Vol. 72 No. 3
GEORGIA
May/June 2010
FARM BUREAU NEWS
The Voice of Georgia Farmers
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table of
contents may/june 2010
departments we, the farmers PAGE 4
legislative update PAGE 5
commodities update PAGE 10
around georgia
PAGE 22
public relations staff
Paul Beliveau Director Jennifer Whittaker Editor
Lillian Davis Publications/Advertising Manager
Jay Stone Print/Web Specialist
Denny Moore TV Producer/Anchor
Rick Treptow Senior Radio-TV Specialist
Michael Edmondson Web/Video Manager
Mark Wildman Radio-TV Specialist
Dean Wood Radio-TV Specialist
Ryan Naquin Radio-TV Specialist
Vickie Amos Office Coordinator For questions about your membership or member benefits, call 1-800-633-5432. For questions regarding editorial content call 478-474-0679, ext. 5334 or e-mail jawhittaker@gfb.org For questions regarding advertising contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., 1-800-397-8908 Visit the GFB Web site today! www.gfb.org
GFB members take ag concerns to Washington Sen. Saxby Chambliss spoke to Georgia Farm Bureau members who visited D.C. in April during the organization’s annual County Presidents’ Trip to Washington. Chambliss voiced his opposition to the Clean Water Restoration Act, which Farm Bureau opposes because it would give the federal government regulatory authority over all water in the country. PAGE 6
GFB testifies at farm bill hearing Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and GFB Peanut Advisory Committee member Andy Bell were among the Georgia farmers who testified at the farm bill hearing held by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee in Morrow, Ga., May 14. PAGE 8
FDA gets farmer input for on-farm food safety rules During a meeting the Food and Drug Administration held in Tifton this spring to discuss on-farm food safety rules the agency is developing, Georgia produce growers said the rules should vary by commodity, and that they should be based on level of risk and sound science. PAGE 14
Pilgrim’s Pride plans to reopen Douglas plant In May, the Pilgrim’s Pride Poultry Corp. announced plans to reopen its processing plant in Douglas, Ga., by January 2011. The company expects to hire as many as 1,400 local workers to process chickens grown by an estimated 160 local poultry producers. PAGE 16
Premise liability 101: GFB workshop addresses liability issues GFB held a workshop this spring that explored the liability issues property owners face when allowing paying or nonpaying guests onto their farms for recreational or agritourism activities. PAGE 19
Planting the seeds of awareness The presentation of the 2010 Flavor of Georgia Grand Prize that Diana Smirl of Savannah Bee Company accepted from Gov. Sonny Perdue, right, and Deen brothers Jamie (left) and Bobby (second from left) during the Georgia Ag Awareness Day Celebration was one of the many ways Georgia’s agricultural community worked to make Georgia consumers more aware of our industry during National Agriculture Week in March.
PAGE 20
on the cover
(Photo by Jay Stone) This mouth-watering shot of Vidalia Onions waiting to be loaded was shot in Tattnall County this May in a field at Dry Branch Farms, owned by David and Shirley Jarriel. The Jarriels grow 350 acres of onions and sell them to retail chains and fundraising groups.
Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 3
we, the
farmers Zippy Duvall, GFB President
Who holds our future?
In these uncertain times, we may ask ourselves, “Who is in control?” Is it the government, big corporations, or maybe other countries? Some may say all of the above. I say we can only be controlled if we stay silent and accept what is dictated. God gave us the ability to express ourselves and make a difference in our industry and our community around us. That’s what we do at Georgia Farm Bureau. We are the vehicle for Georgia farmers to express themselves – to influence and determine the policies that shape the future of Georgia agriculture. This spring has been a busy one in Farm Bureau. Our volunteers deserve a big pat on the back for the job they have done communicating the needs of Georgia farmers and promoting our industry. I’m so proud of the many activities our county volunteers did this spring to make their communities aware of agriculture. They say a photo is worth a thousand words, so I’ll let the photos on pages 21-22 tell the story. We weren’t able to run all of the great photos our counties submitted, but you’ll find many more if you visit Georgia Farm Bureau’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ GeorgiaFarmBureau. This spring I have held four tailgate meetings in Bleckley County in the 6th District, Rockmart and Covington in the 3rd District, and for county leaders at The Rock Ranch in the 5th District, to come together to discuss the issues they are facing in their area. Thanks to all the farmers for taking time out of their busy schedules to come and meet with me. This grassroots input helps me to be a better spokesperson for Georgia agriculture.
I have been a poultry producer since 1986 and have seen many changes in the industry. I am very appreciative of the opportunity to be part of this wonderful industry for all these years. Times have changed and as president of Georgia’s largest farm organization, I am concerned about the future of Georgia’s poultry industry. Over the last several years we have seen Georgia’s largest poultry integrator stumble and fall. The ripple effect has been devastating to some farmers and their communities. Fortunately, growers in Southeast Georgia got some good news in May when Pilgrim’s Pride announced plans to reopen their processing plant in Douglas that closed in 2009. This means jobs for an estimated 1,400 workers and 160 growers. This will definitely help pick up a community that has experienced so much during the last year. Many banks have failed and tougher regulations have been imposed on the lending institutions Georgia farmers depend on to operate. If all of that wasn’t bad enough, exports of Georgia chickens have been declining at an alarming rate. Georgia’s poultry industry is vital to the economy of our state. The poultry industry has three major stockholders – the grower, the integrator and the lending institutions. We are dependent upon each other like a threelegged milking stool. Take one leg away and the stool is useless. Each stakeholder has made huge investments in this industry and because of that, we need to work together to protect our investments. On May 21, Georgia Farm Bureau submitted written comments on behalf of See WE, THE FARMERS page 18
Pictured above, GFB President Zippy Duvall meets with county Farm Bureau leaders in the organization’s 6th District during a tailgate breakfast held at the Bleckley County Extension Office, March 8. 4 / May-June 2010
GEORGIA
FARM BUREAU NEWS
The Voice of Georgia Farmers
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Farm Bureau Members: Included in dues — $1 per year Non-Members — $15 per year To subscribe call 1-800-898-1911, ext. 5238. OFFICERS President ZIPPY DUVALL 1st Vice President/South Georgia Vice President GERALD LONG North Georgia Vice President BERNARD SIMS Middle Georgia Vice President ROBERT FOUNTAIN Treasurer/Corporate Secretary Wayne Daniel General Counsel DUKE Groover
DIRECTORS FIRST DISTRICT: J. Louis Hunt, LaFayette; Henry J. West, Rydal SECOND DISTRICT: Bobby Gunter, Dahlonega; Randy Ruff, Elberton THIRD DISTRICT: George Chambers, Carrollton; Nora Goodman, Temple FOURTH DISTRICT: Marvin Ruark, Bishop; William Hutchins, Winder FIFTH DISTRICT: Jim Ham, Smarr; Ralph Adamson Jr., Barnesville SIXTH DISTRICT: James Emory Tate, Denton; James Malone, Dexter SEVENTH DISTRICT: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gennis Folsom, Glennville EIGHTH DISTRICT: Phil Redding, Bluffton; Don Wood, Rochelle NINTH DISTRICT: Paul Shirah, Camilla; Lucius Adkins, Elmodel TENTH DISTRICT: David Lee, Alma; Daniel Johnson, Alma YOUNG FARMER CHAIRMAN: Matt Bottoms, Molena WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Cathy Barber, Alma ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising accepted subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaint about advertiser service or products. Publisher does not accept per-order, political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in the Georgia Farm Bureau News. For advertising rates and information, contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, 1-800-397-8908. Georgia Farm Bureau News was established in 1937. Copyright 2010 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, Georgia.
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Georgia Farm Bureau News
legislative update Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director
Ga. lawmakers faced tough decisions it plain that all issues are under consideration when it comes to revenue generation. Of particular interest to farmers are sales tax exemptions for farm input costs. Current law exempts seed, feed, fertilizer, chemicals, equipment and many other inputs from sales taxes. If these exemptions were repealed, it would create a tax climate in Georgia that would jeopardize many farms. GFB President Zippy Duvall stressed that fact in a meeting with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston on May 26. Duvall met with these leaders to express the importance of the ag exemptions to farmers and to request that their appointees have a clear understanding of agriculture’s economic importance to the state. On June 9 Speaker Ralston named banking consultant A.D. Frazier of Mineral Bluff and real estate executive Roy Fickling of Macon to serve on the council. On June 16 Lt. Gov. Cagle appointed D. E. “Skeeter” McCorkle, president and CEO of McCorkle Nurseries, Inc. in Dearing, and Bradford Dickson of the Atlanta accounting firm Tarpley and Underwood P.C. to the council. McCorkle serves as the McDuffie County Farm Bureau vice president.
Early in the session, the General Assembly passed a water bill to address some of the concerns of Florida and Alabama in the wake of the 2009 court decision that Atlanta has no legal right to use Lake Lanier as a water source. Most of the bill dealt with water conservation issues and other provisions that did not pertain to agriculture, but there were some important agricultural sections, which Gov. Perdue worked with GFB to ensure farmers’ concerns were represented. The new water bill, which Perdue signed June 1, provides that landowners with unused agricultural withdrawal permits will have an opportunity to reclassify those permits as inactive or active. Active permits are those currently being used for agricultural purposes. Inactive permits are those not being used, but the permit holder wants to keep the permit for future use. Both active and inactive permits will be protected by statute. Unused permits that are neither classified as active or inactive will be revoked within two years. Transportation is an issue that has been debated in Atlanta for years. In this session, consensus was reached and signed by the governor June 2. See LEGISLATIVE UPDATE page 16
Photo by Jay Stone
On April 29 the Georgia General Assembly adjourned one of its longest sessions in history. While the session only met for 40 days, it stretched longer into the year due largely to budget problems caused by dismal state revenue collections. Over the past couple of years, Georgia’s income has shrunk from $22 billion to less than $18 billion. Lawmakers passed the final budget during the evening hours of the last day as they scrambled to find a balance between revenue enhancements and reductions in state services. The final budget appropriates $36.4 million for UGA’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. This is about a 12 percent reduction from last year’s appropriation of $41.5 million. Two years ago, the CAES received $45.2 million in state funds. The college has received cuts of almost 20 percent over the two year period, and it has university officials considering how best to close some county Extension offices and reduce expenses at research facilities. The proposal made on March 1 to immediately eliminate all 4-H funding, close half of all county Extension offices, and shutter several UGA research facilities was shelved after public outcry was quick and clear. Other legislation included page after page of fee increases for state services. The budget did not fund the Farmers’ & Consumers’ Market Bulletin. The publication could be funded from Georgia Department of Agriculture funds, donations, or by subscription fees, but the final decision on that has not been made. The difficult budget situation sparked legislation to study Georgia’s revenue code. Governor Perdue signed HB 1405 on June 1. The bill creates a “Council on Tax Reform and Fairness” which will study Georgia’s tax laws and make recommendations by next January. The findings of the Council will shape legislation, which could be introduced during the 2011 General Assembly. HB 1405 could have far-reaching effects for Georgia farmers. State leaders have made
Gov. Sonny Perdue (seated) signs water conservation legislation at Buford Dam on Lake Lanier June 1 flanked by (L-R) Rep. Lynn Smith, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO John Brock, Sen. Ross Tolleson, House Speaker David Ralston and Tim Lowe of Lowe Engineers. Brock and Lowe co-chaired the Georgia Water Contingency Task Force, which Gov. Perdue formed last fall to develop contingencies to deal with the 2009 court decision that Atlanta has no legal right to use Lake Lanier as a water source.
Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 5
GFB members take ag concerns to By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________
G
Rep. Jim Marshall (D- 8th Dist.), standing, warns GFB members that the next farm bill will be different from the last due to budget issues.
man Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) secured provisions to ensure that the USDA rather than the Environmental Protection Agency would oversee regulations pertaining to greenhouse gases produced on farms. Bishop said he would not vote for a climate change bill that includes cap and trade provisions if it comes back up again although he voted for climate change legislation in December because he felt the bill would help the United States become less dependent on foreign countries for fuel. While speaking to GFB members during a breakfast meeting, Sen. Saxby Chambliss voiced his opposition to the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787). Introduced by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), the bill amends
Photo by Daniel Groce
eorgia Farm Bureau members from across the state traveled to Washington, D.C., April 13-15 for the organization’s annual County Presidents’ Trip to Washington. The main issues GFB members discussed as they met with the members of Georgia’s congressional delegation were the Clean Water Restoration Act, immigration reform, estate tax reform, climate change and farm animal cruelty legislation. “Our members did a great job visiting the hill and discussing these issues that are impacting agriculture,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “Visiting the congressmen on the hill allows them to put a face with the issues.” While meeting with his constituents, House Agriculture Committee member Rep. Jim Marshall warned that the next farm bill will not be the same as the last one. “We’ve been out of money for a long time, and it’s becoming more and more apparent,” Marshall said. He added that he doesn’t anticipate any changes being made to the current farm bill before it expires saying, “There are just too many of us who would block that.” House Appropriations Committee member Rep. Sanford Bishop told GFB members visiting him that he voted for climate change legislation late last year only after House Agriculture Committee Chair-
Rep. John Barrow (D-12th Dist.), sixth from left, meets with GFB members in his office. 6 / May-June 2010
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act by striking the word navigable from the law, effectively expanding federal jurisdiction over all water in the country. “I don’t think the federal government has any right to come on your farm and check a mud puddle that your irrigation system created,” Chambliss said. “Sure they need to ensure that chemicals don’t reach your waterways, but this proposed legislation would stretch the original intent of the Clean Water Act to extremes and use it to regulate things the Clean Water Act was never intended to do. We’re working with American Farm Bureau and doing everything we can to fight it.” Proponents argue the legislation restores the original congressional intent of the CWA. Farm Bureau contends the legislation would grant the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction over all waters within the states including groundwater, ditches, storm drains and farm ponds. Farm Bureau supports limiting federal CWA authority to navigable streams and flowing waterways that have continuous flow. Sen. Johnny Isakson told GFB leaders that his main priorities are working to get the national economy back on track and working to curb national spending. He said he was hopeful that Congress would reach an agreement on the estate tax issue before estate tax laws revert back to a $1 million dolGeorgia Farm Bureau News
Washington
GFB President Zippy Duvall (left) welcomes Sen. Johnny Isakson to the GFB breakfast.
lar exemption at a 55 percent rate next year. “You are here at a time when you can make a big difference with regards to estate taxes,” said AFBF Director of Public Policy Pat Wolff. Under current law, estate taxes are repealed for 2010, during which time surviving family members will pay capital gains taxes using carry-over basis on assets that exceed $5.6 million per couple if inherited farmland and other appreciating assets are sold. Unless Congress passes estate tax reform legislation before the end of the year, the estate tax will be reinstated in 2011 at a rate of 55 percent with only a $1 million exemption. “Congress needs to hear your stories of how the estate tax has affected you,” Wolff said. “We don’t win with numbers. We win with personal stories.” Last December the House passed H.R. 4154 which would permanently keep the tax rate at 45 percent with a $3.5 million dollar exemption. The Senate has yet to take up the legislation. Both Sens. Chambliss and Isakson have voiced support for estate tax reform. “On the Senate side we need to push for action. We need action this year before January first,” Wolff said. While the GFB members were in D.C., AFBF kicked off a campaign to urge the Senate to pass estate tax reform legislation before the end of the year.
GFB members meet with Rep. Jack Kingston (R-1st Dist.), tenth from left, in the U.S. Capitol.
Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-2nd Dist.), seated at desk, talks to GFB members about climate change.
Copeland named GFB Field Services Director
Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall announced May 25 that Mike Copeland has been promoted to director of GFB’s Field Services Department. Copeland’s promotion follows the retirement of Bob Ragsdale in May. “Mike has a good understanding of agriculture and rural Georgia,” Duvall said. “We know that under his leadership our field services department will continue to provide outstanding programs that benefit our membership.” Copeland, who grew up on a diversified row crop farm in Wayne County, served as GFB’s 7th District field representative from 1986 to 2000, when he was promoted to associate director of Field Services. In that capacity, Copeland has been involved in numerous departmental projects. He and his wife, Nancy, are members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bolingbroke.
Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 7
GFB testifies at farm bill hearing
By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________
G
eorgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and GFB Peanut Advisory Committee member Andy Bell were among the Georgia farmers who testified at the farm bill hearing held by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee in Morrow, Ga., May 14. “In Georgia, agriculture creates one out of every seven jobs, so a sound U.S. farm policy is essential for an economically viable agriculture system to feed and clothe our country,” Duvall said. “Georgia Farm Bureau believes effective farm policy should be market oriented and promote the production of quality products to meet market demand. Effective farm policy must also provide a safety net for farmers when markets or weather cause harm.” Duvall testified that, overall, the 2008 farm bill is working well for Georgia farmers saying, “Georgia’s cotton and peanut farmers fundamentally support the current program of direct and counter-cyclical payments provided by the current farm bill. Farmers and lenders understand these programs.” Bell expounded on this in his testimony saying, “Farmers need downside price protection against extreme low prices. The marketing loan program is a must for all program crops. All crop production on a farm should remain eligible for the marketing loan.” Duvall asked that Congress consider revising the permanent disaster program included in the current farm bill, explaining that the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE) doesn’t work well for most Georgia farmers because of the diversity of crops they grow. “If a farmer grows only one crop and has a total loss he qualifies for the program, but a farmer with multiple crops who has a total loss on only one crop doesn’t qualify. For Georgia another type of permanent disaster program would be better.” Bell testified that improvements need to be made to the federal crop insurance program in the next farm bill saying, “Insurance 8 / May-June 2010
Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall (center) encouraged the House Agriculture Committee to include provisions in the 2012 farm bill that encourage young people to enter production agriculture. Pictured at left is GFB Peanut Advisory Committee member Andy Bell of Decatur County and at right is Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. Director Ronnie Lee of Terrell County.
coverage above the 70 to 75 percent level is simply not affordable. Crop insurance must remain affordable for it to be a useful tool in today’s agriculture.” Duvall encouraged Congress to take measures to ensure proposed agribusiness mergers and vertical integration arrangements don’t hamper farmers’ access to inputs and markets. “Producers impacted by unfair marketing practices should be compensated when harmed by monopolistic practices,” Duvall said. “We aren’t opposed to the continued use of production contracts so long as producers have meaningful input in the process of negotiating contracts.” Duvall testified to the success of conservation programs included in the current farm bill such as the Conservation Reserve Program and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program. He encouraged Congress to allocate more funds to these programs, so more farmers can participate. He asked the committee to support federal funding of producer incentives for water conservation including the construction, repair and maintenance of farm ponds to water livestock and crops in times of drought. Duvall also encouraged Congress to include provisions in the next farm bill that motivate young people to enter production agriculture. “There is one thing we need to do encourage young people graduating from our agriculture schools to return to the land. If we don’t succeed in getting them to return to the farm and engage in production agriculture we will lose agriculture.” Congressmen from both sides of the aisle who spoke at the farm bill hearing
repeatedly warned there will be fewer federal funds available for the 2012 farm bill than there were for the 2008 bill. “We’re not going to have any more money for the next farm bill. We’re going to have less money. It’s not going to be easy because someone is going to have to give up something,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson D-Minn. “Maybe it’s time we’re going to have different programs for different crops. We’ve got to think outside the box. Are we spending our money the best way? That’s why I’m starting these hearings so early.” Peterson also called for simplifying the farm program, saying, “I think we’re making this [the farm program] way too complicated. We keep adding new programs to what we’re doing. My goal is to simplify them.” Peterson was joined by fellow Democratic committee members from Georgia, Reps. David Scott (13th Dist.) and Jim Marshall (8th Dist.); Bobby Bright (D-Ala.) and Ranking Minority Member Bob Goodlatte of Va. and his fellow Republicans Mike Rogers of Ala.; Adrian Smith of Neb. and Glenn Thompson of Pa. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-2nd Dist. Ga.) participated as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Other Georgia farmers testifying at the hearing included Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. Director Ronnie Lee, Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association 1st Vice President Dick Minor, Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Armond Morris, Georgia Pecan Producers Association Past President Hilton Segler and Ricky Williams, member of the USDA Dairy Advisory Committee. When Rep. Bishop asked the farmers to See HEARING page 13 Georgia Farm Bureau News
GFB announces scholarship winners Josh Barron of Hart County, Casey Kimbrell Jr. of Pierce County and Jessica Spaid of Candler County have been awarded the top Georgia Farm Bureau 2010 Scholarships for Agriculture, valued at $3,000 each. The scholarships, intended to recognize and assist deserving and outstanding young people who are pursuing college degrees in agriculture or related fields, are for students who plan to enroll in a unit of the University System of Georgia or Berry College for the 2010-2011 academic year. In addition to the three top awards, seven other students were awarded $750 each. Josh Barron Casey Kimbrell Jessica Spaid “We’re extremely proud to help these students in pursuing their dreams,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “Each of them has William Groover of Bulloch County, Christopher Campbell of performed well in the classroom and in a variety of extracurricular Carroll County and Addison Hooks of Candler County. activities, and we’re confident they’ll continue to achieve success as Independent judges reviewed the applications and selected the scholarship recipients and finalists. The GFB Scholarship Program they move beyond high school and pursue careers in agriculture.” Barron, the son of Dennis Barron and Joy Haley, plans to study is sponsored by the GFB Mutual Insurance Companies and coordibiology at UGA. Kimbrell, the son of Tammy and Casey Kimbrell nated by the GFB Women’s Committee. Sr., plans to attend Waycross College this fall and major in animal “Farm Bureau realizes that the future of Georgia agriculture science. Spaid, the daughter of Patricia and David Spaid, plans to depends on this next generation of agriculturalists, so we’re glad to offer them this support as they pursue their degrees,” GFB Women’s study water and soil resources at the University of Georgia. The other scholarship winners were Sara Beth Pelham of Deca- Committee Chair Cathy Barber said. “We appreciate all of the tur County, Rachel Wigington of Pickens County, McCall Tram- county Farm Bureau offices who promoted the scholarship and mell of Monroe County, Morgan Strickland of Houston County, encouraged students to apply.”
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Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 9
commodities/marketing update Brandon Ashley, Commodites Specialist
Ga. commodity groups key to Ag’s success Agriculture is Georgia’s largest industry. The dozens of different commodities found in Georgia present our farmers new obstacles every day. Many Georgia farmers run diversified operations where they grow a wide variety of crops and livestock, so the challenges they face can be plentiful. Many of the commodities grown in our state have a grower’s organization specifically targeted to working with the producers of the respective commodity. Some commodities have several associations working with them. For example, with fruit and vegetables, there are the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, the Blueberry Growers Association, the Watermelon Growers Association, the Peach Council, and the Strawberry Growers Association, to name a few. These grower associations provide an opportunity for producers of a specific commodity to hash out issues affecting them on a regular basis with their peers. These organizations also provide a unified voice for specific commodities and leadership in both the legislative and agricultural communities. Several of Georgia’s commodity associations have ties to national organizations that represent the commodity, which is helpful when national issues arise. Georgia farmers sit on the national boards and councils of numerous commodity groups, representing Georgia’s agricultural interests. This is especially important when discussions arise on issues such as the farm bill, trade talks and environmental legislation. These groups provide many useful tools for their members. Many of these allied organizations print and distribute publications and other tools for their membership. As with Georgia Farm Bureau’s magazines, the commodity-specific publications provide an invaluable service by providing information farmers might not be aware of otherwise. Georgia’s 13 Agricultural Commodity Commissions (ACCs) play a vital role by representing a cross section of agricul10 / May-June 2010
ture. Each commission consists of a fivefarmer member board with the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture and Georgia Farm Bureau president serving as ex officio members on the board. Each commodity commission collects an assessment from affected growers per the marketing order that is approved by producers who grow the commodity the commission represents. The collected funds can only be used for research, promotion and education for the specific commodity. In these tough economic times when public universities are cutting research, the ACCs collectively fund hundreds of thousands of dollars for research annually that might not otherwise be funded. The ACCs also fund advertising and promotion for their respective commodities. When you see billboards on I-75 funded by the Georgia Pecan Commission or hear stories of “The Good Egg from Georgia” on the radio, this promotion is beneficial to all pecan and egg producers. The education of both kids and adults that is provided by the various commissions is just as important. The commissions do a great job of getting kids excited about learning where their food comes from and explaining to adults how important agriculture is to the state of Georgia. As the state’s largest general farm organization, Georgia Farm Bureau maintains a close relationship with all of these agricultural groups. Not only does this allow
GFB staff to have a better understanding of the issues our farmers are facing, but it allows the other groups to know what Farm Bureau’s policies are and how GFB as an organization can help these groups achieve their goals. One of Farm Bureau’s strengths is its ability to bring the different commodity groups and organizations together. At the annual GFB Commodity Conference, which kick starts our policy development process that ends at our annual convention, growers from GFB’s 20 Commodity Advisory Committees gather and work on policy for the upcoming year. No other organization brings together that many farmers of different backgrounds and interest. Georgia Farm Bureau staff works closely with these allied organizations, bringing the concerns of the respective commodities back to our home office in Macon after each meeting. It is important that farmers be active members of both Georgia Farm Bureau and their respective commodity organizations so Georgia agriculture remains a viable industry in our state with a strong voice. If you are a producer and would like to learn how to become more active in promoting your commodity, contact the GFB Commodities/Marketing staff at 800-342-1196. Brandon Ashley is a commodity specialist in the GFB Commodities/Marketing Department.
Ga. peach growers reaffirm commission Georgia’s peach producers recently reaffirmed the Georgia Peach Commission for another three years with a 100 percent favorable vote during a referendum held Feb. 15 to March 16. The commission promotes Georgia’s peach crop through research, education and promotional activities, which include maintaining the commission’s Web site that provides consumers with recipes and tips on storing and selecting peaches at http://www.gapeaches.org. Five grower members - Chairman Al
Pearson of Peach County, Jeff Wainwright of Taylor County, Duke Lane III of Peach County, Robert Dickey of Crawford County and Howard Lawson of Brooks County and ex officio members Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin and Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall oversee the commission activities. For more information about the commission, contact Pearson at 478-825-7504 or Marcia Crowley with the Georgia Department of Agriculture at 404-656-3678. Georgia Farm Bureau News
Boll Weevil Assessment Set For 2010
The Georgia Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation Board has set the 2010 assessment for the Georgia Boll Weevil Eradication Program (BWEP) at 65 cents per bale. The change to a per-bale assessment became necessary after the Farm Service Agency announced in 2008 that it would no longer collect the assessment beginning this year. Cotton farmers will now pay an assessment on a per-bale basis rather than per acre as in previous years. The assessment will be collected by a grower’s cotton gin, just as it collects the assessment for the Georgia Cotton Commission. The new
assessment actually figures to be less than the $2 per acre paid last year, according to Georgia BWEP Director Jim Wilson. Realizing there was a strong possibility that FSA would no longer collect the BWEP assessment beginning this year, the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation last year that established a mechanism to continue collecting the BWEP assessment and the work of the eradication program so that Georgia’s cotton industry was not jeopardized. The legislation stipulated that in the event the FSA did stop collecting the assessment and the assessment changed to a per-bale basis, the first handler of cotton is the ginner, and the ginner is responsible for collecting the assessment from the cot-
GFB mourns loss of John Masters Longtime Dougherty County Farm Bureau President John Masters, 73, died on April 22. Masters served as DCFB president for 15 years, served on the Flint River Regional Water Council and raised cattle throughout his life. “Everyone at Georgia Farm Bureau was saddened to learn of John’s death,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “His involvement in our organization and his work on John Masters behalf of agriculture, especially his efforts to represent agriculture on the Flint River Regional Water Council, has proven extremely valuable, and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Masters family.” Masters worked for 30 years with M&M/Mars before retiring in 1999. He was a member of Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church. Masters was a past president of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 354. Masters is survived by his wife, Hazel, sons Matthew and Mark and four grandchildren. Condolences may be sent to the family at 6505 Walker-Ducker Sta. Rd., Albany GA 31707. Memorials may be sent to Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 2200
Dawson Rd., Albany, GA 31707; American Cancer Society, P.O. 1201, Albany, GA 31702; or to the American Red Cross, Albany Chapter, 500 Pine Avenue, Albany, GA 31701.
ton grower. The funds will then be remitted to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. SB 43 did not require a change to a per-bale assessment but merely set up the collection mechanism if it became necessary. The BWEP has been a success for Georgia growers allowing better management of insect pests with the use of fewer pesticides. The BWEP began in Georgia in the mid 1980s, and the boll weevil was officially declared eradicated in Georgia in 1994. From 1983 to 1994, Georgia’s cotton acreage increased from 120,000 acres to 885,000 acres. The BWEP has continued to expand westward to Texas where they have an active eradication program and buffer zone. “The Georgia Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation Board is to be commended for their management of the program,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. “The eradication of the boll weevil contributed greatly to cotton’s resurgence as one of Georgia’s leading crops, which has strengthened the economies of many rural Georgia communities.”
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Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 11
GFB member wins FFA scholarship
Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee Chairman Matt Bottoms (far right) and his wife, Melissa (far left), congratulate (R-L) Tyler Reeves, Ashley Buchan, Ben Bennett and Allison Fortner for talking their way into the Final Four Round of the Georgia FFA Discussion Meet.
GFB sponsors FFA Discussion Meet The Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee sponsored the 2010 Georgia FFA Discussion Meet held during the FFA State Convention, April 22-24 in Macon. Ben Bennett, a student at Lowndes High School, won the competition and $250 courtesy of GFB. During the first two rounds of competition, four contestants talked their way into the final competition during which they discussed how agricultural producers can reach out to the public to gain their support on important issues impacting agriculture. Other contestants competing in the Final Four Round with Bennett were Ashley Buchan of Bryan County, Allison Fortner of White County and Tyler Reeves of
Irwin County. The three runners-up each received a cash prize of $150 from GFB. Other area finalists in the competition were: Alex Cole of Temple High; Bethany Kittle of Northwest Whitfield; Emily Thomas of Madison County High; Cody Hall of Manchester High; Matthew Reid of Putnam County; Caleb TenHuisen of Burke County; Hannah Bennett of Worth County and Luke Sinclair of Pierce County. Each of these students received $50. Bennett is the son of Marshall and Mary Beth Bennett of Adel. Bennett is a rising senior and plans to pursue a degree in agricultural education to become an ag teacher and FFA advisor. The family operates a purebred Charolais farm.
John Hanna, who graduated from Seminole County High School in May, has been named one of 50 winners of a $1,000 scholarship from the National FFA Organization in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation and Ram Trucks, a division of Chrysler Group LLC. He’s the son of Mark and Deanne Hanna of Donalsonville. Hanna was valedictorian of SCHS, and he won the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award, Academic Athlete of the Year Award and the state FFA Grain Production Proficiency Award. He was president of the SCHS chapter of the FFA, served on the Principal’s Advisory Board and plans to attend Valdosta State University. Ram Trucks provided funding for the scholarships with the stipulation that recipients had to be from a Farm Bureau family.
FFA awards Duvall Honorary Degree
Outgoing Georgia FFA President Bo Corbett (left), presents GFB President Zippy Duvall with an Honorary State FFA Degree during the 82nd Annual Georgia FFA Convention. Duvall was one of 15 friends of agricultural education and FFA to receive the Honorary State FFA Degree this year. The other recipients were: Bruce Bailey, Colquitt EMC; Charles Banks, CTAE program manager for accountability at the Dept. of Education; Dr. Carter Black, state veterinarian; Chip Blalock, executive director of the Sunbelt Ag Expo; Sam Bowen, 12 / May-June 2010
Glascock County High School ag teacher; Steve Cabe, Rabun County High School ag teacher; Ray Greeson, Cook County High School ag teacher; Kevin Jump, GVATA president & Bleckley County High School Ag Teacher; David Moore, Wheeler County ENR; Sen. Chip Pearson, Georgia General Assembly; Georgia Speaker of the House Rep. David Ralston; Jake Redmod, Houston Fertilizer & Grain & FFA Foundation Sponsors Board member; Gary Steppe, state director of Career, Technical & Agriculture Education at the DOE; and Dr. Paul Thomas, UGA Horticulture faculty. Georgia Farm Bureau News
HEARING from page 8 explain how further restricting farm program payment limits would impact their operations, Bell explained that Southern agriculture has higher production costs than other regions of the country due to the diversity of Southern farms. “I think the payment limit is about right for us. It doesn’t need to be any tighter. We have to have a separate harvester for each crop. Peanuts and cotton have their own set of tillage and harvest equipment. Grain farmers are required to have even another set of equipment. This specialized equipment is very expensive to own and maintain. Our costs quickly escalate as we produce these various crops.” Representatives of Georgia universities and the Georgia Forestry Commission also testified during the hearing regarding the need for funding for crop research and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program
Pictured from left, Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga. 2nd District, speaks during the farm bill hearing held by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee May 14 in Morrow as Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga. 8th Dist.; Rep. David Scott D- Ga. 13th Dist.; Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn. 7th Dist.; Ranking Minority Member Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. 6th Dist. and Rep. Mike Rogers R-Ala. 3rd Dist. listen.
included in the 2008 farm bill. UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Dean & Director Dr. Scott Angle, Interim Dean of the Fort Valley State College of Agriculture Dr. Mark Latimore, Jr., Georgia Tech Research Institute Food Processing Technology Division Chief Greg McMurray and Georgia Forestry Commission Director Robert Farris made up the second panel. Angle told the panel that land-grant
Dairy producers vote to continue promotion Georgia’s milk producers have reaffirmed the Georgia Milk Commission for another three years with a 94 percent favorable vote. The commission supports numerous projects that promote milk and educate consumers on the importance and nutritional value of including dairy products in their diet. The commission allocates 85 percent of their assessment dollars to the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association for dairy promotion. The commission also funds the Mobile Dairy Classroom, the Georgia Farm Bureau “Farm Monitor,” the dairy exhibit at the Georgia National Fair and milk promotion during key state events. Five producer members – Chairman Tim Camp of Eatonton, Heck Davis of Eatonton, Phil Harvey of Monticello, Jerry Truelove of Cleveland and Rufus Yoder of Montezuma – along with ex officio members Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin and Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall oversee the commission activities. For more information about the commission contact Marcia Crowley with the Georgia Department of Agriculture at 404-656-3678. Georgia dairy producers also reaffirmed the Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. and its checkoff for another three years with a 91
percent favorable vote. Everett Williams, of Madison, is president of the 16-member GMP board of directors, and Earnest Turk, of Eatonton, serves as vice president. For more information about the GMP contact Farrah Newberry at 706310-0020.
institutions like UGA depend on funding through three sources – competitive funding through the USDA, congressional earmarks and the distribution of federal dollars through formula funds. “Federal earmarks remain the only process for supporting vital agricultural research that falls between the cracks of the high-minded studies supported by the National Science Foundation, USDA research and profit-driven research that private companies might support,” Angle said. “Changes are needed to make the process more transparent, but I remain adamant that earmark-supported research is vital to the success of our farming community. More transparency, limited high level peer review and greater accountability may allow a skeptical public greater comfort with the process.”
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Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 13
FDA gets farmer input for on-farm food safety rules By Jay Stone ______________________________________________________
I
n the past, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has implemented rules and adjusted them after getting feedback from those being regulated. In its process of developing new on-farm food safety rules, the agency has flipped that script. This spring, in conjunction with Georgetown University, the agency held a series of stakeholders’ discussion meetings with the goal of making rules in a way that minimizes the chance they’ll have to be adjusted later. “We want to get it right the first time,” said FDA Associate Commissioner for Food Protection Jeff Farrar. “Without grower input this won’t succeed.” One of those meetings, held March 25 in Tifton at the UGA Conference Center, drove home a “one size won’t fit all” message. Growers in attendance emphasized that the rules should vary by commodity, and that they should be based on level of risk and sound science. They also want assurances that the FDA rules address all segments in the food supply chain, from the farm to retail outlets. “I think it’ll be good for the end consumer, which in the end will mean we sell more fruits and vegetables, and that’ll be good for the industry,” said Jamie Brannen of Gerrald’s Vidalia Sweet Onions Inc. “I think it’s going to be a huge expense for the industry, but as long as everybody has the
same expense I guess it’s a fair game.” Leanne Skelton, chief of the Agricultural Marketing Services Fresh Products Branch at the USDA, told the participants that the USDA has proposed a national Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement similar to those in California and Arizona, and that the USDA has funds available for land-grant institutions and state departments of agriculture for food safety-related research.
Dr. Mike Doyle, director of the University of Georgia Center for Food Safety, gave one of several scientific presentations during a meeting to discuss FDA regulations for on-farm food safety.
The meeting included sessions on irrigation and foliar contact water quality, composting animal waste, worker health and hygiene, and wildlife and environmental concerns. More than 100 stakeholders representing small farming operations, UGA researchers and multiple government agencies attended. Most agreed that more information is needed and that cost sharing should be implemented. The sessions on irrigation water quality underscored the complexity of issues related to on-farm food safety. Discussions centered on where water samples should be collected, what those samples would be tested for and ways to achieve affordability in the testing program. Currently, producers pay for water testing, which often costs more than $20 per test. With those prices, producers want clear guidelines on how water quality audits are to be done. “The rules now say you have to test the closest point of contact with the plants,” said Russell Hamlin of Coggins Farms in Lowndes County. “Closest contact point might be every nozzle on the pivot system, and on a 900-foot pivot that’s a lot of tests.” To view summaries of all six of the Produce Safety project discussion sessions, please visit http://www.producesafetyproject.org. 14 / May-June 2010
Georgia Farm Bureau News
Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
Reported by Jay Stone & Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________ Representatives from the Natural Resourc- longest serving conservation district supervies Conservation Service (NRCS) visited Geor- sor in the nation. The NRCS honored Gilgia in early May as part of the agency’s 75th lis for his more than 70 years of service to anniversary celebration. NRCS chief Dave conservation during a reception held May 4 White was originally scheduled to visit Geor- in Soperton. Prior to the reception, Jordan gia, but had to cancel his plans to help coor- chatted with Gillis about the improvements he dinate efforts in response to the oil spill in has seen in soil and water conservation since the Gulf of Mexico. In his place, NRCS East the 1930s. Region Assistant Chief Leonard Jordan toured During their talk, Gillis shared his thoughts the Range Fuels biomass conversion facility about conservation saying, “Most of the farmand attended a reception honoring Jim L. Gil- ers in Georgia have done a good job in conlis Jr. of Soperton for his more than 70 years of servation. One of the first things that the Soil conservation service. Jordan also spent a day Conservation Service started was the terracing and a half in north and middle Georgia tour- program, then the small watershed programs, and for the last 15 to 20 years we’ve used no-till ing farms enrolled in NRCS programs. Gillis, 93, chairman of the Ohoopee River planting, which is one of the greatest programs Soil and Water Conservation District, is the I know of. The basis of our humanity is the soil. Foreign countries that have lost their topsoil have lost their country. If you don’t have topsoil you can’t grow anything.” In presenting the award to Gillis, Jordan said, “You have an individual here with you today who is an example of what a true conservationist is all about, he practices what he preaches. He has been with the conservation movement for quite some time, and he still has a passion to make a difference. I wish we had more Mr. Jim L. Gillis, Jrs.” On May 5 a group of representatives from the Georgia NRCS, the Georgia Forestry Jim L. Gillis, Jr. (left) accepts the Legacy of Conservation Award from USDA Natu- Commission, the Georgia Soil and Water ral Resources Conservation Service East Conservation Commission and the National Wildlife Turkey Federation, along with a few Regional Assistant Chief Leonard Jordan.
Photo by Jay Stone
Georgia celebrates 75th anniversary of NRCS
Bleckley County timber grower Earl Barrs talks to a group of state and federal conservation officials about management practices he uses at his farm, the 2009 National Tree Farm of the Year and winner of the 2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award.
Georgia forestland owners, toured Earl and Wanda Barrs’ Bleckley County farm, Gully Branch, which won the 2009 National Tree Farm of the Year Award. During the visit Jordan and Georgia State Conservationist James Tillman urged the landowners to get involved in the policy-making process to ensure that their concerns are heard.
Peanuts could be banned on flights
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed a set of rules that include banning peanuts on airline flights. The proposal is intended to accommodate passengers with peanut allergies. The DOT is soliciting comments on three different ban options. One is an outright ban on peanuts on flights under the DOT’s disability rule. The second option is banning service of peanuts and peanut products on flights for which a peanut-allergic passenger has made an advance request of a peanut-free flight. The third option would require airlines
to have a buffer zone, similar to the practice employed by Delta Airlines when a passenger with a medically documented severe allergy to peanuts requests a peanut-free flight. Delta serves peanuts, but will, with advance notice of a passenger with a peanut allergy, create a peanut-free zone three rows in front of and three rows behind that passenger. To submit a comment on the DOT’s proposed rule, visit www.regulations.gov/ search/Regs/home.html#documentDetail? R=0900006480afe2f8, then click the “submit comment” link. Comments should be filed by Aug. 9.
Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 15
Pictured from left, President and Executive Director of the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Economic Development Authority JoAnne Lewis, Rep. Chuck Sims, Pilgrim’s Pride President and Chief Executive Officer Don Jackson, Jose Batista Sobrinho and his sons Wesley Batista, president and chief executive officer of JBS USA and Jose Batista Jr., a Pilgrim’s Pride director, Sen. Greg Goggans and Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority President Luke Morgan celebrate the reopening of the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Douglas.
Pilgrim’s Pride plans to reopen Douglas plant By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________
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ov. Sonny Perdue and officials representing poultry company Pilgrim’s Pride attended a celebration event May 26 in Douglas, Ga., to announce plans to reopen the processing plant by January 2011. The company expects to hire as many as 1,400 local workers to process chickens grown by an estimated 160 local poultry producers. Pilgrim’s Pride closed the plant last year as it worked through bankruptcy proceedings. JBS USA became the majority owner of Pilgrim’s Pride after paying $800 million for 64 percent of Pilgrim’s stock in December 2009. Members of the Batista family, which owns JBS, attending the event were company founder Jose Batista Sobrinho and his sons Wesley Batista, president and chief executive officer of JBS USA and Jose Batista Jr., a Pilgrim’s Pride director. Pilgrim’s Pride President and Chief Executive Officer Don Jackson, who assumed his position after the company entered bankruptcy, thanked the residents of Coffee County for their continued support of the company and commended the former employees and growers on the work they did for Pilgrim’s Pride. “It was never a failure on the part of the employees or growers of Douglas that forced us to close the plant but rather the financial situation the company found itself in,” Jackson said. “I’m here today to tell you we’re going to get y’all chickens back and that’s the most important thing.” The company placed its first flock of pullets, which will grow into breeder stock, with a grower on May 25, according to John Haas, Pilgrim’s Pride live production manager. The 16 / May-June 2010
company expects to begin placing broilers with growers in October. “By the first of the year every grower who wants to grow for Pilgrim’s Pride should have birds,” Haas said. “The growing requirements for growers to come back with Pilgrim’s Pride will be the same requirements as when Pilgrim’s Pride shut down.” Gov. Perdue welcomed the company back to Douglas saying, “While we understand the business conditions that existed and why it (plant closure) happened, we know the poultry business is an economic driver, and this reopening means investment in the community and jobs for up to 1,400 Georgians. These kind of jobs affect everybody that depends on these livelihoods.” Wesley Batista thanked the former and future growers and employees of Pilgrim’s Pride for their support and expressed his family’s excitement about being part of Coffee County’s business community. “We know how hard it is to be a producer anywhere and even more to face the challenge all of you faced with this plant closing for more than a year. We are very excited about the future of the poultry business and look forward to growing our business,” said Batista. Local and state officials credited JoAnne Lewis, president and executive director of the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Economic Development Authority, for making the reopening of the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Douglas happen. Lewis humbly told the crowd, “I just did my job,” and thanked the community business leaders, bankers and poultry growers for their support and help in making the reopening a reality. Walt Dockery, who served as the spokesperson for Pilgrim’s Pride growers after the plant closed, estimates Pilgrim’s Pride and the
poultry industry has a $106 million impact on the local economy. “You pump $106 million into the economy and it’s going to trickle down, and everyone is going to benefit from the growers and employees to the local hardware stores and Wal-Mart,” Dockery said. Coffee County Farm Bureau President Derek Pridgen, who has grown chickens since 1994, first for Gold Kist and then Pilgrim’s Pride, was one of many growers who had to scramble to find an alternate income source after the plant closed. “Without the poultry industry my wife went back to teaching and I went into the restaurant business,” Pridgen said. “Our local banks have been tremendous through all of this. They rolled over the interest to help us get by.”
LEGISLATIVE from page 5 The state will be divided into 12 transportation districts. Each district will hold a referendum to decide whether to institute a one percent transportation local option sales tax or T-SPLOST. The taxes collected will fund transportation projects within each district. If passed, the T-SPLOST will be in effect for 10 years. Everything currently exempt from sales taxes would also be exempt from the T-SPLOST. This year was a tough time to be a state legislator, but lawmakers did a pretty good job of looking after the people’s business. Jon Huffmaster is director of the GFB Legislative Department. Editor’s note: For more information on HB 1405, read the Legislative Update that ran in the spring/summer issue of GFB’s Georgia Neighbors. Visit http://www.gfb.org/news/publications/default.html to read the article online. Georgia Farm Bureau News
American Farmer Man By Alex Harrell
He’s the backbone of America, the soul of this land. You won’t find anyone stronger than an American Farmer Man.
Though old age and retirement are getting close to start, he will always be a farmer deep in his heart.
He’s the one that’s up before even the sun rolling into the field ready to get it done.
One of a kind and one with the land, there’s only a few left, it’s the American Farmer Man.
The price of crops control his life; he’s held together by his farm, kids and wife. Sweat on his brow and dirt on his hands, you won’t find anyone closer to the land. Through the toughest of times and the best of years, every bit comes from his sweat, blood and tears. Even though impossible it sometimes seems, believe it or not he’s living out his lifelong dream. He started out with nothing but a dream and desire, down life’s ladder he only went higher. Even though his career is on a downhill slope, he’s lived a life only a farmer can know.
Soon, his son will take it all in his name; he already knows its far from fortune and fame. But it’s what he was born to do, right from the first of plans. He’s about to live out his life like his father... the American Farmer Man. Editor’s Note: Alex Harrell, 20, the son of Rodney and Jill Harrell of Leesburg, wrote this poem and presented it to his father last year on Fathers’ Day. Alex has followed in his father’s footsteps and now farms full-time with him. The Harrells grow corn, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and grain sorghum. We wanted to share this poem with our readers in honor of Fathers’ Day and all of the fathers who have and are passing their love of agriculture on to their children. The lessons farm kids learn watching their parents farm are engrained in them, even when life takes them to the city. So here’s to you, American Farmer Man!
Ga. pork producers attend checkoff conference in Kansas City, Mo. Pork producers Dania Devane of Cuthbert, Ga., and Glenn Derochers of Jefferson, Ga., represented Georgia at the Pork Act Delegate Assembly, March 4-6 in Kansas City, Mo. Devane is pictured meeting with National Pork Board President Tim Bierman. Also attending the event but not pictured was Georgia Pork Producers Association Executive Vice President Charles Griffin. Devane and Derochers were among the 163 delegates and pork importers who
attended the event from 44 states. The delegates were charged with helping to provide direction to the pork promotion, research and consumer information programs that are funded by the Pork Checkoff through the National Pork Board. Producers contribute 40 cents of every $100 in sales to the checkoff, and importers who sell pork products in
the United States use a sales formula to contribute a similar amount. The checkoff money is used to fund the We Care initiative, which is addressing consumers’ concerns about animal care; promotion of pork products and research into animal welfare, food safety, swine health, the environment and other topics.
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Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 17
Photo by Jay Stone
The newly elected 2010 FFA state officers met with GFB President Zippy Duvall June 3. Pictured from left are GFB Young Farmer Chairman Matt Bottoms, FFA State Vice Presidents Josh Daniel, Kendall Singleton, Kendal Hickox, Jessie Sumner, Duvall, FFA State Vice President Erica Frost, Beth Hickey, FFA State Secretary Kalie Hall, FFA State President Spencer Highsmith and Melissa Bottoms.
whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:20 tells us to look at difficulties as an opportunity to witness for Christ: For which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. As farmers, we can use the challenges our industry faces to advocate for our livelihoods. May God bless you and your family.
Upson County Farm Bureau President Brian Johnston (far right) welcomes county Farm Bureau leaders to the tailgate lunch held May 19 at The Rock Ranch, owned by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy.
Paulding County Farm Bureau Director Josh Rakestraw (far right) welcomes Georgia Farm Bureau members from the organization’s 1st and 3rd Districts to his family’s farm for a tailgate lunch with GFB President Zippy Duvall on March 29.
Photo by Jay Stone
WE, THE FARMERS from page 4 Georgia poultry farmers at the public workshop held by the USDA and the U.S. Department of Justice at Alabama A&M University. Here is just one comment I made: “Integrators have virtually all the bargaining power and growers have essentially none. It is a ‘take it or leave it’ proposition.” I also suggested that integrator contracts be required to have longer terms and that growers be allowed more leverage to negotiate their contracts and given more meaningful input in the process. We are looking forward to working together with the integrators, lenders and the USDA to secure the future of this great industry. Stability is what the industry needs to ensure the future for our farmers, our integrators and our lending institutions. Despite the challenges agriculture faces, I’m optimistic about the future because of the young people I see expressing an interest in our industry. Each year I invite the newly elected state FFA officers to your Georgia Farm Bureau building. They are always some of the brightest and best young people in our state. I had the chance to meet with the new officers in early June and this group is no exception. They make me feel confident, energized and excited about the future leaders of our state and Georgia Agriculture. So, who holds our future during these difficult times? We do because God gives us the ability to express ourselves and he also tells us how. Ephesians 6:13 tells us: Therefore take up the
Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
GFB President Zippy Duvall addresses the crowd of more than 40 Farm Bureau members at the tailgate luncheon held April 5 at Little Springs Farm near Covington.
18 / May-June 2010
Georgia Farm Bureau News
Premise liability, 101
GFB workshop addresses premise liability issues
By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________
I
dentifying and eliminating unreasonable risks present on your property is the best defense against potential premise liability lawsuits, Georgia Farm Bureau insurance staff and an attorney specializing in agriculture law advised Farm Bureau members during a workshop held at the GFB home office March 31. Workshop presenters offered suggestions for farm owners who let the public visit their farm for agritourism activities, hunting or fishing. “The key thing to remember when you open your farm to the public is your risk is increased, and you have a responsibility to look at your operation for potential risks and take steps to prevent accidents,” GFB Underwriting Manager Leanna Sherman said. “Trip and fall” hazards are one of the biggest liabilities agritourism owners have, said GFB District 5 Field Underwriter Joey Shipp. “Treat everyone who comes on your premises as if they’re two years old or 90 years old and things will probably go a lot better for you,” he recommended. Shipp advised property owners to fill holes visitors could fall in and rope off potentially hazardous areas that cannot be fixed or eliminated, such as protruding tree roots, old debris or farm equipment. He also advised posting caution signs to warn visitors of potentially hazardous areas. “If you mix signs with a gate or door you’ve done your due diligence,” Shipp said. “Doors, gates or ropes are important to keep kids or people who can’t read out.” GFB District 6 Field Underwriter Bryan Mitchell encouraged property owners to contact their insurance agents and arrange a farm visit for an insurance underwriter to discuss possible risk exposures and steps property owners can take to limit their liability. “Having a regular plan in place to check your property for potential risks to remedy them is a defense for showing you were being responsible,” Mitchell said. He also urged property owners to review their insurance policies and know what it does and doesn’t cover, saying, “It’s easier to have this discussion before an accident occurs than having your insurance adjuster have to explain why you aren’t covered.”
GFB farm policies generally provide coverage for visitors who come onto a farm to take a farm tour as long as no fee is charged. Retail or wholesale activities other than farming, processing operations which alter a product from its natural state, and agritourism, however, are generally considered a commercial endeavor and require coverage beyond a farm policy. Farm Bureau offers insurance coverage for these exposures through multiple commercial or brokerage policies. Property owners operating agritourism venues can do simple things like walking through their corn mazes daily to check for holes that need to be filled or checking the air pressure on equipment used for hayrides, said Joel McKie, an agricultural lawyer with the firm Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover, P.C. McKie said doing this establishes that reasonable inspection procedures were being followed, which can offer a defense should a lawsuit be filed. McKie said if a landowner receives a fee for people coming onto his property the landowner is generally expected to exercise ordinary care to protect the visitors from harm. “Your goal is not to win a lawsuit but to eliminate risks to avoid being sued,” McKie said. “You know holes are going to develop in your corn maze and strawberry field, so you need to level them out if that is feasible or at least warn patrons about such holes.” He advised property owners who invite the public onto their farms for any reason to regularly inspect their property for potential risks, fix them and to document their actions. “A property owner has a duty to remove unreasonable risks of which he knows or should know about. You can’t just stick your head in the sand and say ‘I didn’t know about the risk so therefore I’m not liable,’ ” McKie said. “A premise owner can offer a defense against liability by demonstrating compliance with reasonable inspection procedures.” Through the years, the Georgia General Assembly has passed several laws that provide limited liability protection for property owners who let the public onto their farm for equine, fishing, recreational, pick-your-own or agritourism activities. To be covered by the equine and aquaculture
provisions, Georgia law requires property owners to post a sign in a clearly visible location on their property warning visitors that the owners are not liable for injury or death from the inherent risks of engaging in equine or fishing activities. Georgia law also instructs pick-yourown operators to post a sign in a clearly visible location on their property warning visitors that property owners are not liable for injury or death from the inherent risks to persons engaging in the harvest of agricultural products. The pick-your-own statute states that failure to post such a sign shall not prevent an owner from invoking the liability protection the law provides, however, McKie advises pick-your-own operations to post the signs. Signs stating the Georgia statutes that give equine, fishing and pick-your-own operators limited liability may be purchased through your county Farm Bureau office See WORKSHOP page 23
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Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 19
Planting the seeds of awareness By Jay Stone _________________________________________________________________ More than 1,000 people visited the Georgia Depot on March 16 for the Georgia Ag Awareness Day celebration, which included the annual Flavor of Georgia contest and displays from dozens of exhibitors representing virtually every commodity produced in Georgia. Visitors had the opportunity to learn about dozens of Georgia agricultural commodities and initiatives, as well as tasting samples of food from many of the state’s regions and products, including barbecued goat, vegetable pizza and peach cobbler. Dotting the crowd were the green coats of 4-Hers and blue coats of FFA students from around the state, along with lots of red and black from various UGA agricultural programs. Winners of the 2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards and the Flavor of Georgia contest were also announced. Keyboardist Chuck Leavell, a noted conservationist who has played with the Allman Brothers Band, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and other famous music groups, helped present the
Environmental Stewardship Awards. Jamie and Kelly Jordan’s Riverbend Farm in Floyd County was the District 1 winner. The District 2 winner was Keith and Tricia Nichols’ Oak Valley Farm in Stephens County. Earl and Wanda Barrs’ Gully Branch Farm won in District 3. Stanley and Angie Corbett of Echols County won the District 4 award and Coffee’s Wayne and Lynn McKinnon won in District 5. The Barrs won the state award. The Savannah Bee Company won the overall prize in the 2010 Flavor of Georgia contest for its Grill Honey with No Drip Pump. Paula Deen’s sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen from the Food Network show “Road Tasted” presented plaques to the Flavor of Georgia winners. The event, started by Gov. Sonny Perdue during his first term, was designed to emphasize products grown in Georgia and to create interest in the state’s largest industry during National Agriculture Week. Some of Perdue’s friends had his first tractor refurbished and presented it
Jackson County Farm Bureau President Greg Pittman presented East Jackson Elementary School paraprofessional Charlotte Gilman (left) and teacher Dawn Brock with gift bags in recognition of the school winning the Governor’s Agricultural Observance Award. 20 / May-June 2010
to him March 16 in appreciation for his dedication to agricultural causes. GFB President Zippy Duvall said he hoped some seeds were planted for the next generation of farmers. “The exposure we get from the media coverage of this event is great,” said Duvall, “but there were 500 or 600 kids here that got to see and touch and feel things that are grown in Georgia, and they might not have realized those things are produced here. Hopefully this will spark some interest with some of them of going into agriculture.” Some of that crop of farmers may sprout from East Jackson Elementary School. For the second consecutive year the school won the Governor’s Agricultural Awareness Observance Award for its efforts to educate its fifth-graders about agriculture. Governor Perdue’s Ag Liaison Donnie Smith presented the award to the Commerce school in a ceremony on May 17. Led by teacher Dawn Brock and paraprofessional Charlotte Gilmore, East Jackson Elementary School fifth-grade students learned about the impact farming has on Georgia’s economy, their lives and the types of commodities produced in Georgia. Activities included planting a vegetable garden and raising newly hatched chicks. Jackson County Farm Bureau cosponsored the Adopt-a-Chick program, where chicks were given to the students to raise over the course of the school year. FFA students from East Jackson High School assisted the fifth-graders in the EJES Aggie Club cultivate several beds of vegetables. “The best programs in school are the programs where people have a passion for what they’re doing,” Jackson County Farm Bureau President Greg Pittman told the students. “Y’all have a passion for this, and it shows.” Other finalists in the program were: Bacon County Elementary; Buchanan Elementary in Haralson County; Carrolton Middle School in Carroll County; Citizens Christian Academy in Coffee County; David Emanuel Academy in Emanuel County; Ephesus Elementary in Carroll County; Free Home Elementary in Cherokee County; Northside Elementary in Polk County; Washington-Wilkes Elementary in Wilkes County and Wilcox County Elementary. Georgia Farm Bureau News
County Farm Bureaus celebrate Ag Week County Farm Bureaus across the state celebrated National Agriculture Week, March 14-20, with a variety of activities designed to educate their communities about agriculture. Visit GFB’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GeorgiaFarmBureau to view more photos of county activities.
BROOKS COUNTY Brooks County Farm Bureau and the Brooks County High School Vo-Ag Department co-hosted an Ag Awareness Day event for 170 local fifth-graders on March 19. Pictured from left, FFA student Hunter Hagan and BCFB Director and vegetable grower Brian Robinson tells students how vegetables grow. Other booths at the event covered show steers, horses, chickens, peanuts, swine, greenhouse production and farm equipment. CHEROKEE COUNTY Cherokee County Farm Bureau kicked off its celebration of National Ag Week by hosting an Agriculture Expo at the local chamber of commerce building on March 11. More than 175 people attended the event that included 20 booths highlighting different aspects of agriculture. Cathy Dobson (pictured), who raises goats, sheep and rabbits on her Lazy D Farm in Ball Ground, talked to visitors about the process of raising animals for wool and making yarn. COFFEE COUNTY Coffee County Farm Bureau celebrated Agriculture Week with the fifth-graders at Citizens Christian Academy. Here CCFB Women’s Chairman Marilyn Smith helps the students plant a vegetable garden. Other activities covered livestock, greenhouse production and soil and water conservation.
HARALSON COUNTY Students in Carol Poteet’s fifth-grade class at Buchanan Elementary School learned about agriculture during ag week thanks to the efforts of the Haralson County Farm Bureau. HCFB helped Ms. Poteet arrange speakers to talk to her class about farming and their ag-related jobs, provided the GFB video, “Without Farmers, Georgia Can’t Grow” and gave each student a Georgia Ag Commodities Map. HCFB Office Manager Kim Hindmon (far left) and HCFB Director Stanley Williams (back row, second from right) are pictured with Ms. Poteet’s class.
JONES COUNTY To celebrate agriculture, the Jones County Farm Bureau held an Ag Day Breakfast on March 17 for city and county officials. Breakfast attendees received a packet of vegetable seeds and a brochure highlighting the importance of agriculture. JCFB also donated agricultural coloring books to local second-grade students. JCFB Directors and local officials who attended the breakfast are pictured here.
WILKES COUNTY Wilkes County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chairman Amelia Wheatley (standing) spoke to local fifth-graders about poultry production and agriculture in Wilkes County. She showed the GFB video, “Without Farmers, Georgia Can’t Grow” to teach the students how vital agriculture is to Georgia’s economy.
Georgia Farm Bureau News May-June 2010 / 21
AROUND GEORGIA News from County Farm Bureaus APPLING COUNTY Appling County Farm Bureau President Randy Branch welcomed members of the Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company to his farm in February to discuss how cotton pickers work and to demonstrate a fire suppression system he designed for his picker. Branch explained that cotton pickers are susceptible to catching on fire due to the dirt, dust and cotton lint that blows through the picker. “I wanted to show the insurance staff my fire suppression system in hopes that it might be useful in continuing insurance coverage for cotton pickers,” Branch said. Staff from GFB’s actuarial, claims and underwriting departments attended the demonstration along with GFB 7th District Director Ben Boyd and ACFB Director Alice Coleman. COLUMBIA COUNTY Columbia County Farm Bureau celebrated Arbor Day by donating a Little Gem Magnolia tree to each of the eight middle schools in the county. CCFB President Pete Allen is shown discussing the origins of Arbor Day and how to plant a tree to Harlem Middle School 4-H students Tyler Gray (center) and Harley Williams.
ELBERT COUNTY The Elbert County Farm Bureau Board of Directors presented $1,000 donations to the Elbert County 4-H and FFA programs this spring to ensure the future of Georgia agriculture and support the development of agriculture’s future leaders. The donations were 22 / May-June 2010
presented to EC Extension Director Clay Talton (center, left) and EC FFA Advisor Mike Bilow (center, right). FLOYD COUNTY Floyd County Farm Bureau President John Lowrey and his wife, Ivy, hosted a field day at their farm with help from FCFB Women’s Committee Chairman Lyndall Burk for 35 preschool students on April 2. The event included an Easter egg hunt, a hayride and the chance to bottle-feed a calf. SEMINOLE COUNTY Seminole County Farm Bureau members Greg Mims and Brad and Amy Thompson were honored in March with awards from the Donaldsonville/Seminole County Chamber of Commerce. Mims (not pictured) received the Citizen of the Year Award. The Thompsons received the Farm Family of the Year Award, which is sponsored by the SCFB. Pictured from right, SCFB Director Bobbie Hornsby presents the award to Brad, Amy and their daughters Ava and Ashlyn. The Thompsons grow peanuts, cotton and corn. TELFAIR COUNTY Telfair County Farm Bureau held its annual Farm Day in April. Farm Bureau volunteers manned 20 stations that helped students learn about the importance of agriculture. About 900 pre-k through fifthgrade students experienced everything from alligators to vegetables during this event. These students enjoyed holding a puppy furnished by the local vet. Georgia Farm Bureau News
WORKSHOP from page 19 from the GFB Commodities/Marketing Department for $4 each. These signs have been designed to meet the display size specifications per Georgia code. For more information about these signs contact the GFB Commodities/Marketing Department or the GFB Legislative Department. Last year, Gov. Perdue signed H.B. 529, which included provisions providing limited liability for property owners who offer agritourism activities. For the purpose of this statute, Georgia code defines agritourism as “charging admission for persons to visit, view or participate in the operation of a farm or dairy or production of farm or dairy products for entertainment or educational purposes or selling farm or dairy products to persons who visit such farm or dairy.” McKie explained that according to state law, landowners who charge admission for a person 18 years of age or older to hunt or fish on the owner’s property or to enter the owner’s property for the purposes of agritourism shall be immune from civil liability for any injuries caused by the inherent risk associated with agritourism, hunting or fishing provided that: 1) the landowner’s conduct doesn’t constitute gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct, 2) the landowner has posted at the main entrance to the property a sign with the warning notice outlined in the statute in black letters that are a minimum of one inch in height and 3) the person paying admission to the landowner has signed a waiver of liability form. McKie advised property owners to have an attorney approve the wording of any agreement they have visitors sign. “To get the benefit of the H.B. 529 immunity people over 18 who come onto your property to hunt, fish or for agritourism have to sign a waiver form that includes the wording of the statute,” McKie said. He advised property owners to have an attorney approve the wording of any agreement they have visitors sign. McKie also discussed the Recreation Property Act, enacted by Georgia in 1965, which says landowners owe no duty of care to keep the premises safe for the use of their land by others for recreational purposes free of charge which includes but is not limited to: hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, hiking, pleasure driving, nature study, water skiing, winter sports or viewing historical, archeological,
scenic or scientific sites. When the act originally went into effect, the liability limitation extended only to situations where a property owner allowed someone to use their property for recreational purposes free of charge. In later years the Georgia General Assembly extended immunity to owners who give permission to another person to hunt, fish or take wildlife upon the land with or without charge, McKie said. There is no sign requirement associated with this act. McKie noted that certain exceptions do apply to most all of the statutes that offer limited liability protection. McKie said liability is limited to instances where someone is injured because of the property
owner’s willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, structure or activity. There is a four-part test to determine if a property owner acted willfully or maliciously. Confused as to what property owners may be held liable? McKie offered this guideline. “If something is dangerous, and you know there is a risk, then you have the moral obligation to fix it,” McKie said. This is the first in a series of articles the GFB News will run in future issues addressing premise liability. Subsequent articles will explore the insurance aspects of liability. You may contact Joel McKie at 404-586-6608.
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