Georgia Farm Bureau News - April/May 2009

Vol. 70 No. 2

GEORGIA

April-May 2009

FARM BUREAU NEWS

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table of

contents april/may 2009

departments

we, the farmers PAGE 4

legislative update PAGE 5

commodities update PAGE 12

timber update PAGE 14

women’s committee update PAGE 17

young farmer update PAGE 18

around georgia

PAGE 20

public relations staff

Paul Beliveau Director Jennifer Whittaker Editor

Lillian Davis

Brad Harrison

Denny Moore

Rick Treptow Michael Edmondson

Mark Wildman

Dean Wood

Ryan Naquin

Publications/Advertising Manager Print/Web Specialist TV Producer/Anchor Senior Radio-TV Specialist Web/Video Manager Radio-TV Specialist Radio-TV Specialist 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 478474-0679, ext. 5334 or email 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 celebrates Agriculture Week Georgia’s agriculture community celebrated National Agriculture Week with activities designed to educate their communities about agriculture.

During the 6th Annual Agriculture Week Celebration hosted by Gov. Sonny Perdue and his Agricultural Advisory Committee, Gov. Perdue showed granddaughters Mary Kate and Sunni the secret to hand-milking a cow.

PAGES 6-7

Peanut Proud Expo spreads good news The town of Blakely hosted a festival in March to counter the negative publicity peanuts and the town received following the salmonella outbreak linked to the town’s Peanut Corporation of America plant.

PAGE 8

Dairy industry experiencing tough times After two years of record-high prices, milk prices have dropped below the cost of production. Economists say the slumping economy is the main culprit for the low prices.

PAGE 11

Forestland Tax Covenant signup deadline is June 1 Forestland owners have until June 1 to enroll this year in the tax reduction covenant created by the Forest Land Protection Act Georgia voters approved last November as Amendment #1. The Forest Land Conservation Use Valuation allows forestland to be taxed according to its use as a forest instead of at the higher fair market value.

PAGE 15

GFB conference prepares volunteers to promote agriculture GFB members attending the organization’s annual Educational Leadership Conference gained skills and information to help them educate their communities about agriculture. Workshops covered food safety, vegetables, cotton and public speaking.

PAGE 23

on the cover

(Photo by Jennifer Whittaker) Georgia’s wheat crop will soon be ready for harvest. Georgia farmers planted 340,000 acres of wheat for the 2009 crop. That’s 140,000 less acres than were planted for last year’s crop. This scenic field was shot in Washington County.

Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 3

we, the

farmers GFB President Zippy Duvall encouraged members attending the GFB Educational Leadership Conference to be proactive about telling agriculture’s story.

Zippy Duvall, GFB President

Spring showers bring blessings

God has literally showered his blessings on us this spring with rain to replenish our water tables. At the right time, in the right amount, rain benefits us.

At the wrong time, in overabundance, it can flood fields and damage crops, as South Georgia farmers experienced this spring. But, it takes rain to make crops grow, and so we take the good with the bad.

Agriculture is experiencing difficulties – high input costs, low commodity prices, attacks from environmental and animal rights activists and food safety issues. These challenges make Farm Bureau more important now than ever before. Just as with rain, we have to look for the positives in our difficulties.

One blessing is our Farm Bureau members are rallying statewide to address these challenges and are using them as opportunities to tell agriculture’s story.

In March, Farm Bureaus across the state held activities to celebrate National Agriculture Week, March 15-21, and spread the good news about agriculture.

Anyone who visited one of Georgia’s 69 welcome or visitor centers during Ag Week saw a video produced by Georgia Farm Bureau promoting Georgia agriculture. Many of our members attended the statewide Ag Celebration hosted

by Gov. Perdue in Atlanta, March 17.

During this event, Gov. Perdue presented the Environmental Stewardship Award to Madison County Farm Bureau Director Terry Candler. I’d like to congratulate Terry and the other district winners for being recognized with this award. The conservation practices 4 / April-May 2009

they have adopted on their farms prove farmers are the original environmentalists. Many counties worked with their elementary schools to compete for the Governor’s 5th grade Ag Awareness Award, and we look forward to learning the winner later this spring.

Part of addressing the difficulties we face in agriculture is telling the public what we do on the farm and why we do it. We can run stories on our television show and in our magazines, but it’s important that we, the farmers, talk to our neighbors directly.

About 220 GFB members attended our annual Educational Leadership Conference in March where they learned how to promote agriculture in their local communities. These GFB members also heard Dr. Carl Winter’s presentation on food safety and now have the resources to respond to food safety concerns and encourage consumers to eat a balanced diet made up of all types of food without fear of their food making them sick.

Another 14 GFB members attended our Communications Bootcamp in April where they worked on their speaking skills. These members are now better prepared to tell their communities about agriculture.

To alleviate consumer concerns resulting from the recent salmonella outbreak, GFB provided county Farm Bureaus a press kit to help them promote Georgia peanuts in their local newspapers. I’d like to thank every county Farm Bureau that submitted letters to the editor and articles.

Our commodity committees have been meeting this spring to discuss policy implementation. We had 34 young farmers travel to Washington,

See WE, THE FARMERS page 14

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 OFFICERS President ZIPPY DUVALL 1st Vice President/South Georgia Vice President GERALD LONG North Georgia Vice President BERNARD SIMS Middle Georgia Vice President BRENT GALLOWAY Treasurer/Corporate Secretary Wayne Daniel General Counsel DUKE Groover

DIRECTORS FIRST DISTRICT: J. Louis Hunt, LaFayette; Henry J. West, Rydal SECOND DISTRICT: Bobby Gunter, Dahlonega; Randy Ruff, Elberton THIRD DISTRICT: George Chambers, Carrollton; Nora Goodman, Temple FOURTH DISTRICT: Marvin Ruark, Bishop; William Hutchins, Winder FIFTH DISTRICT: Jim Ham, Smarr; Ralph Adamson, Jr., Barnesville SIXTH DISTRICT: James Emory Tate, Denton; Jimmy Perry Jr., Cochran SEVENTH DISTRICT: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gennis Folsom, Glenville EIGHTH DISTRICT: Phil Redding, Bluffton; Don Wood, Rochelle NINTH DISTRICT: Paul Shirah, Camilla; Lucius Adkins, Elmodel TENTH DISTRICT: David Lee, Alma; Daniel Johnson, Alma YOUNG FARMER CHAIRMAN: Lanair Worsham, Camilla WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Kim Brown, Montezuma 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 2009 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

General Assembly passes good ag bills The Georgia General Assembly adjourned at midnight on April 3. Many of the bills followed by Farm Bureau members went right down to the wire before final passage. Overall, it was a good session for farm interests. Below is a summary of the major agriculture bills that were passed.

HB 529 Last year, California voters approved a ballot measure to regulate livestock and poultry production. HB 529 was introduced to prevent similar efforts by local governments in Georgia.

The bill asserts that local governments cannot adopt laws regulating on-farm practices as long as the practices are in accordance with local zoning ordinances.

Farm Bureau’s concern is that misguided local officials might make environmental or animal rights statements by deciding the legality of generally accepted farm practices. For example, local officials might pass ordinances that certain crops or plants are environmentally undesirable or that arbitrary minimum space requirements for livestock must be met.

In the waning hours of the General Assembly, agritourism liability legislation was added to HB 529, which offers limited liability for landowners who charge admission for persons 18 years and older to participate in agritourism or hunting and fishing activities.

SB 82 Metal theft is a big problem for farmers.

Thieves are increasingly rendering expensive equipment inoperable by stripping wire or stealing electric motors to sell as scrap. Senate Bill 82 combats this problem by tightening regulations related to the purchase of scrap metal.

SB 82 requires anyone selling scrap metal to present a photo ID to the buyer, who must retain a photocopy. Cash payments for aluminum forms and copper items can only be made after a 24-hour

wait. The bill also allows prosecutors to consider the value of the stolen property in its undamaged condition rather than just its value as scrap.

SB 43 The Boll Weevil Eradication Program (BWEP) has been successful in Georgia.

For years, local Farm Service Agency offices have collected the farmer assessment for the program on a per acre basis. Beginning in 2010, FSA will cease collecting these funds.

Existing Georgia law allowed the assessment to be collected on a per acre or per bale basis. The law, however, was not clear on how a per bale assessment would be collected if the need arose.

Senate Bill 43 addresses this question by clarifying that ginners will collect the assessment if it changes to a per bale basis.

SB 43 does not require a per bale assessment, but merely makes it clear how such an assessment would be collected.

SB 80 Food safety is of great concern to farmers. SB 80 sets additional testing requirements for food processing plants. The new law requires food processors to immediately notify the Georgia Department of Agriculture if any tests done by private laboratories indicate the presence of contaminants in

food products. The bill includes additional measures designed to enhance food safety.

SB 152 Commodity Commissions are important to Georgia farmers. The commissions are structured so that farmers are assessed a checkoff, which is used to promote their commodity, educate consumers about the commodity and fund research to assist farmers. SB 152 authorizes the creation of a Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Ornamental Plants.

HR 471 & SR 433 The House & Senate passed resolutions urging Congress not to expand federal authority under the Clean Water Act. Legislation has been introduced in Washington that would give the federal government jurisdiction over all bodies of water in the country. These resolutions do not have the force of law, but they inform Georgia’s U.S. Congressional Delegation of the concerns of the Georgia General Assembly.

The 2009 session was a good one for agriculture. Farm Bureau members are urged to thank their legislators for taking positive action on these ag issues.

Jon Huffmaster is director of the GFB Legislative Department.

Off-road fuel sales tax resumed May 1 As of May 1, licensed distributors and retail dealers began collecting the four percent state sales tax on dyed fuel oils used for off-road purposes. Last May, Gov. Perdue signed an executive order suspending the collection of state sales taxes on off-road fuel used for agricultural, timber, mining and construction purposes.

Pursuant to state law, the off-road fuel tax was suspended until the Georgia General Assembly met again. The General Assembly ratified the tax suspension by passing HB 46, which Perdue signed in

April. Due to budget constraints, HB 46 did not extend the suspension but merely ratified the action taken by Perdue last year.

GFB supported HB 46 because had it not passed, it was possible for the Department of Revenue to seek collection of the suspended taxes. As passed, HB 46 stated the suspension would expire at the end of the month in which the governor signed the bill into law. Therefore, the suspension of the collection of state sales tax for offroad fuel expired April 30.

Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 5

Farm Bure

County Farm Bureaus across the state celebrated National Agriculture Week, March 15-21, with activities designed to educate their communities about agriculture. These are some of the Ag Week events county Farm Bureaus held.

Gov. Sonny Perdue (center) congratulates Terry Chandler and his daughter, Kimberly, on being named the state winner of the 2009 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Agriculture.

Georgia celebrates Agriculture Week By Brad Harrison ______________________________________________________________________________ Products produced by Georgia’s agriculture industry and the conservation efforts of Georgia farmers were highlighted Mar. 17 during the 6th Annual Agriculture Week Celebration hosted by Gov. Sonny Perdue and his Agricultural Advisory Committee. Numerous school children and state government officials attended the event held at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta.

“We’re the largest general farm organization in the state, so, we’re here to support the governor at his Ag Day and make sure the public understands the important role agriculture plays in Georgia’s economy,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and member of the Ag Advisory Committee said.

During the event, Madison County Farm Bureau Director Terry Chandler was named the state winner of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Agriculture.

Chandler’s operation, Still Water Farms, was praised for the reclamation work the Chandler family did to restore the once neglected farm.

Chandler built a lagoon to catch all runoff water on his farm and worked to improve the soil quality of eroded land. The farm includes an 80-head cattle herd, two pullet houses and hay production. Still Water Farms consists of 145 acres of pasture, 35 acres of timber and 66 acres used for other purposes.

“We make our living off the land. So, if we do a good job, it makes our living better,” 6 / April-May 2009

Chandler said. “Using good conservation practices is also very important for us not just with what we do today, but what we leave behind.

Everything we do leaves a public perception, it can be a good perception or a bad perception.”

The other district conservation award winners were Billy Max James of Gilmer County, Tom Bradbury of Laurens County, Will Harris of Clay County and Wayne McKinnon of Coffee County.

More than 56 agricultural groups handed out samples of various food products. Competitors in the Flavor of Georgia Contest also handed out samples of their food products.

The overall winner was Flat Creek Lodge Dairy in Swainsboro for its Aztec Cheddar. Brooks County Farm Bureau President Andrew Thompson of Thompson Farms was the winner of the meats category of the contest. Other category winners were Buzzy’s Fine Foods of Savannah (BBQ and hot sauces), Cathy’s Sweets of Hazelhurst (confections), Appalachian Kitchens of Blairsville (jams, jellies and sauces), Mitera Granola of Hahira (granola) and Vidalia Valley of Lyons (other foods).

“It is good for the whole state. It’s pushing the production on the farm and consumer closer to one another,” Gov. Sonny Perdue said of the event. “That’s good, because that’s a more efficient marketing system. People get fresher, more wholesome and tastier food and food they can trust, and that’s all good.”

COFFEE COUNTY Coffee County Farm Bureau (CCFB) participated in an Ag Awareness Celebration held at the Nicholls Youth Park during which 1,600 children from county elementary schools learned about agriculture. CCFB hosted a booth featuring honeybees that included a display board with honeybee facts, equipment used by beekeepers and a live beehive. CCFB President Hal McCallum and CCFB Office Manager Carla Palmer hosted the booth and handed out honeybee bookmarks to the children.

LANIER COUNTY During National Agriculture Week the Lanier County Farm Bureau (LCFB) worked with county fifth grade teachers and students to increase their ag awareness. LCFB President Larry Moore, LCFB Young Farmer Greg Register, Women’s Chair Betty Watson, County Secretary Melody Register and Lanier County Extension Agent Elvin Andrews gave a preGeorgia Farm Bureau News

au celebrates Agriculture Week sentation explaining the commodities grown in the county and Georgia. They took plants, trees, vegetables, honey, grass seed and other commodities to serve as visuals.

McDUFFIE COUNTY McDuffie County celebrated Georgia Ag Awareness Day by hosting a pizza party for the fifth grade class at Briarwood Academy.

Women’s Committee Chair Avis McGahee and committee member Lois McGahee took the students cheese and pepperoni pizza and discussed how farmers produce all of the ingredients. They also used the GFB Ag Commodities Map and activity sheet to teach the students about Georgia agriculture.

MONROE COUNTY The Monroe County Farm Bureau (MCFB) and the Monroe County Saddle Club held a dinner for the Monroe County Commissioners on Georgia Ag Awareness Day, March 17, to show the commissioners appreciation for the support they give Monroe County agriculture.

MCFB President Barry Peters talked about National Agriculture Week and discussed the importance of agriculture in Monroe County.

County Extension Agent John Pope gave a presentation outlining the financial contribution agriculture makes to the county. Pope said that the agricultural commodities produced in Monroe County last year had a total farm gate value of $42.5 million.

NEWTON COUNTY During March, the fifth graders in Beth Galloway’s class at Piedmont Academy researched commodities produced in Georgia and then wrote a report and created a game or power point presentation about the com-

modities they studied.

The fifth graders ended their agriculture project by hosting a reception to honor area farmers. The students who researched edible commodities prepared recipes using their commodity. Students who researched inedible commodities made table decorations spotlighting their commodities.

The reception let the students meet farmers who grow the commodities they researched.

Farmers from the community who attended the reception included Phil Harvey, Paul Kelly, Scotty Dumas, Jim Lynch and Brent Galloway.

Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall attended the reception and spoke about the importance of agriculture. Duvall (center) is pictured with students (L-R) Kaylin Johnson, Taylor Swart, Bridgette Phillips, Ben Davis, Haley Tyler and Kristina Rossi.

SCREVEN COUNTY To celebrate National Agricultural Day, the Screven County Farm Bureau worked with the local FFA, the Chamber of Commerce and the Screven County Community Collaborative to host an Ag Awareness Day for 208 fifth graders.

The event, held March 20 at the Screven County High School, exposed the students to agricultural commodities produced in Screven County and Georgia. FFA members, with the help of officials from local agricultural agencies, taught lessons on the production of peanuts, sheep, dairy products, beef, forestry, pork, poultry and honey. Students were also taught the importance of operating equipment safely.

Students received gift bags filled with peanuts, the GFB Ag Commodities Map and activity sheet and honey sticks donated by Bobby Colson, of B & G Honey Farm.

Kansas gets bio and agro-defense facility The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has chosen a site in Manhattan, Kansas, as the home to a $450 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) that will study biological threats such as anthrax and footand-mouth disease. A coalition of agriculture groups, including Georgia Farm Bureau, supported bringing the lab to Athens, Ga. “While we apparently came in third behind Kansas and Texas among the final five states, 22 states originally competed for this facility – so to have come as far as we did is a small victory in itself,” University of Georgia Vice President for Research Dr. David Lee said.

The Texas Biological and Agro-Defense Consortium, a group of regional research institutions that tried to win the facility for San Antonio plans to sue the DHS for select-

ing the Kansas site, claiming political connections led federal officials to overlook the site’s tornado risk.

JBS, National Beef merger off

JBS announced Feb. 20 that it has broken off its purchase of National Beef Co. LLC. JBS is also terminating all litigation with the Department of Justice, which was ongoing while JBS sought to complete the $560 million acquisition. JBS stated its intent to purchase National Beef on March 4, 2008. The DOJ filed a suit to block the deal on Oct. 20, citing concerns that competition between beef corporations would be limited if JBS purchased National Beef. JBS is the world’s largest beef producer and exporter with a daily slaughter capacity of 65,000 head of cattle per day.

Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 7

Peanut Proud Expo spreads good news By Jennifer Whittaker ____________________________________ eanut industry supporters turned out in force March 21 for the Peanut Proud Expo held on the Blakely town square. About 2,000 attended the festival that organizers held to lift the community’s morale after products made at the Peanut Corporation of America plant in Blakely were linked to the salmonella outbreak this winter.

“What occurred was bad judgement on the part of one individual that doesn’t reflect on the people of Blakely or peanuts,” Blakely Mayor Ric Hall said. “We’re here today to let the world know that the people of Early County are good people and that peanuts are one of the most viable commodities people can enjoy.”

Peanuts are serious business in Early County where Blakely is proclaimed to be “The Peanut Capital of the World”. In 2007, the county ranked third in state production with 70 million pounds grown on almost 23,000 acres. Many residents are employed by the numerous peanut businesses in the county.

After all of the negative press the outbreak brought Blakely, the festival focused on the positives of peanuts. Georgia Peanut Commission and National Peanut Board staffers handed out tasty peanut products. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialists hosted a booth explaining peanut production. Mouthwatering peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were served

P

Peanut supporters attending the Peanut Proud Expo March 21 on the Blakely town square wore t-shirts proclaiming themselves to be “Peanut Proud and Spreading the Word”. A highlight of the festival was kids fearlessly diving into a pool of peanut paste as they competed for prizes in an obstacle course race.

with ice-cold milk. Festival organizers illustrated the confidence they have in the safety of peanut products produced in their town by letting children competing in an obstacle course dive into a pool of peanut paste.

“Consumers need to remember that procedures are already in place to discover

Peanut butter sales rebound

Peanut butter sales are on the rise less than three months after a salmonella outbreak linked to peanut products caused a decline in sales. The National Peanut Board is reporting that retail sales data collected by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), shows the volume of peanut butter sales for March was 5.6 percent more than what was sold in March 2008. This sales figure is a vast improvement from that of January, shortly after the salmonella outbreak, when IRI data shows jarred peanut butter sales were down 19.42 percent compared to January 2008. In February, jarred peanut butter sales were only down .84 percent compared to February 2008.

The March research indicates more than half of the consumers who were avoiding peanut products felt they would start to eat peanut products again sometime between March to May. Market research firm Mintel recently predicted sales of sweet spreads, including peanut butter, will increase 26 percent between 2008 and 2013 due to the recession bringing brown bag lunches back in style.

8 / April-May 2009

salmonella. Those procedures worked, but in this case it’s still to be determined how far the manufacturer went to continue distributing the product after knowing it was contaminated,” said LaDon Durham, Early County Farm Bureau president and owner of a peanut buying point. “This was one incident. If peanut butter is processed under all the good manufacturing guidelines it’s extremely safe.

Statewide, Georgia farmers produced 1.64 billion pounds of peanuts in 2007 with an estimated farm gate value of $381.9 million. Worth, Decatur, Early, Mitchell, Miller, Seminole, Coffee, Irwin, Baker and Calhoun counties lead the state in peanut production.

Planting projections released March 31 by the USDA predict Georgia farmers will plant only 500,000 acres of peanuts this year. That’s a 28 percent decrease from the 690,000 acres grown last year.

The decline in acreage is attributed to

See PEANUT page 16

Georgia Farm Bureau News

IRS to provide income data to USDA to prevent payment fraud A joint effort by the USDA and IRS is underway to ensure anyone receiving USDA payments meets the eligibility requirements of the 2008 farm bill. Starting with the 2009 crop year, all farmers seeking USDA payments will first have to give the IRS authority to provide their income data to USDA, through IRS Form 8821 or a similar document. Producers who do not sign the forms will be ineligible to receive payments.

The USDA will give the IRS taxpayer ID numbers for all program participants.

The IRS will use to-be-determined criteria to provide the USDA with a list of taxpayer IDs that may have exceeded the adjusted gross income (AGI) limits used to determine eligibility. The USDA will then contact those individuals to determine if they are in compliance.

According to the USDA, it does not plan to obtain tax returns or other specific income information. The IRS would simply provide a list of taxpayer ID numbers that may exceed the AGI eligibility limits. The USDA says all communication will occur at the national level and not with county Farm Service Agency offices.

Under the 2008 farm bill, producers are ineligible for support payments if their gross nonfarm average income for the previous three taxable years is more than $500,000. Also, direct payments cannot be paid to producers whose average adjusted gross farm income for the three-year period exceeds $750,000. Those with an AGI above $1 million are ineligible for conservation payments unless at least two-thirds of their total AGI is derived from farming.

A report released last October by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the USDA could not ensure payments are made only to qualified individuals since the agency cannot review tax returns. The report found that 2,500 of the 1.8 million individuals who received USDA payments from 2003 to 2006 were ineligible.

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                                                                          



  

                                     

  

Alaska Cruise 

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 

Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 9

Youth Equine Champions Day

More than 400 people visited the Georgia Capitol Feb. 11 for the first Youth Equine Champions Day. The event was sponsored by Georgia’s Equine Commodity Commission and honored young people who took part in national and international horse shows in 2008. About 180 young equestrians took part in the day’s activities, which included tours of the capitol and the opportunity to meet legislators and Georgia Agriculture officials.

Georgia State Veterinarian Dr. Carter Black and Georgia Equine Commission members Dr. Harry Thompson, John Clements and Jim Gibby talked to the group about Georgia’s equine industry.

Communications Boot Camp

Georgia Farm Bureau held a Communications Boot Camp April 16-17 at the organization’s Macon headquarters to help volunteer members strengthen their communication skills when discussing agriculture with the media or general public. One part of the event required participants to deliver a 3-minute presentation that was taped and critiqued.

McDuffie County Farm Bureau member Charlie Newton (standing) was one of the program participants. Other GFB members who attended the workshop were: Nanette Bryan, Chattooga County; Leighton Cooley, Crawford County; Mace Henry, Emanuel County; Jake Carter, Henry County; Pat Daniel, Jones County; Terry Stephenson and Russ Moon, Madison County; Andrew Ruark, Morgan County; B.J. Marks, Newton County; Sam Nash, Oglethorpe County; Melanie Raines, Turner County; Georgeanne Cook, Washington County; and Mary Redwine, Whitfield County.

10 / April-May 2009

Outdoor burn ban in place

As of May 1, 54 Georgia counties are under an outdoor burn ban until Oct. 1. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division puts this annual ban in place to comply with Federal Clean Air Regulations, Georgia Forestry Commission Chief of Forest Protection Alan Dozier said.

“Ozone levels increase to unhealthy levels in summer,” Dozier said. “Most types of open burning are restricted during the ban in an effort to manage the summertime surge in ozone levels.”

Counties under the 2009 burn ban are: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker and Walton.

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) operates a burn permit system at 1-877-OK2-BURN. The system informs callers by county whether or not they can burn. Residents may also call their county GFC office for more information or visit www. GaTrees.org.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Dairy industry experiencing tough times the negative effects of this trend,” Specht said. “While grocery dairy-buying may be expanding slightly, losing any food service demand is bad news.”

Exports had insulated the dairy industry from feeling losses in awayfrom-home demand, but this is no longer the case. In 2008, the U.S. dairy industry exported 11 to 12 percent of all milk production to international buyers. New Zealand and Australia, two top global milk producers, are now exporting more milk as they recover from drought con-

“I’m just trying to keep a tight rope on as many of the costs that I can control.” – Judd Chambers

Greene County dairyman Richard Stewart has cut back on employees due to skyrocketing feed costs.

By Brad Harrison __________________________________________________________________________ At this time a year ago the price of milk was at its second highest level on record after hitting all-time highs in 2007. Now, prices are down more than 50 percent from last summer.

“The price of milk has dropped below the cost of actual production,” Jones County dairyman Judd Chambers said.

“Right now, I’m just trying to keep a tight rope on as many of the costs that I can control.”

Dairy prices on the futures market traded at $10.36 per hundredweight for the month of April, $8.25 below the April price last year. The average price of Class I milk was $11.56 at the beginning of April, down from $18.89 a year ago.

“It’s really hard getting up in the morning at three-thirty and getting in at seven or eight at night and then seeing that your paycheck is so slim,” said Greene County dairyman Richard Stewart.

The slumping economy is the main culprit for the low prices dairy farmers are seeing, American Farm Bureau Economist Allison Specht says. About 40 percent of U.S. milk production is made into cheese and roughly 60 percent of the

cheese is used in the restaurant and food service sectors, analysts say.

“The financial condition of consumers has changed domestic food consumption patterns, and dairy is feeling

ditions that decreased milk production the past few years. The European Union has reinstated its dairy export subsidy program, pricing U.S. milk out of the market.

Chambers said the cost of fuel, energy and feed has put his operation in a tight pinch. One thing he has done to counter rising production costs is to cull more of his cows to lower feed costs.

“We’re having to cull heavier than we See DAIRY page 22

Judd Chambers, of Jones County, has been forced to cull some of his herd as a result of lower milk prices.

Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 11

commodities/marketing update Jed Evans, Commodites/Marketing Specialist

UGA program working to increase number of food animal vets The number of food animal veterinarians in Georgia has been declining for several years. The growing population around metro Atlanta has greatly increased the demand for small veterinarians in that area, and sadly the general population is growing farther away from the farm. Young people are not exposed to the same experiences that many of us grew up with and thus are not as likely to pursue a career practicing food animal veterinary medicine in a rural area.

The lack of food animal veterinarians is being felt across rural Georgia in a significant way and is problematic for all livestock producers. The need for more food animal veterinarians has been identified, and steps are being taken to help correct this problem.

The University of Georgia has started a program called the Food Animal Veterinary Incentive Program (FAVIP) that is now in its second year. This program is a joint effort between the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

The goal of FAVIP is to recruit and train aspiring veterinarians in food animal medicine for under-served communities. This is central to the future of safe and successful food animal production. Students who successfully complete this program will receive admission into the CVM. Up to five freshmen entering the CAES are selected annually to take part in this program for pre-veterinary medicine students. The CAES works in cooperation with the CVM Admissions Committee to select students for FAVIP. Aspiring students must demonstrate a keen interest in and commitment to food animal agriculture and veterinary medicine.

FAVIP provides an incentive and a clear academic pathway for students who desire a career in veterinary medicine and food animal agriculture. Five FAVIP students are admitted each year into UGA’s vet school, provided they meet academic standards for acceptance established by the parent programs in the two colleges. FAVIP devises a plan of academic work, experience and 12 / April-May 2009

mentoring in undergraduate studies and veterinary medical education that meets the specific needs of animal agriculture. Most importantly, this program will provide a continuous supply of new veterinary graduates with skills, experience and expertise in food animal medicine and management who will immediately be able to provide valuable service to modern animal agriculture and will be prepared to continually grow and improve as health professionals.

There are some stringent requirements that must be fulfilled to earn a spot in FAVIP. The first few are simple: students must be a Georgia resident at the time of application and must demonstrate a keen interest in and commitment to agriculture and food animal veterinary medicine.

They must also major in animal science, avian biology, dairy science or poultry science at UGA and pursue a pre-veterinary science curriculum.

Students who are accepted into FAVIP must complete at least two food animal experiences, which must be pre-approved and tracked by their program advisors.

Each of these experiences must include at least 300 hours of work and at least one must be under the supervision of a food

animal veterinarian.

Students must successfully complete all UGA pre-veterinary and major course work with a minimum of 30 semester credits earned for each academic year. Students must achieve a 3.2 cumulative GPA and a combined score of 1200 or greater on the GRE to be eligible for CVM admission consideration.

The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has set up a curriculum that ensures students who are chosen for this program and graduate will be well-equipped to handle the rigors of vet school. Along with the core classes that students must take, these future vets must take a variety of animal science classes, coupled with upper level chemistry, physics and biology classes. Hands-on experience with live animals further enriches a student’s experience.

FAVIP is very competitive, and professors at UGA are excited about the potential that these young people have shown. To apply for FAVIP, high school seniors must apply for admission to UGA. Students are encouraged to apply in the fall of their senior year. Students must then complete the FAVIP application by February 15 of their senior year. A copy of high school transcripts must be enclosed with your application, along with two letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a practicing veterinarian. Visit www.caes. uga.edu/academics/FoodAnimalVIP.html or contact the CAES at (706) 542-6259 for more information.

Farm Bureau members have voiced their concern over the lack of food animal veterinarians for several years. This program is a great way to help correct the growing problem we are experiencing. The quality of students who enter this program is phenomenal. With the wonderful opportunities FAVIP provides, students enrolled in the program will be fully equipped to serve Georgia’s livestock producers.

Jed Evans is a commodity specialist in the GFB Commodities/Marketing Department.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GA pork producers to elect Pork Act delegates Georgia pork producers will elect delegate candidates for the 2010 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body at 2 p.m., June 10, in conjunction with a meeting of the Georgia Pork Producers Association at the Georgia Farm Bureau building in Macon. Any producer who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers should bring a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted.

This meeting will immediately follow the 2009 Georgia Pork Congress being held at the GFB building beginning at 8:30 a.m. All Georgia pork producers are invited to attend. Contact the Georgia Pork Producers Association at 1-800-537-5988 for more information.

GA pork producers give input on Checkoff Programs Georgia Farm Bureau Swine Committee member Dania Devane, of Cuthbert, and Glenn Derochers, of Jefferson, represented Georgia at the Pork Act Delegate Assembly, March 5-7 in Dallas, Texas. Pictured from left are Derochers, Jenna Devane, Dania and Georgia Pork Producers Association Executive Vice President Charles Griffin.

Devane and Derochers were among the 161 delegates who represented producers from 45 states and importers who sell pork products in the U.S. The dele-

GA blueberry growers pass marketing order

Georgia blueberry growers recently voted to pay an assessment to fund research, education and promotion programs that will be coordinated by the Georgia Blueberry Commission to benefit growers. Blueberry growers will be assessed $5 per ton this year. If needed, the marketing order allows the Commission to increase the assessment up to $10 per ton. The assessment, which went into effect April 1, was approved by 71 percent of the growers who voted in a mail referendum held Jan. 9-Feb. 10.

Members of the Georgia Blueberry Commission are: Chairman Joe Cornelius, Jr., of Manor; Vice Chairman Steve Mullis of Alma; Russ Goodman of Homerville; Allen Miles of Baxley; and Georgia Farm Bureau 10th District Director David Lee of Alma. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin and GFB President Zippy Duvall are the ex-officio members. Gov. Perdue signed legislation creating the commission last May at GFB’s home office during a signing ceremony for numerous agriculture bills.

gates were charged with helping to provide direction to the pork promotion, research and consumer information programs that are funded by the Pork Checkoff through the National Pork Board. Producers contribute 40 cents of every $100 of sales to the checkoff and importers contribute a similar amount. The checkoff money helps producers pay for consumer promotion campaigns and research on production management issues such as animal welfare and food safety.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 13

timber update

Jim Griffith, Timber and Real Estate Manager

Registered foresters are key to maximizing timber profits Uncertainty is present in all segments of today’s economy. The timber market is no exception. There is uncertainty among loggers, timber dealers and mills.

There seem to be loggers shutting down their equipment right and left these days.

They either don’t have timber to cut or the mills have reduced the quota of timber they need. Timber buyers are having difficulty getting commitments from the mills because the mills are finding themselves with a growing inventory while the market is shrinking.

This results in lean and difficult times for everyone on the supply side of the timber industry. Unfortunately, the timber owner is on the low end of this totem pole.

We have to take or leave the market we are in. Fortunately, there are some proactive steps a timber owner can take to get the most from their timber. Knowing the value of your timber is the first step to getting the best price for your timber in a good market as well as in a stressed economy.

Unless you have experience in the timber business you need a forester work-

ing for you. That is where Georgia Farm Bureau’s forestry services come into play.

As your independent forester we work for you, advising and directing you from our years of experience and knowledge of the timber industry. Our foresters can put you on a level playing field with timber buyers by identifying the products, species, value and volume of timber on your property.

This knowledge will pay for its cost time and again.

Having your forester put you on a watch list will help you avoid low ebbs in timber prices. We keep a long list of timber owners on our watch list. We have helped landowners pick the right time to market their timber products, thereby greatly enhancing their bottom line.

I had one client who wanted to sell a tract of pine sawtimber. While he was showing me his property, we looked at another tract that was on his low priority management list. It, however, had lots of pine pulpwood that needed to be thinned.

At the time, pine sawtimber prices were down and pulpwood was up. We rec-

ommended thinning what he considered his low priority timber and holding the sawtimber until that market improved.

He followed our advice and thinned the pulpwood. A few months later, sawtimber prices went up, and our landowner made a lot of extra money by heeding good advice and going with our recommendations.

In uncertain times, it is more important than ever to get competitive bids from the right buyers. Not all timber buyers are equal. Just like any other industry, some companies are more competitive than others. Even with the ability to out-compete the competition, a buyer must still be put under the right conditions to offer the best bids. I see it happen on a regular basis; I suppose it is simply human nature.

It’s more important than ever, that you engage professional assistance. You cannot afford to wing it any longer. You must manage and market your timber aggressively with the help of an experienced forester.

If you are considering selling land or timber, call your land and timber expert Jim Griffith at (478) 471-0440.

WE, THE FARMERS from page 4

Timber Prices for April 2009 The following is a range of prices for pine pulpwood, chip-n-saw and sawtimber in general regions of Georgia. It is important to note that this is a range. Price will vary by specific location, logability of the tract, quality of wood, amount of volume and access.

Time and need of specific buyers could greatly affect any price.

Areas Pine Sawtimber Pine Pulpwood Chip-n-Saw North 20.00 - 30.00/Ton 4.00 - 7.00/Ton 9.00 - 16.00/Ton Middle 21.00 - 32.00/Ton 4.00 - 8.00/Ton 9.00 - 16.00/Ton South 28.00 - 32.00/Ton 4.00 - 10.00/Ton 10.00 - 17.00/Ton The prices quoted in this report come from timber sales managed by the Forestry Division of the Georgia Farm Bureau Real Estate Company or sales of which our foresters have direct knowledge.

14 / April-May 2009

D.C., last month to represent agriculture from a young farmer perspective. These volunteers, who left their farms to guide and represent us, are one of the many blessings being showered on us.

Yes, agriculture is facing challenges, but look at the blessings our industry is receiving. It’s easy to find reasons to be dissatisfied. It’s too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet, input costs are high or commodity prices are low. Maybe we are looking for satisfaction in the wrong places.

Psalms 17:15 says “As for me, I will see your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness.”

If we receive His showers of blessings with the determination to live our lives more like Jesus, the spring showers of 2009 will surely bring future blessings.

Let’s thank God for our families and farms and keep moving forward.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Forestland Tax Covenant signup deadline June 1 By Jennifer Whittaker ____________________________________ orestland owners have until June 1 to enroll this year in the tax reduction covenant created by the Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) that Georgia voters approved last November as Amendment #1. The FLPA created the Forest Land Conservation Use Valuation (FLCUV), which allows forestland to be taxed according to its use as a forest instead of at the higher fair market value.

Eligible tracts must consist of more than 200 contiguous acres. To qualify, the primary use of a property must be the good faith production of trees, timber or other wood or wood fiber products either by natural regeneration or commercial production or the property must be environmentally sensitive land certified as such by the Department of Natural Resources.

Secondary uses of eligible land may include wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, mitigation and conservation banking or ecosystem products and services. If one half or more of a tract is used for a qualifying primary purpose, the entire tract will be considered forestland as long as the rest of the tract is managed to avoid erosion and as long as another type of business is not operated on the tract. Leasing hunting rights, charging admission to fish and producing pine straw is allowed. The entire value of any residence or any improvement located on the property is excluded from the FLCUV. In exchange for the tax savings, landowners must enroll in a 15-year covenant and commit that the use of their land will continue to be one of the primary qualifying uses. There are stiff penalties for breaching the covenant. If the covenant is breached during the first five years, the landowner will pay a penalty equal to three times the total tax savings. If the covenant is breached between years six and 10 of the covenant, the penalty is 2.5 times the total tax savings.

If the covenant is breached between years 11 and 15 of the covenant, the penalty is double the total tax savings. Interest of one percent per month will accrue from the date of the breach.

Beginning in 2010, applications for the

F

forestland conservation use assessment must be filed on or before the last day for filing ad valorem tax returns in the county for the tax year the assessment is sought.

Visit the Georgia Department of Revenue web site at www.etax.dor.ga.gov/hottopics.aspx to review the FLPA regulations.

Landowners with qualifying property

currently enrolled in a Preferential Agricultural Assessment or Conservation Use Value Assessment covenant may switch to the FLPA covenant. Landowners should note that CUVA offers a shorter, more flexible covenant than FLPA. For more information about the FLPA contact the GFB Legislative Department at 1-800-342-1192.

Georgia Forestry Commission fights Cogongrass The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) is offering free eradication treatments to landowners with Cogongrass, a non-native weed that has taken over millions of acres in the Southeast. The weed has been found in 28 Georgia counties.

Cogongrass is most easily recognized in its spring flowering and seeding period from March through May when the weed’s white fluffy seeds are produced and dispersed. A single plant can produce up to 3,000 seeds, which spread easily in the wind. Underground rhizomes can also sprout new plants. The weed flourishes in numerous soil types and chokes out natural vegetation, reducing wildlife habitat.

Cogongrass is difficult to eradicate due to its dense root system. Although Cogongrass leaves and flowers are extremely flammable, its roots and rhizomes are firetolerant.

The GFC encourages landowners who suspect they have Cogongrass on their property to contact their local GFC office for help with eradication. Landowners

should avoid mowing or disking through or near areas infested with the weed to avoid spreading it. Pieces of Cogongrass rhizomes are easily transported to other areas in contaminated soil, hay, sod or on equipment.

Visit www.GaTrees.org for more information.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 15

Georgia Farm Bureau awards $14,250 in scholarships Georgia Farm Bureau recently awarded a total of $14,250 in college scholarships to 10 high school seniors planning to pursue agriculture degrees. Clark Coleman of Colquitt County, Amanda Gay of Lincoln County and Katherine Throne of Harris County were each selected to receive $3,000 this summer upon verification of college enrollment and their major field of study. Coleman plans to study biological or chemical engineering and major in alternative renewable energy. Gay anticipates majoring in biology, and Throne intends to major in animal science. Coleman is the son of Thomas Jr. and Nancy Coleman.

Gay is the daughter of Lynn and Dennis Gay, and Throne is the daughter of Chris and Julie Throne.

Elizabeth Arnold of Gordon County, Tyler Cohen of Wilcox County, Breanna Coursey of Spalding County, Alex Dye of Elbert County, Anna McIntyre of Cherokee County, Patrick Savelle of Oconee County and Katie Thigpen of Charlton

County were each selected to receive $750 this summer upon verification of college enrollment and their major field of study.

“These students are the future leaders of Georgia Clark Coleman agriculture, so it’s a privilege for Georgia Farm Bureau to provide scholarships that will help them prepare for their future leadership roles,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said.

Independent judges reviewed the applications and selected the scholarship recipients and finalists. Arnold is the daughter of Robert and Judith Arnold. Cohen is the son of Phleet and Pamela Cohen. Coursey is the daughter of Gary and Renee Coursey.

Dye is the son of Marvin and Mary Kay Dye. McIntyre is the daughter of David and

Amanda Gay

Katherine Throne

Karen McIntyre. Savelle is the son of Timothy and Amy Savelle, and Thigpen is the daughter of Robert and Karen Thigpen.

The GFB Scholarship Program is sponsored by the GFB Mutual Insurance Companies and coordinated by the GFB Women’s Committee.

“We appreciate all of the county Farm Bureaus who promoted the scholarship program and encouraged students to apply.

The competition was tough because we received so many qualified applications,” GFB Committee Chair Kim Brown said.

GFB announces PR staff changes Michael Edmondson has assumed the new position of web and video production manager. He is responsible for corporate web development and will oversee GFB’s video production facilities. Edmondson has worked as a reporter, video story producer/editor and technical director for “The Georgia Farm Monitor” since 1997. He has a degree in broadcasting from Georgia Southern University. Prior to joining GFB he worked in production at the Macon Fox affiliate WGXA. He and his wife, Shannon, reside in Macon.

Ryan Naquin has joined the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation staff as a reporter for “The Georgia Farm Monitor.” A native of Slidell, La., Naquin is a recent graduate of Louisiana State

PEANUT from page 8

record production in 2008 and concerns about future demand due to the recent salmonella outbreak.

“I have a feeling irrigated growers will keep their acreage close to what it’s been.

We’ll see a decrease in dryland acreage,” Early Couny peanut farmer Mike Newberry said. “It’s going to be a year where profits are not as high as they usually are.

We’re going to try to cover our variable 16 / April-May 2009

University. While in college at LSU, Naquin worked as an intern/ reporter for Louisiana Farm Bureau’s television program. During Edmondson Naquin his time with LFB, he covered Hurricanes Ike and Gustav as they devastated the state’s agriculture. He also interned at WWL Channel 4 in New Orleans, the #1 news station in Louisiana. He now lives in Macon.

costs and keep our fixed costs low.”

While peanuts have caught the brunt of this latest food scare, the issue is not isolated to peanuts Newberry says.

“This issue is much bigger than peanuts. It’s a U.S. food safety issue,” Newberry said. “I think part of what’s happened is due to budget cuts at all levels.

Processing wasn’t watched as closely as it should have been.”

While addressing the festival crowd, Sen. Saxby Chambliss acknowledged the crisis revealed flaws in the food safety inspection process. “We’re going to correct the problems and make our inspection system stronger. We’re developing bipartisan legislation to change the way we do food safety inspections so every purchaser can have one hundred percent security in knowing food they purchased is safe.”

Georgia Farm Bureau News

women’s committee update Donna Rocker, Women’s Committee Coordinator

I

n honor of Food Check-Out Week, February 15-21, county Farm Bureaus across Georgia held a variety of activities to educate their communities about purchasing nutritious food on a limited budget and the role agriculture plays in providing safe, affordable food. A March 2008 USDA report shows that prices for unprepared, readily available fresh fruits and vegetables have remained stable relative to dessert and snack foods, such as chips and cola.

The Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee encouraged counties to collect money or food supplies for their local food banks and for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH). Counties donated all of the food they collected and half of the money collected to local food assistance programs. Counties collected about $1,000 and food valued at $5,000 for their local food charities.

County Farm Bureaus collected $4,488.65 for the RMH donation, an

Gordon County Farm Bureau Women’s Co-Chairwoman Ann Payne (left) thanks GCFB members Sonny and Amy Fox, with sons Luke and Elijah, for making a donation to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH). The family recently spent six days at the RMH in Chattanooga when newborn Elijah’s lung was punctured and collapsed at birth. GCFB collected $100 for the RMH and collected more than 100 pounds of food for a local food bank.

Farm Bureau celebrates Food Check-Out Week increase of more than 41 percent over what was collected last year! The GFB Women’s Committee increased the donation to $5,000. Since initiating the RMH collection in 2002, the GFB has made donations to all of the RMHs in Georgia - located in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah. This year the donation went to the RMH in Columbus.

Fifty counties placed Food CheckOut Week articles in their local newspapers and 10 ran radio spots. Space limitations prevent us from naming all of the wonderful activities counties did, but we wanted to share a few.

Candler County Farm Bureau set up displays at two grocery stores to teach consumers what percent of the money they spend on groceries actually goes to farmers. A grocery cart at each store was filled with staple pantry items. The display gave the total cost of the groceries pre-tax and asked consumers to guess how much money farmers receive from every retail food dollar spent. On average, farmers receive only 19 cents out of every retail dollar spent on food. The remaining 81 cents covers off-farm labor, packaging, transportation, energy, advertising and other business costs. The two contest participants who came closest to the correct answer were presented a $100 gift certificate donated by each grocery store. CCFB then donated the groceries it purchased at each store for the contest display to the local food bank.

Glascock County raised $211 by selling raffle tickets for a Valentine’s Day gift basket that included gift certificates to a restaurant, a massage and a salon visit.

Polk County sent food items to soldiers serving in Iraq. Gordon County Farm Bureau displayed an educational exhibit in the office and distributed flyers with ag facts and tips on “Stretching Your Grocery Dollar with Healthy Nutritious Foods.” Thanks to every county that participated in Food Check-Out Week!

Candler County Farm Bureau President Bill Lanier presents a donation of staple pantry items to Lisa Rigdon, director of The Bridge, a local food bank.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 17

young farmer update Andy Lucas, Young Farmer Coordinator

GFB Young Farmers visit Washington A group of 32 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers from 17 counties made the annual Young Farmers Trip to Washington, D.C., March 10-13. The delegation included three members of the newly formed Farm Bureau Collegiate Chapter at the University of Georgia.

Prior to their visit to Capitol Hill, the group spent time at the American Farm Bureau headquarters where they were briefed and updated on key issues. On Capitol Hill, the group visited with Sens.

Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson.

Each young farmer also visited with his/ her U.S. representative.

As they met with their congressmen, the young farmers discussed the Clean Water Act, federal estate taxes, immigration and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) or Superfund Law, legislation that would classify animal manure as a toxic substance.

The young farmers gave each legislator a copy of the video, The Younger View of Georgia’s Agriculture, which features GFB Young Farmer Committee Chairmen Lanair and Kristin Worsham, GFB Committee members Sam and Dana Nash and 2008 GFB Young Farmer Achievement Winners LaDon and Kayla Calhoun.

The video explains how young farmers are impacted by the estate tax, animal production regulations and shows how they must work to build their operations.

“The GFB Young Farmer Committee felt that giving the legislators a video that shows us on our farms explaining how legislation impacts us would really drive our message home,” Lanair Worsham said. “With the help of GFB’s Information Department, we were able to produce a video addressing many of the issues we’re facing today such as immigration and taxes.”

GFB Young Farmer Coordinator Andy Lucas said the video was well received by all of the legislators. “Rep. John Barrow was especially enthusiastic, and said he would watch it on his com18 / April-May 2009

puter during his next flight.”

During the group’s tour of Mount Vernon, GFB President Zippy Duvall encouraged the young farmers to become involved with their local county Farm Bureaus.

“You have the potential to grow and become the leaders who will lead our organization in the future,” Duvall said. “I was a participant in the D.C. trip some 20 years ago, and today I’m serving as your state president.”

GFB YF Achievement Contest deadline June 5 Are you a young farmer between the ages of 18 and 35 who has a solid farming operation? If so, consider applying for the 2009 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Contest.

Applications for the award are available at your local county Farm Bureau office. June 5 is the deadline for entering the contest.

The ’09 state winner will receive $500 cash, courtesy of Dodge, one-year use of

a Kubota L or M tractor and an expensepaid trip to the 2010 AFBF Convention in Seattle, Washington, next January to compete for the national award. The first place prize for the national contest includes a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 truck.

The three state finalists will receive a $200 travel allowance to the ’09 GFB Convention, Dec. 7-9, on Jekyll Island.

The two runners-up will receive $250 cash from Dodge.

Young Farmers hold planning meeting

The GFB Young Farmer Committee held their annual spring meeting April 18 at the GFB home office in Macon. Chairmen Lanair and Kristi Worsham presided over the meeting.

Topics discussed included the upcoming GFB Farm Tour, Young Farmer Achievement Awards and the Commodities Future Seminar. Each committee member reported on their district activities and subcommittee assignments.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB Young Farmers hold district events G

eorgia Farm Bureau’s young farmers have held several district events since last fall that provided fellowship opportunities and spotlighted agriculture.

Young farmers in GFB’s 2nd and 4th Districts attended the UGA G-Game, April 11. The group tailgated before the game at the Tate Center. GFB Young Farmer Committee 4th District Chairs Sam and Dana Nash and 2nd District Chairs Clay and Brittany Talton provided leadership to this event. About 70 people attended.

The young farmers in GFB’s 5th District gathered for a cookout in November at the farm of Larry and Terri Cooley.

Leighton and Brenda Cooley, the 2008 GFB Young Farmer Committee and District 5 chairs, hosted the event. Georgia Agribusiness Council President Gary Black talked to the group.

AgSouth Farm Credit Commercial Loan Officer Mac Lucius spoke to the group about financial services AgSouth offers.

The Cooley family prepared a wonderful barbeque dinner that was sponsored by AgSouth. More than 50 young farmers attended the event.

GFB 6th District Young Farmers gathered at the home of GFB 6th District YF Chairs Cody and Lora Lord in January for a cookout. Young farmers from Bibb, Bleckley, Jeff Davis, Laurens, Twiggs and Washington counties attended. In addition to socializing, the young farmers began planning for a district young farmer event that will be held this summer.

GFB’s 1st District young farmers enjoyed a farm tour March 7.

They visited the University of Georgia Northwest Georgia Experiment Station in Floyd County where they saw the bull test center, ryegrass variety trials and learned about the heifer development program, designed to improve herd genetics, and the Beef Challenge, a retained ownership program coordinated by UGA Extension and the Georgia Cattlemen. The group also toured Moore Seed & Grain Farms where they ate lunch. The Moores farm 4,500 acres of soybeans, corn, sunflowers, canola, straw and hay in Gordon and adjoining counties. The newest part of their operation is growing canola and sunflowers. They process 40 to 50 tons of canola and sunflower oil per day to produce an edible oil and meal.

Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 19

AROUND GEORGIA News from County Farm Bureaus BACON COUNTY Bacon County Young Farmers Lorie (R) and Cory Johnson and Janie (L) and Corey Tyre promoted honeybees at the county’s annual fall festival by building and hosting a Honey Hay Maze. A never-ending flow of children ran through the maze during the festival attended by about 2,000 people.

CATOOSA COUNTY The Catoosa County Farm Bureau (CCFB) Middle School Essay Contest Winner is Kalib Moore (center), an eighth grade student at Heritage Middle School. CCFB President Bernard Sims (L) presented Moore a $25 prize and certificate during a live presentation broadcast on the school’s television announcement channel.

Moore’s teacher, Billie Carlock, is also pictured. Nine students submitted essays answering the contest theme, “Farmers are my heroes because…” The CCFB Board of Directors judged the essays.

CRAWFORD COUNTY The Crawford County Farm Bureau Promotion & Education Committee recently participated in the Roberta-Crawford County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. The committee constructed displays highlighting Farm Bureau membership benefits and the activities CCFB sponsors to promote 20 / April-May 2009

agriculture. The county’s goal was to recruit Expo attendees who are not members and to encourage those who are members to become more involved in CCFB activities. Everyone attending the Expo received a honey straw. The CCFB Women’s Committee donated a basket of honey products for a door prize.

DODGE COUNTY Dodge County Farm Bureau (DCFB) held a member appreciation lunch March 18 to thank its members for their support and to educate the local community about the benefits of Farm Bureau membership. A free lunch of grilled hotdogs, chips and cake was served at the county office from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

About 50 people attended the event.

Jennifer Clifton and Amy Jeffries of the GFB Member Services Department were on hand to answer questions about Farm Bureau member benefits. Event attendees received gift bags containing membership information, packs of Hardy Farms boiled peanuts, calendar planners, manicure kits and compacts with the DCFB logo. Five lucky winners received prizes of $50. One of the winners used her $50 to renew her FB membership.

GLYNN COUNTY During this school year, Glynn County Farm Bureau (GCFB) has been sponsoring an on-going AG-ART project with Glyndale Elementary School to educate kindergarten students about agriculture. Each month a different class has drawn pictures of agrelated topics that GCFB displays in the county office.

A GCFB representative visits the class to present the students with certificates for participating in the program and to provide Georgia Farm Bureau News

snacks. Members who drop by the county office have enjoyed seeing the students’ artwork. GCFB Agency Manager John Carter (center back row) visits with the students of teacher Ms. Miller (right) and para-professional Ms. Parnell.

GREENE COUNTY Greene County Farm Bureau Women’s Chairman Martha Copelan visited second graders at Nathanael Greene Academy and read them the story of Johnny Appleseed. She talked to the children about agriculture and gave them a packet of agriculture coloring pages and honey straws.

IRWIN COUNTY Irwin County Farm Bureau (ICFB) sponsored a local livestock show Feb. 24 before the Georgia National Junior Livestock Show in Perry, Feb. 27. During the state show, ICFB sponsored a meal for hog show participants from the county and their families. Approximately 150 people were fed a barbeque meal with all the trimmings. Pictured from left, ICFB Agents Lanier McCurdy and Todd Young, ICFB Vice President John Hudson, ICFB President Gary Paulk, and ICFB Agency Manager Charles Purvis prepared the meal.

JACKSON COUNTY As GFB promotes Georgia’s honeybee industry, Jackson County Farm Bureau has offered its members two classes on beekeeping. GFB Honeybee Committee member and Putnam County Extension Agent Keith Fielder (left) taught the classes.

The first class, held in October, covered the basics of beekeeping. The second class, held in February, covered pest and disease control in bee hives.

RICHMOND COUNTY The 90 pre-schoolers from Hephzibah Elementary School who trick-or-treated at the Richmond County Farm Bureau last fall received a gift bag full of honey treats!

Each bag was filled with plastic bottles of honey decorated with the characters from the “Bee Movie,” honey candy, bee bookmarks, stickers, coloring books and crayons.

STEPHENS COUNTY Stephens County Farm Bureau (SCFB) recently held a Legislative Breakfast. The event gave the SCFB Board of Directors and other community ag leaders an opportunity to get acquainted with newly elected state legislators Rep. Michael Harden and Sen. Jim Butterworth. Among those attending the event were: (front row, L-R) SCFB Board Members Jeff Watkins, George Dean, James Whiten, Edna Prather and Women’s Committee Chairwoman Linda Dean (back row, L-R) Board Member David Herron, Sen. Butterworth, Rep. Harden, SCFB President Brown Dean and GFB Legislative Specialist Tas Smith.

TALIAFERRO COUNTY Taliaferro County Farm Bureau (TCFB) held a Child Passenger Safety Check last fall. Child Passenger Safety Instructors (CPSI) certified through the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Traffic Injury Prevention Institute inspected child car seats for defects and proper installation.

They also made sure each child was using the correct restraint device for age and weight requirements. The instructors taught parents how to install

See AROUND GEORGIA next page

Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 21

DAIRY from page 11 would like to,” Chambers said.

Stewart estimates his feed grain costs have increased about 40 percent. To cut back on expenses, he is reducing his employees.

“We’re trying to cut back on labor,” Stewart said. “We’re going to one man instead of two milking to cut back on hours.”

To help the dairy industry in these tough times, the USDA announced March 26 that it is transferring 200 million pounds of nonfat dry milk, with an estimated value of $160 million, from the Commodity Credit Corporation to the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. The milk will be used in domestic feeding programs such as school lunches and food donations for the needy. The products are expected to begin moving through

the supply chain this spring and continue through the remainder of the year.

As a result of lower dairy prices, producers participating in the USDA’s Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) will be receiving payments soon. The payments are made on a monthly basis when the price of Boston Class I Milk falls below $16.94 per hundredweight (cwt) after being adjusted for feed costs. The MILC trigger price is adjusted up when the national average dairy feed ration cost is greater than $7.35 per cwt. The MILC payment trigger for February has been set at $17.33, making the final MILC payment rate $1.51. USDA expects to issue approximately $150 million to producers for milk produced in February.

In hopes of decreasing supply to raise prices, Cooperatives Working Together

Peanut farmers approve GPC

Georgia peanut producers reaffirmed the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) by a vote of 87.4 percent during a mail referendum held March 15-April 15. As required by state law, Georgia peanut growers vote every three years to determine if they will continue funding the commission with a $2 per ton assessment. The commission uses the funds to conduct peanut research, education and promotion programs.

“I appreciate the farmers’ confidence in the commission. The commission continues to work to promote peanuts and represent growers’ interests in Washington, D.C.,” said GPC Chairman Armond Morris, a peanut farmer from Ocilla.

Referendum ballots were mailed to growers in mid-March.

The certified public accounting firm of Allen, Pritchett and Bassett counted the returned ballots April 22.

USDA energy efficiency grants available

Grants to reduce energy consumption on farms are available through the USDA Rural Development agency. Applications may be submitted through the middle of June. Farmers can receive grants ranging from $1,500 to $250,000 that cover up to 25 percent of project costs.

Examples of eligible projects are: replacing old diesel irrigation motors, old tobacco barn burners and old or inefficient grain dryers. Also covered are efforts to make broiler houses more energy efficient such as installing new insulation on the sides of houses, replacing inefficient fans and brooders and installing attic inlets.

For information contact Craig Scroggs via e-mail or phone at craig.scroggs@ga.usda.gov or (770) 267-1413 or Al Burns via e-mail or phone at al.burns@ga.usda.gov or (229) 220-5067.

22 / April-May 2009

(CWT), held another herd retirement program this spring, accepting bids from producers April 1 to May 1. This was the seventh buyout held by the producer-funded program, managed by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), since the program began in 2003. Producers pay 10 cents per cwt to finance the program.

NMPF President Jerry Kozak said there was no set target for the volume of milk or number of cows to be removed in this CWT buyout. Kozak said the number of cows removed from production would depend on the number of bids received and the price of the bids.

The price level of bids was expected to be much lower than in recent years since the value of cows and heifers has dropped due to lower milk prices.

AROUND GEORGIA from previous page safety seats and how to secure their children for safer traveling. If a car seat in use did not pass inspection, the child received a new certified one.

The TCFB Women’s Committee promoted the event and five committee members assisted. Pictured (R-L), TCFB Women’s Committee member Delores Moore, who is a CPSI, inspects the car seat of Sammee Keen and her mother Kelli Lamble.

TROUP COUNTY Troup County Farm Bureau (TCFB) sponsored a Farm Day for Callaway Elementary School’s Pre-K students last fall at Little Creek Quarter Horses owned by TCFB President Harrell Landreth and his son, Darryl. The Landreths raise, train and sell performance quarter horses.

The day was designed to teach students about the care of livestock and the operations of a horse ranch as they toured the farm. For many students, this was their first time to touch a live farm animal.

About 50 students along with teachers and volunteers attended this event. TCFB gave each student a gift bag filled with ag-related items.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB conference prepares volunteers to promote agriculture

Dr. Carl Winter, a food toxicologist and director of the University of California FoodSafe Program, shares important messages about food safety using parodied popular songs.

Members of the GFB Women’s Committee provided backup vocals.

By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________ Georgia Farm Bureau members attending the organization’s annual Educational Leadership Conference March 27-28, in Atlanta, gained skills and information to help them educate their communities about agriculture. About 220 GFB volunteers attended the event that included workshops on promoting vegetables, the commodity GFB will promote from July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010, and cotton, the most widely grown row crop in Georgia. Other workshops covered Georgia’s growing agritourism industry and the GFB Certified Farm Market Program, public speaking and competing for the Governor’s Agricultural Awareness Award.

GFB Women’s Committee member and teacher Beth Kirkland shared books, songs and activities volunteers can use to teach students about vegetables. Fulton County Extension Agent Kisha Faulk shared activities volunteers can use to teach students the nutritional benefits of vegetables.

“One out of five Americans is not eating the USDA daily recommended amount of fruit and vegetables, so we all have some work to do. Over half of the vegetables kids are eating are fried potatoes with ketchup,” Faulk said. “In Georgia we have a great opportunity to promote vegetables because we grow so many.”

Free video explains dairy production

A new, 8-minute video produced by the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association (SUDIA) is being made available to schools across the Southeast through the Ag in the Classroom program. The video, “Milk on the Mooove,” emphasizes the excellent care dairy farmers give their animals and the environment and stresses the nutritional importance of dairy foods.

The video, geared for kindergarten to fifth grade students, contains additional materials such as learning objectives, a glossary of unfamiliar words and agriculture lessons. The video may be viewed on SUDIA’s Web site, www.southeastdairy.org. Contact Camilla Ellis at 1-800-928-6455 to order a copy of the video.

Chattooga County Farm Bureau (CCFB) Women’s Co-Chair Nanette Bryan explained how her county won the 2008 Governor’s Agricultural Awareness Award despite the reluctance of teachers to participate in the program. Bryan found the key to getting a teacher to let them into the school was promising to provide lesson plans that meet the CRTC teaching curriculum and the Georgia Performance Standards. CCFB also financed and chaperoned a field trip to the state capitol.

Dr. Carl Winter, a food toxicologist and director of the University of California FoodSafe Program, brought the group to their feet during a rousing concert of parodied songs with lyrics rewritten to tell important food safety messages. The Georgia EMC sponsored Winter’s presentation. Winter addresses consumer concerns about genetically modified crops, food borne illnesses and reluctance to eat meat using the tunes of popular songs such as “Still Rock & Roll to Me,” “Beat It” and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”. Winter has rewritten The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” to extol the virtues of eating vegetables. Visit http://foodsafe.ucdavis.edu to hear Winter’s songs or order a CD. “The theory about learning with music is that we have extra room in our brain where we store music messages. That’s why advertising jingles stick around in your head,” Winter explained. “We probably have the safest food in the world, but it doesn’t mean we can’t do things better.”

GFB President Zippy Duvall encouraged Farm Bureau members to be evangelists for agriculture. “ You’ve got to take what you learned during this conference and put it to use.”

Greeson Memorial PCA Rodeo

May 15-16 • Rocky Hill Arena

151 Cedarlane Drive, Canon, Ga. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Rodeo begins at 8 p.m.

Admission $10 Children 6 & under free For more information call (770) 401-6620.

Georgia Farm Bureau News April-May 2009 / 23

A convenient way to report claims when your Farm Bureau office is closed...

The After-Hours Claim Reporting Hotline offers you more convenience in reporting a new claim.

The After-Hours Claim Reporting Hotline allows you to report damage or loss as soon as it happens.

When your local Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance office is closed (nights, weekends, or holidays) you simply call the toll-free number. A friendly and specially-trained customer service professional will assist you in getting your claim reported.

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