Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - January 14, 2016

January 14, 2016

www.gfb.org

Vol. 34 No. 2

ZIPPY DUVALL ELECTED AFBF PRESIDENT Zippy Duvall, who has served as president of Georgia Farm Bureau since 2006, was elected for a two-year term as American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president by the voting delegates at the 97th AFBF Annual Convention on January 12, in Orlando, Florida.

Scott VanderWal, a third-generation family farmer from Volga, South Dakota, was elected AFBF vice president. VanderWal and his wife, Michelle, raise corn, soybeans and do custom cattle-feeding and some custom harvesting. VanderWal has served as South Dakota Farm Bureau president since 2004.

Duvall succeeds Bob Stallman, who served 16 years at the helm of the nation’s largest, most influential general farm organization. Stallman announced last July that he would step down at the end of his term.

Duvall, a broiler, cattle and hay producer from Greensboro, Georgia, becomes the 12th president during AFBF’s almost 97-year history.

"I am so humbled and thankful for your support and belief in my leadership for AFBF president. I will continue to represent all farmers and ranchers across the states. May God bless each of you as AFBF moves forward," Duvall said after his election.

Duvall began his Farm Bureau journey as a volunteer at his local Greene Zippy Duvall County Farm Bureau, where he still serves on the board of directors. In 1982, he won the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Award and went on to win the AFBF Award in 1983. Duvall chaired the GFB Young Farmer Committee, and in 1987, he served as chairman of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and on the AFBF Board under the leadership of the late AFBF President Dean Kleckner from Iowa.

As GFB president, Duvall has served on the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors since 2007, including recent roles on the AFBF Trade Advisory Committee, International Trade Mission and Finance Committee.

In addition to his Farm Bureau leadership, Duvall has served 35 years in community and public service roles. He is a past chairman of the Greene County Board of Commissioners, served 16 years on the Rayle EMC Board of Directors and served on Governor Sonny Perdue’s Agricultural Advisory Committee.

Duvall was appointed to the Georgia Development Authority in 2010 and in 2012 he was appointed to the Essential Economy Council Board of Directors. He has been chairman of the Piedmont Soil and Water Board and served on the Farmers Bank Board of Directors.

Duvall and his wife, Bonnie, have four children and three grandchildren.

GFB News Alert page 2 of 13 LONG IS NEW GFB PRESIDENT; FOUNTAIN DESIGNATED 1ST VP Gerald Long of Decatur County is the new president of Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB), the state’s largest general agriculture organization. GFB Middle Georgia Vice President Robert Fountain Jr. was designated by the GFB Board of Directors as the organization’s 1st vice president.

Long, who has served as GFB 1st vice president since 2008, succeeds Zippy Duvall, who resigned after being elected AFBF president. The terms for both positions run until Dec. 6, when GFB voting delegates will elect the next GFB president and designate its 1st vice president.

The GFB bylaws provide a succession plan for the organization to fill the office of president if it is vacated. Long, who was serving as 1st vice president, assumed the responsibilities of GFB president effective Jan. 12.

Long is a diversified farmer who raises cattle and grows peanuts, vegetables, corn, cotton, hay, small grains and timber with his family on Gerald Long their farm near Bainbridge. He was first elected to the GFB Board of Directors in December 1999 as a GFB 9th District director representing 14 counties in Southwest Georgia. In 2006, GFB voting delegates in the 53 counties in GFB’s South Region elected Long as GFB South Georgia vice president. GFB voting delegates statewide have designated Long to serve as GFB 1st vice president each year since 2008.

“Georgia Farm Bureau is an organization that represents all of Georgia agriculture. We communicate with our elected officials on the local, state and national level to voice the needs of agriculture and advocate for the farmer,” Long said. “While I served as 1st vice president I had the opportunity to represent all of Georgia and travel all over the state and meet Robert county Farm Bureau leaders in their respective counties. Even though we Fountain Jr. may grow different commodities, we pretty much have the same issues.

Serving as 1st vice president gave me an opportunity to see those issues and work through them to try to make it better for the farmers back on the farm. I will continue to do this as Georgia Farm Bureau president.”

A Farm Bureau member since 1970, Long currently serves on the Decatur County Farm Bureau Board of Directors as secretary/treasurer and is a past president and vice president of the Decatur County Farm Bureau.

Long and his wife, Janice, have three adult children: Justin and daughter-in-law, Kelli; Jared and daughter-in-law, Lori; and Jeanie and son-in-law, Diego Izurieta; and two grandchildren.

The Longs are members of the First Baptist Church of Bainbridge where Mr. Long has served as a deacon and on numerous committees.

In addition to his Farm Bureau leadership, Long is a member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and serves on the board of the Decatur County Cattlemen’s Association. He represents GFB on the Georgia Beef Board and serves as treasurer of the board.

Long was a founding board member of both the Georgia Peanut Producers and the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, and the Flint River Water Planning Policy Center. He also serves on the Decatur County Industrial Development Authority. He attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College where he majored in crop science and animal science. He then served six months of active duty in the Georgia Army National Guard and six years of reserve -continued

GFB News Alert page 3 of 13 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE duty.

Fountain, of Emanuel County, has served as the GFB Middle Georgia vice president for a total of 15 years. Fountain will continue to represent the 56 counties in the organization’s Middle Georgia region on the GFB Board of Directors. Fountain has served as GFB Middle Georgia vice president since 2009 and previously held the position from 1997 to 2006. He has served as the Emanuel County Farm Bureau president since 2004 and previously served as vice president and county director.

Fountain is the third generation to own his family's farm located in Emanuel and Johnson counties where he raises cattle, hay, timber, small grains and pecans.

In addition to Farm Bureau, Fountain is an active member of numerous other agricultural organizations including the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, for which he served as president from 2001-2002. Since 2002 Fountain has represented GFB on the Georgia Beef Board. He is currently serving a third, three-year term on the national Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) at the appointment of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He is also a member of the CBB Executive Committee and has served on numerous committees for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Fountain earned his B.B.A. in management and agricultural economics and his M.B.A. in management and finance. Fountain is a member of Adrian United Methodist Church where he teaches Sunday school and serves as treasurer and chairman of the church administrative board.

GFB MEMBERS SHINE AT AFBF ANNUAL CONVENTION Georgia Farm Bureau 5th District Director Matt Bottoms and his wife Melissa advanced to the top 10 in the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award contest, highlighting Georgia Farm Bureau activities during the 97th AFBF Annual Convention, held Jan. 8-13 in Orlando.

The Bottomses run Bottoms Nursery, producing a variety of fruit plants, vines and trees that they sell wholesale and on their website. During the AFBF Convention they made their final presentation, competing against other state winners.

William and Cala Tabb of Mississippi won the Achievement Award.

Habersham County’s Kyle Dekle advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet, competing against other state winners. Dekle teaches agriculture at Habersham Central High School.

Chris Van Vlack of Virginia won the Discussion Meet.

Coweta County’s Stephanie Butcher competed in the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture contest, for young farmers and ranchers who earn the majority of their income from something other than production agriculture. Butcher competed against other state winners. Michael Miron of Michigan won the overall award.

About 320 GFB members and organization representatives attended the meeting, which offered 26 workshops on a variety of farm-related topics and the IDEAg Trade Show at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel.

On Jan. 8 GFB members visited Kennedy Space Center on nearby Cape Canaveral for a tour of the complex and lunch with astronaut Bob Springer, who flew two missions aboard Space -continued

GFB News Alert page 4 of 13 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Shuttle Discovery in 1989 and Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1990.

Outgoing AFBF President Bob Stallman gave his final address during the Jan. 10 opening session. reviewing key AFBF programs and discussing issues facing agriculture. Stallman bid AFBF farewell as the organization's president.

“I believe that Farm Bureau can and will continue to defend our ability to work the land for future generations,” Stallman said. “As long as we have a national, unified voice of agriculture, farmers and ranchers will have a force to ensure that we maintain our agricultural strength and security.”

GFB won AFBF Awards of Excellence in Education and Outreach, Leadership Development, Member Services, Membership Initiatives, Policy Development and Implementation and Public Relations and Communications.

Paulding County Farm Bureau was recognized by AFBF in the County Activities of Excellence program. PCFB coordinated its farmers market with a local high school, getting FFA students and faculty involved in the market.

During the Jan. 11 closing session, Shark Tank personality Barbara Corcoran gave the keynote address, sharing her life experiences and focusing on how she’s built her brand.

“One of the most valuable lessons I learned early on in business is that perception creates reality,” said Corcoran, who started her first business with a $1,000 loan and built it into a billion-dollar empire. “It’s up to business owners to take a proactive approach to change their image and increase credibility with customers.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, answered questions from AFBF members during a town hall meeting held at the AFBF/IDEAg Trade Show.

When asked about the possibility of cottonseed being included in the USDA oilseed program, Vilsack said the USDA wants to help cotton producers out by doing this but may be prohibited from doing so by statutory language. If this is the case, Vilsack said USDA will ask Congress to repeal the statutes.

“We want to help but it may take a partnership between USDA and Congress to fix the situation. We know the situation is tough but in helping [cotton producers] we don’t want to hurt other commodities. We don’t want Brazil to reopen the WTO cotton case.”

On Jan. 12 AFBF voting delegates considered policy submissions, including those submitted

by GFB regarding prevention of the federal agency Legal Services from visiting farms to solicit labor cases from farm workers, getting cottonseed classified as an oilseed by USDA under the farm bill; securing indemnification payments for poultry producers in the event of an avian influenza outbreak and language that would ask the USDA to raise the moisture level the Federal-State Inspection System uses to grade peanuts as Segement Twos from 2.49 percent to 3.49 percent.

GFB News Alert page 5 of 13 AFBF HONORS CHAMBLISS, JOHANNS WITH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) presented its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, to former Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Mike Johanns during the 97th AFBF Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show.

AFBF established the Distinguished Service Award to honor individuals who have devoted their careers to serving agriculture. Georgia Farm Bureau nominated Chambliss and Nebraska Farm Bureau nominated Johanns. A national Farm Bureau committee named them both as winners.

“Each and every one of you represent the very best there is about the United States of America,” Chambliss said while thanking AFBF for the honor.

“You are all hard-working. You’re God-fearing.

Saxby Chambliss, Bob Stallman You’re strong family people. You are the kind of people that I thoroughly enjoyed being associated with during my years in Washington and you’re one of the very few things I miss about not being here.”

Chambliss has time and again proven himself to be a true friend and champion of agriculture.

As chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he was a key author on four farm bills, crafting market-oriented programs and securing a valid safety net for farmers and ranchers through updated commodity titles and federal crop insurance.

Chambliss has been working closely with farmers since the early days of his career as a lawyer from Moultrie, Georgia. Those relationships gave him a deep appreciation for agriculture, and he kept the needs and interests of rural America at the forefront when he went to Capitol Hill. In addition to his critical efforts on farm bill programs, Chambliss worked to reform the nation’s immigration laws to provide a legal and stable workforce for agriculture, and served on key congressional committees dealing with national security and intelligence gathering.

“Saxby Chambliss has led the way on some of the most pressing and complex issues facing agriculture with his courage and straight talk,” Stallman said. “For 20 years, he was one of the best friends that farmers and ranchers had in Washington, D.C.” Johanns served America’s farmers and ranchers as Nebraska governor, as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and as a U.S. senator. Johanns’ dedication to the interests of farmers and ranchers has protected and enhanced the cause of agriculture across the country.

Johanns’ humble upbringing and work on a dairy farm in Iowa gave him solid training for serving others in his career. In his roles as secretary of agriculture and as senator, Johanns met with farmers and ranchers, listened to their concerns and put their input directly into developing the 2008 and 2014 farm bills. Johanns also stood up to regulatory overreach and promoted innovative solutions to reducing dependence on foreign oil. His commitment to opening the marketplace for U.S. agriculture helped expand trade and create a more level playing field for America’s farmers and ranchers.

GFB News Alert page 6 of 13 WORKSHOPS GIVE MARKET INFORMATION, HELP FARMERS CONNECT The American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention featured 26 workshops on a variety of ag-related topics, including ways farmers can connect with surrounding communities, economic outlooks, farm payments and working with the media.

The workshop “Starting the Conversation/Meet the Consumer,” featured a panel consisting of Janice Person, who handles Consumer Outreach for Monsanto, food blogger Sophie Mott and food blogger/recipe developer Adrianna Martin. The trio discussed consumers’ perceptions of agriculture and how farmers can start a conversation with consumers about crop and livestock production practices.

Tennessee farmer Brandon Whitt, whose duet “Farm Strong” with Josh Ogle was a YouTube hit in 2012, presented “Thinking Outside the Box Within Your Circle,” an interactive workshop in which participants explored ways to interact with various groups in ways that enhance the image of agriculture and address community issues.

Whitt shared how he planted sunflowers on his farm in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and after people began stopping to take pictures he placed a donation box and raised $4,000 for a local charity.

Geigle developed a series of YouTube videos about various tasks on his cattle ranch, developed his personal sign-off tag and encouraged farmers who don't sell direct to the public to put logos on their clothing as a way to generate conversations about what they do.

Heger, a teacher, talked about ways to teach the public about things that happen on the farm.

The participants in the "Thinking Outside the Box Within Your Circle" had an artwork assignment: trace their hands on a paper plate. They drew circles around their hand to symbolize the groups they interact with and noted one way to connect with others for each finger on their hand.

Dr. Nathan Kauffman, assistant vice president for the Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, gave an economic outlook, saying declining crop prices are due to a decrease in demand for corn for ethanol production and a drop in Chinese demand for U.S. commodities as that country's economy slows.

A positive for agriculture is that farmland values are currently holding steady.

“The changes in crop values haven’t been met with changes in land prices,” Kauffman said.

One of the major reasons is that there hasn’t been a lot of land on the market. In addition, he noted that how land prices fare depends very much on the quality of the land.

During the workshop "Stay Eligible for Farm Program Payments," presenter Wayne Myers of accounting firm K-Coe Isom shared key things farmers should take into consideration in order to remain eligible for payments under farm bill programs.

Myers covered the USDA's "actively engaged" rule, adjusted gross income limits and payment limits. He emphasized the importance of recordkeeping, particularly keeping the farm operation plan (form 902) up to date. " Farm broadcasters Sabrina Hill and Brian Winnekins led the workshop “Working with the Media and letting the Media Work for You.” They encouraged farmers to reach out to reporters before a crisis occurs to develop a relationship and establish yourself as an agriculture expert so that when a story breaks and the reporter needs a source they will contact you. When doing an interview, Hill & Winnekins told workshop attendees to be human during the interview, show passion for the subject and to remember that they’re not just talking to the reporter but to all the people the reporter will share the story with.

GFB News Alert page 7 of 13 SAMUEL PARDUE NAMED UGA CAES DEAN Samuel Pardue, a noted poultry science researcher and administrator at North Carolina State University, has been named dean and director of the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, according to a UGA press release.

Pardue is currently associate dean and director of academic programs at NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. His appointment at UGA is effective March 14.

“I am pleased that Dr. Pardue is joining the university as the next dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “His academic background and professional experience are ideal for leading the College at a very exciting time in its history and working with key stakeholders and alumni who are critical to our future success.”

Since 2012, Pardue has overseen the academic programming in the N.C. State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ 16 departments. Prior to Samuel Pardue being named associate dean, he served for seven years as the head of the department of poultry science, which in 2012 was named the Prestage Department of Poultry Science in honor of a $10 million gift he helped secure.

Pardue helped double the number of poultry science majors, expanded distance education offerings and acquired external funding to modernize teaching laboratories. In addition, he served as the co-principal investigator on a USDA grant to increase the multicultural diversity of agriculture students and was a founding member of the college’s Diversity Council.

The department of poultry science ranked in the top 10 in five research publications and citation criteria among departments of animal and poultry science under his leadership. He invested in a Biological Safety Level 2 facility to expand the department’s research capabilities and also supported the development of a poultry processing laboratory to address the needs of the North Carolina’s largest agribusiness.

Pardue sits on the administrative board of NC State’s Graduate School, served as the university’s Faculty Athletics Representative for five years and served as the college’s liaison for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

He has conducted his research with $2.5 million in external funding, holds three patents and has published nearly 100 journal articles, book chapters and abstracts. Pardue has given invited presentations across the United States and in Australia, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Mexico.

His additional honors include being named to the NC State Academy of Outstanding Teachers, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor and receiving the Purina Mills Award for Teaching.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with UGA’s outstanding administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends, and Georgia’s dynamic agricultural community,” Pardue said. “The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has played a significant role in growing Georgia’s No. 1 economic sector. It is a college with a long and honored history. I look forward to an even brighter future for CAES.” Pardue earned his bachelor’s degree in poultry science and his master’s and doctoral degrees, both in physiology, from NC State. He completed his postdoctoral training in genetics at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and began his academic career at Texas A&M University.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 13 GFB NAMES 2016 COMMODITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Georgia Farm Bureau has named the chairmen of its 2016 Commodity Advisory Committees.

Each committee meets several times during the year to address issues related to its commodity and assist with GFB’s policy development process. GFB has 20 commodity committees.

Chairmen of the 2016 GFB Commodity Advisory Committees are: Aquaculture – Terry Bramlett, Fannin County; Beef Cattle – Sammy Perkins, Grady County; Cotton – Jason West, Candler County; Dairy – Mark Rodgers, McDuffie County; Direct Marketing/Agritourism – Jake Carter, Henry County; Environmental Horticulture – Mark Porter, Fayette County; Equine – Gary Walker, Tift County; Feedgrain/Soybean – James Gaston, Sumter County; Forestry – John Mixon, Pike County; Fruit – Tim McMillan, Berrien County; Goat and Sheep – Greg Phillips, Whitfield County; Hay – Farrell Roberts, Tift County; Honeybees – B.J. Weeks, Cherokee County; Peanuts – John Harrell, Grady County; Pecans – Garrett Ganas, Ware County; Poultry – Russ Moon, Madison County; Swine – Terry Danforth, Berrien County; Tobacco – Jerry Wooten, Jeff Davis County; Vegetables – Brad Calhoun, Turner County; and Water – Bubba Johnson, Mitchell County.

Each committee chairman serves on the GFB Policy Development Committee. The GFB Commodity Committee chairmen make an important contribution to Farm Bureau by providing knowledge of their commodity and leadership for their committee. The input the committee chairmen provide is an important link back to the farm and helps maintain GFB’s strong grassroots representation.

During the upcoming spring committee meetings, the committees will discuss and make recommendations on policy implementation. The committees will meet again on Aug. 4 during the GFB Commodity Conference in Tifton.

In addition to the Commodity Advisory Committees, eight GFB members have been appointed to serve on American Farm Bureau Federation Issue Advisory Committees (IAC). The IACs are scheduled to meet Feb. 22 in Washington, D.C., during the AFBF Advocacy Conference.

Georgia’s IAC members are: Energy - Donald Chase, Macon County (chairman); Federal Lands - John Mixon, Pike County; Environmental Regulations – Mark Masters, Dougherty County; Market Structure – Andy Bell, Decatur County; Pests & Invasive Species – Michael Williams, Bleckley County; Public Infrastructure – Randy Branch, Appling County; Trade – T.E. Moye, Baker County; and Farm Policy – Tim McMillan, Berrien County.

HOUSE PASSES RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL FOR WOTUS RULE On Jan. 13 the U.S. House passed S.J. Res. 22, a resolution of disapproval for the “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule instituted by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. S.J. Res. 22, which passed the Senate in November, will now be sent to the president.

“The out-of-touch bureaucrats in Washington need to leave farmers and agribusiness in Georgia alone,” said Rep. Tom Graves (R- Dist. 14), one of 11 House members from Georgia who voted in favor of the resolution. “The EPA has no business regulating small streams, farm ponds and irrigation ditches. The president should join our pro-jobs, pro-agriculture effort and sign this bill to stop the EPA.” The WOTUS rule was finalized in 2015 with a published effective date of Aug. 28.

Implementation and enforcement of the rule is delayed under a federal court order pending the outcome of a series of lawsuits states, including Georgia, have filed against the EPA and the Corps of Engineers.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 13 PRESIDENT SIGNS TAX EXTENDERS BILL INTO LAW; COOL REPEALED On Dec. 18 President Barack Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act into law.

The bill provided FY 2016 funding for the federal government and included the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, which extended a number of expiring tax provisions through 2016, including several of interest to agriculture.

Key among those is an extension of Section 179 Small Business Expensing, The maximum amount of $500,000 was made permanent and indexed for inflation.

Also made permanent are provisions related to the donations of conservation easements, food donations (expanded for people using cash accounting), deductions for state and local sales taxes and charitable contributions to ag research organizations.

The law provides an additional 50 percent bonus depreciation for the purchase of new capital assets, including agricultural equipment, through 2017, 40 percent for 2018 and 30 percent for 2019. For the first time, trees, vines and plants bearing fruits or nuts are included.

The appropriations bill also included a provision to repeal the country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef, chicken and pork sold in the U.S, avoiding more than $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico. The U.S.’ neighboring countries prevailed in a WTO dispute and were authorized to levy tariffs on a wide variety of U.S. goods.

GFB News Alert page 10 of 13 TIME TO RENEW GATE CARDS The Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) program is an agricultural sales tax exemption certificate issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture that identifies the card holder as an ag producer qualified for the tax exemption. All 2015 GATE cards expired Dec. 31, 2015. To renew your card visit http://forms.agr.georgia.gov/gate/ or call 1-855-FARMTAX (855-327-6829) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. There is a $20 fee for online applications and a $25 fee for applications made via mail or phone. Many county Farm Bureau offices will assist their members with online signups or renewals. The GATE card should only be used to purchase items that qualify under the program for the production of ag commodities.

GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 21 UGA Tifton Conference Center Tifton This annual event organized by the Georgia Peanut Commission runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to view more than 100 exhibits in the trade show, attend educational sessions, earn pesticide application certification and win numerous door prizes. A free lunch will be provided. Call 229-386-3470 or visit www.gapeanuts.com for more information.

AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 21 Carroll County Ag Center Carrollton Jan. 22 Unicoi State Park Cleveland Jan. 25 Cloud Livestock Facility Bainbridge Jan. 26 UGA Tifton Conference Center Tifton Jan. 27 Blueberry Warehouse Alma Jan. 29 Georgia Farm Bureau Macon This annual series is supported by an endowment from Georgia Farm Bureau with support from the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Agribusiness Council. The keynote topic will be a discussion of sales tax distribution patterns and how tax reform programs, such as the Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) and the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), have affected Georgia counties. A study released by UGA earlier this year shows GATE has had little impact on most counties. UGA economists will also provide an economic outlook for 2016.

Check-in for all of the meetings, except Tifton, begins at 9 a.m. with seminars starting at 10 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. Check-in for the Tifton event starts at 7 a.m., breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. followed by the seminar from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com, call 706-583-0347 or email carlam@uga.edu. Follow the meetings on Facebook.com/UGACAES or on Twitter @UGA_CollegeofAg and join the conversation with #AgForecast.

GFB News Alert page 11 of 13 GA COTTON COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING & UGA COTTON WORKSHOP Jan. 27 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This event begins at 8 a.m. and includes updates from state and national cotton organizations.

The annual Georgia Quality Cotton Awards will be announced after lunch. For more information call 478-988-4235 or visit http://www.georgiacottoncommission.org.

GGIA WINTERGREEN HORTICULTURAL TRADE SHOW, CONFERENCE Jan. 27-29 Infinite Energy Forum Duluth The Georgia Green Industry Association’s Wintergreen is the annual conference and trade show for the horticulture and landscaping industry, featuring education sessions and more than 200 exhibitors. The education sessions include classes on new plants and industry trends, business strategies, pest and disease treatments, irrigation technology, invasive plants and much more.

Many classes offer CEUs for pesticide applicators, irrigation contractors and arborists. The trade show includes a “walkabout” to accompany Georgia’s horticultural icons Dr. Mike Dirr, Dr. Allan Armitage and legendary coach and plantsman Vince Dooley in a hunt for the high points of the show. For more information visit www.ggia.org or call GGIA at 888-GET-GGIA. UGA SEEKING EXTENSION AGRONOMIST The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) is seeking an Extension agronomist to work in Southeast Georgia as part of the CAES Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. The position will be primarily located at the Midville Research and Education Center. A master’s degree in agronomics is required to be hired at the level of public service assistant. A doctorate degree is required to be hired at the level of public service associate level.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 30. For more information, contact Scott Monfort at smonfort@uga.edu or at 229-392-5457.

GAC MEMBERSHIP SUPPER & ANNUAL MEETING Feb. 2 Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Room Atlanta A reception will begin at 5 p.m. with the annual meeting taking place at 6 p.m., both preceding the supper and program at 7 p.m. Former Georgia Agribusiness Council Board Member and former Gov. Sonny Perdue will provide the keynote address. Individual tickets are $125 and include free parking at the aquarium. A block of rooms is available at the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown (275 Baker Street, Atlanta, Georgia, 30313). To reserve a room by Jan. 15, call the hotel direct at 404-577-2001 and ask for the GAC block rate ($150 single or $160 triple).

Please reserve tickets by Jan. 27. If tickets are ordered after Jan. 22, they will be available at will call. To order tickets call 706-336-6830 or e-mail Anna McIntyre at amcintyre@gaagribusiness.org.

GFB News Alert page 12 of 13 GAC STATE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST Feb. 3 Georgia Depot Atlanta Networking will begin at 6:45 a.m. with breakfast lines opening at 7:15 a.m. The program will conclude by 8:30 a.m. Table sponsorships are available for $400 (reserved table of eight) or individual tickets are available for $50 each. A block of rooms is available at the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown (275 Baker Street, Atlanta, Georgia, 30313). To reserve a room by Jan. 15, call the hotel direct at 404-577-2001 and ask for the GAC block rate ($150. single or $160 triple). Group transportation will be provided from the hotel to the breakfast. Please reserve tickets to all events by Jan. 27. If tickets are ordered after Jan. 22, they will be available at will call. To order tickets call 706-336-6830 or e-mail Anna McIntyre at amcintyre@gaagribusiness.org.

UNMANNED SYSTEMS IN PRECISION AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE Feb. 3-4 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton The Atlanta and Coastal Plain chapters of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International are sponsoring this conference, which will update farmers, Cooperative Extension personnel, researchers, agricultural consultants and agricultural business professionals on the latest research regarding agricultural drone use and the proposed federal and state regulations.

Registration for the conference is $125 for both days or $85 for one. Applications are being accepted for exhibitor space and sponsorships. For more information, please visit www.Ugatiftonconference.org.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DAY AT THE CAPITOL Feb. 4 The Georgia Freight Depot Atlanta Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol is a chance for Farm Bureau members to meet with legislators and other government officials. Orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Blue Room of the historic Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, located next to Underground Atlanta. Free parking at the Turner Field Gold Lot will be available with a shuttle service that runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact the GFB Legislative Department at 1-800-342-1192 or your local county Farm Bureau office.

SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Feb. 4 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Expo will provide up-to-date marketing projections and the newest production techniques, as well as remarks from University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences leaders. Speakers include: UGA’s Dr. Nathan Smith, who will provide a world economic outlook for southern ag commodities; AFBF Deputy Chief Economist John Anderson, who will give a farm bill update; UGA’s Dr. Michael Toews, will speak about stored grain insects and North Carolina State University Plant Pathologist Dr. Christina Cowger, who will present information on fusarium head blight. To register visit www.georgiacrop.com/approvedplants/ or call 706-542-3793. Registration is $10 in advance and $20 at the door.

GFB News Alert page 13 of 13 NATIONAL WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE SIGNUP Feb. 8 Deadline to enroll The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making funds available to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners in the selected watersheds. Through this initiative, NRCS and selected producers are investing in the following four watersheds: Lower Deep Creek, in Turner County; Upper Piscola Creek, Middle Piscola Creek and Lower Piscola Creek, in both Brooks and Thomas Counties, to support voluntary conservation actions that provide cleaner water for their neighbors and communities. The selected watersheds were originally identified with help from state agencies, partners, and the NRCS State Technical Committee. NRCS will provide funding and advice to producers to install conservation practices such as cover crops, residue management, riparian buffers, as well as livestock practices in these watersheds to improve water quality. Producers in these watersheds can apply by contacting their local NRCS offices.

GEORGIA PORK CONGRESS Feb. 16 Georgia Farm Bureau 2 p.m.

Macon The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2017 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 2 p.m. in conjunction with a meeting of the Georgia Pork Producers Association. This meeting will immediately follow the 2016 Georgia Pork Congress that will start at 8 a.m. at the GFB Building. All Georgia pork producers are invited to attend.

Any producer age 18 or older who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff was deducted. For more information, contact Georgia Pork Producers Association, P.O. Box 1566, Bainbridge, Ga. 39818 or call 229-246-8297.

BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING Feb. 16 Holiday Inn Express, 1502 Sam Nunn Blvd.

Meeting begins at 1 p.m. Call 229-469-4038 to RSVP or for more information.

Perry

LONGLEAF ACADEMY: LONGLEAF 101 Feb. 16-19 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton The Longleaf Alliance offers this three-day short course, an in-depth classroom and field instruction in “all things longleaf”. The intent is to better prepare landowners and natural resource professionals to address management problems specific to longleaf forests and to create a uniformly well-informed network of longleaf managers to extend the reach of The Longleaf Alliance. Cost is $150 per participant and includes registration fee, materials and lunches Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information or to register contact Ryan Mitchell at ryan@longleafalliance.org or 334-427-1029 or Casey White at Office@longleafalliance.org.