Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - May 29, 2013

May 29, 2013

www.gfb.org

Vol. 31 No. 22

SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES IMMIGRATION BILL The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) by a 13-5 vote on May 21.

The comprehensive bill includes a number of provisions to address issues related to agricultural guest workers.

S.744 outlines a “blue card” program, under which experienced agricultural workers can obtain legal immigration status by satisfying criteria such as passing background checks, paying fines and proving applicable taxes have been paid. Blue card workers would be required to continue to work in agriculture before having the opportunity to apply for a green card.

In addition, the bill sets up a new visa program for agricultural guest workers to replace the current H-2A system. It would allow farmers to hire guest workers either under contract or on an at-will basis.

Workers would be able to work for any designated agricultural employers under 3-year visas, which would be administered by the USDA rather than the Department of Labor. The number of 3-year visas would be capped at 112,333 per year and 337,000 after three years. After five years, the number of visas allowed would be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

The guestworker program outlined in the bill would also establish wage rates effective in 2016, varying by occupational category.

The bill was also referred to the Senate committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Small Business and Entrepreneurship, as well as the House Judiciary Committee.

Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall wrote Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson on May 23, urging them to support S. 744. GFB has long maintained that immigration and agricultural issues should be addressed at the federal level.

“Ultimately, the most important thing to Georgia Farm Bureau is that legislation emerges from both chambers that can be reconciled in conference to ensure a workable, flexible and marketbased solution that addresses the labor needs of farmers,” Duvall wrote.

In the U.S. House, the Agricultural Guestworker (AG) Act (H.R. 1773) was introduced in late April to specifically address agriculture immigrant labor issues. The AG Act calls for employers to pay the higher of rate between prevailing wage rates or a minimum wage rate and calls for the ag labor system to be administered by the USDA. Duvall wrote to Georgia’s representatives offering assistance in moving the AG Act forward in the interest of seeing that the labor needs of Georgia farmers are addressed in immigration reform legislation.

Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 BROOKS COUNTY HORSE INFECTED WITH EEE A two-year old horse in Brooks County was euthanized after being diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), according to a report from WALB in Albany citing the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

The Brooks County case involved a 2-year-old male western performance horse.

EEE is transmitted through mosquito bites and affects both horses and humans, according to information provided by the GDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

According to a CDC fact sheet, an average of six human cases of EEE are reported each year, most commonly in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Symptoms include chills, fever, joint pain and muscle pain.

Humans can protect themselves by using insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and/or clothing. The CDC also recommends wearing long sleeves and pants when weather permits. Persons at greatest risk are those involved in work or recreational activities in areas where the EEE virus has been identified, including in and around freshwater hardwood swamps in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states. Residents in those areas are encouraged to empty standing water on their property.

State veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb recommended that horses be vaccinated at least annually against both EEE and West Nile Virus, which is also transmitted by mosquitoes, and more frequently in areas where the mosquito and bird populations are high.

UGA, GEORGIA SOUTHERN TO HOST AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE, EXPO With agricultural products being among the state’s top exports, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Georgia Southern University Division of Continuing Education are teaming up to help farmers and businesses learn how to capitalize on the growing export market.

In an event sponsored by Georgia Farm Bureau, the two institutions will host the 2013 International Agribusiness Conference and Expo on Sept. 25-26 in Savannah. The inaugural event will provide participants with information on what markets are open to their products, how to export their goods and what exporting can do for their bottom lines.

In 2012, Georgia exported $37.9 billion worth of goods. The state is the top exporter of U.S. poultry, pecans and wood pulp; and peanut exports are on the rise. And about 39 percent of the shipments exported through the port of Savannah are agricultural products.

About one in three acres of farmland in the U.S. is planted for the export market, and an increasing number of small- and medium-sized farmers are looking to augment their incomes with international sales, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s International Trade Office.

Participants at the 2013 International Agribusiness Conference and Expo will have the opportunity to attend educational forums and workshops, learning from experts in agricultural importing and exporting and about the latest practices in processing value-added agricultural products. Topics include U.S. agriculture’s position in the world market, finding markets and buyers for ag products, the Southern U.S. Trade Association’s marketing programs and export controls and selling to sanctioned countries.

For more information about the conference’s schedule, see http://www.iace.us.com. Early registration is $170 and ends July 30.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 SENATE CONSIDERS FARM BILL AMENDMENTS On May 20 the Senate began deliberations on the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, more commonly known as the 2013 farm bill.

In the first week, the Senate considered more than 200 proposed amendments. Among those was a measure entered by Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would prohibit tobacco producers from receiving premium assistance under the crop insurance program.

Georgia Farm Bureau voiced opposition to the amendment on May 22, noting that Georgia’s tobacco producers would face premium increases of more than 200 percent. GFB’s opposition centers on the likelihood that if the Feinstein amendment were included in the farm bill, it would set a precedent that could be followed for other commodities in the future.

In addition, crops that are regionally produced - in Georgia, this would include tobacco as well as peanuts and cotton - are more vulnerable because fewer legislators at the federal level have an interest in them. The amendment, which was cosponsored by John McCain (R-Ariz., Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), failed with 52 votes against.

Another amendment opposed by Farm Bureau would reduce the crop insurance premium subsidy by 15 percent for farmers with an average adjusted gross income of $750,000 or more.

The amendment, sponsored by Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), passed by a 59-33 vote.

GFB is monitoring a number of other amendments of interest to Georgia farmers, including one by Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to make checkoff participation voluntary.

The Senate farm bill debate is expected to last into mid-June. The House of Representatives is scheduled to take up its version of the farm bill beginning June 14.

GA EQUINE COMMISSION SEEKS NOMINATIONS The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine (ACCE) is seeking nominations to fill the positions of three members whose terms expire later this year – Jim Gibby, Debbie Lanier Guy and Danny Hogan. The positions are for three-year terms.

All Georgia equine producers are eligible to serve on the ACCE and may nominate themselves. Current members may resubmit their names for consideration. A producer is defined as any person who owns one or more equine or is engaged in Georgia in the business of buying, selling, boarding, holding, training, breeding, riding, pulling vehicles with or otherwise utilizing equine.

The ACCE, created by state law in 2006, oversees promotion, education and research activities to benefit Georgia’s equine industry. The commission is primarily funded through the sale of the Georgia equine license plate. Ten dollars of the specialty tag fee is allocated to the ACCE. The commission also has the authority to accept donations, grants or property.

Nomination forms are available at the ACCE website http://www.gaequine.com or by contacting Nathan Wilson by phone at 404-656-3678 or via email at nathan.wilson@agr.georgia.gov. Nomination forms and a one-page resume must be submitted to Wilson by August 1 to be considered.

The ex officio members of the commission – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, Boyd McLocklin and Harry Thompson - will consider the nominations. John Clements and Dr. Carter Black also serve on the ACCE as producer members; their terms expire in 2015.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE DATA TO BE COLLECTED THROUGH MAY 31 The Census of Agriculture is conducted once every 5 years resulting in valuable information at the county, state and national levels. Census data are used by all those who serve farmers and rural communities from federal, state and local governments to agri-businesses and trade associations. Census forms have been mailed multiple times with telephone and field follow-up underway. Producers also have the option to complete their forms online. Response is required by law and the final data are projected for release in February 2014. Additional information is available at the web address www.agcensus.usda.gov.

MAY 31 IS DEADLINE TO ENTER YF DISCUSSION MEET May 31 is the deadline to enter the 2013 GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet. The state discussion meet winner will receive an Arctic Cat 500 ATV, $500 and an expense-paid trip to the 2014 AFBF Convention in San Antonio, Texas, to compete for national honors. The three finalists will each receive $350. The AFBF winner will receive a 2014 Chevrolet or GMC pickup truck. Visit your local Farm Bureau office for more details about the contest. The preliminary rounds of the 2013 GFB YF Discussion Meet will be held during the GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference on Jekyll Island July 12-14. The four finalists will compete for the state title at the GFB Convention Dec. 8.

2013 GFB YOUNG FARMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE July 11-14 Jekyll Island Convention Center Jekyll Island This family-friendly event will provide educational, networking and social opportunities for young farmers. The preliminary rounds of the 2013 Young Farmer Discussion Meet, in which contestants compete for a variety of great prizes, will be held during the conference, which also features breakout sessions on a variety of topics. Registration deadline is May 31. For more information, contact GFB Young Farmer Coordinator Jed Evans at 478-474-0679, ext. 5230 or jcevans@gfb.org.

FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER REAP PROGRAM The Rural Business-Cooperative Service is accepting applications for funds available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for Fiscal Year 2013. The application period has been extended to May 31 for energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects grants and grant and loan combination applications and for renewable energy system feasibility study applications. For information about this Notice, please contact Mr. Kelley Oehler, Branch Chief, USDA Rural Development, Energy Division, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: 202-720-6819. Email: kelley.oehler@wdc.usda.gov.

GEORGIA GROWN FARMER SHOWCASE June 1 Atlanta State Farmers Market 9 a.m. - noon Forest Park June 8 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta June 22 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta June 29 Savannah State Farmers Market 9 a.m. - noon Savannah July 13 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta July 27 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta This family-friendly series features dozens of vendors from around the state, offering locally grown fresh Georgia produce and plant sales, meet and greets with local farmers and much more.

For more information, visit http://www.georgiagrown.com or call 404-656-3689.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 CAES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS June 1 Deadline to apply for Transfer Scholarship The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association is accepting applications for its Transfer Scholarship for students considering transferring into a CAES program in fall 2013. For more information or to download the application form, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.

PROPERTY TAX & TAX APPEAL WORKSHOP June 4 UGA Campus Conference Center 8:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Tifton This workshop will provide timber landowners with knowledge about the property tax process and tax appeal process. This seminar will address a summary of issues associated with property taxation of timberland in Georgia, potential solutions, and real life case studies on how to approach appeals. Workshop presenters will teach landowners what to expect when challenging tax appraisals and how to deal with the assessors when they feel they have been wronged. Cost for attendance is $65 per attendee and $35 for the second person in the same family. Workshop is limited to the first 150 registrants. A workshop previously scheduled for May 30 in Gainesville has been canceled. For more information on the workshop location, speakers and agenda, call the Georgia Forestry Association at 478-992-8110, email info@gfagrow.org or visit www.gfagrow.org/ taxworkshops

AGSOUTH FARM CREDIT FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS June 8 East Ga. State College Register by May 25 Statesboro June 22 Clemson University Register by June 8 Clemson, S.C. July 27 Conner Hall, UGA Register by July 13 Athens These free workshops are designed for young, beginning, small and minority farmers. All workshops run from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and include a provided lunch. Topics will include: applying for financing, preparing a business plan, record keeping, credit scores, risk management and more. Workshops are certified for FSA Direct Borrower Training Credit. To register or for more information visit http://www.agsouthfc.com/AgSouthAgAwareProgram.html or email Christy Smith at csmith@agsouthfc.com.

GEORGIA SMALL FARM CONFERENCE June 20-21 Unicoi State Park Helen This conference, sponsored by the Broad River Soil and Wter Conservation District, will focus on helping farmers with small-scale operations improve their farms and run them more efficiently. Financial assistance through the Broad River Soil and Water Conservation District and the Oconee River Resource Conservation and Development Council will cover costs for 120 farmers to attend the meeting, which includes one night at the Lodge at Unicoi State Park. For other individuals interested in attending, the registration cost is $220, which includes one night’s lodging. The meeting will include general educational sessions covering major agricultural topics, as well as breakout sessions covering topics unique to small farming operations.

Registration must be received by June 10. Farmers interested in attending should contact the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Region II office at 706-552-4479 or email region2@gaswcc.org.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 2013 GEORGIA-FLORIDA TOBACCO TOUR June 10-12 Waresboro, Ga. – Lake City, Fla. This annual tour provides up-to-date information on variety trials, control of tomato spotted wilt virus, insect controls and much more. The tour will begin with a kick-off supper at Mixon’s Pond House in Waresboro at 7 p.m. on June 10. For more information or to register, visit http://tinyurl.com/lrk8k7p or contact Dr. J. Michael Moore at 229-386-3006 or jmmoore@uga.edu.

SUNBELT EXPO FIELD DAY July 11 Sunbelt Agricultural Expo, Spence Field Moultrie This free preview of 36th Annual Sunbelt Expo is an opportunity for farmers to see the latest seed varieties, crop protection, irrigation technology and precision ag technology in an applied research setting. Company representatives and university researchers will make presentations on their equipment and research. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. followed by a free biscuit breakfast with Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Farm Bureau representatives.

Trams will depart for the fields promptly at 8 a.m. Tours will last until noon. No lunch will be served. All breakfast attendees will receive a free Expo cap and may register for door prizes including: a Brown 472 six foot rotary cutter, farm tires and a shotgun. For more information, call 229-985-1968 or visit http://www.sunbeltexpo.com.

USDA ACCEPTING CRP APPLICATIONS THROUGH JUNE 14 The USDA is conducting general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), through ending on June 14. CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resourceconserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and enhance wildlife habitat. Contracts on 3.3 million acres of CRP are set to expire on Sept. 30. Producers with expiring contracts or producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP. Producers that are accepted in the sign-up can receive cost-share assistance to plant long-term, resource-conserving covers and receive an annual rental payment for the length of the contract (10-15 years). Producers also are encouraged to look into CRP's other enrollment opportunities offered on a continuous, non-competitive, sign-up basis and that often provide additional financial assistance. Continuous sign-up dates will be announced at a later date. For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA service center or http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

23RD ANNUAL IFAMA WORLD FORUM AND SYMPOSIUM June 16-20 Cobb Galleria Center Atlanta The International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) is an international organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of globally bringing together the best minds in agriculture and agribusiness to network and stimulate strategic thinking across the food, fiber, bio-fuel, floral and forestry systems. This year’s event offers a series of presentations focused on current issues impacting the global food system given by top executives and experts. Wells Fargo Chief Agricultural Economist Dr. Michael Swanson will deliver the keynote address. To register, visit https://www.ifama.org/events/conferences/2013/Default.aspx. The Georgia IFAMA chapter meeting will be held June 20 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. following the conclusion of the World Forum.