October 16, 2013
www.gfb.org
Vol. 31 No. 42
AGRICULTURE SHINES AT SUNBELT EXPO Farmers from across the Southeast are gathering in Moultrie this week to attend the 36th Annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition. According to Sunbelt Ag Expo Executive Director Chip Blalock, 80,000 to 100,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event running Oct. 15-17 with 1,219 exhibitors. As always, the event is giving farmers the chance to see the latest equipment and farm supplies designed to make their operations more efficient. Expo attendees also have an opportunity to watch exhibiting companies use their equipment to harvest field crops grown on the Expo research farm. With Southeast farmers planting more acres of corn and soybeans in recent years, harvesting demonstrations for these two crops were added this year in addition to cotton, peanuts and hay. “There’s a lot of interest in corn and soybeans in the Southeast with the prices farmers have seen in the last couple of years,” Blalock said. “Exhibitors came to us and wanted to run their combines in the field to harvest these crops.” Opening-day events included the Willie B. Withers Luncheon to honor the state Sunbelt Farmers of the Year from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. South Carolina fruit grower James Cooley was named the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Will Harris, an organic livestock producer from Early County, represented Georgia in the contest. Dignitaries speaking at the lunch included Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. “I’m delighted to be with my colleague [Putnam], we have tremendous cross-border communications on behalf of agriculture,” Black said. Florida, which produces more than 70 percent of U.S. citrus products and 80 percent of the fresh vegetables eaten in the U.S. in winter, was recognized as the Expo Spotlight State during the lunch. “Georgia is fortunate to have agriculture as our number one industry contributing some $71 billion into our economy annually,” Deal said. “I welcome our visitors from Florida and congratulate you on being the spotlight state. I’d like to thank all of you attending today who provide our food and fiber and make our economy strong.” Putnam acknowledged the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. “American agriculture has its hands full. We have to find a way to feed nine billion people by 2050, and there’s only 1.5 percent of our population feeding our country and creating export opportunities. It’s through the innovation of farmers like those here today who are willing to try new things that we will be able to do this,” Putnam said.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 HOUSE, SENATE NAME FARM BILL CONFEREES The farm bill process moved forward on Oct. 12 with the appointment of House conferees. The House appointed 29 conferees, including Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), who was one of 21 conference committee members from the House Agriculture Committee. The Senate announced its 12 conferees on Aug. 1, among them Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss. On Oct. 11 the House passed a motion to go to conference committee with the Senate on farm bills passed by the two chambers earlier this year. Both House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) expressed optimism that the committee could reach a consensus and send a five-year farm bill to the president. The Senate passed its version of the farm bill on Jun 10. The House voted down a farm bill on June 20 after conflicts arose over funding levels in the bill’s nutrition title. A farm bill with no nutrition provisions was passed by the House on July 11, and the House passed a stand-alone nutrition bill on Sept. 19. On Sept. 28 the House passed a resolution to combine the two bills. American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman wrote to the conferees expressing AFBF’s position on key provisions in the House and Senate versions of the farm bill. Specifically, Stallman expressed opposition to provisions that would repeal permanent law, which would make it more difficult to enact new farm bill legislation in the future. He also expressed opposition to means testing as a method of prohibiting certain farmers from receiving assistance. Stallman expressed support of keeping farm and nutrition programs combined under farm bill legislation. The 2008 farm bill, extended by Congress on Jan. 1, expired on Sept. 30. Without a new longterm farm bill, federal agricultural spending programs would revert to permanent law from the 1930s and 1940s, an arrangement that establishes significant increases in some commodity prices. especially in the case of milk. The permanent law holds no provisions for a number of crops being produced today. NCC NAMES 2013-2014 OFFICERS; SENATE FORMS CHICKEN CAUCUS Mike Helgeson, chief executive officer of GNP Company, St. Cloud, Minnesota, was elected to serve as 2013-2014 chairman of the National Chicken Council (NCC) during NCC’s Board of Directors meeting held Oct. 2 in Washington, D.C. Serving as vice chairman for 2013-2014 is Jerry Lane, president of Claxton Poultry in Claxton, Ga. Lane, a veteran of 34 years in Georgia’s poultry industry, has been with Claxton Poultry since 1985, serving as General Manager and Vice President. Todd Simmons takes over as secretary-treasurer and Mike Brown, of Vienna, Va., was elected to a third term as president of NCC. Officers serve one-year terms. Meanwhile, Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) was chosen as coLane chairman of the Senate Chicken Caucus, along with Chris Coons (D-Del.) The formation of the caucus was announced at the NCC’s 59th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The caucus was formed to educate senators about the history, contributions and concerns of U.S. chicken producers. A Congressional Chicken Caucus was formed in 2011, co-chaired by Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) and Rick Crawford (R-Ark.).
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR ATTENDANCE UP 1 PERCENT The 24th Georgia National Fair drew 449,885 patrons during its 11-day run, the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority announced in an Oct. 14 press release. Despite threats of a tropical storm, two days of rain and government furloughs, the Georgia National Fair attendance increased by 1 percent; 4,490 more people than in 2012. “This fair’s performance was extremely satisfying in light of the turmoil going on around us,” said Randy Moore, executive director. “Fairgoers in search of an escape turned to our traditional, agriculture-centered fair.” The attendance increased for the second straight year and the fair recorded its highest Tuesday and Thursday single-day attendance. “The Georgia National Fair provides the opportunity to revisit fundamental principles which make us the greatest country on earth,” Moore said. An increase in military admissions brought a positive impact to the attendance. The Fair offered free admission to military members and their families. Terrific Tuesday with its reduced gate and armband prices plus a free outdoor concert boosted attendance, too. The Georgia National Fair featured the opening of the Georgia Grown building, where the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s marketing program was on full display. “The Georgia Grown building was well received by Fairgoers,” Moore said. “It was an opportunity for the public to appreciate and understand the value of agribusiness to Georgia.” The 25th Georgia National Fair is scheduled for Oct. 2-12, 2014, with “Georgia Grown” as its theme. BRITISH STUDY: VACCINATING CATTLE COULD CUT HUMAN E. COLI CASES Vaccinating cattle against the E. coli O157 bacterium could cut the number of human cases of the disease by 85 percent, according to a study by British researchers. The bacteria, which cause severe gastrointestinal illness and even death in humans, are spread by consuming contaminated food and water, or by contact with livestock feces in the environment. Cattle are the main source for E.coli 0157. The study was published in online at http://www.pnas.org. The vaccines that are available for cattle are rarely used, but the study suggests the public health benefits could be significant., noting that one vaccine in the U.S. is not fully licensed because medicines for veterinary use in the U.S. must show that animal health is improved, and E. coli O157 does not harm cattle. The research was led by a team of researchers at the University of Glasgow in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the Royal Veterinary College, Scotland’s Rural College, Health Protection Scotland, and the Scottish E. coli O157/VTEC Reference Laboratory. “E. coli O157 is a serious gastrointestinal illness. The economic impact is also serious – for instance studies in the U.S. suggest that healthcare, lost productivity and food product recalls due to E. coli O157 can cost hundreds of millions of dollars each year,” said lead author Dr. Louise Matthews of the University of Glasgow. “Treating cattle in order to reduce the number of human cases certainly makes sense from a human health perspective.” The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends handwashing, washing and thoroughly cooking foods to prevent E. coli infection. For more information visit http://tinyurl.com/kjagma3.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 BEYOND THE FARM GATE SOCIAL MEDIA SEMINAR Oct. 22 UGA CAES Activity Center 8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. Athens This free event, funded under a USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Grant, will help farmers gain the skills and knowledge they need to establish and maintain an effective online presence for their farm or ranch. To register, contact Chris Morgan at 706-542-7102 or acm@uga.edu. visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/aged/beyondthefarmgate/events.html. GA. AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL TAKING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS The Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) for the William C. “Bill” Baisley “Sumpin' Big” Scholarships. Two Baisley Scholarship will be awarded to qualified college students or incoming college students who are majoring in an agriculture-related subject. At any accredited college or university in Georgia. Scholarship recipients will be selected by agricultural interest, leadership experience and financial need. Winners will be announced in November and publicly recognized at GAC's Harvest Celebration on Nov. 22. Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 25. To download the application, visit http://www.ga-agribusiness.org/. PUMPKINPALOOZA Weekends through Oct. 27 Warbington Farms Cumming This annual family-fun event offers hay rides, pony rides, jumpy houses, a giant inflatable slide and obstacle course, a corn pit, petting zoo and more. Warbington Farms is open to the public 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Sundays. Weekend admission is $8 for children ages 12 and under and $5 for ages 13 and up. For more information call 770-3802920 or visit http://www.warbingtonfarms.com GFB TAKING HAY CONTEST ENTRIES Georgia Farm Bureau members who grow Bermuda grass hay are encouraged to enter the GFB 2013 Quality Hay Contest. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at the University of Georgia testing lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) test, which predicts fiber digestibility and likely animal intake of hay. Contest entry forms are available at county Farm Bureau offices or online at http://www.gfb.org/commodities/hay_contest.html. Producers may enter more than one sample. Entry fees are $15 per entry to cover the cost of the lab tests. Nov. 1 is the deadline to enter. Winners will be announced at the GFB Hay Committee meeting on Dec. 9 during the annual GFB Convention on Jekyll Island. Prizes will be awarded for the top five places. Contact Joe McManus at 1-800-342-1196 for more information. GFB TAKING LISTINGS FOR HAY DIRECTORY GFB members with hay for sale are invited to list their farm in the 2014 GFB Quality Hay Directory. The directory will be printed in late November. Producers should complete a form and send to the GFB office in Macon along with a check for $10 for each listing. Checks should be made out to Georgia Farm Bureau. Nov. 1 is the deadline to submit listings. Because this directory is used for the entire year, producers should include normal and projected production of round and square bales they anticipate selling. Directories are distributed to all county Farm Bureau offices, county Extension offices, the Georgia Cattlemen's Association, cattle producers, dairy producers, horse owners, directory participants, and at the Sunbelt Expo and the annual GFB convention. The directory is also listed on the GFB website. Forms for the directory are available at your local Farm Bureau office or on our website http://www.gfb.org . Contact Joe McManus at 1-800-342-1196 for more information.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 ESTATE PLANNING FOR LAND AND TIMBER RESOURCES Nov. 11-12 Georgia Center for Continuing Education Athens This course provides a working knowledge of federal estate and gift tax laws and regulations which enhance communications with estate planning advisors. Content includes addressing tax law changes to protect forestry assets. Registration fee is $295 through Oct. 21 and $345 after. Spouse fee is $145 and optional Georgia real estate and continuing legal education credits are available for additional fees. For more information contact Ingvar Elle at 706-583-0566 or jelle@warnell.uga.edu. SOUTHEAST QUALITY MILK INITIATIVE SURVEY The Southeast Quality Milk Initiative is conducting a survey with the goal of improving milk quality and developing strategies to control mastitis in the Southeast. The survey, collaborative effort between six land grant universities, including the University of Georgia, was sent to milk producers in mid-September and producers are requested to return them by Dec. 1. For more information, or if you are a milk producer who did not receiver a survey and would like to participate, contact Dr. Steve Nickerson at scn@uga.edu or 706-542-0658.