September 10, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 36
UGA PRESIDENT TOURS AGRIBUSINESS LOCATIONS University of Georgia President Jere Morehead visited five key agricultural locations in South Georgia on Sept. 3 in a tour arranged by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Morehead visited Brooks County Dairy, the Langboard OSB plant in Brooks County, the Mana ready-to-use therapeutic food plant in Ben Hill County, the Coffee County Cotton Gin and the UGA Blueberry Research and Demonstration Farm in Bacon County. “I had never been to a cotton gin before,” said Morehead. “Just seeing how it all works and operates and what it takes to make a pair of pants, all of those things were things I found very interesting. I guess what I’ve learned is how critical agriculture is to the vitality of our state economy. If we don’t support it the state economy is in serious trouble. We need to do what is necessary to build the agricultural industry because that’s vital to the future of our state.” The UGA president was accompanied by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, GFB President Zippy Duvall, Georgia House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McCall, Georgia Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Wilkinson, Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Hill and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Terry England. While at the Coffee County Cotton Gin, Gin Manager Ben Evans shared information about the gin’s operations. The Coffee County Gin, which employs approximately 100 people during harvest season, processed approximately 75,000 bales of cotton in 2013, Evans said, and much of it was exported to Korea, Japan and Saudia Arabia. The gin also markets cotton seed produced after it is separated from the cotton fiber. The group walked through the gin, which is undergoing maintenance while preparing for this fall’s cotton harvest, and Evans showed how bolls of cotton move through the gin machines. Black said the trip was intended to reinforce for Morehead the connection between UGA’s agricultural research and the state economy. “He recognizes that Georgia is the No. 1 place to do business, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s not just the things around Atlanta,” Black said. “It’s the No. 1 place to do agriculture and agribusiness too, and the University of Georgia is an integral part of that.” In addition to the commodity information shared with Morehead, Duvall said the trip was a chance for those involved to build relationships. “I think it’s a great opportunity not just to see what we got to see but to build those relationships and fellowship together for a little while,” Duvall said.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 GFB COMMENTS ON PROPOSED DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN In a Sept. 2 letter to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall made recommendations on the DNR’s proposed 10-year deer management plan. “Deer are often viewed as nuisances to agriculture producers in Georgia,” Duvall wrote. “The destruction caused by their overpopulation poses a significant economic hardship to our industry.” The DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division organized citizenbased committees to create its proposed plan, and hearings were held around the state during August for public input. The committees did not reach a consensus on bag limits for deer without antlers. GFB recommended a longer deer hunting season with more days on which harvesting antlerless deer is allowed, as well as increasing overall bag limits. GFB also recommended implementing a uniform statewide deer hunting season and suggested that it run from Aug. 15 to the end of February. According to the executive summary of the plan, deer herd reduction goals from the deer management plan that ran from 2005 - 2014 were accomplished primarily through hunter harvest. The proposed new 10-year plan will run from 2015 to 2024, and is intended to manage deer herds around the state. According to DNR statistics, Georgia’s deer population of approximately 1 million is four times the state’s deer herd 40 years ago. In addition to damage to the state’s crops, auto accidents involving deer entering roadways LIVESTOCK DISASTER ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS TO BE CUT AFTER OCT. 1 The USDA is encouraging producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses since October 2011 to act to secure assistance by Sept. 30 because congressionally mandated payment reductions will take place for producers who have not acted before that date. The Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 requires USDA to implement reductions of 7.3 percent to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) in the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. However, producers seeking LFP support who have scheduled appointments with their local FSA office before Oct. 1, even if the appointment occurs after Oct.1, will not see reductions in the amount of disaster relief they receive. The Farm Service Agency has developed an online registration that enables farmers and ranchers to put their names on an electronic list before the deadline to avoid reductions in their disaster assistance. This is an alternative to visiting or contacting the county office. To place a name on the Livestock Forage Disaster Program list online, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/disaster-register. The Livestock Indemnity Program, the Tree Assistance Program and the Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program Frost Freeze payments will also be cut by 7.3 percent on Oct. 1, 2014. Unlike the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, applications for these programs must be fully completed by Oct. 1. FSA offices will prioritize these applications, but as the full application process can take several days or more to complete, producers are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible. To learn more about USDA disaster relief program, producers can review the 2014 Farm Bill fact sheet at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill. The LFP program fact sheet may be viewed at http://go.usa.gov/5JTk.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 KANSAS COMPANY TO PURCHASE SOUTHWEST GEORGIA ETHANOL, LLC Flint Hills Resources announced on Sept. 5 an agreement with Southwest Georgia Ethanol, LLC, to acquire its ethanol plant in Mitchell County. The transaction is expected to close after customary closing conditions have been satisfied, including regulatory approvals. The Southwest Georgia Ethanol plant will be Flint Hills Resources’ seventh ethanol plant and its first outside the Midwest. The plant near Camilla opened in 2008 and has an annual production capacity of 100 million gallons of ethanol. It also produces more than 275,000 tons of dried distillers grains and approximately 25 million pounds of non-food grade corn oil each year. The plant employs about 60 people. Flint Hills Resources’ grain processing business currently includes six ethanol plants with a combined annual capacity of 650 million gallons, a biodiesel plant in Nebraska, and investments in biofuels technology and feedstock development. Flint Hills Resources, through its subsidiaries, is a leading refining, chemicals and grain processing company. Its subsidiaries market products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethanol, biodiesel, olefins, polymers and intermediate chemicals, as well as base oils and asphalt. Flint Hills Resources operates ethanol plants in Iowa in the towns of Arthur, Fairbank, Iowa Falls, Menlo and Shell Rock, and a plant in Fairmont, Neb. The plants have a combined annual capacity of 650 million gallons of ethanol. The refining business operates refineries in Rosemont, Minn., and Corpus Christi, Texas, with a combined crude oil processing capacity of more than 600,000 barrels per day. The petrochemical business includes production facilities in Illinois, Michigan and Texas. The asphalt business produces and markets product in the Midwest. A subsidiary owns an interest in a lubricants base oil facility in Louisiana. U.S. HOUSE PASSES BILL TO STOP EPA WATER RULE The U.S. House passed H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014, by a 262-152 vote on Sept. 9. The bill, introduced by Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) on July 11, had 120 cosponsors in the House, including Georgia Republicans Doug Collins (9th District), Tom Graves (14th District), Lynn Westmoreland (3rd District) and Phil Gingrey (11th District). All of Georgia’s Republican representatives voted for the bill, as did Democrats Sanford Bishop, John Barrow and David Scott. The White House issued a statement of policy indicating the president would veto the bill should it pass both houses of Congress. Among other things, the bill would prohibit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from “developing, finalizing, adopting, implementing, applying, administering, or enforcing the proposed rule entitled, “Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’ Under the Clean Water Act,” issued on April 21, 2014.” H.R. 5078 includes language prohibiting the EPA from applying an interpretive rule the Agency published April 21. The interpretive rule would apply Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) standards to agricultural conservation practices on all farms without regard to farmers’ participation in NRCS programs. A similar bill, S. 2496, was introduced in the Senate in June by Sen. John Barasso (R-Wyo.) with 37 cosponsors, including Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 GEORGIA MILK PRODUCERS DISTRICT MEETINGS 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 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. 11 2nd District Georgia Bapt. Conf. Center 7 p.m. Toccoa Sept. 16 7th 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 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. GA. DEPT. OF AG REHABILITATED HORSE AUCTION Sept. 13 Mansfield Impound Barn, 2834 Marben Farm Rd., Mansfield At this time, 12 horses are scheduled to be auctioned. The horses may be inspected beginning at 10 a.m. The sale will start at approximately 11 a.m. For more information, visit the Georgia Department of Agriculture website (www.agr.georgia.gov) or contact the department’s Equine Health Office at 404-656-3713. If you can provide a good home for Patrick, Sara, Slendie, Gertrude, Spunk, Agnes, Sugar, Ellie, Lucy, Buddy, June or Maggie, please come to the auction! 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. 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.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 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. SEPT. 21-27 IS NATIONAL FARM SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK The 2014 safety week theme is, “Safety Counts: Protecting what Matters.” The U.S. Agricultural Centers address that theme with their special regional and collective expertise. For more information on National Farm Safety and Health Week, and safety resources, visit the website of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, http://www.necasag.org/. CURT PATE STOCKMANSHIP & STEWARDSHIP SEMINAR Sept. 23 Calhoun Stockyard, 2270 Rome Rd. SW 1 p.m. Calhoun All cattle producers and anyone who handles or processes cattle are invited to attend this free seminar conducted by renowned stockman and Montana rancher Curt Pate. Sponsors include Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Floyd County Cattlemen’s and TriState Cattlemen’s Associations. Attendance counts towards Beef Quality Assurance recertification or certification. For more information contact Jason Duggin at 706-728-4354. 2014 TRI-STATE PEANUT DISEASE TOUR Sept. 23-25 Georgia, Florida and Alabama The tour begins on Sept. 23 with a tour of the plots at the University of Florida’s Citra Research Center. Sept. 24 stops are on the UGA Tifton Campus, includingMeet the Lang- Rigdon Farm and the Black Shank Farm. Sept. 25 stops are at Auburn University’s Wiregrass Experiment Station in Headland, Ala. Contact Albert Culbreath at 229-326-7683 or spotwilt@uga.edu for more information. 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. 18th ANNUAL PLAINS PEANUT FESTIVAL Sept. 27 Downtown Plains Festival is highlighted with former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalyn Carter. Onemile fun-run and a 5-K road race starts at 8 a.m. President Carter and Tyron Spearman, executive director of the National Peanut Buying Points Association (NPBPA), will be masters of ceremony for the parade beginning at 11 a.m. Visit the peanut pavilion to see national sponsors and get NPBPA’s hot, grilled PB&J's. To enter parade call 229-824-7477.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 FSA OFFERING DIRECT FARM OWNERSHIP LOANS Sept. 30 Deadline to apply Georgia farmers and ranchers still may apply for low interest 2014 loans available through FSA’s direct farm ownership program. Eligible producers can borrow up to $300,000 in direct farm ownership loans to buy or enlarge a farm, construct new farm buildings or improve structures, pay closing costs, or promote soil and water conservation and protection. The interest rate on select loans can be as low as 1.5 percent with up to 40 years to repay. For more information about the program and other loans administered by FSA, visit any FSA county office or http://www.fsa.usda.gov. 25th ANNUAL GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR Oct. 2-12 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The award-winning Georgia National Fair features livestock and horse shows, youth exhibits, home and fine arts competitions, family entertainment and Midway rides and games. Major concerts include Jennifer Nettles and Lady Antebellum. For more information visit http://www.georgianationalfair.com. 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 10 are admitted free with parent. Multi-day tickets are $20. For more information visit http://www.sunbeltexpo.com. 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. 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 1-800-342-1196. 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.