May 11, 2011
www.gfb.org
Vol. 29 No. 19
GFB MEMBERS MEET WITH CONGRESSMEN IN WASHINGTON A group of 106 Georgia Farm Bureau county presidents, county board members and state directors met with the Georgia Congressional delegation during a trip to Washington D.C. May 4-6, voicing the organization’s concerns about the 2012 farm bill, permanent estate tax reform, free trade agreements, immigration reform and attempts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand its regulatory reach. “This is the most important meeting as far as national policy we have outside of our policy development meeting,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “After we develop our policy, trying to get it implemented is the next stage of what we do. For our people to come and present our policies on the issues we're facing to our representatives - our congressmen and our senators - at this time of year is very important.” Georgia Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss spoke at a breakfast meeting with the GFB group, which also visited the offices of all 13 of the state’s members of the House of Representatives. American Farm Bureau Executive Director of Public Policy Mark Maslyn gave an outlook on Farm Bureau’s key issues, and Mike Dwyer of the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service discussed factors likely to affect ag trade in the coming years. In addition to hearing Farm Bureau’s priority issues, the congressmen warned of difficult financial times ahead as Congress grapples with the national debt. Chambliss said the U.S. is on on the way to financial collapse, a track similar to those experienced by Ireland, Greece and Portugal. Chambliss said those countries “are truly in dire financial straits. That’s how important it is that we do something about this.” Multiple congressmen said the estate tax is unlikely to go away completely, but that the chances are good that the current $5 million per person exemption with a top tax rate of 35 percent would be made permanent. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-3rd Dist.) said the federal approach to immigration reform would not change under the current administration. He said the borders need to be sealed and the identification process improved. The GFB delegation presented Friend of Farm Bureau awards to Sens. Chambliss and Isakson, Rep. Phil Gingrey, Rep. Jack Kingston, and Rep. John Barrow. This award, given by the American Farm Bureau Federation every two years at the end of each Congress, is based upon voting records on AFBF’s priority issues established by the AFBF Board of Directors, number of bills that a member has sponsored and co-sponsored, specific leadership role for AFBF on its priority issues and how accessible and responsive that member is to Farm Bureau members and leaders.
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GFB 1ST DISTRICT DIRECTOR LOUIS HUNT DIES Georgia Farm Bureau 1st District Director Louis Hunt died May 10 from medical complications following a farm accident on April 30. He was 84. “This is an extremely sad time for all of us,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “Louis was a dedicated member of Georgia Farm Bureau and a strong advocate for agriculture in general and he will be sorely missed. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family.” Hunt, who grew hay, rye, soybeans and wheat straw on his farm, was president of Walker County Farm Bureau for more than 40 years and served as a GFB 1st District director since 1979. He also served on numerous state commodity advisory committees for Georgia Farm Bureau and represented the organization as a voting delegate to the American Farm Bureau Federation. He held a bachelor of science degree from the University of Georgia. Hunt was preceded in death by his wife Opal, who died in 1999. He is survived by his children, Charles Louis “Buster” Hunt, Jo Ann Hunt Bell and John William Hunt, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He attended East Armuchee Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at 69 LaPine Drive, LaFayette, Ga., 30728. FSA RESTORATION PROGRAM, BURN BAN EXEMPTION HELP COUNTIES Some counties in North and Central Georgia are putting into place a USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) plan to restore land damaged by tornadoes that hit on April 27 and 28, according to an FSA press release, and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is giving temporary exemptions for the burning of vegetative debris resulting from the storms. The FSA’s Emergency Forest Restoration Plan (EFRP) provides assistance to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest land that has been damaged by natural disaster. Under the rules of the plan, the damage must be so costly that federal assistance is or will be required to complete EFRP practice. The plan is authorized and administered by the FSA’s state and county committees. EFRP participants may receive financial assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost to implement improved emergency forest restoration practices as determined by the county FSA committee. To qualify, the land must have existing tree cover or had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster occurred and must be suitable for growing trees. Ownership must be by a nonindustrial private individual, group, association, corporation or other private legal entity that has decision-making authority over the land. In addition, the natural disaster must have caused damage that, if untreated, would endanger the natural resources of the land and affect future use of the land. For more information, contact your local FSA office or visit http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov or http://www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation. The EPD burn ban exemption applies for the 16 counties declared by Gov. Nathan Deal as disaster areas, and it expires at midnight on May 31. Individuals who wish to burn vegetative debris should get a burn permit from the Georgia Forestry Commission by visiting http://www.gatrees.org/onlinepermits/ or calling 1-877-OK2-BURN. The EPD is urging individuals with storm damage to use other options, such as landfill disposal, chipping or composting, before conducting open burns.
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PEANUT GROWERS VOTE DOWN ASSESSMENT INCREASE The proposed increase in the checkoff assessment for the Georgia Peanut Commission from $2 a ton to $3 a ton did not receive sufficient votes for passage in a referendum of peanut growers. Unofficially, of the 1,124 votes counted, 633 (56 percent) were in favor, short of the 66 and two-thirds percent required for passage. The peanut assessment has not been increased since 1980, when it went from $1 per ton to $2 ton. The funds are used to expand research and marketing of Georgia’s peanut crop. “We’re going to do everything in our power to continue the best research possible with the dollars that we have,” said Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Armond Morris. FITZGERALD COMPANY TO PRODUCE RESCUE NUTRITION PRODUCT American Blanching Company in Fitzgerald has entered an agreement with Mother Administered Nutritive Aid (MANA) to process and manufacture a fortified peanut product used to revive severely malnourished children in countries around the world. MANA is a North Carolina-based charitable organization whose goal is to combat malnutrition. The product, called Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), will be manufactured in a 30,000-square-foot facility in Fitzgerald. RUTF is a mixture of peanut paste, soy oil, sugar, canola oil, fortified milk and vitamins that comes in 3.2-ounce packets. The Fitzgerald MANA facility will create 65 new jobs. According to the MANA website, three packets a day for six weeks can revive a child on the brink of death from severe acute malnutrition. RUTF has been prescribed as the standard worldwide protocol for treatment of severe acute malnutrition by the World Health Organization, World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the United Nations’ Standing Committee on Nutrition. It has been used at the Rwaza Health Center in Rwanda and plans include distrbution to Guatemala and Mercy Ships. “These two Georgia companies have taken great steps by involving themselves in such a worthwhile enterprise that ultimately benefits the health of the world’s children in need,” said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. “MANA does meaningful work around the world to enhance access to nutrition, and it’s rewarding to know that one of Georgia’s most significant food commodities will be used to sustain and grow this global operation.” STATE CLIMATOLOGIST EXPECTS DROUGHT TO CONTINUE While he expects water resources to remain adequate for most location, Georgia State Climatologist David Stooksbury thinks drought conditions affecting the southern portions of the state will last through the summer. In a press release, Stooksbury wrote that the dry La Nina winter and spring for southern Georgia means that the typical moisture recharge for the region did not occur this year. As the main agricultural growing season begins this month, there is minimal moisture reserve. The only hope for widespread relief is from tropical weather systems, which Georgia does not normally experience until late summer or fall. Stream flows are well below normal for early May across the southern two-thirds of the state but well above normal in the northern third.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 5 MONROE COUNTY H.E.R.D SALE May 12 12:30 p.m. Sleepy Creek Farm Monroe County More than 60 bred heifers will be for sale during the event. Data available on the heifers includes A.I. Breeding and Sire EPDs, pelvic area, frame score, disposition score, weight per day of age and average daily gain. For more information call Monroe County’s Extension office at 478- 994-7014 or e-mail uge2207@uga.edu or visit http://www.ugaextension.com/monroe. PEANUT PROUD SENDING PEANUT BUTTER TO TORNADO VICTIMS Peanut Proud is collecting donations to send peanut butter and bottled water to church shelters and feeding distribution centers in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi for victims of the recent tornadoes. Contributions to this project may be sent to: Peanut Proud Inc, P.O. Box 446, Blakely, GA 39823. Checks should be made payable to Peanut Proud., Inc., and allocated for Project Giving Back. For information please contact LeaJean Manry at 229-723-2802 or lmanry@birdsong-peanuts.com or Chuck Hancock, 229-723-2815 or chancock@birdsongpeanuts.com. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION WORKSHOP APPLICATION DEADLINE May 20 is the deadline to apply for this weeklong camp that provides rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students a chance to learn about Georgia’s natural resources from university, state and federal natural resource experts. The camp, which gives students a taste of college life and insight into career opportunities related to natural resources, will be held June 5-9 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Tuition is $150. More than $17,000 in scholarships will be awarded from this workshop. This is the 50th anniversary of the NRCW. To celebrate, the NRCW Executive Board will award a special $5,000 scholarship. The committee is also asking former NRCW participants, both students, volunteers and staff, to share their story of how the NRCW has influenced their life or career path. Contact the NRCW by phone at 229-391-5072, via e-mail at nrcw@abac.edu or post your story on the NRCW FAcebook page. Interested persons can download an application and get more information about NRCW at http://www.abac.edu/psbo/nrcw or through your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office. NRCS ORGANIC CONSERVATION PROGRAM SIGNUP DEADLINE MAY 20 The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for Organic Initiative contracts under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help organic producers and those transitioning to organic production implement natural resource conservation practices on their farms. Organic producers may use the funding to plant cover crops, establish integrated pest management plans or implement nutrient management systems consistent with organic certification standards. Eligible producers include those certified through USDA’s National Organic Program, those transitioning to certified organic production and those who meet organic standards but are exempt from certification because their gross annual organic sales are less than $5,000. Under Organic Initiative contracts, producers are paid 75 percent of the cost for the organic conservation measures they implement. Producers qualifying as beginning, limited resource and socially disadvantaged producers are paid 90 percent. Producers interested in applying for Organic Initiative funding must submit applications through their local NRCS Service Center. MULE DAY May 21 Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Jefferson Visitors will have the opportunity to see displays of traditional farm equipment and animals as well as demonstrations of period crafts by local artisans. Activities for the day include plowing demonstrations by members of the Georgia Old Time Plow Club, as well as blacksmithing, corn grinding, and basket making. Farm is located at 2355 Ethridge Road, Jefferson, Ga. For more information, call 706- 367-2949.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 5 BCAP PROPOSAL DEADLINE IS MAY 27 The deadline for project area proposals to be considered for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) is May 27. BCAP provides incentives to eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners for the establishment and production of biomass crops. BCAP project areas are specific geographic areas where producers grow eligible biomass crops. In Georgia, proposals should be sent to Farm Service Agency, 355 East Hancock Ave., Athens, Ga., 30601-2775. For more information contact Anna Bramblett at 706546-2256 Ext. 4., or anna.bramblett@ga.usda.gov. GFB YOUNG FARMER FAMILY CONFERENCE & DISCUSSION MEET REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MAY 31 July 23-24 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain This event will allow young farmers ages 18-35 the opportunity to network with other young farmers around the state and attend personal and professional development workshops. The preliminary rounds of the GFB discussion meet will be held during the conference. The four finalists will compete for the state title at the GFB Convention on Jekyll Island, Dec. 4-6. The state winner will advance to the 2012 American Farm Bureau convention in Hawaii, Jan. 8-11, 2012, to compete for national honors. Contact your county Farm Bureau if you are interested in attending the conference or competing in the discussion meet. The deadline to register for either event is May 31. DEADLINE TO ENTER GFB PHOTO CONTEST MAY 31 The Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee is accepting entries for its 2011 Picture Agriculture in Georgia Contest. The contest is open to any Georgia Farm Bureau member who receives no income from photography. There are three categories: GFB members, GFB Young Farmers (farmers between the age of 18-35), and GFB staff/family (state or county). All photos must highlight Georgia agriculture and must have been taken in 2010 or 2011.Visit http://www.gfb.org/programs/yf/photo_contest.html for contest rules and eligibility. BEEF CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHIP May 31 NW Ga. Research & Education Center Calhoun Starts at 6 p.m. For more information contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706/624-1398 or nwgastn@uga.edu GA HEIFER EVALUATION & REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE June 1 NW Ga. Research & Education Center Calhoun Starts at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or nwgastn@uga.edu 12th ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN AGROFORESTRY CONFERENCE Jun. 4-9 Georgia Center, UGA Campus Athens This conference will focus on sustainable rural land management and the integration of trees with crop and/or livestock production. Registration is $325 before May 31 and $375 after. Visit http://hosting.caes.uga.edu/2011NAAC/index.html for information or to register. UGA COTTON SCOUT SCHOOLS June 13 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton June 21 Southeast Research & Education Center Midville These programs offer basic information on cotton insects and scouting procedures and will serve as a review for experienced scouts and producers and as an introduction to cotton insect monitoring for new scouts. Both schools run from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. For more information about the Tifton school call Debbie Rutland at 229-386-3424. Contact Peyton Sapp at 706-554-2119 for more information about the school in Midville.