Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - October 9, 2013

October 9, 2013

www.gfb.org

Vol. 31 No. 41

GFB POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETS The Georgia Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee met at the GFB headquarters in Macon on Oct. 7 to consider about 360 resolutions submitted by 73 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 each of the 20 commodity advisory committees and the GFB Board of Directors. Three county presidents are chosen from each Farm Bureau district, using objective criteria based on how recently a county has agreed to serve on the committee. Based on the number of resolutions received, the main issues of concern were water, renewable energy, wildlife management, the farm bill, health care, and taxes.

Most of the water discussion centered on provisions in legislation (SB 213) still pending before the Georgia General Assembly related to the Flint River Drought Protection Act. While still wary of endorsing additional authority for EPD, the subcommittee tentatively recommended easing GFB’s positions on agricultural irrigation withdrawals.

Other proposed changes pertained to GFB’s renewable fuels policy. The subcommittee encouraged more research on renewable fuels, but said that production and use of renewable fuels “should be entirely market and consumer driven and not required by subsidies or fuel blend mandates.”

The group reaffirmed GFB’s support of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). However, the committee recommended that COOL regulations should comply with the nation’s trade agreements to avoid problems with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Several resolutions were received from county Farm Bureaus regarding the Affordable Care Act, and none of them were positive. The committee recommended the act be repealed or not funded.

Several resolutions were received about selling unpasteurized milk for human consumption, a practice that is currently illegal in Georgia. Despite some support in committee to allow the sale of raw milk for human consumption, GFB’s dairy committee opposed changing the law. The subcommittee agreed with the dairy producers.

Some counties submitted resolutions calling for loosening the eligibility requirements to be included in Conservation Use Value Assessments or the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption.

The consensus was that both programs are working well and are not in need of changes.

The committee will meet again on November 4 to finalize the policy document.

Leadership Alert page 2 of 5 FSA MAKES SEQUESTER-BASED CHANGES TO MARKETING LOANS On Sept. 30 the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced several adjustments to commodity loan programs to accommodate the automatic funding reductions known as sequester mandated by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 as amended by the Budget Control Act of 2011.

The programs, which provide interim financing for agricultural commodities to be stored after harvest and sold throughout the year, when prices are unaffected by harvest-season pressure, are subject to sequester reductions of 5.1 percent.

With commodity loan programs operating on a crop year basis and Sept. 30 marking the end of the federal fiscal year, adjustments will begin with the 2013 crop year. According to the FSA release, 2013 crop loan rates are not affected. Loan rates are set by previous statute and cannot be changed, but the resulting loan amounts and, if applicable, loan deficiency payments (LDPs) will receive 5.1 percent reductions.

Loans issued by FSA, marketing associations and loan servicing agents are subject to the 5.1 percent reduction. Prior to the federal government shutdown, loan-making for all commodities was suspended on Oct. 1 and targeted to resume mid-October.

FLORIDA FILES SUIT AGAINST GEORGIA IN WATER DISPUTE Florida Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Oct. 1 that the state of Florida has filed suit against Georgia to stop what they called “unchecked and growing consumption of water that continues to harm the families of Northwest Florida.”

“Georgia has refused to fairly share the waters that flow between our two states, so to stop Georgia’s unmitigated consumption of water we have brought the matter before the U.S. Supreme Court. Georgia’s over-consumption of water threatens the existence of Apalachicola Bay and the future economic development of the region,” Scott said in a press release.

The Florida press release indicated that low water levels have caused oysters to die because of higher salinity, increased disease and predator intrusion in the bay.

A statement from the office of Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal termed the lawsuit frivolous and emphasized that the governor’s office “will vigorously defend its state’s water rights.”

“The only ‘unmitigated consumption’ going on around here is Florida’s waste of our tax dollars on a frivolous lawsuit,” said Deal’s communications director, Brian Robinson. “Florida is receiving historically high water flows at the state line this year, but it needs a bogeyman to blame for its poor management of Apalachicola Bay. Our conservation efforts have decreased metro Atlanta’s water use even as our population has grown substantially, and Georgia offered a framework for an agreement which never received a response from Florida. This lawsuit is political theater and nothing more. We’ve won consistently in court and will defend Georgia’s water rights vigorously in the Supreme Court, because our case is the only one with any merit.”

Meanwhile, Deal joined leaders from Oconee and Walton counties in breaking ground for the first reservoir funded through the Governor’s Water Supply Program (GWSP) launched in 2011.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle., the two counties are building a 1,367-acre reservoir at a total cost of $123 million, $93 million of which will come from local revenue bonds and the rest through a loan from the state under the GWSP.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 5 SMITHFIELD SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE SALE TO SHUANGHUI Smithfield Foods Inc. announced that the shareholders of the company voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposed strategic combination with Chinese company Shuanghui International Holdings Limited.

At a special meeting of Smithfield shareholders held Sept. 24, more than 96 percent of the votes cast were voted in favor of the transaction, which represents approximately 76 percent of Smithfield’s total outstanding shares of common stock as of the record date for the special meeting.

“We are pleased with the outcome of today’s vote and thank all of our shareholders for their support,” said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer of Smithfield. “This is a great transaction for all Smithfield stakeholders, as well as for American farmers and U.S. agriculture.

The partnership is all about growth, and about doing more business at home and abroad. It will remain business as usual — only better — at Smithfield, and we look forward to embarking on this new chapter.”

Pope said the move ensures the stability of the company’s business for its employees and the communities it serves.

The transaction was completed on Sept. 26.

Hedge fund Starboard Value, which earlier indicated it would vote against the merger in hopes of finding alternative bidders, reversed its stance and opted to vote for the deal according to a Sept. 20 report in the International Venture Capital Post.

Under the terms of the agreement Smithfield shareholders will receive $34 per share in cash for each share of Smithfield common stock that they own. Upon closing of the transaction, Smithfield’s common stock will cease to be publicly traded and the company will be a whollyowned subsidiary of Shuanghui International Holdings Limited, operating as Smithfield Foods.

GFB’S 2013 HARVEST FOR ALL CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY The GFB Young Farmer Committee is holding its annual Harvest for All Campaign for the ninth year to raise money for the seven regional food banks located around Georgia. The Young Farmer Committee works with the Georgia Food Bank Association and Feeding America to help Georgians facing the challenge of feeding their families.

Food banks have the ability to stretch each donated dollar into many meals. For every dollar donated, the seven regional food banks in Georgia are currently able to provide grocery products equating to four meals back into the community. For example, a $50 donation will create 200 meals for those in need.

Since 2004, GFB has coordinated eight Harvest For All campaigns through which GFB members across the state donated about 50,000 pounds of staple food items and more than $80,000 in cash donations distributed to the food banks in Georgia affiliated with Feeding America.

In 2005, GFB members collected 17,000 pounds of food, which were donated to victims of Hurricane Katrina in Hancock County, Miss.

To make a donation, please visit your county Farm Bureau office by Nov. 1. Remember $1 provides approximately four meals.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 5 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Oct. 10 1st District First Baptist Church 7 p.m.

Calhoun Oct. 17 8th District South Georgia Technical College 7 p.m.

Americus Oct. 28 6th District Poplar Springs North Bapt. Church 7 p.m.

Dublin Oct. 29 4th District Greene County High School 7 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.

5TH ANNUAL LUKE BRYAN FARM TOUR Oct. 10 Ingram Farms Opelika, Ala. Oct. 11 Tallahassee Automobile Museum Tallahassee, Fla. Oct. 12 Valdosta Wake Compound Valdosta Country music artist and Lee County Farm Bureau member Luke Bryan embarks on his 2013 Farm Tour a series of concerts to benefit students from farm families. 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. Tickets go on sale to the public on July 26. For more information, visit http://www.lukebryan.com/farmtour.

GEORGIA PECANS PIN IT TO WIN IT CONTEST The Georgia Pecan Commission is holding its Pin It To Win It contest on Pinterst. To enter, follow the commission on http://www.pinterest.com/GAPecans. Create a new board and name it “Love GA Pecans.” Pin at least five of your favorite pecan recipes and tag the commission (@GeorgiaPecans) with the hashtag #LoveGaPecans. Send a link to your board on the Georgia Pecans Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaPecans). One lucky pinner will win $500. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 15. Winners will be selected at random and announced on Oct 23 on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

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 and the Dr. Joe B. Crane Memorial Classroom Grant program. 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. Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 25. The Crane Classroom Grant provides four $500 awards to Georgia educators for funding of special projects aimed at teaching agriculture in the classroom. The grants may be awarded to any Georgia teacher, public or private, regardless of grade level. Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 11 and the winners will be announced in November. To download the applications for both programs, visit http://www.ga-agribusiness.org/.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 5 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. Contest participants will receive a detailed copy of their hay analysis and receive a free listing in the GFB Hay Directory. Winners will be announced at the GFB Hay Committee meeting on Dec. 3 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.

ESTATE PLANNING FOR LAND AND TIMBER RESOURCES Nov. 11-12 Georgia Center for Continuing Education Athens This course provides a working knowldeges 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.