September 24, 2025
www.gfb.org
Vol. 7 No. 19
GFB TO MEMBERS: PLEASE URGE CONGRESSMEN TO SUPPORT FARM BILL The 2025 farm bill is hanging in the balance, and Georgia's farmers need your voice now! The future of some parts of the farm bill is in a state of limbo, and Congress must act immediately to protect our agricultural community. Please help protect Georgia agriculture in this critical time by contacting your congressional representatives today and demand action on key priorities. The current farm bill was passed in 2018 and within two years made obsolete by the arrival of COVID-19 and the economic pitfalls that followed. The farm bill has remained in this state through two extensions and may be extended a third time unless action is taken. Now that Congress has the opportunity to modernize a new farm bill, our request must be united to ensure our priorities are included in the 2025 farm bill. Here is a list of priorities addressing issues not covered by the One Big Beautiful Bill: • Suspend outdated permanent price support authority to prevent reliance on obsolete policies; • Fully fund the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and other voluntary conservation programs to ensure their continuity; incentivize food banks and access programs to purchase local specialty crops; • Establish a profit loss program to protect fruit and vegetable growers from losses due to belowmarket imports; • Increase Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits to support farm growth; • Enact a legislative fix to block state laws like California's Proposition 12 from dictating national farming practices; • Amend the Hurricane Insurance Protection - Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement to incorporate land grant university weather data for county payment triggers. Call or email your representatives now--your advocacy is vital to secure a farm bill that defends our livelihoods! Pre-drafted comments highlighting the above-mentioned priorities are available by visiting https://gfb.ag/25farmbillcomments. Feel free to edit your comments to provide them with a more personal touch.
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 18 COTTON & PEANUT FARM BILL PROGRAM CHANGES; SEPT. 30 DEADLINE TO SWAP COTTON SEED COVERAGE FOR ’25 CROP By Jennifer Whittaker Georgia cotton growers had the chance to attend eight different educational meetings held across the state Sept. 8-9 and Sept. 23 to learn how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law July 4, will affect cotton farm bill programs. The meetings were hosted by the National Cotton Council (NCC) in collaboration with the Georgia Cotton Commission, Southern Cotton Growers and the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association. During the Hot Topics session of the 37th Annual Georgia Peanut Tour on Sept. 16, UGA Ag Economist Amanda Smith discussed the updated peanut farm bill provisions in the OBBBA. While speaking at the meeting held Sept. 8 in Americus, NCC President and CEO Gary Adams said the cotton industry has been working on improvements to the cotton farm bill program since 2022 when work first began on what was supposed to be the 2023 farm bill. “It was really about a three-and-a-half-year process to get this across the finish line, but we were fortunate to see essentially all of the industry priorities addressed in one way or another,” Adams said. The 2018 farm bill has expired twice with Congress passing a one-year extension in 2023 and 2024 with the latest extension set to expire Sept. 30. The OBBBA updated many farm bill programs, but there are still some programs, such as conservation, that still need to be updated that Congress and ag policy experts are now referencing as the “skinny farm bill.” According to the NCC, new cotton farm bill provisions in OBBBA include: • an increase in seed cotton reference price to $0.42/lb • payment limits increased & indexed to inflation • marketing loan increased & modernized • creation of an ELS loan similar to upland • Supplemental Coverage Option changed to be more like STAX • Basic & Optional Unit insurance premium subsidy increased • Pima Trust Fund restored • EAATM increased to highest level ever According to Smith, peanut provisions in the OBBBA include: • Farmers will receive higher of Price Loss Coverage (PLC) or Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) for the 2025 crop without having to do anything • Beginning with the 2026 crop, the PLC reference price for peanuts will increase from $535/ton to $635/ton. •Beginning in 2031, reference price will increase by 1.005% up to 113% of the statutory reference price. •ARC revenue guarantee will increase from 86% to 90% and the maximum payment increased from 10% to 12% of benchmark revenue. •Both PLC and ARC are allowed with Supplemental Coverage Option and Enchanced Coverage Option (ECO). -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 18 Continued from previous page Sept. 30 deadline for growers to switch seed cotton program enrollment for ‘25/26 crop year The farm bill provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act increased the reference price for seed cotton to $0.42/lb beginning with the 2025/26 crop. That’s a 14% increase from the previous $0.367/lb for seed cotton. Growers enrolled in either ARC-CO or PLC for the 2025/26 crop will automatically receive the higher of the two payments regardless of their election for this crop year only. Because some cotton producers purchased the Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) on farms with seed cotton base acres when the reference price was lower, USDA, in line with current Risk Management Agency policy, is allowing growers enrolled in STAX to switch their seed cotton base acres to Price Loss Coverage (PLC) or Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) for the 2025/2026 crop year. Sept. 30 is the deadline to make the new enrollment. Growers who purchased STAX for the 2025/2026 crop year must pay a 60% premium penalty to enroll in PLC for the 2025/26 crop year. By enrolling in PLC and paying the 60% penalty, growers are waiving their right to a STAX indemnity for the 2025 crop. Producers should contact their crop insurance agent to discuss if changing their program is best for their farm. If growers opt out of STAX they should be prepared to pay 60% of the STAX premium as a penalty. The National Cotton Council encourages producers to visit with their insurance agent before their appointment with FSA to enroll their seed cotton acres in PLC. Find your local USDA Service center here: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app . USDA Farm Service Agency offices will need the following if producers want to make this change on their farms. • Completed Succession in Interest Contract; or • Late Filed Enrollment While speaking at the Americus meeting, Adams reminded growers that the seed cotton payment for the 2025/26 crop will not be issued until October 2026 because that is when the marketing year ends for the 2025/26 crop. “We’re also well aware for a lot of growers, cost of production is probably in the 90-cent range and futures are trading in the 66 and 67 cent range. That’s the message we’re continuing to convey back to Washington. We've seen Secretary Brooke Rollins, Deputy Secretary Alexander Vaden and House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson talk about some type of short-term assistance,” Adams said. “I don't know if USDA has the funding left in the CCC to make the payments necessary or how things will play out in Congress, just know we [NCC] understand that a lot of producers are going to face challenges when those production loans come to you after harvest.” Payment limits increased & indexed to inflation Adams said payment limits for cotton ARC and PLC payments will increase from $125,000 to $155,000 per entity and will index to inflation in future years. “I think the legislative language talks about the payment limits being indexed to the consumer -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 18 Continued from previous page price index,” Adams said. “So, two and a half to three percent growth per year, by the time you get to say 2030 that $155,000 probably looks a lot more like $175,000 to $178,000 if that’s the kind of inflation we’re going to continue to see.” Smith said peanut growers will continue to have a separate payment limit for their peanut crop that was also increased from $125,000 to $155,000 per entity. The payment limit for peanuts will also be annually adjusted for inflation based on the consumer price index. Certain entities, such as S-Corporations and LLCs will be treated the same as general partnerships with regards to the structure of payment limits for both cotton and peanuts. Marketing loan changes Beginning with the 2026 crop, the marketing loan rate for upland cotton will increase to $0.55/lb and extra-long staple (ELS) cotton will increase to $1/lb. The maximum storage credit rate for upland and ELS cotton will increase from the current $2.39 to $3 in Georgia and other cotton states, except California and Arizona. Another change is the marketing loan repayment rate for upland cotton will be the lowest 30-day prevailing market price beginning on the date the loan is repaid. This is expected to have an average benefit of 1.2 cents/lb. The adjusted world price (AWP) used to determine loan rates will be calculated using the three lowest Far East quotes instead of the current five quotes. This is expected to have an average benefit of 60 cents/lb. “I hope we get back to the point of where prices are such that none of this matters on the marketing loan, but if we're going to stay where we are on prices, then this is going to add some support, in time, to low prices,” Adams said. For peanuts, Smith said that beginning with the 2026 crop, the peanut marketing loan rate will increase from $355/ton to $390/ton. Opportunity to allocate new base acres U.S. ag policy uses the concept of base acres for row crops that are covered by support payments in the farm bill. The number of base acres that a farm has are based on historic plantings of crops such as cotton, peanuts, soybeans, wheat and more. Farmers haven’t had a chance to update their base acres since the 2014 farm bill, Smith said. “This is the first time this has happened in a very, very long time,” Smith said. “For producers that planted crops in 2019 through 2023, if they have no base, they can add base to their farm. And for those producers that planted more than the base that they currently have, they could potentially increase the base on their farm.” Under the ag provisions in the OBBBA, beginning with the 2026 crop, farmers will have a chance to claim new base acres based on their planting history of covered program commodities such as cotton, peanuts, corn, soy, wheat, sorghum, barley, oats, rice, minor oil, seeds, from 20192023. Adams offered the NCC’s interpretation of how the allocation of new base acres will work and cautioned it may change once USDA issues final regulations. The farm bill provisions of the OBBBA allow no more than 30 million new base acres to be created on farms nationwide. If farmers submit more than 30 million acres nationwide then USDA FSA will prorate all submitted -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 18 Continued from previous page acres to get the nationwide total down to the 30 million cap, Adams said. “This is all about what are we going to do with some new base acres that are created. Current base on a farm is not impacted. Whatever the current base on your farm is, whatever it’s assigned to – cotton, peanuts, corn, soy wheat, or any other covered commodity, those acres are going to stay unchanged on a farm,” Adams explained. “Did you plant a covered commodity from 2019 to 2023? Did you plant more acres on average than what you have base for the covered crop? If you answer yes to both of those questions, then based on the legislative language, you should be eligible for a base update. If you grew eligible non-covered commodities (specialty crops) during the same time period, you will be allowed to add the number of acres of these crops as additional base acres as long as the total does not exceed 15% of the total acres on your farm. If your specialty crop acreage on a farm is greater than 15% of your total acres, they're only going to allow you to count 15% of those.” To learn more about these and other cotton provisions in the OBBBA and to see examples of how new base allocations will be calculated, visit https://gfb.ag/NCCfbinfo. Smith explained why having a farm bill that provides a safety net for farmers is crucial. “Looking at the cost of production data for the past three decades, we’ve had eight periods where Georgia and Alabama peanut producers saw a positive value of production less total cost. In some of those years they saw profits on other crops like cotton or corn,” Smith said. While farmers intentionally diversify to spread their risk out by growing multiple crops and livestock or poultry, Smith said that unexpected factors such as severe weather or trade disputes that disrupt markets can disrupt the ag economy, lowering prices farmers receive. “Producers in agriculture rely on the farm bill and government programs as a safety net because they can’t pivot as quickly and make changes to their operations to adjust to rapidly changing market conditions that are beyond their control,” Smith said. USDA FLOOD/WILDFIRE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS On Sept. 12, announced eligible livestock producers will receive disaster recovery assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) 2023 and 2024 FW to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire disasters. The program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits. Livestock producers have until Oct. 31 to apply for assistance. To streamline program delivery, FSA has determined eligible counties with qualifying floods and qualifying wildfires in 2023 and 2024. For losses in these counties, livestock producers are not required to submit supporting documentation for floods or wildfires. A list of approved counties is available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elrp. Most Georgia counties are eligible for flood loss assistance due to weather in September 2024. For losses in counties not listed as eligible, livestock producers can apply for ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW but must provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that a qualifying flood or -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 18 Continued from previous page qualifying wildfire occurred in the county where the livestock were physically located or would have been physically located if not for the disaster event. FSA county committees will determine if the disaster event meets program requirements. For ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW, FSA is using covered livestock criteria similar to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) which includes weaned beef cattle, dairy cattle, beefalo, buffalo, bison, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, and sheep. Wildfire assistance is available on non-federally managed land to participants who did not receive assistance through LFP or the ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire program delivered to producers in July of this year. Eligible producers can receive up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for a qualifying wildfire or three months for a qualifying flood using the same monthly feed cost calculation that is used for LFP. ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire and ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW have a combined payment limit of $125,000 for each program year. Producers who already received the maximum payment amount from ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire will not be eligible to receive an additional payment under ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW. Eligible producers may submit form FSA510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs, to be considered for an increased payment limit of $250,000. On May 7, the USDA launched the 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance public landing page where the status of USDA disaster assistance and block grant rollout timeline can be tracked. The page is updated regularly. Contact your local FSA county office for more information. MEXICO CONFIRMS CASE OF NEW WORLD SCREWWORM NEAR U.S. BORDER On Sept. 21, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. This is now the northernmost detection of NWS during this outbreak, and the one most threatening to the American cattle and livestock industry. Sabinas Hidalgo is located near the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to Laredo, Texas, which is one of the most heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfares in the world. The previous northernmost detection was reported on July 9 in Veracruz, approximately 370 miles farther south. Preliminary reports from SENASICA indicate that the affected animal—an 8month-old cow—had recently been moved to a certified feedlot in Nuevo León from a region in southern Mexico with known active NWS cases. The potential link to animal movement underscores the non-negotiable need for Mexico to fully implement and comply with the U.S.– Mexico Joint Action Plan for NWS in Mexico. Currently, U.S. ports remain closed to imports of cattle, bison, and horses from Mexico. Since July, USDA alongside Mexico, has been actively monitoring nearly 8,000 traps across Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. To date, more than 13,000 screening samples have been -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 18 Continued from previous page submitted, with no NWS flies detected. USDA is analyzing all new information related to the recent case in Nuevo León and will pursue all options to release sterile flies in this region as necessary. NWS maggots can infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including people. They most often enter an animal through an open wound and feed on the animal’s living flesh. USDA urges residents on the southern border to check their pets and livestock for signs of NWS. Look for draining or enlarging wounds and signs of discomfort. Also look for screwworm larvae (maggots) and eggs in or around body openings, such as the nose, ears, and genitalia or the navel of newborn animals. If you suspect your animal is infected with screwworm, contact your state animal health official or USDA area veterinarian immediately. While not common in people, if you notice a suspicious lesion on your body or suspect you may have contracted screwworm, seek immediate medical attention. Learn more about NWS on the APHIS website. DROUGHT THREATENS GA PEANUT CROP AS IT ENTERS HOME STRETCH At the beginning of August, Georgia’s peanut crop looked good, UGA Extension Peanut Agronomist Scott Monfort said. Then, it stopped raining across most of South Georgia’s peanut belt in mid-August. “We’ve been without rain in a large part of Georgia since August 22 and some parts since August 19,” Monfort said while speaking at the Hot Topics session on Sept. 16 during the 37th Annual Georgia Peanut Tour. “It’s a bad thing when you’re trying to put on a crop without rain. We’re going to lose part of this crop that’s not irrigated, the later planted third of the crop.” Georgia growers planted their crop from mid-April to mid-June. Farmers with irrigated fields are having to water them to more easily dig their mature peanuts, while farmers with mature, dryland peanuts are contending with hard and dusty fields as they dig their crop. On the positive side, Monfort predicts the 55% of Georgia’s peanut crop that is irrigated will make a good crop. On the flip side, he estimates 50-60% of Georgia’s non-irrigated peanut crop is struggling. He advised growers with dryland and irrigated peanuts to refrain from mixing them on the same trailers to haul to their peanut buying points so that peanuts of varying quality are kept separate. On Sept. 18, Irwin County peanut grower Randy Bryan decided to start digging his dryland Georgia 09 peanuts early due to a lack of rain. “These peanuts aren’t ready to dig. They really needed another week to fully mature, but I saw peanuts burning up in the field just south of me, so I decided to go ahead and dig them,” Bryan said. “If it was going to rain this weekend, I probably would have left them to fill out more, but I want to harvest what I’ve got.” Without rain, peanut plants that have immature nuts will abort them instead of growing them -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 18 Continued from previous page out, Monfort said. “It’s a tough world out there. We started the season well in the spring and thought this was going to be a good season for us, but it has changed,” Monfort said. “We’ve had three rough growing years for peanuts, and it’s hitting the growers hard.” Even if it does start raining this week or next, it may be too late to grow out the last third of the state’s dryland crop, Monfort said. Another problem dryland growers are having to contend with is leaf spot. “As dry as it has been, we’ve had heavy dews almost every morning, which is all the moisture you need for leaf spot,” Monfort said. Monfort and other members of the UGA Extension Peanut Team host a weekly podcast, “All About the Pod,” during which the team discusses production issues growers are facing and offer research-based recommendations. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and at https://peanutsusa.com/industry-resources/all-about-the-pod. CAES: CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS AND WELCOMING NEW FACES By Nick Place Dean, UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) has a lot to celebrate with our students this year. From spring graduation ceremonies across all three campuses to the excitement of welcoming a new class of students this fall, the college continues to demonstrate its commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders who will shape agriculture, communities, and our state’s future. This spring, hundreds of CAES students turned their tassels and walked across the stage, ready to begin the next chapter of their lives. The college awarded 327 bachelor’s degrees, 78 graduate degrees, including master’s and Ph.D. programs, and four certificates at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Each graduate represents not only years of hard work and dedication, but also the promise of positive change in fields ranging from crop science to agribusiness, food production to environmental stewardship. For many of these graduates, the roots of their journey began in rural Georgia, and their impact will extend far beyond campus as they return to farms, businesses, and communities across the state or take their skills into industry to foster innovation and propel agriculture forward through research. This fall, CAES welcomed around 415 new undergraduate students, including 307 first-year students and 108 transfer students. The college also gained 180 new graduate students—82 pursuing doctoral degrees and 98 entering master’s programs. Together, this diverse and talented group of students represents the future of agriculture, bringing new ideas, fresh perspectives, and a passion for learning that will strengthen Georgia agriculture and rural communities for years to come. Supporting students is at the very heart of CAES’s mission. For the 2025–26 academic year, the -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 18 Continued from previous page college awarded an incredible $775,000 in scholarships to help students pursue their goals. This includes $560,000 in merit-based scholarships, awarded to 278 students, and $215,000 in experiential learning scholarships, which supported 158 students in pursuing hands-on opportunities such as internships, research, and study abroad. These scholarships don’t just ease financial burdens – they open doors for students to chase big ideas and gain experiences that will shape their careers. Those experiences often extend well beyond Georgia. This past summer, six CAES students traveled to Washington, D.C., serving as Congressional Agricultural Fellows. Living and working in the nation’s capital gave them a front-row seat to policymaking while ensuring Georgia agriculture had a voice in national conversations. These students returned with knowledge, confidence, and connections that will benefit the agricultural industry in countless ways. Closer to home, the CAES Rural Scholars Program continues to grow, and we brought in four new rural scholars. Rural scholars receive financial support, mentoring, and leadership opportunities, but more importantly, they carry the values and strengths of Georgia’s rural communities into their studies and future careers. Whether they return to family farms, pursue agribusiness, or lead in research and policy, these students are living proof of the important role rural Georgia plays in shaping the future. For Georgia Farm Bureau members, these updates are more than just numbers on a page – they represent the next generation of leaders who will guide Georgia agriculture forward. Whether they are returning to family farms, conducting groundbreaking research, or learning the ropes in public policy, our CAES students are deeply connected to the same values that Farm Bureau stands for: stewardship of the land, strength of community, and a commitment to feeding and sustaining Georgia. As we celebrate their accomplishments, we are reminded that the future of Georgia agriculture is bright and that future is already taking shape in the classrooms, labs, and fields of CAES. Dean Nick Place has served as dean of the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences since Jan. 1, 2021. As dean and director, Place oversees the faculty, staff and programming for CAES with a total of nearly 3,000 employees across the state of Georgia. CAES is a national leader in all things agriculture and environment, seeking creative solutions to complex problems facing the industry today through innovative teaching, research and outreach efforts in Georgia and across the southeast.
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 18 PEANUTS, FORESTS, AND COTTON HIGHLIGHTED AT GA NATIONAL FAIR The 36th Annual Georgia National Fair, Oct. 2-12 in Perry, will offer experiences appealing to all five senses, plus one extra. There’s taste (fair food), smell (ditto), sight (so many things to see!), sound (concerts galore), touch (souvenirs!) and thrills (rides!) As always, Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) and Georgia’s agriculture sector with be front and center among the fair’s activities. GFB invites fair patrons to visit its exhibit near the Powerful Peanut Experience in the Georgia Grown Building during the run of the 2025 Georgia National Fair. Visitors will be offered some fun giveaways and helpful information about GFB programs and Georgia agriculture. GFB is also the presenting sponsor for the fair’s phenomenal lineup of concerts on the Georgia National Stage: Oct. 2 – Shenendoah; Oct. 3 – George Birge; Oct. 5 – Southside Worship; Oct. 6 – West Love & the 478 Band; Oct. 7 – Great White & [Mark] Slaughter; Oct. 8 – Morris Day & The Time; Oct. 9 – The Fray; Oct. 10 – Tracy Lawrence; Oct. 12 – Rumba Latina. These concerts are included with general admission tickets. For the first time, the Georgia National Fair will celebrate Kickoff Saturdays, on Oct. 4 and 11, when patrons will be able to watch college football games on the big screen at the Georgia National Stage from noon to 9 p.m. Last year, nearly 500,000 visitors explored the reimagined Georgia Grown Building at the fair, featuring the Seedlings to Solutions Experience, which highlights forestry and the Seed to Shirt cotton exhibit. This year, Georgia’s Rural Center is teaming up with the Georgia Peanut Commission to bring fairgoers another immersive exhibit: the Powerful Peanut Experience. For 10 days in October, Georgia Grown and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will showcase the power and sustainability of peanuts, Georgia’s official state crop. The new exhibit is one of many experiences offered by the Georgia National Fair, which has offered visitors a wide array of entertainment options and a unique look at Georgia agriculture since 1990. Peanuts are a $2 billion industry in Georgia, and in 2024, the state produced around 50% of the peanuts grown in the U.S. Peanuts have supported rural communities for generations and are grown in 78 out of the 159 counties in Georgia. They are a sustainable crop and a nutrient-rich source of protein, making them an excellent staple for a balanced diet. While peanuts and agriculture do support rural areas, these communities face unique challenges. Through its partnership with the Georgia Peanut Commission, The Center showcases the -continued on next page
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 18 Continued from previous page importance of peanuts to Georgia’s agribusiness. This encounter takes patrons beneath the soil to learn about the history, the growing and harvesting process, nutrition, sustainability, and incorporating peanuts into a healthy diet. Once inside the exhibit, visitors will step beneath towering 3D peanut plants and experience firsthand how peanuts are grown. The journey begins with the foundation of the peanut industry, exploring why peanuts are such a unique plant and food source, and the role key historical figures played in their rise. Next, you’ll follow the peanut’s growing cycle, from ideal climates and farming stages to the different peanut varieties and their sustainability story. The final section celebrates peanuts as a food, highlighting the history of peanut butter and how peanuts fuel a healthy lifestyle. Just outside, visitors can also explore an iconic Peanut Wagon for an added hands-on experience. The Powerful Peanut Experience joins the Seedlings to Solutions Experience providing an inside look at the state’s forestry industry and the Seed to Shirt Experience highlighting Georgia’s cotton production. For ticket information, visit https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/tickets. JOYCE WHITE APPOINTED GEORGIA USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR On Sept. 19, the USDA announced the latest slate of presidential appointments and state directors for key positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among them Georgia state director for rural development Joyce White. “Today’s new USDA presidential appointments will help carry forward the important work of serving the people who feed and fuel our country, delivering real results for rural America, putting our farmers first. Together, we will continue to strengthen our food supply, protect our family farms, and ensure USDA is working on behalf of the American people. I welcome this latest group of appointees and look forward to working together,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. White is now serving in her second stint as State Director for Rural Development in Georgia. She served in the same role in the first Trump administration. White brings extensive experience in rural Georgia, first working in Governor Sonny Perdue’s administration and then as chief of staff with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. She later served as State Director for U.S. Senator David Perdue.
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 18 NATIONAL FARM SAFEY & HEALTH WEEK: SAFETY FIRST, AVOID THE WORST The 2025 National Farm Safety & Health Week continues through Sept. 27, following the theme “Safety First, Avoid the Worst.” Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry. For this reason, each year since 1944, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety & Health Week. This recognition has been an annual promotion initiated by the National Safety Council and has been proclaimed as such by each sitting U.S. president since Franklin D. Roosevelt. Each day during the week, attention is focused on a specified topic. For Sept. 25, the topic is confined spaces in agriculture, dealing with things like grain bin safety, entrapment and suffocation scenarios. For Sept. 26, the top is ATV/UTV safety. Earlier this week, the topic for Sept. 22 was equipment and rural roadway safety, the Sept. 23 topic was health and wellness, and the Sept. 24 topic centered on generations of farming. The US Ag Centers promote the theme “Working to keep farm families, workers and everyone involved in agriculture safe and healthy” to emphasize the importance of the health and well-being of the people working in agriculture. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the agricultural sector in 2019 was the most dangerous in America with 573 fatalities, or an equivalent of 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. 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. For more information about National Farm Safety & Health Week, visit https://umash.umn.edu/national-farm-safety-and-health-week-2025/.
GFB Field Notes page 13 of 18 HPAI PPE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP Sept. 29-30 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The National Academies’ Standing Committee on Personal Protective Equipment for Workplace Safety and Health will host this 2-day virtual workshop on personal protective equipment (PPE) best practices to protect high-risk farm workers from Influenza A (H5N1). Experts, policymakers, farm leaders, and PPE users will explore H5N1 transmission risks, current guidance, alternative respiratory protection, new technologies, communication strategies, and research needs to improve disease control and worker safety. To register, click here. BARLEY, CANOLA, OATS AND WHEAT CROP INSURANCE Sept. 30 deadline to enroll/renew The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Georgia barley, canola, oats, and wheat growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2026 crop year is September 30. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the September 30 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Coverage is 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, Peach, 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 2026 crop year. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available online using the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at https://rma.usda.gov. The Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company contracts with three companies - Rain & Hail, Sompo, and Crop Risk Services to offer crop insurance. GFB has more than 70 experienced crop insurance agents (and growing) across the state to help their members protect their investment. Find your local agent and learn more at www.GFBInsurance.com or email crops@gfbinsurance.com for more details. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. SUSTAINABLE RANCHERS TOUR Sept. 30 & Oct. 1 Vaughn Farms, 242 Vaughn Rd. Forsyth This event at Vaughn Farms is one stop on the Sustainable Ranchers Tour, which spotlights leading sustainable ranchers who are paving the way toward a regenerative future for America’s beef industry. The event will offer participants the opportunity to engage directly with ranchers and farmers as they share their expertise in applying regenerative practices and addressing the challenges of modern agriculture. Attendees will also gain access to valuable technical resources from our trusted partners, providing the essential tools and knowledge needed to successfully implement these practices in their own operations. This programming is free with your registration and includes lunch. To register, click here.
GFB Field Notes page 14 of 18 GEORGIA FARMER-LED FIELD TOUR Oct. 2-3 Various locations Baxley This tour features stops at Circle F Farms, Boatright Farms and Appling Blueberry Farm, where participants will visit with farmers and ranchers who are leading conservation agriculture in their own operations, in their communities and in the industry. During the farmer-led field day experience, you’ll hear from producers who share their challenges and successes in implementing conservation practices on-the-ground. This programming is free with your registration and includes lunch. To register, click here. https://events.farmjournal.com/acam-ga-2025/register LALLEMAND ANIMAL NUTRITION SCHOLARSHIPS Oct. 3 deadline to apply Applications for the 2025 Lallemand Scholarship are open through Oct. 3. Interested students must be full-time students enrolled in agriculture-related programs at accredited institutions in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. 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. NRCS WATERSHED PROGRAMS WEBINARS Oct. 14 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Oct. 16 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. The NRCS Watershed Programs Branch invites potential and current project sponsors to join us for an two-part series on the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. This first part, on Oct. 14, will provide valuable information for sponsors on program opportunities and will reserve time to respond to participant questions. The second part, on Oct. 15, will provide valuable information for sponsors on buyouts as an EWP measure and will also reserve time to respond to participant questions. If you would like to submit a question or have an EWP Program topic you would like to be addressed in the first part, please submit your question here. If you would like to submit a question or buyouts and sponsor responsibilities you would like to be addressed, please submit your question here.
GFB Field Notes page 15 of 18 PRODUCE SAFETY ALLIANCE GROWER TRAINING Oct. 21-23 Cost is $150 Register at https://psaoos102125.eventbrite.com Nov. 9 Cost is $175 Register at https://tinyurl.com/psagt-nov20 Dec. 2-4 Cost is $150 Register at https://psaoos120225.eventbrite.com Are you a Georgia produce grower? Don’t miss your chance to attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course, which is required under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule (21 CFR 112). All trainings are virtual. For questions or more information, contact your local produce safety team or Lupita.gonzalez@agr.georgia.gov. SOIL HEALTH WORKSHOP Oct. 29 Johnson Argus Farm, 2738 Cedar Grove Rd. 10 a.m. – noon Jefferson Oct. 22 registration deadline The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD), Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) and the Oconee River Soil and Water Conservation District are partnering to present this free informational workshop for managing soil health and grazing production for anyone who wants to learn correct practices. Attendees will hear about soil health practices such as nutrient balance, hay production, and soil erosion control in hay fields. In addition, information on farm programs will be presented. The partnering agency for this event is USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The event is sponsored by the Chestatee-Chattahoochee River RC&D Council. Lunch will be served. The event is free but registration is required online at www.gacd.us/events. The registration deadline is October 22, 2025.
GFB Field Notes page 16 of 18 KEL-MAC SADDLE CLUB HORSE SHOW Oct. 25 Morgan Co. Ag Center Madison This show is 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 $12. Stall fees are $15 for club members & $20 nonmembers. All overnight stalls are $25. For more information about the shows, visit the KelMac Saddle Club Facebook page, 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 Kel-Mac’s equestrian related charities. The Kel-Mac Saddle Club has donated more than $170,250 back to Georgia’s Piedmont region during its 49 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. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU HAY CONTEST Oct. 31 deadline for entries Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members who grow any variety of dry Bermudagrass hay have until Oct. 31 to enter the organization’s 34th Annual Quality Bermudagrass Hay Contest. The contest winner will receive the free use of a Vermeer wheel rake for one year. The winner will have the option to buy the equipment at a reduced price at the end of that year. This is the 27th year that Vermeer has sponsored GFB’s hay contest. Hay entered in the 2025 GFB Quality Bermudagrass 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 hay. Additional prizes will be awarded to the top five producers. Winners will be announced in December at the GFB Convention. 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 1-800-342-1192 if you have any questions about the contest.
GFB Field Notes page 17 of 18 GEORGIA PSC ELECTIONS General election Nov. 4 Georgia Farm Bureau’s I Farm. I Vote. campaign is encouraging members across the state to get out and vote in the 2025 Public Service Commission (PSC) elections. This year, there will be a statewide special election for the Georgia Public Service Commission District 2 and District 3. All Georgia voters are eligible to cast a ballot for both PSC seats, but the candidates for the two contested seats are required to live in their districts that cover metro Atlanta and east Georgia. The two seats up for election are from District 2 and District 3. District 2 consists of a large portion of East and Southeast Georgia, including Athens, Augusta, and Savannah, and is currently held by Commissioner Tim Echols who is running as the Republican candidate. Alicia Johnson is running as the Democratic candidate. District 3, made up of Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties, is currently held by Commissioner Fitz Johnson who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill a vacant seat. Fitz Johnson is running as the Republican candidate and Peter Hubbard won the Democratic primary. GEORGIA FARM BUREAU PB&J 5K Nov 15 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter 8 a.m. Perry Sign up today for the 5K on Nov. 15 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. The course is flat, fast, and completely paved — perfect for all skill levels. When you register for $35, you'll receive a complimentary Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Membership. Already a member? Gift it to a friend! Enjoy a post-run grilled PB&J and peanut butter, compliments of Georgia Peanuts! Every registered runner will also receive a custom water bottle. If you’re bringing the family, be sure to check out the Georgia National Antique Agriculture Show for FREE. Register at https://www.gfb.org/pb-and-j-5k. Members of GFB help protect consumers’ access to locally grown food and fiber and have access to 300,000+ member benefits and discounts. Visit https://www.gfb.org/join/member-benefitsdirectory to learn more about the health, travel, family entertainment, farm equipment and services and health discounts members can enjoy. 2026 GACD SCHOLARSHIPS Dec. 31 application deadline To encourage study and careers in soil and water conservation related fields, GACD administers one $1,000 scholarship each year. The scholarship is given to high school students or undergraduate/graduate students majoring in, or intending to major in, a soil and water conservation related area. The scholarship recipient will be honored at GACD's Annual Meeting in 2026. For more information or to apply, visit https://www.gacd.us/scholarships.
GFB Field Notes page 18 of 18 UGA WARNELL SCHOOL OF FORESTRY BOBWHITE QUAIL SURVEY The Martin GAME Lab at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at UGA is looking for private landowners in Georgia to take part in a brief survey about their opinions on bobwhite quail management for a study titled “Bobwhite Restoration, Incentives, and Research.” The purpose of the study is to better understand landowners’ opinions on bobwhite quail management and cost-share programs landowners would enroll in to manage their properties for bobwhite quail. Visit https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_3aRgLcUioS8uy0u to take the study. Thank you in advance for helping with in this study. 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. UGA CITRUS ORCHARD NUTRITIONAL SURVEY For the past three growing seasons, the UGA Agricultural and Environmental Services Labs (AESL) has been conducting a foliar nutrient survey of Georgia's citrus industry with funding from the USDA and Georgia Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. One of the conditions of the project’s grant funding is that researchers seek stakeholder feedback on the effectiveness of the program, and how this work may influence future grower decisions. The project researchers ask that you please complete this short (7 questions, 3-5 minutes) Citrus Nutrition Questionnaire here. These results will help UGA researchers demonstrate the importance of this work to their sponsors, which increases the likelihood of future funding in this area. If you would like to learn more about this project and the results of the study, visit the project website. 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 2024 GFB Quality Hay Contest receive a free listing in the online GFB Hay Directory. 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 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.