Vol. 75 No. 3
GEORGIA
June-July 2013
FARM BUREAU NEWS
The Voice of Georgia Farmers
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june-july 2013
departments
we, the farmers PAGE 4
legislative update PAGE 5
commodities update PAGE 8
young farmer update PAGE 16
around georgia PAGE 20
public relations staff Paul Beliveau Director Jennifer Whittaker Editor Jay Stone Print/Web Specialist Lillian Davis Publications/Advertising Manager Ray D’Alessio Senior Producer/TV Host Rick Treptow Senior Radio-TV Specialist Michael Edmondson Web/Video Manager Mark Wildman Radio-TV Specialist Dean Wood Radio-TV Specialist Damon Jones Radio-TV Specialist Vickie Amos Office Coordinator For questions about your membership or member benefits, call 1-800-633-5432. For questions regarding editorial content call 478-474-0679, ext. 5334 or e-mail jawhittaker@gfb.org For questions regarding advertising contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., 1-800-397-8908 Visit the GFB Web site today! www.gfb.org Georgia Farm Bureau TV: www.youtube.com/georgiafarmmonitor “Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GeorgiaFarmBureau Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gafarmbureau Check us out on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/gafarmbureau
Georgia Farm Bureau News
Farm bill, labor hot topics as county Farm Bureau presidents visit Washington
Rep. Sanford Bishop, right, talks ag issues with GFB leaders from the 2nd Congressional District during the annual GFB Presidents to Washington Trip in April. GFB members from across the state visited with Georgia’s Congressional delegation. PAGE 6
Photo by Jay Stone
contents
Proposed food safety rule reviewed in FDA listening session
Produce growers have until Sept. 16 to submit comments on food safety rules published earlier this year that will impact how they grow and handle produce. PAGE 10
Beef commission key topic at GCA Convention
Attendees at the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention listened to presentations on a variety of topics including the Beef Quality Assurance program and current market trends. There was also discussion about establishing a state beef commission.
Photo by Jay Stone
table of
PAGE 13
District winners of GFB Spring Membership Contest named
GFB has named the district winners of its spring membership contest. County volunteer leaders, staff and insurance agents worked hard to increase membership and memberships paid electronically. PAGE 14
Pecan crop insurance program changes in 2014
The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced changes to the pecan crop insurance program that go into effect next year. PAGE 18
News from Georgia Commodity Commissions
This spring Georgia egg producers voted to end their state commission after 52 years. Dairy producers passed referendums to continue the Georgia Milk Commission and the Georgia Milk Producers Inc. The Georgia Equine Commission is accepting nominations for three board positions. PAGE 23
on the cover
(Photo by Horace Pahl) Cherokee County Farm Bureau member Horace Pahl entered this photo in the 2012 GFB Young Farmer Photo Contest. He shot the photo at his son Bill’s farm near Union Point, Ga. The Pahls plant sunflowers for a dove shoot they host in October each year. June-July 2013 / 3
we, the Photo by Evan Karanovich
farmers Be vigilant
Every spring Georgia farmers exercise their faith by borrowing millions of dollars to plant their crops and praying God will bless their work to bear a bountiful harvest. We as farmers must be vigilant on many fronts, and this is where Georgia Farm Bureau provides a great service for our farm members. While Georgia farmers have been busy this spring planting crops and cutting hay, Congress has sprung into action to address two issues vital to Georgia agriculture – the farm bill and immigration reform. The Senate passed its farm bill on June 10. The House Ag Committee passed its proposal on May 16 and the full House is expected to start its debate later in June. Due to federal budget constraints, the proposed bill isn’t everything we would want, but it has resolved the regional inequities that existed in the bill the Senate approved last year. With Congress still working on the farm bill, it’s hard to write specifics about the bill as it changes daily, but rest assured GFB has been carefully following the farm bill’s progress and speaking out for Georgia farmers as needed. GFB voiced opposition to a Senate amendment that would have prohibited tobacco producers from receiving premium assistance under the crop insurance program. We argued that including this amendment in the farm bill would set a precedent to exclude other crops from the crop insurance program in the future as fewer federal legislators have constituents with an interest in them. As direct payments end and federal farm policy shifts toward providing farmers with a safety net through crop insurance, it’s important for all farmers to have access
Zippy Duvall, GFB President
to this program. It is also important to provide reference prices for certain crops in Georgia, which the Senate bill does. Congress is also taking steps to address immigration reform with two different bills -S. 744 and HR 1773 -making their way through the House and Senate. The Senate is expected to vote on its bill, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act before the July 4 recess. The House is expected to vote on its Agricultural Guestworker Act later this summer. The main provisions of S.744 include a blue card proposal that would allow undocumented ag workers to apply to legally remain in the U.S. to work in agriculture. Applicants would be required to prove they have worked on farms, pass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a fine. The bill also creates a new, less cumbersome ag guest worker program that would be administered by the USDA instead of the U.S. Labor Department. Once the new plan is in place the current H-2A program would be phased out. In an effort to educate the public and media about agriculture’s need for a reliable, stable work force, GFB arranged a meeting with the editorial board of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on May 30. American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman, GFB 4th District Director Skeeter McCorkle, Sumter County vegetable grower Dick Minor and I met with a group of editors and reporters to discuss the need for meaningful immigration reform and voice our support for S. 744. Skeeter shared the difficulty his family has had in keeping a labor force for their McDuffie County horticulture operation See WE, THE FARMERS page 11
GFB President Zippy Duvall, left, met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on March 21. 4 / June-July 2013
GEORGIA
FARM BUREAU NEWS
The Voice of Georgia Farmers
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Farm Bureau Members: Included in dues — $1 per year Non-Members — $15 per year To subscribe call 1-800-898-1911, ext. 5238. OFFICERS President ZIPPY DUVALL 1st Vice President/South Georgia Vice President GERALD LONG North Georgia Vice President BERNARD SIMS Middle Georgia Vice President ROBERT FOUNTAIN JR. Treasurer/Corporate Secretary WAYNE DANIEL General Counsel DUKE GROOVER
DIRECTORS FIRST DISTRICT: Wesley Hall, Cumming; Henry J. West, Rydal SECOND DISTRICT: Bobby Gunter, Dahlonega; Randy Ruff, Elberton THIRD DISTRICT: George Chambers, Carrollton; Nora Goodman, Temple FOURTH DISTRICT: Marvin Ruark, Bishop; Skeetter McCorkle, Dearing FIFTH DISTRICT: Jim Ham, Smarr; Ralph Adamson Jr., Barnesville SIXTH DISTRICT: James Emory Tate, Denton; James Malone, Dexter SEVENTH DISTRICT: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gary Bell, Bellville EIGHTH DISTRICT: Scotty Raines, Sycamore; Don Wood, Rochelle NINTH DISTRICT: Paul Shirah, Camilla; Lucius Adkins, Elmodel TENTH DISTRICT: David Lee, Alma; Daniel Johnson, Alma YOUNG FARMER CHAIRMAN: Garrett Ganas, Waycross WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Nanette Bryan, Summerville ADVERTISING POLICY
All advertising accepted subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaint about advertiser service or products. Publisher does not accept per-order, political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in the Georgia Farm Bureau News. For advertising rates and information, contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, 1-800-397-8908. Georgia Farm Bureau News was established in 1937. Copyright 2013 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, Georgia.
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Georgia Farm Bureau News
legislative update Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director
Congress passes livestock antibiotic bill
Thinkstock Photos
Earlier this month, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) and President Obama signed it into law June 13. The reauthorization bill passed with no detrimental amendments of concern to Farm Bureau, which is a victory for livestock and poultry producers. ADUFA’s purpose is to expedite labeling for new veterinary drugs and was modeled after similar programs for new human drugs. ADUFA allows the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees from drug companies. The fees supplement FDA staff resources to ensure an efficient and thorough drug review process. Livestock and poultry producers benefit by quicker access to important health products. Congress must reauthorize ADUFA every five years, and 2013 is a reauthorization year. Whenever a bill is reauthorized, there is an opportunity for Congress to make changes. Significant changes were appearing on the horizon for the ADUFA debate, and most of those changes would have been bad for livestock producers. There is broad consensus that bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a serious risk to human health. This fact has caused some legislators and groups to call for greater restrictions, even outright bans, on the use of antibiotics in animals. The argument is that using antibiotics in animals serves as an incubator to allow resistant bacterial strains to develop.
Georgia Farm Bureau News
One group raising an alarm is the Pew Charitable Trusts. In 2008, Pew issued a report, Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America. The report recommended additional mandatory oversight by licensed veterinarians in the use of antibiotics in sick animals (therapeutic use), and an outright ban on the use of antibiotics to prevent disease outbreaks (non-therapeutic use). Last year, legislation was introduced in the House (H.R. 965) and Senate (S.1211) to greatly restrict farmers’ use of antibiotics to keep their animals healthy. These bills would have totally banned the use of antibiotics as a preventative measure to ward off disease. Farm Bureau opposed the legislation and disagrees with the conclusions reached in the Pew report. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also disagreed with the report and offered a scathing response. “The Pew report contains significant flaws and major deviations from both science and reality,” the AVMA concluded. While Farm Bureau agrees that antibiotic resistance poses a serious human health risk, there is no legitimate evidence to conclude the problem is associated with livestock producers treating their animals with antibiotics. In public comments submitted last year, American Farm Bureau expressed support for the FDA’s rigorous review and testing process before approving animal antibiotics. Farm Bureau pointed out that antibiotics are used carefully by livestock producers and that veterinary medicines are approved by FDA just as human medicines are. Therefore, AFBF opposed “any restriction of antibiotic use for livestock…that is not based upon peer-reviewed scientific information.” In other words, there needs to be a demonstrated, verifiable reason for a government agency to make the decision to prohibit the use of antibiotics in livestock. The fact is there are no peer-reviewed scientific studies to prove the theory that proper use of antibiotics in livestock increas-
es antibiotic resistance in human infections. There is no data to indicate that limiting antibiotic use in livestock decreases human health problems with antibiotic resistance. To the contrary, Denmark banned the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in 1998, and according to the AVMA, the result was that animal deaths and disease increased. “Moreover,” the AVMA report stated, “the Danish ban has not resulted in decreased antimicrobial-resistant human infections in Denmark and has not improved human health.” In addition to rigorous FDA investigation of animal antibiotics under review, there are also post-market monitoring programs to study the issue of antibiotic resistance. One such program is the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), which is conducted jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FDA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). NARMS data shows that resistance to animal products has been steady or declining in recent years. Georgia Farm Bureau took a delegation of county Farm Bureau presidents to Washington, D.C., in April. One of the issues raised to legislators was the importance of passing ADUFA without harmful amendments restricting farmer access to antibiotics and other critical health tools. On May 8, the Senate unanimously passed a “clean” ADUFA bill. On June 3, the House of Representatives did the same by a vote 390-12. This lopsided vote is a victory for livestock and poultry producers, and it is also a victory for consumers. The AVMA contends that “healthy animals provide healthy food,” and the use of antibiotics to keep animals in the food supply healthy is “a very appropriate use of antimicrobials.” Farm Bureau members agree with that assessment. Reauthorizing ADUFA without drastic antibiotic restrictions is something Congress did right. Jon Huffmaster is director of the GFB Legislative Department. June-July 2013 / 5
Farm bill, labor hot topics as county By Jay Stone _____________________________________
Photo by Jay Stone
A
Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, right, and American Farm Bureau Federation Executive Director of Public Policy Dale Moore, left, present the Friend of Farm Bureau Award to Sens. Saxby Chambliss (second from right) and Johnny Isakson. The award is given to legislators based on their voting record in agreement with AFBF’s priority issues, as well as their accessibility to Farm Bureau members and staff.
Duvall said, referring to the fact that 2013 isn’t a national election year. “Sometimes you don’t really know what kind of reception you’ll get, but we’ve had a really good reception on all the issues we brought before them.” During a breakfast on April 17, the GFB group received issue briefings from AFBF
Photo by Jay Stone
group of 110 Georgia Farm Bureau members and staff met with Georgia’s Congressional delegation and heard updates from American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) staff on the farm bill, labor and immigration issues, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and animal agriculture regulation during the annual county presidents’ trip to Washington April 16-19. The group presented Georgia’s congressmen with the organization’s stances on these issues. The group also presented the Friend of Farm Bureau Award to Reps. Austin Scott (R8th Dist.) and Jack Kingston (R-1st Dist.) and Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. The award is given based on voting records of Congressional members on AFBF priority issues, as well as the number of bills each member introduced or co-sponsored, leadership on AFBF priority issues and how accessible and responsive members are to Farm Bureau. GFB President Zippy Duvall, who met with Chambliss in the senator’s office to discuss the farm bill and an issue of concern in the WRDA, came away encouraged by the response the group received from Georgia’s delegation. “This is the year to get something done,”
GFB 5th District Director Jim Ham, sixth from left, presents the Friend of Farm Bureau Award to Rep. Austin Scott outside the Cannon House Office Building. Ham was joined by other GFB members in making the presentation. 6 / June-July 2013
staff, including Senior Director of Congressional Relations Mary Kay Thatcher, who predicted that Congress would enact a farm bill later this year rather than approving another extension. Thatcher also noted that as the portions of the farm bill unrelated to food stamps shift in focus toward crop insurance, it will become increasingly likely that crop insurance funding will face future cuts. She cautioned that it would be easiest for Congress to choose across-the-board cuts and encouraged the GFB group to begin prioritizing the types of programs that should be kept. “As you think about your policy development, think about what’s important to you in crop insurance,” Thatcher said. “What is it you really need, and what could you live without?” On April 18 Chambliss and Isakson provided updates on farm issues in the Senate. Chambliss discussed the inclusion of provisions of his previous immigration bill, the HARVEST Act, in S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act introduced on April 16 in the Senate. He specifically mentioned the blue card program that allows undocumented workers who worked in agriculture 150 days per year in 2011 and 2012 the opportunity to earn a green card after paying fines and Georgia Farm Bureau News
Photo by Jay Stone
Farm Bureau presidents visit D.C.
Georgia Farm Bureau 10th District Director David Lee, center, right, presents the Friend of Farm Bureau Award to Rep. Jack Kingston during a visit to Kingston’s office in Washington, D.C.
working an additional three years. Chambliss welcomed the blue card measure, but felt the waiting period should be longer to maintain farmers’ access to agricultural labor. “There’s some real restrictions for them to meet that blue card qualification, but then I want to see if we can do something to make sure that they stay on the farm as long a period of time as we possibly can,” Chambliss said. The WRDA (introduced as S. 601) would establish policies and priorities for the Army Corps of Engineers to authorize a variety of federal water projects, but Section 2015 of the bill would place limits on withdrawals from Corps of Engineers reservoirs, including Lake Lanier, to less than half of current levels. Exceeding the limits would require Congressional approval. The GFB group urged the Georgia delegation to resist passage of the WRDA if it included Section 2015. The bill passed in the Senate on May 15 by an 83-14 vote. While Section 2015 remained in the bill, language was added urging the governors of Georgia, Florida and Alabama to reach water-sharing agreements in their long-standing dispute. AFBF Executive Director of Public Policy Dale Moore talked about the HSUS/United Egg Producers agreement and efforts in Congress to renew the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA). Georgia Farm Bureau members carried messages to their representatives on both issues. They conveyed the organization’s Georgia Farm Bureau News
opposition to the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, which would allow the federal government to regulate the size of layer hen enclosures. Similar legislation is expected in the 113th Congress. Farm Bureau members believe passage would lead to greater regulation of other livestock and poultry practices, and the GFB group expressed that decisions on animal care
should be based on scientific evidence and expertise provided by veterinarians rather than ballot initiatives and animal rights activists. The GFB group voiced the need for ADUFA reauthorization without amendments that might restrict farmer access to antibiotics and other critical animal health tools. Congress passed ADUFA after the trip. For more information see page 5.
Supreme Court sides with Monsanto
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Monsanto with a unanimous decision released May 13 in a patent infringement case. Monsanto’s licensing of glyphosate-resistant (Roundup Ready) soybean seed permits the purchaser to plant them in only one season. Vernon Bowman, an Indiana farmer, followed this guideline for his first planting each year, but he purchased soybeans from a grain elevator as a commodity to plant for a second crop. The harvest from this second crop yielded many soybeans that were resistant to glyphosate. Bowman used this practice to get around paying biotechnology fees Monsanto charges for glyphosate-resistant seed. Monsanto sued Bowman for patent infringement. Bowman’s defense, which was rejected by lower courts, centered on the legal doctrine of patent exhaustion, which limits a patent holder’s right to control what is done with item(s) containing its patented invention, terminating those rights with the initial authorized sale. The Supreme Court ruled that the exhaustion doctrine does not allow purchasers to duplicate patented items after purchase, which is what Bowman did by planting beans purchased from the grain elevator. Because many farmers in Bowman’s area use Roundup-Ready seeds to grow soybeans they sell to the elevator, Bowman had reason to believe that the beans he purchased would be glyphosate resistant. “Bowman planted Monsanto’s patented soybeans solely to make and market replicas of them, thus depriving the company of the reward patent law provides for the sale of each article,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in the court’s opinion on the case. June-July 2013 / 7
commodities/marketing update Joe McManus, assistant director of the GFB Commodities/Marketing Dept.
New animal disease traceability rules in effect Effective March 11 the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has new rules for livestock traceability for all states. This set of rules is important in case of disease outbreaks. Quick trace back of diseased and exposed animals and where they have been will drastically reduce reaction time and the number of potential animals involved, which will reduce potential cost to producers. The intent of the rule is to minimize the economic impact and reduce disruptions of animal movements in the event of an outbreak. Species covered in the new rule include beef and dairy cattle, bison, equine and poultry that travel interstate. These animals, when traveling out of Georgia, are required to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) or other movement documents. Interstate shipments of sheep, goats, swine and cervids (deer and elk) have not changed from existing rules. Dr. Robert M. Cobb Jr., state veterinarian with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, provided the following summary for beef and dairy cattle.
Official ID options for cattle and bison
• An official ear tag approved by APHIS that has an official identification number for each animal. Starting March 2014 all official ear tags manufactured must bear an official shield. Beginning March 11, 2015, all animals tagged must bear the official shield. Animals tagged with the “non-shielded” tags before March 2015 will be recognized as official for the life of the animal. • National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) metal ear tags are available through the Georgia Department of Agriculture. • Electronic identification ear tag 840 series; 840 is the code for the U.S. • Registration tattoo or brand (must have registration papers with the animal) when agreed to by authorities in shipping and receiving states. • Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) tags with the National Eartagging System number are official without the shield but must have the shield if applied after March 11, 2015. Beef Cattle and Bison • All beef cattle 18 months of age & older 8 / June-July 2013
require official, individual identification. • Steers & spayed heifers are exempt. • Beef cattle going directly to slaughter (harvested in 3 days) may travel with a back tag identification and do not require other ID. • Beef cattle under 18 months are exempt from the rule and individual ID. • Group/lot identification number (GIN) is required when a GIN may be used.
Dairy Cattle
• All female dairy cattle of any age and all males born after March 11, 2013, require official individual identification. • Steers are not excluded and require official individual identification. • DHIA official ear tags are accepted as official ID. • Dairy cattle going directly to slaughter (harvested in 3 days) may travel with back tag ID.
Exhibition/Show/Rodeo Cattle & Bison
• All exhibition and rodeo cattle and bison of any age require official individual identification.
Livestock Markets
• Cattle and bison moving through livestock markets must meet the identification & travel requirements when traveling interstate. • All identification eligible cattle & bison that will be traveling interstate & coming into a market must come to the market with ID, receive ID at the market or return to its place of origin. • Cattle and bison going directly to slaughter may move to slaughter with back tag identification & no other ID. • Georgia cattle and bison staying in Georgia are not affected by the new rule and do not require an ICVI and do not require individual identification. • Cattle and bison may come from out of state directly to an official tagging site without individual identification but must be listed on an owner shipper statement, and when leaving the tagging site must be individually identified. If these animals leave the tagging site to return out-of-state they are required to have an ICVI or other approved document. Any animals remaining in Georgia do not require an ICVI when leaving the official tagging site.
Where to find tags
• Official tags will be distributed to official tagging sites. • Producers, veterinarians, livestock markets and possibly other locations may be approved to become official tagging sites. • NUES metal ear tags are available through the state veterinarians office, free of charge, by calling 404-656-3671 or 404-6563667. • Electronic ID (840 series) should be acquired from a vendor of choice.
Equine
The new rules also apply to horses, mules and donkeys crossing state lines. Each equine will require a state approved identity document such as the ICVI for interstate travel. This is very similar to current rules. To be properly identified on the ICVI, animals must either have a description (including but not limited to name, age, breed, color, gender, distinctive markings, brands, tattoos, scars, cowlicks, blemishes or biometric measurements), an electronic ID such as a microchip or digital photographs. Because USDA has given individual states the ability to approve other methods of movement documentation besides the ICVI, such as owner-shipper statement, Coggins test or Brand Certificate, it is best to call the destination state prior to traveling and ask for current import requirements.
Rules Provide Uniformity
Instead of each state having individual health requirements, these rules provide uniform guidelines for all states. Some confusion is bound to occur, so, USDA will allow some time before enforcing the full extent of the rules. Livestock producers are recommended to use an official ID on all livestock. The electronic ID 840 series is the future of animal identification, and is the best choice to identify animals from birth. Permanent and consistent individual animal ID is the most practical way to manage on farm records as well as shipment records. For more information about the rules visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability/ or call the Georgia State Veterinarian’s Office at 404-656-3671 or Animal Health at 404656-3667. Georgia Farm Bureau News
Strickland Memorial Scholarship recipients named Three South Georgia students have been named the 2013 recipients of the B. Frank Strickland Memorial Scholarship. Laura Bass of Moultrie, LeeAnn Johnson of Alma and Lacey Lewis of Ashburn will each receive a $500 scholarship as they prepare to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton this fall. The daughter of Stanley and Lee Bass, Laura graduated from Colquitt County High School and plans to major in agribusiness. LeeAnn, the daughter of Daniel and Patricia Johnson, graduated from Pierce County High School and plans to pursue a degree in agribusiness. The daughter of Dwane and Kippy Lewis, Lacey graduated from Tiftarea Academy and plans to major in biology/ag engineering. The $500 scholarship is awarded to an entering freshman or rising sophomore at ABAC who is from a county where tobacco production occurs. Lanier County farmer
B. Frank Strickland was a lifelong advocate of Georgia’s tobacco industry and an active Georgia Farm Bureau member serving on the GFB Board of Directors for 27 years as a district director, GFB 3rd vice president and GFB 1st vice president. The ABAC Foundation administers the scholarship. A selection committee
comprised of representatives from Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Tobacco Commission and the Lanier County Farm Bureau select the recipient. Anyone who would like more information about the scholarship may contact the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities/Marketing Department at 1-800-342-1196.
Sunbelt Expo Field Day
July 11 • Sunbelt Agricultural Expo, Spence Field • Moultrie
This free preview for Sunbelt Expo will showcase the latest seed varieties, crop protection products, irrigation technology and precision ag technology being used in a research setting at the Expo Farm. Company representatives and university researchers will give presentations on their equipment and research. A biscuit breakfast reception with Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Farm Bureau representatives begins at 7:15 a.m. Numerous door prizes will be awarded to breakfast attendees. Trams will depart for the fields starting at 8 a.m. For more information, call 229985-1968 or visit http://www.sunbeltexpo.com.
Take advantage of special member rates on new or used motorcycles, boats, all terrain and recreational vehicles.
• Up to 100% financing*
• Same low rate for new and used* • Flexible payment terms up to 72 months For details, contact your Farm Bureau agent or visit farmbureaubank.com. * Existing Farm Bureau Bank recreational vehicles excluded from this offer. Rates and financing are limited to vehicle models 2003 and newer and subject to change without notice. All loans are subject to credit approval, verification, and collateral evaluation. The minimum loan amount is $5,000. Non-member rates may be 1-3% higher than posted rates. Loans for RVs, motorcycles, trailers, ATVs, watercraft and commercial vehicles may be 0.50% higher than vehicle loan rates. This offer if not available in all states and rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Farm Bureau Bank does not finance totaled, rebuilt or salvaged vehicles. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB.
Georgia Farm Bureau News
June-July 2013 / 9
By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________ A listening session at the Georgia Department of Agriculture on March 20 provided produce growers with an overview of the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed food safety rules mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was signed into law in January 2011. Two rules were published in January 2013. The first outlines steps to be taken in produce safety and the second is a set of preventative controls for human food. One point of concern to Georgia produce growers is how the rule handles packing operations. “When you start moving from packing for yourself to packing for other growers, it changes your classification under the Bioterrorism Act from a farm to a facility,” said Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Charles Hall. “The FDA is having to write rules around that, so that’s one of the biggest concerns from our association’s standpoint.”
Growers allowed some exemptions
A key part of the rule exempts farms with less than $500,000 in annual food sales whose majority of sales are within 275 miles of the farm. The only requirement would be for these farms to provide labels stating the farm and location. Dr. Jim Gorny, who was the senior food safety advisor for the FDA at the time of the meeting, emphasized the rule is risk-based and allows exemptions based on a variety of factors that vary by commodity. For example, items that are rarely eaten raw, like potatoes or artichokes, are not covered by the rule because they are usually cooked. Likewise, produce destined to be commercially processed is exempted, though documentation is required. Also exempt is produce from farms with less than $25,000 in annual sales, as is produce for personal or on-farm consumption. Gorny, who has since taken a position with the Produce Marketing Association, presented a summary of both proposed 10 / June-July 2013
rules and fielded questions from the live audience in Atlanta and webcast audiences in Macon and Tifton.
What is covered
The produce safety rule addresses identified routes for microbial contamination, including: contact with animals and farm equipment; worker hygiene; agricultural water; growing, packing and holding activities; soil amendments and specific requirements for sprouts. Covered farms are those with annual sales of more than $25,000 per year that grow, harvest or pack most produce that is usually consumed raw. Gorny said the proposed rules would be phased in based on farm size. Farms with between $25,000 and $250,000 in annual sales would have four years after the rule is finalized. Farms with annual sales between $250,000 and $500,000 would have three years to comply. Other covered farms would have two years to comply. Additional time is allotted in each category for some water requirements. Gorny cautioned that food-borne illness outbreaks can happen to any farmer, drawing a comparison to the likelihood of being struck by lightning. “Food safety is like lightning in that when you see lightning off in the distance … you know to get inside. That’s what we’re talking about today with this proposed rule. What does a lightning strike of food safety look like on your farm, and what can you do to mitigate that, so that you and your business and your customers don’t get injured,” Gorny said. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, FDA Deputy Commissioner of Foods Mike Taylor and UGA Center for Food Safety Director Dr. Michael Doyle also spoke at the meeting. Doyle said the CDC has become highly proficient at detecting and investigating outbreaks, and that a lot of emphasis is being placed on produce safety. “Produce is really in the crosshairs of
Photo by Jay Stone
Proposed food safety rules reviewed in FDA listening session
Dr. Jim Gorny reviewed the key points of the proposed Food & Drug Administration rules for produce safety, emphasizing that they are risk-based and provide some exemptions based on commodity type and farm size.
public health and it’s not going to go away,” Doyle said. “One of the problems that the industry has is good news/bad news. The good news is that produce is good for people. The bad news is it’s also good for bad bacteria.” Black said that the Georgia Department of Agriculture would be heavily involved in educating growers about steps necessary for compliance.
Farmers want to maintain competitive balance
Duvall emphasized that as the rule is refined, it should be done so in a way that allows Georgia and Southeastern farmers the same chances for business success as farmers around the U.S. and the world. “We want to make sure that the big producer and the small producer have a level playing field,” Duvall said. “We want our producers in the state of Georgia and the Southeast to have a level playing field with the world, and what’s expected of us is expected of the people of the world. “ Taylor spoke to the issue of international competitiveness, noting that the FSMA includes language requiring imported food to meet the same food safety standards as food produced domestically. “We have a rule that’s under final review in the administration that would establish a whole new requirement for importers to document how they are managing their supply chains and to provide documented assurances that the foreign grower and the foreign processor is producing in accordance with our standards,” Taylor said. Continued on next page Georgia Farm Bureau News
WE, THE FARMERS from page 4 because the work is physically demanding but also requires skill and training. Dick said labor is the top issue vegetable producers face and that after 25 years it’s time to move forward with immigration reform. GFB asked for this meeting because we wanted the AJC staff to understand how important this issue is to farmers in hopes they will share this with their readers. As a result of the meeting, I was asked to write an op-ed, which ran June 13, outlining agriculture’s need for federal immigration reform. GFB has asked Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson to vote for S. 744. The Senate bill is not perfect. However, if the Senate fails to pass a bill, analysts predict the issue could be dead for another five to
six years. Hopefully, both the Senate and House will pass their respective reform bills. At that point, the two chambers can come together in a conference committee to work out their differences. But the first step is to get a bill through the Senate. Failure to do that will greatly reduce our chances of meaningful immigration reform in the near future. GFB has had several other opportunities this spring to meet with officials to share our viewpoints on the farm bill and immigration. I’d like to thank Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black for inviting me to join him and other Georgia ag leaders in meeting with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on March 21. Vilsack shared
Continued from previous page The FDA is also developing proposed rules governing foreign supplier verification, preventive controls for animal food and accredited third-party certification, but no timetable had been set for publication as the GFB News went to press. The FDA received 632 comments on
the proposed rule for food safety by May 16. The comment period on the proposed rule governing produce for human consumption has been extended to Sept. 16. To submit a comment visit http://tinyurl.com/ khynura and click the “Comment Now!” link at the top of the page.
our disappointment that Congress had yet to pass a farm bill. During our annual GFB Presidents’ Trip to Washington in April, more than 100 GFB members had the chance to meet one-on-one with their representatives and staff and to hear from Sens. Chambliss and Isakson. In Exodus 34:10 God tells Moses “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the LORD—the awesome power I will display for you.” (Tyndale New Living Translation) In verse 11, God said he would go ahead of the Israelites into the Promised Land and drive out the people inhabiting it. We can trust that if we stay vigilant in obeying God’s word he will drive out the obstacles that stand in our way. Farm Bureau will always be respectful of God’s commandments and continue our vigilance for our farmers on the legislative front.
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June-July 2013 / 11
Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
Pictured from left, Oglethorpe County Farm Bureau Office Manager Linda Whitehead and OCFB Women’s Committee members Mandy Rawls and Casey Busbin finish a game of My Plate Bingo designed to teach kids the number of servings of each food group they should eat daily.
GFB prepares members to teach ag literacy By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________
A
bout 250 county Farm Bureau volunteers and staff attending the Georgia Farm Bureau Educational/Leadership Conference March 15-16 in Macon got a crash course in teaching students about agriculture and eating healthy. GFB Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Nanette Bryan announced that beginning July 1 GFB will launch a comprehensive program to promote locally grown food, GFB’s Certified Markets and proper nutrition habits rather than promoting one Georgia commodity, as the organization has previously done. “My Plate is Georgia Grown,” is the theme of the promotion for the 20132014 school year. 12 / June-July 2013
The change in promotion strategy is designed to take advantage of consumers’ increased interest in where their food comes from and the growing effort to fight childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes. The new promotion program is intended to complement the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) Feed My School for a Week and the USDA’s Farm to School program. Numerous speakers led workshops designed to show GFB volunteers how they can teach students about the basics of agriculture while also promoting healthy eating habits. GDA Nutrition Educator & Outreach Specialist Melanie Harris and GFB Commodity Specialist Brandon Ashley taught conference at-
tendees how to make snacks promoting vegetables and Georgia commodities. The kid-friendly recipes included Veggie Man, a skeleton constructed of raw vegetables with a bowl of ranch dressing topped with lettuce for the head; “sushi” rolls made from wheat bread, peanut butter and jelly; and apple “snakes.” Crawford County teachers Andrea Seagraves and Amy Hill discussed how they have developed a curriculum for their kindergarten class based on agriculture and hold Farm Fridays each week. Bleckley County third grade science teachers Christy Jones and Tanya Rogers shared how they plant a school garden and use it to teach Georgia Performance Standards. The teachers get parents and community groups involved with the project. After the vegetables mature, students harvest them, cook them and taste the vegetables. Rogers said the kids will often try foods they otherwise would not because they were invested in growing them. UGA Extension Agents Edda CottoRivera and Cindee Sweda discussed how to teach kids to meet the recommended daily intake of the five food groups USDA advocates by eating Georgia commodities. GFB Women’s Committee members Elaine Avery and Angela Todd discussed resources available through USDA Choose My Plate such as Supertracker, a calorie tracker with a listing of 8,000 food items that helps consumers keep a daily tally of their food consumption, and daily nutrition tips sent via email. Todd urged attendees to watch their portion sizes to control their weight. Avery taught attendees how to teach kids the number of servings they should consume from each food group by playing My Plate Bingo. GFB President Zippy Duvall commended conference attendees for the work they do to educate students and their local communities about agriculture, saying, “You can read a book, plant a garden or host a farm tour so that when these students become older they’ll have a better understanding of agriculture.” Members of Georgia 4-H’s Clovers & Company entertained conference attendees with individual performances showcasing a wide variety of musical styles and dance. The group ended their set with a rousing rendition of Amazing Grace. Georgia Farm Bureau News
Beef commission key topic at GCA Convention Livestock producers at the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention and Beef Expo seemed encouraged at the prospect of a state beef commission. The Georgia Farm Bureau Beef Committee met during the GCA Convention, which was held April 3-6 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. A bill passed earlier this year by the Georgia General Assembly, SB 97, paves the way for a referendum to form a state beef checkoff to offset declining funds available from the National Beef Checkoff. “Since the first national beef checkoff was passed in the mid-1980s, cattle numbers have decreased significantly,” said Georgia Farm Bureau Beef Committee Chairman John Callaway, who said promotion funds raised by the $1-per-head checkoff assessment have decreased as a result. “A dollar doesn’t buy today what it did in 1985.” SB 97, which Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law April 17, authorizes Georgia’s beef producers to vote on the formation of a state commodity commission for beef to be funded by an additional assessment of up to a dollar per head. There would be more flexibility in how funds from a state beef checkoff could be spent, particularly in the area of research. According to Callaway, National Beef Checkoff funds for research are limited to post-slaughter projects. “As far as the national beef checkoff, you’re limited as to some of the types of research you can do,” Callaway said. “Production research is not covered under that. For instance, if we had a severe problem with fly control here in Georgia and we wanted to designate some dollars to do some research on new breakthroughs in fly control, it could be funded through a state beef checkoff.” The Georgia Department of Agriculture, along with multiple stakeholder organizations, is in the process of compiling a list of cattle producers eligible to vote in the referendum and working out the details of Georgia Farm Bureau News
how the referendum will be administered. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Scott George encouraged the GFB Beef Committee to push for passage of the referendum. “There are things we cannot do any more because we don’t have the money,” George said, noting that gaining a consensus among various national cattle stakeholder groups to raise the national checkoff fee is unlikely. “If you can get your state checkoff, I encourage you to do it, because there is a huge need for it.” The convention featured numerous industry updates and seminars on feed strategies, promotion and the Beef Quality Assurance programs, including data from the 2011 Beef Quality Audit (BQA), which revealed a shift in focus among consumers
Photo by Jay Stone
By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________
NCBA VP for Research Bo Reagan detailed the results of the most recent Beef Quality Audit, which revealed a change in focus of consumer attitudes toward food safety and animal welfare.
to issues of food safety and animal welfare. During the convention, the GCA also installed David Gazda of Clarke County as its new president. Gazda developed his interest in beef cattle while attending the University of Georgia. David, his wife, Carolyn, daughters Katie and Taylor, operate Gazda Cattle Company, raising registered Angus, with his father, George.
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District winners of GFB Spring Membership Contest named
MEMBE
RSHIP
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John Smit By Mike Copeland, GFB Field Services Dept. Director h __________________________________________________________ Classificati As with any membership associa- of the 10 district winon: Farmer M M ember No ember tion, growing and retaining members ners were recognized . 01234567 County: 8 90 is fundamental. Within Farm Bureau, with a ratchet tool set. Any Expiration D at we often refer to membership as our The county staff was e: 12/31 /13 Member Since 200 “lifeblood.” It is through the work of recognized with gift 4 our members that we accomplish our cards. The Spring 2013 organizational mission. Our member- Membership Contest winners are: ship base provides Farm Bureau’s leadership, financial support and our legis- • District 1 – Bartow County Congratulations to all 10 district lative strength. Dean Bagwell, president winners and to each of our 158 county We continue to encourage our • District 2 – Rabun County Farm Bureau chapters for working to counties to make membership a prior- Mike Dixon, president increase our membership. ity. In an effort to keep our member- • District 3 – Newton County The value of a Farm Bureau memship focus, a 60-day Membership Con- Keith Mitcham, president bership continues to grow. For only test was held Feb. 1 through April 1 for • District 4 – Glascock County $25, we provide many member beneeach of the 10 Farm Bureau districts. John Raley, president fits of which any one can return a value This competition created much • District 5 – Lamar County many times our annual dues. Our legexcitement as our county volunteer Ralph Adamson, president islative efforts in the area of taxation leaders, county staff and insurance • District 6 – Jones County alone will yield dividends for years to agents united with a single mission. Judd Chambers, president come. Ask your friends and neighbors This contest recognized the county in • District 7 – Bulloch County to join our cause to enhance the qualeach district with the largest percentage Lannie Lee, president ity of rural life and support our state’s increase in membership and member- • District 8 – Clay County largest economic engine – agriculture ships with an electronic fund transfer Phil Redding, president and agribusiness. We need all prospec(EFT). An EFT provides our members • District 9 – Grady County tive members to visit our website at the convenience of a bank draft to pay Sammy Perkins, president http://www.gfb.org and click the “Join their annual dues. • District 10 – Cook County Now” button. The county presidents from each Derrell Bennett, president
UGA hires Smith as fruit specialist The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has hired blueberry expert Erick Smith as a fruit specialist on the Tifton Campus. In his new position, Smith will spend 80 percent of his time working with fruit farmers on critical issues affecting the industry and blueberry production. He’ll spend the other 20 percent of his time researching ways to make fruit production more efficient in South Georgia. Smith was a research associate at Washington State University prior to moving to Georgia. He began work with UGA on April 1. Competition has the blueberry industry looking for efficiencies in production that would reduce input costs, he said. Growers have specifically expressed to Smith a need for help identifying pests, diseases and cultural management. 14 / June-July 2013
UGA names Abney peanut entomologist
Georgia native Mark Abney has returned to his home state to assume the position of peanut entomologist at the UGA Tifton Campus, effective June 10. Abney, originally from Cochran, spent more than a decade at North Carolina State working as an entomology researcher and Extension specialist. Abney’s arrival at UGA means Georgia peanut farmers will have someone to address their concerns about insects like the burrower bug. For several years, peanut producers have had major problems with the bug, which lives in the soil and feeds on kernels inside the pod. Because the bug isn’t found in every field and is not in fields every year, control strategies have been difficult to find. In addition to tackling the burrower bug, Abney also plans to address the three-cornered alfalfa hopper and spider mites. Georgia Farm Bureau News
By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________ Georgia Farm Bureau members from Putnam, Baldwin, Greene, Jasper, Jones, Morgan and Walton counties attended a legislative breakfast hosted by GFB and Putnam County Farm Bureau May 17 for the purpose of visiting with Ga. Sen. Burt Jones. The first-term senator’s district includes all or portions of the aforementioned counties, Butts County and a portion of Bibb. “Several years ago I started holding tailgate meetings to get out in the counties to talk to our county leaders about ag issues and to make sure Farm Bureau is doing what you want us to do,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “This year we’re expanding the meetings to bring in policy makers to talk to our county leaders. Today we have the opportunity to meet our new senator in this district and to let Sen. Jones get to know you.” Putnam County Farm Bureau President David Lowe welcomed the group to the breakfast. Lowe said that the counties in Sen. Jones’ district have a combined farm gate income of $419 million. Sen. Jones told the Farm Bureau group about his family’s beef farm in Butts County and expressed his appreciation for agri-
Photo by Jennifer Whittakr
Sen. Jones meets with Farm Bureau leaders
Pictured from left, Putnam County Extension Agent Keith Fielder, Tim Camp and Sen. Burt Jones discuss issues impacting Camp’s dairy operation such as high feed costs and the need for reliable labor.
culture, saying “It’s very important as legislators that we realize that agriculture is still Georgia’s number one industry.” After the legislative breakfast, Lowe and Duvall took Sen. Jones on a tour of several Putnam County farms. The first stop was the dairy farm of Tim Camp where the tour group discussed issues impacting dairy farms such as high feed costs and the need for reliable labor.
Burn ban in effect for 54 Ga. counties A ban on outdoor burning is in effect for 54 Georgia counties until Sept. 30. This annual restriction, which began May 1, is required by the state Environmental Protection Division to enhance air quality during the summer months when high ozone levels can negatively impact people’s health. The ban affects the following counties: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker and Walton. Residents in counties not included in the ban are required to secure a burn perGeorgia Farm Bureau News
mit from the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) before conducting any outside burning. Permits can be requested online at http://GaTrees.org, or by calling the local office of the GFC.
The tour then visited the Bailes Ranch where Pete Bailes raises registered polled Herefords. Bailes gave the group a tour of his barn and the chutes he uses when he needs to weigh them and give them medicine. The group talked about the importance of legislators understanding how cattle producers care for their livestock and the negative attacks animal welfare groups have made against farmers. The last stop on the tour was the Eatonton Cooperative Feed Company Inc., a feed mill that supplies feed to about 55 dairy farmers and about 25 beef producers in Putnam and surrounding counties. Co-op employees and members told Jones how environmental regulations are negatively impacting the business.
June-July 2013 / 15
young farmer update Jed Evans, Young Farmer Coordinator
The annual FFA Discussion Meet sponsored by the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee was held April 26 at the Macon Centreplex as part of the state FFA annual convention. Twelve area winners from across Georgia competed in this competition. Two preliminary rounds were held to determine the Final Four. The Final Four contestants were: Andy Paul from Oglethorpe County, Charlsey Anesetti from Pike County, Ethan Perkins from Southeast Bulloch and Kathy Carpenter from Johnson County. Anesetti won the 2013 FFA Discussion Meet. Anesetti graduated from Pike County High School this spring and plans to attend ABAC this fall with plans to become an agricultural education teacher. As the state winner, Anesetti received a $300 cash award. The other three finalists received $150. All area winners received $50 from Georgia Farm Bureau.
Photo by Jed Evans
GFB supports FFA Discussion Meet
Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee Chairman Garrett Ganas, center, congratulates the Final Four contestants of the state FFA Discussion Meet sponsored by GFB. Pictured from left are winner Charlsey Anesetti, Kathy Carpenter, Andy Paul and Ethan Perkins.
The GFB Young Farmer Committee continues to put a special emphasis on its relationship with the Georgia Food Bank Association. Each year, the committee sponsors a fundraiser through “Harvest for All” to help fund the Food Bank Association’s efforts. In addition to donating to this annual fundraiser, the YF Committee urges Farm Bureau members to support their local food banks by volunteering. Several YF Committee members recently spent the day at the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank to show their commitment to supporting Georgia’s foodbanks. “As farmers, our job is to feed our fellow citizens. However, it doesn’t stop with the food we grow,” said Garrett Ganas, chairman of the Young Farmer Committee. “We feel like we have the responsibility to help those less fortunate. Donating a few hours of our time goes a long way towards helping those in need.”
16 / June-July 2013
Photo by Ray D’Alessio
GFB Young Farmer Committee supports Middle Ga. Community Food Bank
Pictured from right, GFB Young Farmer Committee members Emily Nolan and Nydia Ganas and GFB Young Farmer Coordinator Jed Evans pack bags of food at the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank to be sent to Dodge County in late April.
Georgia Farm Bureau News
By Donna Rocker ____________________________________ During the past school year, Georgia Farm Bureau partnered with Agrium, a Canadian-based company, to send two of the company’s Seed Survivor Mobile Classrooms to elementary schools across Georgia. Agrium’s primary business is fertilizer, and one of its umbrella companies is Crop Production Services (CPS), which sells crop inputs. As part of the agreement, primary consideration was given to sending the mobile classroom to counties with CPS offices. From Nov. 8, 2012, through March 15, the mobile classrooms reached 9,761 Georgia students in 431 classes in 66 public and independent schools. Two Seed Survivor program coordinators managed the mobile classrooms during their trek across Georgia. Farm Bureau volunteers assisted with the class presentation at many of the stops. The classroom accommodates about 30 students at a time for one-hour classes. Students spent half the class outside the trailer participating in
Photo By Donna Rocker
Agrium program teaches basics of seed survival
Early County Women’s Committee Chairman & GFB 9th District Women’s Committee Representative Angie Durham talked to students about planting seeds during one of the stops the Agrium Seed Seed Survivor Mobile Classroom made in South Georgia.
a plant nutrient lesson and half the presentation inside the trailer playing multi-media and virtual reality video games on soil, water, sunlight, nutrients and plant growth.
Students also planted a sunflower seed to take home and watch grow. Donna Rocker is the GFB Ag in the Classroom Coordinator.
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1
June-July6/4/13 2013 12:01 / 17 PM
Pecan crop insurance program changes in 2014 “Unit structure is one of the major changes,” Lindsey said. “If you have one orchard in one part of the county and another orchard in another part separated by land you do not own or rent, you may have those as two separate units whereas before you had to combine them.” To insure noncontiguous orchards as optional units, producers must have separate production records for the orchards for at least the prior two years, Lindsey said. Many producers started keeping separate production records on noncontiguous orchards last year in anticipation that the RMA would make this change, she said. Lindsey added that all crop insurance programs have an increased premium for optional units, which is usually 10 percent. Another change is orchards must no longer be 12 years old to be insurable. The new provision allows orchards to be insured once there is a minimum of 600 pounds production per acre in one of the previous four years. “This will be a benefit for young orchards or high density orchards that reach 600 pounds an acre prior to twelve years and will curb some abuse we’ve seen in the program where you’ve had very old orchards that didn’t produce anything insured,” Lindsey said. The base period of years previously used to calculate the Approved Average Revenue is decreasing from a maximum of 10 to six years. “Your data base next year will include
By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________
T
he USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has made changes to the pecan crop insurance program beginning in 2014. Dr. Jeanne Lindsey with the USDA-RMA Valdosta office reviewed the changes during the Georgia Pecan Growers Association Annual Meeting held March 27 at the Georgia Agricenter in Perry. Changes to the Pecan Revenue Crop Provisions include: allowing growers to insure orchards on noncontiguous land as optional units; replacing the minimum age requirement used to determine an orchard’s insurability with a minimum production requirement; changing the maximum base period for calculating the Approved Average Revenue from 10 to six years and removing the penalty for sequentially thinning orchards.
at the most 2008 through 2013 production history,” Lindsey explained. Prior to the changes, there was a 1.0 penalty factor for sequential thinning in Georgia resulting in no reduction in liability in thinning. Although the policy changes officially remove the penalty for sequentially thinning orchards, growers will still need to report the activity to their agent. “If you removed half your trees that could be viewed as a situation that would reduce your revenue,” Lindsey said. Policy changes also include the addition of a transitional revenue (T-revenue) to replace the lowest available dollar span when a producer is unable to provide records. There is also a new provision to allow the use of the actual price received by producers when determining indemnities instead of the market price. Policyholders beginning a two-year coverage cycle in 2013 should note the program changes modify the two-year coverage module to allow the 2013-year to be treated as a one-year policy. This will allow all producers to begin a new two-year coverage module for the 2014 crop year under the new terms of the revised insurance program. All policies will automatically renew for the 2014 crop year unless the policyholder provides written notification that they want to cancel coverage by the Jan. 31, 2014, cancellation date. Visit http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies to review the new Pecan Revenue Crop Provisions.
Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
Brooks County horse infected with EEE
The USDA Risk Management Agency has announced changes to the pecan crop insurance program beginning in 2014. The program offers growers coverage against losses sustained due to adverse weather, such as the freeze damage some Georgia growers experienced in 2007. 18 / June-July 2013
A two-year old horse in Brooks County was euthanized in late May after being diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The Brooks County case involved a 2-year-old male western performance horse. EEE is transmitted through mosquito bites and affects both horses and humans, according to information provided by the GDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. State veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb recommended that horses be vaccinated
annually against both EEE and West Nile Virus, which is also transmitted by mosquitoes, and more frequently in areas where the mosquito and bird populations are high. According to the CDC, an average of six human cases of EEE are reported each year, most commonly in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Symptoms include chills, fever, joint pain and muscle pain. Humans can protect themselves by using insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and/or clothing. Georgia Farm Bureau News
Ag Week/Ag Day events held statewide Compiled by Jennifer Whittaker _______________________________________________________ County Farm Bureaus held Ag Day and Ag Week celebrations throughout March as schedules allowed. Below are some of the activities held across the state to increase awareness of Georgia’s top industry. COFFEE COUNTY Coffee County Farm Bureau held a weeklong ag awareness celebration March 11-15 for the fifth grade class at Citizens Christian Academy. CCFB Women’s Chairman Kem McKinnon, CCFB Promotion & Education Chairman Janet Pridgen and CCFB Office Manager Carla Palmer presented lessons on where food comes from, growing vegetables and dairy. Claude Burkett from Lasseter Equipment talked to the students about safety precautions to follow with utility vehicles. The week ended with a pizza party. McKinnon, standing, is pictured teaching the students about planting seeds.
GILMER COUNTY Gilmer County Farm Bureau (GCFB) worked with the Gilmer County FFA and Gilmer County Young Farmers Association to host an Agriculture Awareness event March 29 for local elementary students. Representatives from each organization that sponsored the event are pictured. More than 200 students rotated through stations highlighting livestock, horticulture, farm equipment and farm safety. GCFB gave the teachers who brought students to the event gift bags filled with materials to help them teach their classes about agriculture. GREENE COUNTY Greene County Farm Bureau co-hosted an Ag Day with the Greene County FFA and the Greene County Cooperative Extension on March 22. More than 200 fourth-grade students from three schools attended. GCFB volunteer Marvin Bell, standing, talked to the kids about dairy farming. GCFB Women’s Committee memGeorgia Farm Bureau News
bers Martha Copelan and Becky Durham talked about soybeans. GCFB volunteer Jackie Copelan showcased his miniature ponies and discussed horse care. The students also rotated through stations highlighting beef cattle, poultry, cotton, electrical safety, gardening and dog care.
HARALSON COUNTY Haralson County Farm Bureau celebrated National Agriculture Week March 17-23 by exhibiting a display at the Georgia Welcome Center on I-20 near the Alabama line that showcased Georgia’s major commodities. HCFB Office Manager Kim Hindmon is pictured with the exhibit. Brochures, pencils, peanuts, ag maps, and activity sheets for kids were available for visitors to take home. An estimated 7,000 people went through the center during the week including 17 international visitors and visitors from at least five other states.
IRWIN COUNTY Irwin County Farm Bureau joined forces with the Irwin County Young Farmers and Irwin County Extension to hold an Ag Day on March 22 for the 150 fifth-graders at Irwin County Elementary School. The students learned about the different aspects of agriculture in the county as they rotated through exhibits highlighting various commodities, farm equipment, livestock and farm safety. Each student received an Ag Day t-shirt and enjoyed a hamburger lunch. (See AG WEEK page 21) June-July 2013 / 19
AROUND GEORGIA
News from County Farm Bureaus
CARROLL COUNTY The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce picked the Carroll County Farm Bureau as its Business of the Month for April. CCFB President Alvin Chambers, third from right, and CCFB Director/ GFB 3rd District Director George Chambers, third from left, are pictured with the CCFB office staff and the sign they displayed outside their office during April. CLARKE COUNTY Clarke County Farm Bureau participated in Food Check-out Week by giving gift bags to five first-grade teachers at a local elementary school. Each teacher received two reusable grocery bags, flyers on healthy eating, pencils, a bag clip and healthy snacks. CCFB Office manager Katy Seagraves, right, presents FCOW materials to teacher Charie Bailey.
COLUMBIA COUNTY This spring Columbia County Farm Bureau Vice President Foster Olson hosted a performance seminar for the Columbia County 4-H Equine Club. Lela Neilsen, pictured left, taught the students many different things about horses, and members of the CCFB Board of Directors grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone attending the seminar. 20 / June-July 2013
EARLY COUNTY Early County Farm Bureau participated in the 5th Annual Peanut Proud Parade and celebration held March 23. ECFB President LaDon Durham drove ECFB Director Mike Newberry’s McCormick Farmall Tractor in the parade accompanied by Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and his wife Bonnie. The Duvalls threw packs of GFB peanuts to parade watchers. ECFB also sponsored golf carts to drive event attendees from parking lots to the downtown square. EVANS COUNTY Evans County Farm Bureau sponsored a lunch and farm tour for U.S. Rep. John Barrow this winter. Pictured from left, ECFB Legislative Committee Chair/ECFB Director Mike Dollar, ECFB members Erney Bell and Harold Todd visit with Rep. Barrow along with ECFB President Donny Jones and ECFB Director & GFB District 7 Director Gary Bell at Bell Farms. HENRY COUNTY Henry County Farm Bureau Women’s Chairman Carol McQueen, left, presents a $250 mini-grant to Melanie Hartfield, a special education teacher at Unity Grove Elementary School. Hartfield used the grant money to plant a garden with her second-grade students that focused on the “three sisters” planting method used by the Native American Indians. Her fifth-graders planted a Victory Garden like those planted during World War II. Hartfield used the gardens to teach her students about agriculture while meeting math, social studies, science and language arts requirements. Georgia Farm Bureau News
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau held a Farm Day at a local primary school in March attended by more than 800 children. Jeff Davis 4-Her Oakley Perry, standing center of circle, talks to the students about eating the USDA recommended daily allowance of fruits & vegetables. JDCFB Director Jamie Tate told the students how farmers raise calves. JDCFB members Regina Barton and Janet Rigdon discussed the proper care of horses. JDCFB members Becky and Betty Sue Tate stressed the importance of eating vegetables for better health. GFB 6th Dist. Field Rep. Don Giles explained how farmers grow soybeans and discussed how the beans are processed and the many products made from soybeans. Other exhibitors included the Jeff Davis Fire Department, the Georgia Milk Producers’ Mobile Dairy Classroom, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Fort Valley State University, the Satilla Rural EMC, the Georgia Forestry Commission and Smokey Bear, USDA, Stafford Day Honeybee Farm, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Burch Wilcox, who discussed horse dental health and Chester and Roney Yawn, who brought alligators. McDUFFIE COUNTY This spring the McDuffie County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee visited a fourth-grade class to teach the students about growing soybeans and the many products made from the crop. The committee members gave the students pencils, bookmarks and coloring sheets promoting soybeans and helped each student plant soybean seeds. After three weeks, the MCFB volunteers went back to check on the progress of the class’ soybean crop. These students were recognized for growing the tallest plants.
Waldrep, who serves on the GFB Swine Committee, is the MPHS FFA teacher and coordinated the exhibit. Williams, who serves on the GFB Honeybee Committee and raises bees for honey, displayed some of his bees and answered questions about bees and honey. MCFB Office Manager Sandi Williams displayed Farm Bureau membership brochures as part of the exhibit. MCFB gave away pencils and informational sheets about bees. PIKE COUNTY Pike County Farm Bureau held its annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast April 26. Guest speakers were Georgia Sen. Ronnie Chance, Georgia Rep. Johnnie Caldwell, pictured, and GFB Legislative Director Jon Huffmaster. Representatives of U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland and Sen. Saxby Chambliss also attended the event. STEPHENS COUNTY Stephens County Farm Bureau hosted the Agrium Seed Survivor Mobile Classroom for local third-graders during the past school year. The students explored multimedia and virtual reality games, a seed planting station, talking walls and interactive stations on water, light, soil, nutrients and growth. The students also had a lesson on plant nutrients. Each child left with an understanding of the importance of agriculture and the elements that a plant needs to survive. AG WEEK from page 19
MONROE COUNTY Monroe County Farm Bureau Director Bill Waldrep, not pictured, and member Terry Williams, second from left, promoted agriculture at the Forsythia Festival March 9-10 by showcasing farm animals and commodities as part of the Mary Persons High School FFA exhibit.
WILCOX COUNTY Wilcox County Elementary School students saw a live milking demonstration on March 14 thanks to the Wilcox County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee arranging for Nicole Karstedt with the Georgia Milk Producers Inc. to bring the Mobile Dairy Classroom to the school. Students also learned how dairy farmers care for their cattle and about the many products made from milk.
Georgia Farm Bureau News
June-July 2013 / 21
GFB mourns loss of county presidents Carroll County Farm Bureau President Paul Cooper, 80, died March 4. He had served as the CCFB president since 1974 and served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Honeybee Committee from 2007-2012. Cooper raised beef cattle and honeybees. Cooper was the president of Architectural Contractors, Inc., founder of the Country Times Band, and a member of Oak Mt. Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder. Survivors include his wife, Monzelle C. Cooper; sons and daughters-in-law, James and Bonnie Cooper, Alan and Debra Cooper all of Carrollton; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be sent to Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church, 402 Oak Mountain Road, Carrollton, Ga. 30116 or Neva Lomason Memorial Library, 710
Rome Street, Carrollton, Ga. 30117. Condolences may be sent to the family at 1161 Oak Mountain Road, Carrollton, Ga. 30116. Marijane Scarborough, 73, who served as Seminole County Farm Bureau president since 1985, died April 27. She served on the GFB Water Committee from 2004 thru 2005 and on the GFB Aquaculture Committee in 2006 and 2008-2010. Scarborough, a retired farmer who produced peanuts, corn, soybeans and cattle, received an associate degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Scarborough was a member of First Baptist Church and the Donalsonville Garden Club and served on the NRCS Soil and Water Board and the Georgia Farm Service Agency Board. Survivors include her husband, Ed Scarborough; her son Mark Spooner and
Shuman inducted into VOC Hall of Fame Buck Shuman of Reidsville, Ga., was inducted into the Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) Hall of Fame on Feb. 16. In the last GFB News we incorrectly referenced Shuman as Buck Sherman. We apologize for the error. Shuman has devoted nearly 40 years to serving the industry as the developer of a custom blend of fertilizer that helps growers maintain the onion’s sweet flavor and through his work to develop new onion varieties. The late Gerald Dasher of Glennville was also inducted into the VOC Hall of Fame.
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wife, Lisa; daughters Ellen S. King and husband, Ed; Lisa Joy S. Conoly and husband, Mike; Melissa S. Brock and husband, Dee; and Stacy Scarborough Sauls and husband, Brian; and numerous grandchildren. Scarborough was preceded in death by her first husband, Marcus Ray Spooner. Memorial donations may be made to the Marcus Ray Spooner Trust Fund, First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 81, Donalsonville, Ga. 39845.
Morris re-elected to GPC
Armond Morris of Irwin County has been re-elected to another three-year term on the Georgia Peanut Commission Board of Directors as the District 2 representative. Morris received 65.24 percent of the vote to defeat Wes Shannon of Tift County during a 30-day Morris mail ballot that ended April 30. Morris has served on the GPC board for a total of 26 years, including nine years as the GPC chairman. GPC District 4 Director Rodney Dawson of Pulaski County and GPC District 5 Director Donald Chase of Macon County were renominated for three-year terms without opposition during nomination meetings held in December 2012. Chase, Dawson and Morris were sworn in for their upcoming three-year terms during a GPC board meeting on June 13. The GPC board also elected officers during the board meeting selecting Morris as the commission chairman, GPC District 3 Director Joe Boddiford as vice chairman and Dawson as treasurer. Tim Burch of Baker County is the GPC Dist. 1 director. Georgia Farm Bureau News
By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________
Georgia table egg producers have voted to end the Georgia Egg Commission, which has worked since its establishment in 1961 to promote eggs to consumers, educate egg producers about industry issues and support egg research. Producers voting in a mail referendum held April 1-30 cast seven votes to end the commission and five to continue its work. Five ballots were not returned. The Georgia Department of Agriculture counted the ballots May 6. State law requires that all agricultural commodity commissions hold referendums every three years. For a commission to continue, 66 2/3 percent of the producers who vote must vote to continue the commission. “In 1961, Georgia egg producers had a vision of the future that needed a program of promotion, education and research.
Speaking on behalf of our current and past board of directors, advisors and employees, it has been an honor for us to carry forth this dream and to watch it grow into a great program for a great industry,” Georgia Egg Commission President Robert Howell said in a released statement. Georgia table egg producers paid an assessment of 4.5 cents per 30-dozen case of eggs, which generated about $350,000 annually to fund the commission’s promotion, education and research activities. The commission board of directors were: Dennis Hughes of Blackshear, chairman; Jerry Straughan, vice chairman; Larry Thomason, Calhoun: Gijs Schimmel, Lexington and Ky Hendrix, Madison. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall served as ex officio members of the commission. “All of Georgia’s agricultural commodity commissions exist at the pleasure of the
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Ga. egg producers end commission
producers each commission represents, and so we respect the egg producers’ decision to end their commission,” Duvall said. “I commend the Egg Commission staff and its directors for the work they have done on behalf of Georgia’s egg producers and in promoting eggs to consumers. The commission will be missed by Georgia’s agricultural community as we continue to work to educate the public about agriculture, the nutritional benefits of our commodities and the importance of farmers.” The commission held its 30th annual recipe contest May 15. The commission staff also manages the Georgia Egg Association, which held its annual meeting June 19-21 on St. Simon’s Island. The commission will cease on June 30, the close of its fiscal year.
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 are for three-year terms. All Georgia equine producers are eligible to serve on the ACCE and may nominate themselves. Current members may resubmit their names for consideration. A producer is defined as any person who owns one or more equine or is engaged in Georgia in the business of buying, selling, boarding, holding, training, breeding, riding, pulling vehicles with or otherwise utilizing equine. The ACCE, created by state law in 2006, oversees promotion, education and research activities to benefit Georgia’s equine industry. The commission is primarily funded through the sale of the Georgia equine license plate. Ten dollars of the specialty tag fee is allocated to the ACCE. The commission also has the authority to accept donations, grants or property. 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.wilGeorgia Farm Bureau News
son@agr.georgia.gov. Nomination forms and a one-page resume must be submitted to Wilson by August 1 to be considered. The ex officio members of the commission – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, Boyd McLocklin and Harry Thompson - will consider the nominations. John Clements and Dr. Carter Black also serve on the ACCE as producer members; their terms expire in 2015.
Photo by Dean Wood
Ga. Equine Commission seeks nominations
Ga. dairy farmers pass milk referendums
Georgia dairy farmers voted to continue the Georgia Milk Producers (GMP) Inc. for another three years during a mail referendum held April 15-May 14. The referendum passed by 94 percent with 105 producers voting in favor and seven against. State law requires that at least 66 2/3 percent of the producers voting must vote in favor of continuing the organization. One ballot submitted was invalid and 129 ballots mailed to producers were not returned. The GMP is funded by a one-cent per hundredweight assessment on all milk produced in Georgia. GMP activities include educational seminars for producers, promotional exhibits at public events and the Mobile Dairy Classroom. This vote is different from the referendum held Jan. 25-Feb. 25 for the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk. That referendum passed by 97 percent with 104 producers voting in favor and three against. The ACC for Milk is responsible for promotion, education and research of Georgia’s dairy industry and is funded by a 10-cent per hundredweight assessment on all milk produced in Georgia. June-July 2013 / 23
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