November 30, 2011
www.gfb.org
Vol. 29 No. 48
BUDGET SUPERCOMMITTEE FAILS, ADVANCE 2012 FARM BILL ABANDONED The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or Supercommittee, tasked with writing a budget to trim the national debt by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years, was unable to do so by the Nov. 23 statutory deadline, and efforts by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to roll the next farm bill into the budget legislation were abandoned. The agriculture committees had developed a proposal that would have cut funding for various agriculture programs by $23 billion in what many viewed as an advance development, or “fast tracking,” of the 2012 farm bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said in a joint statement that the failure of the joint committee to reach an overall debt-reduction package put an end to that effort. Lucas and Stabenow have indicated they will return to their respective committees and proceed with crafting the 2012 farm bill under a more normal timetable, though much of the work must now be done during an election year. Many programs under the 2008 farm bill expire in 2012. “Now that we’re back to regular order, there’s opportunity for us to take our strategic risk reduction program and bring that back to the attention of the respective House and Senate Agriculture Committees,” said American Farm Bureau Farm Policy Specialist Dale Moore, who said agriculture groups now have an opportunity to “get them to understand why we really want to focus on the catastrophic risk reduction … risk management tools that are essential for our producers.” According to Moore, farm programs within the farm bill will be cut by at least $15 billion over 10 years. The Supercommittee’s failure to reach a consensus means that $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts will go into effect in 2013 under the terms of the Budget Control Act of 2011, which was signed into law on Aug. 2. The automatic cuts include $600 billion from defense spending and the rest from discretionary spending and some entitlement programs. Included in the cuts to non-defense spending is an estimated $15 billion in agriculture programs. The law also required the House and Senate to vote on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution by the end of the year. The Budget Control Act raised the federal debt ceiling while placing caps on discretionary appropriations, which could include farm programs. Its enactment on Aug. 2 averted a shutdown of the federal government.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 USDA DELAYS CHRISTMAS TREE CHECKOFF The USDA has delayed indefinitely the implementation of the Christmas tree checkoff, which was to be used for research and marketing of live Christmas trees. The USDA issued its final rule establishing the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research and Marketing Order on Nov. 8. The program was requested by the industry in 2009 in response to long-term losses in market share to artificial trees. Two public comment periods produced 565 comments. More than 70 percent of the comments were in favor of establishing the checkoff, which was set at 15 cents per tree sold, to be paid by the growers. According to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), nearly 90 percent of the state or multi-state associations that commented were in favor of the checkoff. After media reports referred to the checkoff as a “tax on Christmas trees,” on Nov. 17 the USDA issued a stay on the program, citing a need “to provide all interested persons, including the Christmas tree industry and the general public, an opportunity to become more familiar with the program.” Georgia Christmas Tree Association President Chuck Berry said the checkoff isn’t any different from those employed by other agricultural commodity groups. “The milk producers and the beef producers have their own checkoff,” Berry said. “I was really surprised that this generated the response that it did. There were two separate public comment periods earlier in the year. It’s a structured way to collect funds to promote the live Christmas tree. We’re battling the artificial trees, and we have been for several years. We needed some way to generate funding for a national promotion of Christmas trees or we were going to fall further behind in the market.” The NCTA has disputed the media characterizations of the checkoff as a tax. SUNBELT NAMES CHAFIN NEW FARM MANAGER The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition has announced the appointment of Michael Chafin as the new farm manager of the 600-acre Darrell Williams Research Farm, effective Nov. 28. Chafin has extensive knowledge of Expo operations and has attended the Sunbelt Expo each of the past 26 years. A Georgia Master 4-Her and National FFA finalist while in high school, he attended Valdosta Technical College. He has worked periodically on the Sunbelt farm since his youth. “Michael Chafin brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the Expo with his strong background in farming,” Sunbelt Executive Director Chip Blalock said. “His hands-on farming experience has prepared him well for his new position.” Chafin is a fourth generation farmer and is an active member of the Georgia Young Farmers. He has extensive knowledge of Expo operations. His wife Leanne works for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the Tifton Campus. “This is a job people dream about. I am very excited about this new opportunity, especially with the upcoming 35th anniversary of the show in October,” Michael said. The 35th Sunbelt Expo will be held Oct. 16-18, 2012. For information about operations and research on the Sunbelt farm, Chafin may be reached by e-mail at michael@sunbeltexpo.com or by phone at 229-921-1067.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 CRAWFORD COUNTY TEACHER RECOGNIZED BY AFBF Crawford County Eagle’s Nest teacher Andrea Seagraves was recently recognized by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for her efforts to incorporate agriculture into her classroom lessons. Seagraves, a Crawford County Farm Bureau member, teaches kindergarten at the Eagle’s Nest. After attending a Georgia Farm Bureau Ag In The Classroom workshop at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, she was inspired to start her “Fabulous Farm Fridays” program. She dedicates at least one hour each Friday to an ag-based activity that corresponds with the focus letter for the week. Teachers and students wear Farm Friday shirts and numerous CCFB members have been guest speakers in Seagraves’ classroom during Farm Fridays to discuss producing poultry, pigs, cattle, bees, milk, timber, fruit and other ag professions. Seagraves’ class has visited the Georgia National Fair, and she has plans for field trips to The Rock Ranch and local organic farms. WTO RULING FAVORS CANADA AND MEXICO ON COOL REQUIREMENTS A World Trade Organization dispute panel issued a final ruling in favor of Canada and Mexico on their 2008 complaints against U.S. requirements for country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef and pork. The panel found that the COOL requirements violated provisions of the WTO Agreement on technical barriers to trade, agreeing with Canada and Mexico that COOL requirements resulted in cattle and hogs imported to the U.S. from those two countries being treated less favorably than cattle and hogs of U.S. origin. Canada and Mexico argued that U.S. COOL requirements served as a protectionist barrier and unfairly distorted competition between imports and domestic cattle and hogs, resulting in lower prices for the imported ones. The WTO panel did not address COOL regulations regarding fresh produce. The U.S. has the option to appeal the ruling, and COOL regulations will remain in force unless Congress takes action. COBB NAMED NEW STATE VETERINARIAN Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black has appointed Robert M. Cobb Jr. as Georgia’s state veterinarian, replacing Carter Black who retired in October. Cobb, who has been assistant state veterinarian since January 2010, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Valdosta State in 1976, followed by a year working as an animal health technician with the joint USDA-State Accelerated Brucellosis Program. Dr. Cobb earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia in 1981. Dr. Cobb began his professional career at Ogeechee Veterinary Associates in Millen with an emphasis in dairy theriogenology and herd health management. In 1983 he purchased a mixed practice in Dublin, which he operated for three years as a solo practitioner. From 1987 through 2008, Dr. Cobb was a partner in Dublin Animal Hospital, serving as the managing partner from 1987 through 2002 and continued to practice there through 2009. Dr. Cobb worked with the leadership at the Heart of Georgia Technical College in Dublin in 1995 to create a veterinary assistant program. Students in the one-year certificate program also benefited from hands-on experience with Dr. Cobb at Dublin Animal Hospital.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 CONGRATULATIONS TO TIFT COUNTY 4-H Tift County’s 4-H Poultry Judging Team won the championship for the second straight year at the national 4-H poultry judging contest in Louisville, Ky., in November. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU 73RD ANNUAL MEETING Dec. 4-6 Jekyll’s Historic District Convention Campus Jekyll Island This annual event will include addresses from GFB President Zippy Duvall, Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. GFB will complete its yearly policy development process and the convention will feature commodity conferences, the final round of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet, announcement of 2011 state award winners and a trade show. For information, contact your county Farm Bureau office. FSA ACCEPTING BALLOTS IN COUNTY ELECTIONS UNTIL DEC. 5 The 2011 FSA county committee elections began Nov. 4 and the deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices is Dec. 5. Eligible voters who do not receive ballots in the coming week can obtain ballots from their local USDA Service Center. Ballots returned by mail must also be postmarked no later than Dec. 5. More information on county committees can be found on the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. TECHNICAL LARGE ANIMAL EMERGENCY RESCUE TRAINING Dec. 7-9 TLAER Facility Gray This event will provide certification training in operations and awareness on large animal rescue topics. For more information visit http://www.tlaer.org/. CALHOUN PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE Dec. 9 NW GA Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins 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 pworley@uga.edu. GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION NOMINATION MEETINGS Dec. 12 District 3 11:30 a.m. Emanuel Co. Farm Bureau Swainsboro Dec. 13 District 1 10 a.m. Miller County Extension Colquitt Any peanut producer living in the Georgia Peanut Commission Districts 1 or 3 may make nominations or be nominated to fill terms for these district seats that expire in May 2012. Incumbents are eligible for renomination. Tim Burch of Baker County currently represents District 1, which includes Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell and Seminole counties. Joe Boddiford of Screven County currently represents the Commission’s District 3, which includes the following counties: Appling, Bacon, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Washington and Wayne. If more than one person is nominated, an election will be conducted by mail ballot. If only one person qualifies, no election is required and the nominated person automatically becomes a member of the commission board. Commission members serve terms of three years. The Georgia Farm Bureau Federation will conduct the nomination meetings. For more information contact Don McGough at 1-800-342-1196.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD APPLICANTS SOUGHT Nominations are being accepted until Dec. 16 for the 7th Annual Governor’s Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Award, which recognizes farmers who are exceptional caretakers of the environment. One winner will be selected in each of five regions based on Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Districts. Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black will recognize all district winners and announce the state winner on March 13, 2012 at the 9th Annual Agriculture Week event in Atlanta. Applications are available online at http://agribusiness.georgiainnovation.org. For more information, contact Steven Meeks at 912207-0813 or Sarah Cook at 229-391-6882 or smcook@uga.edu. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 5-8, 2012 International Trade and Convention Center Savannah Conference workshops will focus on improving crop production and the latest in produce trends as well as the latest legislative updates From Washington and Atlanta. During the three-day program, more than 85 hours of commodity specific production training, pest management information and marketing updates will be offered to attendees. Commodities include peach, vegetable, Vidalia onion, watermelon, muscadine, blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, olive and pecan. In addition to the commodity production sessions, workshops covering good agricultural (GAP) food safety practices, organic production and roadside markets will be held. Continuing education credits are available. On Sunday, an Industry Roundtable is planned for both growers and suppliers to discuss issues of mutual concern. For information or to register, visit http://www.seregionalconference.com. 36th ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 19, 2012 Albany Civic Center Albany This event offers farmers the chance to view the products and services of more than 75 exhibitors and attend marketing and production workshops with UGA peanut specialists. The show provides exhibitors with an opportunity to highlight their products or services to nearly 1,500 farmers from across the Southeast. 2012 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 23 Georgia Farm Bureau Building Macon Jan. 24 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton Jan. 25 Nesmith Lane Conference Center, GSU Campus Statesboro Jan. 26 Georgia Mountains Center Gainesville Jan. 27 Carroll County Ag Center Carrollton These meetings are a UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences program made possible through an endowment from Georgia Farm Bureau and support from the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Agribusiness Council. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The seminar will be held from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. followed by a luncheon. UGA ag economists will give the 2012 economic outlook for agriculture. The keynote speaker will give an update on current farm labor issues. Registration is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Call 706583-0347 or visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com for more information or to register. UGA 20TH ANNUAL FOCUS ON EPD'S BULL SALE Feb. 2 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena Athens Begins at noon. For information contact Dr. Ronnie Silcox at rsilcox@uga.edu or by phone 706542-9102.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 OLD SOUTH FARM MUSEUM HOG KILLING DEMONSTRATION Feb. 4 Old South Farm Museum 8:30 a.m. Woodland This event will demonstrate how hogs were once harvested and the products made from them. Program includes a meat-cutting class and demonstrations on making various pork products. The fee to observe and receive free sausage is $12 per person. To participate in the workshop, gain hands-on experience and receive pork products, the fee is $35. Registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Paul Bulloch at 706-975-9136 or visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com. TIFTON BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE March 6 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Registration starts at 9 a.m. For more information contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. TIFTON PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE March 7 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Dr. Ronnie Silcox by phone at 706-542-9102 or rsilcox@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu