Georgia Farm Bureau's Leadership Alert - February 6, 2013

February 6, 2013

www.gfb.org

Vol. 31 No. 6

GFB COUNTY PRESIDENTS HEAR GATE & LABOR UPDATES County Farm Bureau leaders attending the Georgia Farm Bureau Presidents’ Conference in Macon on Jan. 31 got an update on the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) program and heard about a year-long study The Essential Economy Council (TEEC) commissioned that shows 966,046 Georgians working manual labor jobs contribute $114.8 million in sales tax and are responsible for 12 percent of Georgia’s Gross Domestic Product.

“The Essential Economy Council is studying issues we need to consider about the state’s workforce so the Georgia General Assembly can discuss labor issues in a constructive way,” said Sam Zamarippa, TEEC co-founder and co-chairman.

The Essential Economy includes labor-intensive jobs such as crop harvesters, landscape crews, poultry processing workers, cooks, dishwashers, housekeepers, janitors and nursing home aides.

Zamarippa Zamarippa said the four biggest threats to this segment of Georgia’s economy are: 1) an aging demographic; 2) young people not wanting to work in the segment as they aspire to better jobs due to the difficulty of the work; 3) cost of increasing government regulations; and 4) immigration issues.

“If we’d had this data for House Bill 87 we would have had a much more moderate discussion about immigration,” Zamarippa said.

Jack Spruill, Georgia Department of Agriculture Marketing Division director, encouraged farmers who have not signed up for their GATE card to do so through the GDA website or by calling 1-855-FARM TAX (1-855-327-6829) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

As of Jan. 1, farmers must show retailers a GATE card to receive sales tax exemptions on farm machinery and its replacement parts, inputs such as seed, fertilizer, chemicals, fencing materials, feed and energy used to produce a commodity. Spruill also cautioned farmers to not abuse the GATE program so there is no ammunition for ending the exemptions.

“Per the Georgia Department of Revenue (GDR) it’s the responsibility of the GATE cardholder to use the exemption correctly. Every purchase you make is not tax exempt. If you have a doubt that something is tax exempt, demand to the retailer that you pay tax on it,” Spruill said.

Things such as work clothes, on-road vehicles, office equipment/paper and materials used to build barns are not exempt according to preliminary information released by the GDR. The GDA is in the process of sending GATE cardholders an outline of items that qualify for the exemption.

County leaders also heard details of GFB’s Spring Membership Contest, which runs Feb. 1 April 1. One county from each of GFB’s districts will win prizes for having the highest combined total of percentage increase in membership and electronic fund transfers during the contest.

Leadership Alert page 2 of 7 GCC MEETING REVEALS CHALLENGES, OPTIMISM Coming off two extraordinary yield years, Georgia cotton growers are holding a positive, if guarded, outlook, even though they were presented with a number of likely challenges on multiple fronts during the Georgia Cotton Commission’s annual meeting, held Jan. 30 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” said Dooly County grower and ginner Matt Coley. “The futures price for next year is hovering around 80 cents. There’s a lot of talk about some grain going in, but I still think cotton is going to be a competitive option for growers.”

Cotton Inc. Vice President for Agricultural Research Dr. Kater Hake reviewed a number of programs the organization has implemented to aid growers, including a cotton irrigation guide Kater Hake (which can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/afkrkfw) and cotton yield maps that help farmers employ precision application of inputs. The yield monitor/maps information can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/an69gud.

Southern Cotton Growers President Mike Tate emphasized the importance of building relationships with members of Congress, particularly those in their first terms and those in new committee positions. Cotton Council International Executive Director Kevin Latner emphasized the importance of China in the world cotton market, noting that China has recently purchased more than 14 million bales of domestic cotton and has a stockpile of approximately 25 million bales in reserve, prompted by the Chinese government’s belief that the 2011 price run-up was the result of thinning stocks.

National Cotton Council President Mark Lange discussed the factors affecting farm bill legislation. Lange said that members of Congress are wrestling with the possibility of making five years of cuts on four years of farm programs. He expressed concern over the timetable of farm bill deliberations, which he said could stretch through the summer.

“You may be almost getting ready to harvest this crop and still be uncertain as to what the rules are for the following crop,” Lange said. “We all anticipate that at some point, most likely for 2014, the farm programs that you operate under will be substantially different from the programs that you’ve seen essentially since 2002.”

The growers had access to eight different presentations from UGA scientists in the Georgia Cotton Production Workshop, held simultaneously with the GCC annual meeting, ranging from economics and marketing to insect and pest management and new varieties.

IRS WAIVES LATE FILING FEES FOR FARMS, SOME SMALL BUSINESSES The IRS announced on Jan. 18 that it will not penalize farmers unable to file and pay their 2012 taxes by the March 1 deadline due to the IRS delayed start for filing tax returns.

Normally, farmers who choose not to make quarterly estimated tax payments are not subject to a penalty if they file their returns and pay the full amount of tax due by March 1. Under the IRS guidance to be issued, farmers or fishermen who miss the March 1 deadline will not be subject to the penalty if they file and pay by April 15.

Farmers requesting this penalty waiver must attach Form 2210-F to their tax return. The taxpayer’s name and identifying number should be entered at the top of the form, the waiver box (Part I, Box A) should be checked, and the rest of the form should be left blank. Forms, instructions, and other tax assistance are available on http://www.IRS.gov.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 7 TORNADO CAUSES SIGNIFICANT AG DAMAGE IN GORDON COUNTY At least three Gordon County farms sustained major damage to agricultural assets in the Jan. 30 tornado that ripped through five North Georgia counties, destroying hundreds of homes and causing at least one death.

Gordon County Farm Bureau Vice President Gerry Weaver, who runs a horse and cattle operation east of Calhoun, lost his home and his horse barn, had downed fencing and damage to equipment. The barn provided storage for Weaver’s tack and feed supplies. Weaver, who was traveling to Macon for the GFB County Presidents’ Conference when the storm hit, received a call from his wife Carolyn informing him of the damage, prompting his return to Calhoun. Seven stallions were in the barn when the tornado rendered it to a haphazard pile of boards and debris. The animals survived with nothing more than cuts and bruises, he said.

“You just wonder why,” said Weaver, whose farm sustained lesser damage from another tornado that touched down in December 2011. “Things happen. You’ve just got to work your way through them and start over, I guess.”

Two Gordon County poultry farmers - Jeff Shick and Donnie Darnell - lost a total of seven chicken houses. Shick, who raises broilers for Pilgrim’s Pride, had approximately 90,000 twoweek-old birds in four houses. The side walls of the houses were blown out and the roofs dropped to ground level. Much of the tin roofing and insulation was also torn away .

Shick said Pilgrim’s Pride had representatives on his farm the next day. They caught between 40,000 and 50,000 of the birds then relocated them to another operator. His farm also sustained damage to a stackhouse barn next to the four chicken houses. Volunteer youth from Northpointe Church in Adairsville were on site to aid in the cleanup.

Neither Weaver nor Shick were initally certain if they would rebuild.

FSA ANNOUNCES SIGNUP DATES FOR DCP, ACRE AND MILC PROGRAMS The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that Congress passed Jan. 1 extended the 2008 farm bill and many of the farm programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) through 2013. On Jan. 22 the FSA announced sign-up dates for the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP), the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC).

FSA will begin sign-ups for DCP and ACRE for 2013 crops Feb. 19. The DCP sign-up period ends Aug. 2. The ACRE sign-up period ends June 3. The 2013 DCP and ACRE program provisions are unchanged from 2012, except that all eligible participants in 2013 may choose to enroll in either DCP or ACRE for the 2013 crop year. This means eligible producers who were enrolled in ACRE in 2012 may elect to enroll in DCP in 2013 or may re-enroll in ACRE and vice versa.

All dairy producers’ MILC contracts are automatically extended to Sept. 30, 2013. Eligible producers do not need to re-enroll in MILC. Beginning Feb. 5 USDA will issue payments to producers enrolled in MILC for Sept. 2012 marketings. Before the October 2012 MILC payment can be issued producers must complete a new Average Adjusted Gross Income form for 2013.

Producers may obtain the form at their local FSA office or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/ccc933.

Producers who wish to select a production start month other than Oct. 2012 must visit their local FSA office between Feb. 1-Feb. 28.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 7 CLIMATE ADAPTATION WORKSHOP Feb. 8 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tifton This free one-day workshop, sponsored by the Southeast Climate Consortium, the Florida Climate Institute and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will bring together experts from the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, and Auburn, Clemson, Florida State and Florida A&M to discuss the latest techniques for helping farmers manage unpredictable weather conditions. Producers will also be on hand to talk about how new irrigation systems, crop varieties and land management techniques have worked on their farms.

Sessions will be offered on sensor-based irrigation management, variable rate irrigation, drip irrigation, sod-based rotation, conservation tillage, cover crops and energy efficient farm systems. There will also be discussions on crop insurance issues, barriers and solutions to changing management and the seasonal climate outlook. For more information or to register visit www.agroclimate.org/seclimate/events.

FLAVOR OF GEORGIA FOOD PRODUCT CONTEST The UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development sponsors this annual contest, designed to help Georgia-based food entrepreneurs showcase their products. Contestants may submit as many products as they like. The categories are: barbecue and hot sauces; jams, jellies and sauces; confections; meat products; dairy products and snack foods. Registration is open and runs through Feb. 8, 2013. Finalists will be invited to take part in a final judging on March 11, 2013 and a public tasting on March 12 at Ag Awareness Day in Georgia event, when the winners will also be announced. For more information about the contest, including registration information, visit http://www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.ed or call 706-583-0347.

2013 GEORGIA FARM TO SCHOOL SUMMIT Feb. 21-22 Georgia International Conference Center College Park This two-day event, presented by the Georgia Farm to School Alliance, of which Georgia Farm Bureau is a member, features 16 workshops featuring experts and leaders from around the state, four field trips, a youth leaders panel, food and farm safety workshops for cafeteria staff and farmers and networking opportunities. Keynote Speaker Debra Eschmeyer is the Co-Founder and Director of Parterships and Policy of FoodCorps and an organic fruit and vegetable farmer. The GICC is located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA, 30337. Registration is $125 for both days or $100 for Thursday only. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/afzu7ed. The deadline to register is Feb. 8.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DAY AT THE CAPITOL Feb. 12 Georgia Depot and State Capitol 9:30 a.m.

Atlanta Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol is a chance for Farm Bureau members to meet with legislators and other government officials. Orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Blue Room of the historic Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, located next to Underground Atlanta. Free parking at Turner Field will be available with a shuttle service that runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact the GFB Legislative Department at 1-800-342-1192 or your local county Farm Bureau office.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 7 GA PORK PRODUCERS MEETING & PORK ACT DELEGATE ELECTION Feb. 12 Georgia Farm Bureau Home Office Macon Georgia pork producers will elect delegate candidates as outlined in the Pork Act for the 2014 National Pork Forum at 1:30 p.m. along with a meeting of the Georgia Pork Producers Association Board of Directors. Producers should bring a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff was paid to be eligible as delegates or candidates or participate in the election. This meeting will follow the 2013 Georgia Pork Congress that begins with the meeting at 8:30 a.m. For information, contact the Georgia Pork Producers Association at 229-246-8297.

GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION RESEARCH REPORT DAY Feb. 13 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, room 14 9 a.m.

Tifton The GPC will hold this annual meeting to allow growers and industry representatives a chance to hear the latest reports on research projects the previous year. The GPC awarded more than $260,000 to peanut research facilities in Georgia in 2012, including 22 research projects from UGA and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. The agenda is available online at http://www.gapeanuts.com, and all research reports will be made available online after the meeting.

BROOKS COUNTYFARM BUREAU OPEN HOUSE Feb. 14 BCFB office, 2453 Dunn Rd. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Quitman Brooks County Farm Bureau President Andrew Thompson and the board of directors invites BCFB members and the general public to attend this celebration of the completion of the new BCFB office facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. and open house. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be served, courtesy of Harveys Supermarkets.

GA CLEAN DAY CHEMICAL DISPOSAL Feb. 27 Sunbelt Agricultural Expo Moultrie Residents of Brooks, Colquitt, Tift, Worth, Mitchell and Thomas counties have the chance to legally dispose of old pesticides through this program coordinated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the UGA Extension offices in the seven targeted counties. Those wishing to participate in the program must register with their local Extension office by Feb. 17. Pesticides will be collected from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 27. No fees will be charged to participate in the program. Contact an Extension office in one of the seven eligible counties for more information or visit http://mitchellcountyag.com/2013/01/22/georgia-clean-day/.

ORNAMENTAL PRUNING CLASSES Feb. 15 & 22 UGA Research and Education Garden 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Griffin This one-day course will teach participants how to properly prune ornamentals and cover how to prune fruit trees. In addition to proper pruning techniques, participants will learn what equipment to use, when, where and how to prune certain plants and techniques for creating a professionallooking landscape. Participants will also learn pest prevention through pruning. Taught by UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences horticulturists Bodie Pennisi and Bob Westerfield, the class will consist of both indoor lectures and outside, hands-on demonstrations.

Participants should check the weather and dress accordingly dress for the outdoor session. The cost of the course is $59, which includes lunch and break refreshments. Visit http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/?public=viewStory&pk_id=4629 for more information. Preregistration is required by calling 770-228-7214.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 7 CERTIFIED EGG CANDLING CLASSES Feb. 20 Emanuel County Extension Office 9 a.m.

Swainsboro Feb. 21 Coweta County Extension Office 9 a.m.

Newnan These free classes for owners of “backyard” flocks provide the Georgia Department of Agriculture candling course and exam, which must be completed by those wishing to sell eggs in Georgia. The five-hour course includes training and licensing to classify and grade eggs according to the USDA Egg Grading Manual, as well as techniques to prevent certain diseases from entering poultry flocks. For more information or to enroll, contact Lee Lancaster at 229386-3489 or lee.lancaster@agr.georgia.gov.

2013 FOREST BIOENERGY CONFERENCE Feb. 21 Central Georgia Convention Center 7:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m.

Forsyth Interest in forest biomass as a potential feedstock for renewable energy facilities has been especially keen for the past several years and much of the activity has been centered in Georgia.

While many issues are becoming clearer, much uncertainty remains with regard to government policy and market prices for fossil fuels. This conference is an excellent opportunity to hear from some of the players on the front lines of developing markets, influencing government policies, and conducting research on how these changes may impact our wood supply system.

The conference is sponsored by the Georgia Forestry Association and the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. For more information please visit http://www.gfagrow.org or call 478-992-8110.

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EGG CANDLING CLASSES Feb. 21 Coweta County Extension Office 9 a.m.

Newnan This five-hour course and exam, required for those who wish to sell eggs in Georgia, guides participants through the USDA Egg Grading Manual, teaching them how to classify eggs by quality and by weight class. Attendees will also learn what eggs need to be discarded and how to properly care for eggs after they have been laid. To sign up, send names, email addresses and mailing addresses for each participant to Lee Lancaster at lee.lancaster@agr.georgia.gov.

Lancaster may also be reached by phone at 229-386-3489. The Coweta Extension office is located at 255 Pine Rd. in Newnan.

2013 GEORGIA FARM TO SCHOOL SUMMIT Feb. 21-22 Georgia International Conference Center College Park This two-day event, presented by the Georgia Farm to School Alliance, of which Georgia Farm Bureau is a member, features 16 workshops featuring experts and leaders from around the state, four field trips, a youth leaders panel, food and farm safety workshops for cafeteria staff and farmers and networking opportunities. Keynote Speaker Debra Eschmeyer is the Co-Founder and Director of Parterships and Policy of FoodCorps and an organic fruit and vegetable farmer. The GICC is located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA, 30337. Registration is $125 for both days or $100 for Thursday only. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/afzu7ed.

BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING Feb. 28 Ramada Conference Center Meeting begins at 2 p.m. Call 229-469-4038 to RSVP or for more information.

Perry

Leadership Alert page 7 of 7 GFB SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEB. 22 Students wishing to apply for one of 10 Georgia Farm Bureau Scholarships have until Feb. 22 to apply. The scholarships are for high school seniors who plan to pursue undergraduate degrees in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or related agricultural fields. Students submitting an application must currently be a Georgia high school senior and plan to enroll in a unit of the University System of Georgia or Berry College during the 20132014 academic year. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information or an application. A copy of the application may also be downloaded from the GFB website by visiting http://www.gfb.org/programs/aic/EducationLinks.htm. Applications must be approved and signed by the Farm Bureau president of the county in which the applicant resides or attends high school. Winners will be announced in May. OLD SOUTH FARM CAMP March - May Old South Farm Woodland These three-day camps, which typically will run from Friday through Sunday, include a variety of vintage farm activities, including milking cows, making butter and buttermilk, a session on honeybees, sessions on operating a tractor and much more. Registration is $200 per person and discounts are available for multiple members of the same family. Fees cover meals, housing, transportation and instructional activities. For more information or to register, contact Paul Bulloch at 706-975-9136 or visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com.

CONFERENCE ON UNMANNED SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE March 28-29 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This conference, cosponsored by the Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Georgia Center of Innovation, is designed to introduce Georgia farmers to the benefits and practical applications of unmanned systems. Speakers include Young Kim, general manager of BOSH Global, John Deere Manager of Field Robotics Stewart Moorehead, UGA Tifton Dean Dr. Joe West and others. The program features live unmanned systems demonstrations and interaction between potential users and manufacturers. To register, visit http://www.ugatiftonconference.org. For more information, contact Karen McIlroy at kmcilroy@uneqconsulting.com.