February 12, 2014
www.gfb.org
Vol. 32 No. 6
GEORGIA ASKS SUPREME COURT TO DISMISS FLORIDA WATER LAWSUIT The State of Georgia filed its response to Florida’s water lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 1, contending that the suit is an attempt to circumvent current actions by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that Florida has not established clear and convincing evidence it suffers harm as a result of Georgia’s water use. The state’s response, filed with Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens as counsel of record, indicates that “Florida has brought its case against the wrong party, in the wrong court, and at the wrong time.” Florida filed its complaint with the Supreme Court in October, seeking relief from what it called “Georgia’s unmitigated and unsustainable upstream consumption of water from the Chattahoochee and Flint River Basins.” The dispute between Florida and Georgia, as well as Alabama, over access to the water from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers has lasted for more than 20 years and has involved multiple lawsuits. Florida’s previous legal challenges have been ultimately unsuccessful. The response notes that as a result of previous lawsuits the Corps of Engineers is in the process of updating its operating manual for its dams that control flow of water from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers into the Apalachicola River. In its lawsuit, Florida attempts to blame Georgia overconsumption of water drawn from the Chattahoochee and Flint for environmental issues in the Apalachicola Bay, threatening the bay’s oyster industry. According to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, 10 percent of the U.S. oyster supply comes from the Apalachicola Bay, but reduced freshwater flows into the bay have threatened the balance of saltwater and freshwater required for the oysters’ survival. In its response, Georgia points to other factors affecting the flow of water into the Apalachicola River. The flow control is determined by the Corps of Engineers, which is not a party in the suit. The Corps’ current operating model for managing flow through the Woodruff Dam at the Florida/Georgia border was assessed by the Corps and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and both found that the prescribed flow levels would not jeopardize endangered or threatened species. The response also noted Florida’s own assertions that drought and overfishing of oysters contributed to alleged effects on the Apalachicola Bay oyster population. While Florida’s complaint cites Metro Atlanta’s withdrawal levels from Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River, it does not acknowledge that 70 percent of the water is returned to the Chattahoochee and available for downstream use.
Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 AFBF RELEASES ECOMONIC LABOR STUDY RESULTS The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released a study on the farm sector’s sensitivity to immigration reform on Feb. 10. The study, conducted by World Agricultural and Environmental Services, was commissioned by AFBF to assess how changes in immigration reform would affect agriculture in terms of cost and availability of labor. Among the findings: • Labor is farmers’ third-highest expense, accounting for 17 percent of production costs for the sector as a whole and as high as 50 percent in subsectors like fruit, vegetables and horticulture. • Ag’s dependence on hired labor is also generally time sensitive because of the perishability of many farm products. • Farm labor needs are geographically concentrated within sparsely populated local areas where farmers’ hired labor needs typically exceed the local legal workforce. The study compared projected changes in farm output, commodity prices, farm income, farm asset values and food prices across four reform alternatives - enforcement only, enforcement with adjustment of immigration status and no guest worker program, enforcement with an expanded H-2A program and enforcement with a redesigned guest worker program. According to the study, the enforcement-only option would be the most disruptive, prompting large-scale restructuring in agriculture along with high food prices and greater dependence on imported food. Enforcement with redesigned guest worker program would cause the least disruption of the four reform alternatives. EQUINE YOUTH CHAMPS HONORED AT CAPITOL More than 200 champion riders from a variety of horse disciplines were honored during ceremonies at the Georgia State Capitol on Georgia Equine Youth Champions Day, held Feb. 4. Both the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate recognized the youth, all of whom were winners of state championships or invited to compete in national or world championships. The celebration included a group photo with Gov. Nathan Deal, who also spoke at a luncheon held at the Georgia Freight Depot next to Underground Atlanta. The luncheon, catered by The Varsity, included presentations of certificates to each individual champion. Among them were a total of 10 world champions. “The way things look right now, the equine business in Georgia is going to be left in some very good hands,” said Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine (ACCE) Chairman John Clements. The ACCE also recognized former Georgia Farm Monitor reporter Rick Treptow and ACCE Advisory Board member Ann Jones for their contributions to the industry. The main attraction, though, was the kids. “These kids, for as young as they are, have done extremely well and they need to be recognized,” said ACCE Board member Danny Hogan, who is chairman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Equine Committee. “We try to honor the kids and try to make them have a good time and hopefully they’ll come up here and maybe even learn something. Most of these kids or a lot of these kids have never been to the capitol, which was, I think, quite a treat.”
Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 OBAMA SIGNS 2014 FARM BILL Comparing the multifaceted farm bill to a Swiss Army knife, President Barack Obama signed the 2014 farm bill on Feb. 7 in a ceremony at Michigan State University. “It multitasks,” Obama said of the bill, which received strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. “It’s creating more good jobs, gives Americans a shot at opportunity.” The president recognized the need for crop insurance and emphasized the impact the bill will have on rural America. MORRIS RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION Armond Morris, a peanut farmer from Irwin County, was re-elected chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission during the monthly board meeting in January. This is Morris’ thirteenth term as chairman of the commission. He previously served as chairman of the board previously in 1996 and 1997, 2003 and since 2005. Other officers elected during the board meeting include Joe Boddiford of Screven County as vice chairman and Rodney Dawson of Pulaski County as treasurer. Board members Tim Burch of Baker County and Donald Chase of Macon County represent the commission’s District 1 and District 5, respectively. The peanut producing counties of Georgia are divided into five districts in which peanut farmers elect a representative to serve on the Georgia Peanut Commission board. SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION GIVES AWARDS, PROVIDES UPDATES The Georgia/Florida Soybean Association (GFSA) elected its 2014 officers, gave awards and heard research and policy updates during the 2014 Georgia/Florida Soybean/Small Grain Expo held Feb. 7 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry. More than 100 farmers and agribusiness representatives attended. Bart Waller of Effingham County won the 2013 Georgia Soybean Production Award for having an average yield of 82 bushels/acre on dryland. Mark Detweiler of Floyd County and Joe Moore of Gordon County each received the GFSA Grower/Agribusiness Appreciation Award. Andrew Moore of Gordon County was recognized for being a member of the American Soybean Association/DuPont Young Leader Program. Ray Gaesser Walter Godwin of Mitchell County, Thomas Kessler of Effingham County, Joe Moore of Gordon County, Brian Ogletree of Spalding County, Lanair Worsham Jr. of Mitchell County and Steve Yoder Jr. of Calhoun County, Fla., were elected as the 2014 GFSA directors. Godwin will serve as the GFSA president; Joe Moore is vice president and Yoder is the GFSA secretary/treasurer. UGA staff Dr. Roger Boerma and Dr. Jared Whitaker were appointed as directors of education. Lane Morrell with Plantation Seed Conditioners and Georgia Farm Bureau Marketing Specialist Taylor Sills were appointed as industry representatives. American Soybean Association President Ray Gaesser outlined the organization’s input on farm bill policy such as five-year yield averages and funding for export promotion programs. UGA Extension Economist Nathan Smith said he predicts farmers will plant more acres of soybeans nationwide and in Georgia in 2014. Georgia farmers planted 230,000 acres of soybeans in 2013 and harvested 225,000 acres with an average yield of 40 bushels/acre. Smith predicts Georgia farmers may plant about 250,000 acres in soybeans this year with prices likely to be in the range of $10/bushel.
Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 GEFA OFFERS SECOND ROUND OF IRRIGATION MOTOR REBATES The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) is offering a second round of the Georgia Agricultural Irrigation Motor (AIM) Program, an incentive program designed to help Georgia farmers become more energy-efficient, save money on fuel costs, and reduce emissions. The Georgia AIM Program will provide farmers with a rebate to replace inefficient diesel irrigation engines with energy-efficient electric irrigation motors. The rebates will cover 25 percent of eligible project costs, with a $10,000 maximum rebate available. The application period for the program, opens online at http://www.gefa.org, ends Feb. 15. Available funding is limited and rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The first round of the program awarded 34 farmers throughout the state with rebates totaling $154,309. The new installations are projected to reduce annual diesel fuel consumption by 217,029 gallons. IFYE ACCPETING APPLICATIONS FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM Young adults age 19 and over are encouraged to apply for the 2014 International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) Program. Individuals who have developed leadership skills in programs such as Young Farmers & Ranchers, 4-H, FFA or similar organizations, as well as those with a background in various agriculture related fields and consumer sciences are particularly well suited for a primarily rural living experience. Successful applicants will participate in various young adult programs abroad such as Young Farmers, Rural Youth, etc. Participating countries in 2014 may include Austria, Botswana, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Wales. Additional countries may be added. For further information, please contact Alan Lambert, National IFYE Program Director, at 605-366-6107 or by email at alanelambert@gmail.com. Completed applications are due by Feb. 15. Visit the IFYE website at www.ifyusa.org/ to learn more about the program and obtain an application. LOCAL COVER CROP FORUMS Feb. 18 Jimmy Carter Plant Material Center 10 a.m. Americus Feb. 18 Bulloch Co. Agricultural Business Center 10 a.m. Statesboro Farmers, ranchers, researchers, agricultural business operators and conservationists are invited to participate in one of these two forums on cover crops and soil health, hosted by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The local sessions are one of more than 225 forums taking place throughout the country in concert with the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health in Omaha, Nebraska, sponsored by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. To participate in one of the local forums, contact Jim Dangler at the NRCS office in Athens at 706-546-2090 for the Americus location and David Walden at the NRCS office in Waycross at 912-283-5598 ext 2 for the Statesboro location to ensure adequate seating and to get additional information. PRECISION AGRICULTURE WORKSHOP Feb. 25 NESPAL, UGA Tifton Campus Tifton Participants in this free workshop will receive briefings from UGA and Auburn crop and soil science experts. Much of the focus will be on precision irrigation, and irrigation specialists from Germany, Greece and Italy will make presentations on irrigation research in Europe and how it has developed to accommodate environmental concerns, as well as the economics of precision agriculture at the farm level. The workshop also includes hands-on precision farming-related exercises. While the workshop is free, registration is required. Participants are asked to RSVP by Feb. 18 by sending an email to yiorgos@uga.edu.
Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 GEORGIA PORK CONGRESS Feb. 18 Georgia Farm Bureau 2 p.m. Macon The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2015 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place in conjunction with a Board of Directors meeting of Georgia Pork Producers Association. All Georgia pork producers are invited to attend. Any producer age 18 or older who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff was deducted. For more information, contact Georgia Pork Producers Association, P.O. Box 1566, Bainbridge, Ga. 39818 or call 229-246-8297. FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR VALUE-ADDED PRODUCER GRANTS The USDA has announced the availability of nearly $10.5 million in Value-Added Producer Grants, intended to help agricultural producers create new products, expand marketing opportunities, support further processing of existing products or goods, or to develop specialty and niche products. They may be used for working capital and planning activities. The maximum working capital grant is $200,000; the maximum planning grant is $75,000. Grant applications are due by Feb. 24. For more information about how to apply visit http://tinyurl.com/mc3ncwc or contact any USDA Rural Development state office. BEEF REFERENDUM HEARING Feb. 28 Macon Farmers Market 10 a.m. Macon This is a public hearing regarding the proposed marketing order for the Georgia Beef Commission 3. Anyone may make comments. Participants at the hearing are required to register on arrival. Individuals may also submit written comments concerning the proposed marketing order by mail or email to: Nathan Wilson, Commodities Promotion Manager, Ga. Dept. of Agriculture, 19 MLK Jr. Dr. S.W., Room 324, Atlanta, Ga. 30334 or via email to Nathan.wilson@agr.georgia.gov. Written comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 in order to be considered. The proposed marketing order would assess cattle owners $1 per head to be collected when cattle are sold. Cattle that sell for less than $100 per head would be exempt from the assessment. Order buyers would be exempt from paying $1 for cattle owned for 10 days or less. RESCHEDULED GEORGIA AG FORECAST MEETINGS Feb. 28 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton March 7 Clarence Brown Conference Center Cartersville These two installments of the Georgia Ag Forecast Meetings were postponed because of the winter storm that occurred the last week in January. For the Tifton meeting, check-in begins at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast at 7:30 and the program at 8. The Cartersville meeting begins with check-in at 9 a.m. followed by the program at 10 and a networking luncheon at 11:30. UGA economists will give the annual ag economic outlook and guest speakers, including experts on farm succession planning. For more information, visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com to register, call 706-583-0347 or send an email to carlam@uga.edu. Follow the meetings on Twitter @GAagforecast and join the conversation with #agforecast.
Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 PECANS: THE BRAIN FOOD POSTER CONTEST March 2 Deadline for entries Jointly sponsored by the Georgia Pecan Commission and the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, this contest is open to students in grades K-6 at public and private schools in Georgia. Entries must focus on the nutritional health benefits of pecans and the brain power the nut provides. Posters will be uploaded to the Georgia Pecan Commission Facebook page for public judging between March 10 and 30. Ten elementary schools will be chosen as finalists and also invited to the April 9 luncheon and ceremony. Each of the 10 schools will receive a $500 cash award to fund a school need. For complete contest rules and entry instructions visit http://www.georgiapecans.org/component/content/article/115. For more information contact Cheryl Miller at 813 251-4242 (ext. 222) or cmiller@atthetablepr.com. USDA ACCEPTING FY 2014 CIG GRANT APPLICATIONS The USDA is accepting applications for conservation innovation grants (CIG) to develop and accelerate conservation approaches and technologies on private agricultural and forest lands. The deadline to apply for FY2014 CIGs is March 7. About $15 million will be made available nationwide by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). State and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, non-governmental and educational organizations, private businesses and individuals are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to applications that relate to nutrient management, energy conservation, soil health, air quality, climate change, wildlife, economics, sociology, environmental markets, food safety, historically underserved groups, or assessments of past CIG projects. For more information on this grant opportunity, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/index.html. To apply electronically, visit www.grants.gov. PECANS IN SCIENCE EXPERIMENT CONTEST March 16 Deadline for entries Jointly sponsored by the Georgia Pecan Commission and the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, this contest gives students in grades 7-12 the chance to win $500 and spend a day with UGA pecan researcher Dr. Ronald Pegg. To enter, students must submit an experiment, investigation and/or invention, which highlights Georgia Pecans. The contest is open to public, private and homeschooled students throughout Georgia. For contest rules and entry instructions, visit http://www.georgiapecans.org/component/content/article/116. For more information contact Cheryl Miller at 813 251-4242 (ext. 222) or cmiller@atthetablepr.com.
USB’ A SOYBEAN’S JOURNEY: SEE FOR YOURSELF PROGRAM The United Soybean Board (USB) invites soybean farmers to participate in this program, which provides farmers with the chance to learn about and evaluate specific investment areas of the soy checkoff, such as international marketing, animal agriculture, industrial uses and soybean farmers’ freedom to operate. All U.S. soybean farmers over the age of 18 can apply now for the seventh annual See for Yourself program. To apply, visit the USB website, http://www.UnitedSoybean.org/SeeforYourself, through April 4. A group of 10 U.S. soybean farmers will first travel to St. Louis to witness firsthand the operations of the checkoff and visit local sites related to domestic uses for soybeans. Then, since about half of the soy produced in the United States is exported, participants will travel internationally to experience how international customers use soy. The program is scheduled to take place Aug. 15-22 and USB will cover all related rooming, meal and travel expenses.