Among these were Senate Bill 396 authored by Sen. Russ Goodman which allows farmers to sell produce directly to Georgia food banks and House Bill 1303 supported by Reps. Dickey, Terry England, Clay Pirkle, Patty Bentley and Chris Erwin that will make the existing pilot elementary ag education program currently available in more than 20 schools a permanent program available to all Georgia elementary schools.
A record crowd of about 300 turned out for the 2022 Joint Agriculture Committee Chairmen Ag Issues Summit held Aug. 30 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. Almost 15 speakers covered numerous ag issues including legislation the Georgia General Assembly passed this year pertaining to agriculture and updates on activities at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, Georgia Department of Agriculture and the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. Other speakers discussed water initiatives being offered in Southwest Georgia, Farm Service Agency programs and work the Georgia Heirs Property Law Center is doing to help families clear titles to property passed on to the next generation with multiple owners.
Georgia Rep. Robert Dickey and Georgia Sen. Larry Walker III, who chair the Georgia House and Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committees, hosted this annual event that gives Georgia’s ag community an update on current and emerging issues Georgia’s top economic sector is experiencing. The summit was started more than a decade ago by former House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairmen Tom McCall and John Bulloch.
“It’s good to see the many agency heads from the state of Georgia, state legislators, federal government representatives and representatives from all of our farm groups here today,” said Dickey, chairman of the Georgia Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee. “My committee members whether they’re from rural South Georgia or metro Atlanta they have a real passion for agriculture.”
-continued on next page September 14, 2022 www.gfb.org Vol. 4 No. 19
AG ISSUES SUMMIT COVERS GAMUT OF TOPICS
“We’re mighty proud to have such a great crowd today,” said Walker, chairman of the Georgia Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee. “I think it’s indicative of the importance of agriculture and what’s going on in Georgia’s ag industry. We had a productive 2022 Session and passed a lot of bills important to agriculture.”
Shimp said the GNFA is working to bring a Fairfield & TownePlace Suites Marriott Hotel to the fairgrounds. The four floor hotel will offer full amenities for guests staying in one of the 129 rooms including a restaurant and pool. Shimp said an air conditioned “Hall of Fame” will connect the hotel to the Miller Murphy Howard Building making the agricenter a “premier convention center destination.”
“We’re going to have the best fair we’ve ever had,” Shimp said. “COVID is over and we’re looking forward to getting back to normal. This fair is like the Super Bowl for kids who show livestock. We know our responsibility is to give all the kids and families who come a good time.”
The Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter annually welcomes more than one million visitors to the facility located along I 75 on the southside of Perry for premier events including the annual rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Bull Riders and multiple National Barrel Horse Association events. In June the facility welcomed the National Jr. High School Finals Rodeo, which drew 45,000 visitors and will return to the Agricenter in 2023. This marked the first time the National Jr. High Finals Rodeo had been held this far east, Shimp said.
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Marriott Hotel coming to GNFA Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Executive Director Stephen Shimp encouraged everyone to attend the upcoming Georgia National Fair to be held Oct. 6 16.
Black touts importance of regional meat processing facilities & recruiting employees
“We as livestock producers have got to do this,” Black said. “There is a tremendous cooperative spirit amongst Georgia’s cotton and peanut producers with cotton gins and peanut processing facilities. Now we need to do this for our livestock producers who are trying to serve local customers.”Blackalso encouraged Georgia ag leaders to think of ways to recruit and retain employees to -continued on next page
The initial hotel design approved by the Georgia Agricultural Exposition must go through several review and permit approval steps followed by selection of a contractor before construction begins. GNFA leaders hope to have the hotel operational mid year of 2024, Shimp told a GFB reporter.
Outgoing Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black received a standing ovation, as he walked to the front of the room to deliver his presentation, for the work he has done to serve Georgia agriculture since taking office January 2011.
Black encouraged Georgia livestock producers to explore USDA and Ga. Dept. of Agriculture (GDA) programs that offer financial assistance to build regional meat processing facilities. The USDA is offering funds through its Meat & Poultry Intermediary Lending Program. This year the Georgia General Assembly reallocated $7.8 million in unused funds originally designated for cleaning up 2018 forestry damage from Hurricane Michael to be awarded for establishing meat processing facilities. The GDA is working with the Georgia Development Authority to award the approximately $4 million remaining after funds have been awarded to a meat processing facility in Wilcox County, Black said.
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With the Georgia Raw Dairy Act set to go into effect July 1, 2023, which will make the sale of unpasteurized milk legal, the GDA is working to write the food safety regulations that producers and sellers of raw milk must follow.
The new dairy act is intended to make the production and sale of unpasteurized milk as safe as possible while also providing a new market opportunity for Georgia dairies.
GDA Chief Information Officer William Rutherford said the department aims to unveil a new website by the end of this year that will increase online engagement with a modern look and feel, improve ease of navigation for stakeholders and offer refreshed content with less ag and governmental jargon.
Continued from previous page work in Georgia government and agriculture jobs.
Rutherford also explained how the department is using data from its geographic information systems to make management decisions such as creating GDA inspection territories, connecting -continued on next page
“We are beginning to see signs of pest pressure and greening and are working to help producers stay on top of it to prevent the spread of both,” Duncan said. “GDA needs resources to properly support the citrus industry with facilities such as a clean budwood facility to provide growers with clean stock [trees].”
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Duncan said there is discussion of putting such a facility in Griffin.
“We have to determine how many producers are interested in participating in this and allocating appropriate resources to meet the need for enforcing this new program,” said Dan Duncan, GDA Chief Operating Officer.
“The iceberg we’re facing is who is going to run this government five to ten years from now? Who is going to choose government and agriculture as a career path? How do we recruit and keep these people?” Black asked.
Duncan said Georgia’s emerging commercial citrus crop is estimated to have about 3,300 acres planted with production expected to reach with 56 million pounds by 2024. While the future of Georgia citrus looks bright, challenges include pest pressure and citrus greening.
“We’ve spent the last three years assessing the existing website and how we can improve it for our consumers,” Rutherford said. “We analyzed other state websites, talked to Georgia Department of Agriculture stakeholders and did constituent surveys to ask why they visit the website and what content is and isn’t useful.”
Members of Georgia’s dairy sector sought passage of the Georgia Raw Dairy Act to address gaps in state law that resulted in untested, unregulated raw milk being sold and consumed by humans under a pet food label. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and health experts recommend that pasteurized Grade A milk is safest for consumers because pasteurization kills harmful organisms responsible for diseases such as listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria and brucellosis, but the demand for unpasteurized milk has risen in the past decade from consumers who want milk straight from the cow.
GDA staff discuss emerging commodities & improved technology
He also said the USDA predicts that net farm income for U.S. farmers will be down for 2022 -continued on next page
Continued from previous page GDA resources with needs and doing real time interactive mapping for emergency situations.
Challenges of last two years have revealed vulnerabilities of ag & rural economies
The 2022 Ag Snapshots, based on the 2020 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report, shows that the county level economic value of all food and fiber production in Georgia had a value of $12.2 billion and the total economic contribution of Georgia’s 2020 food and fiber production and related industries had a $69.4 billion impact on Georgia’s $1.1 trillion economy and more than 352,430 jobs in the economy. Next year’s 2023 Ag Snapshots will report the value of ag to Georgia’s economy in 2021 and 2022 values will be reported in 2024.
“We’ve seen in the past two years that Georgia agriculture and our rural economies are vulnerable to the economic shocks we’ve experienced set off by the pandemic,” said Dr. Gupi Munisamy, UGA CAES agricultural marketing professor. “We need to find ways to get our people through these crises and to stable the water. Rural economies need innovation and unique approaches to prosperity.”
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Munisamy offered some hope, saying, “Farm income patterns show progress after steep declines.”Whilecrude oil prices rose from $60 and $70 a barrel in February up to $100/barrel this year, prices are expected to drop back to the $60 to $70/barrel range by the end of the year, Munisamy said. Projections for broiler, cotton and peanut producers looks good he said.
He said drought in the western U.S. is driving up cotton prices and the forecast is stable for peanut
“The application of technology in the past five years has been the good thing to come out of the storms,” Commissioner Black said. “We’ve gone from using clipboards to interactive digital maps.”
The 2021 Ag Snapshots, based on the 2019 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report, showed that the county level economic value of all food and fiber produced in Georgia in 2019 had a value of more than $13 billion and the total economic contribution of Georgia’s food and fiber production and related industries represented $70.1 billion in output to Georgia’s $1.12 trillion economy and supported more than 359,220 jobs
“Fruits,prices.vegetables and nuts will remain a near and long term challenge as imports of fruits and veggies will continue to increase over the next ten years,” Munisamy said.
“Long term projections for broiler producers look great as there will be a demand for meat protein in Southeast Asia as their population grows,” Munisamy said while acknowledging higher feed prices producers are experiencing due to drought conditions in other parts of the country and the threat highly pathogenic avian flu poses to producers.
The COVID 19 pandemic, supply chain issues, trade wars, rising inflation and interest rates have affected Georgia agriculture and the state’s rural economy during the past two years. The 2021 and 2022 Ag Snapshots reports on Georgia’s agricultural economy, prepared by the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, give a hint of the impact.
Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center (GWPPC) Director Mark Masters outlined the Georgia Flow Incentive Trust (GaFIT) and the GWPPC’s deep well project funded through a $50 million grant funded by the American Rescue Plan Act awarded to the GWPPC by Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia's Water & Sewer Infrastructure Committee.
“We have a large challenge when we think about the need to increase food production 60 to 70% using the same acres to feed a population increase of 30% by 2050,” said Dr. Nick Place, UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences dean and director. “A lot of this comes down to the use of technology. Ag technology can help producers increase their production efficiency, decrease production costs with targeted fertilizer and pesticide applications, automate harvesting to increase yields and optimize feeding and watering schedules for livestock.”
Continued from previous page compared to 2021 without USDA Market Facilitation Program and Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payments. The 2022 national net farm income is forecast at $113.7 billion down from about $120 billion in 2021 but up from $95.2 billion in 2020. Georgia numbers have not been updated since 2020.
Georgia Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Arthur Tripp outlined the agency’s programs and encouraged Georgia farmers to explore the many programs available to them that offer much more than just loans.
A peach, pecan and timber producer, Dickey said, “Our ag economy is struggling. Farmers always worry about the weather and this year is no exception. Many experienced a freeze in March. Some people are getting too much rain and then we’re also facing rising [input] prices. I paid double for fertilizer and our packaging costs are through the roof. There’s just a lot of challenges we face each and every day.”
Place said the CAES is working to establish the UGA Integrative Precision Agriculture Institute to create an environment that fosters innovation with faculty across UGA’s campus and with faculty from other research institutions to develop more technology solutions to address ag challenges.“Itcan’tbe just us. We have to think about how we can partner with ag organizations and other schools, such as Georgia Tech,” Place said. “Our vision is to have a site at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter for the ag industry to come and show off their new technology and products on a working farm.”
Place said the CAES has a statewide economic impact of $696.3 million, the third largest of all UGA colleges. Farmers who participated in CAES Extension Agricultural & Natural Resource programs estimate they would save or gain $10.31/acre or head of livestock because of local and state programs.
Both Masters and Tripp delivered similar presentations earlier in August at the GFB Commodity -continued on next page
Water, FSA & Ballot initiatives
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CAES placing emphasis on Integrated Precision Ag Technology
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Georgia agricultural organizations that sponsored the 2022 Joint Agriculture Committee Chairmen Ag Issues Summit include the: Georgia Poultry Federation, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Georgia Milk Producers Inc., Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Georgia Forestry Association and Georgia Urban Ag Council.
Continued from previous page Conference. To read more visit https://gfb.ag/waterFSA .
HALL JOINS GA FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE STAFF
“We’re excited to have Hannah join the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture team,” said GFA Executive Director Lily Baucom. “Her passion for teaching students about agriculture will be valuable as an instructor with the Georgia Ag Experience mobile classroom.”
Georgia Rep. Sam Watson encouraged Georgians to also support Referendum B that will be on the Georgia ballot in November to extend tax exemptions that currently exist for single family farms to merged farms of non family members.
Hannah Hall has joined the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) as an educational programs assistant for the foundation’s Georgia Ag Experience Mobile Ag Classroom.
“We are the number one forestry state in the nation, and we want to stay there,” Villegas said. “This year it cost $107 million more to move timber than it did in 2020.”
“I am very excited to be getting back to my initial passion agricultural education. This opportunity with the GAE Mobile Classroom allows me to educate elementary students on where their food, clothes, and shelter comes from, but also encourages them to be excited about a career in agriculture,” Hall said. “I was impressed and excited to learn the level of technology the mobile ag classroom showcases; this will be essential in the success of the program. I look forward to -continued on next page
Hall, a native of Floyd County, received an associate of science in agricultural education from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. She is earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration online from Southern New Hampshire University. Hall spent almost nine years in banking as a loan processor.
Georgia Forestry Association President/CEO Andres Villegas encouraged summit attendees to vote Yes for Referendum A when they go to the polls in November. He said the referendum will give loggers a tax exemption on equipment used to harvest timber similar to exemptions provided to farm equipment.
Hall will work with Virginia Fulwood to set the Georgia Ag Experience’s schedule for visits to schools, community, and statewide events as it travels statewide. Hall will also serve as a mobile classroom instructor and work closely with county Farm Bureau staff and volunteers as the GAE visits communities. She replaces Natalie Bennett Taddei, who took another job closer to home after getting married in May.
“Agriculture is evolving and farmers that aren’t related are buying land together and farm equipment together to share costs,” Watson said. “We’re just trying to level the playing field trying to keep farmers in business.”
Hall, who grew up around farming, was an active FFA member as a student and is an active member of the Floyd County Young Farmers Association. She describes herself as a huge Atlanta Braves fan and spends her spare time watching or attending games.
CHATTOOGA COUNTY FARM BUREAU RECOVERING FROM FLOOD
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Chattooga County Farm Bureau, located on U.S. Highway 27 in Summerville, sustained about $50,000 worth of damage, according to CCFB President and GFB 1st District Director Bill Bryan, who counted the organization fortunate the damage wasn’t more extensive.
Some areas of the county received as much as 17 inches of rain in the early hours of Sept. 4, overwhelming the Chattooga and its feeder streams.
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looking at a 10 day forecast of no rain, so we’re optimistic of the potential in it still, but it basically took our top end out of our yield,” Garrett said. “It turned a great crop into a below average crop.”
Garrett said the cotton field looked like it had been sprayed with paraquat. The soybean plants survived, but he wouldn’t know until the plants matured whether the beans rotted or sprouted in the “We’rehulls.
Meanwhile, Chattooga County farmer Garrett Hurley, who grows cotton and soybeans along with his father, Greg, lost about 50 acres of cotton, representing about 15% of the farm’s overall crop. The Hurleys had fields next to Racoon Creek and Perennial Creek, which come together and run into the Chattooga River. Garrett estimated the fields were under 12 feet of water. The plants in the soybean and cotton fields were submerged, laying them over and in the soybean field washing the soil away from their roots.
CCFB staff have relocated to First Baptist Church pastorium, which is located behind the CCFB office, and by mid week computer networking had been installed so the office could function. Bryan said the fact that all the membership and insurance information is computerized prevented any major problems.
Torrential rains from what Gov. Brian Kemp called a 500 year rain event flooded much of downtown Summerville in Chattooga County, as overflowing water from the Chattooga River nearby left numerous houses and businesses without power and water and dealing with a variety of other problems, from structural damage to lost inventory and more.
Hall may be reached at hhall@georgiaagexperience.org . Learn more about the GAE mobile classroom at www.georgiaagexperience.org.
The floors were ruined in the CCFB building, which also had internal water damage to lower portions of its walls and water damage to ceiling tiles resulting from a roof leak. The building’s air conditioning unit started running while submerged and was damaged beyond repair.
“I told our board it could have been a fire or a tornado,” Bryan said. “We’ll survive.”
“Ten years ago, when we had all those files, and everybody had a [paper] file and everything, when we filed everything by hand, it would have been devastating. With everything on computer I think we’ll be all right now,” Bryan said.
Continued from previous page growing the program and traveling the state!”
The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD), a non profit organization that promotes the conservation of natural resources, is partnering in the statewide competition, which the Georgia Ag Experience (GAE) and Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) coordinates.
“I guess we’re really fortunate that we’re talking about crops and not homes,” he said. “There’s hundreds of people here in Chattooga County that had multiple inches of water in the floor of their house. It’s hard for me to call it that bad with some of the other destruction that I’ve seen. It’s not like my family is going to go without. We’re going to be able to go another year anyway.”
Teachers interested in participating in the Be In the Know, Conserve H2O Challenge may visit www.gfb.ag/stemchallenge for more information and to register for the program. Once teachers register their class, they will receive instant access to a digital resource toolkit that equips the class for participating in the water conservation STEM challenge.
“We developed the STEM challenge to connect elementary students to Georgia agriculture. This fall, students have an opportunity to explore the importance of water as a natural resource and how they can improve their school gardening spaces while using water conservation practices” said GFA Educational Programs Assistant.
Elementary teachers and their students may enter the Be In the Know, Conserve H2O STEM Challenge until Nov. 18 for the chance to win a prize package totaling $350 for their class. The top grade winner from the third, fourth and fifth grade entries will win a prize package. The winners will be announced via a Zoom presentation on Dec. 2.
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Like Bryan, Garrett was left counting his blessings in the wake of the storm.
“The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts is excited to partner with the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture on the 2022 fall STEM Challenge,” said GACD Executive Director Katie Sponberger. “This challenge, which focuses on water conservation, will help students understand how Georgia farmers are conserving and protecting water and how they as students can conserve water when gardening.”
Each participating class is being asked to answer the question “How can we improve water conservation in our garden spaces?”
The STEM challenge asks participating classes to complete the provided lesson plan and activities provided for the challenge and then create a video presentation no longer than fiveminutes that demonstrates what the class learned about improving and increasing garden spaces by using water conservation practices. Class presentations must be uploaded to YouTube for judging by Nov. 18.
Georgia elementary classes in third through fifth grades are being challenged to put their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills to work to explore the real world issues involved with water conservation in local communities.
GACD PARTNERS WITH GEORGIA AG EXPERIENCE STEM CHALLENGE
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The Georgia Ag Experience/Georgia Foundation for Agriculture STEM Challenge is designed to be a bi annual competition with a spring and fall contest. The GACD is the 2022 challenge -continued on next page
“An extended rail strike would have cascading effects on farmers and ranchers, and the best solution for agriculture and the U.S. economy is to avoid a strike entirely,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “There is no real substitute for moving agricultural goods, as trucks can only move a small percentage of grain and other products typically transported by rail, and river transport is only an option for certain geographic areas. A rail strike now would reverse the supply chain improvements achieved in the past year and make it more difficult for U.S. farmers and ranchers to address rising global food insecurity.”
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The American Farm Bureau Federation urged Congress to intervene if the two sides could not reach an agreement.
RAILROAD LABOR DISPUTE THREATENS AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CHAIN
“A rail stoppage on September 16 would hit right as the fall harvest accelerates in many parts of the United States,” said NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert in a Sept. 12 letter. “The economic damage across the food and agricultural supply chain would be swift and severe.”
A dispute between railroad workers and U.S. rail companies reaches its “cooling off” period on Sept. 16, the deadline to prevent a lockout or strike, raising concern from the U.S. agricultural sector, which depends heavily on rail transport to move agricultural products around the country.
According to published reports, some U.S. rail companies plan to halt grain shipments on Sept. 15.“Rail is an essential piece of the agricultural supply chain, particularly as we approach harvest season, so any disruption to rail services would have a negative and lasting impact on our growers,” said Brooke S. Appleton, vice president of public policy at the National Corn Growers Association “Given the effect this could have on farmers and the nation’s economy, we urge both sides to do whatever it takes to resolve this issue by the end of the week. If an agreement is not reached soon, Congress needs to act.”
Earlier this year after industry officials and union leaders failed to reach a contract agreement, President Joe Biden established an emergency board, made up of industry and union officials, which was charged with developing a resolution. On Aug. 17, the board recommended several resolutions, including raises for rail workers. While most unions agreed to the proposal, two of the largest unions held out, citing the need for improved working conditions for rail workers.
Continued from previous page partner.Thepurpose of the challenge is to encourage elementary teachers and students in grades 3 5 to explore aspects of Georgia agriculture by applying their STEM skills to solve real world problems that farmers face in producing our food and fiber.
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) said the rail network has been experiencing significant service disruptions for nearly three years. Any additional disruption of rail service would have immediate impacts on the nation’s supply chain, NGFA noted.
Anyone who would like to contact their members of Congress to encourage them to order railways to continue shipments of fertilizer and ag products may access a directory of congressional offices at https://www.gfb.org/advocacy/congressional directory.cms.
Other ag organizations in the trade association rankings are the Georgia Poultry Federation at No. 19, the Georgia Agribusiness Council at No. 25 and Georgia Forestry Association at No. 27.
GA TEAM NAMED SEMIFINALIST IN ABFB AG INNOVATION CHALLENGE
“The future of agriculture depends on innovative solutions to the challenges that we’re facing today,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The entrepreneurs behind the start up companies we’re recognizing are committed to helping rural communities and supporting farmers and ranchers in their mission to provide the food, fuel and fiber we all rely on.”
To read the entire issue, click here (https://www.paperturn view.com/insideradvantage/james septemberoctober 2022 web?pid=MjY269511)
MAGAZINE NAMES GFB GEORGIA’S NO. 2 TRADE ASSOCIATION
In the top 40 trade associations the Georgia Chamber of Commerce was ranked No. 1. Behind GFB are the Georgia Municipal Association at No.3, the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia at No. 4 and the Georgia Health Care Association at No. 5.
The James Magazine rankings are based on the results of an online survey of the magazine’s subscribers and governmental affairs specialists throughout the state, as well as consultation with an advisory group of state lawmakers.
Georgia Farm Bureau is rated the state’s No. 2 trade association in the September/October issue of James Magazine. The issue, designated as the magazine’s Lobbyist Issue, includes survey results in a variety of advocacy categories.
Citizens are represented in the political system not only by those they elect to office, but also by the political parties and political/business interest groups,” Kent wrote. “These channels of representation overlap, and lobbyists are essential elements to this system. They especially fulfill several functions critical to lawmaking and policy implementation.”
GFB Governmental Affairs Specialist Jake Matthews was rated ninth on the magazine’s list of Lobbyist Rising Stars.
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Georgia based MycoLogic LLC is one of 10 semifinalist teams being awarded $10,000 each. MycoLogic is a startup spun out of the BioInnovation Laboratory at Kennesaw State University by Drs. Chris Cornelison and Kyle Gabriel that empowers farmers to more profitably grow mushrooms at MycoLogic’sscale.drop in solution allows growers to scale their production of specialty mushroom varieties, like Shiitake, Oyster and Lion’s Mane, using embedded systems and proprietary software. The system can be applied to shipping containers or existing infrastructure and facilitates a semiautonomous system for fruiting of specialty mushrooms. Optimized environmental parameters allow users to maximize output by matching conditions to their crop. The company
The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues its focus on advancing agricultural innovation by supporting start up business from across the nation. On Sept. 13, AFBF and Farm Credit announced the 10 semi finalist teams in the 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.
James Magazine publisher Phil Kent wrote in his column that government affairs and lobbying organizations play a key role in the U.S. political system.
The issue also included a list of the top 100 individual lobbyists, or the top 10% of the state’s 1,000 lobbyists. Georgia Farm Bureau Public Policy Director Alex Bradford was rated No. 73.
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The 10 semi finalist teams will compete at the AFBF Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Friday, Jan. 6, to advance to the final round where the four finalist teams will receive an additional $5,000 for a total of $15,000 each. The final four teams will compete live in front of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives on Sunday, Jan. 8, to win three top titles and prizes:•Farm
• Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Runner up, for a total of $20,000
The top 10 semi finalist teams will participate in pitch training and mentorship from Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business faculty prior to competing at AFBF’s convention. In addition, the top 10 semi finalist teams will have the opportunity to network with industry leaders and venture capital representatives from the USDA’s Rural Business Investment Program.
The other semifinalist teams are: Atlantic Aquaculture Technologies (Massachusetts), team lead Daniel Ward; Emgenisys Inc. (Texas), team lead Cara Wells; Hennen Pig Chute (Minnesota) team lead Brad Hennen; NORDEF (Kansas), team lead William Walls; ReEnvision Ag (Iowa), team lead Jayson Ryner; Symbrosia (Hawaii), team lead Alexia Akbay; TrackerSled (Illinois), team lead Lawrence Kearns; TreadSure (Nebraska) team lead Ethan Steinberg; Vence (California), team lead Ben Veres.
Farm Bureau would not be able to recognize and support these rural businesses without generous funding provided by sponsors Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank andToMicrosoft.learnmore about the Challenge visit http://fb.org/challenge
Continued from previous page says this technology increases the profitability of existing farms and lowers the barrier for new growers by providing a turn key solution for increasing the size and frequency of harvests while reducing labor costs.
The Ag Innovation Challenge provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations in agriculture. This is the ninth year of the Challenge, which was the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs launching food and agriculture businesses.
• People’s Choice Team selected by public vote, for an additional $5,000 (all 10 semi finalist teams compete for this honor)
NATIONAL FARM SAFETY & HEALTH WEEK IS SEPT. 18 24
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National Farm Safety & Health Week, led by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), will be observed Sept. 19 23.
Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, for a total of $50,000
Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture sector. 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 -continued on next page
Sept. 20 - Overall Farmer Health
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Continued from previous page Safety (NECAS), the agricultural partner of the National Safety Council. The week features daily safety topics of focus: Sept. 19 - Tractor Safety & Rural Roadway Safety
Sept. 21 - Safety & Health for Youth in Agriculture
Sept. 22 - Confined Spaces
Sept. 23 - Safety & Health for Women in Agriculture
On Sept. 6, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public comments on a new approach to indemnity valuation and a new indemnity framework. This approach aims to standardize and provide greater consistency to the livestock indemnification process.
The ANPR describes two structural changes to the indemnity regulations. The first is the use of an annual indemnity value table to standardize the indemnification process and resolve discrepancies between disease programs. The current regulations for valuing animals for indemnification vary from species to species and, in some cases, from disease to disease within the same species. Under the new approach, APHIS would collaborate with other USDA agencies including the Farm Service Agency’s Livestock Indemnity Program to develop harmonized USDA indemnity values, along with the methodology to determine them. These values would be published online annually.
Second, the ANPR describes an approach to standardize allowances for appraisal when an indemnity value cannot be calculated using the tables or when a producer elects to appeal the indemnity value based on extraordinary circumstances surrounding the animals at issue. This approach would resolve known challenges with indemnification based on fair market appraisal by an Oneappraiser.issue
The 2019 data for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the agricultural sector is still the most dangerous in America with 573 fatalities, or an equivalent of 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers.Eachday during National Farm Safety & Health Week, AgriSafe will host two FREE webinars related to the daily topic of focus. Participants only need to register one time to access all of the NFSHW webinars. To register for the AgriSafe webinars, click here.
APHIS hopes to address is how to value lost animals in a rapidly spreading disease outbreak, like outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 2014 2015 and again this year. Flocks where HPAI is confirmed are euthanized. In the case of commercial poultry flocks, this means fewer birds and table eggs are available to consumers, contributing to increasing prices.
To date in 2022, HPAI has been found in 435 flocks 204 commercial flocks and 231 backyard flocks affecting 49.9 million birds in 39 states. So far this year, no commercial poultry flocks have been affected in Georgia but outside menagerie flocks in Toombs and Henry County did -continued on next page
USDA PROPOSES NEW LIVESTOCK INDEMNITY FRAMEWORK
This ANPR may be viewed in the Federal Register by clicking here. (https://www.federalregister.gov/public inspection/2022 19260/indemnity regulations). Members of the public may submit comments at www.regulations.gov. All comments must be received by Nov. 6.
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Continued from previous page have a variety of poultry species test positive this summer. Major outbreaks last spring affected commercial poultry producers in Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. More recent outbreaks have been reported since late July in commercial flocks in California, Idaho, Minnesoota, Ohio and Utah.The
ANPR also outlines the potential consolidation of all APHIS indemnity regulations into a single section of the Code of Federal Regulations. This would harmonize how APHIS addresses value determination, compensation for cleaning and disposal, and other related issues across existingThroughprograms.theANPR, APHIS is seeking comments to inform future rulemaking. Specifically, the agency is seeking comments on the standardized approach to indemnity valuation and how it may affect members of the public, as well as any suggestions to improve it. APHIS is also seeking input on whether any species or commodity classes would not benefit from consolidation, whether consolidation would significantly alter disease management, and any other concerns.
GEORGIA FRUIT & VEGETABLE GROWERS SEPTEMBER WEBINAR Sept. 20 noon online
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE NOW ACCESSIBLE AT 988
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a new name & number on July 16. It’s now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It can be reached by calling or texting 988 or chatting on 988lifeline.org. 988 serves as 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. SAMHSA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Communications Commission & other suicide prevention and mental health partners worked together to create 988 and its expanded services. #988Lifeline
USDA CONSERVATION PRACTICES SURVEY
Mark your calendars for the 25th Annual Inman Farm Heritage Days, which offers fun for the whole family! Admission is free come out and spend the weekend looking at displays of antique tractors, engines, cars and trucks as well as working exhibits like our sawmill, grist mill, liquor still, syrup mill and much more! Visit www.mintersfarm.com for details. Crafters and vendors, call 770 296 8360 or email stephanie@mintersfarm.com for more information.
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will continue collecting responses to the Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey over the coming weeks. Survey recipients may respond securely online at www.agcounts.usda.gov, by phone or mail. A representative for NASS may call producers to set up an interview to assist in the completion of the questionnaire. In late May, NASS mailed the survey to nearly 2,700 farmers and ranchers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. A joint project between NASS and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), this survey is aimed at better understanding conservation practice adoption and the role of technical and financial assistance. The data will be used to guide the implementation of NRCS programs in the future. There are two versions of the survey this year one requesting information on crop conservation practices and one for confined livestock conservation practices. Data from both versions of the survey will be available later this fall on NASS’s website at www.nass.usda.gov. All information reported by individuals will be kept confidential, as required by federal law. For assistance with the survey, producers can call the NASS Southern Region Field Office at (800) 253 4419.
Join Fisher Phillips attorneys Marty Heller and Josh Viau for the last episode of the GFVGA podcast series on COVID and Employment Law. The panelists will cover: CDC's new guidance that removes many safeguards previously required by employers; OSHA’s reaction to the CDC guidelines and what to expect from OSHA moving forward; an update on OSHA’s heat hazard as it impacts agricultural employers; new EEOC guidance and trends from the EEOC impacting your workplace. To register, click here
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25TH ANNUAL INMAN FARM HERITAGE DAYS Sept. 16-18 Minter’s Farm, 283 Hill’s Bridge Road Fayetteville
Sept. 28
UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental scientists will discuss work they are doing on cotton variety selection, pest management, cover crop management, precision ag & more using research funds provided by the Georgia Cotton Commission. Pesticide credits will be offered. Contact your county UGA Extension office for more details.
2022 PEANUT DISEASE TOUR
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, halter/showmanship, beginner, open, minis, & a costume contest at the Oct. 8 show. All shows begin at 9 a.m. rain or shine. Entry fee per class is $10 and $12 for championship classes. For more information call Susie at (706) 342 3775 or visit the Kel Mac Saddle Club Facebook page or www.kel mac.com. These volunteer run shows generate funds to benefit equestrian related charities. The Kel Mac Saddle Club has donated an estimated $157,050 back to Georgia’s Piedmont region through its 45 years including: the Georgia Equine Rescue League, the Morgan County Sherriff’s Empty Stocking Fund, the Calvin Center’s Horses & Warriors program, a student scholarship and the equestrian facilities of state & county Parks such as A. H. Stephens, Hard Labor Creek, Don Carter, Watson Mill Bridge and Heritage Park.
Sept. 21 Headland, Alabama
YOUTH AG SAFETY WORKSHOP
Tifton
Sept. 28 UGA Campbell Research Center Watkinsville
KEL-MAC SADDLE CLUB HORSE SHOWS
This annual event will allow participants to see firsthand research being conducted by UGA and Auburn University into diseases that affect peanuts. RSVP to Dr. Albert Culbreath at spotwilt@uga.edu or 229 386 3156.
Sept. 22 TBA, Florida
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Sept. 17 & Oct. 8
Sept. 20
NORTHEAST GEORGIA COTTON FIELD DAY
11 a.m. 3:30 p.m. online This workshop is being hosted by AgriSafe Network, the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety and the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health. Leading experts will utilize hands on activities and small group discussions in discussing benefits and risks to youth working in agriculture, illness and injury prevention strategies, youth mental health, and parent/supervisor information and training. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Attendance will be limited to the first 50 registrants. To register, visit http://www.marshfieldresearch.org/cash workshop.
Oct. 14
EPA EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR ATRAZINE COMMENTS
This workshop is aimed at developing understanding of forest carbon markets, determining the economics of forest carbon payments, identifying emerging opportunities and providing feedback on socially acceptable forest management practices for increasing carbon stored on forestland. Registration is $15 per person and the deadline to register is Sept. 30. Visit https://bit.ly/3QnpYez to register.
The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the deadline for public comment on “Proposed Revisions to the Atrazine Interim Registration Review Decision” to Oct. 7. Atrazine is an important tool for weed mitigation in several crops, including corn, sorghum and sugarcane. Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to tell EPA to use sound science and maintain farmers’ access to atrazine. Proposed mitigations would severely limit how farmers can use this product. Visit the GFB Action Center online to send a message with one click.
Mary Kahrs Warnell Forest Education Center 8:30 a.m. 4 p.m. Guyton
GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR
Sept. 30 deadline to apply/renew Georgia barley, canola, oat and wheat growers have until Sept. 30 to apply for crop insurance or make changes to their existing coverage. Coverage is also available for barley in Crisp, Jefferson, Pike, and Walton counties. Coverage is available for canola in Bartow, Calhoun, Chattooga, Cherokee, Floyd, Franklin, Gordon, Hart, Murray, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties. Coverage is also available for oats and wheat in select counties. Please contact your insurance agent to see if your county is covered. Growers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2023 crop year. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at https://www.rma.usda.gov/en.
Oct. 6-16 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry Make your plans now to join the fun at the Georgia National Fair, the state’s largest showcase for agriculture with livestock shows, 4 H and FFA projects, as well as the always popular rides on the midway and concerts presented by Georgia Farm Bureau to fit every musical taste, free with fair admission. Tickets are $15 for ages 11 60 and $10 for those over age 60. Children ages 10 and under are admitted free. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/tickets.
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Oct. 7 deadline to submit comments
CROP INSURANCE FOR BARLEY, CANOLA, OATS AND WHEAT
FOREST LANDOWNER CARBON WORKSHOP
2023 AFBF WHITE-REINHARDT GRANTS
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The evening unites leaders from every agriculture sector and corner of the state in a festive salute to the industry. On November 18, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the Live Auction, Silent Auction and Field of Dreams raffle, and listen to entertainment provided by The Swingin’ Medallions at the event’s new location, The Classic Center in Athens, GA! The cut off date to be listed in the Harvest Celebration program as a ticket purchaser or a table sponsor is Oct. 21. To register, visit https://www.ga agribusiness.org/Events.aspx, call the GAC office at 706 336 6830 or send an email to Maggie Wooten at mwooten@ga agribusiness.org
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is accepting applications for White Reinhardt scholarships and community/classroom grants through Oct. 15. White Reinhardt scholarships to the 2023 National Ag in the Classroom Conference are for full time educators and/or volunteers that actively participate in classroom ag literacy programs or events. This scholarship provides travel expense funds for educators to attend the national conference and use the information gained to expand their outreach to students regarding food, fiber and fuel. New for 2023, White Reinhardt scholarships are for $1,500 plus registration costs. Learn more and apply here. White Reinhardt grants fund projects that will increase agricultural literacy. County and state Farm Bureaus may apply for $1,000 grants for education programs for grades K 12 to initiate new ag literacy programs or expand existing programs. Learn more and apply here. Recent recipients of these grants include Banks County Farm Bureau (BCFB) and the Georgia Agriculture Experience (GAE) mobile classroom. BCFB will use its grant to add a vertical garden to the pollinator garden it sponsors at a local school and to buy cooking equipment for the teacher so students can prepare the food they grow. The GAE mobile classroom will use its grant to add a sensory based learning station for students with special learning needs.
Moultrie
Oct. 15 deadline to apply
Billed as “North America’s Premier Farm Show,” this annual event has more than 1,200 exhibitors showcasing the latest in farming technology. Whether you are a large acreage production farmer or a weekend lifestyle farmer the Expo is an event you don’t want to miss! For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.sunbeltexpo.com. Stop by the Georgia Agriculture Building at the main gate to visit with Georgia Farm Bureau!
GEORGIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 18 The Classic Center Athens
SUNBELT AG EXPO Oct. 18-20 Spence Field
Oct. 31 deadline to enter Georgia Farm Bureau is calling all members who grow any variety of Bermudagrass hay to enter its annual hay contest. Hay entered in the 2022 GFB Quality Hay Contest will be tested at the UGA Feed & Environmental Water Lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which provides an analysis of the nutritional value of the hay. Winners will be determined by the RFQ analysis and announced in December at the GFB Convention. Prizes will be presented to the top five producers. Entry forms outlining complete contest rules may be picked up at your county Farm Bureau office or downloaded from the GFB website www.gfb.ag/HayContest. There is a $20 fee for each entry to cover the cost of the lab test. Producers may enter more than one sample. Checks should be made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau. Contest participants will receive a detailed copy of their hay analysis and may choose to have a free listing in the ’22/’23 online GFB Hay Directory. Producers must be a GFB member to enter the contest or list hay for sale in the hay directory. The deadline to enter contest is Oct. 31. The cost to list hay in the directory alone is $10 and may be submitted at any time.
Nov. 9-10
UGA PILOT PROGRAM OFFERS FREE TELE-COUNSELING
Georgia Museum of Agriculture Tifton
GFB 2022 HAY CONTEST
The past few years have been challenging. Sometimes it's hard to recognize the physical effects of stress and how it effects our lives. Talking to someone about your stress can help. The UGA Tattnall County Extension office is partnering with the UGA School of Social Work on a pilot program to offer farmers and members of the agricultural community access to up to six free online counseling sessions with a licensed counselor. Participants do not have to farm or live in Tattnall County to participate. Call 706 510 6930, email gaatelehealth@uga.edu for more information or visit https://gfb.ag/ugapilotaddressstress to complete a questionnaire to begin the enrollment process. Anyone who doesn’t meet the requirements for the grant funding the program will be provided appropriate counseling referrals. Symptoms of chronic stress include irritability, lack of focus, change in appetite, sleepiness or insomnia, aches/pains, headaches, emotional withdrawal, low energy, anxiety, increased alcohol/substance use.
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2022 GEORGIA AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS FORUM
This event, hosted by the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association and sponsored in part by Georgia Farm Bureau, is suited for all owners, operators, office managers, personnel managers and service providers for the produce, nursery, landscape, dairy and cotton sectors, as well as any other agricultural professional dealing with agricultural labor relations. The Georgia Museum of Agriculture is located at 1392 Whiddon Mill Rd , Tifton, GA 31793. Contact Chris Butts, cbutts@asginfo.net or visit www.GeorgiaAgLaborForum.com for more information.
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 2021 GFB Quality Hay Contest receive a free listing in the online GFB Hay Directory.
GFB HAY DIRECTORY
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