Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - November 3, 2010

November 3, 2010

www.gfb.org

Vol. 28 No. 44

GEORGIA FFA HAS 8 NATIONAL WINNERS, DUVALL HONORED The Georgia Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association had eight national winners and GFB President Zippy Duvall was one of eight Georgians recognized with the Honorary American FFA degree for his support of the FFA and agricultural education during the 83rd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.

Thomas Burnham, Morgan Watt, Weslie Williford and Nick Wood from the Perry FFA chapter won the Floriculture Career Development Event (CDE), beating 44 other teams. Wood was the highest-scoring individual, Williford was second and Burnham 10th in the event, which included a written exam, a floral design exercise, a job interview and a team problem-solving activity. Each team member received a $1,000 scholarship.

Ben Bennett of the Lowndes County FFA (Environmental Science), Colten VanMeter of the Pickens County FFA (Agriculture Sales - Placement) and Tye Wynn of the Colquitt County FFA (Swine Production - Placement) were each named national proficiency award winners for the success they achieved in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs. Bennett was also chosen to participate in an international agriculture tour of Costa Rica next summer.

The Franklin County Middle School FFA chapter in Carnesville was named the nation’s most outstanding middle school chapter. The chapter earned this honor by completing a rigorous program of activities that was balanced in the areas of student development, chapter development and community development. The agricultural education teacher at Franklin County Middle is Anna Bellamy.

Robin Studdard of the Jefferson County FFA was named the top individual in the national Forestry CDE. In the National FFA Agriscience Fair, Trevor Correia and Josh Barron, of the Franklin County FFA, were named the national winners in Division 4 of the engineering category, and Amber Kay and Benjamin Northrup were named national winners in Division 4 of the botany category.

In addition to the eight national winners, 15 Georgia FFA chapters received the national 3-Star ranking, the highest ranking offered in the National Chapter Award Program. They were: Berrien County High School, Colquitt County High School, Cross Creek High School, Early County High School, Eighth Street Middle School (Tift County), Fannin County High School, Franklin County High School, Franklin County Middle School, Jasper Middle School, Loganville High School, Lowndes High School, Madison County Freshman Academy, Oconee County Middle School, Pelham High School and Westside Middle School (Whitfield County).

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USDA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CROP ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications through Dec. 9 for its Crop Assistance Program (CAP) announced in September to provide financial assistance to producers of upland cotton, sweet potatoes, soybeans and rice affected by excessive rains in 2009. Producers will have to self-certify that they meet the 5 percent loss threshold for an eligible crop.

The funds are available under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935.

The payments, which will total up to $550 million, will go to producers who have ownership share and risk in one or more eligible crops on a farm in a county that received secretarial disaster designation in 2009. In Georgia, 130 counties received secretarial disaster designation. The per-acre payment rates for eligible crops are $17.70 for upland cotton, $15.62 for soybeans, $155.41 for sweet potatoes, $31.93 for long-grain rice and $52.46 for medium/short grain rice. The USDA announced that payments might have to be prorated to stay under the $550 million cap. Eligible producers will receive 75 percent of their payment up front, and remaining payments will be determined after the application deadline. For more information, contact your local FSA office.

GARY BLACK ELECTED NEW AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER Republican Gary Black received 56 percent of the vote for Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, beating J.B. Powell in the race to succeed long-time Ag Commissioner Tommy Irvin. U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D) won re-election in Georgia’s 2nd District, holding off a challenge from Mike Keown (R). Bishop received 51 percent of the vote to Keown’s 49, the closest race for any of Georgia’s seats in Congress according to media reports.

Former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal was elected governor, collecting 53 percent of the votes to 43 percent for Roy Barnes. Jim Marshall (D), who served on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, was the only incumbent member of the Georgia Congressional delegation to be unseated, falling by six percentage points in the 8th District Race to Austin Scott (R).

Republican Johnny Isakson won handily in the race for the U.S. Senate over former Georgia Commissioner of Labor Michael Thurmond (D), collecting 59 percent of the vote to Thurmond’s 39 percent.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), chairwoman of the Senate Ag Committee, lost her bid for re-election, though Democrats kept the majority in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is in line to take over as Senate Ag Committee chair.

PILGRIM’S PRIDE TO RESTART OPERATIONS AT DOUGLAS PLANT In the company’s quarterly earnings press release, Pilgrim’s Pride President and Chief Executive Don Jackson said the Douglas processing plant is set to resume deboning operations this month in support of the company’s other plants. Jackson noted that conditions in other sectors of the meat market could boost sales of chicken.

Slaughter operations are on schedule to begin in January, and Pilgrim’s Pride is planning other expansions later in 2011 and in 2012. In May, the company announced plans to re-open the plant, which will employ up to 1,400 local workers to process chickens grown by an estimated 160 local poultry producers.

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GFB SUBMITS WATER COMMENTS, THOMS NAMED TO WATER BOARD Georgia Farm Bureau submitted comments last month to the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District regarding its current draft plan for water conservation.

GFB President Zippy Duvall wrote in his letter to Metro District Chairman Kit Dunlap that the district’s Action Item D-2, which would call for the adoption of policy making it illegal to waste water, is overly broad. Duvall questioned how wasting water would be defined and asked that the language in Action Item D-2 be amended or deleted.

GFB applauded the Metro District for providing education on the use of alternative water sources such as gray water and other cost-effective mechanisms like leak detection and control.

Duvall expressed concern with the Metro District encouraging the replacement of athletic surface sod with artificial turf, writing that such a measure would be costly for school systems and recreational parks.

He also noted that the green industry is a vital part of Georgia agriculture and the metro Atlanta economy, pointing out that statistics from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences show the horticulture industry’s farm gate value at $125 million annually.

“The district should adopt policies that encourage and protect this important piece of the economy,” Duvall wrote. He suggested using the “right plant in the right place” approach to landscaping.

In a related development, Fayette County Farm Bureau member Tim Thoms has been appointed to the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Governing Board by Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge).

Thoms, a registered landscape architect, is president and founder of Thoms Tree and Plants Inc., a plant and material consulting and brokerage firm in Fayetteville. He chairs the Flint Basin Advisory Council for the Metro District.

Thoms has served on the Fayette County Planning Commission since 2006, including serving as chairman for 2010. He also has held leadership positions on the ApalachicolaChattahoochee-Flint Stakeholders, Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association, the Georgia chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Georgia Water Wise Council, the UGA School of Environmental Design Alumni Association and the Georgia Urban Forest Council.

JACLYN FORD NAMED TO FSA STATE COMMITTEE The Obama Administration has appointed Jaclyn D. Ford to the Georgia Farm Service Agency State Committee.

Ford, who at one time worked in the Georgia Farm Bureau Legislative Department and is a member of the Berrien County Farm Bureau, is co-owner and co-manager of Dixon Gin Company Inc. She is actively involved in her family’s farming operation that produces cotton, peanuts, corn and pecans. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and serves on various civic and ag-related boards.

Ronald C. Lee of Dawson, Dr. Fred Harrison of Winterville, Jerome Tucker of Valdosta and Peter Waller of Bloomingdale were appointed to the committee in February.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 4 UPCOMING EVENTS GFB DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Nov. 4 8th District South Georgia Technical College Nov. 9 4th District Greene County High School Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Americus Greensboro

20th ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN SHOWDOWN RODEO Nov. 5-7 Georgia Agricenter Reaves Arena Perry More than 500 high school-age cowboys and cowgirls from seven states are expected to compete in this event, which is one of the biggest rodeos east of the Mississippi. Rodeo begins at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 and 6 and at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 7. Admission is $8. Children under 12 are free. For more information visit http://www.ghsra.com.

The Royal Alpaca Challenge Conyers Georgia International Horse Park Nov. 6 & 7 The Georgia Alpaca Association presents this free, family friendly event bringing participants from across the U.S. to compete in the show ring. Fiber artists demonstrate the many uses for the world's finest, natural fiber - alpaca Vendors will sell sweaters, hats and other items made of luxurious, hypoallergenic, alpaca fleece. For more information visit www.RoyalAlpacaChallenge.com.

DIRECT-MARKETING LOCAL FOOD COURSE Macon Nov. 8 Georgia Farm Bureau Building Topics and panel discussions will include direct marketing of produce and value-added products, including selling directly to retailers, restaurants and school meal programs. The class costs $25 and includes lunch. For more information or to register visit www.areg.caes.uga.edu or call 706-583-0347.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Classes will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOREST LANDOWNER ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHOP Nov. 10-11 UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Athens This continuing education short course will cover strategies for minimizing taxes on lifetime and death transfers within the family. The course will also provide a working knowledge of federal estate and gift tax laws and regulations to enhance communications with estate planning advisors. Strategies for addressing the uncertainty of current and proposed tax law changes to protect forestry assets will also be discussed. Registration is $445. To register or for more information visit http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/ or contact Ingvar Elle at 706-583-0566.

BOVINE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS Nov. 16 Greene County Extension Office Greensboro Waynesboro Nov. 18 Burke County Extension Office Both workshops begin at 9:45 a.m. and last until 2 p.m. with a sponsored lunch for all attendees. The workshops will be offered in English and Spanish. For information call the Greene County Extension Office at 706-453-2083 for the workshop on Nov. 16 or the Burke Co. Extension office at 706-5542119 for the workshop on Nov. 18.

MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER TRAINING Registration Deadline Nov. 19 Want to learn more about gardening, teach others what you have learned or help UGA Extension reach more homeowners? Then this class might be for you! Class will be held Wednesdays, Jan. 26-April 13, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the USDA Research Station in Byron. Cost is $175. To register or for more information, call 478-987-2028.