, Inc., in partnership with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, will host a conference for multicultural farmers and producers. Registration fee is $20 per person, which covers the cost of lunch and conference materials. Topics include muscadine wine production, building a diverse urban farm enterprise, growing farm profits, pecan and peanut production and many more. For updates on speakers, classes, agenda and to register, visit http://tinyurl.com/mecjba8. For more information contact the Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council, Inc. at 678-376-9518 or USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Lawrenceville Service Office at 770-963-9288. GA. HEIFER EVALUATION AND REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE April 22 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For information contact Dr. Jacob Segers at 229-386-3214 or jacobs@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. GEORGIA CATTLEWOMEN’S ASSOCIATION REGION II MEETING April 25-27 Forrest Hills Mountain Resort & Conference Center Dahlonega The Georgia Cattlewomen's Association invites you to three days of fun, fellowship and educational opportunities! There will be social media training, leadership development, ANCW business and updates, as well as lots of fun like a Winery/Farm Tour and trail walking. The registration form can be found at http://www.gabeef.org/gcwa/index.html. For more information contact Melissa Miller at millerm@uga.edu or 813-928-2437. NEWTON COUNTY AG DAY ON THE SQUARE April 26 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Covington This event, sponsored by the Newton County Farm Bureau Young Farmers, features a modern and antique tractor show. Peddle tractors for the kids, arts and crafts, live music, food, face painting and a cow train. A drawing will be held for a Yeti cooler, and those who register tractors for the tractor show receive a free raffle ticket. For more information contact Crystal Powell at 770-786-7201. GEORGIA FORESTRY FOUNDATION ARTWORK AND SLOGAN CONTESTS April 30 Deadline for entries Georgia students in grades 5 through 12 are invited to participate in a contest to express the value of Georgia’s sustainable working forests through submission of a creative artwork and slogan. There are two levels of competition: fifth through eighth and ninth through 12th grades, with one winner from each level. Each winning entry will be awarded a prize valued up to $35,000, which includes a $15,000 cash award to the school, $2,500 cash award and forestry camp scholarship to the student, Project Learning Tree environmental professional development for up to 20 teachers and an invitation to attend the Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop for two teachers from the winning schools, a field trip for students in the grade level of each winning student, and materials featuring the winning artwork and slogan. For more information on the contest including submission guidelines, entry form, terms and conditions and other resources for schools visit http://www.forestry4Rfuture.org or call 478-992-8110.
Leadership Alert page 8 of 9 GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM NOMINATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1 The Georgia Centennial Farm Program, which recognizes historic farms and encourages their preservation, is accepting nominations. To qualify, farms must: be a working farm with a minimum of 10 acres actively involved in ag production, generate at least $1,000 in annual farm income and include 10 acres of the original farm purchase. Farms must have been continuously farmed for at least 100 years. The Centennial Farm Program has recognized 451 Georgia farms since 1993. The Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources administers the program in partnership with several organizations including Georgia Farm Bureau. Visit http://www.georgiacentennialfarms.org to download an application or contact Charlie Miller, Centennial Farm Awards Committee chairman at 404-651-5287 or by email at Charlie.miller@dnr.state.ga.usApplications must be postmarked by May 1. Selected farms will be honored during the Georgia National Fair in October. MONROE COUNTY HERD SALE May 3 Sleepy Creek Farm 12:30 p.m. Forsyth This sale will feature 85 bred heifers. Data available on the heifers includes A.I. breeding and sire EPD’s, pelvic area, frame score, disposition score, weight per day of age and average daily gain. All heifers will sell confirmed safe in calf to calving ease Angus bulls. For more information contact the Monroe County Extension office by phone at 478-994-7014 or by email at uge2207@uga.edu. Information about the sale may also be found online at http://www.ugaextension.com/monroe 2013 YOUNG HARRIS/UGA BEEKEEPING INSTITUTE May 15-17 Young Harris College 8 a.m. each day Young Harris This event, one of the most comprehensive beekeeping educational events in the Southeast, offers classes for beekeepers at all levels of experience and the annual honey show. May 15 is dedicated training and certification exams for journeymen and master beekeeper qualifications, as well as the Welsh honey judge training, the first licensing program for honey judges in North America. May 16 and 17 provide training and certification, including individual and colony biology, low-tech beekeeping, occupational safety and much more. Registration fees for 18 and older is $120 for May 16, $100 for May 17 and $199 for both days. For ages 11-17, fees are $59 for May 16, $49 for May 17 and $99 for both days. Two-day registration and additional fees apply for advanced courses and exams on May 15. Participation is capped at 175 people, and classes generally fill up quickly. For more information, visit http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/youngharris/. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION WORKSHOP DEADLINE Rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students have until May 24 to apply to attend a one-week residential camp the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission is offering June 8-12 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Natural resource experts will give lectures, guide field trips and lead hands-on activities to enhance students’ understanding of Georgia’s natural resources during the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop (NRCW). The camp focuses on the value and protection of Georgia’s wildlife, forestry, soil, water and mining resources. More than $18,000 in college scholarships will be awarded during the event. Tuition is $150 per student but scholarships are available for students who have not previously attended the event. Visit http://abac.edu/nrcw to download the camp application and more information. Contact Luke Crosson at lcrosson@gaswcc.org or 229-995-6001 for more information.
Leadership Alert page 9 of 9 CALHOUN BEEF CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP May 27 NW Georgia Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Workshop begins at 6 p.m. For information contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or pworley@uga.edu. GA. HEIFER EVALUATION AND REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE Â May 28 NW Georgia Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For information contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or pworley@uga.edu. GFB ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR YOUNG FARMER CONTESTS Georgia Farm Bureau is accepting applications for its Young Farmer Achievement Award, Excellence in Agriculture Award and Discussion Meet. . GFB members between the ages of 1835 may apply for these awards. Applications are available at county Farm Bureau offices Finalists for each of the competitive events will be named at the GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference to be held July 10-13 on Jekyll Island. Applications for each contest and the leadership conference will be accepted through May 30 at 4:30 p.m. The preliminary rounds of the discussion meet will be held at the leadership conference. For more information on these awards or the conference, please visit http://www.gfb.org/yf or stop by your county Farm Bureau. The GFB Achievement Award will recognize an outstanding young farmer or couple whose primary income is derived from farming. The GFB Excellence in Agriculture Award will recognize an outstanding individual or couple whose primary income is not derived from farming. Extension agents, FFA advisors and ag lenders are examples of individuals who may apply for this award. The GFB Discussion Meet is a competitive event designed to simulate a committee meeting where young farmers discuss topics relevant to agriculture today and explore solutions to issues facing them as agriculturalists. The state winner of each award will be announced during the GFB convention in December. The winner of each contest will compete on the national level at the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Diego, Calif., Jan. 11-13, 2015. Details on state and national prizes will be available at a later date. UGA CAES ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS June 1 Deadline for submitting applications The CAES Alumni Association awards two non-renewable scholarships to the most outstanding transfer students from two- and four-year colleges who will be enrolling full-time at The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Selection is based on the student's ability to make significant contributions to the academic and co-curricular campus environment. Application forms may be accessed at http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/caa/scholarships.html#awards.