Sept. 12, 2018
www.gfb.org
Vol. 36 No. 18
GFB ENCOURAGES GEORGIANS TO VOTE WITH I FARM. I VOTE. CAMPAIGN Georgia Farm Bureau is urging all Georgia citizens to be participants in their democratic process, to make their voice known on Nov. 6, when the state will elect its next governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state, along with many other state and national elected officials. It is a serious responsibility. “Georgia Farm Bureau is nonpartisan and has a long-standing record of working with officials from all parties,” said GFB President Gerald Long. “Our organization is not endorsing any candidate, but we are encouraging all Georgians involved with agriculture or who live in rural communities to take your civic right to vote seriously, research where the candidates stand on issues important to rural Georgia and to vote.” The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 9 and early voting begins Oct. 15. GFB has launched a website, www.ifarmivoteGa.com, to assist Georgia’s voters in these areas. The site will provide information about how and where to register to vote, and the locations of local voting precincts. GFB is asking its members to participate in the campaign by downloading the I Farm. I vote. sign from the website and having their picture made with it to be posted on their social media accounts. I Farm. I Vote. graphics suitable for Facebook and Twitter posts are also available on the website. According to the United States Election Project, in the non-presidential election in 2014, the last election for Georgia governor, only 38.6 percent of Georgia citizens eligible to vote submitted ballots. Statistics from the office of the Georgia Secretary of State indicate turnout among registered voters was 50.3 percent, and in 88 of Georgia’s 159 counties the turnout was less than 50 percent. The Georgia governor’s race gets the most attention and understandably so. The Georgia governorship is among the most powerful nationwide, with the responsibility of appointing hundreds of key positions throughout state government. The importance of the election in November goes well beyond the gubernatorial campaign. There are numerous “down the ballot” races for local, state and national elected positions, which makes it vitally important that rural Georgians take the time to become informed about issues and candidates, to register and show up to vote.
GFB News Alert page 2 of 14 FSA PRODUCER MEETINGS HIGHLIGHT COTTON, WHIP & TRADE PROGRAMS The University of Georgia Extension Service and Georgia Farm Service Agency (FSA) hosted a series of meetings across the state Sept. 10-12 that provided a crash course on USDA programs with major implications for Georgia farmers. Georgia FSA Farm Programs Chief Brett Martin and UGA Extension Economists Adam Rabinowitz and Yangxuan Liu discussed the seed cotton program, the 2017 Wildfires & Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP), the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) and the Market Facilitation Program (MFP). “The budget legislation passed earlier this year [Bipartisan Budget Act in February and FY 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act in March] was sort of like a mini-farm bill as it included funding for the seed cotton program, WHIP and TAP,” Georgia Farm Service Agency Director Tas Smith said. “We’re holding these meetings across the state to increase awareness of the programs and answer questions farmers may have as enrollment in the programs is underway.” Dec. 7 enrollment deadline for Seed Cotton Program Martin explained that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 made seed cotton (unginned upland cotton, both lint and seed) a covered commodity under the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs of the current farm bill for the 2018 crop year. Farm owners that had generic base (cotton base under the 2008 farm bill) as of Sept. 30, 2013, and have a planting history of covered commodities (canola, corn, oats, peanuts, seed cotton, sesame, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seeds, wheat) from 2009-2016, have a one-time chance to allocate generic base acres to seed cotton and/or other covered commodities. Martin said the USDA sent farm owners a letter in August with a summary of acres planted in covered commodities from 2008-2012 as reported to USDA, which should help in the allocation process. Farm owners also have a one-time chance to update the farm’s payment yield for seed cotton. UGA Extension Economist Yangxuan Liu explained that farm owners can opt to retain the counter-cyclical payment yield for upland cotton listed on the farm record as of Sept. 3, 2013, multiplied by 2.4, or update the cotton yield to 90 percent of a simple average of upland cotton yield per planted acre on the farm for the 2008-2012 crop years. Farm owners will certify to a yield for upland cotton planted on the farm for each year during 2008-2012 that must be supported by acceptable evidence if requested by FSA. Acceptable evidence includes Risk Management Agency records, gin bale listings, warehouse receipts and FSA loan records. After farm owners allocate generic base acres and update the payment yield, current farm producers (renters) will choose to elect either the ARC or PLC program for the new seed cotton base acres. A farm that doesn’t make a selection will have its seed cotton acres automatically enrolled in the PLC program. Liu gave an overview of a decision aid the UGA Extension Economist team has developed to help farm owners and producers decide how they should best allocate their generic base acres and update their seed cotton payment yield. Visit http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/policy.html to access the guide titled “Seed Cotton Generic Base & Yield Update (Rev. Aug. 30).” Nov. 16 sign-up deadline for WHIP Martin also gave an overview of the 2017 Wildfires & Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP) -continued on next page
GFB News Alert page 3 of 14 Continued from previous page authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to distribute up to $2.36 billion to farmers in nine states/territories (Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands) where production, crops, trees, bushes or vines were lost due to natural disasters. To qualify for the program, impacted farms must be in a county that received a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or an Agriculture Secretarial Disaster Designation. Last November, the USDA issued primary disaster designations to 83 Georgia counties and an additional 25 counties received contiguous disaster designations. WHIP is paying cost-share assistance to replant and rehabilitate trees on the same area. The program is paying for production loss separately as the loss may be covered by another USDA risk management program, which is calculated using the 2017 WHIP formula: (Expected Value of the Crop x WHIP Factor) - Value of Crop Harvested – Insurance Indemnity = Payment. The WHIP Factor ranges from 65 to 95 percent. Farmers who did not insure their crops in 2017 will receive 65 percent of the expected value of the crop. Farmers with crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage will receive between 70 and 95 percent of expected value. Farmers who had crop insurance at the highest coverage levels will receive 95 percent coverage. Both insured and uninsured farmers are eligible to apply for WHIP. All producers who receive 2017 WHIP payments must purchase risk management coverage (either crop insurance at the 60 percent coverage level or NAP coverage if crop insurance is not available) for the next two years insurance is available for the crop. Jan. 15 deadline to apply for Market Facilitation Program Martin also provided details of the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which the FSA is administering to provide direct payments to producers of corn, cotton, dairy, pork, sorghum, soybeans and wheat for the negative impact they have experienced as a result of tariffs imposed by China on U.S. ag exports. The FSA began accepting applications on Sept. 4 and the deadline for producers to apply is Jan. 15, 2019. Martin said farmers should apply after their crop is completely harvested since payments will only be issued once production is reported. He said producers must be able to certify their reported production if requested by the FSA for a spot check. Martin encouraged farmers to keep verifiable production records such as sale receipts, Risk Management Agency production records, ginning records or vet records for hogs. Payments will be issued on 50 percent of a producer’s total production, multiplied by the MFP rate for the following commodities: cotton 6 cents/pound; corn 1 cent/bushel; milk 12 cents/hundred pounds; hogs $8/head; soybeans $1.65/bushel; sorghum 86 cents/bushel; and wheat 14 cents/bushel. Georgia FSA Director Tas Smith explained the payment rates are based on the impact Chinese tariffs are expected to have on a crop. A total of $4.7 billion in MFP payments has been budgeted with $3.6 billion going to soybean producers as the crop most affected. For more information about any of these programs, visit your local FSA office or www.farmers.gov.
GFB News Alert page 4 of 14 FARM BILL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE HOLDS FIRST PUBLIC MEETING On Sept. 5, Farm Bill Conference Committee members laid out their priorities for the next farm bill. Members’ statements touched on the key points they would like to see included in the final bill and noted numerous difficulties facing American farmers and ranchers. The conferees made it clear they share a sense of urgency to complete the legislation before the 2014 farm bill expires on Sept. 30. “Today my colleagues in the House and Senate highlighted the urgency in farm and ranch country and just how desperate times are as net farm income is slated to fall again this year. While I’m pleased with progress on the farm bill – we must pick up the pace,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas). “We still have a lot of work to do, but I believe we can get this done on time.” Net farm income has fallen by 50 percent since 2013 and is facing the additional pressure from the U.S.’ trade conflict with China. “It is not an exaggeration to say our nation’s food and fiber production capability hangs in the balance with what we do here on this legislation. Time is of the essence. Let us work together to get this done,” said Conference Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas). Rep. Austin Scott (R-Georgia 8th District) emphasized the need for certainty in farm legislation to allow for adequate planning for coming crop years, including the need for flexibility in selecting between safety net programs. “Farmers across the country have different needs and different risks associated with their operations,” Austin Scott said. “This legislation should protect farmers from massive losses caused by natural disasters, like the devastating freeze in 2017 for Georgia blueberry and peach producers, or other events outside their control.” Scott voiced his support for including House farm bill language establishing work requirements for able-bodied Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. That provision is one of the biggest sticking points in the negotiations; Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) said they make no sense. Rep. David Scott (D-Georgia 13th District) said the farm bill the committee is tasked with finalizing is already an example of bipartisanship in Congress, and he pointed to the inclusion of $95 million funding for the Land Grant 1890 African American colleges and universities in the Senate version of the bill. “Let’s make sure that nothing happens during this discussion, during these Farm Bill negotiations, that in any way would jeopardize the $95 million dollars. We’re almost to the finish line,” David Scott said. The Conference Committee leadership – Roberts, Conaway, Stabenow and House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota) are continuing negotiations.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 14 NATIONAL FARM SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK IS SEPT. 16-22 Agriculture is recognized as one of the most hazardous industries in America and around the world. In the United States, more than two million full-time workers were employed in the production of crops, livestock, and poultry in 2017. According to CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 2016, 417 farmers and farm workers died from a work-related injury. NIOSH reports that every day approximately 100 agricultural workers will suffer an injury resulting in lost work time. National Farm Safety and Health Week, which takes place Sept. 16-22, 2018, has been recognized for more than seventy years, since September 1944. AgriSafe, along with partners such as the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) have hosted activities to support awareness for Ag health and safety professionals and farmers alike. Each day of the week will feature a farm safety topic: Monday – rural roadway safety; Tuesday – health/suicide/opioids; Wednesday – child/youth health and safety; Thursday – confined spaces in agriculture and Friday – tractor safety. For more information, visit http://www.necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/. This year’s theme “Cultivating the Seeds of Safety” spotlights safe practices like grain bin entry and personal protective equipment use for farmers. Many injuries are preventable through education and during National Farm Safety and Health Week, AgriSafe will offer free webinars will share information on immigrant workers (Monday), respiratory health (Tuesday), child/youth health and safety (Wednesday), confined spaces in agriculture (Thursday), and women’s health (Friday). To view the AgriSafe webinars, visit https://www.agrisafe.org/nfshweek2018. CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE NEARS FOR GA GRAIN PRODUCERS Georgia farmers who produce barley, canola, oats and wheat have until Sept. 30 to apply for crop insurance coverage or make changes to their existing coverage under the 2014 farm bill. Crop insurance provides protection against a loss in production due to natural perils, such as drought or excessive moisture. Coverage is available for barley in Crisp, Jefferson, Pike, and Walton counties. Coverage is available for canola in Bartow, Calhoun, Chattooga, Cherokee, Floyd, Franklin, Gordon, Hart, Murray, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties. Coverage is also available for oats and wheat in select counties. Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2019 crop year. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers by visiting the RMA agent locator at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. Growers can use the RMA cost estimator at bit.ly/rmacost to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 14 CALHOUN COUNTY’S JIMMY WEBB NAMED TO COTTON BOARD SEAT Calhoun County farmer Jimmy Webb was named secretary of the Cotton Board, the organization announced on Aug. 29. The Cotton Board elected Colorado importer Peter McGrath as chairman and an entire slate of new officers for the 2018/2019 program year. The full slate of newly elected Cotton Board officers is as follows: Chairman Peter McGrath, an importer from Snowmass Village, Colorado; Vice Chairman Jeff Posey, a producer from Roby, Texas; Secretary Webb and Treasurer Sonja Chapman, an importer from Boonton, New Jersey. USDA TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR DIETARY GUIDELINES COMMITTEE The USDA and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are accepting nominations to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). This independent advisory committee will review the scientific evidence to help inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and HHS Secretary Alex Azar will consider the scientific review as they oversee development of, and approve, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, according to a USDA press release. The deadline to submit nominations for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is Oct. 6 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The next edition of the guidelines will take a life stage approach, reflecting an expansion to include pregnant women and children from birth to 24 months as mandated by the 2014 farm bill. The scientific review conducted by the advisory committee will be guided by topics and supporting questions that reflect earlier public comments, and focus on patterns of what we eat and drink to help prevent disease and keep people healthy. The government is seeking nominations that reflect expertise related to these areas. Information on how to submit nominations, factors USDA and HHS will consider in selecting the committee members, and the updated topics and supporting scientific questions are available at www.DietaryGuidelines.gov. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans serves as the cornerstone of federal nutrition programs and policies, providing food-based recommendations to help prevent diet-related chronic diseases and promote overall health. According to the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, the guidelines are mandated to reflect the preponderance of scientific evidence, and are published jointly by USDA and HHS every five years. For more information, visit www.DietaryGuidelines.gov.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 14 TRUMP NAMES ANGLE AS NIFA DIRECTOR President Donald Trump appointed former UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) Dean Scott Angle as director of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), according to a White House press release. Angle served as CAES dean from 2005 to 2015, when he left to become president and CEO of the International Fertilizer Development Center in Alabama. Angle earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy and master’s degree in soil science at the University of Maryland. He obtained his doctorate degree from the University of Missouri with an emphasis on soil microbiology. Dr. Angle worked for 24 years as a professor of soil science and Scott Angle administrator for the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station and Maryland Cooperative Extension at the University of Maryland. His work focused on heavy metals and their interaction with the environment. Angle is a fellow in the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America. He is also a Fulbright Fellow, having worked at the Rothamsted Research Experimental Station in the United Kingdom. NIFA is the extramural science funding agency within USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area. NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension to help solve national challenges in agriculture, food, the environment, and communities. USDA CONTINUES RESTRUCTURING, PLANS ERS AND NIFA MOVE FROM D.C. On Aug. 9, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the Economic Research Service (ERS), currently under USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area, will realign once again with the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) under the Office of the Secretary. Additionally, most employees of ERS and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will be relocated outside of the National Capital Region. The movement of the employees outside of Washington, D.C., is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. The USDA is accepting expressions of interest from parties interested in hosting ERS and NIFA until Oct. 15. In a press release, the USDA cited difficulty in recruiting employees to the Washington, D.C., area because of the high cost of living and long commutes. The department also asserted that important USDA resources should be located closer to farm stakeholders and to save money on employment costs and rent. Reps. Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia 2nd District) and three other Democratic members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture wrote to Perdue to to express their concerns with the plan and called on the USDA to provide employee hiring data for ERS and NIFA for the last 5 years, data on anticipated staff loss if ERS and NIFA relocate, estimated costs associated with relocation, data on anticipated costs savings, a detailed timeline for the relocation, and the rationale for why ERS and NIFA, as opposed to other USDA agencies, need to move closer to stakeholders.
GFB News Alert page 8 of 14 SUNBELT EXPO OFFERS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH In a salute to healthy competition the Sunbelt Ag Expo invites students in grades 6 – 12 to participate in its Youth Educational Challenges, a set of six competitive challenges during the 2018 Sunbelt Expo. Any student from any state is invited to participate. Awards will be given for each challenge to the top three finishers in the Junior and Senior divisions, to the club or chapter with the best overall finish, and to the state with the best overall finish. The Youth Educational Challenges take place on Oct. 17, with time slots available from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are two divisions: Junior (grades 6-9) and Senior (grades 10-12). Students may compete as individuals or as part of a chapter or club, and may participate in as many areas as they choose. The challenge areas are: ag mechanics tools & ID, measurement, floral design, horticulture ID, forestry ID, wildlife ID and animal science ID. For more information or to register, visit https://gfb.ag/18SunbeltYEC. Sunbelt will also offer a career seminar for machinery technology and precision agriculture, sponsored by John Deere. Sessions are available at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. Visit http://sunbeltexpo.com/highlighted-events/yeo/ to register online. Farm Credit is sponsoring an Ag Mechanics Contest, with small (under 3 feet) and large (3-6 feet) in metal and wood divisions. The Grand Champion in each of the four divisions (Small Wood, Large Wood, Small Metal, Large Metal) will receive a ribbon and $100 cash prize. Reserve Champions in each of the 4 divisions will receive a ribbon and $50 cash prize. A $150 Grand Champion Chapter prize will be award. Points will be earned based on Grand Champions, Reserve Champions, and tie-breaker of number of projects entered. Entries are due Oct. 1. For more information contact Heather Brannen at hbrannen@agsouthfc.com or 912-764-9091. NCC PRODUCES PLASTIC CONTAMINATION PREVENTION VIDEO The National Cotton Council (NCC), with assistance from multiple cotton industry sources, has developed a comprehensive video with educational information for the prevention of plastic contamination in seed cotton and lint. Packages containing the educational video and suggested meeting materials have been sent to the NCC’s interest organizations and all U.S. gins. The video may also be viewed at https://youtu.be/GKnNTc3Qmxw. The video provides producers and ginners with best management practices to handle and process round modules - with a specific goal of preventing contamination from module wrap. Among major topics addressed in the video are: 1) taking the time to remove contaminants in the field; 2) a review of key maintenance and component adjustments on round module harvesters to ensure proper operation; 3) best practices for transporting and staging round modules in the field and at the gin yard; and 4) best practices on unwrapping/feeding round modules into the gin to avoid plastic contamination.
GFB News Alert page 9 of 14 FORMER GFB 9TH DISTRICT DIRECTOR CHARLIE BURCH DIES Charlie Burch, who served multiple stints as Baker County Farm Bureau president and sat on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors, died on Aug. 23 at his home in Newton. He was 90. Burch had lived his entire life in Baker County. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Martha Jane Hatcher Burch, one brother, Henderson Burch, and one sister, Bonvle Burch Jordan. Burch was born on Sept. 10, 1927, in Baker County, to the late Moree Burch and the late Mattie Tucker Burch. Free Will Baptist by faith, he was a member of Live Oak Free Will Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the Deacon Board and church clerk for many years. He was a faithful member of the Paul Palmer Fellowship Conference of Original Free Will Baptist. Burch attended and graduated from Elmodel School, then went to work on the family farm. He served Charlie in the United States Army during the 1940s. After his honorary discharge, he Burch returned home, became a self-employed farmer on his newly purchased farm, and continued to farm alongside his father. Burch was actively engaged in farming for 66 years. In addition to farming, he managed the Newton Cucumber Shed in Newton, worked for the Roddenbery Pickle Company, and drove a bus for Baker County Schools for 10 years. Burch was an active member of the Baker County Farm Bureau, serving as county president from 1971 to 1979, 1986-1990 and 1994-1995. He served as a GFB Director from 1992 to 2000. Burch also served on the Board of Directors for Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Services for 24 years, as well as serving on the Peanut Advisory Board for the Georgia Peanut Commission. In 2014, the Georgia Peanut Commission awarded Burch its 1st District Peanut Farmer of the Year Award. Burch is survived by sons: Jarrell (Celeice) Burch and Tim (Lydia) Burch, all of Baker County; two grandchildren: Matthew (Shannon) Burch of Baker County and Jeremy (Dawn) Burch of Athens; two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial donations can be made to the Live Oak Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Tim Burch, 3692 Pine Hill Rd., Newton, GA 39870.
GFB News Alert page 10 of 14 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Sept. 13 10th District Waycross Auditorium 7 p.m. Waycross Sept. 17 1st District First Baptist Church 7 p.m. Calhoun Sept. 18 3rd District Centre at Arbor Connection 7 p.m. Douglasville Sept. 20 2nd District First Baptist Church 7 p.m. Toccoa Sept. 24 4th District Oconee County Civic Center 7 p.m. Watkinsville Sept. 25 6th District Poplar Springs North Bapt. Ch. 7 p.m. Dublin Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. These meetings are for Farm Bureau members only and are not open to the general public. GEORGIA MILK PRODUCERS DISTRICT MEETINGS Sept. 13 Captain Joe's Seafood, 2115 Golden Isles Hwy E. Noon Baxley Sept. 14 McGill Ag Bldg., 136 N Bypass Noon Washington Sept. 17 Bonner's Restaurant, 1500 Bonner Lane 7 p.m. Buckhead Sept. 18 Western Sizzlin’, 501 Legion Drive Noon Dalton Sept. 20 Burke Co. Extension Office, 715 West 6th Street 7 p.m. Waynesboro 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. To preregister for your district meeting, please contact The Dairy Alliance at 1-800-343-4693. Georgia Milk Producers will present a Grand Prize of $500 at the conclusion of all meetings to one lucky Georgia dairy farm family attending their district meeting. Additional door prizes and promotional items will be provided by The Dairy Alliance at each district meeting. Producers will also elect Georgia ADA directors in even numbered districts and all districts for Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. BROOKLET PEANUT FESTIVAL Sept. 15 Brooklet Located 45 minutes from Savannah in Bulloch County, the 28th Annual Peanut Festival includes a parade (10 a.m.), arts and crafts, exhibits and street dance (7 p.m.) Visit www.brookletpeanutfestival.com. Parade airs live on WTOC in Savannah. UGA SHOWCAES 2018 Sept. 18 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 5:30 p.m. Tifton The University of Georgia Tifton campus invites high school and college students to ShowCAES 2018, an annual recruitment event that educates students and their parents about admission requirements and academic programs offered by UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). A free meal will be provided for those who attend. Students and families who attend this event will learn about the specific academic programs offered by CAES, their financial aid opportunities and the admissions process for UGA — as first-year students, transfer students or graduate students. Those interested in attending ShowCAES should register online at http://t.uga.edu/4i8. For more information, email Katie Murray at katie76@uga.edu. For
more information about UGA-Tifton’s http://tifton.caes.uga.edu/academics.html. GFB News Alert page 11 of 14
academic
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SCORE MOULTRIE/USDA AG MENTOR WORKSHOPS Sept. 18 Colquitt County Ag Center Noon RSVP by Sept. 14 Moultrie Oct. 2 Colquitt County Ag Center 6 p.m. RSVP by Sept. 28 Moultrie Nov. 13 Colquitt County Ag Center 6 p.m. RSVP by Nov. 9 Moultrie SCORE Moultrie and USDA are teaming up to host a series of workshops for people interested in starting a farm or agribusiness. At the lunch on Sept. 18, Jack Spruill and Andy Harrison from the Georgia Department of Agriculture will discuss new and emerging specialty crops, opportunities for raising goats and sheep and the Georgia Grown program. Ameris Bank is sponsoring the lunch to be catered by Gay’s Seafood. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lisa Zeanah at scoremoultrie@gmail.com or calling the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce at 229-985-2131 and asking for SCORE. The Oct. 2 workshop will feature Kim Jones, owner/operator of Florida-Georgia Citrus, who will share the opportunities and realities of operating a citrus farm, and Mike Evans, with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, who will discuss rules and regulations for citrus growers and nurseries. The Nov. 13 workshop will feature Sam Watson of Chill C Farms and David Hopkins of Hopkins Farms in Cairo, who will discuss rules and regulations vegetable growers face, especially for small farm-to-table producers. 32ND ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT TOUR Sept. 18-20 Savannah and surrounding area The Georgia Peanut Tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a firsthand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut-producing counties, including Bulloch, Burke, Candler and Screven. Tour stops include on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, research at the University of Georgia Southeast Georgia Research and Education Center and the Georgia Ports Authority. Hotel accommodations can be made at the Hilton Garden Inn-Savannah Airport by calling 912-964-5550 Rooms are available at the rate of $129 plus tax for a standard room. Be sure to ask for the Georgia Peanut Tour room block. UGA EXTENSION ADVANCED GRAZING SCHOOL Sept. 18-19 UGA Vidalia Onion Research and Education Center Lyons UGA Extension will host this training to provide attendees with a deeper understanding of two key aspects of their grazing systems. The focus areas will be on choosing the right pasture species, designing a grazing system that works best for your operation, and how to profitably fertilize pastures for optimal performance. Training will take place in both classroom and field settings, with several hands-on learning experiences geared toward these areas of focus. The classroom portion of the course will be held at the Vidalia Onion Research and Extension Center in Lyons. On the second day, the group will finish up the classroom portion before visiting Newly Halter’s farm where participants will take a close look at his rotational grazing systems. Cost is $150 per person, which covers a 250-page notebook full of resources, along with lunches and breaks on each day and dinner on the first night. Registration is limited and participants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested persons should register by contacting the Tattnall County Extension Office at 912-557-6724.
GFB News Alert page 12 of 14 AGROFORESTRY & WILDLIFE FIELD DAY Sept. 20 UGA Westbrook Research Farm 9:15 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Griffin Geared toward small landowners, this event will feature 30 presentations/demos covering a variety of forestry management topics including tree thinning, prescribed burning, pinestraw production, deer management, feral hog control, quail habitat restoration and much more. Registration is $30. Registration fee covers lunch and a booklet with in-depth topic and speaker information. Continuing Education Credits are available for pesticide applicators, loggers, registered foresters, arborists and wildlife managers. Visit www.caes.uga.edu/events/awfd for complete details about the event. To register visit www.ugagriffincontinuinged.com/awfd or call 770-229-3477. RURAL BROADBAND SUMMIT Sept. 20 Carey Martin Conf. Center, 233 N. Houston Rd. 10 a.m. Warner Robins The Georgia Municipal Association will host this one-day event to share information with local officials about rural broadband planning in Georgia. Participants will learn from experts and peers about cultivating a broadband planning approach that engages stakeholders and mitigates risks, and accessing federal agency resources for technical assistance and infrastructure. Participants will obtain a roadmap for planning a broadband infrastructure project. The meeting is ideal for municipal and county elected and appointed officials including mayors, county commissioners, city and county managers, city and county clerks, public works staff, and city and county attorneys. For additional details and information, please contact Becky Taylor of the GMA staff at btaylor@gmanet.com or 678-686-6276 or Pam Helton of the GMA staff at phelton@gmanet.com or 678-686-6275. BARTOW HISTORY MUSEUM AGRICULTURAL BUS TOUR Sept. 22 Various locations 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Bartow County Expand your understanding and appreciation for Bartow County's agricultural connections from long ago to the present. Stops on the tour include Possumtrot Farms, a cattle farm in Rydal; the Georgia Institute of Genetics at Georgia Highlands College; the Olin Tatum Agricultural Building in Cartersville; Super Sod farm; the Tri-County Gin in Taylorsville; and Summerland Farm, ancestral property of the W. H. Stiles family and home of chefs Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison. The tour will pass by other agricultural enterprises to hear about poultry, plant nursery, and former dairy businesses in Bartow. Participants will have the opportunity to view the museum's current temporary exhibit, “The Call of the Land: Cultivating Bartow's Agricultural Legacy.” Tickets are $40 for museum members and $45 for non-members. Tickets are limited and are on sale now. Ticket price includes charter bus transportation, tour guides, box lunch, and a special dessert treat provided by Chef Anne Quatrano. For more information on this and other museum programs, call 770-387-2774 or visit our website at www.BartowHistoryMuseum.org. Sponsored by the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau, AgGeorgia, and the Georgia Farm Bureau.
GFB News Alert page 13 of 14 22ND ANNUAL PLAINS PEANUT FESTIVAL Sept. 22 Various locations Plains Festival is hosted by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn. The event features a one-mile fun run and 5-K race at 8 a.m. President Carter and Tyron Spearman emcee parade at 11 a.m. Visit the Peanut Pavilion to see national sponsors including hot, grilled PB&J’s. To participate in the Plains Peanut Festival Parade call 229-824-7477. For more details, visit http://plainsgeorgia2.com/events/#festival. AFBF AG INNOVATION CHALLENGE Sept. 24 deadline to enter The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is accepting online applications for its 2019 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Entrepreneurs will compete for $145,000 in startup funds. The competition provides an opportunity for Farm Bureau members to showcase ideas and business innovations in agriculture. This is the fifth year of the challenge, which is the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs launching food and agriculture businesses. Competitors are invited to submit for-profit business ideas related to food and agriculture online at http://fb.org/aginnovationchallenge by Sept. 24. TRI-STATE PEANUT DISEASE TOUR Sept. 25-27 locations TBD The tour, with stops in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, starts at noon on Sept. 25 and lasts until noon on Sept. 27. For more information, contact Albert Culbreath, UGA, Plant Pathology at spotwilt@uga.edu. GEORGIA BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION FALL MEETING Sept. 27-29 Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College Cumming Featured speakers are Maryann Frazier from the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research and Florida Department of Agriculture Apiary Inspection Assistant Chief Jerry Hayes. The meeting includes GBA Fall Honey Show. Full registration is $95. One-day registration fee is $60. For more information or to register visit http://www.gabeekeeping.com/. COBB COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS MARKET Tuesdays through September 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Lost Mountain Park, Powder Springs The public is invited to check out a variety of vendors with locally grown produce, baked goods, strawberries, peaches, jams, jellies and much more. Lost Mountain Park is located at 4845 Dallas Highway in Powder Springs. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/cobbcofarmbureau/ or call 770-943-3531.
GFB News Alert page 14 of 14 BOVINE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION TRAINING Oct. 27-29 NE GA Livestock Pens, 1200 Winterville Rd. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Athens The ABS Global Artificial Insemination Management School offers students the opportunity to learn AI techniques and herd management under skilled supervision. The curriculum includes: anatomy and reproduction; reproduction and fertility; heat detection; nutrition; principles of genetics and sire selection; herd management success; proper semen placement; and insemination practice. Also, synchronization of beef cattle and planned breeding of dairy heifers will be introduced. This is a comprehensive course consisting of 24 hours of instruction: 14 hours in the classroom and 10 hours in lab working with cattle. Registration is $475, which covers the cost of supplies and practice cows used at the school. This program is limited to 15 students and registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Deadline to submit registration forms and fees is Oct. 1. For information on how to register, contact James Umphrey at james.umphrey@genusplc.com or Allen Southard at 678/617-2945. THE DAIRY ALLIANCE COMMUNITY & COWS EVENTS Oct. 11 Ga. National Fairgrounds Beef & Dairy Arena 6:30 p.m. Perry Oct. 24 Farmview Market 6:30 p.m. Madison The Dairy Alliance invites all local farmers and their families to a meal and discussion forum designed to address concerns and get farmers’ feedback. Prizes will be given away and Dairy Alliance staff will be introduced. Contact Mekenzie Panhans at mpanhans@thedairyalliance.com or 404-210-4504. Please RSVP at https://gfb.ag/commUNITYnCows. PEANUT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CLASS XI Oct. 15 application deadline Applications are now being accepted for Class XI of the Peanut Leadership Academy. To be eligible for participation, candidates must derive their primary livelihood from farming and currently produce peanuts, make a commitment to the program and agree to attend all sessions except in times of illness or a family emergency, be between the ages of 22 and 45 and provide a completed application. Five sessions take place throughout the 18-month class and require approximately 20 days of travel. Each class also has one leadership session in Washington, D.C., where participants have an opportunity to visit with members of Congress on issues affecting the peanut industry. To download a copy of the upcoming class application, visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 15 for consideration. The first session will begin in December 2018. MONROE FARMERS MARKET Saturdays until October 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Court Street, Downtown Monroe This market, sponsored in part by Walton County Farm Bureau, will feature fresh produce and goods from local farmers, work from local artisans and family friendly activities. For more information visit www.monroedowntownfarmersmarket.com.