GFB News - Nov./Dec. 2009

Vol. 71 No. 6

GEORGIA

November/December 2009

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

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contents

table of november/december 2009

departments we, the farmers PAGE 4

legislative update PAGE 8

commodities update PAGE 10

timber news PAGE 16

around georgia

PAGE 18

GFB to hold 71st annual convention For the 46th year Georgia Farm Bureau members will travel to Jekyll Isand for the organization’s annual meeting Dec. 6-8. Take note that the convention schedule is different this year with young farmer events beginning on Saturday instead of Sunday and the awards ceremony being held on Sunday instead of Monday. PAGE 5

Young farmer finalists find ties too strong to ignore Charlie and Nancie Sanders (4th District, Greene County), Steven and Tiffany Metcalf (8th District, Turner County) and Cory and Janie Tyre (10th District, Bacon County) are the three finalists in the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Contest. The state winner will be named Dec. 6 at the GFB Convention.

PAGE 6

Farmers, exhibitors make connections at Sunbelt Attendance was down slightly at the 32nd Annual Sunbelt Expo, held Oct. 20-22 in Moultrie, but the 82,000 visitors who attended enjoyed learning about the ag equipment, supplies and programs displayed by the 1,184 exhibitors.

PAGE 12

Patrons, competitors flock to GA National Fair The Georgia National Fair celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

PAGE 14

GFB 2nd District cattle show a spirited success

public relations staff

Paul Beliveau Director Jennifer Whittaker Editor

Lillian Davis Publications/Advertising Manager

Jay Stone Print/Web Specialist

Denny Moore TV Producer/Anchor

Rick Treptow Senior Radio-TV Specialist

Michael Edmondson Web/Video Manager

Mark Wildman Radio-TV Specialist

Dean Wood Radio-TV Specialist

Ryan Naquin Radio-TV Specialist

Vickie Amos Office Coordinator For questions about your membership or member benefits, call 1-800-633-5432.

For questions regarding editorial content call 478-474-0679, ext. 5334 or email jawhittaker@gfb.org For questions regarding advertising contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., 1-800-397-8908 Visit the GFB Web site today! www.gfb.org

Georgia Farm Bureau News

More than 100 students spent Halloween competing in the GFB 2nd District Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show.

PAGE 17

Philip Morris ends tobacco contracts in GA Philip Morris USA will not offer new contracts to Georgia or Florida tobacco growers after the 2009 season, company officials announced during a meeting in Alma on Oct. 14.

The company also plans to close its buying station in Alma.

PAGE 20

Farmers vent frustrations with FSA computer system Farmers who spoke at a recent USDA listening session regarding the Farm Service Agency’s program delivery system complimented county FSA staff but were less enthusiastic about the computer system FSA staff use to administer programs and the Web site FSA officials want farmers to use to apply for programs.

PAGE 22

on the cover

(Photo by Perry Nettles) The church on our cover is part of a five-acre Christmas display of more than 110,000 lights, 300 illuminated sculptures and 50 plus inflatable characters that Polk County Farm Bureau member Perry Nettles has created for 27 years. Nettles begins working on the display Labor Day weekend and switches on the lights Thanksgiving night. Santa and Mrs. Claus attend the Thanksgiving night lighting to give candy to visitors. The display remains lit through New Year’s Eve and is open to all at no charge.

The Nettles farm is located on U.S. HWY 278 about five miles west of Rockmart. Call 404-210-8418 for more information.

November-December 2009 / 3

we, the

farmers Zippy Duvall, GFB President

Pressing On

We, the farmers live in a world of change, and sometimes change is difficult. I like to look at change as an opportunity to make things better, develop new relationships and broaden our horizons.

I received a call on Oct. 19 from Dr. Carol Couch informing me she had resigned her position as director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to join the faculty of the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia. She complimented our organization on the way we actively participated in the process of developing the statewide water plan and encouraged us to continue to be involved.

Our efforts were important to making sure that agriculture is involved in the decisions concerning the future use of our state’s most precious natural resource, water. We thank Dr. Couch for recognizing the importance of agriculture to our state and wish her well in her new position at the University of Georgia. We look forward to working with Allen Barnes, the new EPD director.

The Georgia Cattleman’s Association has a new executive vice president who is no stranger to Farm Bureau. Josh White, like me, is a product of the Farm Bureau Young Farmer Program. Josh is from Henry County where he sits on their Farm Bureau board of directors.

He is a beef cattle farmer and a good businessman, and I’m excited about having the opportunity to work with him.

In a recent interview Josh said, “I look forward to building on the many relationships I have formed throughout the state as we move GCA forward.”

Georgia Farm Bureau is one of those

relationships, and we intend to help Josh in any way we can.

As you know, we will elect a new governor next year. Twenty people have publicly expressed an interest in running for the office, but candidates can’t officially qualify for the race until next April. To help us make a more informed choice in next year’s election, we invited some of the gubernatorial candidates to address our members during the general session of our 71st annual convention.

We narrowed the list of candidates to those who currently hold or have previously held a state or national office. We look forward to hearing their vision for Georgia agriculture when they speak to us on Dec. 7.

The schedule for this year’s convention will be somewhat different, starting on Saturday with the Young Farmer Discussion Meet. The awards program will be held on Sunday evening immediately following the Vespers and Memorial Service. This change will allow us to have an enjoyable evening with John Berry on Monday. John will be performing his Christmas special. I know you will enjoy the evening, and I hope you will make plans to attend. We want to thank our good friends at Georgia EMC for co-sponsoring our entertainment this year.

Our world is changing; some changes are for the good – some for the bad. The important thing is that we be involved and take our seat at the table to make sure the voice of agriculture is heard.

Thanksgiving is a time to thank God for all of the many blessings he has given us in the past. It’s also a time to thank See WE, THE FARMERS page 12

Pictured above, from left, GFB Certified Farm Market participant Tim Mercier talks with GFB President Zippy Duvall and his wife, Bonnie, about this year’s apple crop during a tour of his apple market in Blue Ridge.

4 / November-December 2009

GEORGIA

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Farm Bureau Members: Included in dues — $1 per year Non-Members — $15 per year To subscribe call 1-800-898-1911, ext. 5238.

OFFICERS President ZIPPY DUVALL 1st Vice President/South Georgia Vice President GERALD LONG North Georgia Vice President BERNARD SIMS Middle Georgia Vice President BRENT GALLOWAY Treasurer/Corporate Secretary Wayne Daniel General Counsel DUKE Groover

DIRECTORS FIRST DISTRICT: J. Louis Hunt, LaFayette; Henry J. West, Rydal SECOND DISTRICT: Bobby Gunter, Dahlonega; Randy Ruff, Elberton THIRD DISTRICT: George Chambers, Carrollton; Nora Goodman, Temple FOURTH DISTRICT: Marvin Ruark, Bishop; William Hutchins, Winder FIFTH DISTRICT: Jim Ham, Smarr; Ralph Adamson Jr., Barnesville SIXTH DISTRICT: James Emory Tate, Denton; Jimmy Perry Jr., Cochran SEVENTH DISTRICT: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gennis Folsom, Glenville EIGHTH DISTRICT: Phil Redding, Bluffton; Don Wood, Rochelle NINTH DISTRICT: Paul Shirah, Camilla; Lucius Adkins, Elmodel TENTH DISTRICT: David Lee, Alma; Daniel Johnson, Alma YOUNG FARMER CHAIRMAN: Lanair Worsham, Camilla WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Kim Brown, Montezuma ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising accepted subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaint about advertiser service or products. Publisher does not accept per-order, political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in the Georgia Farm Bureau News.

For advertising rates and information, contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, 1-800-397-8908.

Georgia Farm Bureau News was established in 1937.

Copyright 2009 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, Georgia.

PRINTED WITH SOY INK

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Convention schedule changes

GFB to hold 71st annual convention

By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by JJennifer Whittaker

F

or the 46th year, Georgia Farm Bureau members will travel to Jekyll Isand for the organization’s annual meeting Dec. 6-8, which gives GFB the distinction of being the organization to hold the most meetings on the island, according to Jekyll Island Authority officials. To recognize GFB’s longtime support of Jekyll, the authority will hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the island’s new park and convention center on Monday, Dec. 7 following the general session. Gov. Sonny Perdue plans to address GFB convention attendees during the general session and participate in the ceremony.

“Each year, we look forward to the arrival of Georgia Farm Bureau just like family coming back home for a holiday visit,” stated Jones Hooks, Jekyll Island Authority Executive Director. “We appreciate your business, and be assured that the new hotels and new convention center are being constructed with Georgia Farm Bureau in mind so we can host your convention for another 46 years!”

This will be the last year that the convention is held in the existing convention center as plans for the renovation of the island facilities call for the center to be torn down in 2010 so a new facility can be built.

The new convention center is expected to open in 2012.

If you’re planning to attend the GFB convention take note that the convention schedule is different this year. Young farmer events will be held on Saturday and Sunday this year instead of Sunday and Monday.

The vespers service will begin earlier on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Immediately afterward, the state awards program will be held to announce winners of the program awards and the Young Farmer Achievement and Discussion Meet Contests.

“Several things prompted us to change the schedule. Young farmers still in college, who expressed interest in competing in the discussion meet, have told us it would be easier for them to participate if it was held completely during the weekend because our previous schedule conflicted with exams

GFB Swine Committee member Dania Devane (left) mans the Georgia Pork Producers booth during the 2008 convention. and classes,” GFB President Zippy Duvall explained. “Holding the awards program on Sunday afternoon will allow any college students who compete in the contest to attend the awards ceremony. Starting the vespers and awards event earlier on Sunday afternoon will give our members more time to go out to dinner with their county groups and enjoy the evening. Plus, we’re proud to announce that John Berry will provide our entertainment Monday evening. We wanted to give John ample time to perform his award-winning Christmas and country music.”

The preliminary rounds of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in rooms adjoining Hartley Auditorium and will continue throughout the afternoon.

The three finalists in the Young Farmer Achievement Contest will be honored during a reception for young farmers on Saturday afternoon instead of during the Monday morning breakfast.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, the exhibit hall will open at noon and convention registration will begin. The hall will be open until 4:30 p.m. The final round of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet will be held in the Aquarama Beachside Hall at 1:30 p.m.

The Women’s Commodity Recognition and Leadership Program will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Aquarama Atlantic Hall.

An open session of policy development will be held in Rooms 1 & 2 of Hartley Auditorium at 3:15 p.m., followed by a closed session.

The general session will convene on Monday at 9 a.m. in Hartley Auditorium.

Because the 2010 gubernatorial candidates can’t officially qualify for the race until next April, those candidates who currently hold or have previously held a state or national office have been invited to speak. The county presidents’/secretaries’ luncheon will be held in the Aquarama Atlantic Hall at noon.

Commodity conferences will be held Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., featuring speakers who will address management and policy issues for the major commodities grown in Georgia. The day will close with the John Berry concert beginning at 8 p.m. in Hartley Auditorium.

Tuesday activities start at 6:45 a.m. with the membership breakfast. Voting delegates will convene at 8:30 a.m. to discuss and approve GFB policy. Delegates will also elect the GFB director positions that are up for re-election.

November-December 2009 / 5

Young farmer finalists find ties too strong to ignore Article & photos by Jay Stone _______________________________________

T

heir primary products are different, but the three finalist families for the 2009 Georgia Farm

Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Contest all found the ties to the family business too strong to ignore.

Charlie and Nancie Sanders (4th

District, Greene County), whose farm has been in Nancie’s family for more than 200 years, raise dairy cows and produce milk. Steven and Tiffany Metcalf (8th District, Turner County) grow cotton and peanuts on the land that has been

The Sanders: Breanna (front), back row (L-R) Brooke, Charlie, Nancie and Caleb.

GREENE COUNTY In one three-hour stretch, Charlie Sanders takes the temperatures of cows who recently calved, checks their milk for signs of mastitis, gives them shots, moves one of them to the milking herd, makes notes about each cow in a pocket-sized notebook, checks on a coupledozen calves, repairs a calf stall, oversees the moving of the herd from pasture to the milking parlor and then manages the 2 p.m.

milking. If it seems like his life as a dairy farmer is a mad sprint, well, it is.

“People have asked me about the schedule,” he said. “When I was with the fire department, I also worked with the sheriff’s department part-time, and I worked at a gun shop on the weekends. So, it’s not that much different for me.”

Charlie, 30, was a fireman before deciding to join the family business of his wife Nancie, whose father, Barry Churchwell, and brother, Dustin Churchwell, were operating the family dairy farm. The three of them run it jointly now, managing a herd of more than 800 cattle with the help of four employees. At any given time, between 325 and 425 cows are being milked twice a day, and another 40 or 50 might be waiting to deliver calves.

The career switch was a family-driven decision. Charlie and Nancie now have three children: 5-year-old Brooke, 3-yearold Breanna and Caleb, who was born in August.

“I avoided this my whole adult life until I married Charlie,” Nancie said. “[But] We love it. The kids can play out in the front yard. We don’t have to worry about traffic.

They can play with the animals and learn

cultivated by Steven’s family for three generations. Cory and Janie Tyre (10th District, Bacon County), whose families have been farming for five generations, mainly make their living off hay.

The Tyres and Sanders tried other

things, but their farming heritage pulled them back. Steven Metcalf joined his father in the field during high school and never left.

Each

family

receives

a

$200

travel allowance for the GFB Annual Convention, where the state winner will be announced Dec. 6. The state winner will receive a year’s use

The Tyres (L-R) Janie, Vera Kate, Whitman, Cora Jane and Cory.

of a Kubota L or M Series tractor, a $500 cash award from Dodge Truck Division and an expense-paid trip to Seattle to compete for the national award at the AFBF Annual Convention.

6 / November-December 2008

BACON COUNTY Cory and Janie Tyre always knew their life was destined for the farm. Four generations of Tyres before Cory rode the plant and harvest

cycle in Southeast Georgia, and when he went to college it was for an education he would use in agricultural engineering.

But it was a step away from farming that reinforced what he was meant to do with his life. He took a job as an assistant superintendent with a construction company, and later he and his brother Phil started two lighting businesses.

They bought a 120,000 square foot warehouse in Alma that came with some office space. They used that to run the businesses and rented out space in the warehouse.

“My heart really wasn’t in that,” he said of the lighting business. He was constantly worried about contractors paying him for lighting systems and installation he was selling. “I started playing in hay on the weekends, and it grew from there.”

For Cory, 32, and Janie, 29, hay appears to be a calling. It takes up 500 of the 932 acres they farm in Bacon County,

Georgia Farm Bureau News

about responsibility.”

The long hours and quick-response nature of the work made for an easy transition for Charlie in some ways, but the sheer variety of the tasks involved with being a dairy farmer might intimidate other people.

When machinery breaks down, he’s often the one to fix it. When a fan in the milking room stops turning, he’s the one who rewires it. When a calf knocks a board off a stall, he hammers it back in place.

Charlie learned how to trim hooves to save the farm the $700 a month being spent on hoof care.

Nancie, 35, was a state finalist in the GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet in 2006. She and Charlie have co-chaired the GCFB Young Farmer Committee since 2006, and Nancie serves on the GCFB Women’s Committee.

Before returning to dairy farming, Charlie and Nancie were living in Warner Robins. She worked as a dental technician and cosmetics representative, while holding a silent partnership in the family farm.

Now, she’s an active partner. It takes everyone to keep it going. where they live with their children Cora Jane (age 6), Vera Kate (4) and Whitman (1). They also produce wheat and soybeans, and they purchase additional hay for resale.

Cory chairs the Young Farmer and Legislative committees for the Bacon County Farm Bureau, and Janie is on the Women’s and Promotion & Education committees.

“I was going to be in agriculture one way or another, whether it was in agricultural communications or something else,” said Janie, who met Cory at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the late 1990s.

“Having our own farm is truly a dream.”

In addition to their BCFB committee work, they both serve on the BCFB Board of Directors. Last year they were state finalists for the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award.

In 2005, as a way to supplement his income and put the family farm to use,

Georgia Farm Bureau News

The Metcalfs (L-R) Tiffany, Steven and Graham.

TURNER COUNTY As with many farming families, Steven and Tiffany Metcalf treasure the fact that their vocation allows them time to be together.

They’ve been married since 2006, and it did not take long before Tiffany realized togetherness would mean she had to develop some new skills. So she got Steven to teach her to drive a tractor on the family farm near Ashburn.

Cory started hauling coastal Bermuda hay to buyers on the weekends. Janie would work the phones and the Internet to sell it. Then they’d load up their pickup, and he would drive to Alabama or the Carolinas or Florida to deliver it.

The first year, they sold more than 12,000 square bales.

Meanwhile, as the hay business grew, it became clear the Tyres needed a place to store the hay to make the business viable throughout the year. Cory and Janie had a ready-made solution in the warehouse they purchased for the lighting business.

They began storing hay there, allowing them to ship it year-round.

Phil joked that the hay was going to push the lighting business out of the warehouse, and ultimately that’s what happened. In late 2006 Cory started distributing hay full-time, and he is on a pace to sell more than 220,000 square bales this year.

“The first time I got on it, I almost took off a gate with it,” she said. “I do it all … pull peanut wagons, do the books.

Whatever they need me to do, I’m their go-to girl.”

Steven, 33, has been expanding his operation virtually from the start. He and his father, Bennie Metcalf, own a 25 percent stake in Hat Creek Peanut Company, as well as a share in Tifton Quality Peanuts, making them involved from field to sheller in the peanut industry.

The Metcalfs grow peanuts on a third of their 1,162 total acres. It’s not their biggest crop – that would be cotton – but it’s perhaps the one with the highest profile; they’ll produce an estimated 427 tons of peanuts this year.

Bennie planted the farming seed with Steven early, giving him a dozen acres to farm when he was in high school, and it took. Steven knew pretty quickly what he wanted to do with his life.

“Once you’re in the outdoors and you grow up in it, it’s kind of in your blood,” Steven said.

After he graduated from Turner County High School in 1994, Steven started farming full time. Now he, his father and his brother, Matthew, 22, run a shared farming venture. “It’s long hours,” he said. “Six days a week from daylight to dark, and sometimes after dark. But it’s worth it. If I had to change and do something else, I don’t know what it would be.”

Steven serves as the TCFB Young Farmer Committee chair and is on the TCFB’s Legislative, Cotton, Hay and Water Commodity Committees.

Tiffany, 23, who teaches fifth grade at Turner County Elementary School and is studying for her master’s degree in education, still finds time to ride with Steven on the tractor and pull the trailer loads of peanuts.

“I always wanted to marry a farmer,” she said. “It’s a good living, but you have to work hard for that. It’s about working together and being together. I enjoy being around Steven and his daddy.”

Said Steven, “It’s a way of life, and she understands.”

November-December 2008 / 7

legislative update Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director

Ohio voters approve Livestock Care Standards Board On Nov. 3, Ohio voters approved a statewide referendum that creates a state board to establish official standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry. The measure, known as Issue 2, was strongly supported by Ohio Farm Bureau and other farm groups. It passed statewide 64 to 36 percent and passed in every Ohio county except one.

A coalition of Ohio farm organizations initiated Issue 2 as a proactive response to a referendum California voters passed last year, which placed severe restrictions on livestock production. The passage of California’s Proposition 2 initiative has been a wake-up call to farmers all over the country.

Georgia’s response to the California initiative was House Bill 529, which prohibits local governments from passing

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8 / November-December 2009

ordinances to regulate farm practices.

Georgia Farm Bureau strongly supported that legislation, and earlier this year the Georgia General Assembly passed it and Gov. Perdue signed it into law.

The situation in Ohio was a bit different. Animal rights groups targeted Ohio, due in part to a condemning television documentary that showed farmers on a single Ohio farm using abusive practices on their livestock. As a result, an amendment similar to California’s Proposition 2 was proposed for Ohio in 2010.

Ohio Farm Bureau and other farm organizations formed a coalition, Ohioans for Livestock Care, to consider ways to defeat the proposal. Rather than remaining on defense, the livestock coalition chose to become proactive.

Ohioans for Livestock Care urged the state’s General Assembly to pass a resolution calling for an amendment to the Ohio constitution by statewide referendum. The resolution passed and became known as Issue 2 on the Nov. 3 Ohio ballot.

Issue 2 was strongly supported by farm organizations. American Farm Bureau and many state Farm Bureaus, including Georgia, sent money to assist Ohio in this effort.

The measure was hotly contested by animal rights groups across the country that wanted this issue to be a national debate.

Passage of Issue 2 authorizes the creation of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. The purpose of the board is to develop official state standards regarding the treatment of farm animals.

The board will consist of 13 members, 10 of whom will be appointed by the governor upon consent of the Ohio Senate. The governor’s 10 appointees will include: one family farmer; one veterinarian licensed to practice in Ohio; the state veterinarian of the Ohio Department of Agriculture; one food safety expert; one representative of a county humane society in Ohio; the dean of an Ohio college of agriculture; two representatives of a statewide farm organization; and two members of the

public to represent Ohio consumers.

In addition to the governor’s appointments, two additional family farmers will be appointed to the board. The president of the Ohio Senate will appoint one, and the speaker of the Ohio House will appoint the other. The director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture will serve as board chairman. All members of the board will be Ohio residents.

The 2010 Ohio General Assembly now has the task of enacting laws to carry out the purposes of the newly created board.

Enforcement duties will fall to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

The animal rights community was disappointed by passage of Issue 2. They contend the Livestock Care Standards Board is stacked against animal rights advocates.

They have vowed to move forward with their efforts to pass measures with more austere livestock and poultry provisions.

Clearly, passage of Issue 2 was a victory for Ohio Farm Bureau and the coalition behind it. More importantly, it is a victory for Ohio’s livestock and poultry growers.

Livestock and poultry is a significant part of the state’s agriculture.

Although the agriculture coalition that sought passage of Issue 2 won, it must still be acknowledged that Ohio now has an official government agency regulating farm practices. The quality of that regulation is subject to the makeup of the newly created Livestock Care Standards Board.

The Ohioans for Livestock Care expressed a certain amount of reservation regarding their victory on their Web site, writing, “We must answer the call of the public before the opposition does. Farmers are few. Our critics are strong. And while Issue 2 is not the complete answer; it is a turning point. How society will come to terms with its relationship to the animals we care for is a blank page. Whether by Ohioans or outsiders, the rules will be written.”

Jon D. Huffmaster is the director of the GFB Legislative Department.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB names new sales managers for 8th & 10th districts Mark Powell, Clay County Farm Bureau agency manager and Lee Liles, Ben Hill County agency manager, have been named the new district sales managers of the GFB 8th and 10th Districts, respectively, effective Nov. 1. As district sales managers, PowPowell ell and Liles will oversee all insurance sales and agent activities in their districts.

Liles, a native of Ben Hill County, joined the GFB team in 1977. He has a Business AdministraLiles tion and Risk Management degree from the University of Georgia. During his 32-year Farm Bureau career, Liles has won every major contest the GFB Insurance Companies have

sponsored. He and his wife, Francine, live in Fitzgerald and have four children.

Powell joined the GFB team in 1995 as an agent in Crisp County. He holds the Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) designation conferred

by The American College in conjunction with the National Association of

Insurance and Financial Advisors. Powell has been recognized multiple times for his sales achievements through the All Star Contest and has received the National Multiline Sales Award from Southern Farm Bureau. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Fort Gaines. He has three children.

Allen Barnes named GA EPD Director F. Allen Barnes began serving as director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Oct. 29 after Gov. Sonny Perdue recommended him and the Georgia Board of Natural Resources approved his nomination. Barnes replaces Dr. Carol Couch, who resigned from the position Oct. 19 to teach at the University of Georgia after leading the EPD for six years.

Prior to his appointment, Barnes was a partner in King & Spalding’s environmental practice. From 2002 to 2005, Barnes served as chief of staff for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region

Four. During that time he worked on the most significant issues in the eight-state southeastern region.

Barnes taught natural resource policy and law at Mississippi State from 1996 to 2002. Barnes has also served as a prosecutor in the Florida State Attorney’s Office and as a special assistant U.S. Attorney handling criminal, tort and environmental litigation.

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November-December 2009 / 9

commodities/marketing update Don McGough, Commodites/Marketing Director

Hear industry updates at GFB Convention Commodity Conferences If you’re going to attend the 71st Annual Georgia Farm Bureau Convention, one of the highlights will be the commodity conferences on Monday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. These meetings will feature speakers addressing a variety of issues relative to each commodity. Conference speakers will address issues facing the 20 major commodities produced in Georgia.

All of the meetings will be held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center in either the Hartley Auditorium or Beachside Hall.

Pick up a convention program at the Exhibit Hall for a complete listing of the conference locations. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend these meetings to hear the latest updates on Georgia agriculture.

2 P.M. CONFERENCES COTTON-----------------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 12 Varieties for 2010–Dr. Guy Collins; Living with Pigweed–Dr. Stanley Culpepper; Commission Activities–Richey Seaton DAIRY----------------------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 10 Update From UGA–Dr. Bill Graves; Dairy Price Stabilization Program–Representative, Dairy Farmers Working Together FORESTRY---------------------------------------Hartley Auditorium Rooms 5 & 6 Woody Biomass Opportunities–Dr. Dale Greene; BCAP Overview–Brett Martin FRUIT & VEGETABLE---------------------Hartley Auditorium Rooms 1 & 2 County Farm Bureaus Support the CFM Program–Brandon Ashley; Update on Food Safety Laws–Beth Bland; Specialty Crop Grant Information–Moreblessing Dzivakwe; Ga. Dept of Ag. Georgia Grown Program–Mike Snow GOAT & SHEEP------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 13 Goat and Sheep Production Management Update–Dr. Will Getz; Goat and Sheep 10 / November-December 2009

Health Update–Dr. Seyedmehdi Mobini HAY-------------------------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 9 Comments From the 2008 Hay Contest Winner–Dean Bagwell; Challenges and Opportunities for Hay Producers in Georgia–Dr. Dennis Hancock PECAN--------------------------------------------Hartley Auditorium Room 4 NASS Pecan Estimation Program–Radley Edwards; New Cultivar Options for Georgia Orchards–Dr. Patrick Conner POULTRY----------------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 11 Improving Broiler House Environment– Dr. Brian Fairchild SWINE---------------------------------------------Hartley Auditorium Room 7 Update From Georgia Pork Producers– Charles Griffin; Neighbors to Neighbors– Ben Vainner

3:30 P.M. CONFERENCES AQUACULTURE------------------------------Hartley Auditorium Rooms 5 & 6 Bramlett Trout Farm’s Operation–Terry Bramlett; Go Fish Program/Aquaculture Regulations–Mike Spencer BEEF CATTLE----------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 9 Update From Georgia Beef Board– Gerald Long; New Horizons in Georgia Cattlemen’s and the Beef Industry–Josh White ENVIRONMENTAL HORT.-------------Hartley Auditorium Rooms 1 & 2 ACC for Ornamental Plants and Green Industry Update–Chris Butts; Water Efficient Landscapes–Dr. Mark Risse EQUINE-------------------------------------------Hartley Auditorium Room 4

Georgia House of Representatives Equine Study Committee–Rep. Tom McCall; Trail Riding on the National Forests of Georgia–Jim Gaudry FEEDGRAIN & SOYBEAN--------------Beachside Hall Room 10 Aflatoxin & Vomitoxin Research & Prevention, What Are Falling Numbers?– Dr. Dewey Lee; What to do About Resistant Pigweed–Dr. Eric Prostko HONEYBEE-------------------------------------Hartley Auditorium Room 3 Use of Formic Acid in Treatment of Mites and Africanized Honeybees– David Westervelt; Update of UGA Research Programs–J. Keith Fielder PEANUT------------------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 12 Calcium Needs for Large Seeded Cultivars–Dr. Glen Harris; Maximizing Benefits From Precision Technology–Dr. George Vellidis TOBACCO---------------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 11 Review of 2009 Crop–Dr. J. Michael Moore; “Your” Georgia Tobacco Commission–Fred Wetherington WATER--------------------------------------------Beachside Hall Room 13 Aquifers in Georgia–Dr. James Kennedy; Water Issues in Georgia and How They Affect Agriculture–Mark Masters

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Sponsored breakfast, break & lunch Register Dec. 1 – Jan. 18 at www.ugatiftonconference.org or 229-386-3416.

Call 478-988-4235 for more info.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB Certified Farm Market Program connects farmers & consumers

Many consumers are thinking about where their food comes from these days and are looking to buy food from local farmers. This has created a market for many producers to sell directly to consumers who are willing to travel a few miles for farmfresh produce.

The Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities/Marketing Department promotes roadside markets and helps consumers locate farm-fresh produce through the Certified Farm Market Program (CFM). Created in 1986, this program has successfully helped farm markets with their advertising campaigns and has been a great resource to connect consumers with producers.

GFB Certified Farm Markets are listed in a brochure annually printed by GFB and

Josh White picked to lead GCA

Henry County Farm Bureau Director Josh White is the new Georgia Cattlemen’s Association executive vice president as of Oct. 1. White has been actively breeding Limousin cattle for 20 years and is a past president of the Georgia Limousin Association. He also has 14 years experience as co-owner of a real estate brokerage and development firm.

He and his wife, Erin, served on the GFB Young Farmer Committee in 20012002. He was also the 2008 GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet winner.

“Georgia Farm Bureau has long been a supporter of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and Georgia Beef Board,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “I look forward to working with Josh in his new role. It’s great to see a former member of our young farmer program stepping up to take a leadership role that will further the cause of Georgia agriculture.”

Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB Certified Farm Market participant Andy Futch (second from left) talks to (L-R) Bonnie Duvall, GFB Commodity Specialist Brandon Ashley and GFB President Zippy Duvall about his participation in the CFM program during a tour of his R&A Orchards in Elijay.

distributed statewide. Our brochures are displayed in state and local welcome centers, chambers of commerce, county extension offices, all county Farm Bureau offices and some retail outlets. CFMs also receive a colorful 24”x30” metal display sign to let their customers know they are a program participant. CFM members are listed on the GFB Web site and in an issue of the Georgia Neighbors magazine.

To qualify for the CFM program, a producer must: • Be a Farm Bureau Member • Pay a $150 Certified Roadside Farm

Membership fee • Produce a significant amount of merchandise sold • Maintain customer satisfaction • Follow fair and honest marketing practices The deadline for enrolling in the 2010 CFM program is Feb. 1. If you want to become part of this program contact Brandon Ashley at 1-800-342-1196 or by e-mail at btashley@gfb.org. Visit our website at www.gfb.org/commodities/cfm to find a CFM near you or to learn more about the program.

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Farmers, exhibitors make connections at Sunbelt By Jay Stone ___________________________________

WE, THE FARMERS from page 4 God for the incredible future that we, as farmers, have waiting for us and look to Him for guidance. During times of change we sometimes have to persevere under circumstances we don’t like, but God is still with us. Let’s remember that in and around all the changes in our lives today, there is only one constant, and that is the word of 12 / November-December 2009

Photo by Jay Stone

T

he Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition’s goal is to connect exhibitors with farmers, and the 2009 Expo did just that. It wasn’t a record year – attendance was down slightly, perhaps in part because the weather was conducive for harvesting cotton and peanuts – but it was strong enough that Executive Director Chip Blalock came out of it encouraged that the economics of farming might soon improve.

“In down times is when you need to market the most,” Blalock said. “Hopefully we’re on the downhill side of the recession, and this is a chance for farmers to come in and get a head’s up on what’s happening for 2010.”

The Expo, held Oct. 20-22, drew 82,000 visitors to Colquitt County (down from 85,000 in 2008), and gave them access to 1,184 exhibitors, many of them suppliers of equipment, supplies and valuable information to enhance agricultural efforts.

Florida Farmer Cary Lightsey was named the Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. During the luncheon where the award was announced, USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Science Michael Scuse stressed to the assembled farmers and agriculture leaders the importance of continuing to advance ag initiatives in the face of harrowing economic problems.

“We need to show Americans what you do, and where the food comes from,” Scuse said.

The transfer of information and samples occurred continuously throughout the three-day event. Georgia Farm Bureau promoted water use initiatives with an exhibit highlighting Georgia’s Statewide Water Management Plan and the regional water councils that are working to implement the

Nicole Karstedt of the Mobile Dairy Classroom performs a milking demonstration during the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition.

plan. The Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network gave information on its testing program to ward off diseases in bird flocks, with emphasis on quail, pheasants and chukkers.

The Georgia Peanut Commission held a ribbon cutting for its Peanut Proud and Feeding Georgia Program.

Cotton farmers got an overview of the seed varieties that will be available in 2010 from Bayer/Fibermax, Dow/ Agrosciences/Phytogen and Deltapine Monsanto in the wake of the departure of Deltapine 555. Representatives from those companies presented the results of their field testing of the new cotton strains. According to the presentations, Phytogen 370 WRF strain yielded 1,507 pounds per acre on average, while Bayer’s Fibermax 1740, an early maturity strain, yielded 1,284 pounds per irrigated acre and Monsanto Deltapine’s 573 turned God. It never changes.

In the King James Version of the Bible, Philippians 3:13 says: Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

God bless you and let’s keep pressing on.

out 1,592 pounds per acre.

“We’re excited about bringing competition to the market,” said Phytogen representative Dr. Steven M. Brown.

A precision agriculture seminar was held the first day of the event during which exhibitors presented information about new uses for lasers, GPS units and multiunit screens designed to reduce tractor cabin clutter.

“It’s extremely important that we be at a show like this,” said Trent DeLeon of Raven Industries, a South Dakota company that manufactures applied technology products for agricultural use. “The consumers need to know we’re there to answer their questions and help them out. They can tell us what successes we’re having and what they want to see.”

Blalock might not have used lasers or GPS units to plan the event, but it was that same kind of “sub-inch” efficiency he was seeking in the Expo’s one-stop shopping approach.

“Technology changes so fast from year to year, month to month and sometimes day to day,” Blalock said. “We’ve got the technology and solutions seminars to help farmers keep up, and our show gives the vendors a chance to get face-to-face with the farmers – we deliver their target audience.”

Georgia Farm Bureau News

2009 GFB District Winners Named During the GFB district meetings held across the state this fall, county Farm Bureaus were recognized for their outstanding member programs. The following district winners will compete for state honors at the annual GFB Convention in December.

FIRST DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Chattooga County; Young Farmer Committee: Cherokee County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: Wesley and Dawn Hall, Forsyth County; Legislative Committee: Cherokee County; Outstanding Secretary Award: Tabatha Fowler, Chattooga County; Promotion and Education Committee: Cherokee County.

SECOND DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Jackson County; Young Farmer Committee: Madison

County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: Jason and Valerie Fortson, Madison County; Legislative Committee: Habersham County; Outstanding Secretary Award: Ali Merk, Jackson County; Promotion and Education Committee: Habersham County.

THIRD DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Carroll County; Young Farmer Committee: Newton County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: B.J and Kaci Marks, Newton County; Legislative Committee: Henry County; Outstanding Secretary Award: Brandi Few, Carroll County; Promotion and Education Committee: Henry County.

FOURTH DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Barrow County; Young Farmer Committee: Greene County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: Char-

2010 Food Check-Out dates set Farm Bureau will celebrate Food Check-Out Week Feb. 21-27, 2010. The theme for the event is “Stretching Your Grocery Dollar With Healthy, Nutritious Food.” The event is designed to help consumers find ways to eat healthy while on tighter budgets, by providing tools to “shop smart” at the grocery store.

Farm Bureau has developed educational materials to be distributed during Food Check-Out Week on the right amounts of food people should eat, understanding food labels and outlining the USDA’s MyPyramid.

2010 GA AG Forecast Breakfasts

Jan. 25 • Holiday Inn Express, Rome Jan. 26 • GA Mountain Center, Gainesville Jan. 27 • Nessmith Lane Center, Statesboro Jan. 28 • UGA Conference Center, Tifton Jan. 29 • GFB Building, Macon Registration begins at 7 a.m.

Breakfast lines open at 7:30 a.m.

Seminar from 8-10 a.m.

Visit www.georgiaagforecast.com to register or call 706-583-0347 for more info.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

County Farm Bureaus are encouraged to continue to use the event to support charities such as the Ronald McDonald House and local food banks. For more information contact Donna Rocker at dhrocker@ gfb.org or 478-474-0679, ext. 5365. Promotional materials, such as food collection signs and posters with the logo, are available to order online from American Farm Bureau at http://fb-orders.com/afbf.

lie and Nancie Sanders, Greene County; Legislative Committee: Greene County; Promotion and Education Committee: Morgan County.

FIFTH DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Pike County; Young Farmer Committee: Crawford County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: Brian Ogletree, Spalding County; Legislative Committee: Pike County; Outstanding Secretary Award: Brooke Greer, Coweta County; Promotion and Education Committee: Pike County.

SIXTH DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Jones County; Young Farmer Committee: Laurens County; Legislative Committee: Jones County; Outstanding Secretary Award: Carlene Hart, Washington County; Promotion and Education Committee: Jeff Davis County.

SEVENTH DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Screven County: Young Farmer Committee: Emanuel County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: Eric and Crystal Hammock, Emanuel County; Legislative Committee: Screven County; Promotion and Education Committee: Screven County.

EIGHTH DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Wilcox County; Young Farmer Committee: Wilcox County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: Steven and Tiffany Metcalf, Turner County; Legislative Committee: Wilcox County; Outstanding Secretary Award: Zdenka Hollingsworth, Wilcox County; Promotion and Education Committee: Wilcox County.

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Patrons, competitors flock to Georgia National Fair

14 / November-December 2009

Construction was completed this summer and the building was released to the GNFA the week before the fair. Floyd and his staff were still figuring out all its bells and whistles when the fair opened.

“We’re having to learn how to turn the lights on and some other things,” he said.

“It’s like moving into a new house.”

The arena took a year to complete, and the wait was worth it to get the animal shows into a place with modern stadium seating and other amenities. Floyd said the goal was to have a top-notch See FAIR next page

Contestants show their steers at the Georgia National Fair’s Livestock and Equine Arena, a new facility built in the east area of the fairgrounds. The 2009 fair, held Oct. 8-18, drew a record crowd.

Ware County BOE votes to close Ware Magnet School

By Jay Stone __________________________________

Since its inception in 1993, the Ware County School of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences has been among the top-performing schools in the state, with a 100 percent graduation rate 15 times in 17 years. In the U.S. News & World Report ranking of the country’s top schools, Ware Magnet received the Bronze Award for its overall performance.

The performance of the school, which has 477 students and a waiting list of more than 500 students, was not enough to save it. Harsh financial realities forced the Ware County Board of Education to make severe financial cuts, and the board voted Nov. 10 to close the school at the end of the school year.

“There’s a lot of pressure on rural schools,” said Board Member Barry Deas, who was heavily involved in getting the school opened in 1993 and who cast the lone vote against closure. “As you go across South Georgia, you see school buildings where the schools have closed, and the town around them disappears.”

Whether that will happen in Manor, the community 10 miles west of Waycross in which Ware Magnet is located, remains

Photo by Jay Stone

There were new things at the Georgia National Fair in its 20th year at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agribusiness Center. Some things, however, haven’t changed.

New: The Livestock and Equine Arena.

Same: Animal shows and competitions. Bigtime attendance.

Not new: Participation continued to grow. The first GNF in 1991 drew 8,348 entries in its livestock/horse shows, Heritage Hall and Georgia Living competitions.

In 2008, there were more than double that many (19,875), and more than $295,000 in prize money was paid out. This year, the number of participants grew to 21,081, and $258,076 in prize money was awarded.

The attendance numbers were recordsetting, though the revenues weren’t. The 2009 GNF drew 416,709 patrons, a jump of almost 10,000 over 2008 (407,136).

While the fair’s total 2009 revenue was $3,941,400, down from $4,221,000 in 2008, Georgia National Fair Executive Director Ransom Moore said many of the food and ride vendors enjoyed record sales and were eager to renew their contracts for 2010.

The livestock shows are central to the fair’s purpose, said Agricultural/Youth Director Jim Floyd. The rides, games, food and entertainment are integral parts, but the animal shows have to happen.

“This is an agricultural fair,” Floyd said.

“You see a lot of fairs that do away with the agricultural programs, and they die.

We’re committed to keeping the agricultural aspect going.”

Indeed, with the opening of the 1,000seat Livestock and Equine Arena, the livestock shows have a new improved home that will make the participants feel special for years to come. The new arena on the east end of the fairgrounds included a covered practice facility that was constructed between the stall barn and the arena and modernized entry area and ticket booth facilities at the east gate.

Photo by Jay Stone

By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________

to be seen. Deas, who represents the district in which Manor is located and is a Ware County Farm Bureau director, tried to persuade the school board to consider other cost-cutting measures at a contentious board meeting.

Ware Magnet, as the school is commonly known, is the nation’s only K-12 agricultural magnet school. It has a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) fund set up to support school activities, and money is now being raised to keep the school open. Deas said keeping Ware Magnet open another year would require $750,000 in donations, which must be raised by the end of 2009.

For information, call 912-337-4974.

Donations should be sent to: Ware Magnet School Fund Inc. 1516 St. Marys Dr. Waycross, GA 31501

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Centennial Farm Award winners honored at Fair

On the opening day of the Georgia National Fair, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division recognized nine farms through the Centennial Farm Program that have been continuously operated for more than 100 years.

One farm, Burge Farm in Newton County, received the Centennial Heritage Farm Award, which is given to farms owned by members of the same family for 100 years or more and that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Centennial Farm Award does not require continuous family ownership, but farms must be at least 100 years old and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Centennial Family Farm Award recognizes farms not listed on the National Register of Historic Places but have been owned by members of the same family for at least 100 years.

The program, which has recognized 359 Centennial Farms around the state, is administered by the Historic PreservaFAIR from previous page facility for the fair’s animal shows.

“The 4-H and FFA have worked extremely hard and we’ve had tremendous growth,” he said. “We have an arena that will do justice to the kids and how hard they work at this. It’s set up in a straight line from where the animals are stalled, and getting in and out of it should be really easy.”

Judging from the initial reactions from some of the competitors, the GNFA hit its mark.

“Wow, it’s really nice and clean,” said 15-year-old Faith Turk of Maysville in Banks County, who was showing her Charolais steer at the Georgia National Fair. “It’s a lot bigger than last year.”

Added her friend Michael Patterson, “I think it’s a whole lot better. It makes it a lot easier to get from one place to another.”

Next year, there will be more of the new, with construction under way on another horse barn and another arena.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Recipients of the 2009 Centennial Farm Awards.

tion Division along with Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Forestry Commission and the Georgia National Fair.

To nominate a farm for recognition in 2010, please visit www.gashpo.org and click the Centennial Farms link under the Historic Resources heading, or, contact Centennial Farm Committee Chair Gretchen Brock by phone at 404-6516782 or by e-mail at Gretchen.brock@ dnr.state.ga.us.

2009 Centennial Heritage Farm Burge Farm, Newton County

2009 Centennial Family Farms

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timber news GFC report shows value of GA forests Georgia’s forest industry annually generates an estimated $540 million dollars in revenues for the state budget, according to a report recently released by the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Georgia Forestry Commission commissioned the report.

“Forestry creates more than 128,000 jobs statewide and has a $28.7 billion impact on Georgia,” said Nathan McClure, the GFC Forest Energy and

Development director. “This amazing, renewable resource provides tangible, critical benefits to every Georgian.”

Already a national leader in traditional forest products including lumber and wood pulp, Georgia is also making strides in new bioenergy development, including cellulosic ethanol, wood pellets and biomass-toelectricity. The Georgia Tech report, authored by Dr. William Riall, showed

Georgia FFA honored at national convention The Georgia FFA Association had seven national winners and was recognized for the largest membership growth of any state at the 82nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Oct. 21-24.

With an increase of more than 1,400 members, the Georgia FFA Association increased its membership for the 11th straight year.

Four Georgians won national proficiency awards. Audrey Davis of the Bainbridge FFA won for Agricultural Education. Bradley Weaver of the Dawson County FFA won for Agriculture Sales/ Entrepreneurship. Staten Levings of the Echols County FFA won for Forest Management and Products and Courtney Curlin of Lowndes County FFA won for Emerging Agriculture Technology.

Two others won national awards in Career Development Event (CDE) categories. Newt Gilman of the East Jackson FFA was named the national winner in the FFA Creed CDE. Kalie Hall of the Franklin County FFA won in the Livestock Evaluation CDE. Trevor Correia and Josh Barron partnered to win the Environmental Science category in the National Agriscience Fair. The Perry FFA finished second nationally in the Nursery/ Landscape CDE, while the West Laurens FFA was second in the Agricultural Sales CDE and Franklin County FFA was second in the Floriculture CDE. Regina Holliday of the East Laurens FFA served as 2008-2009 Regional South-

16 / November-December 2009

For the second consecutive year, the Georgia FFA has been recognized for having the largest membership growth of all state associations. National FFA Vice-President Regina Holliday of Laurens County (left) presents the award to Georgia FFA Vice-President Kristy Baggarley of Crawford County during the national FFA convention. The Georgia FFA is the third largest association in the nation.

ern vice president and presided over the 2nd general session on Oct. 22. In addition, 23 Georgia FFA chapters received a national 3-star ranking, the highest ranking offered in the National Chapter Award Program. The American FFA Degree, the highest offered to an active FFA member, was awarded to 71 Georgia FFA members who each spent several years developing and growing their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs.

49 Georgia counties are currently considered to be dependent on forestry industries to keep their local economies healthy.

For more than 50 years, Georgia has maintained a stable forestland base of 24 million acres while the forests remain productive and sustainable, according to McClure. Net annual growth of the state’s commercial forests exceeds harvests by 39 percent annually.

Tribunal rules in favor of U.S. in lumber dispute

The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) sided with the United States in a dispute over Canada’s breach of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) stemming from Canada not properly calculating export quotas during the first six months of 2007.

In March 2008, the LCIA ordered Canada to collect an additional 10 percent ad valorem export charge on softwood lumber shipments from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan until $68.26 million Canadian ($54.8 U.S. based on the the exchange rate at that time) had been collected. Canada did not do so, instead offering in March 2009 to pay $36.66 million U.S. to the U.S. government. That offer was rejected, and in April 2009 Canada requested that the LCIA tribunal review the matter to determine whether that amount was sufficient compensation for the breached agreement.

“The tribunal’s decision confirms the view of the United States that the Softwood Lumber Agreement is enforceable,” said U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk. “Canada failed to cure its breach and the tribunal has See DISPUTE next page Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB 2nd District cattle show a spirited success By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________

M

ore than 100 students spent Halloween competing in the Georgia Farm Bureau 2nd District Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show held at the Habersham County Fairgrounds in Clarkesville. Students from every county in the district, ranging from third to 12th grade, entered 140 steers and heifers in the show for which the theme was appropriately “Haunts & Heifers, Spooks & Steers.” More than 400 people attended the event.

“We felt there was a need to have a show between the Georgia National Fair in Perry and the UGA show in early December to keep the cows in the ring and to give the kids every opportunity to show their animals,” GFB 2nd District Field Representative Dennis Black explained.

GFB 2nd District Young Farmer Chairs Clay and Brittany Talton and the district’s county Young Farmer Committees spearheaded the show with collaborative help from GFB 2nd District Women’s Chair Charlotte Ward and the county Women’s Committees. GFB 2nd District Directors Bobby Gunter and Randy Ruff supported the event along with the county presidents and agency managers from every county in the district by donating prize money.

“Many hours of planning went into this event, and we appreciate all of the support we received from all of the county staff, volunteer members and leaders who made this show such a success,” said Clay Talton.

The GFB 2nd District leaders used the cattle show to promote Farm Bureau membership benefits and the

young farmer program. Each of the 104 students who competed received a GFB membership brochure and an orange souvenir t-shirt decorated with the Farm Bureau logo, a listing of the district counties and the show logo of haunts and spooks. The 11th and 12th grade students received information about GFB Young Farmer activities to encourage them to join their county committees.

“This show is a wonderful example of our volunteer members working together to promote agriculture and our organization,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said.

“This show had a tremendous impact district wide, and everyone who played a part in making it such a success is to be commended.”

Dillon Parker of Rabun County captured the Supreme Champion Heifer prize of $300 while Johnathan Barrett of Habersham County won the Supreme Reserve Champion Heifer prize of $200.

Faith Turk of Banks County walked out of the ring with the Grand Champion Steer prize of $300 while Brett Boling of Banks County won the Reserve Champion Steer prize of $200.

Showmanship winners were as follows: 3rd & 4th Grade - Wyatt Chandler, Jackson County; 5th Grade - Hannah Panter, Lumpkin County; 6th Grade Katie Mealor, Banks County; 7th Grade - Kellie Panter, Lumpkin County; 8th Grade - Brett Boling, Banks County; 9th Grade - Tyler Arnold, Madison County; 10th Grade - Faith Turk, Banks County; 11th Grade - Dillon Parker, Rabun County; and 12th Grade - Jessica Fife, Jackson County.

DISPUTE from previous page upheld the ability of the United States to take action in response.”

The LCIA determined that a direct payment of $36.6 U.S. was not sufficient, and authorized the U.S. to impose 10 percent

ad valorem customs duties on imports of softwood lumber products from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The U.S. may continue to collect those duties until it has collected $54.8 million.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Dillon Parker shows his Supreme Champion Heifer.

Faith Turk is pictured with her Grand Champion Steer.

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AROUND GEORGIA News from County Farm Bureaus CHEROKEE COUNTY The Cherokee County Farm Bureau recently won first place for its booth in the adult division at the Cherokee County Fair. The theme was “Bringing Children Into The Garden to Learn About Vegetables and Nutrition.” Jeb Stewart, the son of Tim and Nichelle Stewart, is pictured in the booth.

Nichelle served as co-chair of the fair booth committee along with Teresa Cagle, CCFB Women’s Committee chairman. Other members who helped set up the booth were Cheyenne Heard, Laurie and Scott Cagle, Tyler Peacock and CCFB President Len Cagle.

CLARKE COUNTY Clarke County Farm Bureau President Dr. Norman McGlohon presented Stephanie Guzman, left, and Natalie Lett with $1,000 scholarships at the CCFB annual dinner on Sept. 29.

The purpose of the scholarship is to support students studying agriculture. Stephanie is the daughter of Olga Posada and Ivan Guzman. Natalie is the daughter of Benjamin and Natalie Lett. Both young ladies are recent graduates of Clarke Central High School and are attending the University of Georgia majoring in Agribusiness. The dinner featured a speech by Georgia Agribusiness Council President Gary Black.

2010 Miss Georgia Cotton Scholarship Pageant

Applications are being accepted until Jan. 25 for the Miss Georgia Cotton Scholarship Pageant to be held Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, at the Tift Theatre in Tifton. Age divisions are 6-23 months, 2-3 years, 4-5 years, 6-7 years, 8-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-16 years and 17-23 years of age. Visit www.missgacotton. org for applications or e-mail mary@chickashaofgeorgia.com or call 229-386-5567 after 6 p.m.

18 / November-December 2009

CRAWFORD COUNTY CCFB Promotion & Education Committee member Rena Booker attended the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in St. Louis, Mo., in June where she presented a segment on peanuts.

The committee felt this was important because of the negative impact the salmonella outbreak in South Georgia caused Georgia peanut farmers.

Various peanutrelated materials suitable for classroom use were distributed to more than 200 attendees during the session. The goal was to promote peanuts as a safe commodity for consumers nationwide. The CCFB Women’s Committee donated honey straws to be distributed. All of the materials were placed in Georgia Grown bags from the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

EMANUEL COUNTY East Georgia College student Amy Lee recently received the Dolan E. Brown Memorial Scholarship from Emanuel County Farm Bureau at its meeting in September. Pictured (L-R) are: ECFB President Robert Fountain, Jr., Amy Lee, Mary Ann Brown and David Brown.

Dolan Brown served as ECFB president from 1963 to 1983 and was a member of the ECFB Board of Directors until his death in 2006. He served on the Georgia Farm Bureau State Board of Directors for 40 years.

Lee is pursuing a degree in education. After obtaining her associate’s degree she plans to go to Georgia Southern University to major in early childhood education. She hopes to earn a master’s degree in this field. Her many honors include being named STAR student for Swainsboro High School and Emanuel County and being named a Georgia Scholar. In addition to school, Lee is involved in many volunteer programs within her community and enjoys working with youths. She is the daughter of Robert and Cathy Lee. Continued on next page Georgia Farm Bureau News

HANCOCK COUNTY Lillie Jane Webster, left, and Will Kennedy assisted in kicking off Hancock County Farm Bureau’s Harvest For All Campaign at a Sparta grocery store on Sept. 30. Lillie is the daughter of HCFB Office Manager Kellie Webster, and Will is the grandson of HCFB President Jimmy Kennedy.

HARRIS COUNTY The Harris County Farm Bureau Board of Directors held a legislative breakfast on Aug. 5. Bill Stembridge, a regional representative from the office of Sen. Saxby Chambliss attended the meeting. During the meeting Stembridge told the board the status of many legislative items at the federal level. The board then had an opportunity to discuss issues that were of concern to them.

Pictured from left are Stembridge, HCFB Vice President Gilbert Andrews, Board Members Freddie Cone and David Chambers, and HCFB Secretary-Treasurer James Rodgers.

MITCHELL COUNTY A group of 13 cotton producers from California, Arizona and New Mexico visited Mitchell County on Aug. 18 as a part of the 2009 Cotton Foundation Producer Information Exchange (PIE) Program.

During the tour conducted by the National Cotton Council and Bayer Crop Science, the group toured First United Ethanol and a cotton field farmed by Murray Campbell and Patrick Campbell.

Lunch was served at the home of GFB 9th District Director Paul Shirah and his wife Alicia. The Shirahs and Sandi and Jeff Collins led the group on a tour of Shirah’s on-farm corn drying and storage system. The tour also included stops at Mark Glass’ gator farm and the Stripling Irrigation Park.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

PEACH & TAYLOR COUNTIES The Peach County and Taylor County Farm Bureaus hosted a legislative breakfast for their members and legislators to discuss issues important to the agricultural community. Breakfast was cooked and served by Mary Hancock, Christy Cochran and Marie Wilson. Legislators attending were Tony Sellier, George Hooks, Lynwood James and representatives from other posts. Members were able to ask the legislators questions concerning agriculture.

PUTNAM COUNTY The Putnam County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee continued its “It Comes From the Farm” project in the class of teacher Zandla Wright (standing) and Ashley Frasure (sitting, holding a child) at Stepping Stones Learning Center in Eatonton. The project teaches children that food is grown on a farm before being purchased in grocery stores.

Committee Chair Kay Lowe (kneeling, third from left) read from the book How Do Apples Grow? Agency Manager Patricia Blizzard donated the book to the classroom library and gave the children apples and coloring pages to take home. The children also had the opportunity to taste different kinds of apples.

TATTNALL COUNTY The TCFB hosted a “Worth Fighting For” July 4th Celebration along with the Glennville Chamber of Commerce, the Tattnall County Cattlemen’s Association, Tattnall Fresh and other organizations. The event was a show of appreciation for the soldiers stationed at Fort Stewart and their families. The celebration included a midafternoon meal with hamburgers donated by TCFB, FPL Foods, the GCA and the Georgia Beef Board.

November-December 2009 / 19

Philip Morris ends tobacco contracts in GA hilip Morris USA (PM) will not offer new contracts to Georgia or Florida tobacco growers after the 2009 season, company officials told a group of more than 75 tobacco growers from the two states during a meeting in Alma on Oct. 14. The company also plans to close its buying station in Alma.

The company has traditionally purchased about 40 percent of the tobacco grown in Georgia and Florida, J. Michael Moore, UGA’s Extension tobacco specialist, said. The other three companies that buy Georgia tobacco are Alliance One, R.J. Reynolds and U.S. Tobacco.

“Philip Morris said they had continued to slice the salami thinner and thinner but had decided to concentrate on three receiving stations rather than slicing it any thinner,” Moore said. “The federal excise tax that went into effect in January increased the cost of cigarettes about 62 cents a pack and has decreased consumption. Also, with Congress giving the FDA expanded regulatory authority over tobacco this year, it’s apparent companies are looking at the tobacco they take in and don’t want to get caught with tobacco with a particular chemistry or style they can’t use.”

Growers who hold three or five-year contracts will continue to be able to produce and sell tobacco until the end of their contracts, if they have met the requirements of their contracts and continue to have contracts in good standing, Moore said.

PM has indicated it will purchase tobacco grown by its Georgia growers somewhere in the state rather than requiring them to transport their tobacco to North Carolina, now the closest state with buying stations.

Moore said PM has indicated it will continue to operate receiving stations in Danville, Virginia, Lumberton, North Carolina and Wilson, North Carolina.

“Growers left the meeting confused as to their future in tobacco production. A number had already made or were negotiating sales of tobacco equipment after one of the most challenging seasons in history,” Moore said.

Georgia tobacco sales totaled $69.56 million in 2008 according to the UGA Farm Gate Report. PM pulling out of Georgia will impact the economies of towns across Georgia’s tobacco belt, which ranges from Statesboro to Moultrie, down to the Florida line.

“This is going to cripple South Georgia because there’s no other crop that can replace the monetary value of tobacco. Tobacco money pays for labor, electricity, gas, banking, insurance, farm equipment and supplies.

Seventy-five percent of our total income each year comes from tobacco. I’d hate to have to make it on cotton and peanuts,” said Pierce County grower Daniel Johnson, who has one year remaining on a three-year contract with PM for all of his crop. “If we completely quit tobacco and continue to farm it will mean the loss of ten seasonal jobs on my farm and two full-time employees. I’ll become a one-man operation. Thank God my tobacco equipment is paid for.”

Johnson, who has been growing 230 acres of tobacco, said he hopes to get a contract with another company to continue growing.

Johnson said he takes issue with PM implying Georgia tobacco is inferior quality to that grown in North Carolina or Virginia.

“Philip Morris won’t specify what the exact quality issues are other than saying there is nontobacco material in the bales, but Georgia tobacco is cleaner now than it’s ever been.”

WINNERS from page 13 NINTH DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Brooks County; Young Farmer Committee: Decatur County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: Daniel Morrell, Mitchell County; Legislative Committee: Mitchell County; Outstanding Secretary Award: Carolyn Collins, Brooks County; Promotion and Education Committee: Colquitt County.

TENTH DISTRICT Women’s Committee: Bacon County; Young Farmer Committee: Bacon County; Young Farmer Achievement Award: Cory and Janie Tyre, Bacon County; Legislative Committee: Bacon County; Outstanding Secretary Award: Jeanne Taylor, Bacon County; Promotion and Education Committee: Bacon County.

By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________

P

20 / November-December 2009

Moore explained that North Carolina and Virginia growers have an advantage over Georgia growers because they don’t have problems with tomato spotted wilt virus to the extent Georgia does, and they have conveyor belts set up between their curing barns and balers to pick out inferior leaves.

“Growers need to pull dead leaves and dark green leaves out of their cured tobacco before baling it,” Moore said.

Moore cautions that the three other companies buying Georgia tobacco may not buy stronger next year because they bought surplus leaf this year and have a large inventory on hand. He says he thinks they will put more emphasis on selecting growers who will give them the quality tobacco they prefer.

“I don’t think tobacco is over and done with. It’s not as simple as saying that our Philip Morris growers are totally out. I do believe they will continue to produce tobacco and other opportunities will arise,” Moore said. “We’re hearing assurances from other companies that they’re here to stay and will continue to buy Georgia tobacco, but the tobacco industry is in a state of transition, and there’s the possibility that tobacco demand may decrease.”

Berrien County grower Lamar Vickers is still optimistic about the crop and believes once the surplus is used up next year that leaf dealers will come to Georgia to buy the tobacco PM once bought.

“I still see a future with tobacco. We have to be optimistic about it, or we wouldn’t survive. Growing tobacco is what pays the bills on the farm, and it’s hard to quit tobacco. It’s just part of your life.”

Vickers had one-third of his crop contracted with PM and hopes another company will contract to buy that third. If not, he says he’ll plant that portion of his farm in another crop.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

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By Jennifer Whittaker ______________________________________________________ Farmers who spoke at a listening session Oct. 9 in Tifton regarding the USDA Farm Service Agency’s program delivery system were very complimentary of county FSA staff but less enthusiastic about the computer system FSA staff use to administer programs. They also criticized the Web site FSA officials want farmers to use to apply for programs.

FSA officials who attended the listening session arranged by Sen. Saxby Chambliss were USDA Assistant Secretary for Administration Pearlie Reed, USDA FSA Deputy Administrator for Field Operations Karis Gutter, USDA Chief Information Officer Chris Smith and Georgia FSA Executive Director Hobby Stripling.

“We have some of the best employees working in our county FSA offices. They’ll do anything in the world for you, but they’re limited because of the computer technology they have to work with,” said Tift County Farm Bureau President Gary Walker, who grows cotton and peanuts.

When asked the timeframe for updating the technology county FSA offices use, Smith said a blueprint for modernizing the FSA computer system is in play.

“We’ve been fortunate in putting new computers on people’s desks, but now we have to implement the plumbing,” said Smith.

“We don’t want to just throw new information technology systems and money at the problem, but we want to be smart about how we address the problem.”

Smith said the agency wants to adopt a computer model similar to what financial institutions use for online banking. The USDA’s long-term goal is to allow farmers to complete the administrative paperwork for one USDA program, save it and carry the information over for other programs. He cautioned, however, that changes to the FSA computer system and Web site self-service features will be restricted by compliance issues mandated by law.

Multiple farmers also voiced the need for FSA staff to be adequately trained on farm program rules to ensure programs are implemented uniformly across the state.

“The interpretation of programs varies between county offices,” Terrell County cotton farmer Ronnie Lee said. “Employees are telling me there’s a lack of training. You’ve got some of the greatest employees in these offices, but they need support.”

Farmers also expressed why they haven’t embraced using the FSA Web site to apply for programs.

“To start with, it’s not user friendly and it’s hard to navigate.

Once you do access your information it’s either not available or not current,” Walker said. “I want to do my business in the office, and I think the vast majority of farmers want to do their business in the office. I look at the FSA Web site as a convenience for me to be able to pull up my payment information at home instead of having to call the FSA office and asking them to stop what they’re doing to pull the information up for me. But as far as reporting all of my important information, I want to do it face to face in the FSA office.”

22 / November-December 2009

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Farmers vent frustrations with FSA computer system

Tift County Farm Bureau President Gary Walker told the USDA officials he looks at the FSA Web site as a convenient tool to look up his personal farm records but prefers to complete FSA paperwork in his local FSA office.

Gene Roney, a diversified row crop farmer from Dooly County with a background in computers, made several suggestions as to how FSA could make their Web site more farmer friendly. Roney, who served 12 years on his county FSA committee, said he applied for Level 2 clearance to use the Web site so he could learn the system and help teach other farmers to use it.

“I think the FSA Web site has huge potential, but the FSA site is complex. You can tell it’s written by IT (information technology) people for IT people,” Roney said. “FSA needs to make the site more intuitive to use and needs to use more farmer-friendly wording.”

Roney also suggested that FSA offer computer training for farmers to help them learn how to use the Web site to apply for programs and access their information.

“Most FSA people are trained numerous times to operate the agency software, and many farmers haven’t received any computer training,” Roney said.

The USDA Farm Service Agency officials seemed to get the message.

“I was taken back by some of the things I heard the farmers say today, especially regarding the difference in employees implementing the programs,” said Reed. “We’re going to go back to Washington and see what we can do to address these concerns. I understand now why Sen. Chambliss raised the issue of improving the delivery of FSA programs during my confirmation hearing in May.” Stripling said he and the state FSA office are aware of the issues the farmers raised regarding farmers’ reluctance to use the Web site and their concerns about county staff training.

“Your Georgia FSA staff is a group of professionals who are striving to serve the farmers of Georgia, but we are being asked to do more and more with less and less,” said Stripling. “FSA staff funds have been dramatically cut for training. It takes money to bring people together to train them, so we’ve been using webinars because it’s less expensive. We know our folks have got to have training to know how to administer the programs.”

Stripling estimates $65,000 is needed to train county staff.

“I think the employee side is where we are about to focus a lot of attention,” said Gutter, USDA FSA Deputy Administrator for Field Operations.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

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