September 16, 2026
www.gfb.org
Vol. 8 No. 18
SENATE AG COMMITTEE PASSES FARM BILL On Sept. 16, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Agricultural Act of 2026 in a 12-11 party-line vote, according to published reports. RFD-TV reported that the bill passed without amendments or changes. Ag groups across the country, including Farm Bureau, applauded the move, which comes amid some of the toughest economic times farmers and ranchers have faced in decades. “Georgia Farm Bureau is encouraged that the Senate Ag Committee advanced the farm bill,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall. “Georgia’s farmers are struggling, and an updated farm bill to address farmers’ needs is certainly welcome. We hope the Senate will move quickly to pass the farm bill, as well.” The bill had failed in the committee on Aug. 6, when two Republicans, Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, missed the vote. McConnell was present Wednesday and voted to support the bill, the Washington Post reported. Congress last passed a farm bill in 2018, and it has been extended in various forms multiple times since it initially expired in 2023. The current extension expires at the end of September. “It’s been almost a decade since Congress last passed a farm bill,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said. “In the past 10 years, more than 200,000 family farms have gone out of business, as farmers grappled with a pandemic, global unrest, rising expenses and falling prices paid for the food they grow. A new, modernized farm bill will help give farmers the tools they need to survive continued and unforeseen challenges ahead.” The next step for the bill is consideration by the full Senate, where 60 votes will be required for passage, followed by reconciliation between the Senate bill and the House farm bill, which passed on April 30.
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 19 FARMERS’ VOICES AND VOTES MATTER GFB encourages members to engage with communities and vote on Nov. 3 By Amelia Holland As Georgia prepares for the Nov. 3 General Election, one thing is certain: the decisions made at the ballot box will have a lasting impact on agriculture and our rural communities. Georgia Farm Bureau's I Farm. I Vote. campaign is encouraging Georgians to become informed, engaged and active participants in the electoral process. Visit www.ifarmivotega.com to see a list of key issues, candidates and their answers to a questionnaire asking about their stance on the issues, and ballot questions on the ballot. You can also access social media resources and other I Farm. I Vote promo tools. You can access Georgia’s My Voter Page in the Voting Resources section to check your voter registration status by clicking on the Voting Resources Icon. Oct. 5 is the last day to register to vote in the November election. This year's election is significant. Georgians will elect leaders at every level of state government, including our governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, state school superintendent, commissioner of insurance and commissioner of labor. Every seat in the Georgia General Assembly and many local offices are also on the ballot. Georgia voters will also choose our state’s 14 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and one U.S. Senate seat. With so much at stake this election, it is essential that the agricultural community remains active in choosing our state leaders. Another issue of particular importance on the ballot this November is the proposed Georgia constitutional amendment, concerning Georgia's Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA) program. The proposed amendment, No. 1 on the ballot, would increase the maximum acreage a single owner may enroll in CUVA from 2,000 to 4,000 acres. This increase helps ensure the program continues to meet the needs of today's farming operations while protecting working farmland. If approved by voters, the change would take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Elections are about more than casting a vote; they provide opportunities to engage with the candidates as they travel the state seeking votes. Farm Bureau members have an important role to play by asking questions, raising concerns and sharing the issues that matter most to agriculture. Whether discussing the financial crisis many family farms are experiencing, private property rights, labor challenges, taxes, or regulatory issues, conversations with candidates help ensure they understand the priorities of Georgia’s rural communities and the policies needed to keep family farms viable for future generations. The success of agriculture depends on elected officials understanding the importance of a strong farm economy. The profitability and sustainability of Georgia's family farms are influenced by decisions made in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. By staying informed, engaging with candidates and voting, our members can help shape the future of agriculture and advance policies that protect Georgia’s family farms. Your vote is your voice. Plan to vote this November. Encourage others to do the same and let your voice be heard. Make sure agriculture is heard this November!
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 19 ABAC, UGA VET SCHOOL ESTABLISH RURAL PRACTICE INCENTIVE PROGRAM On Sept. 2, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine (UGA VetMed) formalized a partnership to help address Georgia’s shortage of veterinarians serving rural communities and the state’s food-animal agriculture sector. The institutions commemorated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Tift Hall on the ABAC campus, establishing the Georgia Rural Practice Veterinary Incentive Program, or Georgia Rural Practice VIP. The five-year agreement creates a collaborative pathway for ABAC students interested in pursuing mixed animal and food-animal veterinary medicine and ultimately serving rural communities in Georgia. Food animals are domesticated or farmed animals raised primarily for human consumption and animal-derived food products. The need for veterinarians who specialize in food-animal medicine is significant. According to statistics reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association, of the 90,219 veterinarians in the United States involved in clinical practice in 2025, only 3.1% were dedicated solely to foodanimal practice. The percentage of veterinarians dedicated to food-animal practice declined from 3.4% in 2024. In Georgia, the shortage of food-animal and mixed-animal veterinarians presents a challenge for rural communities and the agricultural industry. “Years from now, the success of today’s agreement will not be measured by the signatures on this memorandum,” ABAC President Dr. Tracy Brundage said. “It will be measured by the students who choose to answer this calling. It will be measured by the veterinarians serving our rural communities, supporting Georgia agriculture, and caring for the animals that sustain one of our state’s most important industries.” The Georgia Rural Practice VIP will provide selected ABAC students with specialized advising and mentoring throughout their undergraduate education. Students will be advised by an ABAC faculty member in the animal science track and mentored by a UGA College of Veterinary Medicine faculty member with expertise in food-animal medicine. Eligible applicants must be Georgia residents, demonstrate a strong interest in animal agriculture and pursuing the practice of mixed- or food-animal veterinary medicine, and have completed their first full academic year in ABAC’s animal science track within the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major. Students accepted into the program will be expected to complete the required coursework for ABAC’s animal science track, the prerequisites for admission to UGA VetMed and specific handson experiences designed to prepare them for careers in rural veterinary medicine. “We recognize that the viability of Georgia’s food-animal agriculture industry depends directly on having skilled veterinarians who can meet the demands of our rural farming communities,” said Dr. Lisa K. Nolan, dean of UGA VetMed. “By aligning ABAC’s strong undergraduate program in animal science with UGA’s clinical veterinary education, we are establishing a sustainable source of veterinarians dedicated to serving our rural regions for years to come.”
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 19 The first students accepted into the program are Maylee Barnes of Jefferson County, and Lainey Kate Harris of Charlton County. Both students have experiences that fostered their love of caring for animals. “My love for animal care began with one of my family’s animals, a pot-belly pig named Rosie,” Harris said. “Rosie got in an accident with a neighbor’s dog and was really hurt. We went to my papa, and he told us to put burnt motor oil on its back to help with the infection. That inspired me to learn as much as I can so I can provide better care for animals and not have to rely on homemade remedies.” “I grew up in Florida but moved up to Georgia and my family’s farm during COVID,” Barnes said. “Working on the family farm started my love for animal care, and over the past three years I’ve gotten to work at a veterinary practice, which has strengthened my love for animals.” Participation in the Georgia Rural Practice VIP does not guarantee admission to UGA VetMed. Students who choose to apply must complete the regular UGA VetMed admissions process and meet all application requirements. However, the program is designed to provide students with focused preparation, advising, mentoring and experiences that align with careers in rural veterinary medicine. The partnership also is intended to help participating veterinarians pursue additional financial assistance. Veterinarians who complete the program will be eligible to apply for the Georgia Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Program, according to the MOU. The MOU has a five-year term through June 1, 2031, unless canceled or renewed by mutual agreement. “This program represents a vital, collaborative partnership between ABAC and the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine,” Dr. Henry Young, UGA vice provost for academic and community engagement, said. “Together our institutions are addressing a critical, unmet need: the shortage of food-animal and mixed-animal veterinary services in rural Georgia.” The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) offers a similar program for its students – the Food Animal Veterinary Incentive Program (FAVIP), which began in 2011. Currently there are 12 CAES students in the program. The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, annually accepts up to 10 undergraduates interested in training in food animal medicine. Students can apply for FAVIP spring semester of their freshman year after choosing one of the following majors: • Animal Health • Animal and Dairy Science • Animal Biosciences • Avian Biology • Poultry Science Requirements for acceptance into FAVIP are highly specific. Admittance into any preveterinary medicine major does not guarantee admittance into UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, visit https://www.caes.uga.edu/students/undergraduateprograms/preprofessional-studies/pre-vet/favip.html.
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 19 EPA, DEPT. OF THE ARMY SEEK PUBLIC INPUT ON PROPOSED WOTUS RULE On Sept. 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Army announced a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to gather public input on additional regulatory language for defining “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to be considered alongside the 2025 proposed rule. The agencies maintain that the rule adheres to the Supreme Court’s direction in Sackett v. EPA, that it cuts bureaucratic red tape, and protects water quality while recognizing that states and tribes are best positioned to manage their own water resources. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said the rule provides clarity and brings common sense to the WOTUS definition. “We have a proposed rule that will allow for farmers and ranchers in every state to be able to look out on their land and know exactly what is a ‘water of the United States,’” Duvall said. “The agencies answered farmers’ concerns and calls for clarity. Water is the lifeblood of our farms and communities, and farmers take our role as caretakers seriously. Farm Bureau welcomes a WOTUS rule that protects our natural resources and respects the careful stewardship of the men and women who grow the food, fiber and fuel our country depends on.” While WOTUS determines where federal permits are required for certain activities, waters that fall outside federal jurisdiction remain subject to regulation under state, tribal, and local law, consistent with the framework of cooperative federalism that underlies the Clean Water Act. Prior to issuing the 2025 proposed rule, the agencies opened a public recommendations docket, hosted listening sessions, and conducted pre-proposal consultations with Tribes, states, and local governments and their member associations. EPA and the Corps of Engineers also gathered input on the proposed rule through three public meetings and a 45-day public comment period that closed on Jan. 5 and generated more than 220,000 comments from a wide range of stakeholders. The supplemental proposal offers an additional opportunity for public engagement on a limited number of new regulatory alternatives, to be considered alongside those in the 2025 proposed rule. The agencies will closely consider stakeholder perspectives without foreclosing any options from the initial proposal or predetermining the outcome of the final rule. Once the supplemental proposal is published in the Federal Register, the agencies will accept public comments for 30 days. To submit a public comment, visit https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0322-15447. The public comment period ends Oct. 9. For more information on the WOTUS rule, visit https://www.epa.gov/wotus.
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 19 COTTON JASSID: 2025 EXPERIENCE INFLUENCED 2026 By Jay Stone From the first detection in Georgia last summer to the rapid expansion of the cotton jassid in 2025, the tiny insects also known as spotted leaf hoppers prompted an immediate response in multiple southern states. The small, yet ravenous bugs reached every cotton-growing county in Georgia. An impromptu response – intensive scouting, particularly at field edges, and then spraying pesticides to control the jassid – ensued, and the damage caused by their consumption of the leaves of cotton plants was largely kept in check. With the bug being a known entity, researchers at the University of Georgia and other Southern land grant schools were able to create a program to combat the cotton jassid in 2026. “We have a much better plan,” Dr. Phillip Roberts, UGA Extension entomologist, said during an Aug. 26 webinar that was hosted by Farm Progress and included Auburn’s Dr. Scott Graham. Roberts and Graham recapped 2025. “By the end of the year and just as the year progressed, we knew it was going to impact yield because the symptoms from feeding just happened so quickly,” Roberts said. He noted that if left uncontrolled, jassids cause “hopper burn” or discoloration of the leaves. Ultimately, the leave damage results in diminished photosynthesis. “Those leaves will eventually begin to redden on the margins. Eventually the entire leaf would redden and leaves would basically desiccate, and the plant would just die,” Roberts said. To their credit, Roberts said, growers handled jassids well. “It was unexpected. We had to change up our management depending on insecticide selection. We added some sprays in some areas, but at the end of the day, growers managed the insect,” he said. The experience from 2025 proved instructive in multiple ways. It became clear that jassids hit field edges first, so the researchers placed a premium on scouting plants within the first few feet at the edge, and they emphasized that the place to look on each plant was the fourth leaf below the terminal, though jassids on leaves above the fourth should not be ignored. If there is an average of more than one jassid found, producers should immediately treat the field with insecticides. “Early in my career, you had consultants and scouts making counts,” Roberts said. “This is before BT cotton, but literally a grower would be waiting at his shop for a scouting report because that grower was going to react that day, not tomorrow, that day when he got his report. That's what you have to do with this insect. If you’re at threshold, you don’t put it off a week. You make a point to go get that field, whatever it takes, preferably within a day or two, but you can’t delay it. I mean, too much can happen.” The emergence of the cotton jassid prompted growers to spend more time scouting than they might have otherwise, Roberts said, and this activity led to increased knowledge about other pests in cotton fields, as well as beneficial arthropods like spiders that feed on jassids. “We’ve really got back to the basics of [integrated pest management] IPM and done a much better job scouting,” Roberts said.
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 19 Roberts emphasized that suspected hopper burn should always be investigated. “If you see a weak spot in a field that you suspect to be jassid, stop the machine, get off and look. We always want to investigate hopper burn. And that could be confused with other things, but if you see plants you suspect [of having] hopper burn, we need to look and confirm the presence or absence of jassids,” he said. For more information about the cotton jassid, including surveillance data, field diagnostics and science-based recommendations, visit https://stop2scl.org/. OBSERVE NATIONAL FARM SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK 2026 The 2022 data for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the agricultural sector is still the most dangerous in America with 417 fatalities. Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture. For this reason, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. This annual promotion initiated by the National Safety Council has been proclaimed as such by each sitting U.S. president since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. National Farm Safety and Health Week is led by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), the agricultural partner of the National Safety Council. This year National Farm Safety and Health Week is Sept. 21-25, using the theme “Safety today. Success tomorrow.” Each day features a specific farm safety topic. NECAS will host webinars and has provided an extensive collection of resources to provide information on safe farm practices. The daily topic schedule, with links to course and registration information is as follows: Sept. 21 - Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety Noon Pathways to Progress: Safer Routes, Stronger Communities [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/pathways-to-progress-safer-routes-strongercommunities] 2 p.m. These Shared Roads: Using Stories in Rural Roadway Safety Education [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/these-shared-roads-using-stories-in-ruralroad[way-safety-education] Sept. 22 - Health and Wellness Noon CALM Conversations on Access to Lethal Means [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/calm-conversations-on-access-to-lethalmeans] 2 p.m. Noise in Agriculture: An Overlooked Occupational Hazard [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/noise-in-agriculture-an-overlookedoccupational-hazard] 4 p.m. The Cost of Fatigue in Agriculture: Practical Solutions to Protect Workers and Increase Productivity [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/the-cost-of-fatigue-in-agriculture-practicalsolutions-to-protect-workers-and-increase-productivity]
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 19 Sept. 23 - Generations of Farming Noon - Telling the Story: Using Personal Experiences to Strengthen Farm Safety and WellBeing [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/telling-the-story-using-personalexperiences-to-strengthen-farm-safety-and-well-being] Sept. 24 - Confined Spaces Noon Confined Space Safety in Agriculture [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/confined-space-safety-in-agriculture] 2 p.m. Increasing Awareness for Confined Space Safety [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/increasing-awareness-for-confined-spacesafety-in-agriculture] 4 p.m. More than FEMA: Building True Rural Disaster Resilience [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/more-than-fema-building-true-ruraldisaster-resilience] Sept. 25 - Cancer Prevention Noon Boots, Bales, Biopsies: Women’s Health on the Farm [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/boots-bales-biopsies-women-s-health-onthe-farm] 2 p.m. Cancer Knowledge, Exposure Beliefs, and Prevention Behaviors: Insights from Iowa’s Agricultural Communities [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/cancer-knowledge-exposure-beliefs-andprevention-behaviors-insights-from-iowa-s-agricultural-communities] Click here to register for all webinars. [https://learning.agrisafe.org/ecommerce/products/2026-national-farm-safety-and-healthweek-webinars]
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 19 GACD SOIL HEALTH WORKSHOP Sept. 17 registration deadline Sept. 24 Johnson Angus Farm, 2738 Cedar Grove Rd. 10 a.m. – noon Jefferson This workshop, presented by the Oconee River Soil and Water Conservation District, will feature presentations on soil health, hay production, nutrient management and common issues. Program includes demonstrations and partner updates from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, UGA Extension and the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission. A free lunch will be provided. To register, call 678-956-3015 or visit www.gacd.us/events. FORESTRY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS Sept. 18 89 Pebble Road 9 a.m. Reynolds Sept. 29 Willie Hodges Farm, 29 Jarrett Durden Rd. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Swainsboro These workshops, sponsored by USDA’s NRCS and FSA, the National Wildlife Federation, Georgia DNR and the Georgia Forestry Commission, offer presentations on longleaf restoration, benefits of forestry, forestry and wildlife management, forest sustainability and more. To register for the Swainsboro workshop, click here. To register for the Reynolds/Taylor County workshop, click here. For more information, contact Jerome Brown at 770- 689-8883 or Jerome.brown1502@gmail.com. KEL-MAC SADDLE CLUB HORSE SHOWS Sept. 19 & Oct. 24 Morgan Co. Ag Center Madison These shows are open to equestrians of all ages and experience levels. Classes include hunter/jumper, western, gaited, trail obstacles, ranch riding, ranch reining, dressage on the rail, halter/showmanship, “small fry” and more. All shows begin at 9 a.m. - rain or shine. Trail classes are from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Western Classes not to start before lunch. Riders must be members of Kel-Mac to accrue points towards year-end awards. Age divisions for competition are as follows: Small Fry: 10 and under; Junior: under 14 years of age; Senior: 14 years and over. Novice: Rider is in 1st or 2nd year of showing. Green Horse: Horse is in 1st or 2nd year of showing. Entry fee per class is $10. Stall fees are $15 for club members & $20 nonmembers. All overnight stalls are $25. Each horse show is an “an all-breed show” which means there are a wide variety of disciplines offered in the more than 50 classes. The focus of the Kel-Mac shows is to include everyone and help participants become more comfortable with showing. For more information about the shows, visit the KelMac Saddle Club Facebook or Instagram pages or www.kel-mac.com or call Arlene Williams at 706-431-8600. Signup for shows on the website. General admission is free and concession food and drinks will be available. The Morgan County Ag Center is located at 2380 Athens Hwy. (441), north of Madison. These volunteer-run shows generate funds to benefit KelMac’s equestrian related charities. The Kel-Mac Saddle Club has donated more than $170,250 back to Georgia’s Piedmont region during its 50 years including: the Georgia Equine Rescue League, ReDux Equine Rescue, Sweet Olive Rescue, and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Empty Stocking Fund, and the equestrian facilities of state & county parks such as A. H. Stephens, Hard Labor Creek, and Heritage Park.
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 19 [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forestry-resource-management-workshop-swainsboro-ga-tickets1998399812635?aff=oddtdtcreator] [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forestry-resource-management-workshop-taylor-county-tickets1996187083302?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utmmedium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile] 38TH ANNUAL GEORGIA PEANUT TOUR Sept. 22-24 Savannah and surrounding area This tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a firsthand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut-producing counties in South Georgia. Attendees can expect to see first-hand nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. This year’s tour hosts many exciting stops including on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, research at the University of Georgia Southeast Research and Education Center, Georgia Ports Authority and MANA Nutrition. The tour kicks off this year with the Hot Topics Seminar on Sept. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at The Clyde Venue in Savannah, Georgia. The seminar topics include an update on the 2026 Georgia peanut crop and a special focus on production challenges, enhancing production and climate issues with emphasis on irrigation, fertilizer and other inputs. For specific tour information or details, contact David West at 229-386-3470. Click here to register. Visit www.georgiapeanuttour.com for more info. [https://www.eventzilla.net/e/2026-georgia-peanut-tour-2138672601] JOINT COMMITTEE ON GENERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILY FARMS Sept. 28 Berry College 9 a.m. Rome Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and Rep. Robert Dickey (R–Musella), chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, will host this second hearing of the Joint Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms at Berry College in Rome. The committee is examining the conditions and challenges facing Georgia’s family farms and seeking recommendations for legislative solutions to strengthen existing markets, prepare the next generation of farmers and address the long-term sustainability of the state’s agricultural economy. For more information visit https://gfb.ag/JointCmteRome. Future meetings are tentatively scheduled for Oct. 28 in Douglas and Nov. 20 in Athens. Once finalized, meetings are being listed at www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/house and www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/senate.
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 19 LALLEMAND ANIMAL NUTRITION SCHOLARSHIPS Sept. 30 deadline to apply Applications for the 2026 Lallemand Scholarship are open through Sept. 30. Interested students must be full-time students enrolled in agriculture-related programs at accredited institutions in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. Applications will be evaluated based on academic achievement, leadership qualities, commitment to the agricultural industry and an essay submission that highlights creativity, originality, and forward-thinking perspectives. There are five scholarship categories: Two $2,500 scholarships for undergraduate students; one $3,000 scholarship for a master’s student; one $3,000 scholarship for a doctoral candidate; and one $3,000 scholarship for a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student. Learn more about eligibility and to apply by visiting the Lallemand Animal Nutrition website. Lallemand Animal Nutrition is a global company that offers microbial solutions for animal health and performance. [https://www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com/en/united-states/lallemand-animal-nutritionscholarship-program/] 2026 GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR Oct. 8-18 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Georgia National Fair is an annual must-do event for people across the state, with a stacked lineup of concerts, always-popular Midway rides, annual livestock shows, and of course, fair food! Don’t miss your chance to access this unforgettable experience! The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with the Midway open from noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. on the weekends. Online advance ticket prices for adults (ages 11 and up) through Oct. 7 are $14, plus a $1 processing fee; children ages 3-10 are $4 plus a $1 processing fee. Season passes are $95 plus a $2 processing fee and two-day passes are $25 plus a $2 processing fee. Onsite gate prices will be $15 for adults (ages 11 & up) if paying with a credit card and $20 if paying with cash; admission for children ages 3 – 10 is $5. Children 2 and under get in free, and seniors (60 plus) pay $10. For complete information about entertainment offerings, fair food and the concert lineup visit www.georgianationalfair.com. For information about ticket pricing on specific discount days, please visit https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/getconnected/pricing. 2026 SUNBELT AGRICULTURAL EXPO Oct. 20-22 Spence Field Moultrie The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will celebrate its 48th anniversary show October 20-22, 2026. More than 800 exhibitors will display and demonstrate products and welcome thousands of visitors to the 100-acre show site. Crowned as North America’s Premier Farm Show and the largest farm show in America with field demonstrations, the Sunbelt Ag Expo brings together all segments of agribusiness, including farmers, educators, policy-makers, ag-enthusiasts, and families. All attending the show will see the latest innovation and technology that the agriculture industry has to offer. A highlight of the show is the naming of the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. After an intensive judging process, seven state winners attend the show to learn who will be selected as the overall winner. The Sunbelt Ag Expo is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 19 Tuesday and Wednesday and 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Admission at the gate is $15 per person per day. Advance and discount tickets can be purchased online. The Show site is four miles southeast of Moultrie, GA, on Hwy 133. For more information and to view the detailed event schedule, see the show website at www.sunbeltexpo.com. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU HAY CONTEST Oct. 30 deadline to enter Enter the 35th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Quality Bermudagrass Hay Contest by Oct. 30. The first-place winner will receive the free use of a Vermeer wheel rake for one year, courtesy of the Vermeer Corporation. The winner will have the option to buy the rake at a reduced price at the end of the year. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at a University of Georgia lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which provides analysis of a hay sample’s nutritional value and expected digestibility for livestock. The RFQ score gives sellers and buyers an idea of the quality of the hay they are producing or buying for their livestock. Contest winners will be determined by the RFQ analysis. Winners will be announced at the GFB convention in December. Prizes will also be presented to the second through fifth-place winners. Entry forms and complete contest rules may be picked up at your county Farm Bureau office or downloaded at www.gfb.ag/HayContest . You may also contact the GFB Public Policy Department at 1-800-3421192 if you have any questions about the contest. There is a $25 fee for each entry to cover the cost of the lab test. Producers may enter more than one sample. Any producer submitting more than one sample can only place in the Top 5 with one sample – their highest scored sample – but will receive analysis for all submitted samples. Checks should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. Entry fees, forms and samples should be sent to the GFB Public Policy Department 1620 Bass Road Macon, Ga., 31210. 2ND ANNUAL GEORGIA FARM BUREAU PB&J 5K Nov. 13 Registration deadline Nov. 14 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry Come for the run. Stay for the fried PB&J! Sign up today for the 5K on Nov. 14 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. The course is flat, fast, and completely paved — perfect for all skill levels. Registration is $30. Runners must register by 8 p.m. Nov. 13. No registrations morning of race. Enjoy a post-run grilled PB&J sandwich, compliments of the Georgia Peanut Commission! The race will include a themed costume contest and in honor of America’s 250th Anniversary, there will be a Freedom Finish Line celebration. If you’re bringing the family, after the race be sure to check out the Georgia National Antique Agriculture Show for FREE — a perfect way to step back in time and enjoy a look at the history of agriculture. Visit https://www.gfb.org/pb-and-j-5k to register and for more information.
GFB Field Notes page 13 of 19 ABAC PCA PRO RODEO EVENT Nov. 13 & 14 ABAC Rodeo Arena Tifton Get ready for two nights of high-flying action, western entertainment and rodeo excitement as 3R Rodeo Company returns to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The rodeo is part of Stage Lights and Rodeo Nights, a weekend of entertainment at ABAC that kicks off with country music star Tracy Lawrence at the John Hunt Auditorium on Nov. 12. For more information on the weekend-long event, visit link.abac.edu/events. Rodeo tickets are available at here. Tickets start at $20 for general admission, with children under 6 admitted free. An enhanced VIP experience ticket is $30 each for adults and $10 for children under 6. VIP tickets are limited, so secure your seats early. From bull riding and calf roping to other classic rodeo events, fans can expect plenty of thrills under the lights at ABAC. Gates open at 5 p.m., Mutton Bustin' begins at 6 p.m., and the rodeo action kicks off at 7:30 p.m. each night. Mutton Bustin' participation is available for an additional fee. The evening will also feature Western Way Entertainment, a Sevierville, Tenn.based performance company founded by married couple Shelby LeAnne Danison and Chance Danison. The duo combines professional rodeo skills with music and western performance, bringing audiences an exciting specialty act featuring trick riding, mounted shooting, trick roping and more. GA FFA STUDENT FARMER MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY Landon Hembree, a junior at Colquitt County High School and the son of a third-generation farmer, is conducting a survey for a research project on farm stress. We appreciate our farm youth in Georgia who care about our farmers and their mental health! Way to go Landon! If you would like to help Landon out by completing his survey, visit The Psychosocial Factors Affecting Agricultural Producers. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKGkzLUGlDJxGSfJwXUILEp88Deo24poZQaS HmOVnHsTCtMw/viewform] GFB HAY DIRECTORY GFB is accepting listings for its online hay directory. Farm Bureau members with hay for sale or who offer custom harvesting or custom sprigging services are invited to list their hay and/or services in the GFB Quality Hay Directory published on the GFB website. Hay for sale or services can be listed or removed from the directory throughout the year. To be included in GFB’s online hay directory, complete a submission form by visiting your county Farm Bureau office or online at www.gfb.ag/hay. Please include a $10 check made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau for each listing of hay, custom harvesting or custom sprigging. Multiple listings are allowed. Listings can be updated in the directory throughout the year as hay inventories change. Hay producers who entered the GFB Quality Hay Contest receive a free listing in the online GFB Hay Directory. CONSERVATION DISTRICTS OFFER FERAL HOG CONTROL SERVICES For a list of feral hog control services available in each GACD Conservation District, visit https://gfb.ag/feralhoggacdresources.
GFB Field Notes page 14 of 19 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE OFFERS SUPPORT The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988 or chatting on 988lifeline.org. 988 is a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support. You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out. 988 trained crisis counselors can help you through whatever mental health challenges you are experiencing.