Georgia Farm Bureau News - March / April 2011 issue

Vol. 73 No. 2

GEORGIA

March/April 2011

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

GALFPR40508

If you can’t be there, we can.

She’s been dreaming of this day since she was a little girl. But if you can’t be there to see it, you can at least make sure that you’ve planned for her happiness. Farm Bureau Insurance* has a wide range of life insurance policies that can meet your family’s needs. Hopefully you will be there for all of her life’s greatest moments. But if you can’t, Farm Bureau Insurance* will be there to help see her through.

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table of

contents march/april 2011

departments we, the farmers PAGE 4

legislative update PAGE 5

commodities update PAGE 8

young farmer update PAGE 18

around georgia

PAGE 22

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

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 e-mail 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

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Water & immigration hot topics at GFB Day at the Capitol Georgia Farm Bureau members attending the organization’s annual legislative event in Atlanta, Feb. 8., had a chance to meet with their state legislators about ag issues. Gov. Nathan Deal, (right) visitied with GFB President Zippy Duvall before delivering the keynote speech. PAGE 6

Future of Ga. weather network threatened

The statewide network of weather stations that make up the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network could close due to budget limitations and personnel changes, unless officials with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) secure funding for the system.

PAGE 7

GFB holds annual presidents’ conference

Georgia Farm Bureau kicked off a campaign to promote membership during the organization’s annual Presidents’ Conference Feb. 2 at the Macon Centreplex. PAGE 10

Study shows ecological benefits of Ga. forests worth $37 billion

Georgia’s timber industry had a $28 billion economic impact on the state economy in 2009 and supported 118,000 jobs, but the environmental benefits Georgia’s forests provide are worth even more according to a new study released by the University of Georgia.

PAGE 12

Ga. Cotton Commission meeting reveals industry challenges, opportunities

In addition to learning about seed varieties and weed control, Georgia cotton growers attending the Georgia Cotton Commission annual meeting heard from representatives of the National Cotton Council regarding policy issues. Winners of the annual Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were also named.

PAGE 14

Peanut growers voting on assessment increase

Georgia peanut growers will determine whether to increase the $2 per ton assessment they currently pay to fund the Georgia Peanut Commission to $3 per ton during a mail referendum to be held March 15-April 15.

PAGE 17

Farm Bureau celebrates Food Check-Out Week County Farm Bureaus celebrated Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 20-26, with a variety of activities. Turner County Farm Bureau Women’s Chair Melanie Raines (left) delivered reusable shopping bags filled with shopping guides, recipe cards and healthy snacks to Brittany Spears at the Coastal Plains Area EOA Inc. for clients seeking help.

PAGE 21

on the cover (Photo by Amanda Rentz) Decatur County Farm Bureau member Amanda Rentz snapped this shot last spring of her husband Kevin’s wheat crop. The mist you notice in the photo comes from the irrigation system, which had just come on before Amanda shot the photo. This year Kevin is growing canola in the field behind Bethel Baptist Church.

we, the Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

farmers Zippy Duvall, GFB President

Persistence Required

Years ago, before newspapers were home-delivered and available on our smartphones, newspaper boys stood on street corners yelling out the headlines. If a newspaper boy were to sum up the situation agriculture is facing today he might yell, “Extra, extra, read all about it! Persistence required - around the world, our country, our state and at home.”

We often say that food is a matter of national security and is crucial to supporting a stable government. Anyone who doubts this can look at wartorn Afghanistan and see how a country whose agriculture system has been demolished by 30 years of war is struggling. In February, I had the privilege of speaking to members of the Georgia National Guard’s 201st Agribusiness Development Team from Fort Gordon who were training at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Athens in preparation of their deployment to Afghanistan in May. They will be working with Afghan farmers to help them improve their farming methods, which are like those of America’s during the early 1900s, or in some cases the 1800s. I admire their persistence. We continue to pray for our men and women in our military every day. It is only because of their sacrifices that we enjoy our way of life.

Here in our own country there are many struggles. During a February visit with U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, Georgia’s newly elected congressman from the 8th District, I told him farmers understand agriculture must take its share of budget cuts to help with the federal budget woes, but we want to be treated fairly

and shouldn’t take cuts larger than other segments of the budget. The GFB Legislative Committee joined me in visiting with Rep. Scott, and we had a great visit.

It was good to see that he understands the importance of Georgia agriculture.

In Georgia, the General Assembly’s focus has been on immigration. Georgia Farm Bureau policy does not support illegal immigration or amnesty, but we have concerns with the bills passed and we’ve expressed them. Our primary concern is that our state legislature is trying to fix a federal issue. The problem our country is facing with illegal immigrants is a result of the federal government’s failure to secure our nation’s borders, not a failure of employers.

Not all immigrant workers are illegal. If Georgia is seen as anti-immigrant, legal migrant workers may avoid our state, making it even harder for farmers to obtain workers. We’ve told our state legislators that farmers need a workable federal guest worker program that is easy to use.

We’re also concerned that the state immigration bills are anti-business and impose additional regulations on businesses in a time when we need less regulation and more job growth.

Proponents of the bills say the state must act because of the strain on public services. We maintain that it is the responsibility of the government offering the services to verify recipient eligibility.

On the farm, things appear to be promising for 2011. Georgia Farm Bureau has been very active in rebuilding our membership numbers. It is See WE, THE FARMERS page 10

GFB President Zippy Duvall (left) welcomed U.S. Rep. Austin Scott (R-8th Dist.) to the GFB office on Feb. 1 for a visit with the GFB Legislative Committee and new county presidents. Scott is a member of the U.S. House of Agriculture Committee.

4 / March-April 2011

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 ROBERT FOUNTAIN Jr. 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; James Malone, Dexter SEVENTH DISTRICT: Ben Boyd, Sylvania; Gennis Folsom, Glennville 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: Wesley Hall, Cumming WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Donna Powell, Pelham 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 2010 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, Georgia.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News

legislative update Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director

Young Farmers discuss ag issues in D.C.

Immigration Reform Laws governing immigration are national in scope and require a national response. Congress’ failure to act has caused such a problem for states that our nation that our nation may soon become a patchwork of immigration laws that vary from state to state.

Farm Bureau urges Congress to secure the U.S. border and sufficiently fund this effort so that illegal immigration can be controlled. At the same time, our laws should ensure that when domestic workers are not available to work in agriculture, farmers have access to a workable program that allows workers to legally come into the country and work.

The H-2A agricultural guest worker program should be reformed so that more Georgia farmers can use it. We need comprehensive immigration reform at the national level that controls the border and allows farmers access to a long-term, stable supply of legal workers.

Pesticide NPDES Permits In 2009, a federal court vacated a 2006 Clean Water Act rule that exempted pesticides from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits if the pesticides were applied in accordance with the label and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

As a result of that ruling, many pesticide applications will require NPDES permits after April 9 of this year.

On March 3, EPA asked the federal court Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by Andy Lucas

Georgia Farm Bureau took a group of 29 young farmers to Washington, D.C., March 8 – 11. The annual trip is organized by the GFB Field Services Department with assistance from the Legislative Department.

The purpose of the trip was to discuss farm issues with Georgia’s congressional delegation. Below is a summary of the issues and concerns the young farmers discussed with their congressmen.

The Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers pose for a group photo during their trip to Washington, D.C. GFB Young Farmer Committee Chairmen Wesley and Dawn Hall (front row, first and second from right) led the group along with Committee Vice Chairman Cory Tyre (back row, second from left) and GFB 4th District Chair Charlie Sanders (front row, second from left).

to extend the April 9 deadline to Oct. 31 to allow more time for establishing the permit process. The court had not made a decision at press time on March 15. While the court considers the extension request, permits will not be required. If the court decides after April 9 to deny the extension, the court may require pesticide discharges to be covered by NPDES permits immediately or may set a later implementation date.

Legislation (H.R. 872) has been introduced which clarifies that CWA permits are not needed when a pesticide is applied in accordance with a FIFRA approved label.

The young farmers took copies of H.R. 872 to each congressional office they visited and requested support for the legislation.

2012 Farm Bill Farm Bureau supports a 2012 farm bill based on the 2008 farm bill. The young farmers told their elected officials to remember farm programs are important not only to farmers, but to American consumers as well.

The group explained that farmers

understand fiscal responsibility and are greatly concerned about the federal deficit. If funding is reduced in the 2012 farm bill, the young farmers urged that cuts not come disproportionately at the expense of the commodity and conservation titles of the farm bill.

Estate Tax Reform Last year, legislation was passed that included a two-year estate tax provision that would grant a $5 million exemption through 2012 at a 35 percent tax rate. The young farmers voiced Farm Bureau’s support of these provisions and explained that the “off again, on again” nature of federal estate tax law makes it difficult for farmers to plan for the generational transfer of their farms. The group stressed the need for Congress to pass a permanent fix to the estate tax problem before 2013 when farmers will again face the possibility of an estate tax with a $1 million exemption and a 55 percent top rate.

Jon Huffmaster is director of the GFB Legislative Department.

March-April 2011 / 5

Water & immigration hot topics at GFB Day at the Capitol By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________ Black to work with the task force to represent Georgia agriculture’s water needs.

“No industry in our economy is more sensitive to this issue of water than agriculture because you depend on it for the vitality of your crops and the livestock and the poultry we raise in this state. Agriculture is a vital component of what we do about water,” Deal said. Deal also commended Georgia farmers for installing about 9,000 meters on their irrigation systems since 2003 which has provided the state with scientific data to show Alabama and Florida farmers don’t use as much water as once thought.

During the luncheon, GFB President Zippy Duvall issued a statement outlining the organization’s position on immigration in response to queries stemming from immigration bills introduced in the General Assembly this session.

“Georgia Farm Bureau maintains that the enforcement of immigration laws and border security is a responsibility of the federal government and reform of the law should be a high priority. We encourage the state of Georgia to assist farmers to obtain legal workers instead of threatening them with fines and imprisonment because the federal government has failed to handle its responsibility.” Duvall pointed out that all immigrant farm workers are not illegal

FARMERS MARKET WORKSHOP

April 6 • Exhibition Hall of Atlanta State Farmers Market • Forest Park

Registration begins at 9 a.m. with training sessions for farmers and market managers running from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Workshop sessions will cover eligibility requirements for accepting WIC vouchers, EBT (food stamp) benefits, keeping markets compliant with state regulations and food safety issues. National Farmers Market Coalition President Sharon Yeago will deliver the keynote address at lunch. For more information or to register contact Jerome Brown with the Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Council at Jerome.Brown@ga.usda.gov or 770-339-6071.

6 / March-April 2011

Gov. Nathan Deal outlined his plan for addressing Georgia’s water issues while speaking to GFB members on Feb. 8.

Photos by Jennifer Whittaker

G

ov. Nathan Deal outlined his plan for addressing Georgia’s water issues while addressing Farm Bureau members during Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol Feb. 8. Deal said the state is appealing the 2009 U.S. District Court ruling that said Atlanta has no legal right to withdraw water from Lake Lanier.

In addition to appealing Judge Paul Magnuson’s ruling and working to conserve water, Deal is proposing the state budget $300 million over the next four years to assist local governments in developing reservoirs to capture rainwater. Deal said he considers water to be a local issue but that state funds to help local governments build reservoirs and water storage facilities are warranted due to the magnitude of the costs associated with building reservoirs.

Deal has asked the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to spearhead his proposed Georgia Water Supply Development Program that will include a task force consisting of representatives from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the Georgia Departments of Natural Resources and Community Affairs, the Georgia Financing and Investment Division and the Georgia Properties Commission. He has also asked Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black told GFB members at least 58,000 Market Bulletin readers must send in their $10 subscription by the end of April for the printed publication to continue.

and said legal immigrants might be fearful of working in Georgia if the state is seen as anti-immigrant, which could cause major economic consequences within large sectors of agriculture.

Commissioner of Agriculture Black also addressed the group, describing work his department is doing to make the Georgia Department of Agriculture a tour stop for school groups visiting the capitol where they can learn how Georgia farmers grow food and fiber. Black encouraged readers of the department’s Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin to pay their $10 subscription fee by the end of April to ensure the biweekly publication continues to be printed. He promised to cook a steak dinner for the county Farm Bureau that collects the most subscriptions. Subscription forms are available at every county Farm Bureau office.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Future of Ga. weather network threatened The statewide network of 81 weather stations that make up the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network (GAEMN) could close due to budget limitations and personnel changes, unless officials with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) secure funding for the system.

“We’ve had verbal commitments of funding, which when confirmed, should enable continued operation of the stations for a period of one to two months beyond the original July 1 closure date, but these are one-time funds, not long-term commitments, that just provide us time to continue seeking a long-term solution,” said Dr. Dale Threadgill, head of the CAES Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department that oversees the program.

It costs about $300,000 annually to run the GAEMN, which has been funded by grants and contracts secured by a former UGA faculty member who voluntarily left UGA and whose position has been frozen due to budget cuts, Threadgill said.

The GAEMN stations record rainfall, air and soil temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction and solar radiation.

The information is available to anyone at no cost at www.Georgiaweather.net.

Fruit and vegetable growers use the GAEMN frost protection information to know when to protect their crops against freeze damage. Peanut growers use GAEMN data to determine the risk of tomato spotted wilt virus, and other row crop growers use the weather data to determine optimal planting dates for their crops and to establish irrigation regimes. Farmers and insurance companies also use GAEMN data to verify crop insurance claims. Utility companies such as Southern Company use the temperature data for billing purposes.

A study by the UGA Agricultural Economics Department shows that the value of weather information from the station in Camilla used to determine optimal planting date and irrigation regimes for corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans was $847,502 per year. Blueberry growers Georgia Farm Bureau News

estimate that GAEMN frost protection information in three counties saved them between $40,000 to $60,000 last winter.

Funding from user fees alone is unpredictable and insufficient to maintain the network, Threadgill says.

“The user rate varies throughout the year, so we have major concerns about that approach being sustainable because we have to have these key people in place to run the system,” Threadgill explained. “You have to have their salary to run it or you don’t operate at all. There was an attempt in another state to transition their system to a contract fee basis and it failed.”

Threadgill says it takes one full-time staff person to travel around the state to maintain the weather stations and two more employees in the lab operating the computer system and reviewing the data.

Unless user groups step forward to pledge funding, the college will begin dismantling the system this spring or early summer, Threadgill said.

“There are several groups that could come together and agree to support this, but

they need to be in serious discussion with us about what they can do,” Threadgill said.

Anyone who would like to provide funding for the GAEMN should contact Dr. Threadgill at 706-542-1653 or tgill@ engr.uga.edu.

Georgians in 25 counties received $2,500 each to donate to a charity of their choice through Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities project.

Georgia winners, their counties and designated charities are: Jan Roach (Baker), Newton-Baker Fire & Rescue; John Phillips (Bleckley), Bleckley County 4-H; John Hagan (Brooks), Brooks County 4-H; Wade McElveen (Bulloch), Bulloch County 4-H; Ginny Franks (Burke), Burke County 4-H Livestock Club; James Webb (Calhoun), Calhoun County Hospital Authority; Clinton Russ (Coffee), Coffee County High School FFA; Jimmy Hembree (Colquitt), Red Cross - Sunbelt Area Chapter 11134; Ricky Jackson (Crisp), Crisp Academy; Steve Brock (Decatur), Mount Pleasant Fire Department; Donna Peavy (Dooly), Open Hearts Thrift Store; Wendy Brownlee (Early), Early County Middle School Library; William Jones (Grady), Grady County 4-H; Brenda Morris (Irwin), Irwin County 4-H; Stephen Nikkel (Jefferson), Hillcrest Volunteer Fire Depart-

ment; Sandra Watson (Lee), Lee County Middle School FFA; John Trawick (Miller), Colquitt/Miller Arts Council; Tom Windhausen (Mitchell), Cotton Volunteer Fire Department; Joe Boddiford (Screven), Screven County 4-H; Brad Clarke (Seminole), Seminole County High School FFA; Roy Daniel (Sumter), Phoebe Sumter Hospice; Neil Lee (Terrell), Terrell County 4-H; Claude Wilson (Thomas), Thomas County Food Bank & Outreach Center; Roger Holliday (Wilcox), Wilcox County 4-H; Clay Young (Worth), Worth County 4-H. The program was open to farmers with a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton or 40 acres of vegetables, or at least 10 acres of vegetables in protected culture in one of the 25 eligible counties.

Counties qualified for the contest by having: a total of either 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton, or 30,000 acres of vegetables based on January 2010 USDA data. One winner from each county was selected from all farmers who entered the contest last fall.

Photo courtesy of CAES/GAEMN

By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________

GAEMN weather station at the Stripling Irrigation Park in Camilla, Ga.

Farmers Grow Communities winners named

March-April 2011 / 7

commodities/marketing update Jesse Patrick

2011 commodity outlook With high prices and competition for acreage among all commodities, who’s to say what direction we are headed in for the 2011 crop year? One thing that is for certain is the ever-increasing demand for all commodities. Increasing world demand and reduced supplies are making prices very volatile. This is new ground for many commodities with prices being the highest ever seen by some farmers. Overall, farmers are exploring more opportunities to try and take advantage of the high prices.

Corn The USDA projects corn stocks will be 675 million bushels at the end of the 2010-2011 marketing year. This is a five percent stocks-to-use ratio, which is the same as the record low level in 1995-1996. The dramatically low level of ending stocks is due to a smaller crop in 2010 and a significant increase in corn used for ethanol production and corn consumption rising 2.8 percent above last year’s record total. UGA Extension Economist Nathan Smith says U.S. corn acreage in 2011 will need to increase by at least two million acres nationwide to keep up with demand.

Soybeans The USDA projects the year-ending stocks for soybeans at 140 million bushels, which is 4.2 percent of the consumption, making it the lowest ever seen. Soybean consumption for 2011 is anticipated to be the same as 2010 totals. U.S. soybean exports have increased exponentially with China importing 60 percent of the world’s exported supply, which makes China one of the main driving forces in the soybean market. According to Smith, soybeans in Georgia will be in significant battle with corn and cotton for acreage, so do not count on soybeans to give up many acres.

Peanuts Demand remains strong as consumption in all usage levels (except exports) are up and peanut butter consumption is up by eight percent. Production will be the key as other commodities are very competitive with peanuts, and cotton appears to be the best choice on many farms. This competition for acres has recently pushed peanut contracts to $600/ton. Many analysts believe contract prices need to be around $625 to get the crop planted. If yields and acreage remain at 2010 levels, stocks will decline and create more pressure on the market.

Livestock The U.S. beef herd continues to decline due to high production costs (feed, rent, fertilizer and labor) and a shortage of pastures in some areas due to dry conditions and better alternative uses of land. On the bright side, beef exports have surged 21 percent over last year and cattle prices remain very strong for producers.

Conversely, the dairy herd has expanded and many are operating at a loss due to high production costs. Poultry has also expanded one percent over the past year. High feed costs may soon halt this expansion. Pork production is up marginally and many independent producers find themselves selling hogs at a loss.

Input costs for 2011 are expected to rise, but commodity prices are projected to remain high, which should offset the increase. Changes in export demand for grains as well as the value of the U.S. dollar will continue to affect commodities.

A cheap dollar makes our grain supplies more economical to importing countries that need grain.

Continued on next page

Cotton Prices remain volatile as we watch the market move to the highest levels in history. Prices shot up due to higher demand and production uncertainty. China, the world’s largest consumer and producer of cotton, will produce less cotton along with India and Pakistan. This puts the global ending stocks forecast at 42.2 million bales on July 30 and the stocks-to-use ratio at 36 percent, which is the lowest in 15 years. If farmers can dodge production issues, 2011 should be a good one for cotton.

8 / March-April 2011

Courtesy of Nathan Smith, UGA Extension Economist

Wheat The USDA projects ending stocks for wheat to be lowered by 40 million bushels because of an increase in exports by 50 million bushels. Exported wheat is estimated to be around 1.3 billion bushels, which is the highest in 20 years. Complications in the Australian and Russian wheat crops are anticipated to maintain or increase the price of wheat. In Georgia, the wheat acreage is expected to increase to around 225,000 acres for 2011.

Yields (per acre): Corn=185 bu., Cotton=1,100 lb., Peanut=4,000 lb., Soybean=55 bu. Variable Costs (per acre): Corn=$600, Cotton=$535, Peanut-$645, Soybean=$315 Georgia Farm Bureau News

GFB peanut packets available

A

s Georgia Farm Bureau continues its yearlong promotion of the state’s peanut industry, the organization has resumed production of its 3/4 oz. peanut packets. GFB has teamed up with Hardy Farms in Pulaski County to package the roasted, salted peanuts.

GFB ceased production of its peanut packets in 2009 when its last processor went out of business.

“Georgia produces more peanuts than any other state in the country, so it’s a natural fit that the state’s largest general farm organization be able to offer consumers a taste of one of our state’s most well-known crops,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “These packets are a great way for county Farm Bureaus to promote Georgia agriculture and Farm Bureau in their local communities.”

The peanuts are still packaged in a multi-layered gold foil designed to extend the shelf life of the nuts, however, the design now features “Georgia Peanuts” written in green lettering instead of blue. The packet advertises

Continued from previous page Farmers are scratching their heads this year trying to determine which crop to plant, which is a turn of events from the past few years. The Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities/Marketing Department has a program to assist our members in marketing grain as well as procuring feed ingredients. GFB offers forward contracting, cash trades and basis contracts for grain marketing. We have a professional staff to serve our membership. Contact the Commodities/Marketing Department at 1-800-342 –1196.

Jesse Patrick is a commodity specialist in the GFB Commodities/Marketing Department.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

that peanuts are a great source of protein with no cholesterol and that agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry. The GFB logo and contact information are also included on the packet.

The peanuts are available for purchase in cases of 200 packets for $27, which is only 13.5 cents per bag. Sales and inquiries are handled

through the GFB Commodities/Marketing Department. Orders should be in writing via letter or e-mail two weeks prior to the time you wish to receive them.

Orders should be sent to Cindy Arnold at cwarnold@gfb.org. Please order in case quantities and allow 2 weeks for delivery.

Farm Bureau members interested in purchasing the packets may purchase them through their county Farm Bureau office.

Choose a Farm Bureau Bank equipment loan for lower rates, flexible terms and tax savings Purchase or refinance new or used ag equipment with Farm Bureau Bank – the bank of choice for Farm Bureau members. We offer up to 7-year terms for new and up to 5-year terms for used equipment. You’ll also enjoy flexible monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payment plans. Plus, you may qualify for additional tax savings with the extended 2010 Tax Act Bonus Depreciation deduction.* We make financing easier.

Farm Bureau Bank Equipment Loans LOW RATES • FLEXIBLE TERMS • EASY FINANCING

Contact your Agent to apply today. *Consult with a professional tax or financial advisor on how you can benefit from the 2010 Tax Act Bonus Depreciation deduction. Some restrictions apply based on the make and model of equipment offered as collateral. Loans are subject to credit approval. Rates and financing options are limited to certain model years and are subject to change without notice. Finance charges accrue from origination date of the loan. Financing provided by Farm Bureau Bank FSB. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau Bank, FSB is a service to member institution that provides banking services to Farm Bureau members. Services are not available in AL, IL, MI, MO, MS, OH or WY and may not be available in some counties or parishes. Farm Bureau FB and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used under license by FB BanCorp and its subsidiaries, including Farm Bureau Bank FSB. FB BanCorp is an independent entity and the AFBF does not own, is not owned by, and is not under common ownership with FB BanCorp or its affiliated entities.

March-April 2011 / 9

Photos by Jennifer Whittaker

Pictured from left, a DeWalt representative talks to GFB members Edd Harris, Chris West and James Dault. GFB members are eligible for a 10 perent discount on all products they order from Grainger and receive free shipping for orders placed online.

Some of the brands Grainger sells include Black & Decker, Bosch, Carhartt, Craftsman, DeWalt, Rubbermaid and Stanley.

Rodney Miller, UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences director of advancement and external affairs, thanked Farm Bureau for funding the endowment that supports the annual Ag Forecast meetings.

GFB holds annual presidents’ conference By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________

G

eorgia Farm Bureau kicked off a campaign to promote membership during the organization’s annual Presidents’ Conference Feb. 2 at the Macon Centreplex. Farm Bureau presidents and leaders from 139 of Georgia’s county Farm Bureau chapters attended the event and learned about new member benefits, such as an identity theft consultation and restoration service and stroke screening tests, that will be available to Farm Bureau members later this year. Conference attendees

also heard updates on legislative issues important to Georgia agriculture that GFB is addressing.

“There are a lot of reasons to be a Farm Bureau member. Farm Bureau membership provides access to a wide variety of benefits ranging from health programs to discounts on popular hotels and car services,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said.

“Then, there is the work our organization does to ensure that consumers continue to have a safe, affordable food supply grown

WE, THE FARMERS from page 4 important that people understand Farm Bureau’s mission is to support Georgia agriculture.

We have to be persistent in encouraging our neighbors and the businesses we work with to become Farm Bureau members.

We need to remind them they don’t have to buy any of our services, such as insurance, to be a member. They need to understand that joining Farm Bureau is an investment in their local community that will return many dividends as we work to increase the public’s understanding of agriculture and to represent the interests of farmers and

rural communities.

During these times we are required to be persistent and stay focused on what is really important. We can look to Nehemiah in the Old Testament for guidance. As he led his people in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, he relied on God, respected his opposition and refused to quit. That is exactly what Farm Bureau must do.

Nehemiah 4:15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

God bless.

10 / March-April 2011

by Georgia farmers who make economic contributions to rural communities across our state that benefit everyone. Consumers want to support their local farmers. Let your neighbors know that joining Georgia Farm Bureau is a way they can support you and gain access to member benefits that will save them money.”

Rodney Miller, recently named director of advancement and external affairs for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, delivered the conference keynote speech.

Miller thanked GFB for its longtime support of the college, specifically for funding the endowment that supports the annual Ag Forecast meetings.

Miller, who was recently elected a Gwinnett County Farm Bureau director, is a native of Benton, Ill., where he still operates a 1,400 acre row crop farm. He also has a farm in Buford, Ga., where he grows a corn maze.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black told the county Farm Bureau leaders he wants to rebuild the Georgia Department of Agriculture for the 21st century.

“I’m going to work for everybody and I hope I can earn your trust because that’s what it’s all about,” Black said.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Youth equine champions were recognized for their achievements on Feb. 16 during Georgia Youth Equine Championship Day at the Capitol. The champions are pictured with Gov. Nathan Deal and members of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine at the state capitol.

The third-year event drew almost 500 people, including approximately 100 champion equine competitors, ranging from age five to seniors in high school, who all won state championships and were invited to national and international competitions. They met Gov. Deal and sat in the House gallery during a session of the General Assembly, where a resolution was read proclaiming the day Youth Equine Championship Day in Georgia.

Photo by Jay Stone

Youth equine champions honored

“If you are able to train a horse effectively and show a horse successfully, you have hopefully come to understand that the discipline of the animal must be pre-

ceded by the discipline of yourself,” Deal said in a brief speech at the luncheon. “Selfdiscipline is the greatest trait you can carry with you from your experience.”

2011 GOAT-A-RAMA

April 9 • Washington County • Farm Bureau Ag Center 882 Grady Mertz Road • Tennille, Ga. 31089 This family event runs from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free. Event will include educational seminars, a private-treaty sale of quality breeding stock and show goats, and exhibits of goat equipment. Goat BBQ sandwiches will be available at the concession stand. For more information visit http://www.goat-a-rama.com or call Charles Batten at 478-553-1003 or Helen Batten at 478-552-0373.

Monroe County H.E.R.D. Sale SELLING 60+ BRED HEIFERS ON MAY 12, 2011 12:30 p.m.

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Web info at http://www.ugaextension.com/monroe/ • Email at uge2207@uga.edu type HERD in the subject line.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

March-April 2011 / 11

Photo by Jay Stone

Wesley Langdale (front, right) of The Langdale Company, presents a check to Gov. Nathan Deal representing the economic value of the ecological benefits Georgia’s forests provide to the state.

Other forestry leaders participating in the February ceremony held at the state capitol to announce the study’s findings were (back row, from left) Georgia tree farmer Chuck Leavell, Georgia Conservancy President Pierre Howard, Georgia Forestry Association President Steve McWilliams and state Sen. Ross Tolleson, chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee.

Study shows ecological benefits of Ga. forests worth $37 billion

By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________ Georgia residents annually receive more than $37 billion in environmental benefits from Georgia’s forestland, a University of Georgia study shows.

In 2009, according to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the state’s timber industry had a $28 billion economic impact, supporting 118,000 jobs.

University of Georgia researcher Dr. Rebecca Moore was convinced that was only part of the economic story of the state’s trees. An assistant professor in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry, Moore concluded that what she calls “ecosystem services” provide value that can’t be bought, and that a better understanding of that value was needed in the development of public policy that affects forests.

Dr. Moore set out to put a dollar figure on the other benefits Georgia’s citizens derive from the 22 million acres of privately owned forestland in the state. Her study focused on six functions performed by forests: gas and climate regulation; water quantity and quality; soil formation and stability; pollination; wildlife habitat and aesthetic, cultural and passive use.

“Understanding the value of these benefits is important,” Moore said, “because it 12 / March-April 2011

allows us to make better land use decisions.

The ecological services forestlands provide are incredibly beneficial to Georgia, and you receive these benefits whether or not you own forestland. Many people think of them as free, but if we lose forestland, we risk losing these benefits.”

The results of her three-year study were revealed Feb. 9 in a ceremony at the Georgia capitol. Georgia Farm Bureau was one of 21 sponsors of the study, which classified Georgia’s forestlands by identifying key characteristics like soil type, tree type, proximity to water and other things that affect ecosystem services. Moore, Warnell Assistant Professor Jeffrey Hepinstall-Cymmerman and graduate students Tiffany Williams and Eduardo Rodriguez estimated per-acre values for each different type of forest based on survey data they collected and from results of previously published studies. They surveyed more than 1,000 Georgians on what they would be willing to pay for the services forests provide.

“I was stunned by the results,” said Georgia Forestry Association President Steve McWilliams. “I thought it might be about the same as the commercial benefits. It’s going to make a big difference as far as the policy decisions.”

A symbolic check for $37 billion was presented from the study’s stakeholders to the citizens of Georgia. The ceremony included speeches from Gov. Nathan Deal, Georgia Conservancy President Pierre Howard, state Sen. Ross Tolleson, Georgia tree farmer and noted keyboardist Chuck Leavell and Wesley Langdale, president of The Langdale Company.

Leavell called forests Georgia’s most important natural resource.

“Without our trees we simply would not have the clean air, clean water and abundant wildlife we have,” Leavell said.

Tolleson, a member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, said the study results could have a profound impact on the state.

“The money that has come into the state from forest products, that’s been a huge factor in helping the state get through these tough times,” Tolleson said. “The forests have given us not only jobs and economic opportunity, but they have also improved our quality of life.”

Strickland on AFBF committee

Dr. Jim Strickland of Tattnall County is serving on the 2011 American Farm Bureau Federation Animal Health Committee. Strickland’s name was accidentally omitted from the list of GFB members serving on AFBF committees that ran in the Jan./Feb. GFB News.

Strickland is vice chairman of the GFB Beef Cattle Committee.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Washington & Berrien Counties host GFB tailgates

GFB members from the organization’s 4th and 6th districts met with Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall (standing) during a tailgate lunch held at the Washington County Agricultural Center Jan. 18. Washington County Farm Bureau President Gerald Andrews welcomed the group and gave a brief history of how WCFB built the ag center. GFB members attending the tailgate lunch enjoyed a delicious barbecue buffet. Duvall gave an overview of GFB’s priority issues for the 2011 session of the Georgia General Assembly which are water, taxes and budget issues and the defense of animal agriculture.

On March 3, Berrien County Farm Bureau hosted a tailgate luncheon for GFB President Zippy Duvall to meet with farmers and agribusinessmen in the organization’s 10th District. Around 150 farmers and agribusiness leaders from Berrien County and surrounding counties attended the event. BCFB President Lamar Vickers is pictured welcoming everyone to his farm.

Duvall gave an update on efforts GFB has made to make the Georgia General Assembly aware of how proposed immigration legislation will hurt Georgia agriculture and should be addressed at the federal level. Duvall also discussed efforts the organization has made during the past year to maintain sales tax exemptions on inputs used to produce ag commodities.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News

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March-April 2011 / 13

Ga. Cotton Commission meeting reveals challenges, opportunities for growers By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________ Forecasts are for cotton prices to remain high through 2011 and into 2012, which made the 2011 Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) annual meeting a chance for growers to learn ways to maximize the opportunity.

The event, held Jan. 26 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, featured information on seed varieties, pest and weed control research and other things growers have come to expect, but it was also a chance for them to hear about nonagricultural factors affecting their industry.

“The prices are great, but our inputs keep going up,” said GCC Executive Director Richey Seaton. “But we keep looking at [government] budget reductions that affect funding for research, which is vital for our continued success. We’re also looking at a new farm bill in 2012 with limited funds being available. So there are a lot of challenges that our industry faces.”

The event included speeches from National Cotton Council (NCC) Senior Vice President John Maguire and Cotton Council International Executive Director Allen Terhaar.

Maguire stressed the importance of getting newly elected members of Congress up-to-date on agricultural concerns.

“We have the House Ag Committee with 16 new Republican members who have never been through a farm bill before,” said Maguire, “It’s going to be very important for the producers to get to know their members, especially the new members, and help them understand why a safety net is important and why agriculture programs have been successful.”

Maguire said the best time to make members of Congress aware of ag issues is when they are in their home districts or states.

“I encourage our growers to find out when the member is going to be home and see if they’re going to have a district day or work day. Go out and meet your member when they’re a little more relaxed and home,” Maguire said.

Terhaar shared research from the Inter14 / March-April 2011

national Cotton Advisory Committee, which estimates that Chinese consumption will grow at the same rate as the Chinese Gross Domestic Product. Between now and 2050, world textile demand for fibers will rise by 3 to 4.5 times.

“Promotion is more important than ever,” Terhaar said. “We need to be out there making sure consumers demand cotton products. The next couple of years should be really good for cotton.”

The GCC also announced the winners of the 2010 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards.

Winners in the category of less than 500 acres were: Region 1, Jeff Wilson (Turner County/Worth Gin); Region 2, Chris Mallard (Burke County/Screven Gin); Region 3, Miller Tucker (Irwin County/Omega Gin) and Region 4, Terry Stewart (Mitchell County/BCT Gin-Berlin).

Winners in the 500-1,000 acre category were: Region 1, Dan King (Turner County/ Worth Gin); Region 3, H.R. Price Farms (Brooks County/BCT Gin) and Region 4, Randall and Verlyn Hart (Thomas Coun-

ty/BCT Gin-Berlin). There was no Region 2 winner in this category.

Winners in the over 1,000-acre acre category were: Region 1, Phil Coley (Turner County/Worth Gin); Region 3, Dewitt Farms (Brooks County/BCT Gin) and Region 4, Ken Hall Farms (Worth County/ Omega Gin). There was no Region 2 winner in this category.

Jeff Wilson received the Best Cotton Award for having the highest loan value of all the winners in all regions/categories.

No drought declaration for Lower Flint River Basin

Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Director Allen Barnes will not issue a severe drought declaration this year under the Flint River Drought Protection Act for southwest Georgia’s lower Flint River Basin.

The EPD Director is required by law to issue a prediction by March 1 on whether severe drought conditions are expected

during the year. Barnes said that while conditions in the region are dry, stream flows and groundwater levels do not support a severe drought declaration. In addition, the 90-day precipitation forecast from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center calls for only a 40 percent chance of below-average rainfall through May.

National Beef Cook-Off Seeks Recipes

The 29th National Beef Cook-Off is accepting recipes through April 30. Submit your best beef recipes for a chance to win up to $25,000 in cash and a trip to the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington D.C., in November.

The contest is open to legal United States residents who are 18 years of age or older as of February 1. Entries must be the original recipe of the entrant. The contest is a national search for extraordinary recipes that demonstrate the benefits and versatility of cooking with beef via four contest categories: the 5:30 p.m. dinner crunch, retro recipes, fuel up with beef and stir-crazy solutions. Visit http://www. beefcookoff.org to enter or for more information.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Crop prices, immigration, EPA & direct marketing talk of Ag Forecast

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________ A UGA economist indicated crop pric- government has not,” he said. es were likely to remain high through 2011 Sparks outlined the staffing changes being and into 2012 and Sen. Johnny Isakson said made to county extension offices under the the federal government needs to step in to tier rating system announced last fall. curtail illegal immigration during the 2011 GFB President Zippy Duvall stressed Ag Forecast meeting at the Georgia Farm the importance of the organization’s partBureau (GFB) home office Feb. 10. nership with UGA and the value the uni The last of five Ag Forecast meet- versity’s research carries for Georgia farmings featured presentations from Dr. Scott ers. He also urged attendees to continue Angle, dean of the UGA College of Agri- monitoring developments on agricultural cultural and Environmental Sciences, Dr. issues in Atlanta and in Washington.

Beverly Sparks, UGA associate dean for USDA Senior Program Specialist for Extension, USDA Food and Nutrition Spe- the Food and Nutrition Service Kirk Farcialist Kirk Farquharson, Russell Johnston quharson discussed the USDA’s Farm to from Johnston Dairy and Dr. Don Shurley, School program.

UGA Extension economist. The series of Russell Johnston of Johnston Dairy meetings that included stops in Carroll- Farm in Newborn talked about his experiton, Gainesville, Tifton and Statesboro, is ences converting from producing raw milk Sen. Johnny Isakson discussed coming budget cuts, Congress’ approach to curfunded by an endowment from GFB. that he shipped off farm to a cooperative tailing EPA regulations and immigration Shurley indicated that crops would con- to bottling and marketing his farm’s milk reform during the Ag Forecast meeting held in Macon, Feb. 10. tinue drawing high prices through 2011 and directly to consumers. into 2012, tempered by rising input costs for fuel, fertilizer and land rent. Shurley said overall, crop producers should enjoy profitability through this year, though the high commodity prices for crops translate to high input prices for livestock producers who depend on crops for feed grains.

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Pick Your Week -- 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30 2012 “My plea to you is when we get to the farm bill, make your case,” Isakson said.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News

March-April 2011 / 15

Photo by Rick Treptow

Pictured from left, Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler congratulates the 2011 recipients of the commission’s annual awards: Cheryl Koehler, who accepted the Distinguished Service Award on behalf of former Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin; Stephanie Grunenfelder, Export Award; Greg Mims, of Seminole County, Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award; Sally Wells, Special Award in recognition of her work with the 2010 Peanut Butter for Haiti project; Dr. Jim Todd, Research Award; and Jennifer Whittaker, Media Award.

Peanut growers turn out for annual show The mood was upbeat at the 35th Annual Georgia Peanut Show Jan. 20 at the Albany Civic Center thanks to the high yield last year’s peanut crop produced and overall good crop prices. More than 1,600 peanut growers turned out to walk through the displays of a record 78 exhibitors and attend production seminars presented by University of Georgia and various industry specialists.

UGA plant pathologist Dr. Bob Kemerait encouraged growers to consider planting disease-resistant varieties, saying, “Don’t make your variety decision based on yield potential alone. Planting increased disease-resistant varieties allows flexibility in a management program and can be a cost-saving measure because more resistant varieties can decrease your reliance on fungicides and nematicides.”

Higher cotton prices last fall prompted shellers to offer peanut contracts between $550 and $575 per ton in an effort to keep peanut acreage from shifting to cotton, UGA economist Dr. Nathan Smith said.

“I think that sent an early message that shellers don’t want to give up too many acres because we’re going to need about the same number of acres in 2011 to keep our supply on par with consumption.”

Smith cautioned that quality issues with the 2010 crop may make the stock of peanuts end up smaller than initially predicted.

“Carryover stock is expected to drop 16 / March-April 2011

100,000 tons but it could drop 200,000 tons due to the heat stress the 2010 crop experienced and burrower bug damage some growers had,” Smith said. “I think more peanuts will go to crush than usual.”

Greg Mims received the 2011 Out-

standing Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award in recognition of his overall farm operation and community service activities. Mims farms in partnership with his dad and brother, raising cattle and growing peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and snap beans on their 4,000-acre operation.

A Seminole County Farm Bureau member, Mims leadership activities include serving as the Georgia Young Farmers Association treasurer and as a Georgia delegate for the National Cotton Council.

Other award recipients included: Distinguished Service Award - former Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin; Research/Education Award - Dr. Jim Todd, UGA entomology professor emeritus; Export Award - Stephanie Grunenfelder, American Peanut Council vice president of international marketing; Special Award - Sally Wells, Birdsong Peanuts Southeast Division logistics and administrative manager; and Media Award - Jennifer Whittaker, Georgia Farm Bureau News editor.

Gary Cone of Jennings, Fla., won the grand door prize of a season’s use of a new Kelly Manufacturing Company peanut combine.

Tractors to roll again for St. Jude Antique tractor enthusiasts are invited to come out May 7 for the 3rd Annual St. Jude Benefit Antique Tractor Ride in Macon County.

The ride is a fundraiser for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Riders will pay a $25 entry fee per tractor the day of the ride.

The parade will leave the farm of Charles Hughes located at 3344 South St., Marshallville, Ga., 31057 Billy Lightner was one of several members of the South West Georgia Big Wheelers who rode in the at 10:30 a.m.

2010 St. Jude Benefit Tractor Ride.

The ride will stop for lunch at Yoder’s Deitsch Haus on Hwy. 26 and return back to the Hughes farm.

The public is invited to join the riders for lunch and a chance to see the tractors on display. For more information contact Neil Skipper at 478-286-1940 or James Emory Tate at 912-375-8367.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Peanut growers voting on assessment increase

Decatur County peanut grower Jud Greene says he supports increasing the Georgia Peanut Commission assessment to $3 per ton because it will be up to producers to fund production research as government budgets shrink.

By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________ During a mail referendum scheduled for March 15-April 15, Georgia peanut growers will determine whether to increase the $2 per ton assessment they currently pay to fund the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) by $1 per ton.

The commission’s board of directors decided to conduct the referendum after holding a public hearing in Tifton Feb. 9 regarding the proposal to increase the assessment to $3 per ton. The commission assessment has not been increased since 1980 when Georgia peanut producers voted to increase their assessment from $1 per ton to $2 per ton. A survey of grow-

ers conducted last year at county production meetings indicated growers support increasing the assessment by $1 a ton, GPC Executive Director Don Koehler said.

Nine growers, one researcher, one UGA Extension administrator and one buying points representative spoke in favor of increasing the assessment, citing the benefits growers have received from the promotion, research and education programs the commission coordinates. One grower from Dougherty County expressed opposition to the proposal via a written statement that was read into the hearing records by a GPC staff member.

The need to increase research funding was the main reason those speaking in favor of the assessment increase gave during their testimony. Larry Cunningham, GPC advisory board member, voiced the need to fund research on the burrower bug, which decreased the quality and value of a significant amount of Georgia’s 2010 peanut crop. Without research, he said, this bug could be as devastating to the industry as the boll weevil was to cotton.

Decatur County peanut grower Jud Greene credited past commission-funded research that developed disease-resistant varieties, such as Georgia Green, with helping growers overcome tomato spotted wilt virus. He said new disease-resistant varieties, like Tiftguard, will be even more important as growers lose fungicides like Temik.

“It is hard for farmers to commit to

Southwest Ga. ethanol files for Chapter 11 Southwest Georgia Ethanol LLC (SWGE), a subsidiary of First United Ethanol LLC (FUEL) and Georgia’s largest corn ethanol producer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Feb. 2 following a bank notice that it was in violation of the terms of its construction and working capital loans.

FUEL has not filed for bankruptcy.

In a statement, SWGE said the filing “results from liquidity constraints arising from operational problems that, while largely resolved, impacted financial performance, the impending maturity of its working capital facility and from a lack of sufficient working capital due to increasing

Georgia Farm Bureau News

input costs and decreasing prices as a function of the economy.”

SWGE will continue to operate under court protection using FUEL’s employees while working out a plan of reorganization to restructure its debt and pay its creditors and does not expect to scale back its purchases of corn.

Georgia’s biofuels industry sustained another setback in January when Colorado-based Range Fuels shut down its plant in Treutlen County after producing one batch of cellulosic ethanol in order to solve technical issues and raise money, according to a report from Reuters.

want to spend more money, but I’m going to encourage all of my neighbors and friends that we must support this checkoff.

If you think about it, a dollar won’t buy today what it did in 1980,” Greene said.

“The budgets are decreasing. Everything is getting higher and higher. The state of Georgia is broke. I don’t see how the government is going to come up with the money to supply the research we need. I think it’s up to us, the producers, to do it ourselves. This checkoff program is the best way I know to do it.”

The peanut commission will mail ballots to all Georgia peanut producers on record by March 15 with voting instructions. If you are a peanut grower and do not receive a ballot by March 15, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229386-3470. For the referendum to pass, at least 25 percent of all producers on record must submit a ballot and at least 66 and 2/3 percent of the ballots cast must favor increasing the assessment.

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March-April 2011 / 17

young farmer update Jed Evans, Young Farmer Coordinator

GFB Young Farmers attend AFBF Leadership Conference Members of the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee attended the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 5-7. The theme for the conference, attended by nearly 1,000 young farmers from across the country, was “Engage. Act. Win.” The young farmers participated in leadership development activities and heard from several motivational speakers.

Ken Schmidt from Harley Davidson energized the crowd with his inspirational message. Schmidt spoke on the importance of the American farm and the responsibility young farmers have going forward.

Dick Wittman spoke about farm transition and management, highlighting areas of need as young farmers work with family members on the farm and how these relationships develop. In his remarks, Wittman emphasized the need for young farmers to learn to work with family members and how to identify key roles in family farms.

Motivational speaker Andrew McCrea challenged conference attendees to strive for greatness. McCrea challenged young farmers to not simply settle for an ordinary farm, but to work hard to create an environment that is extraordinary.

Perhaps the most influential program was when young farmers had the chance to

Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee members who attended the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer Leadership Conference included: (pictured from left) Thomas Harrell of Madison County; Committee Vice Chairs Corey and Janie Tyre of Bacon County; Kelli Ames and fiancé Justin Long of Decatur County; Committee Chairmen Dawn and Wesley Hall of Forsyth County; Ashlee and Brad Wood of Wilcox County, Jennifer and Jake Carter of Henry County, Shanna Evans and GFB YF Coordinator Jed Evans and Keegan Malone of Laurens County. B.J. and Kaci Marks of Newton County also attended the event.

hear Navy Captain Jim Lovell, an American hero and astronaut most famous for his role in command of Apollo 13. Lovell stoically articulated the five-word message, “Houston, we have a problem.” Lovell provided a true look into American history and inspired the young farmers with his story.

Crawford County Farm Bureau members Leighton and Brenda Cooley were recognized at the conference for their service on the AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Committee during the past two

YF Achievement Contest deadline May 6

If you’re a young farmer between the ages of 18 and 35, you should consider applying for the 2011 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Award. Eligible contestants must be at least 18 as of January 31, 2012. Applications for the award are available at your county Farm Bureau office. May 6 is the deadline for entering the contest.

All qualified applicants will be judged in district competition. Ten district winners and three state finalists will be announced in July at the GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference. The three finalists will be judged on their written application and financial statement only. The competition will not include an on-farm visit from the judges.

The three finalists will be recognized at the GFB Convention on Jekyll Island, December 4-6, where the state winner will be announced. The state winner will receive the free use of a Kubota L or M series tractor for one year and an expense-paid trip to the 2012 AFBF Convention in Hawaii, January 8-11, 2012, to compete for national honors.

18 / March-April 2011

years. The Cooleys provided leadership to the conference as second year members on the committee. Leighton led the devotion service on Sunday morning, delivering an inspirational message to attendees.

The GFB Young Farmer group also had the chance to tour local farms in southcentral Florida, including Kempfer Ranch and Deseret Ranches.

YF Discussion Meet deadline May 31

The preliminary rounds of the 2011 GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet will be held July 23-24 during the GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference at Callaway Gardens. The four finalists will compete for the state title at the GFB Convention on Jekyll Island, December 4-6.

The deadline for entering the competition is May 31. Contact your county Farm Bureau office to enter or for more information about the Leadership Conference.

The state winner will receive an Arctic Cat 500 4x4 ATV and an expense-paid trip to the 2012 AFBF convention in Hawaii, January 8-11, 2012, to compete for national honors.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Specialty Crop Block Grant applications due May 5

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is accepting applications for the 2011 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funded by the farm bill.

The program funds projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops including: fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass/sod, nursery and greenhouse crops, including floriculture. Visit http://www. ams.usda.gov for a list of all eligible crops.

Georgia is expected to receive about $1.128 million in grants. Grant amounts will range from $10,000 to about $150,000 per project. Grants will be awarded for up to three years.

The GDA is seeking applications from organizations that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Georgia including: non-profit organizations and corporations, commodity associations, state and local government entities and colleges/universities.

Applicants must reside or their business or educational affiliation must be in Georgia.

Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual; these entities are encouraged to participate as project partners.

Compliance and/or non-compliance of

Ga. native named Vilsack’s chief of staff

Camilla native Krysta Harden has been named chief of staff for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Harden, who worked as an assistant secretary of agriculture for congressional relations since April 2009, succeeds Karen Ross. As chief of staff she will assist Vilsack in managing the USDA’s array of programs. Harden, a 1981 graduate of the University of Georgia, is the highest-ranked Georgian in a presidential administration since the Jimmy Carter presidency, according to the Albany Herald. Prior to joining the USDA, she was chief executive officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts from 2004 to 2009.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

previous applicants fulfilling their annual and final reporting requirements of past grant award agreements is a new GDA evaluation criterion. All GDA-approved projects will be developed into one grant submission to the USDA. Upon approval from USDA, GDA will notify applicants of

their status. Final approval is expected in mid-September but may change.

Applications must be submitted to the GDA by 5 p.m. on May 5. For more information visit http://agr.georgia.gov or contact Jeanne Maxwell at 404-657-1584 or Jeanne.Maxwell@agr.georgia.gov.

Vote for your local FFA chapter Georgia FFA chapters are making efforts to form new and stronger connections with their local farmers to earn a possible $8,000 in prizes from Monsanto. Georgia FFA will be competing against chapters from Alabama, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri in the 2011 FFA Chapter Challenge to connect with the most farmers in their community and learn about their operations. The farmers will then be asked to vote for their local FFA chapter by visiting http://www.FFAChapterChallenge. com or by calling the National FFA Organization at 800-293-2387. May 1 is the deadline for farmers to cast a vote for their local FFA. The 125 FFA chapters that receive

the most votes will receive a $1,500 certificate of credit from the National FFA Organization.

The credit can be used to buy FFA member jackets, banquet supplies and more. Chapters can also use the funds to pay member costs associated with attending the organization’s Washington Leadership Conference or national FFA convention. The chapter that makes the most connections among the top 125 chapters will receive an all-expense-paid trip for six FFA members and one adult advisor to the 2011 National FFA Convention.

This prize has a value of $6,500.

Bland, Dowdy receive Vidalia Onion awards Tattnall County farmer Delbert Bland was named Grower of the Year and the late Delwin Dowdy was inducted into the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame at the 2011 Vidalia Onion industry banquet, held in February.

Bland, of Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, began growing onions with his father Raymond D. Bland in 1982 on five acres.

They co-founded Bland Farms, which has grown to more than 1,700 acres. With 92 employees, Bland Farms is the largest grower, packer, and shipper of Vidalia onions and has the largest controlled-environment storage capacity in the industry.

In 2009, Bland Farms was named one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America by Inc. Magazine. The company supplies 4,000 pounds of sweet onions a week to America’s Second Harvest

of Coastal Georgia Food Bank, sponsors St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and is a corporate sponsor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Dowdy, of Dowdy Farms in Reidsville, died in January 2009. He was remembered for his willingness to share his knowledge with other growers. He assisted many growers getting their start growing onions, giving tips on managing resources, packing quality product and developing infrastructure. Dowdy was known not only as a good grower and for packing the very best quality product, but also was revered as a strategic marketer and a wizard of financial management. Because of Dowdy’s expertise and commitment to detail, the UGA Cooperative Extension often utilized his farm for research projects and field days.

March-April 2011 / 19

Corn short course provides checkoff information, weed-control tips

C

orn producers at the 2011 Georgia Corn Short Course indicated that in terms of acreage choices, corn will maintain its place as the state’s thirdlargest row crop, and because of demand issues related to energy production could make modest gains on cotton.

“Earlier I would have thought that with the price of cotton like it is, corn was going to decline a little bit,” said Dr. Dewey Lee, a University of Georgia Extension agronomist and coordinator of the event. “But when I talk to growers, most of them say, ‘No, I’m going to do about what I did last year, or I’m just going to increase it a little bit.’ So, I think it’s going to sustain itself.”

The course, held Jan. 19 at the UGA Tifton Campus, included sessions on irrigation, disease, pest and weed control, genetics and the nutrient needs of corn.

Lee also noted that the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Corn is up for its three-year reaffirmation vote. Ballots are expected to be sent out in early April.

“If it were not for that checkoff program, we couldn’t have the research we have today,” he said. “Nor could I put on

the types of programs like the corn short course, because there are not dollars available through the state to support it.”

Producers growing corn for grain commercially sold within the state pay a one cent per bushel assessment collected when the corn is sold. First handlers are responsible for deducting the checkoff and remitting it to the commission on behalf of the producer. Producers growing sweet or fresh corn, silage corn or corn for on-farm use are exempt from the checkoff program.

Only producers who grew corn in 2010 are eligible to vote. Eligible producers who wish to receive ballots can contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture at 404-6563678. For those who receive a ballot but did not grow corn last year, it is important to indicate this on the ballot and return it.

The short course offered lots of information to help growers with a variety of issues to improve their bottom line.

“One of the reasons we’re meeting here today is to learn how we can best manage inputs, use no more than necessary and cut back in areas we can without sacrificing yields,” said Danny Willingham, chairman of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity

Corn & soybean efficiency awards presented David Stafford of Murray County took the top prize in the non-irrigated high yield and production efficiency category of the 2010 Georgia Corn Yield Contest, sponsored by the Georgia Corn Growers Association. Stafford produced 216.8 bushels per acre of Anderson’s SX 723 variety at a cost of 80 cents per bushel, claiming the $400 overall top prize.

Kevin Cobb of Jefferson County won in the irrigated high yield category, producing 283.1 bushels per acre of the Pioneer 2023 variety. Mike Newberry of Early County won in the irrigated production efficiency category, producing 255.3 bushels per acre at a cost of $2.48 per bushel. Cobb and Newberry each received a $300 cash prize, and all three winners received plaques. The corn efficiency winners were announced at the Corn Short Course in Tifton on Jan 19.

Glenn Waller of Washington County won both the high yield and production efficiency awards in the Soybean Efficiency Contest, announced during the Georgia/ Florida Soybean/Small Grain Expo in Perry on Jan. 13. Waller will receive a plaque in each category. In the high yield category, Waller produced 66.94 bushels per irrigated acre of Pioneer 95M50. In the production efficiency category, a separate yield of 58.12 bushels per dryland acre of Northrup King S78G6 cost him $4.73 per bushel.

20 / March-April 2011

Comstock

By Jay Stone __________________________________________________________________________

Commission for Corn. “The technology and information presented … will help the average farmer on his farm at home.”

Among the presentations was a speech on how to approach weed control

by Dr. Eric Prostko, a UGA professor and Extension weed specialist who said combating weeds, particularly pigweed, requires multiple tactics. Included were rotating herbicides in the same way crops are rotated. This helps ensure that chemical means through which the herbicides control the weeds aren’t repeated, limiting weeds’ ability to develop resistance.

“You have to be timely with postemergence treatments,” said Prostko, who also emphasized planting on fields free of pigweed and continuing to employ weedcontrol measures after harvest. “Don’t let the weeds get bigger than three inches or so. Remove them in the field before they go to seed, by hand, if need be.”

For more information about weed control, visit http://www.gaweed.com.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Farm Bureau celebrates Food Check-Out Week County Farm Bureaus across Georgia celebrated Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 20-26, with a variety of activities to educate their communities about buying healthy food on a limited budget and the role agriculture plays in providing safe, affordable food.

The GFB Women’s Committee encouraged counties to collect money or food supplies for their local food banks and for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH). Since beginning the RMH donation in 2002, GFB has made donations to all of the RMHs in Georgia. This year Farm Bureau raised more than $4,000 that will be donated to the RMH of West Georgia in Columbus.

Many counties raised funds for the RMH and local food banks by selling raffle tickets for gift baskets featuring Georgia agriculture products. Many counties made peanut-themed baskets as a way to promote GFB’s commodity of the year.

To see all of the photos county Farm Bureaus submitted visit the GFB Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaFarmBureau.

BACON COUNTY Members of the Bacon County Farm Bureau Women’s and Young Farmers Committees handed out information about Food CheckOut Week at Jay’s IGA and collected money for the local food bank, The Good Samaritans, and the Ronald McDonald House.

Vera Kate Tyre (left) and Cora Jane Tyre, daughters of BCFB YF Chairs Cory and Janie Tyre, are pictured collecting donations. BCFB also held a food drive at Appling Christian Academy and held a pizza party for the second grade class for collecting the most food.

BURKE COUNTY Burke County Farm Bureau held a contest at the local Harvey’s Supermarket to promote Food CheckOut Week. BCFB filled a cart with staple food items and asked shoppers to answer the question, “What percentage of your food dollar goes to the farmer who produces this food?” Shoppers who came the closest to guessing 19 percent were entered in a drawing for a Harvey’s gift certificate. BCFB donated the food in the cart to the Harvest Food Bank in Augusta.

CHEROKEE COUNTY To promote Food Check-Out Week and its message of eating healthy on a budget, Cherokee County Farm Bureau worked with the Cherokee High School and the Etowah High School FFA chapGeorgia Farm Bureau News

ters to make 24 fruit baskets for eight local nursing homes and senior citizen centers. Each basket contained information about eating healthy. CCFB also gave fruit and information about Food CheckOut Day to 55 teachers and staff at Creek land Middle School.

HANCOCK COUNTY Hancock County Farm Bureau Office Manager Kellie Webster (far left) and Women’s Committee member Debbie Meads (far right) bagged groceries at the IGA in Sparta and handed out nutrition fact cards to the customers. The county also set up a cart to collect food donations to give to the local food bank, Helping Hands. HCFB accepted food and monetary donations at its office to give to the Ronald McDonald House.

JACKSON COUNTY Jackson County Farm Bureau hosted a lunch at their office for the Chamber of Commerce Women in Business. JCFB Women’s Committee Chairman Charlotte Gilman explained the purpose of Food Check-Out Week.

The more than 40 ladies who attended the event enjoyed a healthy lunch of soup, salad and peanut butter squares. Jackson County FSA Executive Director Jay Jackson discussed opportunities for women in agriculture. JCFB also spoke at the Maysville Elementary PTO meeting about FCW and served a variety of healthy peanut and peanut butter snacks to promote peanuts - GFB’s commodity of the year.

NEWTON COUNTY Newton County Farm Bureau worked with the East Newton Elementary School to promote Food CheckOut Week. NCFB provided Farm Bureau reusable grocery bags to the school and each class collected nonperishable food items during Food Check Out week. Stephanie Almand’s fourth grade class (pictured) collected the most food donations and won a pizza party from NCFB. March-April 2011 / 21

AROUND GEORGIA News from County Farm Bureaus

BEN HILL The Ben Hill County Farm Bureau hosted its second member appreciation cookout last fall. BHCFB member Pete Clark grilled hot dogs and Jim Clark and Johnny Davis displayed their 1965 red mustang and 1959 Ford truck. GFB Director of Member Services Jay Murdock discussed the benefits of Farm Bureau membership to people as they ate. Pictured from left are: BHCFB Secretary Vickie Davenport, Jay Murdock, Agent Beau Luckie, Agency Manager Jay Cooper and Office Manager Karen Clark, who each greeted members as they arrived. Not pictured is BHCFB President Milton Huggins who was also on hand to greet members.

COFFEE COUNTY From left, Dea Davison, Carla Palmer and Jennifer Byrd are pictured with one of the seven boxes of linens, staple foods, cleaning products, personal hygiene products and soft drink tab tops the Coffee County Farm Bureau collected for the Ronald McDonald House of Savannah during the past year.

Women’s Committee members Byrd and Joy Batten delivered the items to the Savannah RMH. The CCFB Women’s Committee has chosen to annually support the Savannah RMH in addition to collecting donations for the RMH that receives Georgia Farm Bureau’s annual Food Check-Out Week donation.

COLQUITT COUNTY Colquitt County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chairman Earline Cannon is pictured with Tom Darbyshire, author of the children’s book “Who Grew My Soup?” CCFB donated a copy of the book, which discusses how farmers grow the vegetables found in soup, to each of the 10 elementary schools in the county as part of its effort to participate in Farm Bureau’s promo22 / March-April 2011

tion of Georgia’s vegetable industry during 2009-2010. Okapilco Elementary School Principal Eric Croft invited Darbyshire, who grew up in the farming community of Colquitt County, to speak to his students.

Darbyshire, who now lives in New York and does freelance illustrations for Campbell’s Soup, shared the process that went into writing the book.

FLOYD COUNTY State Rep. Barbara Massey Reece (D-11th District) was one of several candidates who spoke during the political forum Floyd County Farm Bureau held last fall. Candidates, or their representatives, for the state House Districts 13 and 14, state Senate District 52 and Floyd County Commission Post 4 also spoke. Representatives for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, Gov. Nathan Deal, Attorney General Sam Olens and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black spoke on their behalf. The candidates praised the value of family farms as economic mainstays of the county and stated their positions on ag issues.

GLYNN COUNTY More than 300 elementary students on St. Simons Island now know milk comes from a cow thanks to Glynn County Farm Bureau arranging for the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk’s Mobile Dairy Classroom to participate in Georgia History Day at Oglethorpe Elementary School (Continued) Georgia Farm Bureau News

(Continued from previous page) Feb. 4. Nicole Karstedt, Mobile Dairy Classroom coordinator, is shown explaining how a milking machine works. GCFB gave all of the students copies of Farm Bureau’s Georgia Ag maps, Farm Bureau pencils and Learn About Beef brochures from the Georgia Beef Board. GCFB also gave a video about dairy farming to each team of teachers in the first through fifth grades along with peanut and vegetable bookmarks and 2011 FB calendars.

HARRIS COUNTY In November, Harris County Farm Bureau taught the fifth grade students at Creekside School about cotton.

Palmer Marlowe examines a cotton boll during the fieldto-fabric lesson presented by HCFB Office Manager Linda Lutrell using the Georgia Cotton Commission resources kit.

Students learned that farmers plant cotton seed in the spring and harvest the crop in the fall and that cotton is harvested with a machine and packed into large bales called modules to go to warehouses to be ginned.

HCFB volunteer Teresa Hinson explained how cotton is spun and woven by the textile industry to be made into many useful

Farm mom contest offers $7,500

Your favorite farm mom could win up to $7,500 in the 2011 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year Contest. Visit www.AmericasFarmers.com until May 8 to nominate a farm mom. Just explain in 300 words or less how your nominee embodies the caring, values and hard work that make up the family farm way of life. Five regional winners - Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, West and Southwest - will be selected and posted on the Web site where voting will determine one national winner. Each regional winner will receive $5,000. The national winner, to be announced on May 27, will get an additional $2,500.

The contest is sponsored by Monsanto and the American Agri-Women. Entries will be judged on how nominees contribute to their families, farms, communities and industry. To be eligible, a mom must be at least 18 years of age and work on a farm within the United States that produces at least 250 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton, vegetables and/or specialty crops (canola, sorghum, wheat or alfalfa); and/or at least 40 acres of fruits and vegetables; and/or raise at least 100 head of cattle or hogs; and/or maintain at least 50 head of dairy cows and/ or at least 20,000 broilers or layers.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

products. HCFB volunteer Chloris Weldon shared her experience of picking cotton by hand when she was a child.

POLK COUNTY Polk County Farm Bureau continues to team up with Pleasant Hill Baptist Church to send care packages to members of the U.S. military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. PCFB Office Manager Sue Cuzzort is pictured with the most recent shipment of packages sent in February that included canned lunch meat, ramen noodles, powdered drink mixes, oatmeal, grits, candy, Bibles, handmade crosses, toiletry items and games.

TALIAFERRO COUNTY Taliaferro County Farm Bureau member Delores Moore, who works with the Wilkes County Emergency Medical Service, takes the blood pressure and pulse of Rosie Cullars during the county health fair held last fall. Nine TCFB volunteers donated their services to help with registration, taking blood pressure, measuring weight and height, drawing blood and manning the educational display.

WASHINGTON COUNTY Rabun Waller (standing), chairwoman of the Washington County Farm Bureau Promotion/Education Committee, and WCFB Secretary Carlene Hart recently gave a presentation about Georgia agriculture to the sixth through eighth graders at Brentwood School. The presentation was intended to prepare the students to write their papers for the Farm Bureau Essay Contest. Waller and Hart gave each of the students one of the GFB Ag maps and showed the video “Without Farmers, Georgia Can’t Grow,” followed by a pop quiz.

March-April 2011 / 23

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