Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - October 10, 2012

October 10, 2012

www.gfb.org

Vol. 30 No. 41

SUNBELT EXPO CELEBRATING 35TH ANNIVERSARY The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2012, and the annual event in Moultrie combines new with old.

Georgia Farm Bureau was an original exhibitor at the first Sunbelt Expo held in 1978 and the Georgia Department of Agriculture was one of the original sponsors. Both organizations are continuing their involvement with North America’s premier farm show as cosponsors of the Georgia Agriculture Building, where GFB President Zippy Duvall and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black will host a Coke and peanut social at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 and 17. The Georgia Agriculture Building is located just inside the main gate.

GFB and Department of Agriculture staff will be on hand to share how they’re working to promote Georgia agriculture, the state’s largest industry. There will also be multiple cooking demonstrations in the Georgia Agriculture Building test kitchen each day to highlight the delicious, nutritious food Georgia farmers produce.

The Expo, set for Oct. 16-18, will feature Alabama as its spotlight state and will have all the staples patrons from around the Southeast have come to expect. The event at Moultrie’s Spence Field features 100 acres of exhibits with more than 1,200 exhibitors, featuring lots of farm equipment, the latest in farm technology and research, the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year and lots of food.

The event also includes harvest demonstrations of test plots of cotton and peanuts on Expo’s 600-acre research farm, where visitors can get a close-up view of the latest farm equipment working in the fields. The research farm also cultivates a number of crops widely grown in the Southeast, including corn, soybeans and hay.

Tickets are $10 each for the Expo, which last year drew attendance of more than 80,000 people. Hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Oct. 16 and 17 and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 18.

Pulaski County cotton and peanut farmer Barry Martin, the Georgia Farmer of the Year, will take the stage in an Oct. 16 luncheon recognizing state winners from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. One of them will be named Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

Patrons can plan their visit using the Sunbelt smartphone app that gives users a wide variety of information about the Expo, including a directory of exhibitors, event schedules, mapping and navigation assistance, a personal itinerary planning tool and much more. To download the app, visit http://app.core-apps.com/expo2012#get-app.

Leadership Alert page 2 of 7 GFB POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETS The Georgia Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee met at the GFB office in Macon on October 8 to consider about 350 resolutions submitted by 85 different county Farm Bureaus across Georgia.

“You are charged with giving serious attention to all these resolutions and putting them into a useable document for our voting delegates to consider,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall.

“It’s important because we take our legislative positions based on the policy this committee helps to shape.”

The committee consists of 30 county Farm Bureau presidents, the chairmen of the 20 commodity advisory committees, and the GFB Board of Directors. The presidents are chosen, three per Farm Bureau district, using objective criteria based on how recently a county has agreed to serve on the committee.

Resolutions were submitted on a wide variety of topics. By far, the largest number of submissions pertained to Farm Bureau’s policy of support for government incentives for the production and utilization of ethanol. About 65 resolutions were received on that one issue alone and most urged a re-evaluation of current policy.

Judging from the number of resolutions received, other areas of concern were overreaching environmental regulations (25), taxes (20), concerns about radical animal rights groups (12), and farm labor issues (10). Several resolutions related to farm thefts: metal, fuel, and chemicals.

Theft of agricultural chemicals, in particular, appears to be on the rise based on the resolutions received. Feral hogs continue to cause problems for farmers everywhere as counties from Lumpkin to Berrien drafted documents supporting eradication of the pests.

During this first meeting of the committee, the group was broken into two subcommittees. The subcommittees combined the numerous resolutions into an easier format which will be considered when the full committee meets again on November 5. The purpose of that meeting will be to finalize the document before the delegates see it at the GFB Convention in December.

GA. COTTON COMMISSION SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD SEATS The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is accepting nominations for two Georgia Cotton Commission board positions that expire in November. The commission’s farmer-funded programs of research, promotion and education are authorized by the Georgia Agricultural Commodities Promotion Act. All cotton producers are eligible to submit nominations or to be nominated.

The terms are for three years, and nominees must be willing to attend several board meetings per year. Members will be reimbursed for mileage, meals and will receive a per diem when traveling on commission business. The deadline for submitting nominations is Oct. 31.

Appointments will be made by the commission’s ex officio members.

Nominations can be made by filling out a Nominee Information Form available at Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. Send completed applications via email to: marcia.crowley@agr.georgia.gov. Forms may also be mailed to: Georgia Department of Agriculture, Room 328, 19 MLK Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334 or faxed to 404-656-9380.

Please note, this is a change from how the nominating procedure was done in the past. Please direct questions to the GDA Commodities Promotion Division at 404-656-3678.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 7 GFB SPONSORS MARKET GOAT & LAMB GRAND CHAMPIONS Georgia 4-H and FFA students from across the state are competing in livestock shows being held at the Georgia National Fair in Perry Oct. 4-14. The 2012 State 4-H & FFA Market Goat Show was held Oct. 5-6, and the 2012 State 4-H & FFA Market Lamb Show was held Oct. 6-7. Georgia Farm Bureau sponsored the Grand Champion Market Goat Wether, Grand Champion Market Goat Doe and Grand Champion Market Lamb prizes.

Worth County FFA member Chase Roberts won the Grand Champion Market Goat Wether prize of $1,500.

Roberts, an eighth grader at Worth County Middle School, has shown goats for six years. He is the son of Mike and Anita Roberts.

White County FFA member Brooke Helton won $1,500 for having the Grand Champion Market Goat Doe. Helton, a senior at White County High School, has shown goats for two years. She is the daughter of Ashley and Angie Helton.

Colquitt County FFA member Hannah Dixon won the Grand Champion Market Lamb prize of $1,000. Dixon, a senior at Colquitt County High School, has shown lambs for six years. She is the daughter of Frank and Sharon Dixon.

“Georgia Farm Bureau has a great partnership with 4-H and FFA. The Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors and I are proud to be a part of these kids showing their animals. The kids participating in these shows are learning responsibility and are learning how to accept success and defeat,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “This money that we’re giving out is an investment in the future of Georgia agriculture.”

REP. AUSTIN SCOTT TOURS FARMS IN 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT U.S. Rep. Austin Scott (R-8th District) made 11 stops at different farms in his district during a two-day farm tour on Oct. 3 and 4, during which he heard from farmers and other agricultural stakeholders about issues related to agriculture.

The visits allowed farmers to voice their concerns and ask questions of Scott, who is one of two Georgia representatives on the House Ag Committee. Scott heard from farmers on a wide variety of topics, ranging from the estate tax to the farm bill to immigration, freedom of speech and gun control.

During a stop on the farm of Sam Dykes in Bleckley County, Scott predicted that farmers in 2013 would likely operate under an extension of the 2008 farm bill.

“Even if we pass a farm bill, the FSA won’t have the rules in place before you start liming your fields next year,” Scott said. He also reviewed some of the things included in the House Ag Committee’s version of the 2012 farm bill, including the fact that its commodity title places emphasis on crop insurance.

Each stop of the tour was intended to address issues relating to a particular commodity and a stop in Tifton at the UGA Tifton Campus NESPAL Building focused on research.

Dykes, who raises broilers and grows several row crops, including grain sorghum, asked for federal requirements for corn ethanol to be relaxed in hopes that it would ease pressure on feed prices for livestock.

“There’s many other things to make ethanol out of besides corn,” Dykes said. “There’s a lot of pine tree tops in Georgia. I need to make as much money as I can from my corn, but [as a poultry producer] it bites me on the other end.”

Leadership Alert page 4 of 7 LUKE BRYAN FARM TOUR Oct. 10 V-Plex Villa Rica Oct. 11 Tucker Plantation Colbert Oct. 12 Tallahassee Automobile Museum Tallahassee, Fla. Oct. 13 Midway at Central Park Macon Country music artist and Lee County Farm Bureau member Luke Bryan embarks on his 2012 Farm Tour, sponsored by Country Financial, Harveys Supermarkets, Case IH, BMI, Great American Country. The series of concerts features Rhett Atkins and Dallas Davidson of the Peach Pickers, Chancie Neal, and Cole Swindell Each venue is near a university, and Bryan’s organization is sponsoring a college scholarship at each of them for a student from a farm family.

A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will fund the scholarships. General admission is $30 in advance and $35 the day of the show. To order tickets, visit http://www.lukebryan.com/farmtour.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Oct. 11 7th District First Baptist Church 7 p.m.

Statesboro th Oct. 30 8 District South Ga. Technical College 7 p.m.

Americus Nov. 1 4th District Greene County High School 7 p.m.

Greensboro Nov. 8 6th District Poplar Springs North Bapt. Ch. 7 p.m.

Dublin Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. These meetings are for Farm Bureau members only and are not open to the general public.

EPA ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON RFS WAIVER REQUESTS In response to requests to waive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements from governors of several states, including Georgia’s Nathan Deal, the EPA is seeking public comments. The EPA has the authority to waive the RFS standard if its implementation would cause severe economic or environmental harm. Those requesting a waiver contend that short supplies of grain used in ethanol production have resulted in severe price increases for livestock feed. Interested parties have until Oct. 11 to submit written comments. The original deadline was Sept. 26, but the EPA granted a 15-day extension. To submit a comment, visit http://tinyurl.com/9asme8u.

NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR PEANUT STANDARDS BOARD The USDA is seeking nominations for the Peanut Standards Board. The board is composed of 18 members that equally represent peanut growers and the industry. Selected nominees will replace six members whose terms expired June 30, 2012, including two from the Southeast region (Alabama, Georgia and Florida). Nominations must be submitted by Oct. 12, 2012. The Secretary of Agriculture will select a grower and an industry representative from each region’s pool of nominees. The new members will serve terms that end June 30, 2015. The USDA encourages women, minorities and small business owners in the peanut industry to seek board nomination.

For more information or to download a nomination form, visit http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/PeanutStandardsBoard., or contact the Marketing Order and Agreement Division by phone at 863-324-3375, fax 863-325-8793, or e-mail: Jennie.Varela@ams.usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 7 2nd ANNUAL WARBINGTON FARMS PUMPKIN PALOOZA Oct. 13 Warbington Farms, 5555 Crow Rd. Cumming This event with back with more fun this year, offering its Farm Fun Park, a petting zoo, music, great food, hay rides and much more. And, of course, there’s the pumpkin patch. For more information and a special discount deal, visit http://www.warbingtonfarms.com.

NRCS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION GRANTS The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications until Oct. 15 for grants intended to help farmers fund projects that will make their farms more drought tolerant. The NRCS is offering up to $5 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to evaluate and demonstrate farming practices that help producers adapt to drought. Funds will be awarded through a competitive grants process for projects lasting one to three years. To apply, visit http://www.grants.gov or contact the NRCS National CIG office at 703-235-8065.

CRP PLAN: START TO FINISH WORKSHOP Oct. 23 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 9 a.m.

Tifton This one-day classroom and field workshop, sponsored by the Conservation Reserve Program Readiness Initiative (CRPRI) and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services, will focus on developing a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plan. Students will be walked through the CRP conservation planning process step by step. Online courses are also available covering Online Core Training, the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS), the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2) and online web tools. Oct. 16 is the deadline to register. For more information, contact David Ferrell, CRP Readiness Initiative Southern Media Contact, at 912-337-5548 or ferrell2302@gmail.com. To register for the Georgia workshop or online courses, or to learn more, visit http://facesofcrp.info/training/. Directions to the Tifton Conference Center are available at http://www.ugatiftonconference.org.

HORSE PASTURE FIELD DAY Oct. 25 3340 Ga. Highway 16 West 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Monticello This free event will cover a variety of topics related to equine forage, including equine nutrition, forage systems, weed control and demonstrations. There will be a sponsored dinner, during which the Conservationist of the Year Award will be given. For more information or to make a reservation, contact the Jasper County Extension Office at 706-468-6479 by noon on Oct. 24.

GEORGIA GROWN SYMPOSIUM TO PROVIDE MARKETING TIPS Nov. 8-9 Marriott City Center Macon The first Georgia Grown Symposium will focus on the production, distribution and the consumer side of food products as part of the state’s Georgia Grown marketing program, which links producers and consumers. The two-day symposium, titled “Growing Your Business through Georgia Grown,” will offer participants a variety of workshops, ranging from finance, food safety, contracts and licensing, regulations, economic development and agritourism with workshops led by experts. The 2012 symposium is open to both Georgia Grown members and non-members.

Pre-registration is required to attend; log on to http://georgiagrownsymposium.eventbrite.com to register and see updates on topics and speakers. The registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 26.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 7 HAWKINSVILLE HARVEST FEST/PIGS & PRODUCE BARBECUE CONTEST Oct. 26 & 27 Courthouse Square Hawkinsville Better Hometown of Hawkinsville will host the annual Harvest Fest featuring the Pigs and Produce barbecue competition, an official contest sanctioned by the Georgia Barbecue Association. The event includes the first ever Georgia State Boiled Peanut Championship sponsored by Hardy Farms Peanuts and the Old vs. New Faceoff. The head-to-head Old vs. New Faceoff contest will be held on the courthouse square in downtown Hawkinsville between barbecue legend Myron Mixon of Jack’s Old South and his son, Michael Mixon of Jack’s New South. Entrants in the Boiled Peanut Championship must use peanuts provided by Hardy Farms, must cook the peanuts on site and must present a sample for judging at the specified judging time. Entry fee for the Boiled Peanut Championship is $25. The GBA contest is open to GBA registered competitors. Fees $85 in each of three categories: Ribs, pulled pork and pork loin.

There are also four ancillary contests at the event. The others are: Chicken, Brunswick stew, barbecue sauce and people’s choice. The fees for those contests are also $25 each. A limited number of spaces are available and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit http://www.hawkinsvilleharvestfest.com for more information.

NRCS ACCEPTING EQIP APPLICATIONS Applications for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications are due by Nov. 2 to be considered for funding in fiscal year 2013. Applications can be taken at all NRCS offices and USDA Service Centers. EQIP is a voluntary program that funds conservation practices based on state identified natural resource concerns, such as forestry, grazing, soil erosion, water conservation and water quality. There are about 60 EQIP conservation practices including, but not limited to: pasture and hayland planting, heavy use areas, waste storage facilities, terracing, pest management, tree planting, organic crop assistance, and wildlife habitat management. Conservation plans must be developed for the entire area that will be included in the EQIP contract. More information on NRCS conservation programs can be found at http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov/ under programs.

AG, ENGINEERING AND NATURAL RESOURCES CAREER FAIR AT UGA Nov. 7 UGA Tate Student Center Noon – 4 p.m.

Athens The University of Georgia is looking for companies needing a few good hires or summer interns.

Visit http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/?public=viewStory&pk_id=4516 for more information.

Companies that want to register for the fair should visit career.uga.edu/hireuga or email LeAnn Golob at leann@uga.edu.

DHS ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON E-VERIFY The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published a notice of information collection regarding the E-Verify program. The purpose is to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies regarding items listed in the notice, specifically the estimated public burden and associated response time of E-Verify and methods to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those utilizing the system.

Comments are due by Nov. 13 via email at uscisfrcomment@dhs.gov and must include OMB Control Number 1615-0092 in the subject box. Comments may also be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at http://www.regulations.gov/ under e-Docket ID number USCIS–2007-0023. Further instructions within the Federal Register notice are available at http://tinyurl.com/8uzs39l.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 7 GFB TAKING ENTRIES FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AG AWARD The Georgia Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award is an opportunity to recognize teachers who actively engage students in learning about agriculture. County Farm Bureaus may nominate one teacher in their county for the state award, which includes $500 cash and up to $1,500 in expenses to attend the 2013 National Ag in the Classroom Conference, to be held June 25-28 in Minneapolis. The state winner will also be invited to present his or her program at the GFB Educational Leadership Conference on March 16, 2013. The deadline to enter is Nov. 16, 2012. For more information, contact GFB Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Donna Rocker at 478-474-0679, ext. 5365 or dhrocker@gfb.org.

INSECT UPDATES Check the Cotton Insect Hotline (1-800-851-2847) for updates on current insect conditions. The Cotton Pest Management Newsletter and additional cotton production information is also posted on the UGA Cotton Homepage at: http://www.ugacotton.com ORDER YOUR AG TAG OR EQUINE TAG TODAY Orders are now being taken at county tag offices for the Support Agriculture in Georgia Tag and the Equine Tag.