November 12, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 45
DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR COMMENTS ON PROPOSED WATER RULE Individuals have until Nov. 14 to submit comments on the proposed rule, “Definitions: Waters of the United States” from the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The rule, if put into place, would greatly expand the EPA’s jurisdiction over private property, by defining all waters as “waters of the United States,” rather than limiting the federal government’s regulatory jurisdiction to navigable waters. This would make it more cumbersome and costly for landowners to make changes to their land. “It’s a major issue for farmers, but it’s also a major issue for every private property owner,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “We need to let the EPA know that this rule is going to affect us adversely in many ways here in Georgia. Agriculture is going to be affected by it. Economic development is going to be affected by it. County and state governments are going to be affected by it.” The proposed rule, which was introduced on April 21, would impose compliance with Natural Resource Conservation Service rules on all landowners, not just farmers participating in NRCS programs. This rule will lead to more requirements for Clean Water Act permits and could make it more difficult if a farmer wanted to build a fence through a wet area, for example. Such a fence could be subject to federal construction standards, like using certain kinds of building materials and a certain kind of design. Local and state governments are likely to bear extra permitting burdens and construction costs for drainage features when building or improving roads. Ultimately the rule will result in higher costs for consumers and taxpayers, as well as increased risk of legal action against farmers over ordinary farm activities like weed control or fertilizer applications. Georgia Farm Bureau is seeking to have the proposed rule withdrawn, maintaining that it is an attempt to negate the word “navigable” in the Clean Water Act, circumventing the will of Congress and two previous Supreme Court rulings. GFB has a web page, http://www.gfb.org/ditchtherule/default.html, from which visitors can read more information about the rule or make a comment.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 7 NEW PEANUT REVENUE INSURANCE POLICY NOW AVAILABLE The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced a new risk management option that is available for peanut producers for the 2015 crop year. The peanut revenue policy is available in all counties where yield-based insurance coverage is currently offered in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Peanut producers will need to purchase insurance coverage by the sales closing date, Feb. 28. Producers who insured peanuts in the 2014 crop year under the Actual Production History insurance plan will automatically be moved to the new Peanut Revenue insurance plan yield protection for the 2015 crop year. However, if a carryover policyholder wishes to select revenue protection, or cancel the transitioned yield coverage, the change must be made on a contract change form by the sales closing date or must be canceled by the cancellation date. The new insurance policy is available through the federal crop insurance program and replaces the 2014 crop year peanut crop provisions. The new policy is based on the Common Crop Insurance Policy currently available for other major commodities. It provides growers with a choice of yield protection, revenue protection, and revenue protection with the harvest price exclusion. Available coverage levels range from 50 percent to 85 percent. Information on the new peanut revenue policy for 2015 is available on the RMA website at http://www.rma.usda.gov. Producers are encouraged to visit with their crop insurance agent to learn specific details for the 2015 crop year. Federal crop insurance policies are sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance companies and agents. To ensure that producers with current policies will not see a lapse in coverage, RMA has provided the insurance companies whose agents sell crop insurance with instructions on how to convert peanut policies to the new policy. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA service centers and on the RMA website at: www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents. COVERAGE SELECTION FOR FARM BILL PROGRAMS BEGINS NOV. 17 Farm owners and producers have the opportunity to choose between the new programs established under the 2014 farm bill, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), beginning Nov. 17 and continuing through March 31, 2015. This is a one-time election to remain effective for the 2014 through 2018 crop years. The USDA helped create online tools to assist in the decision process, allowing farm owners and producers to enter information about their operation and see projections that show what ARC and/or PLC will mean for them under possible future scenarios. Farm owners and producers can access the online resources available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc. Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice (which includes short grain rice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity but will be covered by the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX). From now through Feb. 27, 2015, farm owners may visit their local Farm Service Agency office to update yield history and/or reallocate base acres. From mid-April 2015 through summer 2015, producers may sign contracts for 2014 and 2015 crop years. In October 2015 any payments under ARC and PLC will be issued for 2014 crop year, if needed. To learn more about upcoming educational meetings, farmers can locate their Farm Service Agency county office at http://go.usa.gov/pYV3.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 7 USDA SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON NEW BEEF PROMOTION ORDER The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking input from the public to guide its development of a new industry-funded promotion, research and information order (also known as a “checkoff program”) for beef and beef products, according to a Nov. 7 USDA press release. The new order would be in addition to the existing National Beef Checkoff program. In September, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced his intentions to create a second beef checkoff after attempts to revamp the existing National Beef Checkoff failed. The new order would be developed under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. Last month, a group of 45 state cattlemen’s associations, including the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, wrote Vilsack in opposition of a companion checkoff under the 1996 law. Interested parties have until Dec.10 to submit comments. The USDA wants feedback on who should be assessed, how the new checkoff’s board should be structured and selected, what powers and duties the board should have, who has decision-making authority, how the assessment rate should be determined, how the assessment should be collected and when referendums should be held. Details of the notice of inquiry appear in the Nov. 10 Federal Register. The notice can be found online at http://tinyurl.com/beefcomments, where a summary of the companion checkoff can be reviewed and comments submitted. Comments may also be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov or sent to Beef Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Research and Promotion Division, Room 2096-S; Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program; AMS, USDA, STOP 0249; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-0249; telephone number 202-720-5705. FDA ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD SAFETY RULES In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the updated changes it is proposing to the four rules first published as proposed rules in 2013 to implement the FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA). The four supplemental rules are: Produce Safety; Preventive Controls for Human Food; Preventive Controls for Animal Food and Foreign Supplier Verification Programs. The FDA will accept comments on the revised provisions until Dec. 15, while continuing to review comments already received on the original proposed rules. The FDA will not be accepting or considering additional comments on the original proposals – only comments directed to the revised provisions. After this supplemental comment period closes, the FDA will consider both sets of comments – on the original proposed rules and on the revisions – before issuing final rules, which are expected in 2015. To read the proposed changes to the food safety rules, visit http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/default.htm. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) will host an FSMA listening session on Nov. 19 in Atlanta, with interactive broadcasts to be held at the GDA Gainesville North District Office, the Macon State Farmers Market and the UGA Tifton Campus. FDA staff will make presentations on the Produce Safety rule and the Preventative Controls for Human Food rule. Space is limited and early registration is encouraged. To register visit http://tinyurl.com/fdalisten.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 6 NOV. 15 SALES CLOSING DATE FOR PRF & BEE CROP INSURANCE PROGRAMS Georgia forage, livestock, and honey producers have until Nov. 15 to close sales for crop insurance. Acreage intended for grazing and haying is insurable under the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program. Colonies of bees are insurable under the Apiculture program. For 2015, the PRF and Apiculture programs are under the Rainfall Index insurance plan. Current policyholders and uninsured growers must make all of their decisions on crop insurance coverage before the sales closing date. Information about these crop insurance programs, as well as resources such as the Decision Support Tool, Grid ID Locator, and historical indices for each grid ID and index interval, is available on the RMA website: http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/ri-vi/. Producers and agents are encouraged to use this information to learn more about these programs and determine insurability. Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent to learn specific details for the 2015 crop year. Federal crop insurance policies are sold and delivered through private crop insurance companies and agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA service centers and on the RMA website at: www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents. NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL FARM BILL INFORMATION WORKSHOPS Nov. 18 Bulloch County Ag Center 3 p.m. Statesboro Nov. 19 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 9 a.m. Tifton The National Cotton Council (NCC) staff are conducting another round of information meetings regarding the implementation of the 2014 farm bill. This round of meetings will emphasize new crop insurance provisions, including sample STAX and SCO rates, county groupings and county yield information for upland cotton for 2015. For more information contact the GCC at 478-9884235 or visit http://www.georgiacottoncommission.org. NOV. 20 DEADLINE TO BUY CROP INSURANCE FOR FRUIT CROPS Georgia fruit producers have until Nov. 20 to buy a new policy or change the coverage of an existing policy for their apple, blueberry or peach crops, according to the USDA Risk Management Agency. This sales closing date applies to apple crops in Banks, Fannin, Gilmer, Habersham, Hall and Rabun counties; to blueberry crops in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Burke, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Long, Pierce, Ware and Wayne counties, and to peach crops in Bacon, Banks, Brooks, Crawford, Dooly, Hall, Henry, Macon, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, Peach, Pierce, Pike and Taylor counties. Contact a local crop insurance agent for more information about insurance for these crops. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA service centers or at http://www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents. PROPOSALS SOUGHT FROM FARMERS TO MANAGE SW ATLANTA FARM Nov. 21 Proposals Due Noon Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) is requesting proposals from farmers for the purpose of procuring a qualified individual, team, or group to cultivate the first Atlanta BeltLine Urban Farm located in Southwest Atlanta. Send sealed responses to 86 Pryor Street, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30303. The outside of the envelope must plainly identify the project title and the name and address of the applicant. To view the full Request for Proposals, visit http://beltline.org/about/work-withus/rfps-and-rfqs-2/urban-agriculture/ or contact Meghan Injaychock at minjaychock@atlbeltline.org or 404-477-3648
GFB News Alert page 5 of 6 MM AND CALLAWAY BULL SALE Nov. 22 Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn noon Carrollton Sale includes 40 Angus and SimAngus bulls and more than 40 commercial replacement heifers. For more information contact Mike McCravey at mmcattle@yahoo.com or 770-328-2047 or John Callaway at callawaycattle@gmail.com or 770-355-2165. SMALL FLOCK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP Nov. 25 Spalding County Extension Office 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Griffin This workshop will cover how to maintain a small flock of chickens, pest management and disease prevention, housing, chicken behavior, organic poultry and egg production, local zoning and ordinance rules regarding selling eggs and meat. Speakers will include UGA Extension poultry specialists, a small flock poultry producer and a Georgia Department of Agriculture compliance specialist. Registration is $15 including lunch or $8 if you bring your own lunch. Nov. 20 is deadline to register. To register, contact the Spalding County Extension Office at 770467-4225 or email uge2255@uga.edu. CALHOUN PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE Dec. 5 NW Ga. Research & Education Center Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Jason Duggin at 706-624-1403 or jduggin@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or pworley@uga.edu. 2014 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU ANNUAL CONVENTION Dec. 7-9 Jekyll Island Convention Center Jekyll Island Events at the GFB Convention will include a screening of “Farmland,” commodity conferences for Georgia’s 20 major commodities, the final round of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet, announcements of the 2014 state award winners and the annual trade show and elections for GFB district directors. Gov. Nathan Deal is scheduled to speak on Dec. 8 and GFB President Zippy Duvall will give his annual address and voting delegates will adopt the organization’s policy for 2015. For more information contact your county Farm Bureau office. AG SAFETY GROUP OFFERING GRANTS Jan. 7, 2015 Deadline to apply Grants of up to $10,000 are being offered by a national coalition of agribusinesses, producer organizations and safety professionals in order to foster new champions of agricultural safety and health. Information regarding eligibility, priorities, application instructions and frequently asked questions is available at http://www.ashca.org. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 8-11, 2015 International Trade and Convention Center Savannah This annual conference features nine crop-specific workshops plus workshops on roadside markets, business operations and food safety. New for 2015 are the Southeast Farm Market Bus Tour on Jan 8 and the National Vegetable Grafting Symposium, and the always-popular trade show with more than 200 exhibitors. For more information or to register, visit http://www.seregionalconference.com.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 6 2015 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 14 Brenau Georgia Mountains Center Gainesville Jan. 15 Clarence Brown Conference Center Cartersville Jan. 16 Cloud Livestock Facility Bainbridge Jan. 21 Toombs County Agricenter Lyons Jan. 22 UGA Conference Center Tifton Jan. 23 Georgia Farm Bureau Macon This series, supported by an endowment from Georgia Farm Bureau with additional support from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, focuses on how technology is being used to solve problems for the ag industry along with the 2015 economic outlook for agricultural commodities. Check-in for all of the meetings, except Tifton, begins at 9 a.m. with seminars starting at 10 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. Check-in for the Tifton event starts at 7 a.m., breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. followed by the seminar from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com, call 706-583-0347 or email carlam@uga.edu. Follow the meetings on UGA CAES Facebook or on Twitter @GaAgForecast and join the conversation with #AgForecast. GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 15, 2015 UGA Tifton Conference Center 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tifton This annual must-go event features more than 95 exhibits, nearly $40,000 in door prizes, a free farmer lunch and educational sessions, including pesticide applicators certification classes. For more information contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229-386-3470 or info@gapeanuts.com