July 9, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 27
GEORGIA FARMERS INCREASE PEANUT ACREAGE Perhaps looking to take advantage of the best available crop price, Georgia farmers have planted significantly more acres in peanuts according to the June Acreage Report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), which was released on June 30. Farmers planted 590,000 acres in peanuts according to the report, an increase of 160,000 acres over the state’s 2013 peanut acreage, a boost of 37.2 percent. National Peanut Board Chairman John Harrell said peanut prices relative to other crops motivated farmers to plant more peanuts. “The price of corn and the price of cotton are both down,” said Harrell, who is chairman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Peanut Committee and a Grady County Farm Bureau director. “Peanuts with the yields these new varieties potentially can make, even at $425 [per ton], if you can make 6,000-plus pounds [per acre], you can make more money. That was the driving force.” According to Harrell, the fact that no government payments for peanuts will be made under the 2014 farm bill until October 2015 had little or no influence on peanut planting decisions. “People did not plant for the program. They planted because of the commodity prices,” he said. Georgia farmers also planted more acres of cotton and soybeans in 2014. Cotton acreage jumped from 1.37 million in 2013 to 1.45 million in 2014, an increase of 80,000 acres, or 5.8 percent. Soybean acreage increased by 21.7 percent, from 230,000 in 2013 to 280,000 in 2014. Georgia’s hay acreage estimate of 580,000 acres is the same as the 2013 harvested acreage. Georgia farmers increased acres planted in oats from 50,000 in 2013 to 60,000 in 2014, an increase of 20 percent. The state’s planted acreage in corn, sorghum and winter wheat all declined in 2014. Georgia corn acreage fell from 510,000 in 2013 to 380,000 in 2014, a decline of 25.5 percent. Sorghum planted for all purposes in Georgia totaled 45,000 acres in 2014, down 10,000 from 2013 planted acreage, or 18.2 percent). Winter wheat planted in late 2013 and early 2014 fell by 120,000 acres, from 420,000 in 2012/13 to 300,000 in 2013/14, a decline of 28.6 percent. The state’s rye acreage fell from 190,000 in 2013 to 170,000 in 2014, a drop of 10.5 percent) Nationally, NASS estimated a record high 84.8 million acres of soybeans planted in the United States for 2014, up 11 percent from last year. Corn acres planted are estimated at 91.6 million acres, down 4 percent from last year, the lowest planted acreage in the U.S. since 2010. Peanuts are at 1.315 million acres in 2014, up 23 percent from 2013. Planted upland cotton acres are estimated at 11.19 million, up 9.7 percent from 2013.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 5 2014 FARM BILL PROVIDES BENEFITS FOR BEGINNING FARMERS New and beginning farmers will receive special consideration under the USDA’s interim rule addressing changes in the federal crop insurance program. The rule, published July 1 in the Federal Register, waives the $300 administrative fee for catastrophic policies for new farmers, who will also receive an increase of 10 percentage points on their premium subsidy rates during their first five years of farming and a greater yield adjustment when their yields are below 60 percent of the applicable transitional yield. Other key provisions in the interim rule address conservation compliance, irrigated vs. nonirrigated acres, correction of errors and data collection. The farm bill requires those enrolled in crop insurance to comply with conservation compliance requirements or forego premium subsidies beginning in 2015. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is responsible for drafting the regulations to implement this provision, which could be made available this fall. The interim rule requires that farmers certify that they are in compliance via Form 1026 at their Farm Service Agency office by June 1, 2015. Insurance coverage by separate enterprise units based on irrigated and non-irrigated acreage of crops within counties will be available in the spring of 2015. Effective for this fall’s crops, correction of errors is allowed in information obtained from the producer within a reasonable amount of time and consistent with information provided to other agencies of USDA. The Farm Bill allows for the use of data collected by Risk Management Agency (RMA), the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) or both to determine yields. Where sufficient county data is not available, data may be used from other sources. This will be available next spring. WHITE LEAVING GA. CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Josh White has accepted the role of executive director of producer education with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). His last day at GCA will be Aug. 4. He and his family will be moving to Colorado and joining the NCBA team Aug. 14. With NCBA, White will lead a team of five in directing the Beef Quality Assurance program, Cattlemen’s College and other initiatives that will develop as NCBA works to bolster producer education opportunities. White, a Henry County Farm Bureau director, became the GCA executive vice president in October 2009. He breeds cattle and is a past president of the Georgia Limousin Association. He also has experience as a co-owner of a real estate brokerage and development firm. Josh and his wife Erin served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer White Committee in 2001 and 2002. He was the 2008 GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet winner. “It has been a great honor and the most rewarding time of my career thus far serving Georgia’s cattle producers,” White said. “Thanks to all the volunteer leaders at GCA and all of our affiliated partners like Farm Bureau, the Agribusiness Council and the University. It’s been a real blessing to see that synergy and get to be a part of it.” The GCA has appointed a search committee to find White’s successor. Those interested in applying should contact Michele Creamer at Michele@gabeef.org.
Leadership Alert page 3 of 5 FAA SEEKS COMMENTS ON RULE FOR DRONES The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a Notice of Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft on June 23. This notice addresses the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for hobbyists. Farmers, ranchers and all commercial operators are prohibited from using UASs until the FAA institutes regulations for the safe integration of UASs into National Airspace, according to the FAA. The Notice of Interpretation clarifies the criteria an aircraft must meet to be classified as a model aircraft, provides a statutory definition for model aircraft and differentiates hobby and recreational purpose from non-hobby and non-recreational purposes. The notice also states the FAA has the authority to take enforcement action against any operator that endangers the safety of the National Airspace System. The Notice of Interpretation includes an example specific to agriculture to illustrate the difference between a hobby/recreation activity and a non-hobby activity: Viewing a field to determine whether crops need water when they are grown for personal enjoyment is considered a hobby activity. Using the UAS to determine whether crops need to be watered that are grown as part of commercial farming operation is not considered a hobby activity. The deadline to submit comments is July 25. For more information or to submit a comment, visit http://tinyurl.com/faarule. UGA TURF AT CENTER STAGE AT WORLD CUP The world’s best soccer players have been playing on University of Georgia-bred turfgrass during the World Cup in Brazil, according to a UGA press release. Three of the Brazilian stadiums used in the World Cup are outfitted with TifGrand, a shade-tolerant, wear-tolerant Bermudagrass hybrid developed jointly by UGA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. Three other World Cup stadiums have Tifway 419, a bermudagrass variety developed in Tifton by Glenn Burton of the USDAARS. UGA and USDA-ARS turf breeder Wayne Hanna and UGA entomologist Kris Braman developed TifGrand to be shade-tolerant and resilient to wear while maintaining a deep green color. UGA turfgrass varieties are no stranger to the world stage. The Bermudagrass hybrids that have come out of UGA’s Tifton-based breeding program have been used on world-class golf courses and athletic fields since the 1950s, but it’s hard to top the international visibility that the World Cup provides, Hanna said. The TifGrand sod being used in the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba and the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba was licensed by UGA’s Technology Commercialization Office to Brazilian company Green Grass, which supplied the TifGrand for the 2014 World Cup fields. For more information about the UGA turfgrass breeding program, see http://www.GeorgiaTurf.com. For more about TifGrand, including information on purchasing and becoming a producer in the U.S., see http://www.tifgrand.com. For international licensing information, contact Shelley Fincher at shelleyf@uga.edu or 706-542-1404.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 5 SUNBELT EXPO FIELD DAY July 10 Sunbelt Ag Expo Farm, Spence Field Moultrie This free event gives farmers a chance to see the crops and research projects being conducted at the Expo farm on seed varieties, irrigation, crop protection, precision ag technology, soil fertility and organic farming. University researchers and ag company representatives conducting the trials will give presentations on their research. Registration for door prizes begins at 7:15 a.m. followed by a free biscuit breakfast and welcome from Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Dept. of Agriculture representatives. Trams will depart for field tours at 8 a.m. sharp. Tours will end by noon. Attendees will receive a grab & go BBQ lunch courtesy of Ameris Bank. An aerial application demonstration will be held after the field. GEORGIA JUNIOR CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION FIELD DAY July 10 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter 9 a.m. Perry This one-day event features tracks for ages 10 & under, 11-14 and 15 & over. Registration is $15 until July 1 and $20 onsite for GJCA members. Non-members are required to join the GJCA; annual dues are $15. Field day stations include Beef Quality Assurance certification, stockman’s quiz, scholarship tips & tricks, careers in ag, a hula hoop contest, photo booth and more. For more information call 478-474-6560. MASTER GOAT FARMER CERTIFICATION TRAINING Aug. 5 – Sept. 9 Camp Fulton Truitt College Park This six-week course, sponsored by the UGA Cooperative Extension in Fulton County, provides training for goat producers on topics related to managing and producing goats for meat. Topics include nutrition, body condition scoring, goat selection, breeds, reproduction & kidding, hoof trimming, health & diseases, pasture management, basic dairy goat management, goat handling equipment, fencing displays, parasitology and business & marketing. Classes meet on Tuesdays, with refreshments served at 6 p.m. followed by class from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Class size is limited to 75 participants. Registration deadline is July 11. Cost is $100, which includes study materials, refreshments, a t-shirt and graduation certificate. Camp Fulton Truitt is located at 4300 Herschel Rd. in College Park. To register, contact the Fulton County Extension office at 404-762-4077. POND MANAGEMENT FIELD DAY July 17 Gunnell’s Pond, Adams Road 9 a.m. – noon Danielsville This free event will provide important information on how to improve pond quality and performance. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will give presentations on fish health, pond maintenance and NRCS programs. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Region 2 office at 706-552-4479. NUT HACCP FOOD SAFETY COURSE July 29-31 UGA Food Science Building Athens The UGA Food Science Extension Outreach Program and the American Peanut Council (APC) are co-sponsoring this program specifically designed for the nut industry to teach safe handling and processing practices for nut product manufacturers. Registration is $800 per person, and the deadline to register is July 18. APC Members receive a discount. Space is limited. For more information and to register, visit http://tinyurl.com/nuthaccp .
Leadership Alert page 5 of 5 JOINT AG CHAIRMEN AG ISSUES SUMMIT July 31 Georgia Museum of Agriculture 10 a.m. Tifton This annual event is hosted by Georgia House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McCall and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Wilkinson and sponsored by Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Agribusiness Council, the Georgia Poultry Federation, the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council and the Georgia Forestry Association. Topics include regional water planning, pollinators, solar energy, truck weights and the Clean Water Act. The event is free and lunch will be provided. Because meeting space is limited RSVP is required. If you would like to attend, please contact Pat Harris at 404-656-5099 – pat.harris@house.ga.gov or Susan Henry at 404-463-5257 – susan.henry@senate.ga.gov . FSA ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR COUNTY COMMITTEES The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting nominations for its county committees through Aug. 1. Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level. Farmers who serve on committees help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer. They work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers. Elections will take place in November and newly elected county committee members take office on Jan. 1, 2015. Nomination forms may be requested from the local USDA Service Center or obtained online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections . ASA DUPONT YOUNG LEADER PROGRAM The American Soybean Association (ASA) and DuPont are seeking applicants for the 2015 ASA DuPont Young Leader Program. The deadline to apply is Aug. 1. The program is a challenging and educational two-part training program. Phase 1 will take place at the DuPont Pioneer headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, Nov. 18-21, 2014. The program continues Feb. 24-28, 2015, in Phoenix, Ariz., with training held in conjunction with the 20th annual Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show. The ASA DuPont Young Leader Program offers the opportunity for participants to strengthen their natural leadership skills, expand their agricultural knowledge and develop strong peer relationships with other soybean growers from across the country. To apply visit http://soygrowers.com/learn/young-leader-program/. One couple or individual per state will be selected to participate. For information, contact Christine Luelf at 314-754-1291 or cluelf@soy.org . NORTHWEST GEORGIA MASTER CATTLEMEN’S PROGRAM Sept. 8 – Oct. 27 Carroll County Ag Center Carrollton This eight-week course will meet on Mondays from 6:30 pm. to 8:30 p.m. Each week’s class focuses on a single aspect of beef cattle production, including nutrition, forages, reproduction, herd health, economics and marketing, Beef Quality Assurance, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, livestock facilities sire selection and record keeping. Participants who attend six of the eight classes will receive a certificate of completion and a UGA Master Cattlemen’s cap. Registration is $60 per person and includes a dinner on the final night. Advance registration deadline is Aug. 25. For more information contact Jason Duggin at 706-624-1403 or jduggin@uga.edu or Paula Burke at 770-836-8546 or pjburke@uga.edu .