Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - February 24, 2016

February 24, 2016

www.gfb.org

Vol. 34 No. 8

JONES COUNTY TEACHER WINS NATIONAL AG TEACHING AWARD On Feb. 18, Jones County first-grade teacher Lauren Goble was named as one of seven national winners of the National Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award for 2016.

Goble, who teaches at Mattie Wells Elementary School, received the 2015 Georgia Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Award during the Georgia Farm Bureau Convention in December.

Goble educates her students about local agriculture with “Thank a Farmer Friday,” when students eat commodities from a nearby farm they learned about in class the week before. Each week her class makes a virtual visit to one of 32 farms across the state which she is partnering. The students learn about a crop or livestock the farm produces, prepare a recipe featuring the commodity and discuss how the farmer grows the crop or livestock. The lesson plans incorporate Georgia geography, and the students write letters to the farmers asking questions about the farm.

Lauren Goble Goble is the fourth teacher from Georgia to win the award. Ronnie Thomas of Houston County won in 2005. Andrea Seagraves of Crawford County won in 2013 and Dennis Peavey of Houston County won in 2014.

The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Farm Credit give the awards to teachers of the year who have received state awards for successfully incorporating agricultural concepts into their curriculum. Winners receive an honorarium of $500 and up to $1,500 for travel related expenses to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, which will be held June 20-24 in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

These kindergarten-through-12th grade teachers won the award for the innovative ways they use agricultural concepts to teach core subject areas of reading, writing, math, science, social studies and more.

"The winners of this award exemplify how effective the use of agricultural concepts can be to teach reading, writing, science, math and more," said Dr. Victoria LeBeaux, the National Agriculture in the Classroom Program Leader for USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which provides federal leadership and annual funding for NAITC. “We’re proud of these teacher winners and the way they’ve embraced agriculture in their classroom instruction,” said Lorri Brenneman, president of NAITCO. “We celebrate their enthusiasm for agriculture, and hope other teachers will adopt their successful teaching strategies.”

GFB News Alert page 2 of 13 PROPOSED BILL WOULD CREATE NATIONAL VOLUNTARY LABELING A proposed bill from U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) would require the secretary of agriculture establish a national voluntary labeling standard for GMO foods while prohibiting states from enacting their own labeling standards. It would preempt existing state labeling standards, including one in Vermont that goes into effect July 1.

The measure would also call for the USDA to develop a consumer education program about GMOs. The Senate Ag Committee is scheduled to mark up the bill on Feb. 25. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill last summer.

Georgia Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation support the measure, maintaining that a patchwork of state and local labeling requirements would result in a hopelessly complicated marketing environment, increased marketing and distribution costs for agribusinesses and ultimately higher food prices.

“Consumers absolutely have the right to make informed choices about the foods they buy,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long. “The food labels used should provide unbiased, science-based information without placing certain products at a competitive disadvantage.”

GFB is one of 17 state Farm Bureaus to express support for Roberts’ proposal.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall said the time has come to establish clarity on the issue of GMO crops.

“This issue must not be put off any longer. We need the Senate to act now to protect consumers from misleading labels and the increase that state-by-state labeling rules can impose on food prices,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We also need to protect farmers and the food industry from the patchwork of state labeling laws being stitched together, which would stigmatize a valuable agricultural technology and have a chilling effect on future innovation.”

According to the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, the use of GMO crops allows farmers to produce crops using less water and fewer pesticides, lowers food prices and helps alleviate hunger.

SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT RULES IT HAS JURISDICTION IN WOTUS SUITS On Feb. 22 a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that court has jurisdiction in the numerous lawsuits against the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over their “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. The ruling means the cases will be heard in the circuit court rather than in various district courts around the country.

The lawsuits include one by the state of Georgia and eight other states. The involved parties in the suits have the option of requesting a review by the full Sixth Circuit Court within 45 days of the Feb. 22 ruling.

The WOTUS rule went into effect on Aug. 28, 2015, but the Sixth Circuit Court issued a stay on the rule while the lawsuits progress through the legal system.

Georgia Farm Bureau has opposed the WOTUS rule since the agencies initially proposed it.

GFB News Alert page 3 of 13 GFB COMMODITY COMMITTEES BEGIN MEETINGS The Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Advisory Committees began their spring meetings the week beginning Feb. 15. The committees for environmental horticulture, fruit, and direct marketing/agritourism each met to discuss topics relating to those commodities. The meetings of the other committees will take place throughout the spring.

GFB has 20 commodity advisory committees, each made up of farmers from around the state.

They are tasked with making policy recommendations to GFB related to their commodity. The meetings continue this spring in preparation for the GFB Commodity Conference in August. The organization develops its policy through a grassroots process to establish its stance on issues that relate to agriculture.

UGA LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL REOPENED The Large Animal Hospital at the University of Georgia has reopened its emergency services and resumed seeing regular appointments on Feb. 22.

The hospital was temporarily closed on Feb. 2 due to a quarantine for equine herpesvirus. On the evening of Jan. 31, a horse was admitted to the large animal intensive care unit and was humanely euthanized on Feb. 1 due to progressive neurological disease. On the morning of Feb. 2, this horse tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1, or EHV-1. All of the horses that remained at the hospital as part of the quarantine have tested negative for EHV-1 and are currently being released to their home barns. The entire Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital was cleaned and disinfected as part of the quarantine protocol. According to the hospital, the virus does not persist for long periods of time in the environment and is killed by the disinfectants that are used in the hospital on a regular basis.

“The only positive case of equine herpesvirus at our facility was the original infected horse that was admitted into the hospital on Jan. 31. This indicates that the virus was contained to that one individual horse,” said Dr. Gary Baxter, associate dean for clinical services in the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. “I am extremely proud of how our hospital personnel responded to this incident and am thankful for the support of the equine and veterinary community. While closing a part of our facility is never ideal, we wanted to take every possible precaution to help ensure the safety of the Georgia horse population.”

EHV-1 is a type of equine herpesvirus infection. It is highly contagious to other horses and can cause abortion, respiratory disease and neurologic disease. However, because the virus is species specific, it does not affect humans.

The university worked closely with the State Veterinarian’s Office and other experts on equine herpesvirus throughout its quarantine. All recommendations were followed, and it was agreed that now the quarantine should be lifted.

For more information regarding equine herpesvirus-1, symptoms, monitoring, prevention and control, visit the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ website at http://www.aaep.org/info/owners.

GFB News Alert page 4 of 13 DUPONT, DOW RELEASE DETAILS OF AG COMPANY MERGER WILL CREATE DuPont and the Dow Chemical Company announced further details Feb. 19 regarding the independent agriculture company the two companies plan to create following the planned separation of DowDupont into three independent, publicly traded companies. This news follows the Dec. 11 announcement that the two companies plan to merge.

The corporate headquarters for the agriculture company will be in Wilmington, Delaware, and will feature DuPont in the company’s name following completion of the corporate naming and branding process, according to a release issued by DowDupont.

The Wilmington headquarters will include the office of the CEO and key corporate support functions while sites in Johnston, Iowa and Indianapolis, Indiana, will serve as global business centers with leadership of business lines, support functions, research & development, global supply chain and sales and marketing concentrated in the two Midwest locations.

“Our deep presence in Iowa and dIndiana will continue the close ties to our customer base and the broader agriculture community, while leveraging the existing coporate infrastructure and expertise we have in Delaware – Dupont’s home for more than 200 years,” Edward D. Breen, chairman and chief executive officer of DuPont said in the release.

The intended independent agriculture company resulting from the Dow-DuPont merger will consolidate the two companies’ seed and crop protection products. Dow crop protection products include the soil fungicide and nematicide Telone, the herbicides Duramax, Durango and Enlist Duo and the insecticide Dursban. DuPont crop protection products include the herbicide LeadOff and Matrix, the insecticides Avaunt, Coragen, and Prevathon, nematicide Vydate and fungicide Tanos. Dow seed brands include Mycogen, PhytoGen and Broadbeck while DuPont offers Pioneer alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, mustard, pearl millet, sorghum, soybean, sunflower and wheat seeds.

“The intended agriculture company will be highly focused, stronger, more competitive, more resilient and better equipped to deliver growth and long-term, sustainable value than either DuPont or Dow could deliver on its own,” Breen said in the release. “Both companies have highly respected brands in the agriculture industry, such as Pioneer and Mycogen [seed brands], which we will continue to build and leverage. We intend to bring a broader suite of products to market faster to increase grower productivity and profitability.”

A material science company headquartered in Midland, Michigan, that features Dow in the company’s name is the second independent company resulting from the merger consisting of Dow’s Performance Plastics, Performance Materials & Chemicals, Infrastructure Solutions, Consumer Care & Automotive Solutions and DuPont’s Performance Materials segment.

The third independent company resulting from the intended merger, which is expected to be completed during the second half of 2016, is a specialty products company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, expected to be composed of four strong businesses including DuPont’s Nutrition & Health, Industrial Biosciences and Protective Solutions businesses along with the integration of DuPont’s Electronics & Communications business with Dow’s Electronic Materials business unit.

GFB News Alert page 5 of 13 GA PORK PRODUCERS GET INDUSTRY UPDATES AT ANNUAL MEETING The Georgia Pork Producers Association held its annual meeting in conjunction with the 2016 Georgia Pork Congress Feb. 16 at the Georgia Farm Bureau office in Macon.

Pork producers attending the event heard updates on swine research being conducted at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), learned about swine diseases, and heard tips on managing their lagoons and calibrating center pivots to properly apply animal waste as a fertilizer source on fields. A National Pork Board (NPB) representative provided updates on the promotion and education programs the NPB is conducting to increase consumer demand and educate consumers.

Dr. David Reeves, a faculty member of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, discussed the implications of the new federal Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) governing State Veterinarian Robert Cobb antibiotic use in livestock production that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2017. Reeves explained that many drugs livestock producers use will require a VFD from a veterinarian after Jan. 1 to obtain and use them. For more information visit www.pork.org/antibiotics.

Reeves also discussed the new Swine Health Information Center that is using real time production data provided by pork production companies to monitor the outbreak of numerous swine diseases. Reeves encouraged producers to visit www.shmp@ umn.edu to access reports Dr. Bob Morrison has compiled for the pork community’s nationwide disease monitoring project.

Dr. Robert Cobb, state veterinarian with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), addressed concerns producers have with feral hogs being sold at livestock markets and the potential that livestock brought into Georgia from other states for breeding or show purposes have for introducing disease into Georgia’s commercial herds.

“What I’m proposing is rule changes to change ID rules of exhibition animals in Georgia.

These changes would be put into place to help us be better able to trace disease concerns and to trace interstate movement,” Cobb said.

In regards to feral swine, Cobb said, “Current laws don’t allow feral swine to go through our livestock markets, but it’s perfectly legal for feral swine to go through a slaughter facility provided they meet inspection requirements. Our inspectors at [livestock] markets are required to turn away any feral swine that show up at markets. All breeding age swine that go through livestock markets are tagged and tested for pseudo rabies and brucellosis.”

Cobb acknowledged that some people have skirted enforcement of the current rules intended to -continued

GFB News Alert page 6 of 13 -continued from previous page keep feral hogs out of the market chain by releasing them when they fail the health tests. He said the GDA is supporting proposed legislation that would help the department enforce the rules by requiring markets and animal dealers to be licensed and bonded.

National Pork Board (NPB) Regional Manager Stephen Herring gave an update on NPB activities intended to build consumer trust, drive sustainable pork production and grow consumer demand for pork products. Herring said 2015 was a record year for U.S. pork production thanks to the industry’s swift response to control cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv), a virus first confirmed in the U.S. in May 2013 that devastated pork herds in 2013 and 2014.

Herring said NPB is working to educate consumers that any antibiotics producers use are regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and that since hormones occur naturally in pigs, there is no such thing as a hormone-free pork product, just products with no added hormones.

“Building consumer trust that producers are using antibiotics responsibly is our number one priority,” Herring said. “We are working to shape the dialogue we are having with consumers so they don’t make decisions about their food based on emotions.”

Members of the Georgia Pork Producers Association (GPPA) elected officers for the coming year who are: President Rodney Newton of Jenkins County; President-Elect Dr. Steve Healy of Bulloch County; Vice President Tom Meeks of Coffee County; and National Pork Congress Delegates Mark Clemmer of Coffee County and Dania Devane of Randolph County and Executive Vice President Charles Griffin. Outgoing GPPA President Mark Clemmer presented a $25,400 donation on behalf of the organization to the UGA Animal & Dairy Science Department to fund swine research Dr. Mike Azain and Dr. Robert Dove are conducting at the UGA CAES Double Bridges Farm.

USSEC, APHIS SEEK SOLUTION TO RUSSIAN IMPORT BAN The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to find a solution to technical issues affecting exports to Russia, according to a USSEC press release. This effort is in response to the official notification received on Feb. 15 by the U.S. government of a temporary restriction of imports to the Russian Federation due to alleged violations of national and international phytosanitary requirements on previous shipments.

According to the APHIS, Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (VPSS) has stated that U.S. soybean and corn shipments loaded prior to February 15 may enter Russia, but will be subject to more intensive inspection. Russia has yet to specify those additional restrictions, which will be placed on shipments loaded thereafter, but prohibition of entry is likely.

“The USSEC Team in Russia and the U.S. is working with APHIS/USDA to endeavor to find a solution to these issues,” stated USSEC CEO Jim Sutter. “We will continue to work collaboratively with VPSS in an effort to lift the temporary prohibition on imports.”

According to Sutter, Russia imported 267,000 metric tons (TMT) of U.S. Soy worth nearly $111 million dollars in the 2014-2015 marketing year.

GFB News Alert page 7 of 13 WORKSHOP GIVES BASICS ON EXPORTING FOOD PRODUCTS Farm and food businesses interested in exporting their products may encounter a complicated process to get started, but they have powerful partners in the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA).

The two agencies hosted a workshop, Food Export 101, on Feb. 16 in Atlanta, detailing government programs set up to help exporters of food products – whether they are raw commodities or processed items – navigate through the process of selling their items in overseas markets.

The reasons to export are simple. Though about a third of U.S. farm acreage is planted for export, international markets are still largely untapped by U.S. businesses. Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) International Trade Manager Shehzin Jafar pointed out that 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside U.S. borders, but only one percent of U.S. companies sell their products overseas.

The process can be complex, but Jafar emphasized that help is available for agribusinesses that want to export.

“We’re always here. If you’re not sure who to go to for advice, you can always come to the Department of Economic Development’s trade division and say, ‘This is what I need,’” Jafar said. “Even if we can’t help you, we know exactly where to send you.”

The GDEcD provides global insight, including export education, partner resources through the U.S. Export Assistance Council and information about export markets. GDEcD also facilitates exporter participation in international trade events.

Georgia has some key advantages, Jafar said. The Port of Savannah is the nation’s secondlargest container port and more than 100 countries have consular offices in Georgia.

For more information about the GDEcD services, upcoming trade events and other international trade-related topics visit http://www.georgia.org/business-resources/internationaltrade/.

SUSTA Marketing Coordinator Kristin Core presented information about SUSTA’s international marketing and brand promotion programs.

Through the international marketing program, SUSTA organizes activities like trade missions, trade shows, in-store promotions and other activities that help exporters gain access to foreign markets. These services are provided to exporters at a reduced cost.

The brand promotion program provides up to 50 percent reimbursement of international marketing and promotion expenses like advertising, printed sales materials, website development and more.

Core’s advice for farmers looking to enter export markets is to do their homework.

“See if the product is export-ready. See if there is potential for that product in the market and determine whether that’s going to be a good opportunity for that company. It all is based on what that product is and what the market is,” Core said.

The minimum reimbursement is $2,500, meaning an exporter has to have $5,000 in eligible expenses. The maximum reimbursement is $300,000, meaning the exporter has $600,000 in eligible expenses.

For a list of eligible expenses under the brand promotion program visit http://www.susta.org/services/map.html.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 13 STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CELEBRATING FFA WEEK More than half a million FFA members nationwide are celebrating the role agriculture plays in our lives while sharing their message of agriculture and agricultural education.

During National FFA Week, a host of activities are planned to raise awareness about the role the National FFA Organization plays in the development of agriculture’s future leaders and the importance of agricultural education.

FFA Week runs through Feb. 27 and included Feb. 22, George Washington's birthday.

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

Today, FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet new agricultural challenges by helping members develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. Members progress to enjoy careers as biologists, chemists, veterinarians, engineers and entrepreneurs.

FFA chapters use this week to help share the message of agriculture with their fellow students as well as with their community. It's an opportunity to give back to their community through service projects and is also a perfect time for members to recruit students to become FFA members.

During this week, the six national officers will visit chapters across the country. Western Region Vice President Sarah Draper will visit Maine; Sydney Snyder, eastern region vice president, will visit Montana; Abrah Meyer, central region vice president, will visit Kentucky; Abbey Gretsch, southern region vice president, will visit Rhode Island; Nick Baker, secretary, will visit Louisiana; and National FFA President Taylor McNeel will visit Wisconsin.

FFA Week is also a time for alumni and sponsors to advocate for agricultural education and FFA. On Feb. 23, the National FFA Foundation celebrated "Give FFA Day," a daylong campaign that encouraged the public to support the various needs impacting FFA members.

Every gift counts toward achieving the FFA mission. Donations are still being accepted. Visit www.FFA.org/giveFFAday to donate.

Sponsored by Tractor Supply Company, National FFA Week can be followed on social media using 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.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 629,367 student members who belong to one of 7,757 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. There are 290 chapters in Georgia, with more than 37,000 members.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 13 GEORGIA FARM BUSINESS EDUCATION CONFERENCE Feb. 25 UGA Conference Center 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tifton The UGA Small Business Development Center, a unit of Public Service and Outreach, along with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension will host this conference, which features UGA experts who will discuss topics including cash flow, agritourism and exports. The program is designed with an eye toward a variety of needs for a wide range of businesses related to agriculture. The cost to attend is $69. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiasbdc.org/georgia-farm-business-education-conference.

GEORGIA CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE NEARS Georgia corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanut, and soybean farmers have until Feb. 28 to apply for crop insurance. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the February 28 sales closing date to do so. Crop insurance provides protection against a loss in production due to natural perils, such as drought or excessive moisture. Coverage is available for corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanuts, and soybeans in many Georgia counties. Farmers are encouraged to check with their crop insurance agent to learn if their crops are covered in their counties. Farmers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2016 crop year. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent locator at http://www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html. Farmers can use the RMA Cost Estimator at https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestimator/ to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.

USING HERBICIDES WISELY TRAINING Feb. 29 Early County Ag Center 9 a.m.

Blakely To RSVP call 229-723-3072 Feb. 29 Vidalia Onion Research Farm 9 a.m.

Lyons To RSVP call 912-526-3101 Feb. 29 Terrell County 4-H Pavilion 2 p.m.

Dawson To RSVP call 229-995-2165 Feb. 29 Screven County Extension 2 p.m.

Sylvania To RSVP call 912-564-2064 March 1 Washington County Ag Center 9 a.m.

Tennille To RSVP call 478-552-2011 March 1 Gordon County Ag Service Center 9 a.m.

Calhoun To RSVP call 706-629-8685 March 1 Varner 4-H Center 2 p.m.

Swainsboro To RSVP call 478-237-1226 March 1 Jackson EMC 4 p.m.

Hull To RSVP call 706-795-2281 Georgia growers will be required to attend this training prior to making applications of dicamba to dicamba-tolerant cotton or soybeans or 2,4-D to 2,4-D tolerant cotton or soybeans. This training, conducted by the University of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, will focus on wise decisions when applying not only dicamba and 2,4-D but all pesticides. For more information contact a local county Extension office.

GFB News Alert page 10 of 13 UGA CAES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS March 1 Nominations due These awards recognize alumni who have made significant contributions and have achieved excellence in their chosen field and/or in their community. There are two awards – The Young Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes CAES alumni who are 35 years old or younger, and the Award of Excellence, which recognizes extraordinary CAES alumni ages 35 and older.

The awards will be presented at the associations awards banquet in the fall. To submit a nomination visit http://tinyurl.com/CAESnoms or send an email to asg@uga.edu.

USDA PLANTING INTENTIONS SURVEY March 1-15 The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey the state’s farmers on the types of crops they intend to plant in 2016, how many acres they intend to plant and the amounts of grain and oilseed they store on their farms. Producers may respond online or by mail.

Those producers selected for the survey will receive a letter with the web address and their access code. This ensures that the responses are confidential and that only those producers selected for the survey have access. Information collected through the survey will be included in NASS’ annual Prospective Plantings Report and its quarterly Grain Stocks Report, both of which will be released on March 31. Information provided by respondents is confidential as required by federal law.

BACKYARD POULTRY FLOCK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS March 1, 8, 15, 22 Carroll County Ag Center, 900 Newnan Road Carrollton The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Carroll County will be hosting this new program for backyard poultry growers. The workshopss run from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Agriculture Center located at 900 Newnan Road, Carrollton. Whether you have a few chickens or many in your backyard flock, this workshop will be a valuable resource for you in understanding the regulations, breeds, nutrition, behaviors, biosecurity, pests, diseases, egg quality, food safety and much more. The cost for all four workshops is $45, which includes course material, manual and a certificate of completion from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Additional family participants are welcome to attend with a paid participant for $25, which includes all four sessions and a certificate of completion.

Refreshments and door prizes will be provided along with product information for backyard flocks. To register contact the Carroll County Extension Office at 770-836-8546 or email Richard Littleton at rlittle@uga.edu.

FARM LABOR FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES March 8 Central Square Complex, 200 Madison Ave. S Douglas This form, presented by the Coffee County Extension, will feature speakers from the Wage & Hour Division, the Georgia Department of Labor, OSHA, the Coffee County Extension, Telamon Corporation and the Georgia Migrant Educational Program. Lunch will be provided.

For more information contact the Coffee County Extension office at 912-384-1402.

GFB News Alert page 11 of 13 CHEROKEE COUNTY AG EXPO March 11 River Church, 2335 Sixes Road 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Canton Cherokee County Farm Bureau, along with the Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Office, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Woodstock, celebrates National Agriculture Month with this free annual event, which features 30 local ag exhibitors, many of which are affiliated with schools or student friendly. Food and drinks from locally produced commodities will be available. For more information, visit www.cherokeeagexpo.info.

AG AWARENESS DAY IN GEORGIA March 15 Georgia Depot Atlanta Gov. Nathan Deal and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black will host this event. Exhibits, food and entertainment will begin at 11 a.m. The program starts at 12:30 p.m. and includes the announcements of the Sunbelt Expo Georgia Farmer of the Year and winners in the Flavor of Georgia Food Contest. For more information contact Steven Meeks by phone at 912-207-0813 or by email at steven@fmrburchfarms.com or meekss@me.com.

AFBF SURVEY ON USDA PROGRAMS The American Farm Bureau Federation is conducting launched an online survey to collect feedback from farmers and ranchers on USDA programs. The survey is open to all U.S. farmers, ranchers, producers and growers. Farm Bureau membership is not requred to participate. All responses will be anonymous. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. The survey closes March 15. To take the survey visit http://usdaprograms.questionpro.com.

GEORGIA AG HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS March 15 nominations due The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association invites you to make nominations for induction to the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals making unusual and extraordinary contributions to agriculture and agribusiness industries in Georgia. Hall of Fame nominations must be postmarked by March 15. For more information or to download the nomination form, visit http://tinyurl.com/gaaghof.

PEANUT PROUD FESTIVAL March 19 Town Square Blakely This all- day event kicks off with a 5k and Fun Run and ends with a street dance. In-between is a parade, more than 100 vendors, a kids' zone and an obstacle course, and free entertainment. For more information or schedule of events, please visit www.peanutproudfestival.com or the Peanut Proud Festival Facebook page. Contact Marcie Justice Williams at marciejustice@yahoo.com or Mike Newberry at Hillside1007@yahoo.com or 229-254-1007.

2015 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SEMINAR March 26 Gwinnett Technical College, Building 100 Lawrenceville Led by various university, government and industry experts, land owners will learn about sustainable farming techniques, available federal and state funding programs, marketing strategies and more. The meeting is hosted by the Upper Ocmulgee River Resource Conservation & Development Council. Early registration is available online at http://conta.cc/1jxi9Tr or by calling 678-375-9518.

GFB News Alert page 12 of 13 MONSANTO SCHOOL DISTRICT GRANTS April 1 deadline for nominations Farmers in 34 Georgia counties have until April 1 to nominate a public school district for grants of $10,000 or $25,000 from Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Fund.

Nominated school districts have until April 15 to submit applications. The grants are intended to help school districts fund math and science projects to enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum and prepare students for technology-driven careers.

Eligible counties are Appling, Baker, Berrien, Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth. Visit www.growruraleducation.com or call 1-877-267-3332 to submit a nomination.

‘GEE HAW WHOA BACK’ RODEO April 1-2 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Arena Tifton Spectators will be entertained with riveting competition during this Professional Cowboy Association-sanctioned rodeo, which begins at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Gates open at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for children 6 – 12 years old and free to ABAC students and children five years old and under. Rodeo tickets will be sold in advance and at the gate on the two days of the event. Separate tickets must be purchased for each night. Events include bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, team roping, calf roping, and steer wrestling. Cowgirls will compete in break-away roping and barrel racing. The rodeo will also feature some audience participation events and family-friendly activities. The rodeo is a part of a week-long series of events on March 29-April 2 designed for students, alumni and the general public. For more information on rodeo tickets or the Homecoming Week, interested persons can contact the ABAC Office of College Advancement at 229-391-4900 or go to www.abac.edu/homecoming.

GA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FEED MY SCHOOL FOR A WEEK April 3 deadline to apply The Department of Agriculture is now accepting new applications for school districts interested in participating in this year’s “Feed My School for a Week” program in Georgia. Feed My School first launched in 2011 with a goal to help bridge the gap in the nutritional value and quality of food served in Georgia schools, while providing more farm to cafeteria opportunities.

Applications can be found at www.feedmyschool.com and will be due by April 3. If you are interested in nominating your school for the program, please have your nutritional director apply online or contact Misty Friedman at Misty.Friedman@agr.georgia.gov.

FIBERMAX ONE TON CLUB April 6 deadline to qualify Cotton growers who plant FiberMax cotton seed are eligible to join the One Ton Club if they harvested 2,000 pounds per acre on at least 20 acres in 2015. The qualification deadline is April 6, 2016. Growers who qualify for membership receive FiberMax One Ton Club apparel and gifts, an invitation to the annual banquet on April 7 and the chance to win a two-year lease on a Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch truck in the FiberMax One Ton Club Sweepstakes.

Complete rules and the qualification form are available from your local Bayer sales representative or at www.FiberMax.com/OneTonClub.

GFB News Alert page 13 of 13 PAULDING COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS’ MARKET April 21 – Oct. 28 Thursdays 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

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

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

2016 GRASSFED EXCHANGE CONFERENCE April 27-29 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This event features more than a dozen speakers who will cover numerous topics pertaining to pasture-based farming such as building soil health and regenerating unhealthy soils. The event will include tours of three Georgia grassfed livestock operations and the UGA Center for Sustainable Grazing Systems in Watkinsville. The Taste of the South will allow attendees to sample grassfed meats, dairy and local foods. Entertainment will be provided by Teddy Gentry and the Rockit City Band. For more information visit www.grassfedexchange.com, email info@grassfedexchange.com or call 256-996-3142.

GEORGIA FARM & EROSION CONTROL EXPO April 29 Jim Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Rd. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Marietta This expo, sponsored in part by Cobb County Farm Bureau, provides a hands-on look at the latest in erosion and sedimentation control products. Former Gov. Roy Barnes will speak on the importance of agriculture and soil conservation to local and state economies. The event includes live demonstrations and exhibits detailing innovations in erosion control. For more information visitwww.cobbswcd.org or call 404-307-2925 or 770-235-5662.

GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM AWARD May 1 deadline for recognition in 2016 The Georgia Centennial Farm Program recognizes centennial farm owners through one of three distinguished awards. 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. Applications for the 2016 awards must be postmarked by May 1. If you are interested in nominating a farm for recognition in 2016, visit www.georgiacentennialfarms.org to download an application or contact Lynn Speno at 770-389-7842 or lynn.speno@dnr.ga.gov.