Nov. 7, 2018
www.gfb.org
Vol. 36 No. 22
GFB POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETS Georgia Farm Bureau’s Policy Development (PD) Committee held the second of its two meetings at the GFB headquarters in Macon Nov. 5. Every year, GFB members are invited to submit resolutions to their local county Farm Bureau on issues that affect agriculture and rural life. Those resolutions are then considered by the county Farm Bureau and submitted to the Policy Development Committee for further action. The PD Committee is charged with considering each resolution submitted by county Farm Bureaus. Committee members debate the proposed resolutions, then adopt, amend, combine with existing GFB policy or delete outdated policy. Finally, a new proposed Georgia Farm Bureau policy book is recommended for passage at the organization’s annual convention. “The policy development process is vital for our organization,” GFB President Gerald Long said. “It’s through these meetings that our volunteer leaders determine the organization’s legislative direction.” The first round of committee work took place in early October, and GFB’s voting delegates will finalize the policy for 2019 during the 2018 GFB Convention in December on Jekyll Island. The issues that are national in scope will begin a similar process in December and be finalized at the American Farm Bureau Convention in January. In its two meetings, the GFB PD Committee considered 180 policy submissions from 55 counties. The committee weighed whether to forward each submission to the voting delegates meeting. The submissions included multiple resolutions relative to both state and national issues. The farm bill, tariffs, crop insurance, and trade were the top national issues as each of these topics have received considerable attention over the past year. A wide range of state topics were discussed including the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) Program, Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA), and food labeling. The committee also reviewed numerous recommendations addressing lab-grown meat and right to farm laws. Among the policy submissions were suggestions aimed at rural development, healthcare, and greater access to broadband internet. The GFB Policy Development Committee consists of 30 county presidents (three from each district), the chairmen of each of the 20 GFB Commodity Advisory Committees and the GFB Board of Directors. Also, included in this year’s PD Committee were the Georgia members of the American Farm Bureau Issue Advisory Committees.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 12 GFB MEMBERS HAVE SPECIAL CHANCE TO RAISE HURRICANE RELIEF FUNDS GFB members attending the organization’s annual convention will have a chance to generate relief funds by taking a Sunday drive on Dec. 2. GFB member benefits partner Ford will have vehicles available for test drives at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. For each GFB member who takes a test drive, Ford will contribute $20 to the GFB Foundation for Agriculture Hurricane Relief Fund. ADDITIONAL AID AVAILABLE FOR AG HURRICANE DAMAGE THROUGH NRCS On Nov. 7, the Georgia office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced additional assistance is being made available to Georgia farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who suffered damage to working lands due to Hurricane Michael. This new signup for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through NRCS can protect farmland from erosion, support disaster recovery and repair, and can help mitigate loss from exceptional storm events in the future. Deadline to apply is Dec. 14. Agricultural producers and non-industrial forestland owners in the following 68 counties are eligible to apply: Appling, Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Candler, Clay, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Grady, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, McDuffie, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Peach, Pulaski, Randolph, Richmond, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Warren, Washington, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson, and Worth. This does not apply to local governments or other entities. Additionally, a previously announced emergency EQIP signup in Georgia to address animal mortality continues to hold priority in the hardest-hit areas. That signup is ongoing through Nov. 16, and includes a total of 20 counties. Counties that are currently eligible for the emergency EQIP signup are: Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Laurens, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth. If livestock producers who experience mass mortalities in these counties do not make the deadline for this sign up, they can still apply for the Dec. 14 signup. Anyone who has questions about which EQIP signup(s) they may be eligible for should visit their local NRCS office to have questions answered and to apply for assistance. Under these special signups, mortality and carcass disposal will be by burial, incineration or composting methods. NRCS recommends producers seeking assistance for any mass mortality event immediately notify the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Animal Industry Division, if they haven’t already done so. For more information from NRCS, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit the Georgia NRCS website at www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov. For more information on disaster assistance programs for farmers and ranchers available from USDA visit farmers.gov/recover.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 12 UPDATED FORESTRY HURRICANE DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT $762 MILLION On Oct. 29, the Georgia Forestry Commission released an updated assessment of damage to Georgia timber from Hurricane Michael. The storm unleashed winds between 125 mph and 150 mph in some areas of Southwest Georgia. The Timber Damage Assessment survey showed that 2,368,226 acres of forestland were affected by Hurricane Michael with 20,510,889 tons of pine and 17,178,721 tons of hardwood damaged with an estimated value of $762,683,909 Of those totals, more than 79,000 acres of forestland from south of Albany to Lake Seminole sustained catastrophic damage. Catastrophic damage is defined as more than 50 percent of stems broken, multiple trees blown down across the stand, tops broken out across the stand, limbs stripped and trees bent more than 45 degrees. Salvage is unlikely and the stand may be considered a total loss. The 79,000 acres represents a loss of 2.1 million tons of pine and 1.8 million tons of hardwood, with a combined value of $80 million. According to the GFC, trees with bends less than 45 degrees have a good chance of survival but should be removed at the next harvest, and forest managers and landowners are encouraged to monitor their stands for insect damage over the next year. The GFC noted three likely distinct categories by which landowners may evaluate their timber loss: 1) Light damage or losses that may not warrant a salvage operation. This could include stands of trees large enough to sell that don’t have enough timber damage to warrant a commercial harvest, or stands of trees not large enough to sell where there is a good chance the stand will recover over time; 2) Stands with severe or catastrophic damage mandating a salvage operation to recoup whatever value can be recovered from the stand. In most cases, this could include a complete harvest for widespread damage; 3) Stands with moderate damage in which landowners may need to decide between a partial or complete harvest based on damage levels. In these cases, landowners are encouraged to use the services of a professional forester to help make the best decision for the situation. Immediately following a storm, it may be difficult for landowners to accurately gauge how well a stand may recover, or to measure the amount of timber that could be allowed to remain for future growth and income. It is possible that forestland owners can recover some of the value lost through prompt salvage harvests. The GFC recommended that landowners utilize registered consulting foresters to help with timber sales, noting that seeking independent advice is a sound way to reduce hasty judgments and ensure all available options are considered. BENTLEY TAKES REINS AS GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL PRESIDENT Will Bentley took over as president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council on Nov. 1. Bentley has extensive association management experience, serving as the executive vice president of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and the Georgia Beef Board since 2014. In these roles, he was extremely active in local, state and federal policy formulation and advocacy, and has direct lobbying experience in our capital. Bentley is well known among Georgia elected officials and within the agribusiness community.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 12 EPA PROPOSES RULE TO EXEMPT FARMS FROM EMISSIONS REPORTING On Oct. 30 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a proposed rule to amend the emergency release notification regulations under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) to make clear that reporting of air emission from animal waste at farms is not required under EPCRA. The rule drew praise from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Pork Producers Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. This proposed rule, if finalized, will provide livestock producers with greater regulatory certainty. It will also allow emergency response officials to focus on readiness and emergencies, not animal waste. The proposed rule is under the authority of the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act, passed as a part of the federal omnibus spending bill in March. The FARM Act exempts reporting of air emissions from animal waste at a farm. In May 2017, the D.C. Circuit court vacated EPA’s 2008 regulatory exemption for livestock reporting under EPCRA. Following that court action, the Trump EPA issued guidance stating reporting still does not need to occur from livestock producers based on EPA’s interpretation of EPCRA. The EPA’s proposed rule requests comment on the agency’s interpretation that these types of releases are not subject to EPCRA reporting. If finalized, this proposal would maintain consistency between the emergency release notification requirements of EPCRA and CERCLA in accordance with the statutory text and framework of EPCRA. To read the proposed rule visit https://gfb.ag/epcraeparule. CROP INSURANCE DEADLINES NEAR FOR MULTIPLE GA COMMODITIES Georgia farmers who maintain pasture, rangeland and honeybee colonies have until Nov. 15 to apply for crop insurance coverage or make changes to their existing coverage. Acreage intended for grazing and haying is insurable under the Pasture, Rangeland and Forestland (PRF) program, while colonies of bees are insurable under the apiculture program. Both programs are under the Rainfall Index insurance plan, and coverage is available for all Georgia counties. Apple, blueberry and peach growers, as well as producers interested in Whole Farm Revenue Protection policies and are late fiscal-year filers, have until Nov. 20 to enroll in new crop insurance policies or make changes in existing ones. Coverage is available for apples in Fannin, Gilmer and Rabun counties. Coverage is available for blueberries in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Burke, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Long, Pierce, Ware and Wayne Counties. Coverage is available for peaches in Bacon, Banks, Brooks, Crawford, Dooly, Hall, Henry, Macon, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, Peach, Pierce, Pike and Taylor counties. Coverage is available for whole farm revenue protection in all Georgia counties. Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2019 crop year. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers by visiting the RMA agent locator at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. Growers can use the RMA cost estimator at bit.ly/rmacost to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 12 EPA ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO DICAMBA REGISTRATION On Oct. 31, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is extending the registration of dicamba for two years for “over-the-top” use (application to growing plants) to control weeds in fields for cotton and soybean plants genetically engineered to resist dicamba. According to an EPA release, this action was made after extensive collaboration between EPA, state regulators, farmers, academic researchers, pesticide manufacturers, and other stakeholders. The following label changes were made to ensure dicamba products can continue to be used effectively while addressing potential concerns to surrounding crops and plants: • Two-year registration (until Dec. 20, 2020); • Only certified applicators may apply dicamba over the top (those working under the supervision of a certified applicator may no longer make applications); • Prohibit over-the-top application of dicamba on soybeans 45 days after planting and cotton 60 days after planting; • For cotton, limit the number of over-the-top applications from 4 to 2 (soybeans remain at 2 OTT applications); • Applications will be allowed only from 1 hour after sunrise to 2 hours before sunset; • In counties where endangered species may exist, the downwind buffer will remain at 110 feet and there will be a new 57-foot buffer around the other sides of the field (the 110-foot downwind buffer applies to all applications, not just in counties where endangered species may exist); • Clarify training period for 2019 and beyond, ensuring consistency across all three products; • Enhanced tank clean-out instructions for the entire system; • Enhanced label to improve applicator awareness on the impact of low pH on the potential volatility of dicamba; • Label clean-up and consistency to improve compliance and enforceability. The registration for all dicamba products will automatically expire on Dec. 20, 2020, unless EPA further extends it. EPA has reviewed substantial amounts of new information and concluded that the continued registration of these dicamba products meets FIFRA’s registration standards. The Agency has also determined that extending these registrations with the new safety measures will not affect endangered species. To learn more, visit https://gfb.ag/dicambaextension.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 12 NORTON, WILLIAMS WIN TOP HONORS AT GA NATIONAL LIVESTOCK SHOWS Tanner Norton of Grady County and Ben Williams of Gordon County earned the top honors in the 2018 State 4-H & FFA Market Goat & Lamb Shows held Oct. 5-7 at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. Hours of working with their livestock paid off for the two young men who both showed as 4-H members. Williams won the 2018 Ga. Junior National Grand Champion Market Wether prize with his Boer cross goat on Friday evening. Norton captured the Ga. Junior National Grand Champion Market Doe prize on Saturday. The following day, Norton became a double grand champion winner when he won the Ga. Junior National Grand Champion Market Lamb prize! The market goat show attracted 396 4-H and FFA members who showed 241 wethers (castrated male goat) and 417 does (female goat) in the market goat show. The market lamb show had 153 exhibitors who showed 302 lambs. Norton, an eighth grader at Whigham Elementary, is the son of Clay and Cindy Norton of Cairo. During the past eight years, Norton has shown goats, sheep, cattle and pigs. He says what he enjoys most about showing livestock are the memories he has made with his family and friends from across the state. Williams, the son of Kip and Trish Williams of Calhoun, is a seventh grader at Calhoun Middle School. For the past six years Williams has shown goats, sheep, cattle and pigs. The thrill of competition and the lasting friendships he has made with other show kids is what keeps Williams in the show ring. The Georgia Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture sponsored the cash prize for each grand champion. Georgia Farm Bureau is also the premier livestock sponsor for the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter for the 2018/19 show season. NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR GEORGIA YOUNG PEANUT FARMER AWARD Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, in Tifton. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) and BASF. The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award is based on the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership, civic, church, and community service activities. The award is open for any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, as of Jan. 17, 2019. An individual may receive the award only once. There is no limit on the number of applicants from each county in Georgia. Applications are due to the GPC office by Dec. 15, 2018. The award application is available online at www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690 or joycrosby@gapeanuts.com. Previous Georgia winners include Elton Baldy of Norman Park, Brandon Branch of Baxley, Trey Dunaway of Hawkinsville, Andrew Grimes of Tifton, Randy Branch of Baxley, James Hitchcock Jr. of Tennille, Brad Thompson of Donalsonville, Greg Mims of Donalsonville, Jim Waters of Blackshear and Jimmy Webb of Leary. The award winner receives registration and hotel accommodations to attend the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 18-20, 2019, and a sign to display at his or her farm.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 12 GEORGIA FFA STUDENTS CLAIM 19 NATIONAL AWARDS The Georgia FFA Association’s trip to the 91st National FFA Convention was highlighted by 19 national winners and the retirement of Ian Bennett from Valdosta as National FFA vice president. The convention was highlighted by a concert from Garth Brooks and keynote address from President Donald Trump. Bennett, a member of the Lowndes County FFA chapter, served as the 2017-2018 National FFA Southern Region vice president. Bennett took a one-year leave of absence from the University of Georgia, where he is a junior studying Agriscience & Environmental Systems, to travel more than 100,000 miles across the United States and to Japan serving as an ambassador for agricultural education and the FFA. Bennett was the 17th Georgian to serve as a National FFA Officer. Career Development Events (CDEs) are team and individual competitive events designed to test student’s technical knowledge and ability in a variety of agricultural and leadership areas. Georgia’s national CDE champions include the Bleckley County FFA (Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems). Seth DuBois (7th place individual), Tucker Felkins, Louie Lumley (3rd place individual) and Jacob Smith comprised the team from the Bleckley County chapter that bested 38 other teams to win the national Agricultural Technology & Mechanical Systems CDE. The team’s advisor and agricultural education teacher is Dr. Walt Parks. The West Jackson Middle School FFA chapter was named the nation’s Outstanding Middle School chapter as part of the National Chapter Award program. West Jackson Middle was one of five national finalists for the award, including Bonaire Middle, Franklin County Middle, and Jefferson Middle, all from Georgia. The agricultural education teacher and FFA Advisor at West Jackson Middle is Kasey Moody. This marks the second consecutive year, and third overall, that the West Jackson Middle FFA chapter has earned this honor. Rhine Brady of White County (Equine Science – Entrepreneurship), Chase Burdette of Madison County (Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fabrication); Garrett Griner of Colquitt County (Wildlife Production & Management); Curtis Jackson of Jones County (Forest Management); William Kellum of Jefferson (Landscape Management); Isaac Lanier of Berrien County (Vegetable Production); Grace McClain of Habersham County (Food Science & Technology), Brentley Odom of Thomas County Central (Environmental/Natural Resource Management), and Kirei Parks of Tift County (Nursery Operations) were each named national FFA proficiency award winners for the success they earned in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs. Only four students from across the nation are named National Finalists in each of the 47 proficiency areas. Georgia led the nation with 25 national proficiency award finalists. Georgia FFA’s six winners in the national Agriscience Fair were: Ella Barkdoll and Emma McElhannon of the Hilsman Middle FFA (Animal Systems – Division 2); Hogan Smith of the Sonaraville FFA (Environmental/Natural Resources – Division 3), Zachary Daw (Food Products & Processing – Division 3), Annalies & Brooklyn Carr of the Sonoraville FFA (Food Products & Processing – Division 6), Canyon Randall & Alexander Turner of the Franklin County Middle FFA (Power, Structure & Technology – Division 2), and James Jones & Madison Webb of the Lowndes County FFA (Power, Structure & Technology – Division 4). The Paulding County FFA was named the national winner of the 2018 National FFA Convention Hall of States competition. The Paulding County chapter, whose advisors are Mrs. Maggie Richards and Mr. Tom Liles, built a display that featured agriculture in Georgia as the theme for -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 8 of 12 Continued from previous page their booth. Their display was featured in the convention Expo. Emma Long of the Pickens County FFA chapter was named the winner of the National FFA Convention Talent contest. Emma sang songs during the convention while playing guitar and keyboard. Georgia also earned eight additional top-5 finishes in national FFA Career Development Events, Twenty-three Georgia FFA chapters received a national 3-Star ranking, the highest ranking offered in the National Chapter Award program. Seven Georgians were recognized for their support of agricultural education and the FFA as part of the Convention. Josh Allen (Bishop), Chip Blalock (Moultrie), Mike Bushey (Ellijay), Lynne Cook (Tifton), Johnny Jones (Lyons), John Seginak (Comer) and Andy TenHuisen (Waynesboro) each received the Honorary American FFA Degree for the contributions they make to the agricultural education program and FFA. The Georgia FFA Association was recognized as a membership growth state for the 20th straight year.. Highlights from the 90th National FFA Convention can be found at http://www.georgiaffa.org/page.aspx?ID=47. ADDRESSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS AMID A NATURAL DISASTER After a natural disaster, many resources are needed to support recovery in the affected communities. These resources often include financial assistance, personnel, food, and supplies. While people are busy taking care of immediate needs for survival, behavioral health needs can be overlooked. The consequences of ignoring these concerns can be tragic. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) is available to s, upport people in Southwest Georgia in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. Following the hurricane, DBHDD was awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to support crisis counseling. This program, called the Georgia Recovery Project, is available in counties that have received a presidential disaster declaration for Individual Assistance Programs. That list includes Baker, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Miller, Terrell, and Worth counties (served by Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities), and Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole, and Thomas counties (served by Georgia Pines Community Service Board). More counties may be added. The project provides crisis counselors who go door-to-door offering a “listening ear” for disaster survivors to talk about how they’ve been affected by the storm. Crisis counselors are also at disaster recovery centers, donation distribution centers and other community areas. The crisis counselors from the Georgia Recovery Project can provide referrals to needed resources and emotional support. To get in touch with someone from the Georgia Recovery Project, call 229-977-4885. Following a disaster event, it is not uncommon to feel upset, anxious, angry, depressed, confused, scared, or overwhelmed. After basic needs have been met, many people can resume their daily routines and activities, but stress and anxiety may persist. Here are tips to help cope with stress after a disaster: -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 9 of 12 Continued from previous page Taking care of yourself and your loved ones • Feelings of stress are better handled when talked about. Talk with family members and friends about your experiences and your feelings. • Eat a healthy diet, avoid the use of drugs and alcohol and get regular exercise. Activities as simple as taking a walk, stretching, and deep breathing can help relieve stress. • Stay informed. Your community’s emergency management team will provide information about local relief efforts. • Limit your consumption of news, use social media carefully and follow trustworthy sources. The constant replay of news stories about a disaster or traumatic event can increase stress and anxiety and make some people relive the event over and over. • Get enough “good” sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, only go to bed when you are ready to sleep, avoid using cell phones or laptops in bed and avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol at least one hour before going to bed. If you wake up and can’t fall back to sleep, try writing what’s on your mind in a journal or on a sheet of paper. • Establish and maintain as much structure and routine as possible. This includes eating, sleeping, exercising, and fun. • Plan family fun times each week, and spend weekly one-on-one time with each family member. • Reach out to family, friends, and the community to seek the support you need and ask for what you want from the people who are likely to give it. Be hopeful. Many of us have experienced crises and survived. Families are resilient and include survivors who may need to be reminded of their strengths. Even with significant losses, people still have families and friends who can make a difference. • Find Support. If the feelings of stress continue and begin affecting daily activities, reach out to a mental health or medical professional for additional help. What to Look for – warning signs and risk factors for emotional distress It is common to feel stress symptoms before or after a disaster. Most stress symptoms are temporary and will resolve on their own in a fairly short amount of time. However, for some, these symptoms may last for weeks or even months and may influence relationships with families and friends. Common warning signs of emotional distress include: • Physical signs: Headaches, backaches, eating irregularities, sleep disturbances, frequent sickness, ulcers, or exhaustion. • Emotional signs: Sadness, depression, anger or blame, anxiety, loss of spirit, or loss of humor. • Behavioral signs: Irritability, backbiting, acting out, withdrawal, excessive drinking, or violence. • Cognitive signs: Memory loss, lack of concentration, or inability to make decisions. • Self-esteem: “I’m a failure,” “I blew it,” “Why can’t I…?” -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 10 of 12 Continued from previous page Asking for Help • If you or your loved ones continue to have feelings of anxiety, fear, or anger for more than two weeks without improvement, it’s best to seek professional help. • Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor at the Disaster Distress Helpline. • Find a local support group. • For behavioral health services, to find a local crisis center, or if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225. • In Southwest Georgia, please also consider contacting Jennifer Dunn in DBHDD’s local field office at 229-977-4885. • Visit http://georgiadisaster.info/ for more information about local efforts.
GFB News Alert page 11 of 12 VET LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS NOV. 9 Veterinarians willing to treat livestock in under-served areas of Georgia are encouraged to apply for the Georgia Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Program (GVELRP). The program, administered by the State Veterinary Education Board (SVEB), is offering payments of $20,000 towards the outstanding student loan debt of 11 veterinarians. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is coordinating the application process and will accept applications until 5 p.m. Nov. 9. To apply and to view a map of counties applicants may serve visit http://agr.georgia.gov/georgia-veterinary-education-loan-repayment-program.aspx. For more information, contact Bo Warren at bo.warren@agr.georgia.gov . GEORGIA PESTICIDE WASTE CLEAN DAY Nov. 14 Sunbelt Expo site 9 a.m . – 3 p.m. Moultrie Georgia Clean Day is a program that gives everyone an opportunity to discard old, unusable, or cancelled pesticides to a hazardous waste contractor for disposal. For more information about the event please contact your local Extension agent, http://agr.georgia.gov/georgia-clean-day.aspx or contact event coordinator Rick Hayes at ricky.hayes@agr.georgia.gov, 404-656-4958 or 404535-1614.Pre-registration is mandatory for program participation and must be completed by 4 p.m. Nov. 9. All pesticides brought to the collection site must be listed on the pre-registration form. Items not registered will be refused at the collection site. Empty containers will not be accepted. To access the pre-registration form, visit https://gfb.ag/18pesticidecleanday. SCORE MOULTRIE/USDA AG MENTOR WORKSHOP Nov. 13 Colquitt County Ag Center 6 p.m. RSVP by Nov. 9 Moultrie SCORE Moultrie and USDA are teaming up to host this workshop for people interested in starting a farm or agribusiness. The workshop will feature Sam Watson of Chill C Farms and David Hopkins of Hopkins Farms in Cairo, who will discuss rules and regulations vegetable growers face, especially for small farm-to-table producers. 2018 AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS FORUM Nov. 13-14 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton Growers, shippers, processors and other agricultural professionals will get the latest updates on labor relations matters, with advice from industry experts on how to comply with new labor laws. Registration is $175. Online registration is available until Nov. 12 at https://gfb.ag/18aglaborforumreg. For more information contact Abby DeGennaro at adegennaro@asginfo.net or 706-845-8200. FOREST LANDOWNERS HURRICANE DAMAGE MEETING Nov. 13 Newt Hudson Agricultural Center, 630 County Farm Rd. Rochelle The Georgia Forestry Commission, along with the USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service, will host a meeting for forest landowners who sustained damage to their forestland from Hurricane Michael. The meeting, which begins at 9:30 a.m. will feature discussions on how landowners can proceed with salvage and recovery, including cost-share opportunities.
GFB News Alert page 12 of 12 2018 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU CONVENTION Dec. 2-4 Jekyll Island Convention Center Jekyll Island GFB President Gerald Long will give his annual address during the Dec. 3 general session. Other events at the GFB Convention will include commodity and educational sessions; a lunch for young farmers and ranchers and the newly formed group for farmers ages 36-50; announcements of the 2018 state award winners; and the annual trade show. Voting delegates will adopt the organization’s policy for 2019 and elect the 2019 GFB Board. For more information contact your county Farm Bureau office. 43RD ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 17, 2019 University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center 8:30 a.m. Tifton The Peanut Farm show will feature more than 100 exhibits, the UGA Peanut Production Seminar, annual awards and much more. For more information, visit www.gapeanuts.com or contact Hannah Jones at 229-386-3470 or hannah@gapeanuts.com or Jessie Bland at 229-386-3472 or jessie@gapeanuts.com. GFB TAKING LISTINGS FOR HAY DIRECTORY Farm Bureau members with hay for sale or offering custom harvesting or custom sprigging services are invited to list in the GFB Quality Hay Directory published on the GFB website. Because this directory is now offered online, hay can be listed or removed from the site as your inventory dictates. To participate, please complete a submission form available at your county Farm Bureau office or online at www.gfb.ag/hay. Please include a $10 check made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau for each listing of hay, custom harvesting or custom sprigging. Multiple listings are allowed.