July 24, 2013
www.gfb.org
Vol. 31 No. 30
MAP-21 LAW PROVIDES EXPANDED CDL FARM EXEMPTION New federal highway funding legislation that went into effect on July 1 allows expanded exemptions for farmers transporting their own products, equipment or machinery. The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) was signed into law on July 6, 2012, providing funding for surface transportation programs as well as changing criteria for requiring farmers to have commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Under previous rules, farmers and farm helpers were exempted from the requirement to have a CDL if they operated within a 150 air-mile radius of their home farms and they were in their home state. MAP21 broadened the exemption to include the farmer’s home state and points in neighboring states within 150 air miles of the home farm. To take advantage of this exemption, a producer must carry a special tag or distinction on the vehicle. Georgia Farm Bureau has worked with the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) to make sure the acquisition of this tag is easy and free of charge. DPS has created a “Covered Farm Vehicle Designation” form (DPS TR0025) which can be accessed at http://gamccd.net/FarmVehicle.aspx . The form must be completed online, and the vehicle identification number (VIN) for the specific vehicle is required. Beginning January 1, 2014, no farm CDL exemptions are applicable without form TR0025 being in the vehicle. Additional information on the MAP-21 exemption for farm vehicles can be found at http://www.gfb.org/legislative/map21.html . In another ag-related transportation move, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on July 11 granted a 90-day waiver from the 30-minute rest break provisions under hours of service regulations for drivers transporting livestock. The 90-day period was requested out of concern over heat-related issues that can occur during livestock transit in the summer months. The FMCSA granted the waiver at the request of a number of agricultural stakeholder organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation. On June 19 the groups wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro, pointing out that the rest break provisions run counter to livestock welfare requirements under the pork industry’s Transportation Quality Assistance (TQA) and the beef industry’s Master Cattle Transporter (MCT) programs while providing little if any measurable benefit to public safety. The groups emphasized that during hot weather, concerns about heat-related stress on livestock are compounded during stops because of reduced airflow. The 90-day waiver expires Oct. 9.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 GFB NAMES 2013 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Erin Burnett of Mitchell County, Sarah Pate of Houston County and Cassidy Sims of Morgan County have been selected to receive the top 2013 Georgia Farm Bureau Scholarships valued at $3,000 each. The scholarships recognize deserving and outstanding young people pursuing college degrees in agriculture and related fields. Only students who will enroll in a unit of the University System of Georgia or Berry College for the 2013-2014 academic year are eligible. “Based on the quality applications Georgia Farm Bureau received for our scholarship program, I’m confident in saying the future of Georgia agriculture looks bright. Our judges had a tough time selecting the top ten finalists and top three scholarship recipients from the nearly 100 outstanding applications we received,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “These students are the future leaders of Georgia agriculture, and Georgia Farm Bureau is glad to help them prepare for this role by offering these scholarships.” Burnett plans to enter the University of Georgia this fall to pursue degrees in agricultural communications and Spanish. Pate also plans to attend UGA as a food science major. Sims anticipates entering the University of North Georgia this fall as a biology major in the preveterinary program. In addition to the three top awards, seven other students were awarded $750 each. The other scholarship finalists were Jonathan Barrett of Habersham County, Joseph Branch of Meriwether County, Brooke Helton of White County, Kevin Jones of Madison County, Hannah Porter of Murray County, Megan Powell of Johnson County and Samantha Strickland of Houston County. UGA HIRES VEGETABLE SPECIALIST, LOSES PEANUT SPECIALIST The University of Georgia Tifton Campus has gained a vegetable specialist in Tim Coolong, but long-time professor and Extension peanut agronomist John Beasley Jr is stepping down. Coolong started work as the new vegetable horticulturalist at UGA’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Tifton Campus on July 1. Coolong will work with all vegetables, but the majority of his time will be spent on vegetables with the most acreage in Georgia: watermelons, sweet corn, peppers, beans, cucumbers and onions. Coolong previously worked as an associate Extension professor at the University of Kentucky for the past six years. He did graduate work on onions. UGA Peanut Agronomist John Beasley is retiring and has been hired to head up the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences at Auburn University beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Beasley has worked for UGA since 1985 and became a professor in 1996. FORMER UNION CO. FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT HARVEY DEAVER DIES William “Harvey” Deaver, age 71, of Blairsville, passed away on July 18, 2013 at his home. Harvey was Past President of Union County Farm Bureau, serving in that role from 1994 to 2005. He was a deacon at Ivy Log Baptist Church for more than 25 years. Deaver is survived by his wife of 46 years, Janie Deaver of Blairsville, daughter, Robin Deaver of Blairsville and son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Monica Deaver of Blairsville, sister and brother-in-law, Billie and Danny Young of Blairsville, three grandchildren, Reese, Rileigh and Reid.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 HARRIS NAMED 2013 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR Will Harris of Bluffton has been selected as the Georgia state winner of the 2013 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. Harris joins nine other state winners from the Southeast as finalists for the award. The overall winner will be announced on Oct. 15 at the Sunbelt Ag Expo farm show in Moultrie. Harris operates 1,200 acres of rented land and 1,100 acres of owned land. His enterprises include 700 beef cows, a sheep operation with 400 ewes, 50 nannies in his goat herd, 30 sows in his hog herd and 150 doe rabbits. Annually, he raises about 300,000 chickens, 3,000 geese, 3,000 ducks, 5,000 turkeys and 5,000 guinea fowl. He also grows irrigated organic vegetables on five acres. In 2007, he built a beef abattoir and in 2011 he built a poultry abattoir. His other specialty enterprises include sausage products, a composting operation, honey bees, tanning hides for leather, Harris mushroom production and an heirloom fruit orchard. Vertical integration, controlling processing and marketing of the products he produces, allows Harris to capture more of the retail value for his products than if he simply sold live animals on a commodity basis. His plans call for building a pet food processing plant, a lodge to attract agricultural tourists and a vegetable canning plant. HARDEN RECEIVES BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN CONFIRMATION HEARING Mitchell County native Krysta Harden, President Obama’s nominee for deputy secretary of the USDA, received support from Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-2nd District) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) during her confirmation hearing held on July 23. Harden, who has worked the past two years as chief of staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, was nominated to succeed Kathleen Merrigan, who left the USDA earlier this year. A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, Harden has worked in a variety of public policy positions, including as the USDA’s assistant secretary for congressional relations and as the staff director for the House Agriculture Peanut and Tobacco Subcommittee. “Growing up in a farm family – particularly one with such a diverse farming background – gave me an understanding of the strength America enjoys from our ability to grow a wide range of crops and livestock,” Harden said in her testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee. She was introduced by Chambliss, who noted that he has known Harden for more than 30 years. “It’s been a real privilege to watch Krysta grow and mature into the great person she is now but also the great leader she is now,” Chambliss said. “She’s had great experience both on and off the hill in preparing her for this position she has been nominated to.” Bishop said Harden has always been mindful of farm issues. “Though she has served many years in Washington D.C., Krysta still refers to herself as a Georgia farm girl. I am proud to say she has never forgotten her roots and will bring a wealth of knowledge grown from her rustic upbringing as well as her many years of federal experience to her new position with USDA,” Bishop said.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 GEORGIA GROWN FARMER SHOWCASE July 27 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta Aug. 10 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta Aug. 24 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta Sept. 14 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta Sept. 28 Park Market, Centennial Olympic Park 9 a.m. - noon Atlanta This family-friendly series features dozens of vendors from around the state, offering locally grown fresh Georgia produce and plant sales, meet and greets with local farmers and much more. For more information, visit http://www.georgiagrown.com or call 404-656-3689. INTERNATIONAL AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE AND EXPO Sept. 25-26 Savannah International Trade & Convention Center Savannah This inaugural event, sponsored by Georgia Farm Bureau, will help farmers and businesses learn how to capitalize on the growing export market. Participants will be provided with information on what markets are open to their products, how to export their goods and what exporting can do for their bottom lines. Participants will attend educational forums and workshops, learning from experts in agricultural importing and exporting and about the latest practices in processing valueadded agricultural products. They also will have a chance to meet with international trade representatives. The conference’s main sponsor is Georgia Farm Bureau. For more information about the conference’s schedule, see www.iace.us.com. Early registration is $170 and ends July 30. For more information visit http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/conted/iace.html . 2013 GEORGIA GRAZING SCHOOL Aug. 7-8 Oconee County Civic Center/Campbell Research Center Watkinsville This annual workshop, held this year in conjunction with the Deep South Stocker Conference, will focus on soil fertility, forage crop establishment, plant growth, anumal nutrient requirements and management-intensive grazing. This workshop includes both classroom and field training. Cos of the two-day program is $150 and includes lunches and breacks each day, a dinner at the end of the program, a grazing school handbook and a forage and weed ID handbook. The deadline to register is Aug. 1. For more information, call 706-310-3464 or visit http:// tinyurl.com/mfj6zq6 . GA EQUINE COMMISSION SEEKS NOMINATIONS The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine (ACCE) is seeking nominations to fill the positions of three members whose terms expire later this year – Jim Gibby, Debbie Lanier Guy and Danny Hogan. The positions a re for three-year terms. Nomination forms are available at the ACCE website http://www.gaequine.com or by contacting Nathan Wilson by phone at 404-656-3678 or via email at nathan.wilson@agr.georgia.gov . Nomination forms and a one-page resume must be submitted to Wilson by August 1 to be considered. NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR FSA COUNTY COMMITTEES The nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees is now open and runs through Aug. 1. To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate. Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others, and organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections .
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 MIDDLE GEORGIA HAY FIELD DAY Aug. 6 County Line Farm, 1693 Ramah Church Rd. 9 a.m. Culloden This field day provides one hour general pesticide credit and will be held on irrigated hay fields. Topics include quality hay and haylage production, safe handling of pesticides, economics of hay production, dealer rep presentations and working equipment demonstrations. There is no cost to attend and a complimentary lunch is sponsored by Sunsouth, WF Equipment Sales, Ag South Farm Credit and Wade Tractor & Equipment. RSVP by Aug. 1 to the Upson County Extension Service at 706-647-8989 or the Lamar County Extension Service at 770-358-5163. 2013 AGRICULTURAL ISSUES SUMMIT Aug. 6 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter 10 a.m. Perry This joint meeting conducted by Georgia House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McCall and Georgia Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Wilkinson will feature discussions on the new sales tax exemptions for agriculture, immigration reform, regional water planning and the MAP-21 Act, a multiyear transportation bill signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2012. A sponsored lunch will be provided by Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Agribusiness Council, the Georgia Poultry Federation, the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council and the Georgia Forestry Association. Meeting space is limited and RSVPs are required. Participation will be on a first-come, first-served basis. To attend, contact Pat Harris at 404-656-5099 or pat.harris@house.ga.gov or Susan Henry at 404-463-5257 or Susan.Henry@senate.ga.gov . DEEP SOUTH STOCKER CONFERENCE Aug. 8-9 Athens Theis two-day event, a joint effort between the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Mississippi State University Extension Service, and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, features live animal demonstrations and hands-on opportunities on Aug. 8, and educational seminars on Aug. 9. Additionally, the conference will be held in conjunction with Georgia Grazing School (http://www.GeorgiaForages.com). This will give producers an opportunity for up to three days of hands-on, demonstration, and classroom learning opportunities. Registration for each event is separate. The Deep South Stocker Conference registration will cost $125/person and will cover all seminars, events, meals, and handouts for the two-day event. A trade show will also be held in conjunction with the conference to allow stocker operators the opportunity to network with industry professionals and to become aware of products and services that can improve their profitably and product quality. For more information or to register, visit http://www.deepsouthstocker.com . USDA TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION GRANTS The USDA is accepting applications for grants of up to $500,000 to provide access to education, training and healthcare resources in rural areas. Funding is authorized through the Department’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program. Under this notice, USDA may provide up to $17.5 million in grants. Funds can be used to buy equipment and provide technical assistance. To be eligible, applicants must serve a rural area, demonstrate economic need and provide at least 15 percent in matching funds. Completed applications must be received by Aug. 12. For further details about eligibility rules and application procedures, see the notice published on page 38,915 of the June 28 Federal Register: http://tinyurl.com/nv62aeq .
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 GEORGIA COTTON COMMISSION SEEKS NOMINATIONS The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) is accepting resumes for two new seats on the commission. These two positions were added to the producer member board by House Bill 298, which the Georgia General Assembly passed earlier this year at the request of the cotton community to increase producer representation from five to seven growers. According to state law, there should be at least twice the number of nominees submitted for consideration as there are vacancies. To receive a nomination form or for more information about the nomination process, contact Nathan Wilson by phone at 404-656-3678 or email at Nathan.wilson@agr.georgia.gov . You may also contact your local FSA office or the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities Department at 1-800-342-1196 for forms. The form is available online at the GCC website http://georgiacottoncommission.org . August 15 is the deadline for submitting nominations. The GCC board currently consists of: Chairman Mike Lucas, Bleckley County; Vice Chairman Wavell Robinson, Brooks County; Lee Cromley, Bulloch County; Bart Davis Jr, Colquitt County and Marvin Ruark, Morgan County. Ex officio members are Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, GFB President Zippy Duvall, Buddy Leger and Russ Moon. UGA CONDUCTING SURVEY ON MOBILE POULTRY PROCESSING As a part of its Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program, UGA is conducting an online survey on the feasibility of establishing a Mobile Processing Unit. (MPU). This survey collects information on production costs and processing costs at a USDA inspected facility and on-farm processing. The information will aid in determining the cost-effectiveness and benefits of using MPUs. The results of the cost-benefit analysis and profitability of using MPUs will be shared with pasture poultry growers and other stakeholders. The 15-question survey should only five minutes and is anonymous. To participate, visit take about https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NNXKFN7 . GEORGIA MULTICULTURAL SUSTAINABLE AG CONFERENCE Sept. 17 Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway 8 a.m. – 4 pm. Duluth This conference for beginning and established multicultural farmers features sessions on small scale organic farming and marketing, building diverse urban farm enterprises, aquaculture, mushroom production, pasture management and many more. Registration is $20, which includes lunch and instructional materials. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/mecjba8 . For more information contact the Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council at 678-376-9518 or the NRCS Lawrenceville Service Center at 770-963-9288.