October 7, 2015
www.gfb.org
Vol. 33 No. 40
TPP FINALIZED, AWAITS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL A group of 12 nations finalized their agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on Oct. 4 in Atlanta. The agreement includes Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the United States, Vietnam, Chile, Brunei, Singapore and New Zealand. The agreement is subject to congressional approval by a simple up-or-down vote under trade promotion authority passed earlier this year. According to a press release from United States Trade Representative Michael Froman, the agreement features comprehensive market access between the TPP nations, eliminating or reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and investment. “The Trans-Pacific Partnership has promised to open restricted markets for American business around the Pacific Rim,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said. “We hope the agreement will bring a more level playing field for farmers and ranchers by reducing tariffs and removing non-science based barriers to trade. The agreement covers markets that are expected to grow rapidly for decades to come. We expect to see increased access for our agricultural products, particularly some meats.” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) indicated that TPP would face challenges in the House. “We have long discussed the potential benefits of TPP for all of American agriculture,” Conaway said. “That being said, I have repeatedly expressed concerns to our negotiators about the lack of progress in several key areas that, if not adequately addressed, would make passage of this agreement incredibly difficult in the House.” Conaway cited the lack of market access for rice and dairy producers under the TPP agreement as a potential stumbling block, as well as a “carve-out” proposal that would exclude tobacco from protections afforded in the TPP, which Conaway said sets “a dangerous new precedent that could negatively impact agriculture going forward.” Senate Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) said he looks forward to reviewing the TPP agreement. “It is my hope that a final agreement meets the needs of the broad agriculture industry. While increased market access for industries like beef and wheat will be essential, I want to ensure that this deal is the best deal possible for all of our farmers and ranchers.” For a summary of the TPP provided by the United States Trade Representative, visit http://tinyurl.com/tppsummary.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 10 GFB IMPLEMENTS CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP Georgia Farm Bureau has promoted five key administrative leaders effective Oct. 6, finalizing a succession plan begun in 2013. Corporate Treasurer/Secretary Wayne Daniel has been promoted to chief operating officer. Daniel has worked with GFB since 1977, first as director of accounting. He was appointed treasurer by the GFB Board of Directors in 1978 and named administrative assistant to the GFB president in 1989, and subsequently named corporate secretary. Daniel has served five GFB presidents, overseeing the organization’s financial and administrative matters. GFB Assistant Treasurer David Jolley was promoted to chief financial officer and corporate treasurer. Jolley, a certified public accountant, has worked in the GFB Mutual Insurance Company Accounting Department since 2002. He was promoted to director and controller in 2009. Jon Huffmaster was promoted from legislative director and assistant corporate secretary to chief administrative officer and corporate secretary. Huffmaster, a native of Fulton County, has worked with GFB for 34 years, starting as a field representative in GFB’s 5th and 10th Districts before becoming legislative director in 2001. Jeffrey Harvey was promoted to director of the Georgia Farm Bureau Legislative Department, effective Oct. 5. He succeeds Huffmaster. Harvey has worked in the GFB Legislative Department since 2001 and has been the assistant legislative director since 2005. Harvey grew up on his family’s row-crop and livestock farm in Wilcox County. As legislative director, Harvey will oversee GFB’s efforts to promote laws favorable to agriculture. GFB National Affairs Specialist Tas Smith was promoted to assistant legislative director, filling the position previously held by Harvey. Smith, a native of Taylor County, will continue to be responsible for national affairs, working with members of the Georgia congressional delegation. He joined GFB as a legislative specialist in 2005. PLC PAYMENT RATE FOR PEANUTS ESTABLISHED Peanut farmers enrolled in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program under the 2014 farm bill now have the information to calculate payment rates and get estimates on payment amounts. The 2014 Marketing Year Average (MYA) price for peanuts is 22 cents per pound, or $440 per ton according to the August Agricultural Prices Report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). UGA Extension Economist Dr. Nathan Smith reviewed the peanut coverage under PLC as part of his presentation to extension economists and other agricultural industry professionals during the Southern Outlook Conference Sept. 21-23 in Atlanta. Using the PLC payment formula, the MYA price is subtracted from the peanut reference price of $535 per ton, leaving $95 per ton. The final payment rate is $95 per ton times 85 percent of base acres minus Congress’ mandatory reduction of 7.3 percent, resulting in a payment rate of $74.855 per ton per base acre. The peanut base is the farmer’s permanent peanut base plus the generic acres assigned peanut base according to planted acres. To estimate the payment amount, multiply the payment yield in tons times $74.86. Using an example of a farmer with a yield of 3,000 pounds (1.5 tons) per acre, Smith showed how the payment calculation would arrive at $112.28 ($74.855 times 1.5) per base acre. PLC payments for all crops, as well as any 2014 crop marketing loan gains, are factored into the overall payment limit of $125,000 per entity. Peanuts have a separate payment limit of $125,000 for PLC payments and marketing loan gains. Payments under PLC are expected to be issued during October.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 10 EPA RELEASES FINAL LANGUAGE ON WORKER PROTECTION STANDARDS The EPA released the final language on updated worker protection standards for farm workers on Sept. 28, tightening pesticide safety rules. The standards take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register and agricultural employers will have 13 months to comply with most of the new requirements. The key revisions in the standards include increased frequency of mandatory pesticide safety training from once every five years to once every year. The training is to include instructions to reduce take-home exposure to pesticides on work clothing. For the first time, individuals under the age of 18 are prohibited from handling pesticides, and the standards expand mandatory posting of no-entry signs for some pesticides. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is reviewing the language provided by the EPA. AFBF maintains that farmers and ranchers are committed to the safe and effective use of all crop protection tools. Farm Bureau agrees that chemicals should be handled with care, whether to protect a small home garden or rows of crops on commercial farmland, though the organization remains skeptical on whether the EPA can justify the regulatory compliance costs the standards will impose on farmers. “Farm Bureau shares the agency's desire to protect workers, but we are concerned that the agency is piling regulatory costs on farmers and ranchers that bear little if any relation to actual safety issues,” said Paul Schlegel, director of environment and energy policy for AFBF. “We are hopeful the agency’s final rule will reflect our concerns and protect farmers' and ranchers' ability to promote a safe, productive environment.” To review a prepublication version of the worker protection standard visit http://tinyurl.com/epawps. IRS EXTENDS DROUGHT SALE LIVESTOCK REPLACEMENT PERIOD Farmers and ranchers who previously were forced to sell livestock due to drought, like the drought currently affecting much of the nation, have an extended period of time in which to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales, the Internal Revenue Service announced in a Sept. 29 press release. Farmers and ranchers who sell more livestock than they normally would due to drought may defer tax on the extra gains from those sales. To qualify, the livestock generally must be replaced within a four-year period. The IRS is authorized to extend this period if the drought continues. The one-year extension of the replacement period generally applies to capital gains realized by eligible farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes due to drought. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes, and poultry are not eligible. Farmers and ranchers in areas where the drought sale replacement period was scheduled to expire at the end of this tax year on Dec. 31, in most cases, will now have until the end of their next tax year. Details on this relief, including a list of NDMC-designated counties, are available at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/-n-15-69.pdf on the IRS website. Details on reporting drought sales and other farm-related tax issues can be found at www.irs.gov/uac/About-Publication-225, Farmer’s Tax Guide, also available on the IRS website.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 10
United States Department of Agriculture
#WomenInAg From the classroom to the farm to the boardroom, women in
WOMEN IN AG INFOGRAPHIC The USDA has released a series of state-by-state infographics documenting women in agriculture. Here’s the one for Georgia. To view the entire collection, visit http://tinyurl.com/wmninag.
of women are educated, encouraged and empowered to take on
check out #womeninag
2,437,070 Acres
17,779 Women Farmers in
Georgia
$
535.8
million
Economic Impact
29% of Georgia Farmers are Women
GEORGIA WINTER WHEAT PRODUCTION DECLINES Winter wheat production on Georgia farms declined by 45 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to the Southern Region Small Grains Report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The production decline stems from a sharp reduction in both planted and harvested acres as well as a dip in average yields. Georgia farmers planted 215,000 acres in winter wheat for the 2015 crop year, harvesting 145,000 acres, down from 300,000 acres planted and 215,000 acres harvested in the 2014 crop year. The 2015 crop yielded 43 bushels per acre, down from 49 bushels per acre in 2014. The state’s overall production in 2015 was 6.24 million bushels, down from 11.27 million bushels in 2014. The report also detailed the state’s production of oats and rye. Georgia farmers produced 1.13 million bushes of oats in 2015, up from 1.08 million bushels in 2014. The state’s rye production in 2015 was 420,000 bushels, down from 540,000 bushels in 2014.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 10 UGA CLIMATOLOGIST: EL NINO PATTERN COULD AFFECT HARVEST An impending El Niño weather pattern could negatively impact Georgia farmers’ abilities to harvest their peanut and cotton crops, according to University of Georgia Climatologist Pam Knox. “I think that, for the next three weeks or so, after the current wet spell, it’s going to be pretty dry, as we usually see in October. But once the El Niño pattern kicks in, it could get pretty wet quickly, which is going to be a problem if farmers don’t get the crops out in a timely way,” Knox said. El Niño refers to unusually warm weather in the eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, she said. When warm water exists there, the circulation in the atmosphere changes. The southeastern part of the United States gets caught under a subtropical jet stream, which pushes all of the storms and rain through the region. “Once that pattern sets in, we can expect to see a lot of storms come through this winter. It should be wetter than usual, and it’s probably going to be cooler than usual, just because I think it’s going to be real cloudy from all the storms,” Knox said. With a drastic increase in acreage this year, peanut farmers could feel the most impact from El Niño. Approximately 770,000 acres were planted in Georgia, according to UGA Cooperative Extension peanut agronomist Scott Monfort. An estimated 25 percent was planted after the third week of May, which puts harvest time in mid to late October. If rain starts and continues, combined with limited sunshine, growers could have trouble getting their crops out of the field. “We’re concerned as usual when it comes to weather, period. If we start getting rain, especially the first part of October, it can set up and cause some problems,” Monfort said. Peanut growers already faced some challenges this growing season. With temperatures in the low 80s and limited sunshine this week, peanuts are maturing considerably slower than usual. Further, white mold disease has been a problem and could continue if peanuts are left in the field, dug up and, in the rain, unable to be harvested. The more it rains, the more disease pressure peanuts will encounter. UGA Extension Cotton Agronomist Jared Whitaker said Georgia’s cotton crop will also be impacted by the cloudy, rainy days ahead. “Boll opening and leaf drop function better in times of plentiful sunshine. With the cloudy days we’ve had and cloudy days we may have, defoliation and boll opening could slow down, and ultimately delay harvest,” Whitaker said. Cotton quality is at its highest when the boll first opens. “Each weather event or period of excessive moisture can impact the boll like any other kind of fruit we produce in Georgia” Whitaker said. “The kind of conditions associated with this potential weather event could cause us to lose yield and quality.” This would hurt cotton farmers’ profits as cotton commodity prices this season make it “extremely important to maximize yields to remain profitable,” he said.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 10 See page 9 for a list of ongoing Farm Bureau-affiliated farmers markets! TRACTOR SUPPLY 4-H PAPER CLOVER CAMPAIGN Oct. 7-18 Tractor Supply, Del’s Feed and Farm Supply stores Tractor Supply Company and Del's Feed and Farm Supply customers have the opportunity to purchase paper clovers for $1 or more during checkout. At the end of the campaign, 70 percent of the funds raised will benefit state and local 4-H youth development program activities, such as local camps and after-school programs, and grant scholarships for 4-H youth in the communities where Tractor Supply and Del’s stores are located. The remaining 30 percent of the total funds are donated to National 4-H Council to help connect more young people across America to highquality 4-H youth development programs. For more information visit www.tractorsupply.com/content_landing-page_4H.html. 26th ANNUAL GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR Oct. 8-18 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The award-winning Georgia National Fair features livestock and horse shows, youth exhibits, home and art competitions, family entertainment and Midway rides and games. Concerts include shows by Alabama and Rascal Flatts. Visit www.georgianationalfair.com for more information. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION 5K RUN Oct. 17 Rock Creek Park, 445 Martin Rd. 8 a.m. Dawsonville Runners receive race t-shirts, awards to overall winners and age group winners in this event. The course is described as flat and fast and conducive to setting personal records. The proceeds will benefit the GFB Foundation for Agriculture for use in GFB’s Ag In The Classroom program, consumer awareness projects and adult learning opportunities. Register by Oct. 11 to guarantee your t-shirt and shirt size. Registration is $25 in advance, $30 the day of the race. On-site registration and packet pick-up begins at 7 a.m. For online registration visit http://fivestarntp.com/GA_Farm_Bureau_5K.html. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Oct. 13 9th District Mitchell County Ag Center 7 p.m. Camilla Oct. 15 4th District Greene County High School 6:30 p.m. Greensboro Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. Note: These meetings are for Farm Bureau members only and are not open to the general public. YOUNG, BEGINNING, SMALL AND MINORITY FARMERS WORKSHOP Oct. 15 North Georgia Technical College 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Clarkesville Sponsored by AGAware, this workshop is designed to assist young, beginning, small and minority farmers with developing a strong farm plan. Topics include income statements, applying for financing, preparing a business plan, risk management and federal government programs through the USDA, the Small Business Administration and other agencies. Lunch will be provided. For more information or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/agawarewkshop.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 10 REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Oct. 16 Signup deadline Individuals in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin can enroll in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program from Oct. 1-16. The goal of the ACF project is to enhance water conservation and water quality in the basin. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide financial and technical assistance to producers and landowners in the ACF basin through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). For more information or to apply, visit a local NRCS office or contact the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District at 229-351-4728 or info@flintriverswcd.org. 2015 SUNBELT AG EXPO Oct. 20-22 Spence Field Moultrie North America's largest farm show features field demonstrations, the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year and more than 1,200 exhibitors. Tickets are $10 per person per day or $20 for multi-day tickets. Children under 10 get in free with parent. For more information visit www.sunbeltexpo.com. PESTICIDE SAFETY AND HANDLING TRAINING Oct. 23 St. Simons Island Casino, 550 Beachview Dr. St. Simons Island Five hours of Georgia Commercial Pesticide Credits are available in 15 categories, as well as five hours of International Society of Arborculture (ISA) Credit. Training lasts from 8:40 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Cost is $55 until Oct. 15 and $65 afterward. Lunch and breaks are sponsored by FIS Outdoor Inc. For an agenda and registration form, visit http://tinyurl.com/SSI10-23. For more information call 770-229-3477 or send an email to conteduc@uga.edu. FOREST INSIGHT CONFERENCE Oct. 27-29 Rainwater Conference Center Valdosta International Forest Company (IFCO), Dougherty & Dougherty Forestry Services, Inc. (DDFSI) and the Forest Landowners Association (FLA) will be hosting the second annual Forest inSight Conference, which seeks to connect forest resource owners and stakeholders with leading-edge updates on the sustainability, productivity and profitability of the forest management sector in the southeast. On the last day, each attendee will also have an opportunity to participate in a field tour of advanced pine plantation management on Superior Pines Forestland in Fargo, Georgia. Cost registration is $100 per attendee for the conference only, $120 for the conference and field tour and $50 for the field tour only. A total of 13.5 continuing education credits are pending approval for the conference and 4.5 credits are pending for the field tour. For more information or to register visit www.forestinsightconf.com. For more information, contact Sabra Rockwell at srockwell@progressiveforestry.com or 706-795-0055.
GFB News Alert page 8 of 10 GFB TAKING ENTRIES FOR HAY CONTEST, HAY DIRECTORY Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members who grow Bermudagrass hay are encouraged to enter the GFB 2015 Quality Hay Contest. GFB is also accepting entries for its 2016 Quality Hay Directory. The deadline for submissions for both the contest and the directory is Oct. 30. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at the UGA Testing Lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which predicts fiber digestibility and likely animal intake of hay. There is a $15 entry fee for each sample entered in the contest to cover lab costs. Applications and instructions for submitting samples, as well as updated contest rules, are available at county Farm Bureau offices or may be downloaded at the GFB website http://www.gfb.org/commodities/hay_contest.html. SOUTH EFFINGHAM FFA ALUMNI GOAT SHOW Nov. 7 Effingham County Fair Grounds Springfield This show is open to youth from age four through 12th grade. Exhibitors may show only wethers or does that are dehorned or have tipped horns. All goats must have current Georgia health papers and must have an ear tag matching the number on the entry form. Entry fee is $20 per goat entered by Oct. 30 and $25 for late entries. Cash prizes will be given for first through fifth place. Goats will be weighed by show officials at check-in and divided into weight classes as equal in number as possible. Showmanship classes will be determined based on exhibitor’s age as follows: Class 1: age 4 years - 2nd grade; Class 2: 3rd – 5th grade; Class 3: 6th-8th grade; Class 4: 9th-12th grade. Check in for the show begins Nov. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. and continues Nov. 7 from 7 to 9 a.m. Pens are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Exhibitors are responsible for their own bedding in pens. To obtain an entry form or more information about the show, contact Diane Parks at mommyx3ms@yahoo.com or call 912-6313043. AFBF FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE BULLETIN BOARD CONTEST The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s ag-themed bulletin board contest for teachers is open for submissions through Oct. 31. The winner receives a copy of “Farm a Month,” the Foundation’s activities kit about agriculture across America, plus the 12 books that accompany it. To enter, visit http://www.agfoundation.org/projects/bulletin-board-contest. FSA TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR BCAP Enrollment is underway for farmers and forest landowners seeking financial assistance for growing new sources of biomass for energy or bio-based products within designated project areas. The funds are available from the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Biomass energy facilities or groups of producers may submit proposals for new BCAP project areas. Proposals will be accepted on www.grants.gov through Nov. 6. MM CATTLE COMPANY AND CALLAWAY BULL SALE Nov. 21 Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn noon Carrollton Sale includes 50 Angus and SimAngus bulls and more than 40 commercial replacement heifers. For more information contact Mike McCravey at mmcattle@yahoo.com or 770-328-2047 or John Callaway at callawaycattle@gmail.com or 770-355-2165.
GFB News Alert page 9 of 10 ONGOING FARMERS MARKETS NOTE: Schedules are subject to change according to produce availability MONROE FARMERS’ MARKET Saturdays through Oct. 10 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Court Street Downtown Monroe This market features vegetables and other ag commodities grown in Walton County along with homemade products made by county residents. Walton County Farm Bureau is one of the sponsors of the market, which is located on Court Street in downtown Monroe. Visit www.monroedowntown.com for more information or contact Cheryl Brady at 770-722-9145 or monroefmdowntown@gmail.com. SHIELDS-ETHRIDGE HERITAGE FARM CULTIVATORS’ MARKET Oct. 17 Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 2355 Ethridge Rd. Jefferson Jackson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) is sponsoring this open-air market that allows local farmers and entrepreneurs to sell products they make or grow in a festival atmosphere. The market will include live music, games and exhibitions of farming practices to entertain and educate visitors as they shop. Market will be held rain or shine. Please leave pets at home. Vendors will be selected based on quality and originality of product according to the theme of homesteading practices. If you are interested in having a booth at the market, contact JCFB Office Manager Denise Temple at dftemple@gfb.org or call 706-367-8877 or visit www.shieldsethridgefarminc.com to complete an application online. UNION COUNTY FARMER’S MARKET Tuesdays through Oct. 27 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 31 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. 148 Old Smokey Road Blairsville This market, supported by the Union County Farm Bureau, offers locally grown produce, farmfresh eggs and meats, artisan cheeses, breads, jams, jellies, honey and other delicious prepared foods. The market also features handmade crafts such as pottery and paintings. Special event days are: Ramp (Wild Onion) Day May 9, Strawberry Day May 23, Greenbean Festival July 25 & Tractor Show/Parade Sept. 5. For more information contact Mickey Cummings or Kristy Peney at farmersmarket@uniongov.com PAULDING COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays until Nov. 19 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Paulding County High School Paulding County Farm Bureau is accepting vendors for its weekly farmers market that will be held each Thursday from April 16 to Nov. 20. There is no fee to participate but vendors must be Farm Bureau members so that the market qualifies as a Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market. If you would like to participate in the PCFB Farmer’s Market, please contact Tracy Grice at Paulding County Farm Bureau at 770-445-6681 or email her at tcgrice@gfb.org. Vendors may sell locally grown produce or other ag commodities or homemade crafts. PCFB is teaming up with the Paulding County High School this year to host the market in the north parking lot of the school located at 1297 Villa Rica Hwy., Dallas, Ga. 30132.
GFB News Alert page 10 of 10 HINESVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays until Nov. 19 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Downtown Hinesville This market, sponsored by the Liberty County Farm Bureau, offers customers fresh local produce and other farm items, cut flowers, plants, baked goods, specialty foods, prepared foods, and original crafts. Market is held in Bradwell Park on Commerce St. across from the Hinesville City Hall. To apply to be a vendor or for more information call the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority at 912-877-4332. ROCKDALE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Through Nov. 21 Tuesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. – noon, Thursdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Rockdale County Extension office, 1400 Parker Road Conyers Rockdale/DeKalb County Farm Bureau manages this market with support from the Rockdale County Extension, set up to allow farmers to sell locally grown products directly to the public. Farmers wishing to participate can sign up at the Rockdale/DeKalb Farm Bureau office. Vendors must be current Farm Bureau members in order to participate. For more information or to receive a vendor application contact the RDCFB office at 770-922-3566.