Georgia Farm Bureau News - November / December 2013

Vol. 75 No.6

GEORGIA

November/December 2013

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

2014 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

2013 FORD F-150

2013 FORD FUSION

$500 Bonus For Georgia Farm Bureau Members Georgia Farm Bureau members get $500 Bonus Cash* toward the purchase or lease of any eligible 2012/2013/2014 Ford vehicle.

Enjoy valuable savings on your choice of vehicles from our comfortable and capable lineup of cars and trucks – like the all-new 2014 Ford Transit Connect with everything you need to elevate your driving experience including available SYNCŽ hands-free calling and best-in-class fuel efficiency.**

Take advantage of this exclusive special offer today.

Visit www.fordspecialoffer.com/farmbureau/ga *Program #34216: $500 Bonus Cash offer exclusively for active Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. Offer is valid from 1/3/2013 through 1/2/2014 for the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2012/2013/2014 model year Ford vehicle. Not available on Mustang Shelby GT/GT500, Mustang Boss 302, Focus EV, Focus S, Fiesta S, Focus ST, Edge SE AWD (12MY), F-150 Raptor and Taurus SE. This offer may not be used in conjunction with other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. You must be an eligible Association member for at least 60 consecutive days and must show proof of membership. Limit one $500 Bonus Cash offer per vehicle purchase or lease. Limit of five new eligible vehicle purchases or leases per Farm Bureau member during program period.

See your Ford Dealer for complete details and qualifications. **2013 Wagon EPA-estimated 22city/27hwy/24 combined mpg. 2013 Van EPA-estimated 21 city/27hwy/23 combined mpg. Class is Small Cargo Vans.

18961_FD_FB_Ad_GA_2013_Wint.indd 1

10/16/13 10:05 AM

departments

we, the farmers PAGE 4

legislative update PAGE 5

commodities update PAGE 7

around georgia PAGE 26

field services update PAGE30

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 Michael Edmondson Web/Video Manager

Mark Wildman Senior 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

GFB to hold convention on Jekyll Island for 50th time Georgia Farm Bureau members will travel to Jekyll Island for the organization’s annual convention, Dec. 8-10, for the 50th time. Gov. Nathan Deal will address voting delegates Dec. 10. Convention highlights will include state awards and commodity conferences.

PAGE 6

Photo by Jay Stone

contents

table of november/december 2013

Dec. 31 deadline for cattle producers to request ballot for beef referendum

Georgia beef producers have until Dec. 31 to register with the Ga. Department of Agriculture to receive a ballot to vote in the state referendum. Ballots will be mailed in the first part of 2014 to producers who sign up. An eligible producer is defined as anyone who has owned cattle in Georgia during the last 12 months. The proposed Georgia assessment could fund promotion, research and education programs for Georgia’s beef industry.

PAGE 8

Conference focuses on international export opportunities

The International Agribusiness Conference & Expo, held Sept. 25 & 26 in Savannah, presented information for those interested in exporting agricultural commodities. With growing middle class populations in many countries and the coming expansion in shipping capabilities out of the Port of Savannah, farmers and farm-related businesses could enjoy expanded opportunities to export their products, according to presenters at the conference.

PAGE 10

Achievement Award Finalists face challenges head-on

James and Brooke Hitchcock of Washington County, Russ and Mandy Moon of Madison County and Charlie Sanders of Greene County are competing for the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award to be named Dec. 8 at the GFB convention. The record rainfall Georgia experienced this year provided unique challenges for each farm, but they persevered, showing why they’re among the state’s best young farmers.

PAGE 14

2nd District cattle show promotes GFB, supports youth

For the fifth year, GFB’s 2nd District held its Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show to help students in the district perfect their showing skills. Students competed to win prizes for best showmanship, breed, grand champion heifer and steer.

PAGE 16

Agriculture shines at Sunbelt Expo

An estimated 90,000 people attended the 36th Annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition held in Moultrie in October. Georgia Farm Bureau was among the record 1,219 exhibitors participating in the event.

PAGE 18

Livestock well-being begins on the farm

Dr. Lee Jones, an assistant professor at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses production practices, such as low-stress weaning, that cattle producers can adopt to raise healthy calves.

PAGE 25

on the cover

(Photo by Jennifer Whittaker) GFB members attending the organization’s 2012 convention enjoyed this beautiful poinsettia tree decorating the lobby of the Jekyll Island Convention Center. GFB wishes everyone a Merry Christmas!

November-December 2013 / 3

we, the

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

farmers Zippy Duvall, GFB President

Showcasing Georgia agriculture

Another year is drawing to an end.

This fall has been a busy one for Farm Bureau with our district and county annual meetings, policy development meetings, the Georgia National Fair and Sunbelt Expo. Our annual convention is just around the corner.

Georgia Farm Bureau kicked off the fall season of meetings with our district annual meetings on Sept. 10 followed by sponsoring the International Agribusiness Conference & Expo in Savannah, Sept. 25-26. Your state directors and I thought it was important to help sponsor this event organized jointly by UGA’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and Georgia Southern University because of the increasing opportunities Georgia farmers have to export their commodities through the Port of Savannah. Last year more than 39 percent of the exports that left the Port of Savannah were ag commodities. Conference speakers discussed how farmers and small business owners may get into the export business.

On Oct. 23, the U.S. House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), which funds numerous water projects, including the deepening of Savannah’s harbor.

All of Georgia’s 14 representatives voted in favor of the bill, and I’d like to thank them for doing so. The Senate passed its water resources bill back in May, so now a conference committee will resolve the differences between them.

I’d like to recognize all of our county volunteers for their hard work this past year to promote agriculture and Farm Bureau in their local communities. Your visits to your local schools for Ag in the Classroom programs will pay dividends

in the future as we educate the future leaders of our state about how farmers grow their food. Many of our county Farm Bureaus displayed exhibits at their county fairs this fall to raise awareness of Georgia agriculture.

Speaking of fairs, GFB exhibited in the Georgia Grown Building at the Georgia National Fair in October. Members of your state staff selflessly worked night and weekend shifts at the GFB booth to increase awareness of our organization to the 449,985 people who attended the event in Perry from Oct. 3-13.

During the fair, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black invited me to serve as the ring man for the annual Legislative Livestock Showdown.

Congratulations to the Georgia Senate team for winning the overall competition and to Rep. Tom Kirby for being named Grand Champion Showman.

This friendly competition between the Georgia House and Senate is a great way for legislators, many of them urban, to gain a better understanding of the 4-H and FFA programs whose funding they decide. The legislators got to see how these programs benefit the youth in our state as experienced 4-H and FFA members trained them for the competition.

Sunbelt Expo followed the week after the fair. For the third year, GFB joined forces with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to cohost the Georgia Agriculture Building at the main gate.

Farm Bureau staff greeted the estimated 90,000 people who attended the threeday event, answering questions about our programs and member benefits.

Gov. Nathan Deal dropped by the building on the first day as did UGA PresiSee WE, THE FARMERS page 12

GFB President Zippy Duvall and his wife Bonnie visit with University of Georgia President Jere Morehead during Sunbelt Expo.

4 / November-December 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: Skeetter McCorkle, Dearing; Marvin Ruark, Bishop FIFTH DISTRICT: Ralph Adamson Jr., Barnesville; Jim Ham, Smarr SIXTH DISTRICT: James Malone, Dexter; James Emory Tate, Denton SEVENTH DISTRICT: Gary Bell, Bellville; Ben Boyd, Sylvania EIGHTH DISTRICT: Scotty Raines, Sycamore; Don Wood, Rochelle NINTH DISTRICT: Lucius Adkins, Elmodel; Paul Shirah, Camilla TENTH DISTRICT: Daniel Johnson, Alma; David Lee, 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.

PRINTED WITH SOY INK

Georgia Farm Bureau News

legislative update Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director

Farmers must apply to renew GATE Card & to get CDL exemption Farmers must apply for sales tax exemptions and farm truck CDL exemptions, and both require immediate action.

Failure to act will be costly, but the good news is that registration for these exemptions is inexpensive, and your local county Farm Bureau office may be able to help.

GATE Card Renewal

Farmers are exempt from sales taxes on agricultural input costs. The Georgia Agricultural Sales Tax Exemption (GATE) card, administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), is required for farmers to receive sales tax exemptions. GATE cards were first issued last year, and the process is easily done online for a reasonable $20 administrative fee.

This year, a new provision in federal and state law complicates things a bit.

For states to receive federal funds, they must verify legal residency of any person receiving government benefits. A government benefit includes licenses issued by the state, and the GATE card falls into this category.

To renew GATE cards this year, farmers must go through the Federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

While this process adds extra steps, it is not as cumbersome as it sounds.

The main hassle is the combination of paper and electronic documents that must be submitted to the GDA. Farmers must complete a paper affidavit of legal residency and have the affidavit notarized by a notary public. The signed, notarized affidavit should then be scanned into an electronic format.

The affidavit must also be accompanied by some form of identification such as a valid Georgia driver’s license. The ID should be scanned into an electronic format as a separate document. When these documents are uploaded to the GDA, the affidavit and the ID must be separate.

Once these documents are in elecGeorgia Farm Bureau News

tronic form, farmers are ready to go to the GDA website. GFB’s website links there.

Visit http://www.gfb.org and click on the GATE button on the home page. The instructions on the GATE page are clear and concise. Many local Farm Bureau offices will assist members to complete the GATE renewal process.

A GDA employee must manually clear the uploaded documents, so the response is not immediate. Applicants, however, are not required to sit and wait for approval.

An e-mail approval will be sent which contains a link directing applicants to a pay site that accepts either credit cards or checks. When the fee is paid, the GATE card will be downloaded, and the farmer can print the renewed card.

It is important to note the GDA had nothing to do with the new GATE application requirements. These new procedures are the result of federal and state laws passed to prevent illegal aliens from receiving government benefits.

All current GATE cards expire on Dec. 31, 2013, not the anniversary date of the card. Farmers may renew their GATE cards at any time this year or next, but farmers with expired GATE cards are not eligible for the farm sales tax exemptions.

For additional information, contact the GATE call center at 1-855-FARM TAX.

Commercial Driver’s License Farm Exemption

Regulations for commercial truckers include medical cards, drug tests and mileage logs for drivers. Farmers hauling their own products are exempt from these provisions within certain parameters, but the law regarding the exemption has changed.

In the past, farmers have had the exemption without applying for it, but that will change on Jan. 1, 2014. After Jan. 1, farmers must apply online for the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) exemption on the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) website. Without a successful application, there will be no farm CDL ex-

emption for affected vehicles.

The online application is fast, easy, and free. To link to the DPS website, visit the GFB website at http://www.gfb.org and click on the CDL Farm Exemption button on the home page. From there, users can navigate to the DPS website.

Farmers will need the vehicle iden-

tification number (VIN), make, model, year, and owner information for the vehicle to be registered for the exemption.

When the information is entered, form DPS TR0025 will come on the screen for printing. Simply print the form and keep it in the vehicle.

There is no cost, but each affected vehicle must be registered separately. The exemption is for the vehicle, so it will suffice for family members and farm employees so long as the drivers have the proper class of driver’s license.

The CDL exemption amendments are the result of changes in federal and state law. The actual exemption was broadened by Congress and supported

by Farm Bureau. Under the new law, the exemption is statewide, and it exempts farmers driving out-of-state up to 150 miles from the farm location.

Farm Bureau members may be able to get assistance in applying for the CDL exemption form from their local county office.

Jon Huffmaster is director of the GFB Legislative Department.

November-December 2013 / 5

Photo by Lili Davis

Wayne County Farm Bureau President Neil Nichols spread Christmas cheer at the GFB Convention last year while helping his sister Sandra and brother-in-law Tyron Spearman serve grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the National Peanut Institute booth.

GFB to hold convention on Jekyll Island for 50th time

By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________

T

he 2013 Georgia Farm Bureau convention is set for Dec. 8-10 on Jekyll Island for the 50th time.

“Through the years we’ve enjoyed our partnership with Jekyll Island, and our members have enjoyed going to Jekyll’s beautiful coastal setting to do the organization’s business,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “It’s a very important and very enjoyable time for us every year.”

GFB’s celebration of the state’s largest industry will feature the final round of the 2013 Young Farmer Discussion Meet, the organization’s statewide awards program, election of district officers and finalization of GFB’s 2014 policy, as well as meetings of GFB’s 20 commodity advisory committees.

Convention activities begin on Dec. 8 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center with registration at 11 a.m. followed by the opening of the trade show at noon, featuring booths from many of Georgia’s agricultural organizations and agencies. The

6 / November-December 2013

Georgia Department of Agriculture and GFB are hosting a drop-in reception from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. showcasing Georgiagrown commodities and GFB’s Certified Farm Markets.

The Young Farmer Discussion Meet final round begins at 1 p.m., with Kyle Dekle of Habersham County, Trisha Lastly of Madison County, Ali Merk of Jackson County and Constance Reid of Greene County competing for top honors. The four finalists advanced through the preliminary rounds held in July at the 2013 GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference.

A reception to celebrate agricultural literacy sponsored by the GFB Women’s Leadership Committee will be held at 2:30 p.m. The Georgia Excellence in Educating About Agriculture Award will be presented and county Farm Bureaus will be honored for ag promotion and education efforts in the past year.

An open session of policy develop-

ment (PD) will be held at 3:15 p.m. followed by a closed session for PD committee members only.

The last event on Dec. 8 starts at 4:30 p.m. with the annual memorial service honoring deceased county presidents, followed by an inspirational message and the state awards program. Counties and individuals competing for state awards are listed on page 23.

Convention activities on Dec. 9 start with complimentary biscuits at 7:30 a.m. along with registration and opening of the exhibit hall. The general session opens at 8:30 a.m., featuring Duvall’s annual address, remarks from Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, and updates on immigration legislation from Kristi Boswell of the American Farm Bureau Federation and the farm bill from Bob Young of AFBF. Prize drawings for the Young Farmer Committee raffle will be held during a break in the program.

The county presidents/secretaries luncheon will be held at noon, during which county Farm Bureaus will be honored for outstanding membership programs.

The GFB Commodity Advisory Committee meetings begin at 2 p.m., with speakers addressing commodity-specific issues.

Winners of the GFB Quality Hay Contest will be announced during the GFB Hay Committee meeting. The evening of Dec. 9 will be open for GFB members to enjoy a meal and fellowship of their choosing.

Convention events on Dec. 10 start with the membership breakfast at 6:45 a.m. The annual business session begins at 8:15 a.m.

Gov. Nathan Deal is scheduled to speak to the GFB voting delegates prior to policy discussion and action.

District caucuses will convene for election of district directors at 10:15 a.m. The only contested elections are in Districts 1 and 2. District 1 candidates are incumbent Wesley Hall of Forsyth County and Bill Bryan of Chattooga County. District 2 candidates are incumbent Bobby Gunter of Lumpkin County and Swayne Cochran of Jackson County.

The caucus for election of South Georgia vice president is scheduled for 11 a.m.

South Georgia Vice President Gerald Long is running unopposed. Voting delegates will also designate GFB’s 1st Vice President.

Long is the incumbent in that position.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

commodities/marketing update Don McGough, Director of Commodities/Marketing Dept.

GFB names speakers for commodity conferences at convention We hope you are making plans to attend the 76th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau covention Dec. 8-10 on Jekyll Island. One of the highlights will be the commodity conferences on Monday, Dec. 9 at 2 and 3:30 p.m. These meetings will feature 39 speakers addressing agricultural issues relevant to a wide range of commodity interests.

All meetings will be held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center located at 75 North Beachview Drive. Meeting room assignments will be listed in the convention program available at registration in the exhibit hall. Everyone is encouraged to attend these meetings to hear the latest updates on Georgia agriculture.

2 P.M. Conferences •

•

•

–– Beef Cattle –– Animal Traceability Rules Summary Dr. Robert Cobb Georgia Beef Board Update Suzanne Black Georgia Beef Commission John Callaway

•

•

–– Feedgrain/Soybean –– 2014 Commodity Outlook Dr. Nathan Smith Ga.’s Deer Population: History & Damage Implications Charlie Killmaster

•

•

–– Forestry –– Changes in Ga. Timber Security Laws Steve McWilliams Ga. Forestry Commission Update Devon Dartnell

–– Fruit/Vegetable –– • Research Update Dr. Erick Smith • Locally Grown Food at State Farmers Markets Jack Spruill –– Goat & Sheep –– • Parasite Management in Sheep & Goats Bob Storey Georgia Farm Bureau News

–– Honeybee –– • Standard Identity of Honey Natalie Adan • NC State Honeybee Research Update Mike Simone Finstrom • UGA Honeybee Lab Research Jennifer Berry •

•

–– Peanut –– The Power of the Peanut Bob Parker A New Era of Peanut Production Dr. John Beasley

–– Poultry –– • Ga. Poultry & Farm Bureau Insurance: Protecting Tomorrow Today Doug Oliver Bryan Mitchell • Challenges Facing the Poultry Industry Paul W. Pressley •

•

–– Tobacco –– 2013 Crop Year Review Dr. J. Michael Moore Risk Management Agency Changes Diane Amera

3:30 P.M. Conferences •

•

–– Aquaculture –– 2013 Research Update Dr. Gary Burtle Marketing Domestic Seafood & Imports Tori Stivers

•

•

–– Cotton –– Risk Management Agency Changes Diane Amera 2013 Season Review Dr. Guy Collins

•

•

–– Dairy –– Protecting & Promoting Dairy’s Image Amanda Trice Georgia Beef Commission John Callaway

–– Environmental Horticulture –– • Irrigation for Specialty Crops Matthew Chappell

• Update on GGIA Activities Sherry Morris –– Equine –– • Ga. Equine Commission Update Boyd McLocklin • Ga. Agriculture Tax Exemption Program Bo Warren –– Hay –– • Forage & Hay Economics Outlook Dr. Curt Lacy • Quality Forage Brian Setzer • GFB Hay Contest Winner Presentation Farrell Roberts •

•

–– Pecan –– Pecan Production in a Wet Year Dr. Lenny Wells Pecan Variety Development Elliott Ellis

•

•

–– Swine –– Building Better Ag Thru Swine David Burton Ga. Pork Producers Update Charles Griffin

–– Water –– • EPD Water Policy Discussion Russ Pennington • Deepening the Savannah Harbor: Benefits to Agriculture Lee Beckmann

GA. Peanut Farm Show Jan. 16, 2014

UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A free lunch will be served $40,000 in door prizes will be awarded Call 229-386-3470 or visit http://www.gapeanuts.com for more information.

November-December 2013 / 7

Dec. 31 deadline for cattle producers to request ballot for state referendum By Joe McManus __________________________________________________________________________ During the 2011 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference in Athens, the GFB Beef Advisory Committee recommended that a study committee be formed to determine if producers had enough interest to move forward with a Georgia Commodity Commission for Beef. The recommendation passed through the GFB policy development process and was adopted as GFB policy by the voting delegates at the 2011 GFB Convention.

A study committee was then formed consisting of three producers each from Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Milk Producers Inc., Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and Georgia Livestock Marketing Association. The study committee unanimously decided to pursue the passage of state legislation that would allow Georgia cattle producers to vote in a statewide referendum to determine if they would fund a state beef commission for the purpose of handling promotion, education and research efforts for Georgia’s beef industry.

All Georgia commodity commissions are farmer-funded and farmer-controlled programs that provide funding for research, promotion and education of the specified commodity. There are currently 13 Georgia commodity commissions, which include: apples, blueberry, corn, cotton, equine, milk, peach, peanut, pecan, soybean, tobacco, vegetable and Georgia Grown. Even though each is different, they are all similar in that they have five to seven farmer commission members as well as four ex-officio members consisting of the president of Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Agriculture Commissioner, one member appointed by the Georgia House and one appointed by the Georgia Senate. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) administers all of the commodity commissions, except peanuts.

This year the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 97, which authorized the establishment of an Agricultural Commodity Commission for Beef (ACCB).

SB 97 directs the ACCB to consist of three beef farmers, one dairy farmer and one individual involved in the marketing of cattle to make up the five farmer members of the commission. SB 97 empowered the four ex officio members of Georgia’s Commodity 8 / November-December 2013

Commissions – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, GFB President Zippy Duvall, Russ Moon and Buddy Leger – to appoint members to the ACCB from those nominated by producers.

The initial ACCB board is as follows: representing cattle producers; John Callaway of Hogansville, Jeff Duncan of Danielsville and Ernie Ford of Edison; representing dairymen is Kenneth Murphy of Luthersville; representing livestock marketing is Allen Wiggins of Ashburn.

Although SB 97 established the ACCB, it is up to Georgia cattle producers to determine if they will fund the commission with an assessment of up to $1 per head. By law, the GDA conducts all Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission referendums.

The GDA is creating a list of eligible producers who may vote in the referendum. An eligible producer is defined as anyone who has owned cattle in Georgia during the last 12 months. There is no cost to receive a ballot.

As outlined in SB 97, the proposed referendum would assess cattle producers no more than $1 per head to be collected when cattle are sold. Cattle that sell for less than $100 per head would be exempt from the assessment.

The Georgia assessment would be different from the National Beef Checkoff (NBC) in the way the money can be used. The NBC, which has been in place since 1986, can only be used to promote beef meat. Of the $1 collected for each head sold, only 50 cents stays in Georgia with the rest going to support national promotion programs such as the “Beef – It’s What’s for Dinner” campaign.

The proposed Georgia assessment could fund promotion, research and education programs specifically for Georgia’s beef industry. All collections would stay in Georgia to benefit Georgia cattlemen and could fund programs like forage research, animal health research, production research and youth programs for beef and dairy as well as numerous other programs. The commission will be required to be re-affirmed by the affected producers every three years.

Three of our neighboring states – Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina - have already passed a state checkoff and other

Southeastern states are preparing to conduct referendums.

Cattle producers have until Dec. 31 to register with the GDA to receive a ballot to vote in the referendum. Ballots will be mailed in the first part of 2014 to producers who sign up. In order for the referendum to pass and the ACCB to be funded, at least 25 percent of the total number of producers who receive ballots must return the ballot and of those returned, 66 and two-thirds must vote yes.

To request a ballot, visit http://agr.georgia.gov/beef-commission.aspx. You may get assistance with registering electronically for the ballot on the GDA website at any Georgia Farm Bureau county office, the Georgia Milk Producers, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association or Georgia County Extension offices.

You may also request a ballot by writing to: Georgia Department of Agriculture 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. SW Room 324 Atlanta, Ga. 30334 The written request should state: I would like a ballot for the upcoming referendum for beef commodity commission marketing order. Include your name, address and phone number.

Georgia Farm Bureau encourages all cattle producers to register to vote in the referendum. Farm Bureau takes no position regarding whether producers should vote to support or oppose the referendum.

The ACCB would be funded with producer money, therefore, producers should decide the issue. Farm Bureau simply maintains that farmers should have the right to establish a commission if they choose to do so.

Please call either the GFB Commodity or Legislative Departments with any questions at 478-474-8411.

Joe McManus is assistant director of the GFB Commodities/Marketing Dept.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

O

scar-winning documentary filmmaker James Moll has unveiled an advance trailer and website for his latest film, “Farmland.” The feature-length documentary follows the next generation of American farmers and ranchers, examining the lives of farmers and ranchers in their 20s, in various regions across the U.S. The advance trailer and information about the film is now available at http://www. farmlandfilm.com.

“I make documentaries because it’s a thrill to explore new topics and meet people that I might not otherwise cross paths with,” said Moll. “While making Farmland, I found myself immersed in a community of some of the most hard-working, passionate people I’ve ever met. This film isn’t just

Photo by Don Holtz

Trailer for Farmland documentary released

Director James Moll, second from right, conducts an interview for his latest documentary, Farmland.

about what it’s like to be a farmer, it’s about a way of life. It’s also about a subject that affects our lives daily.”

The film website offers background information about the film, full color photographs from the making of the documentary and the theatrical trailer.

The film, made with support from the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, gives viewers a firsthand glimpse into the lives of these young farmers and ranchers, their high-risk/high-reward jobs and their pas-

sion for a way of life that, more often than not, is passed down from generation to generation. Georgia Farm Bureau is an affiliate member of USFRA. Moll received an Academy Award for his film “The Last Days.” During his filmmaking career, Moll has directed and produced numerous documentaries covering topics from the Holocaust to an epic trek across the Sahara Desert.

“Farmland” will premiere nationwide in spring 2014.

We are Farm Bureau’s Bank!

• DEPOSIT SERVICES • CREDIT CARDS • VEHICLE LOANS

• BUSINESS SERVICES • EQUIPMENT LOANS • MORTGAGE LOANS

To apply contact your local Farm Bureau agent. * See terms and conditions at farmbureaubank.com. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau Bank, FB and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

1013_GAFB_AllProductsAD.indd 1

Georgia Farm Bureau News

10/25/2013 10:21:45 AM

November-December 2013 / 9

Conference focuses on international export By Jay Stone _____________________________________

10 / November-December 2013

Photo by Jay Stone

T

Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, right, talks with Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson during the International Agribusiness Conference and Expo, held Sept. 25 and 26 at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

Photo by Jay Stone

he International Agribusiness Conference & Expo presented information for those interested in exporting agricultural commodities during the inaugural event held Sept. 25 & 26 at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

The conference, for which Georgia Farm Bureau was a major sponsor, was staged jointly by the UGA’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and the Georgia Southern University Department of Continuing Education. The event drew an estimated 200 participants according to conference organizers.

Attendees received information on all aspects of exporting, including the decision to export, finding potential markets, preparing products to be shipped overseas, variations of import/export rules for selected countries and government resources to assist in exporting.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal addressed the conference on Sept. 25, noting that the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP), which would increase the depth of the Savannah River by five feet in the channel leading to the Port of Savannah, will allow it to accept the larger ships that will be traveling through the Panama Canal after the completion of its expansion project, expected by mid-2015.

Deal pointed out that 40 percent of the U.S. population relies on the Port of Savannah as a point of import or export and that SHEP is down to the final administrative hurdles before dredging can begin. One of these, authorization of federal funding for the project, is addressed in House and Senate bills in Washington dealing with upgrades and maintenance of the nation’s waterways. At press time the bills were awaiting consideration by conference committee.

“We’re going to continue to work throughout our state to make sure that other parts of the state can take advantage of the opportunities that the port offers and will continue to offer, especially with the larger vessels,” Deal said. “I am convinced that what Georgia produces and produces efficiently, the world will buy if we give them the opportunity to do so.”

Georgia is already one of the nation’s leading export states for chicken, pecans and cotton.

“Our mission is not only to be the voice

During a discussion on finding potential export markets, Todd Gerken of the U.S. Commercial Service, at podium, talked about the reasons to consider getting into the export business. Other presenters, from left, are Rick Martin and Dimitris Kloussiadis of the UGA Small Business Development Center and Shehzin Jafar of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

of agriculture but also to promote agricultural products, not just in our country but internationally,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “So this is part of our mission. We want to help the farmers expand their markets and get more for their products and help them on the farm. When you see the expanding markets in those countries it’s really amazing, and we have so many depart-

ments in our government that are there to assist us, and a lot of it doesn’t cost anything.”

In advance of the IACE, the GFB Board of Directors held its monthly meeting in Savannah and toured the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal, where they heard a presentation by Georgia Ports Authority Manager of Governmental Affairs Lee Beckmann. The 1,200-acre facility has a fully Georgia Farm Bureau News

functioning railyard and handles 8,000 truck transactions daily. More than half of the cargo that comes through the Garden City Terminal is containerized, Beckmann said.

While the practicality of exporting from business to business will vary, IACE presenters indicated that the reasons to sell to overseas markets are clear.

With growing middle class populations in numerous countries around the world and the coming expansion in shipping capabilities out of the Port of Savannah, farmers and farm-related businesses could enjoy expanded opportunities to export their products, according to presenters at the conference.

Todd Gerken of the U.S. Commercial Service talked about the reasons to consider getting into the export business. Gerken noted that more than 95 percent of the world’s population lives outside the U.S. and that the U.S. percentage of the world economy has declined from about 50 percent just after World War II to less than 20 percent in 2010. He also said that the growth in per capita income in countries on every continent represents business opportunity for U.S. exporters.

“For food producers a big benefit is you take advantage of countercyclical product cycles,” Gerken said. “All of you are used to having Chilean fruit – grapes, kiwi fruit and other crops – coming into the U.S. They’ve been doing that for years, taking advantage of seasonality in the U.S. when we’re not producing those products. It’s very easy to export to South Africa, South America and Australia during their winter season and take advantage of the same opportunity.”

Dimitris Kloussiadis of the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center talked about factors to consider while deciding to enter the export business.

Mascot Pecan Shelling Company owner Kenny Tarver discussed his company’s entry into the export business, which was made necessary by the rapid growth in demand for pecans in Asia.

Eric Johnson, an international trade specialist with the U.S. Export Assistance Center Atlanta office, discussed the many services offered by federal government agencies to help businesses.

Georgia Farm Monitor reporter Rick Treptow contributed to this report.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by Jay Stone

opportunities

After the expansion of the Panama Canal is complete in 2015, the Savannah River could see much bigger ships than this one navigating toward its port facilities, which means expanded export business opportunities.

$18,000 in scholarships available

to Ga. ag students

Monsanto is offering 12 $1,500 college scholarships to Georgia students pursuing an ag major through The America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders scholarship program. The National FFA Organization is administering the program but students don’t need to be FFA members to apply.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students must meet the FFA-published criteria for eligibility located at www.FFA.org/scholarships and must have a permanent address in one of the following eligible Georgia counties: Appling, Baker, Berrien, Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth. Each of these counties planted at least 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton and/or vegetables based on USDA numbers.

Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. College students applying for the scholarship must be pursuing a degree in an ag-related field from a two or fouryear program, pursuing one of the degrees listed on the Grow Ag Leaders website at www.GrowAgLeaders.com.

Students have until Feb. 1, 2014, to complete the application available at www.FFA. org/scholarships. Three farmers who live or farm in any of the eligible counties must endorse each applicant. Applicants and farmers do not have to live in the same county.

Students will receive an application ID number when they start an application that they will provide to the farmers who endorse them.

Farmers must visit the Farmer’s Endorsement Database at www.FFA.org/scholarships or call 1-877-267-3332 before Feb. 8, 2014, to endorse a student. Farmers do not have to be a Monsanto customer. Farmers may endorse their children or other family members. Farmers will only be required to provide the student’s application ID number and the farmer’s name, address and phone number. No other information about the student is required. Farmers are asked to endorse no more than three students.

November-December 2013 / 11

WE, THE FARMERS continued from page 4 dent Jere Morehead. I had the chance to document for the GFB voting delegates to accompany Dr. Morehead on a tour of the consider at our convention.

Expo site as he visited the Georgia Peanut Submitted resolutions covered many Commission and Georgia Cotton Com- issues. Water topped the list, largely mission exhibits. because of pending legislation from this On the second day of Expo I had the year’s General Assembly. Renewable enerchance to visit with state legislators who gy was a hot-button issue because of incentoured the Expo research farm. I thanked tives and mandates surrounding the use of our legislators for their support of Georgia ethanol for fuel. Resolutions also addressed agriculture and told them I tell our county wildlife management issues related to feral Farm Bureaus all the time how lucky we hogs and the damage they cause. Other are that Georgia still has legislators who resolutions addressed concerns about realize that agriculture is the number one deer, Canadian geese and black bears. Our industry in our state. members also had strong feelings about GFB held two policy development the farm bill, tax issues, the Affordable (PD) meetings this fall for the state PD Care Act and immigration reform.

Committee to evaluate the 360 resolutions Watching this group of Farm Bureau submitted by 75 county Farm Bureaus. members at work makes me proud of our The volunteer members of the PD Com- organization. The Farm Bureau members mittee, which consists of 30 county Farm serving on GFB’s PD Committee work Bureau presidents, the chairmen of GFB’s hard to make sure GFB represents the 20 commodity advisory committees and needs of farmers. Policy development is the GFB Board of Directors, spent one democracy in action, and we owe a debt day in October and a day in November of gratitude to all the folks who serve our reviewing all of the resolutions. The com- organization in this way. mittee’s job is to put the resolutions into a Once our voting delegates finalize our policy at our convention, GFB will use these statements of what our organization 200 believes, supports, or opposes to determine the position we take on state and federal varieties legislation. of fruit, The establishment of the Georgia Beef nut and Commission and the upcoming referenberry dum to determine if Georgia beef proplants ducers will fund it is an example of how our policy development process puts our members’ recommendations into action.

On page eight, you can read more about how the GFB Beef Advisory Committee recommended that a study committee be formed to determine if producers had enough interest to move forward with a FREE Georgia Beef Commission.

Color GFB encourages all cattle producers Catalog to register to vote in the referendum by Dec. 31. Farm Bureau takes no position Buy Direct regarding whether producers should vote from the Since to support or oppose the referendum.

Grower 1934 The beef commission would be funded with producer money, therefore, producers should decide the issue. Farm Bureau P.O. Box 190 • Brooks, GA 30205 simply maintains that farmers should have the right to establish a commission if they so choose. www.isons.com Now that Congress has ended the gov-

Grow Half-Dollar Size Muscadines and Blackberries

Ison’s Nursery 1-800-733-0324

12 / November-December 2013

ernment shutdown, hopefully it will soon pass a farm bill. GFB continues to monitor the progress being made on the farm bill as the conference committee of House and Senate appointees iron out the differences between their bills.

We’re also urging Congress to pass immigration reform. I’d like to thank Matt Bottoms from Pike County and Greg Murray from Decatur County for traveling to Washington on Oct. 29 to participate in the Americans for Reform Immigration Fly-In. Bottoms and Murray were among Farm Bureau members from across the country who participated. They visited the offices of eight of Georgia’s 14 representatives to emphasize the importance of legislation that ensures a workable, flexible and market-based solution that meets the needs of farmers.

Georgia agriculture continues to be the largest industry in our state and an important driver of Georgia’s economy. My job is to tell the story of Georgia farmers. As I do this, I still find Georgians who don’t support agriculture.

This reminds me of the story in the Bible in the ninth chapter of John about Jesus healing a man who had been blind from birth. The people in Jesus’ time had the privilege of seeing him give sight to a man, yet even after witnessing this event, some did not believe Jesus was the Son of God. These people, Jesus said, were spiritually blind. John tells us in John 9:39 (New Living Translation Bible) that Jesus said, “I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

Our grocery stores are stocked with nutritious, high quality food that is the result of farmers’ hard work using the good soil and water God has blessed us with. Still, many people don’t support agriculture or the work farmers do to feed them. Jesus didn’t let the unbelief of a few people stop him from his mission to serve others and neither can we as farmers.

God still works miracles every day, but only when you believe in Jesus, are you granted the privilege of seeing his true power. Agriculture is one of the ongoing miracles God works. So believe in God’s power and His miracles, and believe in Georgia agriculture.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

During November, county Farm Bureaus have been celebrating Farm-City Week with activities designed to increase awareness of agriculture in their community. Although the week is officially Nov. 22-28, events were held throughout the month as schedules allowed.

Kiwanis International began the celebration in 1955 to recognize the partnership between farmers and their urban neighbors who help process, market and sell the food and fiber farmers grow.

“I appreciate every county Farm Bureau that had a Farm-City event because these help us educate consumers about how we grow their food and fiber,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “County activities range from farm tours for school children to lunches and breakfasts for community

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Farm Bureau celebrates Farm-City Week Nov. 22-28

GFB President Zippy Duvall, seated, signs a proclamation declaring Nov. 22-28 FarmCity Week in Georgia. Pictured from left, standing, GFB North Georgia Vice President Bernard Sims, GFB Middle Georgia Vice President Robert Fountain and GFB 1st Vice President Gerald Long join Duvall for the signing.

leaders. Our county chapters do a great job of telling agriculture’s story.”

Three counties in each Farm Bureau district with the most outstanding events

will receive a $50 credit to buy ag promotion items from the GFB Field Services Department. We’ll feature some of the events in the Feb./March GFB News.

Which type of pain hurts you the most?

Tooth Pain

Back Pain

Propane

Get rid of your bill. Get Geo. Bosch geothermal heating and cooling systems can save you up to 70% on your home energy bills. With an additional 30% federal tax credit, these systems are now more affordable than ever!

Visit our site to find out how much you can save.

BoschGeo.com

Georgia Farm Bureau News

November-December 2013 / 13

14 / November-December 2013

Achievement Award Finalists Hitchcock is on the way to a decent cotton crop, but the rain pushed back his plant/ harvest timeline and affected his corn and peanut yields.

“This year really shows you why to be diversified,” Hitchcock said. “We had too much rain, lack of sunshine. It really hurt the corn, cotton and peanuts a little bit. This year soybeans were probably the crop to plant, but we didn’t have that many acres of soybeans. We should have been more diversified in that area.”

The rains resulted in 20 percent reduction in James’ corn yields and he, his brother Jonathan, their father James Sr. and sister Jennifer spent considerable time pulling out equipment that got stuck in the mud.

It’s been their livestock operation that has helped them keep going. The Hitchcocks keep about 125 brood cows and produce calves.

“The cows give us something to do in the wintertime and also they pay the bills right now. Cows have been doing good on the market,” James said.

Yes, farming has its challenges, but James and his wife Brooke insist it’s worth it.

“It’s a hard profession but you’ve got to love it,” James said. “It’s tough, but just the joy of the harvest makes it better.”

Articles

by Jay Stone & Jennifer Whittaker _____________________________________

WASHINGTON COUNTY James Hitchcock isn’t the sort of person to shy away from difficult things. He tried his hand at bull riding when he was younger, and he always wanted to be a farmer. The hanging-on required in bull riding may have helped prepare him for farming. Sometimes, circumstances leave a farmer with no other option.

He knew what he was getting into - a ride that can also be rough at times, like a combine trek through a gully-riddled cotton field in a year when too much rain cuts crop yields and makes staying in the saddle a challenge.

As Hitchcock drives his cotton picker through one of his family’s cotton fields in southern Washington County, the machine is joggled by the uneven ground, the result of a small channel formed earlier this year when torrential rains washed through most of Georgia.

In spite of the occasional difficulties, the Hitchcocks hold firm to their faith, and they enjoy the lifestyle.

“There’s a peace out here that I don’t think you understand unless you’re out here every day,” said Brooke, who works as an occupational therapist and keeps up with the couple’s two children, Moriah, age 6, and J.W., 5. “You can just get away and see God’s creation really. It’s just amazing to watch something going from a seed and come full term to food for humans and animals alike. It’s just a miracle really watching the crops grow.”

Photo by Jay Stone

alk to the three finalist families for the 2013 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Award and invariably the word “challenge” comes up. It is frequently followed by a discussion of the weather.

In recent years, drought dominated weather discussions related to farming, but this year James and Brooke Hitchcock of Washington County, Russ and Mandy Moon of Madison County and Charlie Sanders of Greene County dealt with the opposite end of the moisture spectrum.

Like farmers all over the state, an overabundance of water challenged them with ailing livestock and lower yields.

Sanders encountered increased cases of mastitis in the dairy herd he helps manage and struggled to put up hay in rainy weather.

The Moons encountered limited yields in their later varieties of soybeans, and the Hitchcocks suffered lower yields in cotton and peanuts because of excessive rains earlier in the year.

The pursuit of agricultural success is a delicate balancing act for all three families, who have improvised at times to find ways to keep going.

Each family receives a $200 travel allowance for the GFB Annual Convention, where the state winner will be announced on Dec. 8. The state winner will receive a year’s use of a Kubota L or M Series tractor a $500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to San Antonio, Texas, for the 2014 AFBF Annual Convention, scheduled for Jan. 12-15.

The Hitchcocks, from left, Brooke, J.W., Moriah and James.

MADISON COUNTY The rains this spring weren’t welcomed in all corners of Russ and Mandy Moon’s farm operation. While Russ said their larger crops are doing well, their strawberry patch encountered difficulty because of the spring rains.

“The first three weekends (of our season) this year we were not able to open due to rain,” said Russ, who has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in business management and animal science. “I’ve never had to put gravel down, but I had people getting stuck in the parking lot.”

So the strawberry business, in its fifth year, took a hit. The parking issues went along with excessive water in the tightly controlled drip-irrigation setup for the berries. The Moons, like many farmers, simply take the good with the bad and keep going.

The rest of their crops have benefitted from plentiful moisture, Russ said, in contrast to recent years with extreme drought.

Russ and his father, Dennis Moon, are Georgia Farm Bureau News

The Moons, from left, Mandy, Maggie, Riley and Russ.

equal partners in the row crop operation of Moon Farms, which produces soybeans, wheat and canola on 1,300 acres. He and Mandy own their own set of poultry houses. Mandy, who has a bachelor’s degree from UGA in animal and dairy science, is a part-time science teacher with Madison County Schools, and she runs the strawberry operation.

They describe the farm lifestyle as thoroughly enjoyable despite the difficulties associated with farm work. Their two daughters, 5-year-old Maggie and 2-year-old Riley, think nothing of traipsing through a soybean field pulling a few pods off the plants or climbing into the cab of a combine to go for a ride with Russ.

“I think it’s amazing being able to have my children grow up on a farm, somewhere that they can come and be free and run around through the soybean field. They absolutely love it, and love to ride in the tractors and the combines,” Mandy said. “This is where they feel at home, I think. It’s natural for them.

They just run free.”

Russ grew up helping in the family’s chicken houses, and when he and Mandy started their farm in 2005, his first move was to build his own poultry houses, largely because of the stability raising chickens provides.

Growing broiler chickens for Fieldale Farms, the Moons have four poultry houses capable of handling flocks of more than 100,000 birds.

While poultry serves as their financial Georgia Farm Bureau News

hub, they’ve added other spokes to their farm wheel. Four years ago, after AgStrong opened a canola plant 30 miles away in Hart County, Russ and Dennis began growing the yellow-flowered oilseed plants. They’ve also added a roadside strawberry stand to try and capitalize on the traffic on Ga. Highway 72, which splits their farm just northeast of Colbert and is a busy route to and from Athens.

“It’s been good,” Russ said. “This is our fifth year with the you-pick strawberry operations. We’ve grown that a little bit, got a few blackberries.”

GREENE COUNTY The record rain Georgia experienced this year caused dairyman Charlie Sanders two problems – increased cases of mastitis in the milking herd and lower quality hay.

As of Nov. 11, Charlie estimates about 54 inches of rain fell on the dairy he and his wife, Nancie, farm in partnership with her father, Barry, and brother, Dustin Churchwell.

It’s the most rain the farm has ever received according to Nancie’s grandfather, Alvin Moore, 86, who started the dairy in the 1950s.

“We made more hay this year than we’ve ever made, but the quality isn’t there because you couldn’t get it harvested when you needed to,” Charlie said. “It rained straight for days, would stop and then go back to raining.”

The rain also delayed the family in planting sorghum for their summer haylage crop.

Feed costs are the biggest expense dairy farmers face; so, Charlie and his family grow as much of their feed as possible to cut costs but still spend about three-fourths of their milk check buying dry feed for their 420-head milking herd.

They grow almost 1,100 acres of forages that are grazed by the cattle or harvested for haylage stored in plastic wrap until mixed with dry feed and brewer’s grain fed to the milking herd.

“Every time we start feeding from a different hay field, we take a core sample of the hay and test it for nitrates, relative feed value and dry matter content,” Charlie said. “We then adjust the dry feed ration mixture to compensate for the nutrients the hay is lacking.”

Thanks to all the rain, Charlie won’t have

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Photo by Jay Stone

face challenges head-on

The Sanders, from left, Nancie, Brooke, Breanna, Charlie and Caleb.

to worry about nitrates, a problem in drought years, but the family’s feed co-op may have to alter the percentages of corn, cottonseed, soybean hulls and citrus pulp used in their dry feed ration to make up for any nutrients the rain leached out of the hay.

In a normal Georgia summer, Charlie estimates the dairy treats no more than 15 cows at one time for mastitis, an udder infection. At one point this summer the dairy had almost 40 cows in treatment.

“This year was probably the worst year I remember for mastitis cases. A lot was because of the rain and high humidity, which is terrible for causing mastitis,” Charlie said.

Dairy producers not only have the cost of the medicine to treat mastitis, but they also lose the milk from the sick cow since they can’t sell the cow’s milk until the infection clears up, and she tests negative for antibiotic.

“Our main goal is to have good quality milk because it has a longer shelf life, and there’s a better market for it,” Charlie said.

Despite the struggles of the summer, in October, the family received a 12-month quality milk award from the Maryland/Virginia Cooperative to which it sells its milk.

The Sanders are happy raising their children, Brooke, 9, Breanna, 7 and Caleb, 4, on the farm. Nancie is homeschooling the girls, which she says gives the family more flexibility to get out on the farm and spend time with the animals.

“It’s important to let them see some of the work that goes on here and that we teach the children the responsibility of taking care of the animals,” Nancie said.

November-December 2013 / 15

2nd District cattle show promotes GFB, supports youth By Jay Stone ___________________________________

16 / November-December 2013

Photo by Cathy Howe Photo by Cathy Howe

Bella Brooke Chandler of Jackson County, pictured with her uncle David Farmer, won Grand Champion Steer with her Simmental-Angus crossbred steer at the 5th Annual GFB 2nd District Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show.

Jimmy English of Habersham County won the 12th-Grade Showmanship Award with his percent Simmental heifer at the 5th Annual GFB 2nd District Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show.

With him is his mother, Anna English.

Photo by Cathy Howe

Cindy Cooper and Bella Brooke Chandler of Jackson County won the top prizes in the 2013 GFB 2nd District Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show, held Oct. 19 at the White County Agriculture Center.

A total of 67 students competed and approximately 250 attended the 5th annual event, designed to help cattle exhibitors continue developing their showmanship skills between the Georgia National Fair and the December shows.

Each of the students who competed received a GFB membership brochure, a GFB Young Farmer calendar and a souvenir tshirt designed by Franklin County Young Farmer Heather Cabe. The prizes for the show awards were funded by donations from 2nd District county Farm Bureaus, county presidents and insurance agents.

The district uses the show to promote Farm Bureau membership and the GFB Young Farmer program in hopes of encouraging students to get involved with their county Young Farmer Committees when they turn 18.

Cooper won the $300 prize for Supreme Champion Heifer with her percent Simmental heifer. Chandler won the $300 prize for Grand Champion Steer with her Simmental-Angus crossbred commercial steer.

Wyatt Chandler of Jackson County received the $200 prize for Supreme Reserve Champion Heifer with his Chi-influenced heifer. Brett Boling of Banks County won the $200 prize for Reserve Champion Steer.

Habersham County’s Jimmy English won the 12th Grade Showmanship Award with his percent Simmental heifer. Other showmanship winners were: 11th Grade – James Bingham, Habersham County; 10th Grade – Cindy Cooper, Jackson County; 9th Grade – Tucker Carlan, Banks County; 8th Grade – Janna Anderson, Elbert County; 7th Grade – Wyatt Chandler, Jackson County; 6th Grade – Casadi Smith, Stephens County; 5th Grade – Payton Jackson, Banks County; 4th Grade and under – Bella Brooke Chandler, Jackson County.

In breed heifer classes, winners were: Percent Simmental Champion and Percent Simmental Reserve Champion – Cindy Cooper, Jackson County; Angus Champi-

Cindy Cooper of Jackson County, right, won Supreme Grand Champion Heifer with her percent Simmental heifer at the 5th Annual GFB 2nd District Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show. With her is Jackson County 4-Her Madyson McDaniel.

on – Memori Eavenson, Franklin County; Chi-Influenced Champion – Wyatt Chandler, Jackson County; Chi-Influenced Reserve Champion – Payton Jackson, Banks County; Simmental Champion – Casadi Smith, Stephens County; Simmental Reserve Champion – Landis Seagraves, Jack-

son County; Other Breeds Champion Austin Floyd, Hart County; Other Breeds Reserve Champion Parker Sheridan, Banks County; Commercial Heifer Champion – Austin Floyd, Hart County; Commercial Heifer Reserve Champion – Heidi Seagraves, Jackson County.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB’s Treptow retires

After logging thousands of miles on the road covering Georgia agriculture for Georgia Farm Bureau’s “Georgia Farm Monitor” TV show and GFB’s Georgia Farm Radio Network (GFRN), Rick Treptow retired Nov. 22.

Treptow received numerous awards for his ag reports during his 28 years at GFB including the Georgia Peanut Commission Media Award in 2002, the 2000 Outstanding Single Interview Award from the International Association of Fairs & Exposition and the 1994 Piedmont Soil & Water Conservation District Distinguished Service Award.

During the course of his career at GFB, Treptow wore out three pairs of boots and had one pair “reshod a few times,” according to his wife, Michele.

“I’m grateful to all the farmers who al-

lowed me on their farms and spent time talking about their operations,” Treptow said. “I liked getting out of the office, and I learned the best places for lunch were the spots with sheriffs’ vehicles in the parking lot.”

Prior to joining GFB in September 1985, Treptow did freelance media work, worked

Wildman promoted Mark Wildman has been named GFB’s new senior radio/TV specialist and news director for Georgia Farm Radio Network (GFRN).

Wildman, an 8-year GFB employee, will continue to do television stories each week for the “Georgia Farm Monitor.” In his role as GFRN news director, Wildman will be responsible for overall content on the seven daily programs carried on GFB’s radio network, which is broadcast on 55 radio stations statewide via Clear Channel Broadcasting’s satellite service.

Prior to joining the GFB staff in 2005, Wildman worked as a freelance camera-

at Macon’s CBS affiliate WMAZ as a reporter for nine years, the University of Florida Department of Information/Public Relations and for a radio station in Milledgeville.

Congratulations may be sent to Treptow at 106 Eastwick Court, Macon, Ga., 31210 or ricktreptow@cox.net. man and editor. He previously worked for the Georgia Department of Administrative Services in Atlanta as a video production specialist. He graduated from Mercer University in 1994 with a BA in Communications.

“I enjoy traveling across the state to cover Georgia agriculture and meeting Farm Bureau members,” Wildman said.

Wildman and his wife, LeeAnn, have one daughter, Gracen. They live in Macon and are members of North Macon Presbyterian Church.

GALFPR40508

If you can’t be there, we can.

She’s been dreaming of this day since she was a little girl. But if you can’t be there to see it, you can at least make sure that you’ve planned for her happiness. Farm Bureau Insurance* has a wide range of life insurance policies that can meet your family’s needs. Hopefully you will be there for all of her life’s greatest moments. But if you can’t, Farm Bureau Insurance* will be there to help see her through.

www.sfbli.com

Georgia Farm Bureau News

*Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS

November-December 2013 / 17

Agriculture shines at Sunbelt Expo

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

By Jennifer Whittaker ____________________________________________________

Corn harvesting demonstrations were added at Expo this year in addition to cotton, peanuts and hay. The John Deere S660 combine being used to harvest the Expo corn crop may be outfitted with an 8-row corn head to harvest corn, soybeans or wheat.

F

18 / November-December 2013

lie B. Withers Luncheon to honor the state Sunbelt Farmers of the Year from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. South Carolina

fruit grower James Cooley was named the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Will Harris, an organic livestock producer from Early County, rep(Continued on next page)

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

armers from across the Southeast gathered in Moultrie Oct. 15-17 to attend the 36th Annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition. According to Sunbelt Ag Expo Executive Director Chip Blalock, a record 1,219 exhibitors showcased their products at the three-day event and Expo officials estimated that 90,000 people attended.

As always, the event gave farmers the chance to see the latest equipment and farm supplies designed to make their operations more efficient. Expo attendees also had an opportunity to watch exhibiting companies use their equipment to harvest field crops grown on the Expo research farm. With Southeast farmers planting more acres of corn and soybeans in recent years, harvesting demonstrations for these two crops were added this year in addition to cotton, peanuts and hay.

“There’s a lot of interest in corn and soybeans in the Southeast with the prices farmers have seen in the last couple of years,” Blalock said. “Exhibitors came to us and wanted to run their combines in the field to harvest these crops.”

Opening-day events included the Wil-

Pictured from left, behind counter, GFB staff members Jed Evans, Michael Purvis and Rick Hubert greet Expo attendees visiting the Georgia Agriculture Building, which GFB cohosted with the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and his wife, Bonnie, welcome Gov. Nathan Deal to the Georgia Agriculture Building at Sunbelt Expo.

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

(Continued from previous page) resented Georgia in the contest.

Dignitaries speaking at the lunch included Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam.

“Georgia is fortunate to have agriculture as our number one industry contributing some $71 billion into our economy annually,” Deal said. “I welcome our visitors from Florida and congratulate you on being the spotlight state. I’d like to thank all of you attending today who provide our food and fiber and make our economy strong.”

Putnam acknowledged the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

“American agriculture has its hands full.

We have to find a way to feed nine billion people by 2050, and there’s only 1.5 percent of our population feeding our country and creating export opportunities. It’s through the innovation of farmers like those here today who are willing to try new things that we will be able to do this,” Putnam said.

Florida, which produces more than 70 percent of U.S. citrus products and 80 percent of the fresh vegetables eaten in the U.S. in winter, was recognized as the Expo Spotlight State during the lunch. Georgia will be the spotlight state in 2014.

In other Expo news, it was announced that Bill Patten, of Montgomery, Ala., is retiring from the Sunbelt Expo Board of Directors effective Dec. 31 after serving on the board nearly 25 years and as president the last 15 years. Blalock praised Patten for his dedication to the show since it began in 1978.

During a press conference held at Sunbelt Expo Oct. 16, Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, urged motorists and farmers to take precautions during harvest season to prevent accidents involving farm equipment.

According to the GOHS, statistics from 2012 show that nine deaths resulted from 429 farm-equipment related crashes and 185 people reported injuries.

Flavor of Georgia Contest seeks entries

The Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest is seeking entries for the 2014 contest.

The contest, sponsored by the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, helps food entrepreneurs showcase their products. Many former contest winners now have their products sold in specialty stores and supermarkets across the Southeast.

Georgia-based entrepreneurs may submit as many products as they like. Registration for the contest ends Feb. 7, 2014.

Finalists will be invited to take part in a final judging and public tasting March 17-18, 2014.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Contestants may submit products that are already commercially available or in the prototype stage. Product categories include: barbecue & hot sauces; jams & jellies, condiments & sauces; confections; meat & seafood products; dairy products; snack foods; beverages & miscellaneous products.

A panel of judges, made up of marketing experts, grocers, chefs and industry specialists, will judge entries based on flavor, use of Georgia ingredients, Georgia theme, innovative qualities, commercial appeal and originality.

Visit http://www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu or call 706583-0347 for more information or to register.

November-December 2013 / 19

Farm Bill deliberations underway in conference committee By Jay Stone ___________________________________

The farm bill conference committee held its first public meeting to discuss the House version of the farm bill on Oct. 30.

The 41-member committee was finalized on Oct. 12 with the announcement of the House conferees. Georgia Rep. Austin Scott (R-8th Dist.) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) are among the conferees. The conference committee was established to resolve differences between the House bill (H.R. 2642) and the Senate bill (S. 954). The committee is comprised of 17 House Republicans, 12 House Democrats, five Senate Republicans and seven Senate Democrats.

The 2008 farm bill was extended by Congress in January but expired on Sept.

30. Without a new long-term farm bill, the federal government’s farm policy reverts to permanent law from the 1930s and 1940s, an arrangement that establishes significant increases in some commodity prices, particularly for milk. The permanent law holds no provisions for a

number of crops being produced today.

Farm Bureau has expressed its position on a number of key provisions.

These include opposition to arbitrary means testing when used to determine eligibility for commodity program benefits, as well as payment limits from those programs. Farm Bureau also supports maintaining the separate payment limit for peanuts.

Farm Bureau voiced support of a provision in the House bill that would prevent states from enforcing unscientific standards on imports of commodities from other states.

According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, the House and Senate bills both would eliminate direct payments to farmers while revising and renaming counter-cyclical price and revenue support programs. Both bills would reauthorize various disaster assistance programs.

The two bills have means testing and payment limits for commodity programs.

The House version under consider-

ation contains a provision that would make the new law permanent law and repeal the 1930s/1940s laws.

The Senate bill would reduce farm bill spending by $17.9 billion over 10 years, including $3.9 billion in cuts from the nutrition assistance programs. The House version would cut spending by $51.9 billion over 10 years, including $39 billion from nutrition programs.

The Senate bill would cut $13.9 billion in agricultural program spending while the House bill would cut $12.9 billion from farm programs. Visit http://tinyurl.com/ o38om7c to view the extensive side-by side comparison of the two bills and current law.

The Senate passed its version of the farm bill on June 10. The House voted down a farm bill on June 20 after conflicts arose over funding levels in the bill’s nutrition title. The House passed a farm bill with no nutrition provisions on July 11, and the House passed a standalone nutrition bill on Sept. 19. On Sept.

28 the House passed a resolution to combine the two bills.

Ga. Soil & Water manual aims to protect water quality The Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) has published a new edition of “Best Management Practices for Georgia Agriculture” that outlines conservation practices to protect the quality of Georgia’s surface water.

“This manual describes a set of best practices to protect the quality of our

state’s rivers and streams, said GSWCC Executive Director Brent Dykes. “Water quality is important to everyone, and by implementing these practices we can make wise land and water management decisions.”

The manual, available in print and CD versions, as well as online, discusses

Cooking in High Cotton,

your go-to-cookbook for great Southern recipes, is a great gift for Christmas, weddings, birthdays and other special occasions. Proceeds benefit scholarships for children of Georgia cotton producers.

Name___________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________ City, State and Zip_________________________________________ Phone Number___________________________________________ No. of cookbooks _____ @ $19.95 per book _______________ Questions?

Sales Tax 7% _______________ Email us at georgiacottonwomen Shipping $3 per book _______________

TOTAL _______________ @gmail.com Make check payable to Georgia Cotton Women and mail to: Georgia Cotton Women • P.O. Box 2186 • Moultrie, GA 31776

20 / November-December 2013

management of animal wastes, irrigation water, row crop planning, wetlands and stream protection. The second edition includes new information on nutrient management planning that will meet the needs of farmers while protecting the environment.

Each section covers the water quality benefits, how to establish the practice, considerations and costs and the effectiveness of each practice. The third chapter in the manual lists contact information for Georgia ag organizations and state and federal resources available to farmers.

Copies of the manual are available on the GSWCC website at http://gaswcc. georgia.gov/best-management-practicesgeorgia-agriculture. You may also call 706-552-4470 for more information.

The GSWCC supports locally-led soil and water conservation districts through education, technical, financial and planning assistance and through program oversight.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

FSA announces sequester reductions to farm programs The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced reductions to farm programs to accommodate the automatic funding reductions known as sequester mandated by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 as amended by the Budget Control Act of 2011.

On Sept. 30 the FSA announced that marketing assistance loans (MALs), which provide interim financing for agricultural commodities to be stored after harvest and sold throughout the year when prices are unaffected by harvest-season pressure, are subject to sequester reduc-

tions of 5.1 percent for the 2013 crop year.

According to FSA, 2013 crop loan rates are not affected. Loan rates are set by previous statute and cannot be changed, but the resulting MAL amounts and, if applicable, loan deficiency payments (LDPs) will be subject to the 5.1 percent reduction. Loans issued by FSA, marketing associations and loan-servicing agents are subject to the reduction.

Loan-making for all commodities was suspended on Oct. 1 until FSA software was updated to reflect the reduction. The FSA announced Nov. 1 that the processing

GFB members participate in D.C. immigration reform rally

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Pictured from left, Georgia Farm Bureau National Affairs Specialist Tas Smith and GFB members Greg Murray and Matt Bottoms met with U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop on Oct. 29 during the Americans for Reform Immigration Fly-In to Washington, D.C.

Photo by Rep. Bishop staff

During meetings with U.S. Reps. Sanford Bishop, Austin Scott and Lynn Westmoreland, Matt Bottoms and Greg Murray discussed the need farmers have for a new farm labor program as part of comprehensive immigration reform.

Bottoms, who chairs the GFB Environmental Horticulture Committee, and Murray, who chairs the GFB Vegetable Committee, joined Farm Bureau members from across the country who spent the day on Capitol Hill talking with their congressional representatives about agriculture’s need for a reliable workforce and the importance of legislation that ensures a workable, flexible and market-based solution that meets the needs of agricultural employers.

“Farmers need access to a stable, legal workforce in order to provide consistent delivery of high quality food products,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall. “We were happy to be represented in this effort to share that message in Washington, and we’re hopeful the dialogue will continue toward a solution to this issue that is so crucial, not only to Georgia’s farmers, but to all Georgians.”

GFB maintains that immigration is an issue requiring national legislation to prevent variations in state laws that create com-

and disbursement of 2013 crop commodity loans had resumed.

On Nov. 15 the FSA announced that many of its programs would be subject to sequester reductions of 7.2 percent for FY 2014. Among these are the Dairy Indemnity Payment Program, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, Tobacco Transition Payment Program, 2013 Direct & Counter-Cyclical Payments, storage, handling, and Economic Adjustment Assistance for Upland Cotton. The 7.2 percent reduction for MALs will go into effect for crop year 2014.

petitive imbalance between states.

GFB and American Farm Bureau are urging Congress to pass immigration reform this year. Bills have been introduced in the Senate (S.744, which the Senate passed

in June) and the House (H.R. 1773). The GFB group urged House members to vote for H.R. 1773 so the bills go to conference and the process of enacting immigration reform may move forward.

November-December 2013 / 21

Charlie Miller, Historic Preservation Division, Georgia DNR

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, third from left, front row, congratulates the 2013 recipients of the Georgia Centennial Farm Awards recognized Oct. 4 at the Georgia National Fair.

Georgia Centennial Farms recognized for 20th year By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________

The Georgia Centennial Farm Program turns 20 this year. Since 1993, the program has recognized 451 farms around the state for continuously operating for 100 years or more.

On Oct. 4, farms receiving one of three centennial farm designations were recognized during a reception held at the Georgia National Fair in Perry.

The program is a partnership between the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Georgia National Fair & Agricenter with support from Georgia EMC. Farms may be recognized with one

of three awards. The Centennial Heritage Farm Award honors farms owned by members of the same family for 100 years or more that are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Centennial Farm Award does not require continual family ownership, but farms must be at least 100 years old and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Centennial Family Farm Award honors farms owned by members of the same family for 100 years or more that aren’t listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

To nominate a farm for the award in 2014, visit http://www.georgiacentennialfarms.org or contact Charlie Miller at 404-651-5287 or by email at Charlie.miller@dnr.state.ga.us. The postmark deadline for applications is May 1 of each year.

Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow!

Lee County Farm Bureau found a creative way to bring snow to their southwest Georgia county last year for the annual Leesburg Christmas Parade. LCFB staff members Susie Short and Donna Sumners made a 12-foot tall Christmas tree by gluing cotton on a frame wrapped in white batting. Grandkids and children of LCFB staff rode the float dressed as snowmen and threw cotton candy taffy along the parade route. LCFB President Tom Sumners pulled the float with his restored Farmall tractor that belonged to his grandfather. LCFB donated the toys decorating the float to the local Department of Family & Children Services.

22 / November-December 2013

Centennial Heritage Farm Award Boring & Brooks Estate, Banks County Centennial Farm Award Fannin-Cooper Farm, Paulding County Centennial Family Farm Award Troy & Nellie Jo Spicer Farm, Berrien County Alderman Family Farm, Bulloch County Norris Chester Mattox Sr. Farm, Clinch County Oak Hill Farm, Cook County Can Do Farms, Dooly County Wooten Farms, Dougherty County H.W. Kessler Farm, Effingham County McMullan Farms, Hart County C.T. Bray Family Farm, Johnson County Morton Farm, Jones County Staten Plantation & Murray Staten Farms, Lowndes County Julius McAllister Farm, Marion County McAllister Family Farm, Marion County Williams Family Farm, Morgan County Berry Family Farm, Newton County Gatliff Farms, Peach County The Dixon Family Farm, Pierce County Southwind Farm, Randolph County Fountain Family Farm, Taylor County Kentavia Williams Farm Inc., Thomas County Glenn Family Farm Homestead, Troup County Goodwin Brothers Farm, Webster County Freeman Springs Farm, Whitfield County Jenkins-Shanklin Family Farm, Worth County Georgia Farm Bureau News

2013 GFB district award winners recognized Each of Georgia Farm Bureau’s 10 districts held its annual meeting this fall and recognized the following 2013 district award winners. The state award recipients will be chosen from these district winners and announced at the annual GFB Convention in December.

The membership award was presented to counties that experienced membership growth in 2013. New in 2013 is the Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture Award, given to a young farmer who derives the majority of his or her income from something other than production agriculture.

FIRST DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Cherokee County; Young Farmer Committee: Cherokee County; Legislative Program: Cherokee County; Promotion & Education Committee: Chattooga County; Office Manager: Tammy Wood, Dawson County; Membership Award: Bartow and Gilmer counties.

SECOND DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Habersham County; Young Farmer Committee: Stephens County; Legislative Program: Jackson County; Promotion & Education Committee: Stephens County; Young Farmer Achievement: Russ and Mandy Moon, Madison County; Excellence in Ag: Clay Talton, Elbert County; Office Manager: Patricia Dyer, Stephens County; Membership Award: Madison, Union and White counties.

THIRD DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Newton County; Young Farmer Committee: Newton County; Legislative Program: Newton County; Promotion & Education Committee: Carroll County; Young Farmer Achievement: Dylan and Megan Kirkley, Newton County; Excellence in Ag: Sierra Coggins, Carroll County; Office Manager: Crystal Hyatt, Newton County; Membership Award: Clayton, Cobb, Fayette, North Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Henry, Newton and South Fulton counties.

tee: McDuffie County; Legislative Program: Barrow County; Promotion & Education Committee: Greene County; Young Farmer Achievement: Charlie Sanders, Greene County; Office Manager: Katy Seagraves, Clarke County; Membership Award: Glascock, Putnam and Walton counties.

FIFTH DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Upson County; Young Farmer Committee: Pike County; Legislative Program: Crawford County; Promotion & Education Committee: Pike County; Young Farmer Achievement: Brian and Melissa Ogletree, Spalding County; Office Manager: Rebecca Rolling, Pike County; Membership Award: Lamar, Peach, Talbot, Taylor and Troup counties.

SIXTH DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Washington County; Young Farmer Committee: Washington County; Legislative Program: Jeff Davis County; Promotion & Education Committee: Jeff Davis County; Young Farmer Achievement: James and Brooke Hitchcock, Washington County; Excellence in Ag: Keegan Malone, Laurens County; Office Manager: Carlene Hart, Washington County; Membership Award: Jeff Davis, Treutlen and Wheeler counties.

SEVENTH DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Wayne County; Young Farmer Committee: Screven County; Legislative Program: Screven County; Promotion & Education Committee: Toombs County;

Young Farmer Achievement: Jason and Cali Smith, Screven County; Membership Award: Bulloch, Evans, Jenkins and Screven counties.

EIGHTH DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Wilcox County; Young Farmer Committee: Wilcox County; Legislative Program: Macon County; Promotion & Education Committee: Turner County; Young Farmer Achievement: Jess and MeriBeth McNeill, Sumter County; Office Manager: Karen McCurdy, Turner County; Membership Award: Clay, Schley, Terrell and Turner counties.

NINTH DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Colquitt County; Young Farmer Committee: Tift County; Legislative Program: Colquitt County; Promotion & Education Committee: Tift County; Young Farmer Achievement: Blaine and Leticia Walden, Colquitt County; Office Manager: Lauren Grimes, Tift County; Membership Award: Brooks, Calhoun, Dougherty, Grady, Miller, Mitchell and Tift counties.

TENTH DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: Bacon County; Young Farmer Committee: Coffee County; Legislative Program: Cook County; Promotion & Education Committee: Cook County; Excellence In Ag: Paul Harris, Pierce County; Office Manager: Carla Palmer, Coffee County; Membership Award: Atkinson, Charlton, Coffee, Cook and Echols counties.

FOURTH DISTRICT Women’s Leadership Committee: McDuffie County; Young Farmer CommitGeorgia Farm Bureau News

November-December 2013 / 23

Photo courtesy of LCBA

Fla. sues Ga. over water dispute

Morgan named Ga. Beekeeper of the Year Bruce Morgan of Hancock County, holding plaque in back row, received the Georgia Beekeeper of the Year Award from the Georgia Beekeepers Association during the organization’s fall meeting in September.

Morgan is pictured with fellow members of the Lake Country Beekeepers Association (LCBA) who also attended the meeting – front row, left to right, Roseanne Fielder and Belinda Peebles and standing from left, Keith Fielder, Mary Lacksen, Theresa Morgan, Roy and Gay Morris. Keith Fielder is a member of the Georgia Farm

Bureau Honeybee Advisory Committee.

Morgan, who has been keeping bees since 2006, was honored for his outstanding service to Georgia apiculture. Morgan is a founding member of the LCBA, which officially began meeting in January and now has 34 member families with members from Baldwin, Glascock, Hancock, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, McDuffie, Morgan, Putnam and Warren counties.

The LCBA meets the third Monday of each month in Sparta. For more information about LCBA call Morgan at 478-357-4029.

2014 Ag Forecast meetings set Jan. 24 • Macon • Georgia Farm Bureau Jan. 27 • Athens • Ga. Center for Continuing Education Jan. 28 • Lyons • Toombs County Agri-center Jan. 29 • Tifton • UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Jan. 30 • Bainbridge • Cloud Livestock Facility Jan. 31 • Cartersville • Clarence Brown Conference Center

Make plans to attend the 2014 Ag Forecast series, which is supported by an endowment from Georgia Farm Bureau with support from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. You’ll hear the latest projections for supply, demand and prices of Georgia’s agricultural commodities for the upcoming year. UGA economists will deliver the information you need for making practical planting and business decisions. Each seminar will also include information from experts on farm succession planning.

Check-in for the Macon, Athens, Lyons and Cartersville meetings begins at 9:30 a.m. with seminars starting at 10 a.m. followed by lunch. Check-in for the Tifton and Bainbridge meetings begins at 7 a.m. with breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. followed by the seminar from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Advance registration is required by Jan. 22, 2014. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com, call 706-583-0347 or email carlam@uga.edu. Follow the meetings on Twitter @GaAgForecast and join the conversation with #AgForecast.

24 / November-December 2013

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Oct. 1 that the state of Florida has filed suit against Georgia in the U.S. Supreme Court to stop what they called “unchecked and growing consumption of water that continues to harm the families of Northwest Florida.”

Saying Florida was playing politics instead of working to forge a water-sharing agreement, Gov. Nathan Deal and Attorney General Sam Olens announced Oct. 28 the appointment of special assistant attorneys general to defend Georgia in the lawsuit.

Seth Waxman of WilmerHale and Chris Landau and Craig Primis of Kirkland & Ellis LLP will lead the litigation team, which will also include longtime Georgia water litigators Bruce Brown, Todd Silliman and John Allen.

“It is time for Florida to stop playing politics and start negotiating in good faith,” said Deal. “Scarcely one year has passed since the U.S. Supreme Court ended Florida’s last unsuccessful lawsuit, which lasted more than 20 years. That lawsuit cost all three states millions of dollars and obstructed meaningful natural resource planning for decades. I call on Florida to dismiss this lawsuit and return to the negotiating table.”

Florida filed suit with the Supreme Court on Oct. 1, claiming that Georgia’s use of water from the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers has resulted in low water levels in the Apalachicola Bay and threatens the Northwest Florida oyster industry.

Deal’s office countered at that time by pointing out Metro Atlanta’s water use has decreased despite population gains, and that Georgia offered a framework water-sharing agreement but never got a response from Florida.

“We did not seek this lawsuit, but we will defend Georgia vigorously,” said Olens. “I have great faith in every member of this excellent legal team, and Georgians should be confident that their interests are being well-represented.”

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Livestock well-being begins on the farm

P

roducing healthy, low-risk calves begins on the farm. It is important to assess our own farms and make sure we are doing everything we can to improve the lives of the animals in our care. This is just good stewardship.

The question we could ask is “Am I doing all I can to make sure my cattle are healthy and produce calves that are not high risk cattle?” On-farm practices that have the most benefit on the health and well-being of calves are: low-stress weaning, vaccinations, deworming and proper castration and dehorning.

There is a lot of information about the benefits of low-stress weaning. Some people just remove their calves from their momma cows and take them to the sale barn. Many of these calves sit at the barn for a day or two before being sold and taken to a gathering facility. Commingling abruptly weaned calves is one of the most significant causes of stress and disease in young calves.

Anybody who has had young children in kindergarten knows germs are passed around quickly. Since many of these calves are not vaccinated against respiratory diseases they are easily infected and often get sick within seven to ten days of being exposed.

Some producers practice fenceline weaning or a two-step weaning process.

Fenceline weaning allows the calf to be close to its momma but keeps it from nursing. The calves fuss some but not nearly as much as with a complete, abrupt separation. Because the calves are calmer, they also eat better, don’t get hoarse from bawling and don’t lose as much weight during weaning. Two-step weaning uses nose paddles, clipped into the nose, which keep the calf from nursing but allow it to still graze next to mom or eat creep feed.

These weaning methods have been proven to reduce stress in calves and improve calf health. Once the calves are separated, many don’t complain at all, prompting some researchers to speculate that the calves missed their milk more than they missed mom.

Vaccination to enhance the immunity and resistance to common diseases Georgia Farm Bureau News

is a good management practice. Vaccines stimulate the immune system by mimicking natural infection. The type of vaccine, selection of antigens and timing of administration are important. Typical calf vaccination programs include the respiratory viruses that cause pneumonia. There are combination vaccines that contain four or five types of killed virus, modified live virus (MLV) or a mix of both. It is important to follow the label instructions when vaccinating calves with a MLV vaccine. MLVs are not recommended for calves nursing pregnant cows that have not been vaccinated with a MLV vaccine.

Clostridial organisms cause diseases in cattle like tetanus, blackleg and intestinal disease. Cattle acquire clostridial spores from their environment while grazing. Ideally, calves should receive a combination seven-way clostridial toxoid vaccine by two to three months of age with a booster three to four weeks later. Bulls castrated by banding should also be vaccinated with tetanus toxoid two weeks before banding. It is a common practice to vaccinate and administer tetanus antitoxin when banding.

Internal parasites can cause significant health problems and production losses in cattle. Often, production losses caused by parasites are subtle, but severe infestations cause disease and even death in any age of cattle. Subtle infestations can reduce the animal’s immunity and resistance to infections. Most of the significant internal parasites of cattle are in the abomasum (Ostertagia and Haemonchus) or small intestine

(Cooperia). There have been reports of cattle intestinal parasites that are resistant to our generic pour-on wormers due to their overuse. Overgrazing increases the likelihood calves will get infected by parasite larvae on pasture. Rotational grazing helps break the lifecycle of internal parasites and reduces the need for regular deworming and the negative environmental effects of some products.

Preferably, castration and dehorning should be done by four months of age to reduce the impact on the calf, according to the Beef Quality Assurance National Manual. Castration methods include surgical methods such as Burdizzo, which crushes the cord while leaving skin intact, or using an elastic band, which obstructs blood flow.

Age of calf, available facilities, time of year and the experience of the person performing the procedure may determine the method selected. Some producers believe later castration will aid in weight gain, but delayed castration has been proven to increase pain, stress, bleeding, reduce feed intake and increase risk of disease after the procedure.

The easiest way to dehorn calves is by using polled bulls.

These practices and good nutrition can get our calves off to a healthy start. We have the power to make a positive difference in the lives of our cattle with very little effort and expense. It’s just good animal welfare.

Lee Jones is an assistant professor with the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine & a case investigator at the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

By Lee Jones DVM, MS ___________________________________

There are several production practices cattle producers can adopt to raise healthy calves including low-stress weaning, vaccinations, deworming and proper castration and dehorning.

November-December 2013 / 25

AROUND GEORGIA Compiled by Jennifer Whittaker

News from County Farm Bureaus

BACON COUNTY Bacon County Farm Bureau held a farm safety workshop for members of the Bacon County High School FFA this fall. Larry Smith, a well-known Bacon County farmer, told 100 students about the farm accident that almost took his life. Smith shared how a portable feed mill snatched his sleeves and pulled him into the grinding mechanism of the mill.

By the grace of God, Smith said, the tractor choked down, which stopped the mill and allowed him to survive. Smith, who suffered a broken neck from the accident, told the students about other farmers who were not as fortunate when experiencing farming accidents.

BCFB Young Farmer Chairman Brandon Wade introduced Smith. BCFB President David H. Lee and BCFB Office Manager Jeanne Taylor attended the event and served the students refreshments. BCHS Ag Teacher J.R. Miles helped to arrange the safety program.

CLARKE COUNTY Clarke County Farm Bureau celebrated paying off the mortgage on its office by burning the note for the building during its annual meeting Aug. 29. CCFB Directors Charles Carter and Dot Barrett burn the note for the building, which CCFB moved into in April 1997.

CLAY COUNTY In July, GFB began its yearlong program “My Plate is Geor26 / November-December 2013

gia Grown,” to promote locally grown food, GFB’s Certified Farm Markets and proper nutrition habits. Clay County Farm Bureau got a head start on this program by presenting a lesson to all third and fourth-grade students at Clay County Elementary School in May. CCFB provided fresh fruits and vegetables for the students to eat. Many of the students tried vegetables they had not tried before. Helping with the event were GFB 8th District Field Rep. Ken Murphree and CCFB members Douglas Williams, Tommy Britt and Betty Britt and GFB staff members Donna Rocker and Andy Lucas.

DODGE COUNTY Dodge County Farm Bureau worked with the Dodge County Chamber of Commerce to host an ag tour for the Leadership Dodge program on Aug. 13. The group toured farms and agribusinesses in the county including Stuckey Timberland, the DCFB Office, the local agricenter where livestock shows are held, Hardy Farms and the Tripp Farm. DCFB Director Jim Tripp talked to the group about agriculture in Dodge County. The tour enjoyed a homegrown lunch of food raised on the Tripp and McCranie farms at Jimmie Pruett’s lodge. DCFB volunteers prepared the lunch during which a Georgia Department of Agriculture staff member discussed the Georgia Grown program.

DOUGLAS COUNTY Douglas County Farm Bureau landscaped a flower bed at the entrance of Stewart Middle School this summer in preparation for the beginning of the school year. Pictured from left, DCFB Agency Manager Jeff Camp, DCFB President Travis Henry, and Blakley Parson, son of DCFB Office Manager Stephanie Parson, work on cleaning out the flower bed. DCFB planted a Japanese maple Georgia Farm Bureau News

and will add to the bed throughout the year, involving the students in the project.

ELBERT COUNTY The Elbert County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee cosponsored “Ag in a Bag” with Elbert County 4-H this summer. The 4-Hers learned about honey production, how to make soybean lip balm and soil erosion. After having pizza and ice cream for lunch, they visited several farms to get a hands-on agriculture experience.

Committee Chairman Janet Mazurek, far left, and 4-H agent Lauren Macias-Dye, kneeling front row, far right, planned a fun-filled Ag Day experience for the kids with help from Women’s Committee member Charlotte Ward, back row, far right. USDA employee Katrina White, not pictured, led the kids through an activity in which they learned how rain washes away soil in overworked fields.

EMANUEL COUNTY During the summer, the Emanuel County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee entertained children at Franklin Memorial Library for its Summer Reading Program. The children experienced firsthand what it takes to be a gardener in Emanuel County. Shari Watt showed the children vegetables grown by farmers in the county including cabbage, squash, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, corn and carrots. Watt also discussed peanuts, pecans and soybeans. The ECFB volunteers read the book “Tops and Bottoms” and taught the kids which crops grow above and below ground. The volunteers also helped each kid plant a butterbean seed in a paper cup, which they took home to watch grow. The kids also received a coloring book and chocolate covered soybeans.

ECFB volunteers participating in the event were, pictured back row from left, ECFB Women’s Committee Chairman Judy Garrett, Dana Nasworthy and Shari Watt.

EVANS COUNTY Evans County Farm Bureau held a meeting with young farmers in the county this summer to recruit new members for its young farmer program. The ECFB group enjoyed supper at a local restaurant before the meeting. Pictured counterclockwise right to left, ECFB President Donny Jones and Young Farmer CommitGeorgia Farm Bureau News

tee Chairman Clay Deloach talk with Chance Callaway and Ross Greene about USDA programs for beginning farmers and Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer competitions, such as the discussion meet and achievement contest. ECFB Director and GFB 7th District Director Gary Bell also attended the meeting.

FAYETTE COUNTY Fayette County Farm Bureau held its annual Farmer Appreciation Dinner in May. FCFB presented its Farmer of the Year Award to Nolan Harp, pictured fourth from left. Joining Nolan for the award presentation were, pictured from left, Nolan’s son Cooper and his wife, Natalie, Nolan’s mother Tammie, FCFB Women’s Chairman Debbie Creel, FCFB Women’s Committee members Mary Carden, Janet Greuel, Robin Porter and Joanne Minter. Nolan, whose family traces its history in Fayette County to the early 1830s, currently works with his father, Mickey, and other family members at Harp’s Farm, one of the state’s leading producers of nursery stock. About 75 people, including state and local elected leaders as well as representatives from the office of Rep. Lynn Westmoreland attended the event hosted by the FCFB Women’s Committee.

GWINNETT COUNTY Gwinnett County Farm Bureau has awarded three $1,500 college scholarships to students pursuing agriculture degrees or degrees in a related field. GCFB President Cecil Gober, second from left, presents scholarships to, from left, Marrissa Blackwell, Daniel Tanghal and Miles Couch. Blackwell is attending the University of Georgia majoring in animal science. Tanghal is majoring in agri(Continued on next page) November-December 2013 / 27

(Continued from previous page) business at UGA. Couch is studying environmental science at the University of West Georgia.

JASPER COUNTY For the 30th year, the Jasper County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee manned its Sweet Booth at the Shady Dale Rodeo. Throughout the past three decades, the Women’s Committee has made homemade cakes, cookies, cotton candy, cupcakes, brownies and popcorn. During the past 30 years, the JCFB Women’s Committee has donated more than $35,000 to support the Masonic charities. JCFB President Scotty Dumas, right, presents a check to Shady Dale Rodeo Secretary/Treasurer Cal McElheney for the $1,400 JCFB raised this year. Mason Lodges Walton #200 and Jasper #50 sponsor the annual Shady Dale Rodeo. All proceeds are donated to Masonic Charities such as Scottish Rite and the Masonic Children’s Home.

LAMAR COUNTY Members of the Lamar County Farm Bureau Board of Directors met with U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland Aug. 19 at the LCFB office. The group discussed immigration reform, the farm bill, Obama Care and other issues with Rep. Westmoreland. Pictured from left are LCFB Directors Jack Walters, Clay Allen, LCFB Agency Manager Donia Smith, LCFB Director Dick Esco, LCFB President Ralph Adamson, LCFB Office Manager Valerie Hill, Rep. Westmoreland, GFB 5th District Field Rep. Cliff Bowden, and LCFB Director Larry Hudson. LCFB Director Paul Wallace, not pictured, also attended.

MACON COUNTY Earlier this year, Macon County Farm Bureau had a booth at 28 / November-December 2013

Turkey Day held in Oglethorpe. Pictured from left, MCFB Women’s Committee Chairman Marilyn McLendon, Agent Jeff Patterson, MCFB President Mike McLendon and MCFB Director Glen Lee Chase are pictured handing out samples of peanuts and information about Farm Bureau.

PAULDING COUNTY Paulding County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Jason Cook, pictured far right, hosted Paulding County 4-Hers on a tour of Spreading Oaks Farm in Dallas, Ga., July 2. Cook taught the 4-Hers about crops grown in summer and the kinds of crops grown in fall, winter and spring. Cook also explained how the farm sells its produce through Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and local farmer’s markets, like the Paulding County Farm Bureau Farmers Market. Cook discussed the farm’s sustainable practices for managing crops in a way that is healthful to soil and water quality. The 4-Hers had the opportunity to see vegetable crops, pastured poultry and beef cattle management in action and ask Cook questions about local agriculture.

PEACH COUNTY Peach County Farm Bureau donated $250 to the Peach County 4-H to fund scholarships for two local 4-Hers to go to 4-H camp this summer.

PCFB President George Hancock presents the donation to Peach County Extension Coordinator Kate Whiting.

POLK COUNTY Polk County Farm Bureau donated three 12 ft. red maple trees to Northside Elementary School and helped plant them on the playground as part of the Northside Student Council’s school beautification project. Pictured from right, back row, PCFB AgenGeorgia Farm Bureau News

cy Manager Jackie Casey, PCFB President James Casey, PCFB Sec./Treasurer Sue Cuzzort and PCFB member/ NES teacher Kim Hatch, second from tree, right, participated in the tree dedication ceremony. PCFB member Denny Cuzzort helped plant the trees.

RICHMOND COUNTY Richmond County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chairman Marsha Rider, committee member Jan Ison and RCFB Office Manager Sandra Weiss visited first graders at McBean Elementary in Richmond County. Rider, standing left, read the book, “Sun, Soil and Seed” to the students. Ison, standing right, played a game with the students that taught them about fruits and vegetables. Weiss, not pictured, taught the students how to plant a vegetable seed and helped them plant seeds in plastic cups they took home. They also passed out gift bags filled with bookmarks, coloring books and Ag in the Classroom pencils.

RCFB gave teacher Susan Mobley activity sheets for the students and safety posters for the school walls.

SCHLEY COUNTY The Schley County Farm Bureau sold BBQ chicken plates Sept.

21 to raise money to send a young farmer member to the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in January in San Antonio, Texas. Pictured from left, SCFB Agent Miranda Long, SCFB President Johnny Lightner, SCFB Office Manager Katina Fields and her husband, Tim, manned the BBQ booth. Tim manages the local Piggly Wiggly, which donated the food for the BBQ fundraiser.

Also helping with the event were SCFB member Justin Stubbs, who helped grill the chicken and Lynsie Turville and Lindsey Long, who handed out plates to customers.

Ga. Cotton Commission Annual Meeting & UGA Production Workshop Jan. 22, 2014 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Begins at 8 a.m.

For more information Call 478-988-4235 or visit http://www.georgiacottoncommission.org

Georgia Farm Bureau News

TOOMBS COUNTY Toombs County Farm Bureau Office Manager Whitney Hutcheson, right, and GFB District 7 Director Gary Bell, left, visited Ohoopee Regional Library to teach children about strawberries.

Hutcheson read the children two stories about strawberries, taught them lots of facts about the fruit and offered the children strawberries to eat. Bell displayed a strawberry plant from his farm and told the children how he grows and harvests strawberries. Bell presented gift bags to each of the children with coloring pages, crayons, strawberry candy, and a “pet” strawberry made by his wife, Leigh.

The “pet” strawberry consisted of a glass strawberry sleeping on a cotton ball pillow in a small bed made of a cardboard box.

GFB 5th District members help Macon RMH

County Women’s Committee Chairmen and county office managers from 11 of the 17 counties in Georgia Farm Bureau’s 5th District joined forces to provide lunch on Sept. 21 for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Macon. In addition to preparing and serving lunch and cleaning up afterwards, some volunteers also helped out with various chores around the house. Those participating in the event included: (front row left to right, standing) Sandi Williams, Betty Pierson, Sherry Huggins, (front row left to right, kneeling) Rebecca Rolling, GFB 5th District Women’s Committee Chairman Brenda Cooley, Christina Ridgeway, Loretha Gage, Jim Hollowed (center row, seated) Mary Ann Cauthen and Betty Harris (center row, standing right of Ronald McDonald statue) Patty Hollowed, Linda Luttrell, Virginia Ridgeway and Cliff Bowden; (back row left to right) Tina Yearta, Marcia Callaway, Patsy Brunson, (back row, right of Ronald McDonald statue) Brooke Greer, and Alyson Wilson.

November-December 2013 / 29

GFB continues to educate teachers about ag

This past April, a USDA conference was held in Washington, D.C., on agricultural literacy. At this function, ag literacy was defined as “having the ability to understand and communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life.” Can children today be considered ag literate? With most kids today being three generations removed from the farm, that prospect seems difficult to imagine.

As the state’s largest general farm organization, Georgia Farm Bureau strives to bring agriculture into the classroom through educator workshops and farm experiences. After hosting summer teacher workshops for a number of years, GFB began hosting a new type of teacher workshop in 2011 that’s offered in cooperation with local school systems during the school year. GFB staff members Andy Lucas and Donna Rocker developed the curriculum for the workshops and conduct them with the help of county volunteers.

The latest two workshops were held Sept. 27 at the Effingham County Board of Education office and on Oct. 1 in Newton County at the Newton College & Career Academy Charter School. A total of 50 elementary school teachers learned about agriculture during these two workshops.

The teachers participated in a variety of agriculture activities for the classroom and experienced quality time on local farms to see agricultural crops first hand. During the Effingham County farm visits, teachers saw peanuts being harvested and toured a greenhouse operation. In Newton County, the teachers were treated to an old-fashioned hayride and learned about the process of planting and harvesting vegetables and strawberries, running an agritourism enterprise and a beef cattle operation.

Each teacher attending the workshops received educational materials valued at $125. GFB has developed three books for 30 / November-December 2013

Photo by Andy Lucas

By Mike Copeland _____________________________________

Effingham County Farm Bureau President, Stuart Exley addresses teachers at the GFB Educator Workshop held in Springfield on Sept. 27.

teachers who attend the workshops to help them implement what they learn in their classrooms - a teacher resource guide, lesson plans (master book) and “Seed, Soil & Fun.” Each book contains support information on activities for the classroom, extended activities they can do with their students, background information for each lesson and a list of resources including contact information for each county Farm Bureau.

Like the 340 teachers who participated in previous GFB Educator Workshops since they started in 2011, the 50 teachers attending our two most recent workshops

left with a greater understanding and appreciation for the source of their food and fiber. Particularly, they were excited to receive hands-on agricultural materials ready to use in their classrooms that meet state standards for teaching. These teachers also have a new appreciation for their local county Farm Bureau organization, which stands ready, willing and able to assist with their Agriculture in the Classroom needs as we endeavor to raise the bar on agricultural literacy.

Mike Copeland is director of the GFB Field Services Department.

GFB to award college scholarships

Georgia Farm Bureau will award a total of $14,250 in scholarships to 10 high school seniors who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or a related agricultural field.

The top three students will each receive a scholarship of $3,000. The remaining seven students will each receive a $750 scholarship.

Students submitting an application must currently be a Georgia high school senior and plan to enroll in a unit of the University System of Georgia or Berry College during the 20142015 academic year.

Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information or an application. The application deadline is February 21, 2014. Applications must be approved and signed by the Farm Bureau president of the county in which the applicant resides or attends high school.

You may also download a copy of the application by visiting http://www.gfb. org, selecting Programs and then Ag in the Classroom.

The Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and the GFB Women’s Leadership Committee sponsor the scholarship program.

Winners will be announced in May 2014.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

County Farm Bureaus host legislators on farm tours By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________

F

arm Bureau’s mission is to be the voice of Georgia farmers, especially on legislative issues. While Georgia Farm Bureau works to represent our farmers in Atlanta and Washington, the organization has long encouraged its members to establish relationships with their legislators so that the lawmakers will visualize their faces when our staff talks to them about farm issues.

This summer, Crawford and Jackson County Farm Bureaus put this recommendation into action by hosting tours that not only reached out to legislators in their areas but urban legislators, too.

On July 20, Crawford County Farm Bureau (CCFB) hosted a farm tour for urban members of the Georgia General Assembly and their families. Jackson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) hosted a tour for legislators that represent its county and parts of Atlanta on Aug. 30.

CCFB hosted Reps. Lynn Riley (Dist.

50-Fulton), James Beverly (Dist. 143Bibb), and Sam Teasley (Dist. 37-Cobb) on a tour of Dickey Farms where the legislators and their families picked and packed peaches. CCFB Legislative Chair-

Georgia Farm Bureau News

man Robert Dickey, who also serves in the Georgia House (Dist. 140-Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Peach & Monroe) shared the challenges his family faces with immigration issues.

Pictured from left, Jackson County Extension Agent Sam Ingram, Sen. Hunter Hill, Rep. Regina Quick, Rep. Tommy Benton, Sen. John Wilkinson, JCFB President Swayne Cochran, M.C. Sandoval of Bouchard Farms and Andrew Evans of Bouchard Farms enjoy a hayride during the Jackson County Farm Bureau Legislative Tour.

November-December 2013 / 31

Photo courtesy of JCFB

Photo courtesy of CCFB

During a stop at Cooley Farms, Crawford County Farm Bureau Legislative Chairman Robert Dickey, second from right, who also serves in the Ga. House, visits with fellow representatives, from left, Ga. Reps. Lynne Riley, James Beverly and Sam Teasley.

The tour group had lunch at Cooley Farms where the legislators learned about raising broilers, beef cattle and hay. The Cooleys discussed water issues with the legislators and demonstrated pivot irrigation systems.

JCFB hosted Sens. Frank Ginn (Dist.

47–Barrow, Clarke, Jackson & Madison), Hunter Hill (Dist. 6–Cobb & Fulton) and Sen. Ag Committee Chairman John Wilkinson (Dist. 50–Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Rabun, Stephens & Towns) and Reps. Tommy Benton (Dist. 31–Jackson) and Regina Quick (Dist.

117–Barrow, Clarke, Jackson & Oconee).

The JCFB tour visited the Johnson Farm, a 550–acre centennial farm that raises beef, Lathem Farms, a laying hen operation with 1.25 million birds, and Bouchard Farms, a 550-acre organic vegetable farm.

While touring Lathem Farms, each visitor put on body suits and booties to protect the chicken flocks against outside germs. This taught the legislators the importance of biosecurity on the farm.

A lunch of pasture-fed Angus burgers with all the fixings was served at the Johnson Family Farm. Bouchard Farms supplied each of the legislators with a gift bag of fresh organic vegetables. The tour ended at the JCFB office where the attendees enjoyed homemade peach ice cream.

Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Companies

Claims Resource Center Hours of Operation: M-F 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

1-855-432-2567

Please notify us as soon as possible when a loss occurs.

For auto glass claims anytime or to report a claim after hours, please contact Alliance Claims Solutions at 1-866-842-3276

Keeping the Promise.

Farm Bureau Insurance is your one-stop source for quality protection. We have broad coverage for your Auto, Home or Life Insurance needs, and we back it up with prompt, professional attention, and fast, fair claims service.

Georgia Farm Bureau proudly offers the following products:

AUTO Personal, Business, Fleets P&C PERSONAL Homeowner, Mobile/Manufactured Home, Personal Fire Package, Inland Marine FARM Farm Package, Farm Pollution, Club Calf/4-H/FFA Livestock Insurance, Crop Hail P&C COMMERCIAL Church, Business Owner, Commercial Package BROKERAGE & UMBRELLA

Auto • Life • Home Georgia Farm Bureau • P.O. Box 7068 • 1620 Bass Road • Macon, Georgia 31209-7068 • www.gfb.org Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Southern Farm Bureau Annuity Insurance Company Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company Georgia Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company