Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - August 26, 2015

August 26, 2015

www.gfb.org

Vol. 33 No. 34

MONROE, NEWTON FARM BUREAUS PUT AFBF GRANTS TO USE Two Georgia county Farm Bureaus are expanding their efforts to educate local students about agriculture after being awarded fall 2015 White-Reinhardt Mini-Grants from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA).

Monroe County Farm Bureau is using its mini-grant to support Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School in Forsyth for development of its Indoor Hydroponic Learning Garden.

Students maintain the garden areas under the supervision of project leader Rebecca Wachtel, using the engineering design process and their understanding of science, technology, engineering and math to overcome challenges that arise.

Newton County Farm Bureau is planning an educational conference for county elementary school teachers. The conference, scheduled for Sept. 29, will be held at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield. The one-day event will give teachers a firsthand experience with agriculture and an opportunity to visit local farmers. They’ll also receive hands-on ag-related lesson plans and a resource kit with approximately $100 worth of educational materials, including teacher’s manuals, DVDs, posters, student materials, maps and lab guides.

The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special project of the AFBFA. There are two opportunities for counties to receive funding.

The White-Reinhardt Mini-Grant Program is offered to state and county Farm Bureaus in amounts up to $500 for classroom education programs for grades K-12 to initiate new programs or expand existing programs to additional grade levels or new subject areas.

The White-Reinhardt Scholarship Program provides up to $1,500 in travel funds to educators employed by a public or private school system or volunteers who actively participate in classroom ag literacy programs or events to attend the National Ag in the Classroom Conference.

Applications are currently being accepted and are due to AFBFA by Oct. 15 and must be made online.

County Farm Bureaus interested in applying for a grant will find instructions on the Georgia Farm Bureau Sharepoint website under Field Services/Ag Literacy. Visit the AFBFA website at www.agfoundation.org and click on What We Support for more information.

There are other tools on Sharepoint to help complete the application. If you would like GFB Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Donna Rocker to review your application before you submit it to AFBFA, you must send a draft of the application to her by Oct. 1. For help in completing the application, contact Rocker at dhrocker@gfb.org. Once she has provided you with feedback, you will then need to submit the application online.

GFB News Alert page 2 of 13 GA GROWN HWY 301 KICKS OFF WITH TASTE OF THE TRAIL EVENT Elected officials and members of the coalition that brought the Georgia Grown Highway 301 Trail to fruition participated in a “Taste of the Trail” Celebration on Aug. 18 at Watermelon Creek Vineyard in Glennville. The event celebrated the 55 trail stops being promoted as tourist destinations along the 8-county route.

The trail, which runs from Charlton County on the Florida line north through Brantley, Wayne, Long, Tattnall, Evans, Bulloch and Screven counties on the South Carolina border, will feature agritourism venues, local restaurants, art galleries and unique shops.

“It’s unbelievable what this will do for agritourism and our local economies by bringing people into our counties. We’re excited about what this is going to do,” said Georgia Rep. Bill Werkheiser (R-Dist. 157), who sponsored the legislation that designated U.S. Highway 301 as a Georgia Grown Trail. “This wouldn’t have happened without the local Chamber of Commerces in the trail counties.”

The 55 businesses that signed up to be trail stops will receive two years of promotion on more than 10 websites, a double-sided reflective road sign and other marketing tools for a $150 fee.

Evans County Farm Bureau is among 56 other businesses that do not meet the criteria to be a Georgia Grown trail stop but are supporting the economic development and agritourism initiative by paying a $150 fee in exchange for advertising and marketing benefits.

“Congratulations to the communities and to the leaders who caught the vision for this trail and came to the meetings and made the phone calls to make this happen,” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black said. “Almost seven hundred businesses, farms and processors across the state are participating in the Georgia Grown program. Advancing our local communities and economies is what this program is all about.”

Other dignitaries participating in the program included U.S. Rep. Rick Allen (R- Dist. 12), Ga. Sen. Jack Hill (R-Dist. 4) and Glennville Mayor Chris Roessler. Former Ga. Rep. Ann Purcell emceed the event.

“My parents believed in homegrown food and it was certainly served by my parents at their Glenn Haven Restaurant when Highway 301 was the North-South Highway for snowbirds,” Purcell recalled.

Sen. Hill told the group that a recent trip to Maine reminded him of how important a highway can be to local communities.

“If I-95 and I-75 had never been built that’s what 301 and U.S. 1 would look like,” Hill said.

“This movement to coordinate agriculture activities and business is so vital to the future of our state.”

The trail is the third highway in the state to receive the Georgia Grown Trail designation from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Division. The other two Georgia Grown Trails are Highway 37, which runs through nine Georgia counties from Clay County on the Alabama line to Clinch County in Southeast Georgia and Highway 41, which runs from just south of Barnesville to the Georgia-Florida line just below Valdosta. Farm-to-table restaurants, wineries, you-pick farms, and other agri-tourism attractions are featured on the trails.

Visit www.georgiagrowntrail301.com for a complete list of trail stops and more information about the trail.

GFB News Alert page 3 of 13 APHIS MAKING PLANS TO STOCKPILE AVIAN INFLUENZA VACCINE The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been preparing for the potential recurrence in the fall of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus that affected more than 48 million birds at more than 200 poultry facilities earlier this year. As part of these preparations, APHIS and its state and industry partners are examining the potential use of vaccine to help prevent illness in birds and interrupt the spread of the disease. On Aug. 18 APHIS announced two actions related to vaccine use: the issuance of a request for proposals for vaccine doses to equip the National Veterinary Stockpile, and notification that APHIS will publish an environmental assessment evaluating the potential environmental impacts of using vaccine in the event of an HPAI outbreak.

While APHIS has not approved the use of vaccine to respond to HPAI to date, the agency is preparing to ensure that vaccine is available should the decision be made to use it. APHIS is seeking to create a stockpile of vaccine for the Eurasian H5 (EA H5) virus strain that circulated in domestic poultry earlier this year. APHIS issued a request for proposals on Aug. 17 for vaccine manufacturers with the interest and capability to supply a variety of EA H5 vaccines in sufficient numbers to establish the emergency stockpile.

The RFP is available online at http://tinyurl.com/HPAIRFP. EPA PROPOSES MEASURES TO CUT METHANE EMISSIONS The EPA announced on Aug. 18 proposed standards today that would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the oil and natural gas industry, according to an agency press release.

The proposed standards will be in addition to voluntary efforts and are based on practices and technology currently used by industry. To cut methane and VOC emissions, the proposal requires finding and repairing leaks, capturing natural gas from the completion of hydraulically fractured oil wells, limiting emissions from new and modified pneumatic pumps, and limiting emissions from several types of equipment used at natural gas transmission compressor stations, including compressors and pneumatic controllers.

As part of the proposal, the agency is updating the 2012 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) to address methane as well as VOC emissions for sources covered in that rule. EPA’s proposal would also require that industry reduce VOC and methane emissions from hydraulically fractured and refractured oil wells, which can contain significant amounts of natural gas along with oil. In addition, the proposal means methane and VOC reductions “downstream” from wells and production sites, covering equipment in the natural gas transmission segment of the industry that was not regulated in the agency’s 2012 oil and natural gas rules. The agency also proposes to clarify and streamline Clean Air Act permitting requirements in states and Indian country.

The proposal includes proposed guidelines for states to reduce VOC emissions from existing oil and gas sources in certain ozone nonattainment areas as well as mid-Atlantic and Northeast states that are part of the Ozone Transport Region.

EPA will take comment on the proposals for 60 days after they are published in the Federal Register. The agency will hold public hearings and will announce details soon.

For more information on the proposed rule, including technical fact sheets, visit www.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas/actions.html.

GFB News Alert page 4 of 13 USDA ADDS ELIGIBLE COMMODITIES FOR FARM STORAGE FACILITY LOANS The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced on Aug. 17 that the Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program, which provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade storage facilities, will now include dairy, flowers and meats as eligible commodities.

The new commodities eligible for facility loans include floriculture, hops, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Commodities already eligible for the loans include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, and fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities.

Since 2000, more than 35,000 facility loans have been approved totaling $2 billion in rural investments. On average, about 1,600 new loans are made each year.

Producers do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers.

To learn more about the FSA Farm Storage Facility Loan, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport or contact a local FSA county office. To find your local FSA county office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

MONSANTO CHARITY PROGRAM OPENS REGISTRATION Farmers in 34 Georgia counties have until Nov. 30 to register to win $2,500 for a charity of their choice in the 6th Annual America’s Farmers Grow Communities program sponsored by Monsanto. Suggested charities include local 4-H or FFA programs, fire departments, hospitals, libraries or schools. No purchase is necessary to win.

Eligible counties are: Appling, Baker, Berrien, Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, 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 in 2014.

The program is open to farmers, age 21 and older in eligible counties, actively farming a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton or 40 acres of open field vegetables or at least 10 acres of tomatoes, peppers and/or cucumbers grown in protected culture.

Community non-profits that wish to encourage farmers to support their cause may do so at the charity’s website (see below). Charities must be recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (3) or as a unit of government under Section 170 (c) (1).

One winner will be drawn from each eligible county provided at least one entry is received from the county. Monsanto will announce winning farmers and their recipient charities in January 2016. Visit www.growcommunities.com or call 1-877-267-3332 to apply.

GFB News Alert page 5 of 13 WTO PANEL TO HEAR COOL ARBITRATION ARGUMENTS SEPT. 15-16 The World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement body will hear arguments over retaliatory measures in the case involving the United States, Canada and Mexico regarding U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements. The hearings will be held Sept. 15 and 16 in Geneva, Switzerland.

On July 30 United States Trade Representative Michael Froman filed a legal brief asserting that both Canada and Mexico have overstated their losses as a result of COOL legislation.

Canada requested retaliatory measures totaling $2.41 billion (U.S.) per year, while Mexico requested measures totaling $713 million per year.

In its brief, the U.S. contends that the methodology used by both countries is flawed, and that the actual losses attributable to COOL legislation are correctly estimated at $43.22 million (U.S.) for Canada and $47.55 million for Mexico.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House has passed a bill that would repeal COOL. There are two measures in the Senate that would address COOL. One would allow for voluntary “Product of the U.S.” labels for beef pork and chicken produced in the U.S, while the other would repeal the COOL law.

MONSANTO DROPS BID TO MERGE WITH SYNGENTA Monsanto has dropped its push to purchase Swiss agricultural company Syngenta, according to a release on the Monsanto website.

Syngenta rejected the proposed deal, claiming that the Monsanto offer undervalued the Swiss company and brings with it concerns over exposure to regulatory problems in multiple countries.

Syngenta Chairman Michel DeMare has said that if a deal is reached and the merger fails for antitrust or other reasons, his company’s shareholders would suffer significant financial harm.

Monsanto made an offer reportedly worth $45 billion in May, and multiple news outlets have reported that Monsanto recently increased the offer, believed to be between $47 billion and $49 billion. According to Financial Times, Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant has sought to purchase Syngenta since 2011, and the latest offer was the third this year.

THREE GEORGIANS NOMINATED FOR EPA ADVISORY COMMITTEE UGA researcher Dr. Stanley Culpepper, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Plant Industry Division Director Tommy Gray and Bleckley County Tree Farmer Earl Barrs have been nominated to serve on the EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) Agriculture Committee.

According to the EPA, the committee will provide advice to the chartered SAB on matters referred to the board that EPA and the board, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, determine will have a significant direct impact on farming and agriculture-related industries.

Culpepper, who was nominated by UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean Scott Angle, is an internationally recognized expert on weed science. Gray, who was nominated by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, oversees the GDA’s Agricultural Inputs Section, the Plant Protection Section and the Structural Pest Control Section. Barrs, is president of forest and land management company Due South Investments, runs Gully Branch Tree Farm, the 2009 National Tree Farm of the Year.

The EPA is accepting comments on candidates for the committee. Comments should be submitted to Stephanie Sanzone, Designated Federal Officer, no later than Sept. 8 at sanzone.stephanie@epa.gov.

GFB News Alert page 6 of 13 See page 12 for a list of ongoing Farm Bureau-affiliated farmers markets!

FEEDER CALF GRADING AND MARKETING SHORT COURSE Aug. 27 Carroll County Agriculture Center 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Carrollton This course will help local calf producers understand how to improve the health and marketability of their feeder calves. The cost to attend is $10. Refreshments will be provided.

For more details, please contact Richard Littleton or Paula Burke at 770-836-8546 or email Richard at rlittle@uga.edu to pre-register.

YOUNG, BEGINNING, SMALL AND MINORITY FARMERS WORKSHOP Aug. 28 University of West Georgia Coliseum 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Carrollton Sponsored by AGAware, this workshop is designed to assist young, beginning, small and minority farmers with developing a strong farm plan. Lunch will be provided. For more information or to register visit http://tinyurl.com/agawarewkshp.

AUG. 31 IS SALES CLOSING DATE FOR ONION CROP INSURANCE Onion growers have until Aug. 31 to purchase crop insurance in Georgia. This applies to crop insurance policies for onions in Appling, Bulloch, Candler, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Laurens, Long, Montgomery, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wayne counties. Growers need to buy, review, or modify their crop insurance policies before the sales closing date has passed.

Crop insurance provides protection against crop production losses due to natural perils such as drought, hail, and excessive moisture. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at http://www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. Growers can also use the RMA Cost Estimator to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online.

Learn more about crop insurance and the farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.

POND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP Sept. 1 Cherokee County Bluffs Business Center 6 p.m.- 9 p.m Canton UGA Extension aquaculturist Gary Burtle will lead the class, which will cover water quality and testing, lime-treating and fertilizing a pond, weed identification and control, and population assessment and management.

For more information visit http://apps.caes.uga.edu/gafaces/?public=viewStory&pk_id=5559 UGA COTTON & PEANUT RESEARCH FIELD DAY Sept. 9 Lang-Rigdon Farm 8:30 a.m.

Tifton The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, will co-sponsor this joint research field day, an excellent chance for both commodities' producers to observe, first-hand, the research program funded by their checkoff investments. Lunch will be held at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center at 12:45 p.m. The purpose of the tour is to showcase current research funded by the commissions, in plot-side presentations by the researchers themselves. The sponsors' goal is to provide an educational environment for cotton and peanut producers and give them the opportunity to pose questions directly to the researchers and to express opinions and concerns pertinent to the production of their crops. Those planning to attend need to RSVP by Sept. 3 to Debbie Rutland at drutland@uga.edu or 229-386-3424.

GFB News Alert page 7 of 13 AGROFORESTRY AND WILDLIFE FIELD DAY Sept. 17 Westbrook Farm, UGA Griffin Campus 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Griffin This event, hosted by UGA Griffin every three years, will provide attendees with information on ways to increase the value of their land. Federal and state government agency officials and representatives of private business will provide management recommendations and demonstrate real-life techniques at this unique educational event, which features more than 30 topics, including wildlife openings, pond management, feral hog issues and many more. Continuing Education Credits (CEU) are available for several fields, including pesticide (several categories), forestry, loggers, arborist and wildlife. Registration is $25 prior to Sept. 3 ($30 after) and includes lunch. Pre-registrants will receive an Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day ball cap.

Field trip opportunity and special pricing is available for high school students. For more information or for registration information, visit www.caes.uga.edu/events/awfd/index.html.

UNION COUNTY TRACTOR SHOW AND PARADE Sept. 5 Union County Farmer’s Market Blairsville Come join in the fun! Union County Farm Bureau along with Union County Farmers Market will host the 6th Annual Tractor Show and Parade. Bring any type of tractor you have and enter it in the show and parade. The tractors can be old or new, used or antique, everything farm-related is welcome to show and be in the parade or remain at the Farmer’s Market for the public to view. If you don’t have a tractor, just come and watch the parade, look around and buy some produce or goods from the farmers. Those planning to enter the tractor show/parade should arrive by 8 am at the Farmer’s Market. Judging of the tractors will take place at 10 a.m. with the parade beginning at 11 a.m. Each participant in the tractor show will be given a t-shirt and several ribbons and other cash awards will be awarded. In addition to Union County Farm Bureau and Union County Farmer’s Market, other sponsors are: Union Realty, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Nelson’s Tractor, United Community Bank, Rick’s Rental and King Ford. For more information or questions, call Mickey Cummings at 706-781-8802, call Union County Farm Bureau at 706-7456962 or visit www.ucfarmersmarket.com.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETINGS Sept. 8 3rd District The Center at Arbor Connection 7 p.m.

Douglasville Sept. 10 2nd District Ga. Baptist Conference Center 7 p.m.

Toccoa Sept. 14 7th District First Baptist Church 7 p.m.

Statesboro Sept. 15 5th District Thomaston Civic Center 7 p.m.

Thomaston Sept. 17 10th District Jamestown Baptist Church 7 p.m.

Waycross Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information. Note: These meetings are for Farm Bureau members only and are not open to the general public.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 13 ANNIE’S PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOR FARM WOMEN Dougherty County Extension, 125 Pine Ave., Suite 100, Albany Sept. 8 8:15 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sept. 29 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Houston County Extension, 801 Main Street, Perry Sept. 8 8:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Sept. 15 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

Sept. 22 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Annie’s Project is a three-day course designed especially for farm/ranch women. Sessions will combine lecture, discussion, individual and small group activities and software training. Annie’s Project will also help women find new ways to balance the demands of family, community and professionalism within the agriculture community. There is no cost to attend, but participants must register by Sept. 2. Lunch will be provided each day. For more information or to register, contact the Dougherty County Extension at 229-436-7216 or the Houston County Extension at 478-987-2028.

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE BASIC TRAINING Sept. 22 UGA Livestock Instruction Arena 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Athens This training is for all women interested in or involved in agriculture. Participants will receive hands-on instruction on a variety of topics and learn skills applicable to different subject areas of agriculture. Topics include fencing, tractors, farm implements, trucks and trailers, cattle handling and animal health. Cost to attend is $30 and lunch is included. Sept. 8 is deadline to register. To register, contact the Morgan County Extension office at 706-342-2214 or send an email to Lucy Ray at lray@uga.edu.

FAREWELL RECEPTIONS FOR DEAN SCOTT ANGLE Sept. 10 John Hunt Lobby 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

UGA Tifton Campus Sept. 15 Stuckey Auditorium 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

UGA Griffin Campus Sept. 16 UGA Hotel/Conf. Ctr. 4 p.m-6 pm.

Athens This series of receptions will honor Dean Scott Angle for his decade of service to the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. RSVP to attend the reception of your choice at www.caes.uga.edu/events/farewell. Those interested are encouraged to consider making a gift to support The Deans’ Promise, an initiative created by Angle that supports opportunities and provides funding for CAES students to enrich their learning beyond the classroom. Gifts will go toward core areas of the initiative including internships, research, leadership, service learning and study abroad opportunities. Gifts may be made online at www.caes.uga.edu/events/farewell or checks made payable to “UGA Foundation” and specified for “CAES Deans’ Promise” in the memo line may be mailed to: The University of Georgia CAES Office of External Relations 117 Four Towers Athens, GA 30602. A list of donors will be presented to Dean Angle on Sept. 16.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 13 STARTING A NEW FOOD BUSINESS WORKSHOP Oct. 6-7 UGA Griffin Melton Building Griffin This workshop will provide information on producing safe and wholesome food products.

Presentations include food safety and sanitation, getting your product label reviewed, meeting Georgia Department of Agriculture and FDA regulations, recordkeeping and product traceback and choosing a co-packer or a shared kitchen. Registration is $150. The deadline to register is Sept. 10, and registration is limited to 40 participants. To register online visit http://EFSonline.uga.edu. For more information, call 706-542-2574.

POND MANAGEMENT FIELD DAY Sept. 17 Flat Creek Arena, 1516 Diamond Lane 5:30 p.m.

Royston This informative session provided by the Broad River Soil and Water Conservation District, will include information on improving water quality, fish health, pond maintenance and NRCS programs. Dinner will be provided. Register by Sept. 10 by calling 706-552-4479 or sending an email to jbee@gaswcc.org.

20TH ANNUAL LUMBER CITY FARM DAY FESTIVAL Sept. 11 & 12 Downtown Lumber City Festival events begin Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. with a fish fry at the Lumber City American Legion on Hwy 341. The opening ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Main Street with entertainment by Old Souls of the South from Atlanta. Events on Sept 12 begin with breakfast at the Lumber City Methodist Church from 6:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., followed by a 5K run/walk at 7:45 a.m. ($20 5K registration includes a free breakfast for all runners), a dog show at 9 a.m. and parade at 10 a.m.

Other events will include live stage entertainment, an amusement park, cakewalk, arts & crafts, and food vendors all day. A street dance will be held from 7-ll p.m. featuring the Soul Purpose Band from Atlanta, admission is free for all festival events except 5k. A community church service will be held Sunday at 9 a.m. on Main Street. For more info visit www.lumbercityfarmday.org or call 912-363-4341.

UGA TIFTON CAMPUS RECRUITING EVENT Sept. 15 UGA Campus Conference Center 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tifton Students desiring to attend the University of Georgia or those interested in learning more about the UGA Tifton Campus are invited to attend Southwest ShowCAES 2015, a recruiting event on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Tifton Campus Conference Center. For more information visit http://apps.caes.uga.edu/gafaces/?public=viewStory&pk_id=5565

GFB News Alert page 10 of 13 2015 GEORGIA PEANUT TOUR Sept. 15-17 Thomasville and surrounding area The 29th annual Georgia Peanut Tour brings the latest information on peanuts. Tour stops will be made in several peanut producing counties including Thomas, Grady, Decatur, Seminole and Early County. This year's tour includes on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, peanut processing facilities, and several special highlights which include research at the University of Georgia Research & Education Center in Attapulgus, Lewis M. Carter Manufacturing, FudgeBirdsong Peanuts Buying Point and Birdsong Peanuts shelling plant. Hotel accommodations can be made at the Best Western in Thomasville by calling 229-226-9998. Rooms are available at the rate of $101 for a single/double room and $115 for a suite. Once the Best Western is full, additional hotel accommodations can be made at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites by calling 229-226-4666. Be sure to ask for the Georgia Peanut Tour room block. To register online visit http://2015gpt.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=2139089481. To download a registration form, visit http://tinyurl.com/pnuttoursignup. Registration is $75 per person until Aug. 14 and $90 per person after Aug. 14.

2015 GEORGIA APPLE FESTIVAL APPLE PIE RECIPE CONTEST Oct. 10 Lions Club Fairgrounds 10 a.m.

Ellijay This annual contest is part of the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay. The 1st-place winner will receive $300 and a ribbon. The 2nd place winner will receive $100 and a ribbon. To enter, submit an entry form and the recipe (Attn: Recipe Contest) to the Gilmer Extension office in Ellijay. Only put your name (contestant name) on the back of the recipe, not on the front. All recipes must be received by noon on Sept. 18 and all recipes must use fresh Georgia apples.

Five finalists will be selected from the entries. There are no kitchen facilities available at the festival, so upon notification, final contestants will bring their prepared apple pie to the Lions Club Fairgrounds Oct. 10 by 9:45 a.m. Judging begins at 10 a.m. Eligibility rules apply. Only one entry per family and only one entry per person. Contestants must be 10 years old or older.

For more details or to get an entry form, call the Gilmer County Extension office at 706-6354426 or visit the office at 1123 Progress Road in Ellijay. Office hours are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. The Georgia Apple Festival “recipe contest” is coordinated by the University of Georgia Gilmer County Extension office and sponsored by the Georgia Apple Festival in cooperation with the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Apples.

TRAVELER'S REST PIONEER DAY Sept. 19 Traveler’s Rest State Historic site 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Toccoa The public is invited to join in this celebration of 200 years of history. Traveler's Rest Stagecoach Inn opened for business around 1815. All ages will enjoy the Pioneer era demonstrators, musicians, crafts, and samples of open-hearth cooking. Tour this historic inn, which still has some of the original family furnishings from the 1800's. Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site is located at 4339 Riverdale Road in Toccoa. For more information visit www.gastateparks.org/TravelersRest or call Tugaloo State Park at 706-356-4362. On Saturdays and Sundays call Travelers Rest Inn 706-886-2256

GFB News Alert page 11 of 13 ENROLLMENT UNDERWAY FOR FARM BILL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS Farmers have until Sept. 30 to formally enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety-net programs for 2014 and 2015 according to a USDA press release. Farmers and producers had until April 7 to make a one-time choice of the program in which they would participate. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

5TH NIAA ANTIBIOTICS SYMPOSIUM Nov. 3-5 Crowne Plaza Midtown Atlanta The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) will be hosting this antibiotic symposium, focusing on antibiotic stewardship. This unique forum brings together leading researchers, government officials, retailers and industry professionals in animal and human health.

Discounted registration is available before Oct. 1. For more information or to register online go to www.AnimalAgriculture.org/2015-Antibiotics-Symposium or contact the NIAA at 719538-8843 or niaa@animalagriculture.org.

26th ANNUAL GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR Oct. 8-18 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The award-winning Georgia National Fair features livestock and horse shows, youth exhibits, home and fine arts competitions, family entertainment and Midway rides and games. Concerts include shows by Alabama and Rascal Flatts. Visit www.georgianationalfair.com for more information.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION 5K RUN Oct. 17 Rock Creek Park, 445 Martin Rd. 8 a.m.

Dawsonville Runners receive race t-shirts, awards to overall winners and age group winners in this event. The course is described as flat and fast and conducive to setting personal records. The proceeds will benefit the GFB Foundation for Agriculture for use in GFB’s Ag In The Classroom program, consumer awareness projects and adult learning opportunities. Register by Oct. 11 to guarantee your t-shirt and shirt size. Registration is $25 in advance, $30 the day of the race. On-site registration and packet pick-up begins at 7 a.m. For online registration visit http://fivestarntp.com/GA_Farm_Bureau_5K.html.

2015 SUNBELT AG EXPO Oct. 20-22 Spence Field Moultrie North America's largest farm show features field demonstrations, the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year and more than 1,200 exhibitors. Tickets are $10 per person per day or $20 for multi-day tickets. Children under 10 get in free with parent. For more information visit www.sunbeltexpo.com.

GFB News Alert page 12 of 13 GFB TAKING ENTRIES TO HAY CONTEST, HAY DIRECTORY Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members who grow Bermudagrass hay are encouraged to enter the GFB 2015 Quality Hay Contest. GFB is also accepting entries for its 2016 Quality Hay Directory. The deadline for submissions for both the contest and the directory is Oct. 30.

Hay entered in the contest will be tested at the UG Testing Lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which predicts fiber digestibility and likely animal intake of hay. There is a $15 entry fee for each sample entered in the contest to cover lab costs. Applications and instructions for submitting samples, as well as updated contest rules, are available at county Farm Bureau offices or may be downloaded at the GFB website http://www.gfb.org/commodities/hay_contest.html.

AFBF FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE BULLETIN BOARD CONTEST The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s ag-themed bulletin board contest for teachers is open for submissions through Oct. 31. The winner receives a copy of “Farm a Month,” the Foundation’s activities kit about agriculture across America, plus the 12 books that accompany it. To enter, visit http://www.agfoundation.org/projects/bulletin-board-contest.

ONGOING FARMERS MARKETS SHIELDS-ETHRIDGE HERITAGE FARM CULTIVATORS’ MARKET Sept. 19, Oct. 17 Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 2355 Ethridge Rd. Jefferson Jackson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) is sponsoring this monthly open-air market that will allow local farmers and entrepreneurs to sell products they make or grow in a festival atmosphere. The market will include live music, games and exhibitions of farming practices to entertain and educate visitors as they shop. Each month’s market will have a different theme. Market will be held rain or shine. Please leave pets at home. The Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm is an outdoor ag museum that functions as an educational and interpretative facility. The farm is unique for its collection of intact historic buildings that exist in their original location and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Proceeds from the market will be used for restoration projects at the farm. Vendors will be selected based on quality and originality of product according to the theme of homesteading practices. If you are interested in having a booth at the market, contact JCFB Office Manager Denise Temple at dftemple@gfb.org or call 706-367-8877 or visit www.shieldsethridgefarminc.com to complete an application online.

PAULDING COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays until Nov. 19 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Paulding County High School Paulding County Farm Bureau is accepting vendors for its weekly farmers market that will be held each Thursday from April 16 to Nov. 20. There is no fee to participate but vendors must be Farm Bureau members so that the market qualifies as a Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market. If you would like to participate in the PCFB Farmer’s Market, please contact Tracy Grice at Paulding County Farm Bureau at 770-445-6681 or email her at tcgrice@gfb.org.

Vendors may sell locally grown produce or other ag commodities or homemade crafts. PCFB is teaming up with the Paulding County High School this year to host the market in the north parking lot of the school located at 1297 Villa Rica Hwy., Dallas, Ga. 30132.

GFB News Alert page 13 of 13 HINESVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays until Nov. 19 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Downtown Hinesville This market, sponsored by the Liberty County Farm Bureau, offers customers fresh local produce and other farm items, cut flowers, plants, baked goods, specialty foods, prepared foods, and original crafts. Market is held in Bradwell Park on Commerce St. across from the Hinesville City Hall. To apply to be a vendor or for more information call the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority at 912-877-4332.

MONROE FARMERS’ MARKET Saturdays through Oct. 10 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Court Street Downtown Monroe This market features vegetables and other ag commodities grown in Walton County along with homemade products made by county residents. Walton County Farm Bureau is one of the sponsors of the market, which is located on Court Street in downtown Monroe. Visit www.monroedowntown.com for more information or contact Cheryl Brady at 770-722-9145 or monroefmdowntown@gmail.com.

ROCKDALE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Through Nov. 21 Tuesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. – noon, Thursdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Rockdale County Extension office, 1400 Parker Road Conyers Rockdale/DeKalb County Farm Bureau manages this market with support from the Rockdale County Extension, set up to allow farmers to sell locally grown products directly to the public.

Farmers wishing to participate can sign up at the Rockdale/DeKalb Farm Bureau office. Vendors must be current Farm Bureau members in order to participate. For more information or to receive a vendor application contact RDCFB Office Manager Susanne Bell at shbell@gfb.org or call 770-922-3566.

WHITE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Saturdays through Sept. 27 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Freedom Park near downtown square Cleveland White County Farm Bureau helps sponsor this market, where customers can shop for some of the freshest produce around while listening to local musicians. The market also features themed market days throughout the season with recipes, taste testing, and other fun events. For more information contact the White County Extension Office at 706-865-2832. Vendors can rent space at the market for $10 per Saturday. Vendors must be residents of White County and or adjacent counties and goods must be grown or locally made.

UNION COUNTY FARMER’S MARKET Saturdays through Oct. 31 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Tuesdays through Oct. 27 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

148 Old Smokey Road Blairsville This market, supported by the Union County Farm Bureau, offers locally grown produce, farmfresh eggs and meats, artisan cheeses, breads, jams, jellies, honey and other delicious prepared foods. The market also features handmade crafts such as pottery and paintings. Special event days are: Ramp (Wild Onion) Day May 9, Strawberry Day May 23, Greenbean Festival July 25 & Tractor Show/Parade Sept. 5. For more information contact Mickey Cummings or Kristy Peney at farmersmarket@uniongov.com