Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - February 21,2018

February 21, 2018

www.gfb.org

Vol. 36 No. 4

MEMBERS ADVOCATE FOR AG DURING GFB DAY AT THE CAPITOL Georgia Farm Bureau again proved it’s the “Voice of Georgia Farmers” as members traveled en masse to Atlanta from across the state Feb. 13 for Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol. The annual event gives GFB members a chance to meet with their legislators to discuss issues impacting their farms.

“We’re working on numerous issues that impact our farms back home. Georgia Farm Bureau is wellrespected at the capitol and that’s because of the work you do back in your counties and the relationships you have with your legislators,” GFB President Gerald Long told GFB members attending the orientation meeting at the Georgia Depot down the street from the capitol. (For photos from GFB Day at the Capitol visit www.gfb.photos/18GFBDayCapitol.)

Priority issues GFB is addressing during this session of the Georgia General Assembly include: protection of the integrity of both the Georgia Agricultural Sales Tax Exemption (GATE) and the Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA) programs; retaining farmers’ access to water and working with regulatory agencies to implement control strategies that protect farmers’ crops from damage caused by feral hogs and deer; securing legislation that requires a state approved veterinarian familiar with livestock practices be consulted when animal cruelty charges are filed against a farmer; and legislation that addresses economic development issues rural Georgia is experiencing.

“The GATE and CUVA programs are extremely important to the economic -continued on next page

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stability of our farms. Water continues to be a priority issue as we wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to issue their ruling on the Florida lawsuit against Georgia, and so Farm Bureau continues to support legislative efforts to fulfill the original intent of the state agriculture water metering program as a management tool for farmers without infringing on private property rights,” Long said.

GFB is working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on improving the availability of deer depredation permits available to farmers who need help controlling deer that eat crop plants as they emerge.

GFB is supporting Sen. Bill Heath’s S.B. 257, which would require government entities to consult with a veterinarian approved by the Georgia Department of Agriculture to confirm if reported mistreatment of animals is abuse or is in accordance with standard livestock practices before criminal animal cruelty charges can be filed.

Thanks to Rep. Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) and Sen. John Wilkinson (RToccoa) resolutions declaring Feb. 13 as GFB Day at the Capitol were read in both the House and Senate Chambers. President Long and GFB Vice Presidents Robert Fountain Jr., Daniel Johnson and Bernard Sims accompanied Long to each chamber where GFB was recognized. Long had the privilege of addressing each chamber to discuss the contributions agriculture makes to Georgia’s economy.

After visiting with their legislators at the capitol, GFB members reconvened at the Georgia Depot for lunch with their elected officials. Gov. Nathan Deal addressed the group, thanking GFB for what it does as an organization to represent Georgia’s farmers. He applauded the GFB Foundation for Agriculture for its work to educate students about how their food is grown. Deal outlined what his administration has done to help the economies of rural Georgia during his eight years in office.

“My administration has invested more than 100 million dollars to ensure rural students have access to high speed internet so they are not left behind. In 2017, eighty percent of the economic projects brought to Georgia were outside metro Atlanta that will provide economic opportunities and employment,” Deal said.

Deal said his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year includes $125 million to improve equipment and runways at 11 airports across Georgia to allow corporate planes to travel more readily to rural areas.

“We believe by extending runways and improving equipment so company jets can visit communities that could be potential site for businesses we can bring -continued on next page

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development to rural Georgia,” Deal said.

Since 2011, when he took office, the One Georgia Authority has invested more than $100 million in rural Georgia, which has created or retained 25,000 jobs in rural communities, Deal said.

To ensure the vitality and future growth of their rural communities, Deal encouraged Farm Bureau members to get involved with their local school systems, to look at the test scores and graduation rates of students and the number of high school graduates getting into colleges and universities. Deal stressed that having a strong school system is key to attracting new businesses to communities.

Deal also encouraged Farm Bureau members to mentor bright students and encourage them to come back to their home communities to practice medicine, law or dentistry.

“Many of your young people may not go directly into agriculture, but they may go back to a rural community and work in another field as a doctor or lawyer,” Deal said. “The best way you are assured of getting the doctors you need is to have students return to the communities where they were raised and have family.”

GEORGIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES SPEAK TO GFB

Georgia Farm Bureau invited the leading gubernatorial candidates from both parties to speak at the annual GFB Day at the Capitol lunch on Feb. 13. Scheduling conflicts prevented everyone from attending, but GFB members had the chance to hear from Stacey Abrams, Hunter Hill, Brian Kemp and Clay Tippins.

Each candidate had five minutes to introduce themselves and their platform to the lunch attendees. Below, listed in alphabetical order is a synopsis of the candidates' remarks. (Photos: www.gfb.photos/18GFBDayCapitol) STACEY ABRAMS

Stacey Abrams, a lawyer, businesswoman and author, represented House District 84 in the Georgia General Assembly from 2007-2013 and House Dist. 89 from 2013-Aug. 2017, when she resigned to run for governor. She served as Minority Leader of the Democratic Party in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 until July 1, 2017.

A Georgia resident for 29 years, Abrams was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi, until her parents moved to Atlanta to pursue graduate degrees.

She graduated from Avondale High School, Spelman College, the University of Texas & Yale University.

Abrams shared that when she stood to be elected Minority Leader by her colleagues in 2010, she reached out to Reps. Tom McCall & Terry England to learn about rural -continued on next page

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Georgia so she could represent the entire state.

“I am a new kind of leader. I understand that the land isn’t Democratic or Republican.

We must have leaders who can work across the aisle,” Abrams said. “I understand that the life blood of our state runs through South Georgia and North Georgia and lifts up agriculture.”

Abrams said she wants to invest in children through early education programs and supports the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s 20/20 program to see that 20 percent of all school meals are grown in Georgia by the year 2020. She voiced support for expanding access to Medicaid saying, “This is important for rural hospitals.”

She cited the need for expanding broadband access into rural Georgia saying, “We have to be a state where access is equal throughout the state.”

Regarding transportation she said, “Transportation and transit isn’t just an Atlanta issue. We have to think about getting from Talbotton to Columbus.”

HUNTER HILL

Georgia native Hunter Hill is a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger who served three combat tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is a business owner and represented Senate Dist. 6 in the Georgia General Assembly from 2013-Aug. 2017, when he resigned to run for governor. Hill is a licensed real estate professional, who supports private property ownership, and is also president of a coaching company for entrepreneurs and executives.

“There’s so much more we can be doing to move the conservative agenda and our state forward, but it’s not going to happen unless we elect someone who isn’t a career politician,” Hill said.

His vision for Georgia includes limiting the size of government, eliminating the state income tax and injecting a competitive free market into public K-12 education and giving parents more choice in where their children are educated.

“For agriculture I’ll do whatever possible to get government out of your way. I’ll look to protect CUVA and ensure EPD works for you and not against you,” Hill said. We need to ensure agriculture continues to have access to water. My main goal as your next governor is not to have all the answers but to be a willing partner for Georgia agriculture.”

Hill and his wife, Shannon, have two children. The family attends Peachtree Presbyterian Church.

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GFB News Alert page 5 of 14 Continued from previous page BRIAN KEMP

Athens native Brian Kemp introduced himself as a small business owner of more than 30 years. Kemp said he has a small construction business, a stone business, a timber farm and financial services.

Kemp served as a Georgia senator from 2003-2007 representing Dist. 46. He has served as Georgia Secretary of State since 2010. He graduated from UGA with a bachelor's degree in agriculture.

“I was a frustrated small business owner tired of high taxes and regulations when I ran to serve in the Georgia Senate,” Kemp said. “As a small business owner and Republican, I believe in small government.”

Kemp said he has saved Georgia taxpayers millions while serving as secretary of state by implementing a new filing system for corporations and a new voter registration system. He said the citizenship check he implemented ensures Georgia has fair elections.

Kemp described his four-point gubernatorial plan for Georgia as follows: Make Georgia the No. 1 state for small business by cutting burdensome regulations, streamlining state government and standing against healthcare reform that punishes small businesses; Reform state government by implementing a state spending cap and eliminating wasteful programs and tax incentives based on the return on investment to the state of tax incentives; Strengthen rural Georgia by bringing high-speed internet to rural communities and promoting economic development and investment in rural Georgia to create jobs; Put Georgia first by defunding sanctuary cities, ending taxpayerfunded subsidies for illegal immigrants and putting needs of Georgia ahead of status quo political interests.

CLAY TIPPINS

A native Georgian, Clay Tippins grew up in Gwinnett County where he was a national champion swimmer at Shiloh High School. He graduated from Stanford University and then graduated from the Navy’s Officer Candidate School and served on the Navy’s SEAL Team One. He later joined the Navy SEAL Reserves and served on SEAL Team 18 as recently as 2015.

Tippins has worked for numerous technological companies including BrightStar and Capgemini.

“If you look at our government you can make the argument that nothing has improved -continued on next page

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in the last 50 years,” Tippins said. “I think our state is where Egypt was when Joseph went to Pharaoh and warned him about the coming famine. We’re going to have to do something differently if we’re going to survive.”

Tippins shared his positions on the following issues facing Georgia: Crime – “We’ve got to address sex trafficking and opioids. Atlanta is the number one city in the U.S. for sex trafficking and the crime caused by opioid addiction has affected too many lives.”; Transportation – “We need to make significant investment in transportation. We need roads that bypass Atlanta,”; Education – “Third grade reading is our most pressing problem. Two-thirds of our third graders can’t read at a third-grade level.” Studies have shown third grade reading rates indicate a child’s future success; State spending – “We need to shave $2-$3 billion off the state budget.” While the state budget is in good shape on paper, Tippins says the state budget needs to be tightened due to the federal debt so that Georgia will have money in the future to fight crime, build roads and educate students; Agriculture – “I worked in technology for over a decade. I believe I ‘m the candidate who has the best experience to see it’s installed in rural Georgia. I will fight to protect water rights in Georgia.”

BUDGET BILL GIVES RELIEF TO COTTON GROWERS, MILK PRODUCERS

On Feb. 9 Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act, which funded the federal government through March 23 and established discretionary funding levels for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, among other things. The bill, which President Trump signed into law on Feb. 9, included provisions amending the 2014 Farm Bill to designate seed cotton as a covered commodity and improve to dairy support programs. The legislation also included $90 billion in disaster assistance for those affected by weather and wildfire disasters in 2017.

Eleven of Georgia’s 14 House members and both senators voted in favor of the bill, which passed the House by a 240-186 vote and the Senate by a 71-28 vote.

Under the cotton provision, seed cotton – unginned cotton – would be eligible for either Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2018 crop year. Cotton growers have suffered from an extended period of low commodity prices.

“This measure will provide cotton producers and lenders some certainty as they prepare for the 2018 growing season,” National Cotton Council President Ronnie Lee said. “The new policy will help ease the financial burden as producers struggle to cover -continued on next page

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total costs.”

The seed cotton provisions eliminate generic base acres for the 2018 crop year.

According to the Georgia Peanut Commission, growers will have to choose whether to move generic acres to seed cotton or use their 2009-2012 crop year history and convert generic acres to acres for other covered commodities. To download the 2018 seed cotton generic base and payment yield updating calculator, visit www.gapeanuts.com.

The milk provisions reduce premiums for dairy farmers under the Margin Protection Program (MPP) and streamline payments in response to increases in feed costs, according to an article on Feedstuffs.com. The MPP was intended to assist dairies when their cost of production exceeds prices they receive for their milk, but producers have complained that it has not worked as intended. The $20 million crop insurance cap for livestock producers was eliminated as well—a reform that could open the door to new policies designed specifically for dairy farmers, according to Politico.

National Milk Producers Federation President Jim Mulhern called the bill’s passage a “major victory for America’s dairy farmers. The enhancements to the Margin Production Program, coupled with the expansion of additional risk management options, are coming at a crucial time for our producers.”

GFB FOUNDATION AWARDS $6,500 IN GRANTS TO INCREASE AG LITERACY Congratulations to Cherokee, Clayton, Colquitt, Habersham, Harris, Jones, McDuffie, Schley, Tattnall and Treutlen County Farm Bureaus. Each Farm Bureau received a $500 grant from the Georgia Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture to fund projects in their communities to educate consumers and students about agriculture. The foundation awarded the grants in January in its winter/spring grant cycle.

The foundation also awarded $500 grants to the Evans County 4-H, Newton College & Career Academy FFA and the Wilcox County High School FFA to fund leadership development and ag literacy projects the student organizations will conduct.

The GFB Foundation for Agriculture is a non-profit charitable foundation that funds projects to increase the public’s understanding of agriculture, offers scholarships to students pursuing careers in agriculture or closely related fields and funds leadership development programs.

You can make tax-deductible donations and learn more about the foundation’s mission at www.gfbfoundation.org.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 14 NEWTON SCHOOL STAFFER, PAULDING CO. FARM BUREAU WIN AFBF PRIZES The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has awarded seven $1,000 mini-grants to communities across the nation through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education program, and 10 scholarships of $1,500 each to educators who have worked to encourage agricultural literacy.

Paulding County Farm Bureau received one of the minigrants to support a worm composting system, irrigation and grow light system for seedlings to be used in the school garden at McGarity Elementary School. This “Children’s Garden” exposes children in grades K-5 and their families to Georgia agriculture and careers.

The grants are allocated through county Farm Bureaus and are used to create new agricultural literacy projects or expand existing agricultural literacy efforts.

Criteria for selecting winners included: the effectiveness of demonstrating a strong connection between agriculture and education; how successfully the project enhances learner engagement in today’s food, fiber and fuel systems; and the processes and timelines for accomplishing project goals.

“We are excited to help foster new agricultural literacy efforts through the mini-grant program,” said Julia Recko, director of education outreach for the Foundation.

The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a project of the Foundation in cooperation with the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. The fund honors two former committee chairwomen, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were trailblazers in early national efforts to expand the outreach of agricultural education and improve agricultural literacy.

Sarah Nichols, who works at Mansfield Elementary School in Newton County, was one of 10 recipients of the White-Reinhardt Scholarship to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Portland, Maine, June 26-29. The Foundation, through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education, sponsors the scholarships in cooperation with the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee.

The conference helps educators from across the nation learn how to incorporate real-life agricultural applications into science, social studies, language arts, math and nutrition lessons.

Scholarship recipients were judged on their past use of innovative programs to educate students about agriculture as well as plans to implement information gained at the NAITC conference in their own lesson plans and share the information with other teacher and volunteer educators.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and state Farm Bureaus also support and participate in the program’s efforts. The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education honors two former American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee chairwomen, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were leaders in early national efforts to educate about agriculture and improve agricultural literacy.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 14 EQUINE CHAMPIONS HONORED IN CAPITOL CEREMONY Georgia youth who won state, national or world championships in equine competitions last year were celebrated at the annual Equine Champions Day at the Georgia state capitol on Feb. 8. The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine hosted the event.

Approximately 60 youth had a group photograph taken with Gov. Nathan Deal, visited the chambers of the Georgia House and Senate, were treated to lunch from The Varsity and heard congratulations from Deal, Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black.

Deal focused on themes of responsibility and discipline, suggesting that their preparations for competition have taught equine champions how to be responsible people and that lessons on discipline are invaluable.

“You cannot discipline your horse, get your hose to do what you want it to do, unless you have first disciplined yourself,” Deal said. “Anybody who does not discipline themselves cannot very well direct anyone else. The skill set you’ve acquired is transferrable to virtually any other undertaking in your life.”

Deal encouraged the youth to take in the process of state law being made.

Long emphasized the importance of showing up and being on time.

“I see the importance of keeping you people involved and committed,” Long said. “I can remember back to when I was a teenager and liked to get into things. But if we’re involved in competition, with winning and losing and going places, the friendships you’ll make will be lifetime friendships.”

The Equine Commission presented its annual Golden Saddle Award to Deal, who has spoken to the equine champions each year of his term as governor.

To view pictures from Equine Champions Day visit http://gfb.ag/18equinechamps.

GEORGIA BLUEBERRY GROWERS VOTING ON COMMISSION Georgia blueberry farmers who grow and commercially market 2,000 pounds or more in a single season are eligible to vote on whether to continue the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Blueberries in a referendum to be held March 1-30.

Blueberry growers pay $5 per ton of marketed blueberries to fund research, education and promotion programs that advance the blueberry sector. Eligible growers who have not received a ballot via mail by March 7 should contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) at 404586-1405.

GFB News Alert page 10 of 14 FFA MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CELEBRATING NATIONAL FFA WEEK Agriculture is part of our daily lives—from the food we eat to the clothes we wear. This week, more than 653,000 FFA members are celebrating the role agriculture plays in our lives while sharing the message of agricultural education as part of National FFA Week.

National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to host activities that raise awareness about the role the National FFA Organization plays in the development of agriculture's future leaders and the importance of agricultural education.

National FFA Week always runs Saturday to Saturday and encompasses Feb. 22, George Washington's birthday. This year, the week kicks off on Feb. 17 and culminates on Feb. 24.

The National FFA Board of Directors designated the weeklong tradition, which began in 1948, in recognition of Washington's legacy as an agriculturist and farmer. A group of young farmers founded FFA in 1928, influencing generations that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting — it involves science, business and more. The organization’s mission is to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population.

Today, FFA continues to help the next generation meet new agricultural challenges, develop unique talents and explore a broad range of career pathways. Today's FFA members are tomorrow's future biologists, chemists, veterinarians, engineers and entrepreneurs.

National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to share agriculture with their fellow students as well as their communities. Chapters also give back to their communities through service projects and recruit students to become FFA members.

During National FFA Week, the six national officers will visit chapters across the country.

Western Region Vice President Bryce Cluff will visit Utah; Gracie Furnish, eastern region vice president, will visit Alabama; Erica Baier, central region vice president, will visit Virginia; Ian Bennett of Georgia, southern region vice president, will visit Colorado; Piper Merritt, national secretary, will visit Indiana; and National FFA President Breanna Holbert will visit Minnesota.

National FFA Week is also a time for alumni and sponsors to advocate for agricultural education and FFA. On Tuesday, Feb. 20, the National FFA Foundation will celebrate Give FFA Day, a 24hour campaign encouraging the public to support various needs impacting FFA members. If interested in giving, visit FFA.org/giveffaday. On Wednesday, alumni and supporters will celebrate Alumni Day and announce a new benefit for members. Friday, Feb. 23, FFA members and supporters are encouraged to wear blue and show their FFA pride!

Sponsored by Tractor Supply Company, National FFA Week will be featured on social media as well. Follow the #FFAweek hashtag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and don’t miss @NationalFFA Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat posts, including posts from the National FFA Officer Team while on the road.

GFB News Alert page 11 of 14 R.T. STANLEY INDUCTED INTO VIDALIA ONION HALL OF FAME Former Toombs County Farm Bureau President R.T. Stanley Jr. was inducted to the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame on Feb. 10 during the Vidalia Onion Banquet and Awards Ceremony, according to PerishableNews.com.

Stanley, the retired president of Vidalia-based Stanley Farms, was born in 1945. Stanley served as president of Toombs County Farm Bureau from 1980 to 2012.

He began farming as a sharecropper in 1964. In 1975, Stanley’s farm began growing five acres of Vidalia onions. In 2016 Stanley Farms merged with Coggins Farm and Produce Inc. of Lake Park to form Generation Farms. “This award means so much to me,” Stanley said. “Like when my dad received it, I don’t know what to say except thank you. I am proud to be where I am today. So many good things have happened to me.”

Stanley was lauded for helping form the Vidalia Onion Committee, which administers the onions’ federal marketing order. In 1988, Stanley was one of a small group of growers who traveled to Washington, D.C., to R.T. Stanley persuade the U.S. Department of Agriculture to form the committee.

Stanley’s father, R.T. Stanley Sr., was inducted into the hall of fame in 2007.

During the Feb. 10 Vidalia Onion Banquet and Awards Ceremony, the industry also recognized Omar Cruz, the longtime agronomist and director of production for Bland Farms LLC, headquartered in Glennville by naming him Grower of the Year.

In 2002, Cruz, who also grows his own onions marketed through Bland Farms, began working in the Vidalia onion industry at Del Monte Fresh Produce NA Inc.’s McRae sweet onion operation, where he was chief agronomist.

In 2004, he joined Bland and was close friends with early sweet onion grower Raymond Bland, Bland Farms’ co-founder and father of Delbert Bland, the current president of Bland Farms.

GNFA TO HOST NATIONAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL RODEO FINALS The Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter (GNFA) will host the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 event will be the first on the East Coast for Denver-based National High School Rodeo Association.

The National Junior High School Rodeo will take place the last week of June each year and include over 1,000 sixth, seventh and eighth grade youth from 43 states, 5 Canadian provinces, and Australia. The event will take place over seven days with 13 performances, including barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, chute dogging, team roping, ribbon roping, junior bull riding, bareback steer riding and saddle bronc steer riding. The High School Rodeo Association sanctions this event and tickets will be available for purchase per performance.

“We are ecstatic for the opportunity to host an event of this magnitude,” said GNFA CEO Stephen Shimp. “The State of Georgia has believed in our mission here and helped us continue to expand our footprint.”

The National Jr. High Rodeo Finals is a culmination of points earned from the year of rodeo events that youth must qualify to win. Contestants must finish in the top 4 of their state finals rodeo to qualify for the national finals.

GFB News Alert page 12 of 14 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 http://www.gfb.org/membership/hay.cms. 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.

FARM LABOR SEMINAR Feb. 22 Omega Clubhouse, 5471 Alabama Ave. 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Omega This seminar will feature presentations from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Georgia Department about H-2A and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (commonly referred to as MSPA). Registration is required. To register online visit http://bit.ly/2FsMOgS. For more information contact Rachel Mast-Matos at mastmatos.rachel@dol.gov or 678-237-0540.

CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE NEARS FOR GEORGIA ROW CROPS Georgia corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanut, and soybean growers have until Feb. 28 to purchase or make changes to their crop insurance. Federal crop insurance helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Coverage is available for corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanuts, and soybeans in select Georgia counties. Please contact your insurance agent to see if your county is covered. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA agent locator website, http://www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. For more information about crop insurance visit www.rma.usda.gov.

HAY & BALEAGE SHORT COURSE March 8-9 Burke County Extension office Waynesboro This course offered by the UGA Cooperative Extension Service and the Georgia Beef Commission includes sessions on cutting, curing and storing high-quality hay, managing forage quality, pest management, baled silage, hands-on activities and equipment review. Registration is $65. Please preregister by March 1. For more information or to register over the phone call 706-554-2119.

GFB FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIPS March 2 application deadline The Georgia Farm Bureau Foundation for agriculture is offering $58,000 in scholarships to students pursuing careers in ag or a closely related field. Scholarship are available for college, technical college and UGA College of Veterinary Medicine students. Visit www.gfb.ag/18scholarships for complete details and to apply.

GFB News Alert page 13 of 14 SOYBEAN SHORT COURSE March 5 Nessmith-Lane Conference Center 9 a.m.

Statesboro Featured presentations include soybean agronomy, entomology, weed control and others.

Admission is free and lunch will be provided. Private and commercial pesticide hours will be available. For catering purposes please RSVP to Debbie Miracle at 912-681-5693 or dmiracle@uga.edu.

2018 GEORGIA AGRITOURISM ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING March 5-6 Unicoi State Park The conference offers opportunities to learn and network. To http://bit.ly/GAA17conf.

register

Helen visit

CONSERVATION PRODUCTION SYSTEMS TRAINING CONFERENCE March 15-16 Augusta Technical College Waynesboro This 18th annual event, conducted by the Seven Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council, offers pesticide recertification credits for both private and commercial applicators. Fee is $25 per person, which will cover lunch, registration and other items. Registration deadline is March 5. For more information contact Eugene Dyal at Eugene.dyal@bellsouth.net or by phone at 912-367-7679 or 912-367-1432.

CHEROKEE COUNTY AG EXPO March 16 Hickory Flat Fellowship Church 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Canton This annual event, sponsored in part by Cherokee County Farm Bureau in celebration of National Agriculture Month, features, children’s activies with planting and animals, gardening classes, and refreshments. For more information contact Shirley Pahl at 770-479-1481 or sfpahl@gfb.org, or visit www.cherokeeagexpo.info.

4TH ANNUAL GFB FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE GALA March 17 Southern Bridle Farms Fort Valley Join us for a night at the farm as we highlight the work the foundation has done in the past year to increase ag literacy across Georgia. We’ll have an evening of laughter as country comedian Jerry Carroll entertains with his high-energy show about everyday farm life. Dress code is “Country Chic,” which means nothing dressier for ladies than what you’d wear to church & nice jeans or khakis for men. Boots are perfectly fine for all! Reception begins @ 5:30 p.m. Gala starts @ 6:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $100 & tables of 8 are $750. Visitwww.gfb.ag/18gala to buy tickets or contact Katie Duvall at 478-474-0679,ext. 5230 or kgduvall@gfb.org.

GFB News Alert page 14 of 14 GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION MEETING & BEEF EXPO April 5-7 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry There is something for everyone at this annual event that presents all things beef! The GCA will award approximately $15,000 in scholarships. The theme of this year's Convention is "Georgia Grown". There will be a session on marketing local beef on April 6 and Georgia Grown products will be showcased throughout the convention. Other events include the annual silent auction to support the Georgia Cattlemen's Foundation and the Cattlemen’s Ball. Visit http://bit.ly/18GCAConvention to register. For more information call 478-474-6560.

GEORGIA FORAGES CONFERENCE April 5 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This annual event, held in conjunction with the Georgia Cattlemen’s Beef Expo, features presentations on cow/calf vs. stocker cattle on summer and winter pasture varieties, supplementation strategies in pasture-based systems, grazing alfalfa for profit and more.

Registration for the Georgia Forages Conference is $40 per person, which covers the program, instructional materials and lunch. For more information or to register, visit www.georgiacattlement.org or call 478-474-6560.

GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS May 1 application deadline Applications are now open for the 2018 Georgia Centennial Farm awards. To qualify, a farm must be a working farm with a minimum of 10 acres actively involved in agricultural production, and produce $1,000 in annual farm-generated income. The farm also must retain at least 10 acres of the original farm purchase. The program recognizes farms in one of three categories: The Centennial Heritage Farm Award honors farms owned by members of the same family for 100 years or more that are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Centennial Family Farm Award recognizes farms owned by members of the same family for 100 years or more that are not listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Centennial Farm Award does not require continual family ownership, but farms must be at least 100 years old and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. To apply for recognition in 2018, visit http://georgiashpo.org/centennialfarms to download an application or contact Sara Love at 770389-7856 or sara.love@dnr.ga.gov.