March 30, 2016
www.gfb.org
Vol. 34 No. 13
GA LEGISLATURE: GATE UNCHANGED, BUDGET BOOSTS AG PROGRAMS The Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) program will continue unchanged for another year, the UGA Cooperative Extension received funding for a number of positions to enhance its research programs and the ag water metering program continues to be assigned to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) under the FY 2017 budget, highlighting ag issues considered in the 2016 session of the Georgia Legislature. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate each passed a resolution asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw its Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. Stemming from the Sales Tax Study Committee created in the 2015 legislative session, GATE was under scrutiny as legislators evaluated ways to improve accountability within the program while curbing abuse. GFB participated in the GATE discussions and helped shape favorable provisions to maintain access to the program for the state’s agriculture producers. “We’re proud of how our members and staff worked to represent the interests of agriculture,” said GFB President Gerald Long. “When our members reach out to their legislators, it adds emphasis to the work our legislative staff does in Atlanta throughout the session.” For example, GFB members submitted more than 400 letters to state elected officials regarding the livestock liability issue alone. “This level of engagement gives us a seat at the table and provides us an opportunity to best represent our members. It is definitely a team effort,” said GFB Legislative Director Jeffrey Harvey. A bill to make adjustments to the program, HB 911, passed the House. Then the Senate passed it with changes and the differences were not resolved before the session adjourned for the year, meaning the GATE program will continue operating with the same requirements for at least another year. The fee remains at $25 per year and the $2,500 farm income qualification threshold stays in place. The legislature included an additional $200,000 in the FY17 budget appropriation to the Department of Agriculture for GATE program investigators to enhance compliance -continued
GFB News Alert page 2 of 13 Continued from previous page efforts. It is important that all GATE cardholders continue to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of qualified GATE card use, and do their part to maintain the integrity of the program. The budget approved by the legislature for the FY 2017 budget was sent to the governor for final approval. It included several line items affecting agriculture, among them: • $100,000 for the Food Animal Veterinary Loan Reimbursement Program; • $378,000 for the UGA Cooperative Extension Service to hire a viticulturist (grape specialist), a grain crop agronomist and a vegetable pathologist; • $720,000 for the UGA Extension to hire 12 additional agents; • $336,000 for the Agricultural Experiment Station to hire a ruminant nutritionist and a row crop physiologist; • Keeps the ag water metering program under the GSWCC and maintains the agency’s current funding level. The Livestock Producer Protection bill (HB 876), introduced by Rep. Clay Pirkle (RAshburn), included provisions addressing livestock dealers and surety bonds, but never made it out of the conference committee. For information from the GFB Legislative Department about these and other bills of interest to Georgia farmers, visit http://tinyurl.com/16galegislature. GFB ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR 2016 PHOTO CONTEST The GFB Young Farmer Committee is accepting entries for its 7th Annual Picture Agriculture in Georgia Photo Contest. This contest is open to any Georgia Farm Bureau member who is an amateur photographer (receives no income from photography). GFB employees may enter as long as they have a current membership. Cash awards will be presented. The grand prize is $150 and 11 honorable mention winners will receive $75 each. The grand prize winning photograph will be featured on the front of the 2017 GFB Young Farmer Calendar. Only digital photos that are a minimum of 1 megabyte (MB) in file size may be submitted with a limit of four photos per person. All photos must have been shot in Georgia during 2015 or 2016, and may not have been entered in any other contest. Photos altered in any way will not be judged. All photos become the property of GFB. Digital photos must be sent as a JPEG file attachment via email to yf@gfb.org by 4:30 p.m. on May 4. If children or people are included in photos, you must complete a Model Release Entry Form that must be received by GFB at the time of the deadline. Visit you county Farm Bureau office for contest rules, entry instructions and the Model Release Form, or visit the GFB website at www.gfb.org.
GFB News Alert page 3 of 13 UGA, GA DEPARTMENT OF AG RELEASE STATE POLLINATOR PLAN Georgia agricultural experts from UGA and the Georgia Department of Agriculture developed a statewide plan to teach gardeners and landscapers how to care for their plants and protect these vulnerable insects that are vital to food production, according to a UGA press release. Georgia Farm Bureau was among a group of stakeholders who supported development of the the plan throughout its draft stages, and hosted the first stakeholder meeting in January 2015. “The issue is that we have broad-scale problems with our pollinators — both in numbers and in diversity,” said Kris Braman, an entomologist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and a member of the team that created the “Protecting Georgia’s Pollinators” plan. Pollination involves transferring pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts of the same, or a different, flower. This simple act of nature is essential to the production of many seed crops. A 2014 economic impact study by UGA lists the annual value of pollination in Georgia at more than $360 million. “Bees outperform most other pollinators, but bees are just 17.57 percent of the total pollinator population. Ants, wasps, butterflies and other insects, like native bees, play an essential role, too,” Braman said. “They are very important to modern agriculture, and the service they provide to the ecosystem is free.” Since 2006, U.S. beekeepers have lost about 30 percent of their colonies each winter. Honeybees are also dying as a result of pests, like varroa mites and hive beetles, from habitat and forage degradation and from broad applications of certain insecticides that kill other essential, pollinating insects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging states to create specific plans to improve pollinator health. In addition to Braman, the Georgia state plan committee includes other experts from UGA and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The committee’s primary goal is to provide a method for beekeepers, growers, pesticide applicators and landowners to better cooperate and communicate to protect pollinators. “We hoped to put a plan in place to garner wide-scale support from our stakeholders and communities,” she said. “Protecting our state pollinators is everybody’s responsibility.” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black said the issue of honeybee health in particular is “complex” and includes factors like new viral diseases, mites, nutrition and exposure to nonlethal doses of insecticides. “Communication between farmers and beekeepers is essential if we are going to promote a healthy pollinator population. Both agricultural and nonagricultural interests will greatly benefit from this common sense plan and greater awareness of pollinator protection issues,” Black said. “However, no plan created by government or academia will ever surpass the vital role of individual responsibility.” Georgia’s plan includes guidelines — not rules — to follow to protect pollinating insects. The guidelines include ways that beekeepers can keep their bees healthy and be better neighbors. These tips include making varroa mite control a top priority, placing beehives away from human traffic, planting adequate floral resources, replacing failing queens and providing bees with an adequate water supply. On the flip side, the plan also includes guidelines for home gardeners and commercial -continued
GFB News Alert page 4 of 13 Continued from previous page landscapers. These tips include leaving portions of property undisturbed for soil-nesting bees, mowing grass to remove flowering weeds before applying pesticides and planting pollinatorattracting plants like crape myrtle, sages, clovers and sunflowers. “There are yellow and black-striped ‘Bee Aware’ flags available to denote where bees are. Consumers can also look for the new pollinator protection advisory, a symbol of a bee inside a diamond, on pesticides that can harm honeybees and other insect pollinators,” Braman said. Educating the public on the importance of pollinating pests is essential to protecting them, she said. The official plan is available online at t.uga.edu/28O. For more information on honeybee research at UGA, go to ent.uga.edu/bees. USFRA RESPONDS TO CRITICS OF AG’S ANIMAL WELFARE PRACTICES Below is the text of a piece written by U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) CEO Randy Krotz, which was printed in an insert to USA Today in several major metro markets on March 23. The piece offered a counter to other content in the insert, which was a collaborative project by groups criticizing animal agriculture’s treatment of animals. The USFRA, of which Georgia Farm Bureau is an affiliate member, also purchased a backpage ad for the insert, directing readers to the organization’s website, www.fooddialogues.com, and inviting them to ask farmers and ranchers about animal welfare on their farms. KROTZ: ANIMAL WELFARE A PRIORITY FOR FARMERS Without question, the videos, images and first-hand accounts of the mistreatment of animals being raised for food are incredibly painful to watch, and they are extremely infuriating. I’ve worked with animals all my life on our family farm, and like so many farmers and ranchers, I experience a range of emotions when I see this type of abuse — anger, sadness and frustration. While these pictures and videos are the rare exception and not the norm, put simply: the bad actors who do not follow the standards of care set by experts in animal science don’t belong in agriculture. We have zero tolerance for this behavior. As CEO of an alliance representing more than 90 farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners, I can tell you this perspective is shared by farmers and ranchers nationwide. I work with people who have dedicated their lives to the care and well-being of animals, so nothing is more upsetting than seeing them mistreated. For farmers and ranchers, taking care of animals being raised for food is personal because we are responsible for their care 24/7, 365 days a year. My interactions with farmers, ranchers and consumers reinforce the fact that there is a lot of emotion tied to the care and well-being of animals being raised for food — as there should be. But, we cannot let our emotions get in the way of dialogue and understanding. A real conversation about animal welfare must include consumers, non-governmental organizations, food retailers, veterinarians, and farmers and ranchers. When it comes to how animals are raised for food, we must work together and ask questions, instead of casting judgment. We all have distinct points of view on these topics and yet, we have one shared interest — making sure animals raised for food receive proper care.
GFB News Alert page 5 of 13 GFB WRITES TO FCC ON MARKETPLACE FOR INDEPENDENT PROGRAMMING Georgia Farm Bureau submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a part of the agency’s probe into the state of video programming marketplace diversity. The FCC issued a notice of inquiry on Feb. 18 seeking public comments detailing barriers to reaching viewers that have evolved since the 1992 Cable Act was enacted. One such independent video programmer is RFD-TV, which carries GFB’s Georgia Farm Monitor. “For us, it is important being on a network that covers all of rural America and an honor to be a part of RFD-TV,” wrote GFB Information/Public Relations Director Andy Lucas, who also serves as executive producer for the Farm Monitor. The GFB letter detailed the history of the show, which has run continuously since 1966 with the goals of keeping farmers informed about a variety of topics related to farming while sharing agriculture’s story with the non-farming public. “We strongly believe that rural independent and all independent TV producers have the right to broadcast without conflict from large broadcast cable companies,” Lucas wrote. In its public notice, the FCC referenced complaints from independent programmers that cable operators and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) engage in practices that limit programmers’ ability to distribute their content. The agency indicated it would explore ways to address these issues. “The commission has heard time and again that independent programmers are often unable to reach enough views to have a viable business model, and that one of their primary obstacles to success is the demands that are made during carriage negotiations and other MVPDs,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. MIKELL FRIES BECOMES PRESIDENT OF CLAXTON POULTRY Mikell Fries has been named president of Claxton Poultry, succeeding Jerry Lane. Claxton Poultry, founded by Norman W. Fries, sells 300 million pounds of chicken per year to 750 customers ranging from small independent restaurants to large national chains, according to the company website. The company, founded in 1958, employs approximately 1,800 workers, with facilities in Claxton, Glennville and Savannah. Mikell, 41, is Norman’s grandson and has worked with the company for 27 years. Lane, former chairman of the National Chicken Council, will continue on the company’s board of directors, serving as a senior adviser to Mikell Fries and CEO Doris Fries. Mikell Fries is member of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association board of directors. VIDALIA ONION SHIP DATE SET The Georgia Department of Agriculture has set April 25 as the initial ship date for onions labeled as Vidalia onions in 2016. According to a report in The Produce News, Vidalia onion producers can ship onions under a Produce Lookup (PLU) code 4166 (onions- other sweet) at any time.
GFB News Alert page 6 of 13 USDA SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR PEANUT STANDARDS BOARD The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for peanut producers and industry representatives to serve on the Peanut Standards Board. The board consists of 18 members with representation equally divided between peanut producers and industry representatives. Representation is divided among three regions: the Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, and Florida), the Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico), and Virginia/North Carolina. Each region has three producer seats and three industry representative seats with staggered 3-year terms. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will appoint one producer and one industry representative from each region to succeed members whose terms expire on June 30, 2016. The six new members will serve terms ending on June 30, 2019. The 2002 Farm Bill established the Peanut Standards Board to consult with USDA regarding quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The board plays a key role in representing the U.S. peanut industry on issues affecting quality and marketability. USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the industry it represents. All eligible women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are invited to seek nomination for a seat on the Peanut Standards Board by the May 2, 2016, deadline. For nominating forms and additional board information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/PeanutStandardsBoard, or contact Steven W. Kauffman, Marketing Specialist, or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (863) 837-1551, Fax: (863) 291-8614, or Email: Steven.Kauffman@ams.usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov. GEORGIA HONEY PRODUCTION DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2015 Georgia’s honey producers experienced big declines in the output of their beehives from 2014 to 2015 according to the Southern Region honey production report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The number of honey-producing colonies in Georgia fell five percent, from 73,000 in 2014 to 69,000 in 2015. Colony yields dropped more than 35 percent, from 62 pounds per colony in 2014 to 40 pounds per colony in 2015. The state’s beekeepers produced a total of 2.76 million pounds of honey in 2015, down from 4.5 million in 2014, a decline of 39 percent.
GFB News Alert page 7 of 13 PECAN FEDERAL MARKETING ORDER REFERENDUM March 30 deadline to submit votes Voting on the proposed federal marketing order for pecans closes March 30. Votes must be postmarked by March 30 in order to be counted. Pecan producers who have not received ballots may call 863-324-3375 and request one by email. GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION March 30 – April 2 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This jam-packed four-day event covers all things beef, including a forage conference led by UGA’s Dr. Dennis Hancock, Zoetis Cattlemen’s College seminars on a variety of topics, a discussion on feed directives led by Zoetis Livestock Production Specialist Jennie Schutte, the annual awards banquet; the GCA general membership meeting; Angus and Hereford sales; the annual Cattlemen’s Ball; and a junior awards luncheon. Visit www.georgiacattlemen.org for more information or to register. MONSANTO FARM MOM OF THE YEAR March 31 deadline for nominations Monsanto plans to recognize these inspiring women and is accepting nominations for its 2016 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year contest through March 31. Anyone can enter their favorite farm mom, whether it’s their mom, sister, aunt, daughter, friend or community member. Just visit www.AmericasFarmers.com during the nomination period and submit a brief essay online or by mail that explains how the nominated farm mom contributes to each of four areas -- her family, farm, community and the agriculture industry. Five regional winners will be announced at the end of April, and each winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Profiles of the winners will then be posted to www.AmericasFarmers.com, where the public can vote for one national farm mom winner. Announced just prior to Mother’s Day, the national winner will receive an additional $5,000 cash prize above and beyond her regional prize, for a total of $10,000. For more information on the program or for complete eligibility requirements and official contest rules visit www.AmericasFarmers.com. Interested parties may also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to America's Farmers Mom of the Year, Attn: Sue Dillon, 349 Marshall Ave., Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63119. USDA VALUE ADDED GRANT WORKSHOP March 31 Georgia Farm Bureau 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Macon This free workshop will provide tips on using the grant program, suggestions on writing successful grant applications, the importance of feasibility studies and services provided by the Center for Innovation for Agribusiness. Please RSVP to: Al Burns with the USDA ( 229-3820273, ext. 109, or al.burns@ga.usda.gov); Kent Wolfe, UGA CAED Director (706-688-9858 or kwolfe@uga.edu) or Sara Cook of the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness (229-454-0612 or scook@georgia.org.)
GFB News Alert page 8 of 13 ‘GEE HAW WHOA BACK’ RODEO April 1-2 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Arena Tifton Spectators will be entertained with riveting competition during this Professional Cowboy Association-sanctioned rodeo, which begins at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Gates open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for children 6 – 12 years old and free to ABAC students and children five years old and under. Rodeo tickets will be sold in advance and at the gate on the two days of the event. The rodeo will also feature some audience participation events and family-friendly activities. The rodeo is a part of a week-long series of events on March 29April 2 designed for students, alumni and the general public. For more information on rodeo tickets or the Homecoming Week, interested persons can contact the ABAC Office of College Advancement at 229-391-4900 or go to www.abac.edu/homecoming. MONSANTO SCHOOL DISTRICT GRANTS April 1 deadline for nominations Farmers in 34 Georgia counties have until April 1 to nominate a public school district for grants of $10,000 or $25,000 from Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Fund. Nominated school districts have until April 15 to submit applications. The grants are intended to help school districts fund math and science projects to enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum and prepare students for technology-driven careers. Eligible counties are Appling, Baker, Berrien, Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dooly, Early, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth. Visit www.growruraleducation.com or call 1-877-267-3332 to submit a nomination. DODGE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Saturdays beginning April 2 Dodge County Courthouse 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Eastman This open-air market, sponsored in part by Dodge County Farm Bureau, features locally produced meats, vegetables, eggs and artisanal crafts. Plans include cooking demonstrations and local band Morning Train is scheduled to appear on opening day, which also features pony rides, a petting zoo and the ribbon-cutting ceremony. For more information contact market manager T.I. Papel at 478-374-5895 or tipapel@bellsouth.net, or visit www.facebook.com/dodgecountyfarmersmarket. GA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FEED MY SCHOOL FOR A WEEK April 3 deadline to apply The Department of Agriculture is now accepting new applications for school districts interested in participating in this year's "Feed My School for a Week" program in Georgia. Feed My School first launched in 2011 with a goal to help bridge the gap in the nutritional value and quality of food served in Georgia schools, while providing more farm to cafeteria opportunities. Applications can be found at www.feedmyschool.com and will be due by April 3. If you are interested in nominating your school for the program, please have your nutritional director apply online or contact Misty Friedman at Misty.Friedman@agr.georgia.gov.
GFB News Alert page 9 of 13 GA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FEED MY SCHOOL FOR A WEEK April 3 deadline to apply The Department of Agriculture is now accepting new applications for school districts interested in participating in this year’s “Feed My School for a Week” program in Georgia. Feed My School first launched in 2011 with a goal to help bridge the gap in the nutritional value and quality of food served in Georgia schools, while providing more farm to cafeteria opportunities. Applications can be found at www.feedmyschool.com and will be due by April 3. If you are interested in nominating your school for the program, please have your nutritional director apply online or contact Misty Friedman at Misty.Friedman@agr.georgia.gov. AGRABILITY EXPO April 5 UGA Tifton Campus 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tifton Hosted by the AgrAbility Project in Georgia, this expo will introduce farmers to equipment designed to assist those with disabilities. For more information visit http://apps.caes.uga.edu/gafaces/?public=viewStory&pk_id=5778. PECAN PRODUCTION WORKSHOP April 11 UGA Campus Conference Center 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tifton This free workshop is open to the public and will cover the growth of different varieties of pecans, best irrigation and fertility practices and information about the planning and equipment needed to grow pecans. Snacks and a meal will be provided. Please RSVP by April 4 by contacting Debbie Rutland at 229-386-3424. FORT VALLEY STATE HAM & EGG BREAKFAST & GA AG SHOWCASE April 5 Fort Valley State University Pettigrew Center 8 a.m. Fort Valley The public is invited to attend this annual event, during which legislators will interact with guests, describe their initiatives and explain their positions on current issues. Elected officials at the local, state and national levels have been invited to attend. Cost is $10. For more information, contact E. Jean Willis at 478-825-6268 or willise@fvsu.edu. UGA EXTENSION SMALL-FARMING WORKSHOP April 5 UGArden, South Milledge Ave. 8:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Athens Small-scale farmers and those considering starting a small-scale vegetable farm for a profit are invited to participate in this workshop. For more information visit http://apps.caes.uga.edu/gafaces/?public=viewStory&pk_id=5780. FIBERMAX ONE TON CLUB April 6 deadline to qualify Cotton growers who plant FiberMax cotton seed are eligible to join the One Ton Club if they harvested 2,000 pounds per acre on at least 20 acres in 2015. The qualification deadline is April 6, 2016. Growers who qualify for membership receive FiberMax One Ton Club apparel and gifts, an invitation to the annual banquet on April 7 and the chance to win a two-year lease on a Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch truck in the FiberMax One Ton Club Sweepstakes. Complete rules and the qualification form are available from your local Bayer sales representative or at www.FiberMax.com/OneTonClub.
GFB News Alert page 10 of 13 PLANTAPALOOZA SPRING PLANT SALE April 9 Athens This plant sale brings together three University of Georgia units for one big sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Trial Gardens and the UGA Horticulture Club. Each sale offers an assortment of garden plants that thrive in the Southeast. Horticulturists, volunteers and master gardeners will be on hand to help with plant selection and to answer gardening questions. Profits help fund horticulture club scholarships and educational activities at UGA. Information about the event, directions to the gardens and information about participating retailers in the Athens area is available online at plantapalooza.uga.edu. GFB FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE GALA April 16 Crowne Plaza Ravinia, 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road Atlanta The 2nd Annual GFB Foundation for Agriculture Gala will be hosted by Dr. Roger C. “Bo” Ryles and will feature entertainment from Georgia 4-H’s performing arts group, Clovers and Company. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the GFB Foundation for Agriculture and its initiatives. Reception begins at 5:15 p.m. and dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $100 per person and $1,000 per table and can be purchased by contacting Marilyn Akers at 478474-0679, ext. 5231 or by mailing a check to: GFB Foundation for Agriculture, PO Box 7068, Macon, GA 31209. Tickets will be sent upon receipt of check. Space is limited, so reserve your seat today! SHIELDS-ETHRIDGE HERITAGE FARM CULTIVATORS’ MARKET April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15 and Nov. 19 Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 2355 Ethridge Rd. Jefferson Jackson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) is sponsoring this monthly open-air market that will allow local farmers and entrepreneurs to sell products they make or grow in a festival atmosphere. The opening day on April 16 will feature an heirloom seed and plant swap. Market will be held rain or shine. The Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm is an outdoor ag museum that functions as an educational and interpretative facility. Proceeds from the market will be used for restoration projects at the farm. If you are interested in having a booth at the market, contact JCFB Office Manager Denise Temple at dftemple@gfb.org or call 706-367-8877 or visit www.shieldsethridgefarminc.com to complete an application online. UGA EXTENSION POLLINATOR-ATTRACTING GARDEN WORKSHOP April 20 Kiwanis Center, 980 Redwine Rd. 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Fayetteville This workshop is focused on attracting and protecting beneficial insects For more information visit http://apps.caes.uga.edu/gafaces/?public=viewStory&pk_id=5779.
GFB News Alert page 11 of 13 PAULDING COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS’ MARKET April 21 – Oct. 28 Thursdays 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Paulding County High School Paulding County Farm Bureau is accepting vendors for its weekly farmers market that will be held each Thursday from April 16 to Nov. 20. There is no fee to participate but vendors must be Farm Bureau members so that the market qualifies as a Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market. If you would like to participate in the PCFB Farmer’s Market, please contact Tracy Grice at Paulding County Farm Bureau at 770-445-6681 or email her at tcgrice@gfb.org. Vendors may sell locally grown produce or other ag commodities or homemade crafts. PCFB is teaming up with the Paulding County High School this year to host the market in the north parking lot of the school located at 1297 Villa Rica Hwy., Dallas, Ga. 30132. 2016 GRASSFED EXCHANGE CONFERENCE April 27-29 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This event features more than a dozen speakers who will cover numerous topics pertaining to pasture-based farming such as building soil health and regenerating unhealthy soils. The event will include tours of three Georgia grassfed livestock operations and the UGA Center for Sustainable Grazing Systems in Watkinsville. The Taste of the South will allow attendees to sample grassfed meats, dairy and local foods. Entertainment will be provided by Teddy Gentry and the Rockit City Band. For more information visit www.grassfedexchange.com, email info@grassfedexchange.com or call 256-996-3142. GEORGIA FARM & EROSION CONTROL EXPO April 29 Jim Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Rd. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Marietta This expo, sponsored in part by Cobb County Farm Bureau, provides a hands-on look at the latest in erosion and sedimentation control products. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall is scheduled to speak about the national ag outlook. Former Gov. Roy Barnes will speak on the importance of agriculture and soil conservation to local and state economies. The event includes live demonstrations and exhibits detailing innovations in erosion control. For more information visitwww.cobbswcd.org or call 404-307-2925 or 770-235-5662. GEORGIA COTTON SCHOLARSHIPS May 1 deadline to apply The John M. and Connie H. Mobley Memorial Scholarship is presented to the child or grandchild of an active Georgia cotton producer. The $1,500 scholarship will be payable onethird each quarter or one-half each semester. The Georgia Cotton Women Scholarship is presented annually to the child or grandchild of a Georgia cotton producer or a cotton industry employee and who is the child or grandchild of a GCW member. This $1,500 scholarship is also payable one-third each quarter or one-half each semester. In the event there is no child or grandchild of a GCW member eligible for the GCW scholarship, the scholarship committee has the discretion to present the award to another qualified candidate. This scholarship is funded through the sales of the organization’s two cookbooks, Georgia Cotton Heritage Cookbook and the newly released Cooking in High Cotton. Applications are available at www.georgiacottonwomen.org. For more information, email Nancy Coleman at georgiacottonwomen@gmail.com or call 229-941-2930.
GFB News Alert page 12 of 13 APRES SEEKING AWARD NOMINEES May 1 Deadline for nominations The American Peanut Research and Education Society is seeking nominees for special awards including service to the peanut industry, service to APRES, outstanding papers, outstanding research projects, education projects and outstanding graduate students. Awards will be presented at the organization’s annual meeting, to be held July12-14 in Clearwater, Florida. Rules and nomination forms are available at www.apresinc.com under the member tab. GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM AWARD May 1 deadline for recognition in 2016 The Georgia Centennial Farm Program recognizes centennial farm owners through one of three distinguished awards. The Centennial Heritage Farm Award honors farms owned by members of the same family for 100 years or more that are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Centennial Family Farm Award recognizes farms owned by members of the same family for 100 years or more that are not listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Centennial Farm Award does not require continual family ownership, but farms must be at least 100 years old and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Applications for the 2016 awards must be postmarked by May 1. If you are interested in nominating a farm for recognition in 2016, visit www.georgiacentennialfarms.org to download an application or contact Lynn Speno at 770-389-7842 or lynn.speno@dnr.ga.gov. ABAC NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION WORKSHOP June 12-16 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton More than $18,000 in college scholarships, back-to-nature field trips, and a true taste of college life will be on the line for students who attend this workshop, which targets students with a desire to learn more about Georgia’s natural resources and the opportunities and responsibilities these resources provide. !Experts will provide students with lectures and hands-on activities! to enhance their understanding of Georgia’s vital natural resources, including soil, water, air, plants, minerals, and animals. Tuition is $150 per student before May 2 and $175 afterward. The final deadline for all applications is June 1. Tuition is often provided to the students by local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), local businesses, and individuals. The workshop application and information is now available online at www.abac.edu/nrcw. 25TH YOUNG HARRIS/UGA BEEKEEPING INSTITUTE May 19-21 Young Harris College 8 a.m. each day Young Harris This event, one of the most comprehensive beekeeping educational events in the Southeast, offers classes for beekeepers at all levels of experience and the annual honey show. Sessions provide training and certification, including individual and colony biology, hive equipment, offseason management and much more. Registration fees for ages 18 and older are $150 for May 19, $130 for May 20, $100 for May 21 and $300 for all three days. For ages 17 and under, fees are $100 for May 19, $65 for May 20, $50 for May 21 and $150 for all three days. Space is limited and classes generally fill up quickly. For more information, visit www.ent.uga.edu/Bees/young-harris/index.html.
GFB News Alert page 13 of 13 2016 GFB YOUNG FARMER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE July 13-16 Jekyll Island Convention Center Jekyll Island Registration is open for this conference, an annual highlight for young farmers from around the state. The conference is open to GFB members ages 18-35 and features educational workshops, competitive events and networking. The deadline to register is 4:30 p.m. on May 27. For more information contact GFB Young Farmer Coordinator Taylor Sills at 478-474-0679, ext. 5232 or trsills@gfb.org. 2016 GFB YOUNG FARMER COMPETITIVE EVENTS May 27 deadline to enter The GFB Young Farmer Committee is now accepting applications for the Young Farmer Achievement Award, Excellence in Agriculture Award and Discussion Meet. Contest entries will be accepted through May 27 at 4:30 p.m. Applications are available at county Farm Bureau offices. Finalists and winners for each of the competitive events will be named at the Young Farmer Leadership Conference. GFB members between the ages of 18-35 may apply for these awards. To be eligible to compete, the member must not turn 36 before Jan. 31, 2017. All rounds of the discussion meet will be held at the leadership conference. For more information on any of these awards or the conference, please visit http://www.gfb.org/yf or stop by your county Farm Bureau. The winner of each contest will compete on the national level at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, in January 2017.