September 3, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 35
SENATE CANDIDATES SPEAK TO GFB BOARD OF DIRECTORS U.S. Senate candidates Michelle Nunn and David Perdue spoke to the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors during the monthly GFB board meeting on Aug. 28, sharing their views on a variety of topics, including biotechnology, immigration and farm labor, and federal government regulation. They fielded questions from the GFB board and gave interviews to GFB media and local news outlets. Nunn and Perdue are running for the seat currently occupied by Saxby Chambliss, who steps down at the end of the year. The election will be held Nov. 4. Perdue, who won the Republican primary, expressed support for continuing the development of biotechnology crops, securing national borders, streamlining the H-2A program and reining in federal regulation like the EPA’s Nunn Perdue waters of the U.S. rule. Nunn, the Democratic candidate, focused her remarks on promoting collaboration across party lines in Washington. She expressed a desire for secure borders with legal long-term access to immigrant labor for farmers and said farmers need to be allowed to continue to be productive without facing unnecessary regulatory burdens. Both candidates said they would like to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee. In an interview with GFB media, Perdue said the export opportunities for Georgia farmers will grow with the expansion of middle classes in other countries. “We have to do everything we can to keep it healthy moving forward, managing technology and make sure it can feed not only our population but be available to help feed the world,” Perdue said. “I think it’s a huge opportunity to see the growth rate of the rest of the world. There’s no reason we can’t be the bread basket of the world if we focus on that as a strategic opportunity.” Nunn focused on nurturing the next generation of farmers. “It’s really important to Georgia’s livelihood and way of life,” Nunn said. “We know that the majority of the farmers in our state are over 55 years old. So we need to make sure that we are really supporting those young farmers and ensure that they have access to land and capital and really be a part of this agricultural tradition, economy and heritage.” The candidates agreed that immigration reform is needed, but differed on how to approach it. Perdue suggested a segmented approach, saying the U.S. should first work to secure its borders, then address people who are in the country illegally and streamline the H-2A program. Nunn said she would fight for comprehensive immigration reform, which would include giving people at pathway to citizenship that places them at the back of the line, requires them to learn English and subjects them to background checks.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 CAFO PERMIT OPTIONS COVERED IN SERIES OF MEETINGS In March a letter from the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) to all permitted livestock operations about permit coverage needed by medium and large livestock operations led to confusion. The Georgia Milk Producers, Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) and other organizations expressed concerns, prompting the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and GDA to hold three educational meetings for livestock producers in Macon, Athens and Tifton in August. The meeting held Aug. 12 at GFB’s Macon office included a panel consisting of Audra Dickson, industrial permitting manager with the EPD; Daniel Duncan, GDA livestock and poultry manager, Dr. Keith Bertrand, UGA Animal and Dairy Science Department; and Bryan Barrett of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Previously, all permitted livestock operations with more than 1,000 animals (CAFOs) had a federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. With the new rule and permit changes, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), called large animal feeding operations (AFOs) by the Georgia EPD, now have the option of obtaining a state land application system (LAS) permit or a federal NPDES permit. An NPDES permit is not needed unless a facility is discharging into surface water. Georgia EPD is giving producers until Dec. 1 to decide between permit options for medium and large AFOs/CAFOs. One option is a General State LAS permit issued by EPD with no federal oversight. The second is a federal NPDES permit also issued by EPD with EPA oversight. Producers may select other options depending on the type of permit they have. EPD is requiring General LAS AFO (GAU700000) permit holders to obtain a new permit. These permit holders may obtain coverage under one of the new general LAS permits, obtain coverage under the current NPDES general permit or obtain an individual NPDES or individual LAS permit. Producers who no longer meet the animal threshold requiring a permit should submit a notice of termination and implement the lagoon closure plan in their nutrient management plans (NMPs). EPD is providing General NPDES CAFO (GAG930000) permit holders the opportunity to obtain a new permit at this time because some may have re-evaluated their operation and decided that in light of the recent rule change they do not discharge to surface waters and could obtain coverage under one of the two new state LAS General Permits. The federal NPDES permit addresses discharges to surface water and allows for discharges in certain emergency situations. Even if a discharge is due to excessive rainfall, the federal CAFO rule states that the facility must have a NPDES permit at the time of discharge. The new rules were developed due to changes in the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) CAFO rules in 2008 and in 2011 following a federal court case. The state rules were also amended in 2012. New permits must be issued to enforce the rule changes. NMPs are still required and enforced. The record-keeping rules producers have been following are still in place, as are the certification and continuing education requirements. Facilities that no longer have animals should terminate their permit coverage and close manure storage structures according to their closure plan in their NMP. Producers are encouraged to contact EPD if they have questions about closing a lagoon and should contact NRCS for possible cost-share to assist in closure. More information is available online at http://agp2.org/aware.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 NEW GFB E-NEWSLETTER COMING THIS FALL This fall, Georgia Farm Bureau’s Information and Public Relations Department will roll out a new electronic newsletter to replace its weekly printed newsletter, Leadership Alert. Launched in 1982 as a tool to communicate important organizational, governmental and industry news to GFB county leaders, Leadership Alert has changed little in terms of its format and delivery in its 32 years. When it began, the printed version of Leadership Alert mailed to all of GFB’s county offices was in keeping with its time. Since then, the publishing industry and the way information is consumed have changed significantly due to developing technology. With these things in mind, the GFB Information and Public Relations Department will convert the newsletter to a new electronic format and delivery this fall more in keeping with current information consumption. It will also be published under a new name, GFB News Alert. GFB News Alert will be distributed via email using the newsletter service Constant Contact. The content will also be accessible on GFB’s website, http://www.gfb.org, including a PDF format that is printer friendly. In addition to the format and delivery change, GFB is hoping to increase the audience for this publication. All GFB farmer members for whom we have email addresses will be sent the newsletter each week. The newsletter will also be available to anyone in Georgia agriculture. If you would like to be included on the email distribution list, or if you have any other questions about this change, please contact the GFB Information and Public Relations Department via email at jjstone@gfb.org. ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR DAIRY FARM RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS Farmers may now enroll in the new dairy Margin Protection Program. The program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also launched a new Web tool to help producers determine the level of coverage under the Margin Protection Program that will provide them with the strongest safety net under a variety of conditions. The online resource is available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool. The Margin Protection Program, which replaces the Milk Income Loss Contract program, gives participating dairy producers the flexibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation. Enrollment ends on Nov. 28 for 2014 and 2015. Participating farmers must remain in the program through 2018 and pay a minimum $100 administrative fee each year. Producers have the option of selecting a different coverage level during open enrollment each year. Dairy operations enrolling in the new program must comply with conservation compliance provisions and cannot participate in the Livestock Gross Margin dairy insurance program. The Margin Protection Program final rule will be published in the Federal Register on Aug. 29, 2014. The FSA also will open a 60-day public comment period on the dairy program. The agency wants to hear from dairy operators to determine whether the current regulation accurately addresses management changes. Written comments must be submitted by Oct. 28, , at http://www.fsa.usda.gov or http://www.regulations.gov.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 AFBF COUNTY ACTIVITIES OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS Sept. 5 Deadline to apply Applications are available for county Farm Bureaus to enter the 2015 County Activities of Excellence Awards program. The CAE showcases up to 24 of the top county Farm Bureau programs in the nation. Counties will display their winning activities at the AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 9-11, 2015, in San Diego, Calif. In addition, county Farm Bureaus will also receive up to four free registrations to the convection (housing not included) and a $2,250 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition. With a focus on Farm Bureau’s priority issues, the CAE program groups county activities into the following areas: Education and Ag Promotion, Member Services, Public Relations and Information, Leadership Development and Policy Implementation. Learn more online at http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=events.cae. HOMEOWNERS’ FALL PLANTING CLASS Sept. 11 Houston County Extension 6:30 p.m. Perry The Houston County Extension Office is offering a Fall is for Planting! class to area homeowners who want to know why Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs, how to properly install trees, how to have a colorful winter landscape and protect plants from frost and cold, and which winter vegetables to plant. Cost for the class is $10 per person, cash or check. Charlotte Mote, Houston County ANR Agent, will be leading the class assisted by Master Gardener Extension Volunteers. Registration deadline is September 5. For a registration form, email mg@uga.edu or download one from the Houston County Extension website at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston/news.html. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS Sept. 9-10 Rome-Floyd County ECO Education Center Rome The purpose of this course is to provide a working knowledge of conservation easements as a land-use control. It provides guidance on drafting conservation easement agreements to achieve landowner goals for their property. Land Trusts discuss their philosophy of land use protection and what they can offer landowners. This course offers a comprehensive overview of legal, appraisal, base line information, tax incentives, and other inputs needed for a successful conservation easement agreement. Sept. 5 is the deadline to register. For more information call 706-583-0566 see http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/courses/conseaserome. ‘CHICKEN SCRATCH’ PHOTO EXHIBIT Through Sept. 6 Georgia Museum of Agriculture Tifton The Gallery at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will showcase Fitzgerald’s wild chicken population with this new photography exhibit, “Chicken Scratch”, from Atlanta photographer Nicole Walker. The “Chicken Scratch” exhibit and is dedicated to the beauty, legacy, and companionship of these magnificent plumed gifts of Mother Nature. This exhibit is presented by Fitzgerald resident Sue Rochfort who is a TV host, teacher, author, cook and antiques appraiser. For more information on Chicken Scratch, please contact GMA curator Polly Huff at phuff@abac.edu.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 GEORGIA GROWN FARMERS SHOWCASE Sept. 6 Moultrie Farmers Market 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Moultrie This family-friendly event features numerous vendors from around the state, with a wide variety of products from Georgia farms. For more information about the Georgia Grown program, visit http://www.georgiagrown.com. GRAZING BEHAVIOR SEMINARS CANCELED The grazing behavior seminars scheduled for Sept. 8 in Athens, Sept. 11 in Tifton and Sept. 12 in Carrollton have been canceled. For information about possible rescheduling, contact Dr. Dennis Hancock at dhancock@uga.edu. GEORGIA MILK PRODUCERS DISTRICT MEETINGS Sept. 8 New Perry Hotel 7 p.m. Perry Sept. 9 Wiregrass Restaurant Noon Quitman Sept. 10 Sarah’s in the City Noon Baxley Sept. 11 Krystal’s Taste of Kountry Noon Millen Sept. 11 Burke Co. Extension 7 p.m. Waynesboro Sept. 12 McGill/Woodruff Ag Bldg. Noon Washington Sept. 15 Bonner’s Restaurant 7 p.m. Buckhead Sept. 16 Barnstormers Grill 7 p.m. Williamson Sept. 18 Western Sizzlin’ 7 p.m. Dalton Sept. 19 Ryan’s Noon Commerce Georgia Milk Producers and the American Dairy Association of Georgia will hold elections, report on industry issues and promotional efforts and announce upcoming events. Dinner or lunch will be served at each meeting depending on the time the meeting is set to begin. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Sept. 9 3rd District Center at Arbor Connection 7 p.m. Douglasville Sept. 11 2nd District Georgia Bapt. Conf. Center 7 p.m. Toccoa th Sept. 16 7 District First Baptist Church 7 p.m. Statesboro Sept. 18 10th District Jamestown Baptist Church 7 p.m. Waycross Sept. 25 5th District Thomaston Civic Center 7 p.m. Thomaston Oct. 2 9th District Mitchell County Ag Center 7 p.m. Camilla Oct. 6 6th District Poplar Springs Nortth Bapt. Ch. 7 p.m. Dublin st Oct. 7 1 District First Baptist Church 7 p.m. Calhoun Oct. 9 4th District Greene County High School 7 p.m. Greensboro Oct. 16 8th District South Georgia Technical Coll. 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. 2014 GEORGIA PEANUT TOUR Sept. 16-18 Bulloch, Burke, Screven and Toombs counties This tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a firsthand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Visit http://www.gapeanuts.com to register and view the tour schedule. For more information contact Hannah Jones at Hannah@gapeanuts.com or call 229-386-3470.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 GFB ACCEPTING POLICY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Sept. 19 Deadline for policy resolutions Georgia Farm Bureau is accepting recommendations for changes to its policy as part of its annual policy development process. Through this process, GFB farmer members determine what stance the organization will take on issues related to agriculture. GFB is asking its county Farm Bureaus to consider issues of importance to their members and develop resolutions to address their concerns. The GFB Policy Development Committee will meet twice this fall to review resolutions submitted. Final approval of changes to GFB policy will be made in December during the 2014 GFB Convention on Jekyll Island. Policy resolutions should be submitted to the GFB Legislative Department. For more information, contact the Legislative Department at 478474-0679. IPM VEGETABLE TROUBLESHOOTING WORKSHOP Sept. 19 UGA Griffin Student Learning Center 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Griffin This program will cover integrated pest management ideas for identifying and controlling problems encountered in small commercial vegetable gardens, including diseases, insects and cultural issues. Five hours of commercial pesticide credit in Category 21 and one hour of private pesticide credit will be offered. Cost is $20, which covers lunch, refreshments and workshop supplies. Preregistration is required. To register online visit http://tinyurl.com/veggietroubleshooting. For more information contact Beth Horne at 770-2287214 or bhorne@uga.edu. GEORGIA OLIVE GROWERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE Sept. 25 The Threatte Center 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Lakeland This will be an opportunity to share a wide range of information with growers, potential new growers, researchers and developers, support industries and governmental agencies working in the expansion of the olive oil industry and Georgia and Southeastern US. There will be a demonstration of the New Commercial Olive Mill and Machine (OXBO) Harvesting at Georgia Olive Farms. For more information or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/oliveconf. 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 ends on Oct. 20. 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 will again this year conduct the annual Bermuda grass Hay Contest and publish the GFB Quality Hay Directory for buyers and sellers of Georgia grown hay. The contest is designed to encourage farmers to produce better quality hay and the publication continues to be an important marketing tool for our producers and an excellent resource for consumers of quality 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 $15.00 per sample. Anyone entering the contest can receive 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 1800-342-1196.