November 4, 2026
www.gfb.org
Vol. 8 No. 21
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE HEARS ABOUT REGULATORY HURDLES In the third of its four meetings, the Joint Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms heard scheduled testimony focusing on legal topics affecting farms, updates from Georgia’s cotton and fruit/vegetable sectors, mental health and substance abuse. He wasn’t on the agenda for the Oct. 28 meeting at South Georgia State College (SGSC), but Pulaski County farmer Alan Nowell was invited to the podium, where he shared his view on the regulatory hurdles facing farmers. “When I was starting out, if I faced what these guys are facing now, I wouldn’t have been able to do it,” said Nowell, a Pulaski County Farm Bureau director who produces poultry and cattle on his farm near the Dodge County line. As an example, Nowell relayed the experience of a young farming neighbor who, wanting to put in poultry houses, was required to get blueprints from an engineer at a cost of $13,000 to meet buffer zone requirements. Nowell suggested that the buffers should be addressed working through public agencies without involving engineers. He noted that when residential or commercial developers encounter these regulations and take on the costs, they can pass them on to the real estate buyers. Farmers cannot pass on their cost, he said. “If you want to get more young people into farming, you’re going to have to make it more affordable to start out,” Nowell said. The committee heard presentations from SGSC President Dr. SGSC President Greg Tanner, Harrison Pittman of the National Ag Law Center, Frank Richards with Second Harvest of South Georgia, Taylor Sills from the Georgia Cotton Commission, Chris Butts of the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, Jeff Breedlove with the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, and Gus Walters of the American Addiction Recovery Association. Tanner welcomed the committee to the school’s campus in Douglas, noting that the school began as a district agricultural and mechanical school in 1906. Tanner discussed the school’s new associate degree program in agriculture, which started this semester. Other states’ legislative efforts
GFB Field Notes page 2 of 24 National Agricultural Law Center Director Harrison Pittman gave a review of the center’s activities and discussed various state approaches to ag-related statutes on farmland preservation, ag data, the possibility of state farm bills, and more. Pittman said states are starting to look at ways they can help farmers, noting that the evergrowing national debt coupled with the fact that 40% of farmers’ income coming from federal government payments make it seem increasingly likely that the 2018 farm bill will be the last farm bill. “States may not be able to do as broad and deep as what the federal government has historically been able to do, but I think it’s an area that we’ve seen slowly increasing,” Pittman said. “States more and more are starting to look at what role can [they] play to help maintain, to help protect and help promote the ag industry in [their] states?” As in Georgia, other states are seeking ways to conserve farmland. Pittman noted that North Carolina and Pennsylvania have both enacted measures aimed at farmland for farm use. North Carolina recently set aside almost $50 million for conservation easement grants. Pennsylvania has had a conservation easement grant program since the late 1980s, and according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, easement purchases have been approved for more than 660,000 acres. “It’s an opportunity to keep that land in agricultural production or to prevent it from going into commercial and residential development,” Pittman said. Pittman touched on states’ programs for young and beginning farmers, singling out Texas for its Young Farmer Grant Program, as well as those in Minnesota (Beginning Farm and Equipment Infrastructure Grant) and Kentucky (Next Generation Farmer Program). Most state-funded young farmer programs combined some mixture of direct-cash matching, tax credits and loans. Commodity leaders emphasize infrastructure, research Georgia Cotton Commission Executive Director Taylor Sills detailed the challenges facing cotton producers, among them competition from other cotton-producing nations, synthetic fibers and aging industry infrastructure. Sills mentioned the Economic Assistance for Textile Mills, a farm bill program aimed at helping textile companies making capital improvements to upgrade aging mills. He noted a Texas program that helps mills there make energy efficiency upgrades. “I think it would be wonderful if we can find a way to create a program similar to that,” Sills said. He also said the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commissions have been asked in recent years to take on costs that could be viewed as operating expenses for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. “We’re happy to do it, but that’s about $275,000 in our budget that we could do some more basic research or invest more in neat promotional projects or something if we had access to those funds,” Sills said. Sills asked the committee to find ways to build demand; support young farmers and first-handler agribusinesses.
GFB Field Notes page 3 of 24 Sills and Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Chris Butts each mentioned the need to maintain Extension specialists’ knowledge base through a succession plan as experienced researchers near retirement. “Those are really critical positions of guys that are going to retire,” Butts said. “[It’s] An incredible knowledge base that is going to walk away. Ideally, we need replacements working with them for a year or two.” Butts also reviewed barriers to business faced by specialty crop producers and asked the committee to consider a number of things, notably including increasing staffing of food safety personnel. Commonality between farms, food banks Second Harvest CEO Frank Richards talked about the state’s Farm to Food Bank program and detailed the challenges facing the food bank, the largest rural food bank in Georgia, serving 26 counties and a population of more than 160,000 people. Second Harvest pulls food from a variety of sources, from purchasing it to accepting donations, and then works with numerous private and public agencies to distribute it to those in need. He stressed the need to support the farmers who produce the food Second Harvest provides and emphasized things farmers and food banks have in common. “Bad weather can ruin our best home. Neither of us will receive to have enough money. All of us spend a whole lot of time trying to keep equipment running for one more year. We also share a lot of very basic beliefs,” Richards Said. “We don’t like to waste good food because way too much work went into growing it.” Addiction and mental health American Addiction Recovery Association CEO Jeff Breedlove emphasized that substance abuse is, among other things, a major job retention issue, particularly in agriculture, which employes hundreds of thousands of people in Georgia. Breedlove said that the stigma associated with mental health is the most dangerous aspect of addiction, because it works as a barrier to people seeking the help they need. Gus Walters from the Board American Addiction Recovery Association Board of Governors reviewed the staggering numbers of deaths from drug overdoses and the factors that prompt farmers to turn to drugs, including weather, input costs, debt and cash flow, time, and legacy. Walters’ son, Austin, died from a fentanyl overdose and became the inspiration for Austin’s Law, which stiffened penalties for the distribution of fentanyl and targeted drug traffickers responsible for overdose deaths Land conservation Georgia Rep. David Jenkins noted that because farmers often seek multiple streams of income, land use considerations under CUVA covenants can become a sticking point for small farms. Jenkins also noted that local governments often lack the expertise to make a determination on what is or is not an agricultural practice.
GFB Field Notes page 4 of 24 GFB POLICY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CONSIDERS ISSUE STANCES On Nov. 2, the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Policy Development (PD) Committee reviewed proposed changes to the organization’s position on a variety of issues affecting agriculture, finetuning recommendations to be presented to voting delegates at the GFB Convention to be held Dec. 6-8 on Jekyll Island. GFB’s PD Committee consists of three county Farm Bureau presidents from each of GFB’s 10 districts, the chairman of GFB’s 20 advisory committees, GFB members serving on AFBF Issue Advisory Committees and the GFB Directors. County presidents from each district are selected on a rotating basis annually to ensure fair representation. Policy proposals originate from county Farm Bureaus or GFB’s Commodity Advisory Committees (CACs). Policy changes were submitted by more than 50 counties and 18 CACs. “Thank y’all for taking the time to come here today and do what Farm Bureau is all about – getting grassroots input from our farmer members to write GFB’s policy book, which determines the position our organization will take on issues affecting agriculture when our staff and leaders represent farmers in Atlanta and in Washington, D.C., next year,” GFB President Tom McCall said. “We appreciate all of our county Farm Bureaus and our advisory committees that sent in policy for the committee to consider today. The committee will meet again on Dec. 6 during our convention to review the proposed policy one more time before all GFB voting delegates have the chance to discuss and vote on the policy on Dec. 8.” McCall said a PDF (electronic document) of the policy the committee approved Nov. 2 will be sent to all county Farm Bureau office managers before convention so that voting delegates can review the proposed changes before the convention. The pdf can be printed at the county office. The committee considered more than 150 policy proposals submissions. Key topics submitted policy pertained to included taxes and the Conservation Use Value Assessment, ag labor, eminent domain, federal farm programs and natural disaster programs, livestock imports, trade, and most of Georgia’s major commodities such as poultry, cotton, peanuts, pecans, specialty crops and timber. Protecting U.S. cattle herd from NWS Among the issues in the meeting was a proposal, submitted by the GFB Beef Committee, to oppose the USDA decision to open U.S. markets to cattle from countries with confirmed cases of New World Screwworm (NWS). The thought behind the proposal was to protect U.S. livestock producers and their herds from the spread of NWS, which can be devastating to cattle and could affect the nation’s beef supply. “We’ve got to regulate cattle coming in. We’ve always had cattle coming across the border, and I don't think it'll ever end, but we've just got to make sure that what comes across is safe and it's healthy,” PD Committee member and GFB 1st District Director Bill Bryan said. “Everybody may not agree on the same thing, but the majority is where the policy comes from. At the end of the day, I think that we're all on the same page.” The USDA closed the border to cattle imports from Mexico in May 2025. Then in early June, NWS was detected in Texas livestock and has since been detected in New Mexico and Arizona. Since the end of July, the USDA has been implementing a phased reopening of the U.S. southern
GFB Field Notes page 5 of 24 border ports for cattle imports from Mexico. To date, USDA has reopened the following ports: Douglas, AZ: Aug. 24; Santa Teresa, NM: Sept. 24; & Columbus, NM: Oct. 26. A border port in Nogales, AZ was planned to reopen Nov. 30 but may be affected by recent detection of NWS in Arizona. USDA has indicated it will continue to assess conditions at additional ports of entry and will make further reopening decisions based on animal health risks, operational readiness, and the continued effectiveness of mitigation measures. Proposed policy addresses agriculture’s need for year-round labor Poultry and dairy producers have long voiced the need for reliable ag workers year-round rather than just for multiple months as the H-2A program currently provides. The GFB Poultry Advisory Committee submitted policy supporting that poultry growers be eligible for year-round H-2A labor under the Immigration and Nationality Act. At the suggestion of dairy producers, the submitted policy was amended to say agricultural producers to cover more types of farmers that need yearround workers. “With the way the H-2A labor program is now, it’s set up for either a nine or a 10-month contract while poultry production goes on year-round. With the new push in Washington to update the H2A labor law, the Poultry Committee felt like this could be a good time to get a provision included that would allow a year-round contract for poultry producers because labor is just getting harder and harder to find on the farm,” explained GFB Poultry Committee Chairman Bobby Barber. “Our committee members felt like dairy and maybe producers of some other commodities might want to come on board with supporting a year-round contract, so when the committee moved to change the wording to include all agricultural producers, we didn’t have a problem with that.” Poultry producers request notification of avian flu cases With Georgia being a leading producer of chickens and eggs, poultry and egg producers stay on high alert for potential future cases of avian influenza. While growers follow biosecurity precautions year-round to protect their flocks, members of the GFB Poultry Committee submitted policy recommending that the Georgia Department of Agriculture create a text alert system to which poultry growers can voluntarily signup to receive notification of new confirmed positive cases in Georgia and in bordering counties in neighboring states. “With all of the cases of avian influenza that have occurred in the U.S. in the last couple of years, members of GFB’s Poultry Committee thought it would be helpful if we had a voluntary, opt-in text alert system through the Georgia Department of Agriculture that would notify poultry producers in the county where a confirmed case is diagnosed and producers in neighboring counties,” Poultry Advisory Committee Chairman Bobby Barber said. “We take biosecurity precautions at our farms, but if a producer knew there was a confirmed case of avian flu near your area at a given time, we would know to step up our precautions.” Barber said the committee doesn’t want the name nor address of the farm with a confirmed case of avian flu to be provided – just the county where the farm is located. Barber, who has been an active GFB member for more than 32 years, says he appreciates the grassroots approach Farm Bureau takes in letting its members influence the organization’s policy.
GFB Field Notes page 6 of 24 “Every policy in this book started in a county Farm Bureau boardroom, made it out of the county into the proposed policy book that the state policy development committee considered today and if it was approved, now it will go on to be considered by the voting delegates during our convention on Jekyll Island,” Barber said. “Farm Bureau’s final policy is a roadmap of what we as Georgia producers think agriculture in Georgia and America needs.” Specialty crop producers recommend being included in Title I farm programs The GFB Environmental Horticulture Committee (EHC) proposed policy that was approved by the state policy committee that recommends specialty crops be added to Title I crops in future farm bills as well as USDA disaster relief, federal labor and OHSA heat legislation. “Right now, we're not included in those federal programs automatically, and we felt that it was important to be put into those categories so that we have equal representation and so specialty crops are treated the same as other agricultural commodities,” said GFB EHC Chairman Will Ross. While the USDA has provided compensation to specialty crop growers for crop losses through recent programs, because specialty crops are not a Title I crop in the farm bill, program details and the payments have come later than row crops. “Farm Bureau’s policy process gives all of the agricultural commodities in Georgia a chance to express their concerns about the commodities they are familiar with,” Ross said. GEORGIA VOTERS APPROVE EXPANSION OF CUVA ACREAGE The proposed amendment to the state constitution to expand acreage allowed under the Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA) passed in the Nov. 3 general election, with 53.85% of voters in favor. Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) and a coalition of agriculture and timber organizations supported the measure. “Georgia’s farmers are grateful that voters saw the merits of keeping land in agricultural production and supported it with their votes,” said GFB President Tom McCall. “CUVA ensures qualifying land is taxed based on its actual productivity value rather than inflated real estate potential, and its benefits extend far beyond agriculture.” CUVA ensures qualifying land is taxed based on its actual productivity value rather than inflated real estate potential. The amendment was listed as Question 1 on Georgia ballots. It will allow individual farmland owners to include up to 4,000 acres in the CUVA program. Currently, individuals are allowed to enter a maximum of 2,000 acres in the program. CUVA eases the property tax burden on production farmland, timberland, and conservation properties, incentivizing landowners to keep that land in agricultural production or conservation uses instead of selling the land for development, data centers or installing solar farms. GFB has pointed out that farmland enrolled in CUVA pays $2.60 in property taxes for every $1 in county services it receives. By comparison, residential property generates 70 cents for every $1 in services received. The program protects all working natural lands, including timber tracts, wildlife habitats, and environmentally sensitive areas across the state while keeping our green spaces, preventing urban sprawl, protecting local watersheds, and preserving rural landscapes that benefit all Georgians.
GFB Field Notes page 7 of 24 THREE GEORGIANS AMONG AFBF WOMENS COMMS BOOT CAMP GRADUATES Fourteen farm and ranch women leaders graduated from the fall session of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Communications Boot Camp, including three from Georgia. Toni Gaines of Bartow County, Taylor Outlaw of Wilkinson County and Bristol Peterson of Wilcox County were among participants who completed an intensive four-day course featuring hands-on training in public speaking, media engagement and message development. “Women’s communication bootcamp was a life-changing experience,” Peterson said. “It provided another level of confidence for me when speaking up for agriculture. It taught us how to advocate, how to answer hard questions, and how to be a better voice for agriculture!” Graduates will use their skills to advocate for farmers and ranchers, support issues important to rural communities and help tell agriculture’s story. “I chose to participate in the Women’s Bootcamp because I want to be the best advocate for agriculture that I can be,” Gaines said. “The experience was incredibly meaningful, giving me the knowledge and confidence to better represent the farmers and ranchers who work every day to feed and fuel our country. I left inspired, empowered, and even more committed to being a voice for agriculture.” Other graduates are Elizabeth Spruell (Alabama) Joy Tracey (Indiana), Katie Saterbak, (Minnesota), Janille Baker (Nevada), Kelsey Grapperhaus, Ashley Parker and Pamela Walker (North Carolina), Jacey Fye and Cyndi Mackey (Oklahoma), Sheila Newman (Virginia) and Kelly Wilfert (Wisconsin). This marks the 25th Women’s Communications Boot Camp hosted by AFBF. Since its inception in 2007, 367 women – 10 total from Georgia - have graduated from the program, which is open to all women involved in Farm Bureau. The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, in partnership with AFBF staff, hosts and provides training for Women’s Communications Boot Camp twice each year. Applications open Dec. 10 for the spring 2027 Boot Camp session. NINE GEORGIA FFA STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL FFA AWARDS The Georgia FFA Association’s success at the 99th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis was highlighted by nine national champions. Among Georgia’s national winners were five national proficiency award winners, two national Career Development Event (CDE) and Leadership Development Event (LDE) winners, a national agriscience fair winning team, and the national winner of the Middle School Models of Excellence. Addie Winchester of Hawkinsville (Service Learning), Clay Lawrence of Emanuel County Institute (Diversified Agricultural Production), Isabelle Williams of Madison County (Diversified Livestock Production), Adileigh Rountree of Screven County (Goat Production), and Jonah Deming of White County (Nursery Operations) were each named national FFA proficiency award winners for success in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs.
GFB Field Notes page 8 of 24 Only four students in the nation are named National Finalists in each of 45 proficiency areas. Georgia had 17 national proficiency award finalists and five proficiency winners. Two Georgia chapters earned 1st place finishes in national Career/Leadership Development Events at the convention. Georgia CDE/LDE success was highlighted by the following individuals and chapters: Camille Anderson, Jonathan Crews, Sierra Edwards, and Kaleb Crawford of Brantley County (Forestry CDE) and Luke Wheatley, Luke Maxwell, Ty Miller, and Mark Grier of Banks County (Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems CDE). Georgia’s other top-five finishers in CDE/LDEs include Emily Griffin, Josie Herren, Maddox Lane, and Kyleigh Williams of Berrien County (5th place – Floriculture CDE), Joseph Thompson, Carter Johnson, Boss Malcom, and Autumn Smith of Mary Persons (3rd place – Nursery/Landscape CDE), Jabe Andrews, Catie Cochran, Logan Ferguson, and Eli Castonguay of Banks County (4th place – Environmental/ Natural Resources CDE), Hayden Roland, Alexa Martinez-Avilla, Tyler Gay, & Davis Waters of Oconee County (4th place – Poultry Evaluation CDE), Aubri Menard of Jackson Empower (4th place – Employment Skills LDE), José Gomez of Ware County (2nd place – Agricultural Education), and Christopher Tejada-Giron of Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy (2nd place – Spanish Creed). Alongside the other national winners, two students, Iris McHaggee and Johannah Monson of the Rome FFA chapter, were recognized as champions in Division 4 of the Power, Structure, and Technical Systems category of the national Agriscience Fair. Georgia FFA had three runners-up in the fair including Landon Serritt and Sara Pass of Calhoun City (Social Systems – Division 4), Naimah Nemorin and Trent Ferguson of Calhoun City (Food Products & Processing – Division 6), and James Wise of Tift County (Plant Systems – Division 5). Georgia FFA had 15 agriscience fair projects placing in the top five of their division. The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. Youth Middle School of Walton County was named the national winner of the Middle School Models of Excellence. Commerce Middle was a finalist in the Middle School Models of Excellence division, along with being finalists in the Growing Leaders division of the Premier Chapter award category. Thirty-four Georgia chapters received a national 3-Star ranking, the highest ranking offered in the National Chapter Award program. Georgia’s 3-Star chapters are Berrien County, Camden County, Central of Carroll, Cherokee County, Commerce Middle, Creekview, Early County, Effingham County, Franklin County, Franklin County Middle, Fullington Academy, Hawkinsville, Heritage Middle, Jackson-Empower, Jefferson City, Lafayette, Liberty County, Madison County, Malcom Bridge Middle, Morgan County Middle, Newton College and Career Academy, Northside Middle, Oglethorpe County, Peach County, Putnam County, Rabun County, Screven County, Seminole County, Social Circle, South Effingham, Sumter County, Walnut Grove, Winder-Barrow, and Youth Middle.
GFB Field Notes page 9 of 24 Four Georgia FFA members performed as a part of the National FFA Band, Chorus, and Talent program, which features musically talented FFA members from across the nation who showcase their skills throughout general sessions, luncheons, and other events throughout convention. John Crapps of Swainsboro represented Georgia in the National FFA Band. Georgia FFA members who performed as talent participants include Isabella Hartline of Paulding County, and Remington Boswell and Rex Allen of Oglethorpe County. A total of 159 Georgia FFA members received the prestigious American FFA Degree, the highest degree offered to an active member. These students spent years developing their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs to reach this honor. Less than 1% of FFA members receive the prestigious American FFA Degree. To see a complete list of Georgia’s 2026 American FFA Degree recipients, visit https://gfb.ag/GAFFAAmericanDegree26. [https://www.georgiaffa.org/docs/sidemodules/2026%20American%20Degree%20Recipients_ 95542.pdf] Eight Georgians received the Honorary American FFA Degree for their outstanding contribution to Agricultural Education and the FFA. Georgia’s recipients of the Honorary Degree included: David Bushey, Jessica Fife, Beth Golden, Sen. Russ Goodman, Rep. Matt Hatchett, Allen Miles, Dorothy Miles, Eric Sellers, Donnie Warren, and Troy Windham. A complete set of results and a variety of highlights from the 99th National FFA Convention can be found at www.georgiaffa.org/NationalFFAConvention. GFB CONGRATULATES ALL OF ITS DISTRICT AWARD WINNERS This fall during Georgia Farm Bureau’s 10 District Annual Meetings, the organization celebrated the achievements of its volunteers. State winners will be recognized during the 2026 GFB Annual Convention, set for Dec. 6-8 on Jekyll Island. Here is a recap of all of GFB’s district award winners and counties that gained membership to reach quota: District 1 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Liam Tewksbury, Cherokee County YF&R Discussion Meet: Dalton Green, Walker County (state finalist) Volunteer of the Year: Michael Bushey, Gilmer County Outstanding Teachers: Tracy Lang, Cherokee County; Holly Harkins, Dawson County; Yvonne Akers, Forsyth County Agency of the Year: Forsyth County Quota counties: Bartow, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Murray and Pickens District 2 YF&R Discussion Meet: Michael Howard, Hart County (state winner) Collegiate Discussion Meet: Arwen Bratten, Stephens County (state winner) YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Brittney Turner, Hall County (finalist for state award) YF&R Achievement Award: Clay Black, Stephens County (finalist for state award) Volunteer of the Year: Dianne Westmoreland, Banks County
GFB Field Notes page 10 of 24 Agency of the Year: Madison County Quota counties: Banks, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Madison, Rabun, Towns and Union District 3 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Chase Berry, Newton County YF&R Discussion Meet: Allison Bridges, Haralson County (state finalist) Volunteer of the Year: Jerry Watson, South Fulton County Outstanding Teachers: Nancy Ranasinghe, Cobb County; Elizabeth Shadix, Douglas County. Agency of the Year: Gwinnett County Quota counties: Carroll, Cobb, Douglas, Fayette, North Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Paulding, Polk, Rockdale/Dekalb and South Fulton District 4 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Cliff Collins, Columbia County YF&R Discussion Meet: Katelin Benkoski, Morgan County (state finalist) Volunteer of the Year: Rick Hubert, Taliaferro County Outstanding Teachers: Kaya Rollo, Barrow County; Satilla Mathews, Oglethorpe County, Laura McMahan, Walton County Farm Family of the Year: Ken Boss/Boss Cattle Company. (District 4 is the only district that presents this award) Agency of the Year: Oglethorpe County Quota counties: Columbia, Glascock, Greene, McDuffie, Morgan, Oconee, Richmond, Taliaferro, Walton, Warren and Wilkes District 5 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Stuart Gregg, Pike County YF&R Achievement Award: Allie Andrews, Lamar County (state winner) Volunteer of the Year: Kera Davis, Monroe County Agency of the Year: Upson County Quota counties: Butts, Coweta, Crawford, Harris, Lamar, Muscogee, Peach, Pike, Talbot, Taylor, Troup and Upson District 6 Volunteer of the Year: Kathy Sanders, Laurens County Agency of the Year: Washington County Quota counties: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Dodge, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson District 7 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Whitney Sheppard, Screven County Volunteer of the Year: Karen Durkin, Effingham County. Agency of the Year: Chatham County Quota counties: Appling, Bulloch, Burke, Chatham, Emanuel, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Tattnall, Toombs and Wayne District 8
GFB Field Notes page 11 of 24 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Bryan & Addie Tucker, Wilcox County (state winners) YF&R Achievement Award: Rick & Leanne Hopper, Wilcox County (finalists for state award) Volunteer of the Year: Sara Beth Studstill, Wilcox County Agency of the Year: Macon County Quota counties: Crisp, Houston, Lee, Macon, Marion, Pulaski, Quitman, Schley, Sumter, Terrell and Webster District 9 YF&R Achievement Award: Colt & Camille Calhoun, Miller County. Volunteer of the Year: Lisa Pollock, Grady County Agency of the Year: Calhoun County Quota counties: Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas and Tift District 10 YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Ashley Wright, Coffee County (finalist for state award) Volunteer of the Year: Ray Bloser, Cook County Outstanding Teachers: Melissa Williams, Berrien County; Alisha Sirmans, Lanier County. Agency of the Year: Ware County Quota counties: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Camden, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes and Ware
GFB Field Notes page 12 of 24 AFBF THANKSGIVING COST SURVEY Nov. 5 deadline to participate Every year, Farm Bureau’s Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey helps tell the story of food affordability and the value farmers and ranchers provide to America’s families. Volunteer price checkers collect local grocery prices for a traditional Thanksgiving meal serving 10 people, including a whole turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, pumpkin pie mix and more. Farm Bureau members are invited to check prices between Nov. 1-5 and submit them at FB.Org/TurkeySurvey, where they can access the online survey form, as well as instructions and tips. CITRUS COOPERATIVE WORKSHOP: NEXT STEPS Nov. 5 Tattnall County Extension Office, 114 North Main St. 3 p.m. Reidsville Those interested in helping shape the future of a regional citrus cooperative are encouraged to attend and take part in the discussion. This meeting will be facilitated by UGA Small Business Development Center Area Director Jonisa McBride and Tattnall County Extension Agent Aubrey Shirley. The workshop will focus on the next steps toward organizing a cooperative, including the formation of a steering committee to help guide planning, identify grower priorities, and explore what a citrus cooperative could look like for Southeast Georgia. The meeting will also be available for streaming via Zoom. To attend by Zoom, visit https://gfb.ag/SEGaCitrusZoom. The meeting ID is 961 2151 6829 and the pass code is 316481. GEORGIA NATIONAL ANTIQUE AG SHOW Nov. 11-16 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry Visitors will get a firsthand look at the dramatic transformations in United States agriculture. This year’s official theme, “From Mules to Microchips: Honoring the Past, Showcasing the Future. Celebrating 250 Years of Agriculture and the American Farmer,” highlights the journey of American farming over two and a half centuries – from animal-drawn plows to autonomous field robots. For well over 250 years, draft animals like mules and oxen provided the muscle needed to prepare soil, plant seeds, and haul harvests to market. That long era reached a historic turning point in Georgia in 1954, the year mechanical tractors officially out-numbered mules as the primary farm implement across the state. While the shift from mules to tractors marked a major milestone, the pace of technological change over the last 70 years has accelerated exponentially. Modern growers now rely on an array of cutting-edge tools, including satellite-guided, self-driving tractors, high-tech crop drones, and specialized robotic harvesters. Connecting that rich history to today’s high-tech tools is the central focus of this year’s show. Beyond the machinery, visitors can enjoy evening concerts on Thursday and Friday afternoons, creating a festival atmosphere designed for all ages. The show will have live musical performances on those nights by Georgia-based music groups. Entry into the Georgia Antique Agriculture Show is free, but the concerts require a ticket purchase. For more information, visit www.gnfa.com/events or visit the show’s Facebook page.
GFB Field Notes page 13 of 24 2ND ANNUAL GEORGIA FARM BUREAU PB&J 5K Nov. 13 Registration deadline Nov. 14 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry Come for the run. Stay for the fried PB&J! Sign up today for the 5K on Nov. 14 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. The course is flat, fast, and completely paved — perfect for all skill levels. Registration is $30. Runners must register by 8 p.m. Nov. 13. No registrations morning of race. Enjoy a post-run grilled PB&J sandwich, compliments of the Georgia Peanut Commission! The race will include a themed costume contest and in honor of America’s 250th Anniversary, there will be a Freedom Finish Line celebration. If you’re bringing the family, after the race be sure to check out the Georgia National Antique Agriculture Show for FREE — a perfect way to step back in time and enjoy a look at the history of agriculture. Visit https://www.gfb.org/pb-and-j-5k to register and for more information. ABAC PCA PRO RODEO EVENT Nov. 13 & 14 ABAC Rodeo Arena Tifton Get ready for two nights of high-flying action, western entertainment and rodeo excitement as 3R Rodeo Company returns to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The rodeo is part of Stage Lights and Rodeo Nights, a weekend of entertainment at ABAC that kicks off with country music star Tracy Lawrence at the John Hunt Auditorium on Nov. 12. For more information on the weekend-long event, visit link.abac.edu/events. Rodeo tickets are available at here. Tickets start at $20 for general admission, with children under 6 admitted free. An enhanced VIP experience ticket is $30 each for adults and $10 for children under 6. VIP tickets are limited, so secure your seats early. From bull riding and calf roping to other classic rodeo events, fans can expect plenty of thrills under the lights at ABAC. Gates open at 5 p.m., Mutton Bustin' begins at 6 p.m., and the rodeo action kicks off at 7:30 p.m. each night. Mutton Bustin' participation is available for an additional fee. The evening will also feature Western Way Entertainment, a Sevierville, Tenn.based performance company founded by married couple Shelby LeAnne Danison and Chance Danison. The duo combines professional rodeo skills with music and western performance, bringing audiences an exciting specialty act featuring trick riding, mounted shooting, trick roping and more. CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM Nov. 15 Newton County Ag Center 2 -5 p.m. Covington Join the Newton County Farm Bureau for an afternoon of fun, learning and community spirit! See farm animals, enjoy a hayride and a tractor show. Meet Santa and shop for Christmas gifts with local vendors. For more information call the NCFB at 770-786-7201. The Newton County Ag Center is located at 120 FFA/FHA Camp Road, Covington, Ga. 30014.
GFB Field Notes page 14 of 24 UPCOMING GEORGIA CROP INSURANCE DATES Nov. 16 Production reporting deadline 2026 crops for barley, canola, oats, triticale and wheat Acreage report date for 2027 onion Nov. 20 Sales closing date for apples, blueberries and peaches Dec. 1 Sales closing date for apiculture and pasture, range and forageland Jan. 15 Production reporting deadline for apples, blueberries and peaches; Acreage reporting date for barley, oats, triticale and wheat The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Georgia producers of these sale closing dates for the 2027 crop year. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the 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. 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 2027 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 (and growing) experienced crop insurance agents 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. STUDY COMMITTEE ON GENERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILY FARMS Nov. 20 Athens Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and Rep. Robert Dickey (R–Musella), chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, will host this fourth hearing of the Joint Study Committee on Generational Sustainability of Family Farms. The committee is examining the conditions and challenges facing Georgia’s family farms and seeking recommendations for legislative solutions to strengthen existing markets, prepare the next generation of farmers and address the long-term sustainability of the state’s agricultural economy. Details are TBA. Once finalized, meetings are being listed at www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/house and www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/senate.
GFB Field Notes page 15 of 24 NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR OUTSTANDING GA YOUNG PEANUT FARMER Dec. 4 deadline for nominations Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027, in Tifton. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and the Farm Credit Associations of Georgia. The Outstanding Georgia award is based on the applicant’s farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership, civic, church, and community service activities. The award is open to any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, as of Jan. 21, 2027. An individual may receive the award only once. There is no limit to the number of applicants from each county in Georgia. The award application is available online at www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690 or joycrosby@gapeanuts.com. The 2026 winner was Will Anderson of Register, Ga. The award winner receives registration and hotel accommodations to attend the 2027 Southern Peanut Growers Conference and a sign to display at his or her farm. ` TITLE I CROPS/ARC/PLC PROGRAMS FOR 2026 Dec. 11 deadline to enroll The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has completed the base acre allocation update for farms enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. The update was announced last fall, and signup ran from June 1 - Aug. 31. Now that the base allocation process has ended, producers can enroll their eligible 2026 Title I crops in the ARC or PLC crop protection programs through Dec. 11. ARC County and PLC both provide crop-by-crop protection. ARC-Individual protects the entire farm. Election changes for the 2026 crop year are optional, but producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Existing multi-year contracts ended in 2025. Producers do have the option to sign a new multi-year contract for 2026 through 2031. Producers who opt out of a multi-year contract can enroll for the 2027 crop year from Nov. 2, 2026 through March 15, 2027. If producers do not submit their 2026 crop election for ARC or PLC by Dec. 11, their election will remain the same as their 2025 election for crops on the farm, and the farm is ineligible for 2026 program year payments. Landowners cannot enroll in either program unless they have an interest in the farm. The Texas A&M Agricultural & Food Policy Center offers an online decision tool to help producers decide which ARC or PLC program to choose using crop data specific to their farm. UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences economists advise producers to use the tool, available at https://afpc.tamu.edu/tools/farmbill/2026. To access the Texas A&M online decision tool, you will have to create a free account by providing your email address and creating a password. If you have questions, please call 1(888)890-5663. Producers who have a USDA Login.gov account may make their program elections and enroll online at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc or they can make an appointment at their local FSA office, which can be found online at www.fsa.usda.gov/fsa-office-locator. Crop insurance information is available at www.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
GFB Field Notes page 16 of 24 experienced crop insurance agents statewide. Find your local agent and learn more at www.GFBInsurance.com or email crops@gfbinsurance.com. 2026/27 GACD SCHOLARSHIPS Dec. 31 application deadline To encourage study and careers in soil and water conservation related fields, the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts administers one $1,000 scholarship each year and the GACD Auxiliary will award a scholarship of $500. Both scholarships will be given to high school students or undergraduate/graduate students majoring in, or intending to major in, a soil and water conservation related area. Acceptable areas of study include, but are not limited to, agricultural education, agronomy, horticulture, plant pathology, and agricultural communications. Applicants must be from Georgia but may be attending or planning to attend any accredited college, school, or university in the United States. For more information or to apply, visit https://www.gacd.us/scholarships. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 7-9 Savannah Convention Center Savannah The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is the largest educational conference and trade show in the southeastern United States that unites growers, vendors, and suppliers. Anyone with an interest in specialty crop agriculture is invited to be a part of this event. Through more than 80 hours of educational sessions, we will address food safety concerns, specific commodity issues on production practices and increased yields, and marketing strategies. Participate in our growing and dynamic trade show, where you’ll browse through more than 85,000 square feet of space filled with key suppliers and growers. There has never been a more vital time for the fruit and vegetable industry to come together for a brighter and more profitable future! For more information or to register, visit https://seregionalconference.org/. 2027 GEORGIA DAIRY CONFERENCE Jan. 18-20 Marriott Savannah Riverfront Savannah Hosted by Georgia Milk Producers Inc., the Georgia Dairy Conference is an opportunity for Georgia dairy producers to gather and discuss recent trends in the dairy industry. Registration is free for GMP members. Event seminar topics include trends in constructing dairy facilities, feed management economics, farm cybersecurity, a Southeast dairy outlook, tips for dairy cattle breeding, tips for bridging the language & cultural gap on the farm, Dairy Alliance update, precision fly control and much more. The conference will also include a trade show. For more information or to register, visit www.gadairyconference.com .
GFB Field Notes page 17 of 24 2027 GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 21, 2027 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tifton Don't miss out on the 50th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show & Conference! The show is free and open to all farmers and industry representatives to attend. The show is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit with more than 100 agribusinesses and organizations in the peanut and agricultural industry. Farmers will be able to earn private and commercial pesticide applicator certification, as well as learn about cutting-edge research and developments during the University of Georgia Peanut Production Seminar and industry-wide sponsored Peanut Seed Seminar. Registration for exhibit space is open. For more information, visit https://gapeanuts.com/farm-show/. GA FFA STUDENT FARMER MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY Landon Hembree, a junior at Colquitt County High School and the son of a third-generation farmer, is conducting a survey for a research project on farm stress. We appreciate our farm youth in Georgia who care about our farmers and their mental health! Way to go Landon! If you would like to help Landon out by completing his survey, visit The Psychosocial Factors Affecting Agricultural Producers. GFB HAY DIRECTORY GFB is accepting listings for its online hay directory. Farm Bureau members with hay for sale or who offer custom harvesting or custom sprigging services are invited to list their hay and/or services in the GFB Quality Hay Directory published on the GFB website. Hay for sale or services can be listed or removed from the directory throughout the year. To be included in GFB’s online hay directory, complete a submission form by visiting your county Farm Bureau office or online at www.gfb.ag/hay. Please include a $10 check made payable to Georgia Farm Bureau for each listing of hay, custom harvesting or custom sprigging. Multiple listings are allowed. Listings can be updated in the directory throughout the year as hay inventories change. Hay producers who entered the GFB Quality Hay Contest receive a free listing in the online GFB Hay Directory. CONSERVATION DISTRICTS OFFER FERAL HOG CONTROL SERVICES For a list of feral hog control services available in each GACD Conservation District, visit https://gfb.ag/feralhoggacdresources. 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE OFFERS SUPPORT The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988 or chatting on 988lifeline.org. 988 is a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support. You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out. 988 trained crisis counselors can help you through whatever mental health challenges you are experiencing.
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