Georgia Farm Bureau News - August 2010

Vol. 72 No. 5

GEORGIA

August 2010

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

* Must be a Farm Bureau member for at least 30 days. Contact your local Farm Bureau office for details.

Farm Bureau速 is a federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the American Farm Bureau Federation.速 Cummins is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc.

table of

contents august 2010

departments we, the farmers PAGE 4

legislative update PAGE 5

commodities update PAGE 10

around georgia

PAGE 20

public relations staff

Paul Beliveau Director Jennifer Whittaker Editor

Lillian Davis Publications/Advertising Manager

Jay Stone Print/Web Specialist

Denny Moore TV Producer/Anchor

Rick Treptow Senior Radio-TV Specialist

Michael Edmondson Web/Video Manager

Mark Wildman Radio-TV Specialist

Dean Wood Radio-TV Specialist

Ryan Naquin Radio-TV Specialist

Vickie Amos Office Coordinator For questions about your membership or member benefits, call 1-800-633-5432.

For questions regarding editorial content call 478-474-0679, ext. 5334 or e-mail jawhittaker@gfb.org For questions regarding advertising contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., 1-800-397-8908 Visit the GFB Web site today! www.gfb.org

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GFB commodity conference spotlights UGA ag research Georgia Farm Bureau held its 32nd annual commodity conference at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus. GFB Commodity Committee members talked to UGA researchers about their projects as they toured research fields and facilities.

PAGE 6

GFB hosts water tour for EPD Director

Georgia Farm Bureau hosted a water tour in August for Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Allen Barnes to let him see how Georgia farmers utilize water. During the tour, Mitchell County Farm Bureau member Lanair Worsham Sr. (left) told Barnes about the drip irrigation system he uses to water his pecan orchards.

PAGE 8

Sunbelt Expo set for Oct. 19-21

Farmers will flock to Moultrie for the 33rd Annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, Oct. 19-21. The latest farm equipment and traditional row crops will be on display along with bioenergy crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus. Tattnall County farmer Robert Dasher will represent Georgia in the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Contest.

PAGE 12

Stripling field day underscores value of irrigation research The Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla hosted a field day this summer to showcase the work it is doing to help farmers irrigate more efficiently.

PAGE 14

Premise liability, 103: Routine inspections & property maintenance are important This is the third in a series of articles exploring the issue of premise liability. This article looks at how property owners can keep their property safe for visitors by routinely inspecting their property for potential hazards and properly maintaining the premises.

PAGE 17

GFB hosts Young Farmer Family Conference The preliminary rounds of the GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet, recognition of the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award finalists and selection of the GFB photo contest winners were highlights of the Young Farmer Family Conference held at Lake Blackshear in July.

PAGE 18

on the cover

(Photo by Jennifer Whittaker) This field of fall tomatoes was captured in Rabun County on Kelly’s Creek Road in early August. Rabun County Farm Bureau member Rick James and his son Clint will harvest the tomatoes until mid-September.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2010 / 3

we, the Photo by Jeffrey Harvey

farmers Zippy Duvall, GFB President

The Lamp of the Body

Have you ever walked from a well-lit room into a very dark room? You can’t see anything. Objects are not clear and the environment seems threatening, but after a short period of time your eyes adjust and you begin to get your bearings. Everyone needs light so they can be confident of the path they are taking. Georgia Farm Bureau is no different. Our organization needs light and clarity from its farmer membership to plots its course for 2011.

The light our organization needs is kindled during our policy development process. This annual process runs from late summer to December when GFB’s farmer members vote on all the policies at our annual convention.

Why is it necessary for our farmers to spend all this time on developing GFB’s official policy? The purpose of this organization is to be the voice of Georgia farmers on state and national issues. To do this we need clear policy.

As we work throughout the year to represent the farmers of this state, I, your state leaders and your state staff depend on the policy you, our members, develop to determine the position we take on any issue that arises pertaining to agriculture.

Georgia Farm Bureau’s 2010 policy development season began on July 29 in Tifton at our annual commodity conference. During the conference our commodity advisory committees reviewed the sections of our existing policy pertaining to their commodities to determine any changes that need to be made. Their recommendations will be considered by the GFB Policy Development Committee, which is made up of 30 county Farm Bureau presidents from across the state, the chairmen of

each of GFB’s 20 advisory committees and the GFB Board of Directors.

I encourage all of our county Farm Bureaus to review our policy book and send us resolutions by Sept. 17 addressing issues of concern. Last year, 75 counties sent in 350 resolutions for consideration by the GFB Policy Development Committee. GFB in turn submitted 42 resolutions for consideration by the American Farm Bureau Federation Resolutions Committee during AFBF’s annual convention last January. Of these, 16 were adopted in some form.

Among our recommendations that AFBF adopted was policy that calls for seed companies to refund biotechnology fees to farmers when the usefulness of that technology has diminished, policy that supports an ad hoc disaster assistance bill for quality and quantity losses and policy that says poultry growers should be compensated for loss of income when processing plants are closed and growing contracts terminated. This is grassroots involvement at its best.

In a lot of cases, what happens on a local level affects us more than state or national laws. That’s why Farm Bureau was organized at the county level – to address local issues. For example, when the Miller County Tax Assessors office proposed taxing irrigation wells this summer, the Miller County Farm Bureau took action to fight the proposal. The purpose of Farm Bureau is to be the voice of farmers, not just on state and national issues, but on local and regional issues, too. Local zoning regulations and tax assessments have just as big of an impact on our farmSee WE, THE FARMERS page 11

Pictured from left, Mitchell County Farm Bureau Secretary/Treasurer David Holton explains to GFB President Zippy Duvall, EPD Director Allen Barnes and GFB 9th District Field Director Jeff Nunnery how he uses soil maps to determine the rate he needs to apply fertilizer in his fields using variable rate technology, which helps protect water quality on his farm.

4 / August 2010

GEORGIA

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Farm Bureau Members: Included in dues — $1 per year Non-Members — $15 per year To subscribe call 1-800-898-1911, ext. 5238.

OFFICERS President ZIPPY DUVALL 1st Vice President/South Georgia Vice President GERALD LONG North Georgia Vice President BERNARD SIMS Middle Georgia Vice President ROBERT FOUNTAIN 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; James Malone, Dexter SEVENTH DISTRICT: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gennis Folsom, Glennville 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: Matt Bottoms, Molena WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Cathy Barber, Alma 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 2010 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, Georgia.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News

legislative update Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director

For hundreds of years, farmers have placed marks, notches or tags in the ears of their livestock as a way to determine ownership or where a particular animal belongs.

Similarly, congressional earmarks are used in the budget process in Washington, D.C. to allocate funding to specific programs.

Opponents of earmarks say the practice leads to wasteful government spending.

Proponents argue important local projects would not be funded without them. There is truth in both points of view.

According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), a congressional earmark must meet two criteria. First, it is a request made by a member of Congress or the president.

Second, it authorizes federal funding for a specific entity or to a specific state, locality or congressional district. In other words, it is a way for a member of Congress to have some direct influence over appropriations.

Substantial cash is involved. The CRS reports there were 11,320 earmarks with a total value of $32 billion in FY2010. To most folks, that seems like a lot of money, but a sense of perspective is needed. The 2010 earmarks amounted to only 1.5 percent of total federal appropriations for the year.

For FY2010, energy and water issues accounted for the largest number of earmarks (2,293). Military construction and veterans issues made up the largest portion of money appropriated by earmarks ($14.5 billion).

Agriculture accounted for 462 earmarks with a total value of $355 million.

Some of this funding, about $4 million, went to the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) to help construct or renovate ponds to increase on-farm irrigation capacity. Additional funding provided irrigation system performance audits to participating farmers. The GSWCC will work with qualifying producers to install water saving technologies to irrigation systems based on the results of the audits.

The purpose of these programs is to conserve water and improve irrigation efficiency. Both of these programs are operated on a cost share basis and require farmers to

Is earmark a dirty word?

share in the expense. Farm Bureau policy supports programs of this type.

A $2 million earmark funds research to improve the overall quality, value and profitability of Georgia cotton. The main emphasis of the research is to better control insects that decrease the quality of cotton fiber. In the past, the quality of Georgia cotton was criticized. The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UGA CAES) is doing this research.

Another earmark continues funding for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Peanut Research Laboratory in Dawson, Ga. The peanut lab is working to develop and evaluate various methods of highly efficient drip irrigation systems for row crops. This research will someday help farmers conserve water and increase yields at the same time.

Other worthwhile projects include a $700,000 collaborative effort between the University of Arkansas and the University of Georgia to address the problem of glyphosate resistant pigweed. Biotechnology is one of GFB’s priority issues this year, and glyphosate resistant pigweed is at the heart of the debate.

Georgia has become a significant producer of blueberries, and an earmark will provide $250,000 to improve the production efficiency and quality of the fruit. An additional $240,000 will be provided to study management of phytophthora blight on vegetables. UGA researchers also received $400,000 to study beef cattle genetics through the National Beef Cattle Consortium. Farm Bureau supports all of these projects because they benefit Georgia farmers.

The list goes on and on, and according to critics, that’s the problem. Even earmark supporters recognize there should be controls to prevent wasteful abuse in the process. On May 14, UGA CAES Dean Scott Angle testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee that federal earmarks were an important source of agricultural research funding.

“Changes are needed to make the process more transparent, but I remain adamant that earmark-supported research is

vital to the success of our farming community,” Angle said. “More transparency, limited high-level peer review and greater accountability may allow a skeptical public greater comfort with the process.”

In 2007, the House and Senate established some earmark transparency procedures to address the issue. These rules provide for public disclosure of approved earmarks and the names of the congressional sponsors. This process allows citizens to see which member of Congress asked for an earmark and how the money was spent.

The new rules have had an effect. From FY2008 to FY2010, the total number of earmarks decreased 12 percent, from 12,810 to 11,320. Members of Congress will be increasingly sensitive to the potential political costs as well as the benefits of directing funds to their districts.

On at least one thing, the opponents and proponents of earmarks can agree: Without federal earmarks, there would be substantially less agricultural research ongoing in this country.

Jon Huffmaster is director of the GFB Legislative Department.

SURE signup ends Sept. 30

Producers have until Sept. 30 to apply for the 2008 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program, which provides financial assistance for crop production and/ or quality losses due to a natural disaster during the 2008 crop year. Applications may be filed at local Farm Service Agency offices.

SURE provides assistance in an amount equal to 60 percent of the difference between the SURE farm guarantee and total farm revenue. Producers must have suffered at least a 10 percent loss in production on a crop of economic significance and must meet the crop insurance purchase requirement. The property where the loss occurred must be in a county that was declared a primary disaster or contiguous disaster county in 2008. Every Georgia county, except McIntosh, meets this requirement.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2010 / 5

GFB commodity conference spotlights UGA ag research

Photo by Jay Stone

By Jennifer Whittaker & Jay Stone ______________________________________

Pictured from left, Gov. Sonny Perdue talks with ABAC President David Bridges, GFB President Zippy Duvall and Washington County Farm Bureau member Glenn Waller.

GFB held its 32nd annual commodity conference at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus July 29. Members of the organization’s 20 commodity committees reviewed the organization’s policy pertinent to their commodities and toured UGA research fields and facilities. Gov. Sonny Perdue delivered the keynote address.

“We hope our tours give you a little snapshot of what we do and what you support,” said Dr. Joe West, UGA assistant dean of the Tifton Campus, when welcoming the GFB group. “The partnership between UGA and Georgia Farm Bureau has been a long partnership, and we’re thrilled Georgia

Farm Bureau is with us here today.”

On the crops tour, conference participants got updates from UGA researchers on a variety of row crop topics. Dr. Tim Brenneman discussed his research on controlling white mold in peanut plants by spraying fungicides at night to take advantage of peanut leaves folding down, enabling more fungicide to reach the ground.

Dr. Stanley Culpepper talked about pigweed control, stressing the magnitude of Georgia’s pigweed problem and saying that applying herbicides alone would not be sufficient. UGA Entomologist Dr. Mike Toews shared how stinkbug movement from field to field and crop to crop is being tracked using edible markers, in the hopes of estab-

By Jennifer Whittaker ____________________________________ Georgia Farm Bureau awarded Hugh M. Gillis of Soperton with the 2010 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Award in recognition of the many contributions he made to Georgia’s forestry and agriculture industries during the 56 years he served in the Georgia General Assembly. The award was presented during the organization’s annual commodity conference.

“This year we’re very proud to give this award to a great Georgian, one who has dedicated his life to the people of Georgia and agriculture,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “The men and women in this room are the ones who won because of Mr. Gillis and his service to Georgia agriculture.”

Gillis served 12 years in the Georgia House of Representatives, from 1941 through 1944 and from 1949 to 1956. He served a term in the Georgia Senate in 1957 and 1958. He was then re-elected to the senate in 1962, a seat he held for 42 years before retiring in 2004.

During his time in the Senate, Gillis 6 / November-December 2008

served for six years as Senate president pro tempore and chaired numerous Senate committees, including the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

While serving in the Georgia General Assembly, Gillis helped oversee the passage of numerous bills that helped Georgia’s forestry and agriculture industries remain profitable, benefiting the economies of many rural Georgia communities that depend on these industries. Gillis says he is especially proud of the General Assembly passing House Resolution 836 in 1990, which gave Georgia voters the chance to approve a referendum that enacted the conservation use value assessment. This assessment taxes farmland and land being used for other conservation purposes based on the use of the land rather than the land’s fair market value. This assessment has allowed farmers to continue to farm and grow timber in areas facing strong development pressure.

From May 2001 to August 2002, Gillis co-chaired the Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee, which met to draft recommendations for state water policy.

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Gillis receives GFB Commodity Award

GFB President Zippy Duvall (right) presents the 2010 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Award to Hugh M. Gillis of Soperton.

Gillis was a charter member of the Treutlen County Farm Bureau where he served on the board of directors for nearly 70 years and continues to support the organization as a director emeritus.

Gillis and his late wife, Jean Gillis, raised three children: Hugh Jr., Donnie and Jean Marie Gillis Harris. He has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In 1999 he married Montez Champion Gillis.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by Jay Stone

UGA Professor of Plant Pathology Dr. Tim Brenneman talks to GFB members about controlling white mold in peanut plants.

Steve L. Brown gave the GFB members an update on budget cuts the Extension Service is facing and asked each committee member to complete a questionnaire regarding the Extension Service. Brown said the survey answers would be used to help officials in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences make necessary cuts.

“The Extension budget has been eroding for some time as competition for state funding has grown more and more fierce. We’ve lost about twenty-five percent of our budget in the last two years, and another four percent cut was added on last Friday [July 23],” Brown said. “We have over ninety county agent vacancies and sixteen specialist vacancies.

Brown said the Extension Service is down to 116 agriculture agents in 59 counties. The distribution of these agents will be decided by the end of the summer.

“As we think about going to multi-county scenarios keep in mind that twenty-eight percent of our total budget comes from counties,” Brown said.

While delivering the keynote address of the conference, Gov. Sonny Perdue challenged farmers to add value to the commodities they produce and to consider how consumers look at agriculture.

“Being customer driven in today’s world is vital for agriculture. We can no longer say I’m going to be production driven,” Perdue said.

Perdue encouraged agricultural producers to keep the end customer in mind when making on-farm decisions and noted that continued food safety diligence will be required at every stop between the farm and the customer’s table.

“We’ve got to jealously guard the quality of our products from the farm gate to the plate,” Perdue said. “I think you’re going to see the chain of custody coming all the way back to the farm.”

ABAC ABAC Career Connections: Connections: Agriculture, Horticulture&& Agriculture, Horticulture Natural Natural Resources Resources

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

lishing a migration pattern that can be used to combat the pests.

During the specialty crops tour, UGA researcher Dr. Juan Carlos Diaz-Perez described a study he is conducting to determine if growing bell peppers under shade cloth improves fruit quality or yields by eliminating heat stress. UGA Extension Public Service Assisant Amanda Smith summarized a cost analysis study for tomatoes that shows the additional yield growers get when they control Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus compensates for increased production costs. Dr. Changying Li described research he is conducting to develop electronic sensors, which can detect onions that have begun to spoil or are diseased yet appear normal to the naked eye.

During a tour of the livestock facilities at the UGA Tifton Campus, GFB members learned about variable-rate irrigation technology that allows farmers to apply varying rates of water to zones in a field based on the natural variations in soil type or topography in the field. This technology can help livestock producers irrigate with wastewater without damaging environmentally sensitive areas. GFB members also got an overview of beef research being conducted at the UGA Tifton Campus.

Members of the GFB Forestry Committee learned about the Bugwood Network, formally known as the UGA Center for Invasive Species & Ecosystem Health, located at the Tifton Campus. The center works to combat invasive species and educate the public on ways to best manage natural resources and forestland.

UGA Assistant Dean for Extension Dr.

UGA researcher Dr. Juan Carlos Diaz-Perez (left) answers questions about growing bell peppers under shade cloth from GFB Vegetable Committee member John Hudson of Irwin County (center) and GFB Vegetable Committee Chairman Greg Murray (right).

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November-December 2008 / 7

Chuck Williams told Barnes the benefits of farmers having ponds to capture rainwater and runoff from surrounding watersheds.

Donald Chase explained how he relies on water he pumps out of the Flint River to irrigate almost 300 acres of peanuts. Chase said he installed drop nozzles on his irrigation pivots so he could distribute irrigation water more efficiently on his fields.

Thaggard stressed the importance of being able to irrigate his crops in a timely fashion during dry conditions. During the stop, Barnes saw end gun shutoffs at work.

The shutoffs prevent irrigation water from being wasted on roads or woodland at the edge of fields.

Pictured from left, Bleckley County Farm Bureau President Mike Lucas explains the maintenance requirements of his irrigation system to EPD Director Allen Barnes and GFB Holton described the variable rate irrigation system he uses to water different zones President Zippy Duvall during a water tour GFB hosted for Barnes in early August. of his fields varying amounts depending on the topography and soil composition of the zone. Mitchell County pecan producers Lanair Worsham Sr. and his son, Lanair Jr., showed Barnes the drip irrigation system they use to water their pecan orchards and the water sensors that turn off the Article & photos by Jennifer Whittaker _________________________________________________________________________ system once the needed amount of water eorgia Farm Bureau hosted an fields, soil temperatures and rain received. is applied. At Monrovia Nurseries in Grady agricultural water tour Aug. 4-5 for “If I can get another bale [of cot- County, Jerry Lee and Stewart Chandler Georgia Environmental Protection ton] by irrigating I’d rather bank on discussed how they reuse water collected Division Director Allen Barnes to let him irrigated yields rather than dryland,” in a holding pond to irrigate their plants. see firsthand how Georgia farmers utilize Lucas explained. “It costs about $12 an “Agriculture is the largest industry in water. The tour also gave Barnes the chance acre to put out an inch of water, so I the state of Georgia and there are challenges to see what farmers are doing to conserve don’t just randomly decide to irrigate.” dealing with water,” Barnes said. “The best water and improve water quality by mini- Natural Resources Conservation Ser- way to get information is to get out and talk mizing manure, chemical and soil runoff. vice Soil Conservationist Danny Bennett with the farmers who are using it every day The tour visited the Bleckley County and Bleckley County farmers Kevin and and hear about what they are doing.” farms of Mike Lucas and Kevin and Chuck Williams, Glen Lee Chase and Donald Chase in Macon County, Zach Thaggard in Lee County, David Holton in Baker and Mitchell counties, Lanair Worsham in Mitchell County and Monrovia Nurseries in Grady County.

“Director Barnes asked us if we could help him better understand agriculture’s use of water, and so we gladly organized this tour,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said.

“We appreciate Director Barnes wanting to visit with farmers to see how they use water and talk to them about water issues.”

During the stop at the Lucas farm, Mike explained to Barnes that he uses the Irrigator Pro program, developed by the National Peanut Research Lab in Dawson, to determine when he needs to irrigate his crops Pictured from left, GFB President Zippy Duvall, Macon County Farm Bureau Director and how much water he needs to apply Donald Chase and EPD Director Allen Barnes discuss water issues in front of a 13-acre based on factors such as the soil type of his pond Chase uses to irrigate 375 acres.

GFB hosts water tour for EPD Director Allen Barnes

G

8 / August 2010

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB begins annual Harvest for All campaign Georgia Farm Bureau is kicking off its 6th Annual Harvest for All Campaign to help feed Georgians in need.

A USDA study released late last year showed that 14.2 percent of Georgia households were food insecure and 5.4 percent had very low food security in 2008.

This year, the campaign is going to be conducted differently so that donations can have the most impact possible. Instead of collecting staple food items, GFB will collect money that will be used to buy peanut butter grown and processed in Georgia. GFB will distribute the peanut butter to a network of eight regional food banks across the state that distribute food to more than 800

nonprofit agencies throughout Georgia.

“Peanut butter is a popular item for food banks because of its nutritional value, its popularity with kids and its long shelf life,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall.

“Many food banks distribute peanut butter through programs aimed at children living in households that need food.”

If you or your county would like to participate, one case (12 jars) of peanut butter costs $10. To put this in perspective, 165 cases make a pallet and 3,960 cases fill a truck. One-eighth of a pallet (20 cases\240 jars) costs $200. Donation forms are available at your county Farm Bureau office and should be returned to the GFB

Field Services Department by Oct. 29.

Contact your county Farm Bureau office if you would like to make a donation.

Chambers wins GFB photo contest

Teresa Chambers of Jones County won the grand prize in the Picture Agriculture in Georgia Photo Contest sponsored by the GFB Young Farmer Committee. Honorable mentions were awarded to Dana Chamma of Washington County, Becky Durham of Greene County, Robert Grizzle of Cherokee County, Jeannene Powell of Polk County and Vicki Franklin of Baldwin County. Chambers received a $150 prize.

Contestants receiving honorable mentions were awarded $75 each.

The contest drew 205 entries. A panel of professional photographers selected 12 photos from which attendees at the GFB Young Farmer Conference selected the winners. Visit the GFB Web site at http:// www.gfb.org or our Facebook page http:// www.facebook.com/georgiafarmbureau to view the top 12 photos. Contest winners will also be featured in the fall issue of the Georgia Neighbors magazine.

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Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau Bank, FSB is a service to member institution that provides banking services to Farm Bureau members. Services are not available in AL, IL, MI, MO, MS, OH or WY and may not be available in some counties or parishes. Farm Bureau, FB and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used under license by FB BanCorp and its subsidiaries, including Farm Bureau Bank FSB. FB BanCorp is an independent entity and the AFBF does not own, is not owned by, and is not under common ownership with FB BanCorp or its affiliated entities.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2010 / 9

commodities/marketing update Joe McManus

Georgia Farm Bureau members who produce Bermudagrass hay are encouraged to enter the 2010 GFB Quality Hay Contest. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at the University of Georgia testing lab using the Relative Forage Quality Test, which predicts the fiber digestibility and animal intake of hay.

Entry forms outlining the procedure for entering the contest and rules may be picked up at your local county Farm Bureau office. There is a $10 entry fee to cover the analysis of each sample entered. The deadline for entering the contest is Oct. 29.

Winners will be determined by the results of the lab analysis and a visual inspection by a forage specialist. Final judging of the top five lab analysis samples will occur at the annual Georgia Farm Bureau Convention on Jekyll Island in December.

Winners will be announced during the Hay Commodity Conference on Dec. 6.

Contest participants will receive a detailed printout of their hay analysis information from the University of Georgia.

Contest participants will also receive a free listing in the GFB Hay Directory if they choose to be listed.

Prizes will be presented to the top five producers. The first place winner will receive the free use for one year of a Vermeer Trailed Hay Mower, compliments of the Vermeer Manufacturing Company. The winner will have the option of buying the mower at a reduced price at the end of the year.

The annual contest is sponsored by the GFB Hay Advisory Committee and is designed to encourage the production of better quality hay in Georgia.

GFB compiling hay & poultry litter directory

Georgia Farm Bureau members with hay or poultry litter for sale are invited to list their operations in the 2011 GFB Quality Hay & Poultry Litter Directory. Directory application forms are available at all county Farm Bureau offices. The deadline for applying to be listed in the directory is Oct. 29.

10 / August 2010

The 2009 GFB Quality Hay Contest winner, Neal Pannell (second from left) won a year’s use of this Vermeer Discpro Mower/Conditioner. Pictured with him are his son Greg Pannell (left) and Greg’s daughter, Laura Leigh Pannell. Donald Childs (second from right) and Cody Childs of Childs Equipment and Farm Supply, delivered the mower/conditioner.

“Some parts of Georgia have had an excellent year to grow hay while many areas have been too hot and dry. The hay directory gives hay producers the opportunity to list the hay they have available and advertise it statewide. This also helps people that need hay by giving them an avenue to find it,” GFB Hay Advisory Committee Chairman Larry Haley said. “The directory also lists poultry litter that is available and serves to connect poultry growers with landowners that want to fertilize their fields with chicken litter.”

The directory is scheduled to be printed in late November. Producers should complete the form and send it to the Georgia Farm Bureau office in Macon with a check for $10 for each listing. Checks should be

made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau.

Because this publication is used for an entire year, hay producers should list their normal or average production of round and square bales and accurately complete other information on the application form. Those with poultry litter to sell should complete the same form.

The 2011 GFB Quality Hay & Poultry Litter Directory will be distributed to county Farm Bureaus, county extension offices, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, cattle producers, dairy producers, horse owners, directory participants and at Sunbelt Expo and the annual GFB Convention.

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

GFB publishing pollination directory For the first time, GFB is publishing a pollination directory to provide a statewide list of beekeepers. GFB members with hives for rent are invited to list their operations in the directory.

“The GFB Honeybee Advisory Committee felt this would be a beneficial tool to connect farmers who need pollination services with beekeepers,” said Bobby Rowell, committee chairman and Brantley County Farm Bureau president.

Directory application forms are available at

all county Farm Bureau offices. The deadline to submit information for the directory is Oct. 29. Producers should complete the form and send it to the GFB office in Macon with a check for $10 for each listing.

Checks should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. The directory is scheduled to be printed in late November and will be distributed statewide.

Contact the GFB Commodities Department a 1-800-342-1196 for more information.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by Jay Stone

GFB accepting entries for hay contest

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

GFB President Zippy Duvall (center) talks to GFB 1st District members during a tailgate luncheon held July 8 in Floyd County.

Floyd County Director Cecil Burk hosted the fish fry at the Burk family farm along with his brother, William, his wife, Lyndall, sister, Frances and her husband, Phil Herron and son-in-law, David Dellis.

FCFB President John Lowery (pictured left) and his wife, Ivy, also helped prepare the meal and furnished cantaloupe and watermelon. Randall Selman cooked the peach cobbler.

WE, THE FARMERS from page 4 ing operations as state and federal laws.

GFB is here to be a resource as county chapters address issues affecting farmers that may arise in their local community, just as American Farm Bureau works with states to address national farm policy that impacts Georgia farmers. The tax issue in Miller County is still being determined, but GFB supports Miller County Farm Bureau’s effort to see that agriculture’s voice is heard in their community.

Georgia Farm Bureau recently had the chance to serve as a lamp for agriculture and shine light on the water issues Georgia farmers are facing by hosting a tour for Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Allen Barnes. Director Barnes asked us to help him gain a better understanding of how farmers use water and the issues they face, and we jumped at the opportunity.

On Aug. 4 and 5, we traveled the state visiting farmers and letting them tell Director Barnes about the management practices they have adopted to use water more efficiently and the water challenges they face. This is a proactive approach that will pay dividends in the future. I want to personally thank each GFB member who participated in this tour and welcomed us to their farm. You can read more about the tour on page eight.

The view from the farmers’ eyes is important. It is important to our policy development process and to outsiders looking to us for an understanding of what we do. We, the farmers, have to be the light for our industry. If we don’t shine agriculture’s light, who will?

In Matthew 6:22, the Bible says: The lamp of the body is the eye. If there-

GFB President Zippy Duvall held a tailgate breakfast for county Farm Bureau leaders in the southwest part of the organization’s 9th district on July 30 in Colquitt. Duvall gave an update on action Farm Bureau has taken this year to represent agriculture on water issues, reduce biotechnology fees, defend animal agriculture and protect existing sales tax exemptions for agricultural production inputs. Pictured from left, Early County Farm Bureau Secretary/Treasurer Rudy Jarrett, ECFB Vice President Steven Moore and Mitchell County Vice President Donald Shirah talk with GFB President Zippy Duvall.

fore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

We need to learn to see life like God sees it. Only through his Word can we do that.

Once his Word shines into our lives, we will be full of light and everyone will see.

In Farm Bureau, if we apply ourselves to the policy development process we will have a perfect vision for Georgia agriculture that everyone can see.

Agriculture is still Georgia’s number one industry and rural Georgia is depending on its future. The future is bright and holds much promise for generations to come.

If God stripped us of all we have today, the first thing we would work to replace would be food. Our lives depend on agriculture, and we have a bright light to shine – so let’s shine on!

God Bless.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2010 / 11

Photo by Jay Stone

Switchgrass growing at the Sunbelt Expo farm comes to the shoulder of Frank Hardimon of Blade Energy Crops during the Expo Field Day in July. The fast-growing perennial is one of several bioenergy crops being tested at the Expo farm.

Dasher, energy crops highlight 2010 Sunbelt Expo

By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________ The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will feature field tours of crops being harvested on the Darrell Williams Research Farm and the crowning of the 2010 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

Tattnall County diversified farmer Robert Dasher has been named the 2010 Georgia Farmer of the Year. He joins nine other state winners as finalists for the prestigious award, which will be announced during a luncheon on Oct. 19.

Dasher has been farming full-time more than 40 years. He farms a total of 4,800 acres and is part of a family partnership that owns G&R Farms in Glennville.

He grows sweet onions on 700 acres in addition to producing corn, soybeans, peanuts, hay, wheat, rye and pecans.

12 / August 2010

All the latest farm equipment will be on display at the Sunbelt Expo along with research plots of cotton, peanuts and corn. The annual event, which runs Oct. 19-21, attracted more than 80,000 visitors to Spence Field in Moultrie last year.

In addition to Georgia’s traditional row crops, visitors will also be able to view bioenergy crops that include plots of switchgrass, a fast-growing perennial that produces 8-10 tons of biomass by the third year after planting.

“It could be converted to liquid fuel

CORRECTION

In the July issue of the GFB News, the article “GFB 8th District shows off variety on farm tour” incorrectly identified the owners of the William L. Brown Farms and William Brown’s Farm Market. The William L. Brown Farms and William Brown’s Farm Market is owned, operated and managed solely by William L. Brown and Debra C. Brown. We apologize for the error and any confusion it may have caused.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo courtesy of Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition

or biomass for power generation,” said Frank Hardimon of Blade Energy Crops during the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo Field Day on July 8. Blade Energy is a California Company that specializes in plants grown specifically for conversion to energy.

Hardimon said the energy applications for Robert Dasher is Georgia’s represenbioenergy crops tative in the 2010 are beginning to Swisher Sweets/Sunemerge and that belt Expo SoutheastTennessee grow- ern Farmer of the Year ers are already Contest. cultivating 6,000 acres of switchgrass.

He noted that about 1,000 acres of it are being tested in Georgia, including the research plot at the Sunbelt Expo site.

“We try these crops in order to show they work for this area before we put them in the farmer’s hands, and we’re working to make sure there’s a market for it,” said Sunbelt Executive Director Chip Blalock.

During the field day, UGA Extension Forage Specialist Dennis Hancock discussed a research plot of alfalfa at the Sunbelt farm, noting that the key for alfalfa growth is maintaining the proper levels of potassium. With that accomplished, larger landowners can use the alfalfa as a land management option.

“Alfalfa grows quite well throughout the state. It lasts three to five years,” Hancock said, but added, “It’s tricky to grow.

It’s one of those crops that’s not for the lay audience. It requires good soil conditions and good management.”

Gates will open each day at 8:30 a.m., Oct. 19-21, for the 33rd Annual Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition. Visit www.sunbeltexpo.com for more information.

Whitfield Co. awards grants to get ag in the classroom By Jennifer Whittaker _______________________________________________________ For the past­ 15 years the Whitfield County Farm Bureau (WCFB) has worked to increase students’ knowledge of agriculture by awarding grants to local teachers for projects that provide handson learning experiences.

“When we first started awarding these grants, I was serving on the Ag in the Classroom Council Board of Directors, and that inspired me to come back to my county and get something going to get information about agriculture out to the students,” WCFB Promotion and Education Committee Chairman Mary Redwine said. “I knew the grants would be appealing to the teachers because they have to spend so much of their own money for classroom supplies. When the state of Georgia revamped its science curriculum several years ago, teachers began looking for ways to meet the new standards, and our grants for hands-on projects help them achieve their requirements.”

Grants have been awarded to elementary and middle school teachers for purchasing an incubator to hatch eggs, growing gardens and learning about food preservation.

WCFB is also partnering with the agricultural education program at Northwest Whitfield High School (NWHS). During the past four years, WCFB has awarded about $5,000 in grants to NWHS to finance a variety of projects such as raising fish and earthworms, hydroponic vegetable production and most recently, the installation of an irrigation system operated by solar power.

Janet Robbins, who teaches ag education at NWHS along with Zachary Pictured from left, Northwest Lumpkin, says the students Whitfield High School Ag Educa- select and research the projtion Teacher Janet Robbins is pic- ects they study. tured with students Michael Mar- “Students buy into sometin and Anna Burch. The NWHS thing they have a part in. I’m ag education program used a just a facilitator for what the grant from Whitfield County Farm Bureau to help pay for an irrigation students want to do,” Robbins system operated by solar power. says. “The students didn’t buy the [irrigation] system, but they helped design the system, they helped pick it out, they designed what it was going to be [used] for, and they helped put it in, and therefore they’re going to help take care of it, and they’re going to maintain it.”

Robbins says studies have shown having an agricultural education program helps increase graduation rates.

“We talk about the same things that a science class talks about, but we do hands-on activities that reinforce what the students learn in their science classes,” Robbins said.

The hands-on projects not only engage the students in the learning process but also prepare students for future agribusiness jobs.

Michael Martin, a 2010 graduate of NWHS and an alum of the ag education program, says the class taught him how to plan and helped prepare him for his job at Ace Hardware.

“The big thing with agriculture is planning stuff out. Knowing what you have and what you can afford. I learned how to cut, measure and draw [by installing] irrigation lines,” Martin said.

“This class makes you feel good. When we grow [plants] from seeds, and then we have our plant sale and people say, ‘Those look good,’ I can say, ‘I did that.’”

As state funds for education have decreased due to budget woes, teachers are increasingly relying on community support to finance their projects.

Robbins says her class was able to install their solar-powered irrigation system for about $1,500 thanks to community supporters who donated their time to help the students install the system or gave discounts on parts.

“We’ve looked to our community and really one of our biggest community supporters is our Farm Bureau,” Robbins said.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2010 / 13

Photo by Jay Stone

Extension and Outreach Coordinator Dr. Rad Yager (right) talks about soil saturation while David Reckford of The Nature Conservancy demonstrates the concept using sponges. The researchers are standing next to a field of corn being studied for the impact water stress has on plant health.

Stripling field day underscores value of irrigation research

By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________

14 / August 2010

about how to use these soil moisture monitors properly and how to blend a soil moisture system with the software,” Yager said.

The visitors were shown some of SIRP’s research tools, including a demonstration of the blimp-cam, developed

by Assistant Professor of Crop and Soil Sciences Dr. Glen Richie, to employ aerial field views using conventional and infrared photography that revealed water and

Photo by Lili Davis

Earlier this year, the Stripling Irrigation Research Park (SIRP) was included on a list of potential budget cuts the University of Georgia was asked to submit to the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.

It was a drastic step that did not come to pass and UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean Dr. Scott Angle told visitors at the SIRP Field Day on June 29 that the irrigation research being done there would continue.

“I think we have settled that issue for a long, long time,” Angle said. “Everyone realizes the importance of irrigation research.”

The field day offered tour visitors a firsthand look at projects being done by SIRP scientists, as well as the tools used in that work. Extension and Outreach Coordinator Dr. Rad Yager discussed his corn research, which involves exposing plots of corn to varying levels of moisture and gauging the corresponding water stress in the plants.

Yager explained how his team is using soil moisture measuring equipment to produce data that can be remotely accessed using wireless networking. Growers can use the data to make precise irrigation decisions in a more timely fashion, allowing them to conserve water by using it only when it is needed.

“A lot of farmers are being educated

heat stress in a variety of plants.

“It’s important for our growers to monitor the soil moisture conditions to do the best job they can monitoring the plant conditions and the moisture conditions so they don’t over water or under water,” said SIRP Superintendent Calvin Perry. “The plant gets the optimal amount, and the farmer doesn’t have to expend [financial] resources that he would normally have to.”

Professor of Crop and Soil Sciences Dr. John Beasley talked about a similar project he is conducting for peanuts. Like any farm operation, SIRP runs at the whim of the elements.

“Because they have different growth rates, different seed sizes and different canopy architecture, we need to find out how they respond to irrigated versus nonirrigated conditions, particularly non-irrigated,” Beasley said. “We’ve had adequate rainfall here, so it’s hard to tell the difference between irrigated and non-irrigated.”

Assistant Professor of Crop and Soil Sciences Scott Tubbs talked about testing being done for subsurface drip irrigation (SDI).

SDI systems dispense water directly to the root system, avoiding runoff and evaporation issues, particularly with lowto-the ground plants like cotton and peanuts. Tubbs said those crops do better with irrigation tape buried 18 inches deep than does corn, which has a shorter taproot and responds better to drip tape buried 12 inches below the surface.

Ag students visit GFB home office

Ogeechee Technical College Agribusiness students visited Georgia Farm Bureau’s home office in Macon, Aug. 2 to learn more about the state’s largest general agricultural organization. GFB President Zippy Duvall (behind podium) welcomed the OTC delegation: (pictured from left) OTC Agribusiness Instructor Elliott Marsh and students Matt Conner, Rosanna McGahee, Candace McElveen and Clayton Donaldson. During their visit, they learned about GFB’s Policy Development Process and Young Farmer Program, toured the Georgia Farm Monitor studio and learned about the marketing opportunities and member benefits available through GFB.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

New ag markets emerging with growth of biofuels Article & photo by Jay Stone ___________________________________ The fifth annual Southeast Bioenergy Conference, held Aug. 3-5 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, covered a range of topics including new sources of energy, new ways to use energy more efficiently and how the energy industry is affected by public policy.

First United Ethanol CEO Murray Campbell said the benefits of using ethanol as fuel are undeniable, and given world population-growth projections over the next 10 years, the economic incentives to produce it will be substantial.

Campbell pointed out that ethanol has multiple advantages over fossil fuels.

“We’ve never sent an army to defend a Midwest cornfield,” he said. “No beaches have been closed due to ethanol spills.”

Range Fuels is using locally grown corn for some of its production, but has to bring in corn from the Midwest to meet its output goals. Campbell said the food versus fuel debate as it centered on corn was overblown.

“Last year we had 1.373 billion bushels of corn left over after all uses. We’re not going to use it all up,” he said.

Dr. Marilyn Brown, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy, said public policy in the nation and in the South would have to be

New Energy Farms, a Canada-based company with ties to Georgia’s Lewis Taylor Farms, displayed miscanthus plants at the Southeast Bioenergy Conference held in Tifton in August.

adjusted for renewable fuels to become competitive with fossil fuels. She suggested more widespread renewable electricity standards, extending production tax credits beyond 2012, putting a price on carbon dioxide emissions, sales tax exemptions for biomass (which is already in place in Georgia) and accelerated research and development.

The event’s breakout sessions featured presentations on a variety of energy crops that could be grown in the Southeast. Dean Tiessen of New Energy Farms talked about how his 37-acre greenhouse operation in Ontario reduced its annual energy costs from more than $3.3 million (Canadian) to under $1 million by switching to heat generated through biofuels. Tiessen’s operation originally burned waste wood supplies, but he began looking for alternative feed stocks that could be produced on a larger scale.

Tiessen eventually turned that concept into New Energy Farms, which contracts with growers, including Lewis Taylor Farms

in Tift County, to produce miscanthus for conversion to bioenergy. Lewis Taylor Farms will be responsible for all of New Energy Farms’ miscanthus crops in Georgia and will be the main provider of foundation plant material like plugs, rooted cuttings and rhizomes to other regional affiliate farms in the U.S. Tiessen expects revenue from the company’s energy crop production to exceed revenue from its tomato production next year.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2010 / 15

Fruit & Vegetable Field Day gives info on hoop houses, EBT use Article & photos by Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________ The Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Production Field Day organized by the Chestatee-Chattahoochee Resource Conservation and Development Council offered at least two significant ways farmers can expand their farm operations.

The event, held June 24 at Cane Creek Farm outside Cumming in Forsyth County, gave tips on the development of high tunnel hoop houses and the use of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards as payment at farmers markets.

The one-day event, targeted primarily toward small and beginning farmers, also featured presentations on raised-bed production, beneficial insects, soils and wildlife issues.

The term hoop house refers to a variety of greenhouses that allow the extension of the growing season for fruit, vegetable and horticulture crops. The houses, which have a rounded roof that resembles the shape of a Quonset hut, get the “hoop” part of their name from the arched structural ribs that can be made from bent PVC pipe, metal pipe or wood. The roof and sides are made from plastic sheeting, which protects plants

from the elements and stretch down to the bare ground to cover the crops.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service [NRCS]recently offered a pilot program that provided approximately $100,000 for the development of hoop houses in Georgia. A total of 16 units were built with that funding.

Bryan Barrett, an NRCS area resource conservationist, said hoop houses can be built for as little as 50 cents per square foot, and he offered tips on key issues to consider when constructing a hoop house.

Barrett said a producer building one hoop house should arrange it perpendicular to prevailing winds on the property, while multiple hoop houses should be built parallel with the prevailing winds.

“What you’re doing is creating a prime growing environment,” he said. “Get your weeds under control before putting in a hoop house. The plants you grow in there will thrive, and so will the weeds.”

While the hoop houses are a method of getting more crops out of available land by extending the growing season, the EBT machines were presented as a way to

Hoop houses like this one sheltering tomato plants at Cane Creek Farm can be used to extend the growing season for fruits and vegetables.

16 / August 2010

Willie Torrey, project manager for the Upper Ocmulgee River RC & D Council, explains how the use of EBT machines, like the one he’s holding, can encourage food-stamp recipients to shop for produce at farmers markets.

expand a grower’s potential customer base.

Willie Torrey, project manager for the Upper Ocmulgee River RC & D Council, said farmers markets offer an alternative to processed food items and promote the idea of making healthier food choices.

“You might have a community where a grocery store closes down and a drug store chain comes in there,” Torrey said,“They sell food in the drug store chains, but it’s not what I would call ‘real’ food.”

The EBT machines, which can also be configured to process credit/debit card transactions, are available in “wired” or wireless units. The wired units require a network connection and are often used as a central point of sale device for an entire farmers market. Some markets use a token system where they swipe the customer’s EBT card prior to purchase and issue vouchers for the amount the customer wants to spend. After the customer makes his or her selections, the market operator then distributes payments to the individual vendors.

The wireless machines allow individual vendors to process their own transactions.

Visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/ fm.htm for information about accepting EBT cards at farmers markets.

Visit http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip09.html or http://www.hightunnels.org/ for more information about high tunnel hoop houses.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Premise liability, 103

Keep your property safe for visitors with routine inspections and property maintenance

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of articles the GFB News is running to address issues associated with premise liability. Previous articles ran in the May/June and July issues of the GFB News. These issues are archived on the GFB Web site at www.gfb.org. The last article in this series will run in the Nov/Dec. issue.

By Joey Shipp __________________________________________________________________________ Any discussion of liability and insurance is generally centered on safety and precaution.

And these are never more of a concern than when a member of the public is invited to a farm or visits a farm for an agritourism activity.

Whether you host events that occur only once a year or have an ongoing farm market or tourist destination, you should always prepare yourself by knowing and minimizing the risks associated with having the public on your premises.

First, take a look at the land itself. Guests both young and old will explore your land for the attractions you have to offer. Something as simple as an elderly lady crossing the lawn to see a patch of flowers can become dangerous if the grounds are not properly maintained.

Keep your lawns trimmed low enough so that guests can easily see any rocks, debris, holes, protruding roots or other obstacles they need to avoid. When inspecting your property for potential hazards also consider trees, shrubs and small plants. Dead branches can fall and injure guests as well. Small shrubs and plants sometimes contain thorns and hide bee or wasp nests. If you are opening your farm to the public, you need to make proper maintenance of your grounds a priority.

Also of significant importance are the boundaries you establish in keeping your guests within the area to which you have invited them.

Fences are good because they clearly define which areas are off-limits. A sign on a fence that states “No one allowed beyond this point” goes a step further in identifying areas that are not part of the attraction.

If there is an unusual hazard such as a large hole that cannot be filled, then it is necessary that you place a clearly defined boundary around the hazard such as orange barrels, ropes and warning signs to deter visitors from the danger zone. In the long-term, however, a better option is to remove the hazard from the premises altogether. The old saying that “good fences make good neighbors” is certainly true with regards to your premises and the public.

Your farm is almost certain to include animals of some type. Cows, goats, chickens, horses and dogs can be a fun feature of your operation, but make sure the fun isn’t ruined by the behavior of the animals. Always know the tendencies of an animal before exposing it to the public. If a dog bites, a horse spooks, or a goat kicks, then it should be off-limits to your guests.

If you have seen an animal exhibit any questionable behavior or have any doubt at all about what an animal might do in an environment with lots of people and strange noises, it is better to leave that animal confined for the safety of all involved.

If you allow visitors to pet your animals, make a method of hand sanitizing available to avoid the potential spread of disease and for the comfort of your guests. If running water is not available, waterless hand sanitizer is also a good choice.

Equipment, fixtures and buildings also present safety challenges. Be sure to continually inspect playgrounds, steps, wagons, trailers used in hayrides, as well as any other property exposed to the public. Fixtures made of wood, wire or steel are especially prone to cause splinters, cuts and puncture wounds. Protruding bolts and loose parts should be repaired to good working order. Handrails will greatly assist the elderly when climbing steps or stairs.

Keep in mind that last year’s inspection does not guarantee that your property is still safe.

Constant maintenance is very important to ensure the safety of your farm.

There are other issues to consider as well.

Proper training of employees is important.

Workers should know how to assist guests in case of an emergency such as fire, severe weather or an accident. Consider CPR training for your employees and always have basic first aid available. Evacuation maps and clearly marked exits will help participants find their way out of a building in case of a fire or other emergency.

“Children at Play” or “Watch your step” signs will help remind your customers to be careful.

The list of things to consider when preparing your farm premises to be a safe place is theoretically limitless and varies according to the type of farm you own and the attractions you are inviting the public to enjoy on your farm.

The issues covered in this article are just a few of the more common areas of concern. A good rule of thumb is to maintain your operation as if all of your guests are either two or 90 years old. By preparing to meet the safety needs of small children and the elderly you will be sure to take extra precautions, and your farm will be a safe place for visitors of all ages.

As you prepare for your guests, develop a continual habit of visually inspecting all areas of your farm. This steadfast approach to safety will ensure that your attractions look better, run smoother, draw more visitors and earn you the reputation as a leader in your community and among your peers.

Joey Shipp, who has earned the Associate in Claims (AIC) designation, is the 5th District field underwriter for the GFB Mutual Insurance Company.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2010 / 17

GFB hosts Young Farmer Family Article & photos by Jennifer Whittaker _______________________________________________________________________________

T

he Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee held a Young Farmer Family Conference at the Lake Blackshear Resort in Crisp County July 24-25. Conference events included the preliminary rounds of the GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet, recognition of the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award finalists and selection of the GFB photo contest winners. Workshops covered social media, farm safety and GFB’s legislative efforts.

Christy Bryan of Chattooga County, Jessica Bryant of Jackson County, Jonathan Fordham of Bleckley County and Will Godowns of Pike County were selected from 19 contestants as the four finalists who will compete in the final round of the discussion meet to be held in December during the annual GFB Convention on Jekyll Island.

The three finalists of the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award were also named during the conference. They are: Brian and Melissa Ogletree, Spalding County, 5th District; Stuart and Lauren Boykins, Screven County, 7th District; and Steven and Tiffany Metcalf, Turner County, 8th District. The state winner will be named at the GFB Convention.

“We put a lot of thought and planning into this conference,” GFB Young Farmer Committee Chairman Matt Bottoms said. “We wanted to have a family conference that would be a relaxing event that the kids and spouses could be involved in.”

Bonnie Duvall, wife of GFB President Zippy Duvall, kicked off the workshop sessions by describing her Farm Bureau experiences.

Duvall shared how she married into farm life and began a career as coach and cheerleader for the family.

“Farming creates avenues for togetherness and gives you Bonnie Duvall reasons to communicate as a couple,” Duvall shared. “I promise you that farm life offers the opportunity for a closer relationship than any other lifestyle I can imagine.”

She encouraged the young couples attending the conference to become involved in Farm 18 / November-December 2008

Bureau together, saying, “I guarantee you will make lifelong friends who share your desire to promote agriculture. The young farmer program is your chance to become a part of this great organization. I hope you’ll take to heart what I said today and get involved. I’m proud to be a part of the greatest and number one industry in Georgia.”

GFB Commodity Specialist Brandon Ashley gave conference attendees an overview of the GFB Certified Farm Market Program describing how members of the program expanded their farm income by offering agritourism activities or selling the commodities they produce directly to consumers.

GFB Web and Video Manager Michael

Edmondson explained how GFB is using social media tools Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to educate consumers about agriculture, saying these social media tools are the best way to combat the negative messages of groups like PETA and The Humane Society of the United States.

Celena Williams, CEO of C7 Marketing, encouraged the young farmers to use social media to connect to consumers and offer insight into farming, saying, “If America needs any group to stand up and voice their opinion it’s agriculture. We have a generation coming up that has an interest in what you do.”

Williams encouraged farmers who write a blog to share what they do each day and be themselves. “Just being who you are every day is okay. You don’t realize how unique your lifestyle is.”

Farm safety expert Jay Daniel encouraged farmers to review their operations for potential hazards, eliminate them or reduce the risks they pose. Daniel stressed the importance of wearing seat belts on tractors and having rollover protection systems in place. He discouraged the practice of letting children ride on tractors with adults unless they are strapped

Young Farmer Achievement finalists named The Ogletrees, Boykins and Metcalfs are the three finalists for the YF Achievement Award. The state winner will be named at the annual GFB Convention in December.

The state winner will receive $500 cash from Ram Trucks, the use of a Kubota L or M series tractor for one year and an expensepaid trip to the AFBF convention in Atlanta, Jan. 9-12, 2011, to compete for national honors.

The national winner will win a 2011 Dodge Ram Pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks and paid registration to the 2011 American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference, Feb. 5-7, 2011, in Orlando, Fla. Each of the four runners-up will receive a Case IH Farmall tractor from Case IH.

The district finalists of the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award were recognized during the conference. Pictured from left are: Jamie, Jay and Becky Tate, Jeff Davis County, 6th District; Kaci and B.J. Marks, Newton County, 3rd District; Lanis Adams, Greene County, 4th District and Brian and Melissa Ogletree, Spalding County, 5th District.

Other district winners not pictured include: James Dault, Cherokee County, 1st District; Stuart and Lauren Boykins, Screven County, 7th District; Steven and Tiffany Metcalf, Turner County, 8th District; and Joey and Melissa Williams, Cook County, 10th District.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Conference into their own seat with a seatbelt.

GFB Legislative Specialist Tas Smith explained how the GFB Legislative Department represents farmers at the state capitol and encouraged the young farmers to establish relationships with their state legislators and the staff in the field offices of their U.S. congressmen.

Looks like the future of GFB is in good hands! Children attending the conference enjoyed competing in tractor races.

GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet finalists selected

Christy Bryan, Jessica Bryant, Jonathan Fordham and Will Godowns are the GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet finalists. Each finalist received a $25 Lowe’s gift card for earning a spot in the final round of competition. The state winner of the competition in December will receive $500 courtesy of Ram Trucks, an Arctic Cat 500 4x4 all-terrain vehicle and an expense-paid trip to the 2011 American Farm Bureau Convention in Atlanta, Jan. 9-12, to compete for national honors. The three runners-up in the state competition will each receive $350 from SunTrust Bank. The national winner will receive a 2011 Dodge Ram Truck, courtesy of Ram Trucks. The three national runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. savings bond and a Farm Boss from Stihl.

Bryan recently graduated from the University of Georgia where she majored in agribusiness and earned a bachelor of science in agriculture. Actively involved in her family’s cattle and hay farm, she is a member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Georgia Cattlewomen’s Association, the Georgia Young Farmers and the Chattooga County Young Farmers.

Bryant, who is the Jackson County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee chairman, earned an associate degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College where she studied agricultural communications and public relations. She is an active member of the Jackson County FFA Alumni Association and a member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.

Fordham, who is chairman of the Bleckley County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee, raises cattle. He serves on the Bleckley County Board of Education and is a member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association. He earned an associate degree in ag engineering technology from Abraham Georgia Farm Bureau News

Baldwin Agricultural College and an associate degree in early childhood education from Middle Georgia College. He and his wife Deananne live in Chester with their three sons: J.R., James and Jett.

Godowns is a member of the Pike County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee and a member of the Pike County FFA Alumni Association. He grows 15 acres of fresh produce, which he sells to local grocery stores and at a roadside stand. He also raises cattle. He attends Gordon College and plans to transfer to the UGA Griffin campus to pursue a degree in agribusiness.

Other contestants competing in the preliminary rounds were: Mandy Adams of Greene County; Brittaney Blanton of Cherokee County; Stephanie Butcher of Coweta County; Kim Chandler of Madison County; Molly Childs of Cherokee County; Jaclyn Ford of Berrien County; Ryan Harrell of Clay County; Matthew

London of White County; Wayne McInvale of Crawford County; B.J. Marks of Newton County; Russ Moore of Greene County; Josh Rakestraw of Paulding County; Andrew Ruark of Morgan County; Sammie Williams of Elbert County and Michael Zoller of Effingham County.

The discussion meet is intended to simulate a committee meeting during which agriculturalists discuss issues impacting agriculture. The contestants were divided into small groups of four or five to hold their discussions.

During the first round of competition, contestants discussed whether the current level of government involvement is a net hindrance or a net benefit to agriculture. In the second round of competition, contestants discussed if American consumers appreciate the importance of food produced in the United States and if American consumers will consider American agriculture important to our security in the future.

Pictured from right, GFB Young Farmer Committee Chairman Matt Bottoms congratulates the finalists of the GFB Discussion Meet: Jessica Bryant of Jackson County, Christy Bryan of Chattooga County and Jonathan Fordham of Bleckley County. Finalist Will Godowns of Pike County is not pictured. The finalists were announced during a Hawaiian Luau held during the conference.

November-December 2008 / 19

AROUND GEORGIA News from County Farm Bureaus ATKINSON COUNTY Atkinson County Farm Bureau President Henry McKinnon (center) presented Kiah Dossey (left) and Ashton Odom (right) each with a $1,000 scholarship this spring. Kiah is the daughter of James and Lisa Smith of Pearson. Ashton is the son of Shaun and Amanda Odom and Ann Odom of Pearson. Kiah plans to attend Brewton-Parker College. Ashton plans to attend South Georgia College.

BIBB & JONES COUNTIES Bibb and Jones County Farm Bureau members met with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and his staff at the Bibb County Farm Bureau Office July 13. The group discussed issues such as transportation, water and the importance of having sales tax exemptions for inputs used to produce commodities. Pictured from left, front row are: Bibb County Farm Bureau Vice President Calvin Minchew and Lt. Gov. Cagle; (back row, from left) are: Bibb County Farm Bureau Director Oney Hudson, Bibb County Farm Bureau Director Jimmy Jordan; Jones County Farm Bureau President Judd Chambers and Jones County Farm Bureau Secretary/Treasurer Billy Moore.

COBB COUNTY This spring the Cobb County Farm Bureau Board of Directors presented five scholarships totaling $10,000. Robert Wooditch (center), a sophomore at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, accepts the first place $5,000 scholarship from CCFB Director Stan Kirk (left) and CCFB Agency Manager Walter Hughes (right).

20 / August 2010

Robert is working on a degree in diversified agriculture. Scholarships were also awarded to Christopher Campbell who is attending the University of West Georgia, Matthew O’Meara who is attending the University of Georgia, Emily Webb who is attending the Georgia Institute of Technology and Taylor Jordan who is attending the University of Georgia.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY The Effingham County Farm Bureau (ECFB) and AgSouth Farm Credit sponsored the annual farm tour held by the Effingham County Chapter of the Georgia Young Farmers (ECYF) in July.

Tour stops included Landscapers Depot, Truit’s Tree Farm, Carroll Zittrouer’s corn farm, the Bermudagrass operation of ECFB Director Gene Hart, Chef Nick Mueller’s restaurant/catering business and Larry Redmond’s Bahiagrass and cotton farm. Hart (center) tells the tour group how he sells sprigs of his Bermudagrass to other farmers and plants the sprigs in their fields.

GWINNETT COUNTY This summer the Gwinnett County Farm Bureau donated copies of the GFB video, “Without Farmers, Georgia Can’t Grow” to the Gwinnett County School System, which made the video available to every eighth grade social studies teacher as a supplemental resource in all 25 middle schools in the school system.GCFB President Cecil Gober (right) is shown presenting the video to Gwinnett County School Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks.

HALL COUNTY Hall County Farm Bureau helped co-sponsor the 4th Annual Hall County Ag Fun Day in May. The event, held at Tadmore Elementary School, reached about 200 students in pre-K through second grade. HCFB President Drew Echols (center) talked to the students about planting vegetables, caring for the plants and what Georgia Farm Bureau News

John Mixon (pictured), PCFB Forestry chairman, organized the event to educate landowners about forestry management services offered by area agencies. Attendees learned about thinning trees, burning underbrush and creating wildlife food plots.

the vegetables look like at harvest. Students also had the opportunity to pet baby chicks and goats and watch a cow being milked.

LEE COUNTY To promote June being Dairy Month, the Lee County Farm Bureau offered cups of vanilla ice cream to members who visited the office during the week of June 21 – 25.

LCFB member Ann Holland from Leesburg is pictured with her cup of ice cream. Many customers appreciated the cool refreshment as a way to beat the South Georgia heat.

MORGAN COUNTY Morgan County Farm Bureau held its annual Farm & Outdoor Safety Camp in May at Hard Labor Creek State Park. About 275 sixth grade students attended the event, which covered safety issues pertaining to farm and tractor equipment, ATV’s, water and boating, lawn equipment, fire safety, first aid, electrical safety, horse safety and wildlife safety. Emily Lakemaker and Amos Tuck (pictured right) from the UGA Warnell School of Forestry taught the class about wildlife safety.

PIKE COUNTY Nearly 40 landowners and forestry agents discussed forestry practices during a field day sponsored by the Pike County Farm Bureau (PCFB), Georgia Forestry Commission, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, UGA Extension Service, Towaliga Soil and Water Conservation District and Lamar Soil and Water Conservation District.

SOUTH FULTON South Fulton County Farm Bureau sponsored two farm tours for the Fulton County Extension Summer Day Camp in June. The tour was of an organic farm located at Serenbe Farms in Chattahoochee Hills. Serenbe Farm Manager Paige Witherington conducted the tours and explained the concept of organic farming. One of the highlights of the tour was “pulling carrots.” After washing the carrots, the campers were allowed to eat what they had harvested or take them home.

SFCFB Womens’ Chair Peggie Earnest, Rebecca Thompson and Geri Childress provided cold bottled water and gift bags with lots of agricultural materials and snacks for everyone. SFCFB also gave the extension agents a copy of the DVD “Without Farmers, Georgia Can’t Grow” to show the campers later that week.

County Farm Bureaus use billboard to promote ag in local communities

Several county Farm Bureaus across the state have used GFB’s “Without Farmers, Georgia Can’t Grow” billboard as part of their local campaign to promote agriculture and Farm Bureau in their local community.

Jenkins County Farm Bureau, which installed its billboard (pictured) on the main road leading into town in February, was the first county in the state to use the billboard locally. Other counties that have used the billboard in their communities are Bulloch, Catoosa, Clarke, Emanuel, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Walker and Whitfield. Evans County made a banner featuring the billboard graphic, which it used on a float in a local parade.

Georgia Farm Bureau News August 2010 / 21

County Farm Bureaus receive education grants The Butts and Newton County Farm Bureaus are among 28 county Farm Bureaus nationwide to receive $500 grants from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture this year. The counties will use the grants to further ag education programs in their communities through the Agriculture in the Classroom program. The grants were awarded through the foundation’s White-Reinhardt Fund for Education.

Butts County FB Women’s Committee Chairman Virginia Ridgeway applied for the ag education grant. Butts County is using the grant to purchase ag books and supplies for projects for the Daughtry, Jackson and Stark Elementary Schools.

Pictured from left are Daughtry Elementary School staff members who are working with Ridgeway to teach their elementary students about agriculture: Monique Tate, teacher; Carol

Cabrall, media specialist and Joyce Rowe, principal.

Mrs. Tate plans to teach her third grade Georgia history students about Georgia’s peanut and dairy industries. BCFB also plans to use the grant funds to construct raised vegetable beds at the elementary schools to grow fall vegetables so the students can see firsthand how vegetables are grown.

Pictured from left, Newton County Farm Bureau Secretary Crystal Powell and Office Manager Lori Dabney display their AITC application which earned the county a $500 grant that will be used to start an Aggie Book Club at the Middle Ridge Elementary School in Covington and to purchase agriculture books. As the children read the ag books they will receive prizes and encouragement to continue to read and to learn more about agriculture.

GFB 6th & 8th Districts hold St. Jude tractor ride

Antique tractor enthusiasts turned out in force for the 2nd Annual St. Jude Benefit Antique Tractor Ride May 1 in Macon County. Ride participants gathered at the farm of Charles Hughes just south of Marshallville and drove 10 miles to Yoder’s Deitsch Haus east of Montezuma. The parade consisted of 51 entries including AllisChalmers, FarmAll and John Deere tractors and a Model A Ford truck driven by Hughes. After lunch, the ride made the 10-mile trip back to Hughes’ farm. Bibb County Farm Bureau President Neil Skipper and GFB 6th District Director and Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau President James Emory Tate organized the ride.

The Macon County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee served the event participants muffins and V-8 juice before the ride began.

The Bibb County Farm Bureau raised about $500 by selling raffle tickets for a UGA birdhouse handcrafted and donated by GFB employee Mike Steed and a handpainted window donated by Jones County Farm Bureau Director Pat Daniels.

22 / August 2010

Top photo: from left, members of the Bibb and Macon County Farm Bureaus who volunteered their time to host the 2nd Annual St. Jude Benefit Antique Tractor Ride included: MCFB President Glen Lee Chase, MCFB Women’s Chair Ellen Chase, Marilyn McLendon, Kim Brown, Whitney Scruggs, BCFB President Neil Skipper, BCFB Agent Tracey Green, BCFB Director Doug Skipper, Miss Teen Georgia International 2009 Charlie Turk, Seth Scruggs, Haley Skipper, Jacob Skipper and Mitchell Williams.

Bottom photo: The tractor ride participants pose for a group photo before beginning the ride. Participants raised $3,206 for the children’s hospital based in Memphis, Tenn.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

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