November 19, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 46
GFB URGES WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSED FEDERAL WATER RULE Georgia Farm Bureau urged the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw their proposed rule, “Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’ Under the Clean Water Act” (CWA) in comments submitted on Nov. 13. GFB contends the proposed rule infringes on private property rights by circumventing the will of Congress and ignoring U.S. Supreme Court decisions on the issue of CWA jurisdiction. Additionally, the rule will lead to increased litigation as landowners seek to recover those rights. “Georgia Farm Bureau believes the rule proposed by the federal agencies infringes on the private property rights of landowners by its broad definition of ‘tributary,’” Duvall wrote. “The definition of a tributary in the proposed rule is so expansive that it would include many areas that most observers would consider to be dry land – not wetlands – and certainly not navigable waterways.” GFB contends that, contrary to the agencies’ stated intent to bring clarity to the Clean Water Act, the proposed rule would create more confusion. “This rule puts landowners in the position of not knowing whether or not bodies of water or even dry land on their property are subject to Clean Water Act jurisdiction. This scenario affects how a landowner can use the property and the value of the property should the landowner decide to sell it. Jurisdiction will not be known until a federal field agent arrives to make a highly subjective judgment,” Duvall wrote. GFB also disputed the validity of the proposed rule’s reliance on Justice Anthony Kennedy’s “significant nexus” test in determining CWA jurisdiction. Duvall noted that Kennedy’s “significant nexus” test did not represent the dominant opinion in the court’s decision in the case of Rapanos vs. United States in 2006. In the plurality opinion written by Justice Antonin Scalia, the significant nexus standard was described as a gimmick to rewrite the CWA. Duvall said the rule would negatively impact the way landowners use their property, as well as leading to additional CWA permit requirements for land use on all but the most remote and unconnected waters. GFB’s comments were in addition to the organization’s statewide campaign asking for the rule to be withdrawn. The campaign, titled “Ditch the Rule,” was part of a national campaign of the same name by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Georgia Farm Bureau’s campaign generated 15,558 comments. Overall the agencies received more than 250,000 comments on the proposed rule, which was published in the Federal Register on April 21.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 8 GFB FARM TOUR RETURNS IN 2015 WITH MAY VISIT TO SOUTH CAROLINA Georgia Farm Bureau is offering a tour of some of South Carolina’s premier agricultural destinations. Tour stops include the Clemson University research facility, Strawberry Hill U.S.A in Chesnee, McLeod Farms in McBee, Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant and the Charleston Tea Plantation. “For more than 30 years Georgia Farm Bureau has offered an annual tour featuring the outstanding farms, agribusinesses and ag research facilities of our great state,” GFB Field Services Director Mike Copeland said. “We thought our members would enjoy visiting a neighboring state to see how they farm.” Trip departs from Macon at 8 a.m. May 19 and returns 5:30 p.m. May 21. Cost of this allinclusive trip covers round-trip bus transportation from Macon, hotels and all meals except Wed. dinner when trip participants will be free to explore Charleston at their leisure. Tour rates are: $676 per person; $1,082 for two; $1,446 per three & $1,849 per four based on number of people sleeping in hotel room. Those who register by Dec. 9 receive a $25 discount per person. Deadline to register is Jan. 9. Visit http://www.gfb.org/SCfarmtour to see tour brochure and print the registration form. A check made payable to GFB Inc. with a completed registration form must be received by GFB Field Services by Jan. 9 to hold a spot on the tour. For more information, call 478-474-0679, ext. 5231 or email mmakers@gfb.org. BENTLEY NAMED GCA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT The Georgia Cattlemen’s Association (GCA) has named Will Bentley as its new executive vice president (EVP). Bentley has been employed with the GCA since January as the organization’s director of association services and has been handling some of the EVP duties since August when former EVP Josh White went to work for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Bentley is from Thomaston, where he and his dad, Danny Bentley, and brother, Matt, own an Angus-based, commercial cow-calf farm with which Will has been involved his entire life. Bentley has a professional background in sales and recruiting and worked in Denver, Colo., prior to joining the GCA. He graduated from Shorter College in 2008 where he majored in business marketing and minored in communication. “Will is a people person who loves the fellowship of the members of Bentley GCA,” GCA President Melvin Porter said. “Will has a good work ethic, great personality and a great enthusiasm for the cattle industry and GCA. We are looking forward to working with Will to advance our association. Bentley may be contacted by email at will@gabeef.org or by phone at 478-474-6560.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 8 GEORGIA FILES SUIT AGAINST CORPS OVER WATER SUPPLY ISSUE The state of Georgia, the Atlanta Regional Commission and Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority filed lawsuits against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Nov. 7 for failure to address long-standing water supply requests in the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) River Basin according to a press release from Gov. Nathan Deal’s office. “It's frustrating to find the Corps unwilling to do what it has committed to do in the adjoining ApalachicolaChattahoochee-Flint (ACF) basin – namely addressing the issue of additional water supply need at the same time the water control manual is being updated,” Deal said. “Failing to do so in our present situation is not defensible from either a legal or policy perspective.” This decision comes after a series of requests by state and local leaders over a period of 30plus years for the Corps to address the need for additional drinking water supply from Allatoona Lake. The Corps recently completed a critical step toward a much-needed new water control plan for Allatoona Lake. State leadership, however, has indicated this step demonstrates the Corps’ intention to not address any of the unresolved water supply requests. “It is regrettable but necessary that we must now ask the court to require the Corps to do its job and make a decision. We need to know how Allatoona Lake will be operated for water supply so we can plan for the future," said Attorney General Sam Olens. "That’s all we’re asking the Corps to do — put politics aside, make a decision, and let the chips fall where they may.” Water in the ACT basin flows from Georgia through Alabama to Mobile Bay. The suits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. CORN, PEANUTS AND SOYBEAN YIELDS UP SLIGHTLY IN NASS FORECAST The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) adjusted its projections for Georgia yields in corn, soybeans and peanuts according to the agency’s November crop production report. The final NASS report for 2014 will be released in January. The state’s corn yield forecast increased to 170 pounds per acre, up from 169 pounds per acre in the October report. Georgia corn production is projected at 55.25 million bushels, down from 81.375 million bushels in 2013, a decline of 32 percent due mostly to a 30 percent decline in corn acreage. Georgia’s peanut yield is expected to be 4,100 pounds per acre, up from 4,000 pounds per acre on the October report, and the forecast production of 2.4 billion pounds in 2014 is a 27 percent increase over the state’s 2013 production of 1.887 billion pounds. The state’s soybean growers are forecast for an average yield of 41 bushels per acre in the November report, up from 40 bushels per acre in the October report. The projected soybean harvest is 11.89 million bushels in 2014, up from 9.3 million bushels in 2013. Georgia cotton production forecast did not change from October to November, remaining at 2.6 million bales, an increase of 280,000 from 2013. The yield per acre estimate also remained steady at 911 pounds.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 8 FARM GROUPS, AG TECH PROVIDERS REACH DATA PRIVACY PACT On Nov. 13 a coalition of major farm organizations and agriculture technology providers (ATPs) announced an agreement on data privacy and security principles that will encourage the use and development of a full range of innovative, technology-driven tools and services to boost the productivity, efficiency and profitability of American agriculture. The coalition supporting the principles includes: American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, Beck’s Hybrids, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont Pioneer, John Deere, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, Raven Industries, The Climate Corporation (a division of Monsanto) and USA Rice Federation. The principles promise to greatly accelerate the move to the next generation of agricultural data technology, which includes in-cab displays, mobile devices and wireless-enabled precision agriculture that has already begun to boost farm productivity across the United States. The central effort of the principles will be grower education initiatives that will include an easy-to-use transparency evaluation tool for farmers. The tool would allow farmers to compare and contrast specific issues within ATP contracts and to see how the contracts align with these agreed-upon principles, and how ATPs manage and use farmers’ data. The principles cover a wide range of issues that must be addressed before most farmers will feel assured to share their private business information with data providers. Those issues include ownership of the data, farmer’s consent to collection of the data, notification of data collection and third-party access, and liability and security safeguards, among others. Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data can be found online at http://bit.ly/1zjQ4Sk. FEB. 1 IS DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR MONSANTO SCHOLARSHIPS Monsanto is offering $1,500 college scholarships to 352 students nationwide through its America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders scholarship program. The National FFA Organization is administering the program, but students don’t have to be FFA members. To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be under the age of 23; be high school seniors or full-time college students, meet the FFA-published criteria for eligibility listed at www.FFA.org/scholarships, and have a permanent address in one of the following Georgia counties: Appling, Baker, Berrien, Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth. Each of these counties planted at least 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton and/or vegetables based on USDA numbers. Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. College students applying for the scholarship must be pursuing a degree in an ag-related field listed on the Grow Ag Leaders website at www.GrowAgLeaders.com from a two or four-year school. Students have until Feb. 1, 2015, to complete the application available at www.FFA.org/scholarships. Three farmers who live or farm in any of the eligible counties must endorse an applicant. Farmers and applicants do not have to live in the same county. Students will receive an application ID number when they start an application that they will provide to the farmers. Farmers must visit the Farmer’s Endorsement Database at www.FFA.org/scholarships or call 1-877-267-3332 before Feb. 8, 2015. Farmers do not have to be a Monsanto customer. Farmers may endorse their children or other family members.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 8 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. GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 21 Cobb Galleria Center Atlanta Tickets are on sale for this annual event, at which platinum country group Diamond Rio is scheduled to perform. Visit https://connect.computility.com/f/fid.php?id=955559f0f92e71e5e95de669f5af3da0 to buy tickets. For more information about Harvest Celebration, call 800-726-2474. FARMLAND SCREENING Nov. 21 & 22 Upson-Lee Fine Arts Center 7 p.m. Thomaston This screening of Farmland, the documentary by Oscar winner filmmaker James Moll that shows the daily lives of six young farmers and their families, is being hosted by the Upson County Farm Bureau, Upson-Lee FFA and Upson 4-H. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. each night. This is a free event, but donations are appreciated to support the local FFA and 4-H programs. The names of those who make a donation will be entered in a drawing for door prizes. Everyone is welcome! 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 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.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 8 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. 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 770-467-4225 or email uge2255@uga.edu. LANDSCAPING GREEN TEAM UPDATE Dec. 4 Houston Co. Extension Office 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Perry This workshop is geared for landscape professionals and those who hold pesticide applicator licenses. Workshop topics to be covered include "Turfgrass Weed Identification” with Patrick McCullough, “From Reviled to Revitalized Landscape without Breaking the Bank!” with Bodie Pennisi, “Planning Your Insect Pest Management Calendar for Spring” with Kris Braman, “Weed control in the Landscape” with Mark Czarnota, and “Pruning of Ornamentals” with Bob Westerfield. The registration fee is $45 per person, which covers all instructional materials, break refreshments, and lunch. The speakers are the experts in their fields, so register early to take advantage of their vast knowledge. You may register with a credit card online at http://t.uga.edu/154 or you may call 770-228-7214 or email bhorne@uga.edu to receive a registration form to register with a check. If you have further questions, please contact the Houston County Extension Office at 478-987-2028. 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 Gov. Nathan Deal and Senator-elect David Perdue are 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. 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. 2015 GFB DISTRICT II YOUNG FARMER STEER AND HEIFER SHOW Jan. 17, 2015 White County Agr-Science Center Cleveland This one-day show features cash prizes and plaques, as well as a $250 scholarship for the 12thgrade showmanship winner. Check-in runs from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. State show rules apply. Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 22, 2014. Entry fee is $20 per animal for Georgia Farm Bureau members and $30 per animal for non-members. Show is open to junior beef cattle exhibitors from Union, Towns, Rabun, Lumpkin, White, Habersham, Hall, Banks, Stephens, Franklin, Jackson, Madison and Elbert counties. For more information contact Will Cabe at 706-988-0018 or willcabe@yahoo.com, Matthew London at 706-969-9284 or mlondon9284@gmail.com, or Clay Talton at 706-988-0153 or cstalton@gfb.org.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 8 2014 GATE CARDS EXPIRE DEC. 31 The Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) program is an agricultural sales tax exemption certificate issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture that identifies the card holder as an ag producer qualified for the tax exemption. All 2014 GATE cards expire Dec. 31. To renew your card visit http://forms.agr.georgia.gov/gate/ or call 1-855-FARM-TAX (855-327-6829) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. There is a $20 fee for online applications and a $25 fee for applications made via mail or phone. Many county Farm Bureau offices will assist their members with online signups or renewals. 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. 2015 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 14 Brenau Downtown 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 and the Georgia Agribusiness Council, focuses on how technology is being used to solve problems for the ag industry along with the 2015 economic outlook for agricultural commodities. 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. GFB News Alert page 8 of 8 GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 15, 2015 UGA Tifton Conference Center 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tifton This annual event features 100 exhibits, nearly $40,000 in door prizes, a free farmer lunch and educational sessions, including pesticide applicator certification classes. For more information
contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229-386-3470 or info@gapeanuts.com, or visit the GPC website at www.gapeanuts.com. GCC ANNUAL MEETING & UGA COTTON PRODUCTION WORKSHOP Jan. 28, 2014 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. For more information call 478-988-4235 or visit www.georgiacottoncommission.org.
Tifton