Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - December 6, 2018

Dec. 6, 2018

www.gfb.org

Vol. 36 No. 24

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU HOLDS 81ST ANNUAL CONVENTION About 1,500 Georgia farmers and agribusiness leaders from across the state met on Jekyll Island Dec. 2-4 for the organization’s 81st annual convention. The three-day event included a trade show and educational sessions that gave farmers updates on policy and production issues affecting Georgia’s major commodities. During the general session on Dec. 3, convention attendees heard from Gov.-elect Brian Kemp, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black.

Long reviews Harvest 20 Vision initiatives, outlines organization’s developing programs While delivering his annual address to Georgia Farm Bureau members, GFB President Gerald Long said the organization’s efforts under the Harvest 20 Vision have been successful, and he announced new initiatives being developed, including an increase in research funding, the Jackson County Farm Bureau Agriculture in the Classroom Mobile Unit and the Land & President Swayne Cochran, left, Leadership Advocates program. meets Gov.-elect Brian Kemp.

“All through our policy book there are statements of support for research,” Long said. “Funding for research is a prime example of Farm Bureau putting its policy to work.”

The GFB Board of Directors also has approved funding for the Ag in the Classroom Mobile Unit, which will travel the state providing interactive lessons focusing on farm topics, with the goal of promoting agricultural literacy in schools and educating consumers about ag.

Long detailed the Land & Leadership Advocates program for farmers between the ages of 36 and 50. The goal of the new program is to follow up on the success of the GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers program. GFB received input from a group of farmers in the 36-50 age group to develop -continued on next page

GFB News Alert page 2 of 12 Continued from previous page the Land & Leadership Advocates program.

“We need to engage more effectively with 36-to-50 year-old farmers,” Long said. “That’s part of the Harvest 20 Vision.”

The Land & Leadership Advocates program was introduced at a lunch event on Dec. 3.

Long also praised GFB volunteers and staff for the success of the “I Farm. I Vote.” campaign, through which the organization encouraged citizens to register to vote, become informed and cast their ballots in the November election. Almost four million Georgians voted in the campaign for governor.

“I am convinced that Georgia Farm Bureau’s ‘I Farm. I Vote.’ campaign made a significant difference in voter turnout in this state, particularly in the rural counties,” Long said. “It was gratifying to see those signs as I drove through towns and the countryside.”

Long also announced that GFB is partnering with Anthem to develop a health insurance plan for Farm Bureau members who have an occupation related to agriculture, under which qualified individuals will be able to purchase health insurance for themselves, their families and their employees.

“In the past, we have not been able to provide this kind of plan, but our goal is to make it affordable to our members,” Long said.

Gov.-elect Kemp pledges to strengthen rural communities Gov.-elect Brian Kemp added his praise to the state’s farmers who were affected by Hurricane Michael and laid out his plan to strengthen rural Georgia.

“Our farmers, many of them in this room, are amazing individuals, amazing people. They are strong and they are resolute,” Kemp said. “You have rolled up your sleeves. You have gone back to work. You didn’t complain. You have kept the faith and started the long journey to the road to recovery. I will make it my mission to rebuild what was lost, and to help South Georgia emerge stronger than ever before.”

Kemp said his plan includes making Georgia the No. 1 state in the country for small business by eliminating burdensome regulatory requirements for small business owners and implementing a state spending cap and expanding access to high-speed internet in rural areas. He said he plans to work with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to take the Georgia Grown program into international markets.

“No one knows better than you all that we have challenges ahead of us,” Kemp told the GFB members. “But we also have opportunities that I think are endless.”

Rep. Carter gives Washington update U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Dist.1) welcomed Georgia Farm Bureau members to his district and provided updates on key ag issues in the district, including disaster assistance funding and the farm bill.

Carter said approximately $500 million is available under the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) of 2017 to provide assistance to Georgia farmers who sustained losses from -continued on next page

GFB News Alert page 3 of 12 Continued from previous page Hurricane Michael.

“A simple fix that would give money to these that need it so badly and get it there quickly, to just change that 2017 to 2018,” Carter said. “That’s one of the things we’re working on. We understand that it’s going to take a lot more than just $500 million. That would be immediate money.”

Carter said he expects the House to vote in the next couple of weeks on the 2018 farm bill agreement reached in the Farm Bill Conference Committee.

Ag Commissioner Black details GATE, emergency loan program Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black discussed changes in the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) and a package of loans to help keep farmers afloat during their recovery from the damage wrought by Hurricane Michael.

“The greatest challenge we’ve ever faced hit us in October. The relief and the recovery effort from Michael is underway,” Black said. “We want to be of service.”

Black said the Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Georgia Development Authority to offer an emergency loan package available to farmers who sustained damage from Hurricane Michael. The Georgia Development Authority, established by the state legislature in 1953, works with farmers and lenders to help farmers buy land and equipment, establish livestock herds and other ag-related costs.

The emergency loan program, called Securing, Agriculture, Food, Environment and Timber for You (SAFETY) is expected to be rolled out later this month. Black outlined the program, saying it is designed to be a seven-year “bridge” loan with a borrowing cap of $400,000 and an initial interest rate of 1 percent, with graduated interest over time.

“Will it be for everybody? No. But it will be a tool in our tool chest to help people,” Black said.

“If you’re in this path to recovery, I hope this is going to be a service to you.”

Duvall offers encouragement, reasons for hope American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall also addressed the convention. The Greene County broiler, cattle and hay producer offered words of encouragement for those affected by Hurricane Michael.

“Whatever (relief) package comes forward, American Farm Bureau will be there to do everything they can do to make sure you get what you need to get through to the next crop,” Duvall said.

Duvall said the similarities between the current farm economy and the difficult times the ag community suffered through in the 1980s are striking, pointing specifically to farm debt, interest rates and lawsuits. But his message was one of hope. He said he was encouraged by the experience he’s had while interacting with members of the Trump administration.

“The next line of hope I have is in this organization. This organization is unbelievable. Our volunteers are the heart and soul. I’m looking at the strength of this great organization. It’s you in our county Farm Bureaus. We can move the world and we can shape agriculture for the future,” Duvall said.

GFB News Alert page 4 of 12 GFB UNVEILS NEW LAND & LEADERSHIP ADVOCATES PROGRAM On Dec. 3 during the Georgia Farm Bureau Convention, GFB announced a new program for farmers between the ages of 36 and 60.

Called the Land & Leadership Advocates program, the goal is to meet the needs of the 36-50 age farmer for organizational involvement and leadership development.

“There is a great need in our organization for young leaders aging out of the YF&R program to transition into an opportunity, not only for their personal and professional growth, but for continued leadership growth and succession in our organization,” GFB President Gerald Long said.

A group of farmers in the 36-50 age group met in September to explore possible goals and structure for the new program, facilitated by motivational speaker and leadership trainer Rhett Laubach, who also spoke at the Leadership Program Luncheon for the YF&R and LLA groups during the GFB Convention.

“How can you contribute to the best of your ability?” Laubach said. “Are there obstacles in our way to do this? Absolutely. Are there tough times? Absolutely. No doubt about it. But there are people that have aged out of the Young Farmers & Ranchers, and they still can contribute. If everybody here makes it their personal mission to contribute whatever they can to making this program grow, then Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia agriculture, the state of Georgia is going to be better because of it. So, go to work.”

LLA is designed to bring together farmers ages 36-50 who have a vested interest in agriculture advocacy, youth and beginning farmer mentorship, providing education about trending ag issues, and further refining and promoting their voice in policy development and regulatory matters.

Key components of the LLA program will include an annual Advocates to D.C. trip, the Advocates Development Conference, district level events, an online web forum for GFB farmer members, and the Land & Leadership Prosperity Award.

On the D.C. trip, the first of which is scheduled for March 2019, participants will meet with American Farm Bureau Federation lobbyists and elected officials, interact with YF&R participants and tour farms in the region surrounding Washington, D.C. The Advocates Development Conference will be a family-friendly event, with hands-on workshops and new product demonstration, social media and public media training and a group outing. The first one is being planned for February 2020 in Atlanta.

The district events will include educational sessions on new technologies or skill training, as -continued on next page

GFB News Alert page 5 of 12 Continued from previous page well as a District Farm Experience geared toward adult consumers.

The GFB Farmers Forum will provide an online portal where GFB farmer members can meet, connect, share and discuss all things agriculture, as well as serving as a resource for quick information distribution.

The Land & Leadership Prosperity Award is designed to recognize outstanding farm production, use of innovative technology, awareness and advocacy and Farm Bureau involvement and mentorship.

The LLA program will be led by an Advocates Council consisting of six statewide spots to be filled by individuals or couples, who will serve three-year terms and during which they will be the face of Georgia Agriculture Stories on social media, the Georgia Farm Monitor and the GFB blog.

The council will also help facilitate the Advocates Conference.

More details on Land & Leadership Advocates will be released as they become available during 2019.

COMMODITY MEETINGS OFFER PRODUCTION, ECONOMIC INFORMATION Georgia Farm Bureau’s 20 commodity advisory committees held meetings at the GFB Convention on Dec. 4 on Jekyll Island, offering farmers information about production of their crops or livestock, as well as updates on trade and efforts in Washington, D.C., to pass the new farm bill and disaster assistance legislation. Here’s a sampling: GFB Hay contest winners, causes of spontaneous hay combustion GFB announced the winners of the 2018 GFB Quality Hay Contest in the Hay Committee meeting, during which University of Georgia Professor and Extension Forage Specialist Dennis Hancock presented analysis of how harvested hay heats and catches fire in the Hay Committee meeting.

Marty Knowles of Telfair County won the Hay Contest with a Coastcross II sample, which had a Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) score of 160.45. Mike McCravy of Carroll County claimed second place with a sample of Tift 85 that had an RFQ of 146.5. Swayne Cochran of Jackson County, who submitted a Tift 44 sample with an RFQ of 137.21, was third. Eric Hall of Franklin County (Alicia, 132.68 RFQ) was fourth and Farrell Roberts of Tift County (Coastal, 124.88) was fifth.

Hancock gave a scientific breakdown of the activity that occurs in stored hay when moisture, carbohydrates, oxygen and microorganisms are present. The microorganism feed on the carbohydrates, which generates heat. When the hay temperature approaches 175 degrees it can catch fire. Hancock recommended taking steps to accelerate drying the hay down to the target range (below 20 percent for small rectangular bales, 18 percent for round bales and 15 percent for large rectangular bales), as well as monitoring the heat in stored hay.

“As long as the temperature stays below 125 degrees Fahrenheit, things are safe. There is minimal dry matter loss and it’s not going to catch on fire,” Hancock said.

Above 125 degrees, a shift to fungi that thrive on heat begins to occur, causing damage to the protein in the hay.

“When you get up into this danger zone here, you really need to be monitoring temperature -continued on next page

GFB News Alert page 6 of 12 Continued from previous page regularly through the day, two or three times a day, making sure that it’s not getting any hotter,” Hancock said. If the hay temperature is above 160 degrees, Hancock urged farmers to call the fire department before removing bales, which adds oxygen to already flammable conditions.

For more details on how all this occurs, visit https://gfb.ag/hayfireprev.

Farm bill, disaster assistance Georgia Farm Bureau National Affairs Coordinator Tripp Cofield and American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Veronica Nigh gave reviews of activity in Congress and in international trade.

Cofield said the agreement among Farm Bill Conference Committee leadership for the new farm bill, and exactly what the agreement includes won’t be known until the text of the bill is released.

Georgia’s congressional delegation is pushing for hurricane assistance for farmers who sustained losses as a result of Hurricane Michael. Cofield noted that other states are also seeking federal help for other disasters, including the volcanic activity in Hawaii, wildfires in California, typhoons in U.S. territories and earthquakes in Alaska.

“They’re trying to stitch together an assistance package that will work for all these different disasters we’ve had,” Cofield said, noting that a key part of the process is determining accurate damage assessments.

Cofield said the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) will likely be the primary tool the federal government will use to deliver disaster aid to farmers for immediate crop losses, and block grants may be available to offset longer-term losses.

Pecan prices impacted by Mexican imports UGA Extension Pecan Specialist Lenny Wells discussed pecan prices, noting that the prices growers are receiving seem to go against normal economic trends.

“With the China trade issues, I thought we would see pecans at somewhat of a lower price this year, but with the loss of half the Georgia crop, it makes no sense that prices have remained as low as they have,” Wells said.

Wells observed that a bigger issue, thinking long-term, seems to be coming from Mexico.

Growers are told when they go to sell their pecans that U.S. shellers are buying so many cheap nuts from Mexico that they won’t pay any higher for pecans grown in the U.S., where production costs are high.

“If this issue is not settled and U.S. shellers continue to buy large volumes of nuts from Mexico, then U.S. pecan growers, especially smaller growers, will not be able to stay in business and the pecans that are sold for domestic use will be of lower quality than what we can grow in the U.S.,” Wells said.

Research, contamination big topics for cotton Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) Executive Director Richey Seaton presented the GCC’s efforts to educate, research and promote cotton, emphasizing the importance of research being -continued on next page

GFB News Alert page 7 of 12 Continued from previous page done by UGA Extension Cotton Specialist Stanley Culpepper on minimizing cotton injury while treating fields to control Palmer amaranth, as well as studies on how the weight of planting equipment affects soil texture and the uniformity of plant emergence, insecticide resistance and fiber quality.

GFB ANNOUNCES 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Georgia Farm Bureau voting delegates elected the organization’s 2019 board of directors Dec. 4 during the 81st Annual GFB Convention held on Jekyll Island.

GFB President Gerald Long was re-elected to a second two-year term. Long, of Decatur County, raises cattle and grows peanuts, vegetables, corn, cotton, hay, small grains and timber with his family on their farm near Bainbridge. He has served on the GFB Board of Directors in various roles since 1999 and is a Decatur County Farm Bureau director. He was designated GFB president in January 2016 and elected to his first full term in December 2016.

GFB members in the organization’s Middle Georgia Region re-elected Robert Fountain Jr. of Emanuel County to represent their region on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors for his fourth straight three-year term. Fountain was also redesignated as the organization’s 1st vice president.

Bernard Sims of Catoosa County continues to serve as the North Georgia Vice President. Sims is in the second year of his fourth three-year term. The GFB North Georgia Region includes 49 county Farm Bureaus in the northern third of Georgia. Sims serves as the Catoosa County Farm Bureau president. He grows turf grass, small grains, strawberries and hay, and raises cattle.

Daniel Johnson of Pierce County is beginning the third year of his three-year term as GFB South Georgia Vice President. The South Georgia Region is comprised of 53 counties in the lower third of the state.

The following were re-elected unopposed to serve two-year terms on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors: Wesley Hall of Forsyth County, 1st District; Randy Ruff of Elbert County, 2nd District; Nora Goodman of Paulding County, 3rd District; Skeetter McCorkle of McDuffie County, 4th District; Matt Bottoms of Pike County, 5th District; James Emory Tate of Jeff Davis County, 6th District; Ben Boyd of Screven County, 7th District; Don Wood of Wilcox County, 8th District; Lucius Adkins of Baker County, 9th District; and Lamar Vickers of Berrien County, 10th District.

GFB directors beginning the second year of the two-year terms they were elected to in 2017 are: Bill Bryan of Chattooga County, 1st District; Bobby Gunter of Lumpkin County, 2nd District; George Chambers of Carroll County, 3rd District; Marvin Ruark of Morgan County, 4th District; Ralph Adamson of Lamar County, 5th District; James Malone Jr. of Laurens County, 6th District; Gary Bell of Evans County, 7th District; Scotty Raines of Turner County, 8th District; Paul Shirah of Mitchell County, 9th District; and David Lee of Bacon County, 10th District.

Ben Cagle of Cherokee County was named chairman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. Nancy Kennedy of Hancock County was named chairwoman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. Each will serve a one-year term as committee chairmen and on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 12 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU PRESENTS 2018 STATE AWARDS Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) recognized the best of the organization’s volunteers and county chapters during its 81st annual convention Dec. 2-4 on Jekyll Island. The state award winners were honored for their activities over the past year to promote agriculture.

GFB named a McKemie Award winner - the highest honor given to a county Farm Bureau in recognition of its overall member program - from each of its three membership categories. Treutlen County Farm Bureau, whose president is Kim Thompson, received the McKemie Award for the small membership category. Monroe County Farm Bureau, whose president is Chuck Benson, won the McKemie Award for the medium membership category. McDuffie County Farm Bureau, whose president is Sammy McCorkle, received the award in the large membership category. The McKemie Award is a memorial to one of the organization’s former presidents, W.J. McKemie.

Finalists in the McKemie competition, listed in alphabetical order, for the small membership category were: Crawford, Heard, Jasper, Macon, Turner and Upson counties. Finalists for the medium membership category were: Bacon, Berrien, Cook, Greene, Jeff Davis, Pike, Polk, Screven and Toombs counties. Finalists in the large membership category were: Cherokee, Cobb, Coffee, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Stephens and White counties.

Other state awards presented were the: Outstanding Promotion & Education Award received by Hall County Farm Bureau; Outstanding Women’s Leadership Committee Award received by Treutlen County Farm Bureau; Outstanding Legislative Committee Award received by Stephens County Farm Bureau; and Outstanding Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Award received

by Hall County Farm Bureau.

Denise Loggins, the White County Farm Bureau (WCFB) office manager, received the organization’s Outstanding Office Manager Award. Loggins, who has been employed with Farm Bureau since 1996, was recognized for the work she has done to promote agriculture and Farm Bureau in her local community. Loggins is responsible for coordinating WCFB’s agricultural advocacy and Ag in the Classroom activities throughout the year.

Jennifer Carroll received GFB’s Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom 2018 Teacher of the Year Award. Carroll, who teaches gifted education at Roopville Elementary School in Carroll County, was recognized for incorporating information about agriculture in her classes, teaching her students about agriculture and the environment; plants and animals for food, fiber and energy; food, health and lifestyle; science, technology, engineering and math; and culture, society, economy and geography. She received a $500 award and an expense-paid trip to the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, in June 2019.

Will and Heather Cabe of Franklin County received the GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, which recognizes young farmers who earn most of their income by farming.

A fourth-generation farm family, Will and Heather partner with Will’s parents, Chan and Lou, to raise poultry, Angus/Simangus cattle and hay on their farm in Carnesville, where they live with their two sons, Deacon and Teller, and daughter, Emersyn.

As the state winners, the Cabes received an all-terrain vehicle courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance, a $500 cash award, courtesy of AgSouth Farm Credit, and an expense-paid trip to the 2019 American Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 11-16, to compete for national honors.

Becca Creasy of Bulloch County was recognized as the GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers -continued on next page

GFB News Alert page 9 of 12 Continued from previous page Discussion Meet winner and will enjoy an expense-paid trip to the AFBF Convention in New Orleans to compete for national honors, courtesy of GFB. The discussion meet is intended to simulate a committee meeting during which agriculturalists discuss issues affecting agriculture.

Creasy received an all-terrain-vehicle courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance and an expense-paid trip to the 2019 American Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 11-16, to compete for national honors.

Caroline Lewallen of Hall County won the Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award. GFB presents this award to recognize young farmers who earn most of their income from something other than production agriculture. Carline is the marketing and agritourism manager for Jaemor Farms. As the state winner, Lewallen received an all-terrain vehicle sponsored

by Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance and an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Convention to compete in the national contest.

HARVEST FOR ALL RAISES $25,600 FOR GA FOOD BANK ASSOCIATION GFB presented the Georgia Food Bank Association a check for $25,600 on Dec. 3 during the 81st Annual Georgia Farm Bureau Convention, held Dec. 2-4 on Jekyll Island. Funds for the $25,600 donation were raised through Farm Bureau’s Harvest for All campaign, which collected donations from county Farm Bureaus and the organization’s state office, as well as the GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee’s “Calf’s Weight in Change” drive held earlier this year.

In addition to helping with purchases of high-protein foods like chicken and peanut butter, donated money helps the GFBA offset costs associated with collecting and distributing food donations.

“Generally, those funds get split up equally among the eight food banks,” Craft said. “A lot of times they’ll use that money to buy things that aren’t donated that are critically important for nutrition for the families they serve, like protein. We are grateful for Georgia Farm Bureau and the generous hearts of Georgia's farmer & rancher communities.”

The GFBA started its Farm to Foodbank program in 2014, through which it accepts food donations directly from farmers, who give nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables that grocery chains won’t buy for aesthetic reasons. In the past year, Georgia’s farmers donated more than 14 million pounds of food, providing millions of meals, which the GFBA attributes to its affiliation with Georgia Farm Bureau.

Georgia Farm Bureau’s Harvest for All donation will have a statewide impact. The Georgia Food Bank Association distributes the funds to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia in Savannah, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank (Food Bank of Northwest Georgia), Feeding the Valley in Columbus, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia in Athens, Golden Harvest in Augusta, the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank in Macon and Second Harvest of South Georgia in Valdosta. To see which counties each food bank serves, visit https://georgiafoodbankassociation.org/find-your-food-bank/.

Past GFB Harvest for All campaigns have solicited direct donations of food. Since 2004, GFB has coordinated 13 Harvest for All campaigns through which GFB members across the state donated about 49,000 pounds of staple food items in addition to the cash donations distributed to the food banks located throughout Georgia affiliated with Feeding America.

GFB News Alert page 10 of 12 GPC BOARD NOMINATION MEETINGS Dec. 10 10 a.m.

Ocilla, Vienna and Americus Georgia Farm Bureau will conduct these simultaneous meetings to fill terms in the Commission's District Two, Four, and Five which expire Dec. 31. The District Two nomination meeting will be held at the Irwin County Farm Bureau Office located at 495 Lax Highway in Ocilla. The District Four nomination meeting will be held at the Dooly County Farm Bureau Office located at 126 Church Street in Vienna. The District Five nomination meeting will be held at the Sumter County Farm Bureau Office located at 141 Highway 27 East in Americus. Any producer living in the district may be nominated or make nominations at the meeting. Incumbents are eligible for renomination. If more than one person is nominated, an election will be conducted by mail ballot.

Commission bylaws state that a person must receive the majority of votes cast for a position to be elected to the board. If only one person qualifies for the position, no election is required, and the nominated person automatically becomes a member of the board. Commission members have terms of three years each. For more information visit www.gapeanuts.com/.

RURAL STRESS: PROMISING PRACTICES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS Dec. 10-11 Crown Plaza Atlanta Airport Atlanta The University of Georgia invites you to join representatives from across rural America to have a conversation, explore best practices, and learn from industry and academic experts about ways to combat rural stress. Contact Rachel Santos at Rachel.santos@uga.edu for more information. To register online, visit https://events.attend.com/f/1383786587.

FERAL SWINE WORKSHOPS AND TRAPPING DEMONSTRATIONS Dec. 11 Pierce County Ag Services Building 8:30 a.m.

Blackshear Dec. 18 Burt’s Farm 8:30 a.m.

Dawsonville Jan. 7 Brooks County Ag Building 8:30 a.m.

Quitman Jan. 29 Pulaski County Recreation Building 8:30 a.m.

Hawkinsville Join wildlife experts for four upcoming free Feral Swine Workshop and Trapping Demonstrations.

Topics include wild pig biology, regulations and laws, effective control techniques and more.

Q&A sessions follow presentations. Speakers include representatives from GA Wildlife Resources Division, University of Georgia, Ga Department of Agriculture, GA Association of Conservation Districts, and USDA Wildlife Services. Lunch is included. For more information about feral hogs or to register for the workshops, visit https://gfb.ag/18feralhogwkshp.

PRESCRIBED BURN FIELD DAY Dec. 13 Monastery of the Holy Spirit 9 a.m.

Conyers This free workshop will include prescribed burn demonstrations and speakers from the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Firewise Community.

The monastery is located at 2625 Ga. Hwy. 212 in Conyers. A light breakfast and refreshments will be provided. To register, call 470-538-0093.

GFB News Alert page 11 of 12 HURRICANE RELIEF PROGRAM PUBLIC HEARING Dec. 14 Flint Riverquarium Adventure Center 9 a.m.

Albany Agency representatives from USDA-FSA & USDA NRCS along with Georgia Forestry Commission and Georgia Farm Bureau will provide information and updates on hurricane relief programs. Landowners and farmers impacted by Hurricane Michael are encouraged to attend.

Coffee and a continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. The Dougherty County Farm Bureau is cosponsoring this event.

GEORGIA YOUNG PEANUT FARMER AWARD Deadline for nominations Dec. 15 Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, in Tifton. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) and BASF. The award is open for any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, as of Jan. 17, 2019. An individual may receive the award only once. There is no limit on the number of applicants from each county in Georgia. Applications are due to the GPC office by Dec. 15, 2018. The award application is available online at www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690 or joycrosby@gapeanuts.com.

43RD ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW & CONFERENCE Jan. 17, 2019 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8:30 a.m.

Tifton The Peanut Farm show will feature more than 100 exhibits, the UGA Peanut Production Seminar, annual awards and much more. For more information, visit www.gapeanuts.com or contact Hannah Jones at 229-386-3470 or hannah@gapeanuts.com or Jessie Bland at 229-386-3472 or jessie@gapeanuts.com.

2019 GEORGIA AG FORECAST SERIES Jan. 22 Georgia Farm Bureau 9 a.m.

Macon Jan. 23 Carroll County Ag Center 9 a.m.

Carrollton Jan. 25 Oconee County Civic Center 9 a.m.

Watkinsville Jan. 29 Toombs County Agri-Center 9 a.m.

Lyons Jan. 31 Decatur County Ag Center 9 a.m.

Bainbridge Feb. 1 UGA Tifton Conf. Center 7 a.m.

Tifton This annual seminar series presented by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in partnership with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. UGA economists provide an outlook of agricultural markets for the coming year. Participants will network with UGA faculty and UGA Cooperative Extension agents, local producers and other stakeholders, and will leave the meeting with a copy of the 2019 Georgia Ag Forecast book, which is designed to provide detailed analyses of major commodities produced in the state. All the meetings except the one in Tifton begin with on-site check-in and coffee at 9 a.m., followed by seminar presentations at 10 a.m. and a networking lunch at 11:30 a.m. The Tifton installment begins with 7 a.m. check-in and coffee, followed by a 7:30 a.m. breakfast buffet and the seminar presentations beginning at 8 a.m. For more information or to register, visit http://agforecast.caes.uga.edu.

GFB News Alert page 12 of 12 GEORGIA COTTON COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING Jan. 30, 2019 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton The meeting, production workshop, and lunch are open to not only cotton growers, but anyone interested in the cotton industry. There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is requested to help with meal plans. For more information visit www.ugatiftonconference.org or call (229) 386-3416.

SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Jan. 30, 2019 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Expo will provide up-to-date marketing projections and the newest production techniques, as well as remarks from University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences leaders. Attendees are invited to visit with exhibitors who will be showcasing the latest in new varieties, pest control, seed varieties. Registration begins at 8 a.m. On-site registration is $20.

Advance registration is $10. To register for the Expo, call 706-542-3793.

GFB TAKING LISTINGS FOR HAY DIRECTORY Farm Bureau members with hay for sale or offering custom harvesting or custom sprigging services are invited to list in the GFB Quality Hay Directory published on the GFB website.

Because this directory is now offered online, hay can be listed or removed from the site as your inventory dictates. To participate, please complete a submission form available at your county Farm Bureau office or online at www.gfb.ag/hay. Please include a $10 check made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau for each listing of hay, custom harvesting or custom sprigging. Multiple listings are allowed.