October 8, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 40
GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY The Georgia National Fair kicked off on Oct. 2 with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony with Gov. Nathan Deal and Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority Chairman Gene Sutherland manning the scissors in Reaves Arena at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. Deal was the featured speaker for the ceremony and presented Sutherland with a commendation recognizing 25 years of the Georgia National Fair in Perry. “This is the opportunity for farmers across the state to showcase what they have done and what they are doing as a part of our agricultural economy,” Deal said. “Twenty-five years is certainly a significant time for something like the fair. It is a rare opportunity that we see enterprises like this survive for a quarter of a century.” In the Georgia Grown Building, the Georgia Department of Agriculture unveiled its a photo exhibit called “Seasons and Faces of Georgia Agriculture.” The exhibit shows Georgia farmers working in virtually every commodity produced in the state. In addition to photos, the exhibit included agricultural artifacts, crop plants, seeds and agricultural tools, as well as information sheets detailing Georgia agriculture facts. Georgia 4-H and FFA members are competing in livestock shows being held at the fair. Georgia Farm Bureau sponsored the grand champion prizes for the Market Goat Wether and Market Goat Doe awarded during the Junior Market Goat Show held Oct. 3 and 4. GFB also sponsored the grand champion Market Lamb prize awarded at the Junior Market Lamb Show on Oct. 5. According to show organizers, 443 students showed 783 goats while 118 students showed 249 lambs. For the fourth consecutive year, Worth County FFA member Chase Roberts won the Grand Champion Market Wether prize of $1,500. Roberts, who started showing goats in 2005, is the son of Anita and Michael Roberts. He is a sophomore at Worth County High School. “I never thought it would be four years in a row,” Roberts said after winning. “It takes a lot of dedication and a lot of hard work. I’m probably at the barn a couple of hours every day or every other day walking my goats.” Banks County FFA member Payton Jackson won the Grand Champion Market Doe prize of $1,500. Jackson, who has shown goats for five years, is the daughter of Kipp and Lara Jackson. She is a sixth grader at Banks County Middle School. Elbert County 4-Her Ansley Ruff won the Grand Champion Market Lamb prize of $1,000. Ruff, a junior at Georgia Cyber Academy, has shown lambs for five years. She is the daughter of Greg and Shannon Ruff. The Georgia National Fair continues through Oct. 12.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 7 GFB POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETS Georgia Farm Bureau’s Policy Development Committee met at the GFB headquarters in Macon Oct. 6 to review the organization’s current position on ag issues and to consider resolutions submitted by county Farm Bureaus in September. “This process started in August when our commodity committees met and reviewed our policy,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “This is a grassroots organization and what direction we take on legislative issues next year depends on the work you do here today.” 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. In addition to reviewing GFB’s existing policy, the GFB Policy Development Committee reviewed 350 resolutions submitted by 90 county Farm Bureaus across Georgia. Based on the number of resolutions received, topics of concern to Farm Bureau members include tax issues, GMOs, the national beef checkoff, pending seed technology that will allow the use of 2,4-D and Dicamba to treat weeds, and the possibility of Georgia becoming a public initiative state. The committee will meet again on Nov. 3 to finalize the book of policy that will be presented to the voting delegates at the GFB convention in December. Sen. Saxby Chambliss addressed GFB’s Policy Development Committee during its lunch break. “We’re in the process of implementing the farm bill, and I think under the circumstances we’re working under, it’s going to be a favorable farm bill,” Chambliss said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the program is going to work. I never know for sure until I hear from farmers on how it’s working for them.” Regarding his impending retirement from Congress after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate for a combined 20 years Chambliss said, “It’s been a great 20 year run for me, but I’m ready for life after the Senate. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.” Chambliss mentioned the Waters of the U.S. rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand their authority from just navigable waters to all waters. “This issue on navigable water has never been as intense as it is right now,” Chambliss said. “You would think we would know what a navigable water is – that it is not a farm pond or a mud puddle. If the EPA doesn’t pull back on its proposed rule, it is very conceivable that these types of waters could be declared navigable waters, and the EPA would have more authority over your farms.” Chambliss said if the EPA does proceed with implementing the rule, one possible course of action would be for Congress to pass legislation preventing the EPA from implementing the rule. Should the president veto such a law, as he has said he would, then Congress could take action to eliminate funding for the part of the EPA charged with administering the rule. Farm Bureau is urging anyone concerned about the EPA’s proposal to expand its authority over private property to visit www.gfb.org/ditchtherule and submit comments opposing the rule before the new extended Nov. 14 deadline. The EPA announced the deadline extension on Oct. 6.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 7 U.S., BRAZIL END LONG-STANDING WTO COTTON DISPUTE The United States and Brazil reached agreement to settle their longstanding cotton dispute in the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Oct. 1. Under the terms of the agreement, Brazil will terminate the cotton case, giving up its rights to countermeasures against U.S. trade or any further proceedings in this dispute. Brazil has also agreed not to bring new WTO actions against U.S. cotton support programs while the current U.S. farm bill is in force or against agricultural export credit guarantees under the GSM-102 program as long as the program is operated consistent with the agreed terms. The dispute was brought by Brazil against the United States at the WTO. In 2005 and again in 2008, the WTO found that certain U.S. agriculture programs (domestic support to cotton under the marketing loan and countercyclical payment programs, and export credit guarantees under the GSM-102 program) were inconsistent with the United States’ WTO commitments. In August 2009, WTO arbitrators provided the level of countermeasures that Brazil could impose against U.S. trade in the form of tariffs on numerous U.S. products. The 2014 MOU provides for additional support for the technical assistance and capacity building activities begun under the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The United States will make a one-time final contribution of $300 million to the Brazil Cotton Institute. The 2014 MOU also provides for additional uses for the funds, such as research in conjunction with U.S. institutions. FARMLAND FILM AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING ON HULU Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Moll’s feature length documentary, “Farmland,” is exclusively available to stream on the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus subscription service until Oct. 30. Viewers have the opportunity to stream “Farmland” from their connected TVs, Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, laptops, tablets and mobile devices. During its theatrical debut this spring, “Farmland” was shown in more than 170 theaters across the country. “Farmland” takes the viewer inside the world of farming for a first-hand glimpse into the lives of six young farmers and ranchers in their twenties. Crawford County Farm Bureau President Leighton Cooley is one of the farmers featured in the film. Cooley is a fourth-generation farmer who farms with his father, Larry, raising chickens, beef cattle and hay. Through the personal stories of these farmers and ranchers, viewers learn about their high-risk/high-reward jobs and passion for a way of life that has been passed down through generations yet continues to evolve. “This is a film for anyone who eats,” Moll said. “It’s not what you’d expect. The world of farming is complex and often controversial, but the farmers themselves are some of most hardworking and fascinating people I've ever met.” Produced by Moll’s Allentown Productions, “Farmland” received notable attention during its theatrical run securing reviews in national media and recognition in film festivals across the country, including Atlanta, Cleveland and Newport Beach, Calif. “Farmland” was made with the generous support of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. Be sure to watch “Farmland” in its entirety on Hulu at http://www.hulu.com/farmland. For updates regarding future ways to view the film, visit http://farmlandfilm.com.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 7 VILSACK INDICATES USDA WILL FORM COMPANION BEEF CHECKOFF After efforts among beef industry stakeholders have failed to reach a consensus on raising the National Beef Checkoff assessment, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Farm Bureau leaders that he intends to form a companion checkoff. A group of 12 beef industry organizations called the Beef Checkoff Enhancement Working Group has been in discussions to increase the per-head assessment, but has not reached an agreement. This summer, one of the organizations, the National Farmers Union, withdrew from the group, believing no more progress could be made. On Sept. 30, Vilsack met with nine of the remaining member organizations and indicated he would move forward with an alternate approach. American Farm Bureau policy is to support a consensus approach on implementing the beef checkoff. “There’s not enough money in the checkoff program, especially given the challenges the beef industry faces today,” Vilsack said in addressing the NFU. “I also know that there are concerns about the decision-making process relative to how the checkoff funds are invested. Either we continue doing what we’re doing, which is satisfactory to no one – it doesn’t satisfy those who want more money in the checkoff, it certainly doesn’t satisfy those who want a different system – or you delegate to me the responsibility to ultimately to see if there is a new avenue that can be approached.” Georgia Farm Bureau supports the National Beef Checkoff which is currently $1 per head. GFB also supports an inflation adjustment in the current national checkoff not exceed a total of $2 per head. The additional $1 per head proposed by Secretary Vilsack is a different checkoff and was a topic of considerable discussion during the meeting of the GFB policy development committee on Oct. 6. Some committee members expressed concern with the proposed checkoff being instituted when so few of the details are known and prior to holding a producer referendum. The companion checkoff would be operated under the 1996 generic checkoff law using the federal rulemaking process. A number of states, including Georgia, have instituted their own assessments in addition to the National Beef Checkoff. BURN BAN LIFTED FOR 54 GEORGIA COUNTIES Residents in 54 Georgia counties may burn outdoor yard debris after the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lifted it outdoor burning restrictions effected Oct. 1. The summer restrictions are put in place each year due to air quality concerns and regulations of the DNR and the Environmental Protection Division. Burn permits can be secured online at http://www.GaTrees.org or by calling 1-877-OK-2-BURN. The 54 counties whose burning restrictions are lifted are: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker and Walton. For more information about safe burning, burn permits and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit http://www.GaTrees.org.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 7 FEMALE LANDOWNERS FOCUS GROUP Researchers at Utah State University are seeking participants for a study centering on women who own agricultural land but are not actively farming. The study, coordinated by Dr. Peg Petrzelka at Utah State, includes a series of regional focus groups, including one for Georgia, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. The Georgia meeting is scheduled for Oct. 10. The focus groups are designed to get input from female landowners about their experiences in renting out their land for agricultural operations. For more information contact Dr. Petrzelka at peggy.petrzelka@usu.edu. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Oct. 9 4th District Greene County High School 7 p.m. Greensboro Oct. 16 8th District South Georgia Technical College 7 p.m. Americus 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. WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET TRACTOR DAY Oct. 11 Downtown/Market Street Woodstock Vintage tractors will be displayed in the center of the market where visitors can view tractors, learn how they work, and vote for their favorite tractors. It’s not necessary to be a Cherokee resident to display a tractor and there’s no fee to enter. Prizes will be awarded for Best Tractor, Oldest Tractor and Ugliest Tractor. For information on how to enter a tractor in the contest contact Shirley Pahl via email at sfpahl@gfb.org or call 770-479-1481, Ext 0. GFB EQUINE COMMITTEE HOLDING RAFFLE TO BENEFIT 4-H The Georgia Farm Bureau Equine Advisory Committee will sell raffle tickets for a leather saddle during the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Oct. 2-12. Proceeds from the raffle will be used to fund scholarships for the Georgia 4-H Summer Horse Camp. Tickets will be sold in the Georgia Grown building at the booth co-hosted by the GFB Equine Committee and Georgia Equine Commission. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. 2014 SUNBELT AG EXPO Oct. 14-16 Spence Field Moultrie North America’s largest farm show features field demonstrations, the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year announcement, and more than 500 exhibitors. Tickets are $10 per person per day. Children under age 10 are admitted free with parent’s paid admission. Multi-day tickets are $20. For more information visit http://www.sunbeltexpo.com. NORTH GEORGIA FOREST LANDOWNER FIELD DAY Oct. 17 Arrowhead Lodge 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Elberton This field day features speakers from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the U.S. Forest Service and the NRCS. Sessions will cover wildlife management, selling timber, wildfire mitigation planning, cost sharing and the farm bill, and forest health. Cost is $5 per person. For more information, contact Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D Executive Director Frank Riley at 706-897-1676 or frank.ccrcd@gmail.com.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 7 FARM TO TABLE WORKSHOP FOR HOME SCHOOL EDUCATORS Oct. 18 Buckeye Creek Farm (2115 Jep Wheeler Road) Woodstock During this free workshop that runs from 9:30 a.m to 1 p.m., participants will review lesson plans and hands-on activities to do with students, harvest produce and prepare a meal in the farm’s kitchen. Sponsored by Cherokee County Farm Bureau and the Cherokee Farm to School Committee. To reserve a spot, contact Shirley Pahl via email at sfpahl@gfb.org or call 770-4791481, Ext 0. Limit 10. EPA ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON WATERS OF THE U.S. RULE The comment period for the “Waters of the United States” rule proposed by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been extended to Nov. 14. Farm Bureau is urging its members to submit comments calling for the rule to be withdrawn. For more information about the proposed rule and to submit comments, visit http://www.gfb.org/ditchtherule. GFB ACCEPTING ENTRIES TO HAY CONTEST AND HAY DIRECTORY Georgia Farm Bureau is conducting the annual Bermuda grass Hay Contest and publishing the GFB Quality Hay Directory for buyers and sellers of Georgia grown hay. Checks for both should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau and mailed to the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities/Marketing Department. The cost for the contest is $15 per sample. Anyone entering the contest receives a free listing in the hay directory. The directory will be distributed statewide. The cost for listing in the hay directory alone is $10. The deadline to submit entries for the contest and the directory is Oct. 31. For more information, please contact the GFB Commodities Department at 1-800-342-1196. WOODSTOCK FARMERS MARKET GRITS & GREENS DAY Nov. 1 Downtown/Market Street Woodstock This season’s corn crop will be served up as grits this day at the market. Yellow, white and speckled grits along with seasonal greens will be served up by area restaurants and local cooks. Market goers will vote for the best grits and greens! Donations will be accepted to benefit the Woodstock Farmers Market Ag Scholarship Fund. To enter the grits or greens contests contact Liz Porter via email at lp1954@gmail.com or call 678-491-5843. GFB HARVEST FOR ALL CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY For the 10th year, Georgia Farm Bureau is conducting its Harvest for All campaign to help alleviate hunger in our state. Each year the GFB Young Farmer Committee works with the Georgia Food Bank Association and its seven affiliate food banks located across Georgia to provide food for Georgians in need. Since 2004, GFB has coordinated seven Harvest For All campaigns through which GFB members across the state donated about 50,000 pounds of staple food items and more than $100,000 in cash donations distributed to the food banks located throughout Georgia affiliated with Feeding America. For the third consecutive year, the campaign is focused on raising money for Georgia’s food banks because they have the ability to stretch each donated dollar into approximately four meals. To donate to this campaign, please stop by your county Farm Bureau office. County Farm Bureaus must turn in collected donations to Field Services by Nov. 7.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 7 CHILD AG SAFETY GRANTS AVAILABLE Nov. 7 Deadline to apply The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety is offering three mini-grants of up to $20,000 each to support small-scale projects and pilot studies that address prevention of childhood agricultural disease and injury. Highest funding priority will be given to projects that: address issues pertaining to barriers, motivators and interventions for keeping young children out of the farm worksite; address vulnerable populations (e.g., immigrant workers’ children, Anabaptists, African Americans, and Native Americans); test safety strategies with new partners (e.g., insurers, bankers, equipment dealers, media). Information on eligibility, priority topics and the application process is available at http://www.marshfieldclinic.org/nccrahs/minigrants. CROP MANAGEMENT SEMINAR & WORKSHOPS Nov. 12-13 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This free workshop, sponsored by Cotton Incorporated, offers continuing education units. Meals will be provided. To register visit http://www.ugatiftonconference.org. For more information call 919-678-2392 or visit http://www.cottoninc.com. CENTRAL GEORGIA FARMERS LUNCH AND LEARN Nov. 19 Bleckley County Extension Office 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Cochran This free event will feature discussions of issues affecting farmers. Speakers include Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Fort Valley State Vice President for Land Grant Affairs Dr. Mark Latimore, Sen. Ross Tolleson, James Mitchel of Chaney Bush Irrigation and Cartrell Watts of Georgia Power. RSVP by Nov. 12 to Rhonda Fulford at rbfulfor@southernco.com or 800-891-0958. GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 21 Cobb Galleria Center Atlanta Tickets are on sale for this annual event, which features platinum country group Diamond Rio scheduled to perform. Visit https://connect.computility.com/f/fid.php?id=955559f0f92e71e5e95de669f5af3da0 to buy tickets. For more information about Harvest Celebration, please contact GAC’s Christy Page at cpage@ga-agribusiness.org or 800/726-2474. CALHOUN PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE Dec. 5 NW Ga. Research & Education Center Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Jason Duggin at 706-624-1403 or jduggin@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or pworley@uga.edu. AG SAFETY GROUP OFFERING GRANTS Jan. 7, 2015 Deadline to apply Grants of up to $10,000 are being offered by a national coalition of agribusinesses, producer organizations and safety professionals in order to foster new champions of agricultural safety and health. The Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA) has announced an application deadline of January 7, 2015. Information regarding eligibility, priorities, application instructions and frequently asked questions is available at http://www.ashca.org.