Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - May 4, 2016

May 4, 2016

www.gfb.org

Vol. 34 No. 18

GFB NAMES WINNERS OF ANNUAL ART & ESSAY CONTESTS Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) revealed the winners of its annual art and essay contests on April 29. Rachel Boyette of Candler County won the GFB High School Art Contest while Reece Pasley of Upson County won the GFB Middle School Essay Contest.

Boyette, a senior at Metter High School, won $250 as the state winner of the art contest and $100 as the GFB 7th District winner. Open to any high school student, the contest had 54 entries. The drawings were judged on artistic merit and how well the artwork represented Georgia agriculture.

Charles Gunter of Dawson County, GFB 1st District, and Daniel Hughes of Coffee County, GFB 10th District, were the state runners-up in the contest. Gunter and Hughes each won $150 as the state runners-up and $100 for being district winners.

Other district winners in the art contest were: Jessie Yeargin, Elbert County, GFB 2nd District; Vicente Cruz, Henry County, GFB 3rd District; Morgan Hillman, McDuffie County, GFB 4th District; Rebecca Makston, Harris County, GFB 5th District; Zach Johnson, Washington County, GFB 6th District; Alicia Helms, Wilcox County, GFB 8th District and Reece Hill, Colquitt County, GFB 9th District.

Each district winner received $100. The winning artwork from each district will be featured in GFB’s 2017 Ag in the Classroom calendar along with two other contest entries selected by the judges.

The 47 sixth to eighth grade students who entered the GFB Middle School Essay contest explored how agriculture uses technology to protect natural resources while increasing food supplies with the topic: “Technology – The Farmer’s Friend.” Essays were judged on clarity of thought and writing skill.

Pasley, a home-schooled sixth-grader, received $150 as the state winner and $100 as the GFB 5th District winner.

Other district winners in the essay contest were: Olivia Walls, Dawson County, GFB 1st District; Maggie Cheek, Habersham County, GFB 2nd District; Malorie Bradford, Polk County, GFB 3rd District; Ethan Lee, Oglethorpe County, GFB 4th District; Kendra van Loenen, Washington County, GFB 6th District; Aubree Swain, Appling County, GFB 7th District; Madison Terry, Wilcox County, GFB 8th District; Daniel Sellers, Decatur County, -continued

GFB News Alert page 2 of 12 Continued from previous page GFB 9th District and Jessa Tanner, Coffee County, GFB 10th District.

The GFB Women’s Leadership Committee coordinated both contests on the state level and county Women’s Committees promoted the contests locally.

“Our essay and art contests provide county Farm Bureaus an opportunity to reach out to middle school English teachers and high school art teachers and get the subject of agriculture into classes while the teachers meet their curriculum goals,” said GFB Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Melanie Sanders. “We appreciate all of the counties who made contact with their local teachers or directly asked students to participate in the contests. Thanks to you, 54 high school students investigated Georgia commodities as they created artwork depicting Georgia agriculture and 47 middle school students learned how agriculture uses technology to protect natural resources and produce enough food to feed the world’s growing population.”

FARM & EROSION CONTROL EXPO GIVES CONSERVATION TIPS More than 300 visitors from Cobb County and surrounding counties had access to the latest information on soil conservation and farm technology, and heard speeches from GFB President Gerald Long, AFBF President Zippy Duvall and former Gov. Roy Barnes during the Georgia Farm and Erosion Control Expo, held April 29 at Jim Miller Park in Marietta.

The event, sponsored in part by Cobb County Farm Bureau (CCFB), featured more than 40 exhibitors and presentations on erosion control techniques, produce safety, growing crops in high tunnel greenhouses and erosion compliance.

“We had a lot more people here than we thought we would. We had a big turnout and we’re hoping that in future years it’ll be even more,” said CCFB President Stan Kirk. “The goal was mainly to promote agriculture, promote soil and erosion control. Just to make sure people knew they have resources here so that we can help them with that.”

Long spoke during a session following lunch, emphasizing the importance of water to the state's farmers. A vegetable grower from Decatur County in Southwest Georgia, Long noted that the choice to irrigate is the choice to spend money, so farmers are judicious about when they irrigate and how much.

“In the vegetable industry, any time you're dealing with specialty crops the seed is very expensive,” Long said. “We can’t afford not to have the plants get established, so irrigation is critical.”

Long also talked about GFB and its role as an advocate for agriculture.

“Some of y’all know us just as an insurance company,” Long said. “We were founded in 1937 to represent the agriculture industry in the legislature.”

AFBF President Zippy Duvall talked about key issues on which the organization is working at the national level, including the Trans Pacific Partnership, regulatory reform and immigration reform.

“When the crop gets ripe it is not going to wait on the Department of Labor,” Duvall said.

“We need a reliable source of legal workers to ensure that crops are harvested.”

Duvall also discussed why farmers use biotechnology and modern farming practices.

Georgia Farm Bureau Legislative Director Jeffrey Harvey gave an update on the -continued

GFB News Alert page 3 of 12 Continued from previous page organization's work on key ag issues at the state level, including funding for the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission and keeping the state’s agricultural water metering program under the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Barnes provided the keynote address at lunch, sharing his experiences with farming while growing up and talking about soil conservation issues and techniques.

“Those of us that raise cattle, we grow grass,” Barnes said, directing his comments to the largely suburban crowd. “Even though many of you may not farm or raise livestock, we all grow grass. Developers of subdivisions grow grass. Homeowners grow grass. Everybody grows grass in one way or the other, and you cannot grow grass without good soil and effective erosion control of your land.”

GEORGIA BURN BAN IN EFFECT FOR 54 COUNTIES Georgia's annual ban on outdoor burning is in effect in 54 counties, mostly in the northern half of the state. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) puts the restrictions in place during the summer months, when increases in ground level ozone may create health risks.

"From May until September 30, open burning of yard and land-clearing debris is prohibited in some counties where particulate matter pollutants and chemicals from smoke are more likely to combine with emissions from vehicles and industrial activities," said Georgia Forestry Commission Chief of Protection Frank Sorrells. "That's more likely to occur in cities, where there's more asphalt and concrete than open green space and trees to help cool and filter air. The risk of wildfire also may be high in summer, so our agencies are closely monitoring air quality and weather conditions for the safety of all Georgians.”

The 54 counties affected by the ban are: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker and Walton.

Agricultural procedures necessary for production or harvesting of crops are allowed.

May through September is the time of year when people, particularly children, are more likely to be outdoors. Higher levels of ground-level ozone and particle pollution levels are known to contribute to lung problems and heart disease.

Residents in Georgia counties not included in the annual burn ban will continue to be required to secure a burn permit from the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) before burning outdoors.

Permits can be secured online at GaTrees.org, by calling 1-877-OK2-BURN or contacting their county GFC office. For more information about the summer burn ban and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org.

GENTRY TO SUCCEED FLOYD AS AG/YOUTH DIRECTOR AT GNFA Philip Gentry Jr. has been named to succeed James Floyd as Agriculture/Youth Director at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, according to published reports.

Floyd is set to retire July 1.

Gentry teaches agriculture education at Perry High School, where he has worked since 2006.

He owns and operates Rising G Cattle and also serves as a judge for livestock competitions.

GFB News Alert page 4 of 12 GFB YOUNG FARMER COMMITTEE SPONSORS STATE FFA DISCUSSION MEET The Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee sponsored the annual FFA Discussion Meet Career Development Event held April 29 during the 88th Georgia FFA Convention in Macon.

Twelve area winners from across the state competed in the event patterned after Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Discussion Meet. The discussion meet is designed to teach students the three fundamental basics of discussion: constructive criticism, cooperation and communication. Contestants are instructed to exchange ideas and information to solve a problem.

The area winners competing in the event were: Brianna Guerrero, Northwest Whitfield FFA (Whitfield County); Kam Childers, Sonoraville FFA (Gordon County); Ashley Burton, Winder-Barrow FFA; Sadie Hobbs, White County FFA; Nick Nelson, Jones County FFA; Joseph Armenta, Ola FFA (Henry County); Tanner Peebles, Johnson County FFA; Cejay Heath, Treutlen County FFA; Morgan Hart, Colquitt County FFA; Courtney Conine, Pelham FFA (Mitchell County); Hinkley Hood, Ware County FFA; Frankie Balmer, Lowndes County FFA. GFB awarded the area winners $50 each.

GFB Young Farmer Committee Co-Chairman Heather Cabe and Vice Chairman Wayne McInvale moderated the discussions in the first round of competition, during which the contestants discussed whether policy should be drafted to protect livestock producers from false accusations regarding animal welfare and if so, what the policy should look like.

GFB Young Farmer Committee 10th District member Justin Shealey and GFB Young Farmer Coordinator Taylor Sills moderated the discussions in the second round of competition during which the contestants discussed how Farm Bureau should protect and encourage producers’ ability to use new technology and how Farm Bureau can work with the government and public to ensure public acceptance of agriculture adopting new technology.

Hart, Hobbs, Nelson and Peebles advanced to the final round of competition during which they discussed how state and local policy can be influenced so that it more effectively balances the social and economic interests of farmers versus burdensome federal regulations. Cabe moderated the final round.

Hobbs won the competition and the $250 prize sponsored by GFB. The three finalists each received $100 from GFB. This competition was one of many held during the annual Georgia FFA convention attended by more than 6,500 Georgia FFA members, advisors and FFA alumni from April 28-30. Highlights of the convention included speeches by singer, comedian and author Jane Herlong, National FFA Vice President Abbey Gretsch, a former Georgia state officer, Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association President Stacey Beach and Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods. The convention included the presentation of awards for the state competitions, a career show and community service of house renovations done through the Rebuilding Macon organization.

FFA members also elected their 2016-2017 State FFA Officer team: President Willie Sizemore, Lee County FFA; !Secretary Lizzi Neal, Perry FFA; and North Region! Vice Presidents Sadie Lackey, Gilmer County FFA and Kylie Bruce, Franklin County; Central Region! Vice Presidents Madison Parker, Johnson County FFA and Nicole Bridges, Thomson FFA; and South Region! Vice Presidents Morgan Hart, Colquitt County FFA !and Courtney Barber, Ware County FFA.

GFB News Alert page 5 of 12 EPA REVIEW SHOWS GLYPHOSATE NOT A CARCINOGEN As part of its ongoing registration review of the herbicide glyphosate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cancer Assessment Review Committee (CARC) has conducted a review of glyphosate and classified it as “Not Likely to be Carcinogenic to Humans,” according to a Monsanto press release.

The agency posted the CARC assessment to its website on April 29, but removed it on May 2 without explanation. A copy of the report is available at http://src.bna.com/eAi. The EPA is the third regulator to publish its conclusion that glyphosate is not a carcinogen as part of a registration review since the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced an inconsistent classification in March 2015. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) determined in November 2015 that glyphosate is “unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans.” Also in 2015, the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Authority (PMRA) concluded “that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a human cancer risk.” These conclusions by the EPA and the European and Canadian regulatory authorities are based on standard scientific principles and the overwhelming weight of evidence, the release said.

The conclusions by EPA and other regulatory authorities provide important context for the non-standard approach and inconsistent classification by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which classified glyphosate as a “probable carcinogen” in March 2015. The EPA, Canadian and European assessments all identified flaws with IARC’s assessment.

Results from any further studies would not change the conclusion that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. Among other flaws with the IARC assessment, EPA concluded, “The inclusion of the positive findings from studies with known limitations, the lack of reproducible positive findings and the omission of the negative findings from reliable studies may have had a significant bearing on IARC’s conclusion on the genotoxic potential of glyphosate.”

For more information about glyphosate, please visit www.monsanto.com/glyphosate.

LIVESTOCK RECEIPTS, POULTRY PRODUCTION VALUE DOWN IN 2015 Georgia producers of cattle, milk and swine all saw reductions in cash receipts in 2015 and the state’s poultry production experienced a significant decline according to reports from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Georgia cattle and calf production increased from 343.7 million pounds in 2014 to 349.6 million pounds in 2015, but the cash receipts fell from a 10-year high of $551 million in 2014 to $474 million in 2015, a decline of 14 percent. Despite the drop, Georgia’s 2015 cash receipts still outpaced those from every year between 2006 and 2013.

Georgia milk production increased from 1.69 million pounds in 2014 to 1.79 million pounds in 2015. Value decreased from $446 million in 2014 to $359 million in 2015 and gross income fell from $444.6 million in 2014 to $358 million in 2015.

Georgia production of hogs grew from 77 million pounds 2014 to 104 million pounds in 2015, but cash receipts fell from $62.4 million in 2014 to $60 million in 2015.

Georgia’s broiler production value decreased from $4.81 billion in 2014 to $4.25 billion in 2015, a drop of 12 percent. The state’s egg production increased in value by 14 percent from $667 million in 2014 to $763 million in 2015.

GFB News Alert page 6 of 12 USDA SURVEYS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON 2016 AGRICULTURE The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will spend the first two weeks of June surveying thousands of farmers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to get a clear indication of the production and supply of major commodities for 2016.

NASS will compile information collected across the country into publically accessible reports while ensuring the confidentiality of individual farmer information.

These surveys are among the largest and most important conducted by NASS and serve as a primary source of agricultural information. These surveys will provide accurate and reliable data about 2016 planted acreages of major crops, grain stocks and livestock in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and the United States.

Producers rely on the survey results to make production, marketing and investment decisions.

Congress utilizes the information to design better regulations and farm programs.

Industry analysts, extension agents, farm organizations, and agricultural lenders use the data in a variety of ways to directly benefit the grower.

Growers across the South will be contacted during the coming weeks to obtain data regarding their operations. These data will be collected by mail, phone and personal interviews.

Growers will also be given the opportunity to report on the Internet for selected surveys.

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law.

“NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state and national-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified,” said NASS Southern Region Director Jim Ewing, All reports are available on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Southern Regional Field Office at 1-800-253-4419.

MISSOURI CONGRESSMAN INTRODUCES BILL TO REPEAL VFD Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) introduced H.R. 5140, the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) Repeal Act, which would nullify the VFD regulation set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2017.

According to a release from Smith’s office, the regulation was created without Congressional oversight and would dramatically change the process of receiving and administering antibiotics to livestock as well as the relationship between veterinarians, feed suppliers and farmers.

The new regulation would require prescriptions for many current over-the-counter antibiotic medications administered to livestock both through feed and water. The additional time required to contact a veterinarian and obtain the antibiotics could be critical, especially in situations where bacteria can travel from animal to animal and hours matter, the release said. Additionally, a veterinarian attempting to act quickly on behalf of a farmer could find themselves in violation if they don’t have an established relationship already in place between the farmer and feed supplier.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

GFB News Alert page 7 of 12 ALFALFA WORKSHOPS/FIELD DAYS May 10 Franklin Co. (to RSVP, call 706-384-2843) May 11 Floyd/Gordon Co. (to RSVP, call 706-629-8685) May 12 Carroll Co. (to RSVP, call 770-836-8546) June 2 Hall Co. (to RSVP, call 770-535-8293) June 9 Putnam Co. (to RSVP, call 706-485-4151) UGA Extension will host these events, which will focus on how to successfully use alfalfa, including how to grow your own nitrogen and feed supplement by interseeding alfalfa into bermudagrass. Subjects covered include: site selection, establishment protocol, soil fertility, trait selection, harvest management, and how to use this high quality and cost-effective crop. We then will go to see fields where alfalfa was planted in each of these counties. !Cost of the one-day workshops is $10 and includes lunch, an “Alfalfa in the South” notebook and other publications on alfalfa production and use in the South. To register, call the County Extension Offices at the phone numbers listed above.

PIKE COUNTY LOCAL CANDIDATES FORUM May 12 Pike County Assembly 6:30 p.m.

Zebulon This free forum is open to the general public. All candidates for the upcoming local election in Pike County have been invited to participate. Each Candidate will be allowed a two-minute opening statement. There will be a question and answer period with time for a one-minute response. Each candidate will be allowed to make a two-minute closing statement. Everyone will have time to meet the candidates before and after the event. Soft drinks, water and peanuts will be provided.

ALFALFA WORKSHOP/FIELD DAY May 12 Cosby Farms, 140 Old Drake Town Trail 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Villa Rica This workshop focuses on successful interseeding of alfalfa into Bermudagrass. Topics include site selection, establishment protocol, soil fertility and harvest management. Cost is $10 which includes lunch and reference material. For more information or to register, contact Richard Littleton at rlittle@uga.edu or Paula Burke at pjburke@uga.edu.

GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CANDIDATES FORUM May 16 Pike County Assembly 6:30 p.m.

Zebulon Co-Sponsored by Pike, Upson and Spalding Farm Bureaus, this free forum is open to the general public. All candidates for the upcoming judicial election for the positions of superior court judge and district attorney have been invited to participate. Each candidate will be allowed a twominute opening statement. There will be a question and answer period with time for a oneminute response. Each candidate will be allowed to make a two-minute closing statement.

Everyone will have time to meet the candidates and after the event. Soft drinks, water and peanuts will be provided.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 12 UGA EXTENSION EGG CANDLING CLASS May 24 Carroll County Ag Center, 900 Newnan Rd. Carrollton Two sessions of egg candling classes will be offered. The first is from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and the second will be from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. There is no charge to attend these classes. Register early as the classes are filling up quickly and space is limited. Those who sell eggs from their own flock sat the site of production, on a door-to-door retail route, or at an established place of business they own and manage and sold directly to a household consumer as the end user are required to only have an egg candling license on these restricted eggs. Each sale of restricted eggs shall be limited to no more than 30 dozen eggs from a flock of 3,000 hens or less. To register for one of the upcoming egg candling class for restricted egg sales, please contact the Carroll County Extension Office at 770-836-8546 or email Richard Littleton at rlittle@uga.edu for more details.

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 $175. 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.

2016 PICTURE AGRICULTURE IN GEORGIA PHOTO CONTEST May 4 Deadline for entries 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 cover 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 your county Farm Bureau office for contest rules, entry instructions and the Model Release Form, or visit the GFB website at www.gfb.org/photo.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 12 JARRELL PLANTATION FIREWISE DAY May 7 Jarrell Plantation Historic Site 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Juliette In celebration of National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, Jarrell Plantation will be partnering with local fire and safety organizations to share the importance of being prepared for wildfires. It’s never too late to learn about the risks of wildfires and how you can help.

Admission to Jarrell Plantation, located at 711 Jarrell Plantation Road is $6.50 for adults, $6 for seniors ages 62 and older, $4 children ages 6-17 and free for children younger than 6. For more information call 478-986-5172 or visit www.gastateparks.org/jarrellplantation.

FOREST LANDOWNER FIELD DAY May 11 Camp Adahi 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Menlo This one-day seminar includes sessions on forest stewardship, prescribed burning, wildlife management, selling timber and forestry cost share programs. Camp Adahi is located on Lookout Mountain off Ga. Highway 157 in Walker County. Cost is $5 per person. For more information contact Frank Riley, executive director of the Chestatee-Chattahoochee Resource Conservation and Development Council, at 706-897-1676 or frank.ccrcd@gmail.com.

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.

JARRELL PLANTATION FAMILY FARM DAY May 28 Jarrell Plantation Historic Site 10:30am-3:30pm Juliette The farm comes to life with volunteers demonstrating crafts and chores of the past. See the skills from long ago, such as sewing, blacksmithing, woodstove cooking, gardening, woodworking and many other farm activities. Admission to Jarrell Plantation, located at 711 Jarrell Plantation Road is $6.50 for adults, $6 for seniors ages 62 and older, $4 children ages 6-17 and free for children younger than 6.

For more information call 478-986-5172 or visit www.gastateparks.org/jarrellplantation.

GFB News Alert page 10 of 12 USDA VALUE-ADDED PRODUCER GRANTS June 24 electronic applications due July 1 paper applications due The USDA making up to $44 million available to farmers, ranchers and businesses to develop new bio-based products and expand markets through the Value-Added Producer Grant program.

Value-Added Producer Grants may be used to develop new products and create additional uses for existing ones. The deadline to submit paper applications is July 1. Electronic applications submitted through grants.gov are due June 24. For more information about the Value-Added Producer Grants or to submit an application, visit http://tinyurl.com/VAPGrants.

NOMINATIONS FOR GA AG COMMISSION BOARD MEMBERS June 15 Deadline for nominations The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commissions for Beef, Cotton, Equine and Tobacco are accepting nominations to fill several positions for each commodity commission board with term lengths of three years. To be nominated a person must be an active and qualified Georgia producer of the commodity. Geographic representation may be considered when making appointments. The Beef Commission has five positions open for nominations, the Cotton and Equine Commissions each have two positions and the Tobacco Commission has one position.

By statute three of the Beef Commission’s positions are to be beef producers, one a dairy producer and one a livestock marketer. Agricultural commodity commissions are farmer-funded programs to enhance research, promotion and education, and are authorized under Georgia law by the Commodity Promotions Act. Nominations can be made by producers of the applicable commodity by filling out a Nominee Information Form available for download at: www.agr.georgia.gov/cpf. The completed form should be mailed to: Georgia Department of Agriculture!19 MLK Jr. Drive SW!Room 320!Atlanta, GA 30334 no later than June 15. It may also be faxed to 404-656-9380, or emailed to andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov.

SYNGENTA #ROOTED IN AG CONTEST June 30 deadline to enter Syngenta is accepting applications for its #RootedinAg contest. The contest asks growers and other industry professionals to describe how their agricultural roots help their families and communities thrive. The five best entries will each receive a mini touch-screen tablet. From those finalists, one grand prizewinner will receive a $500 gift card, plus Syngenta will make a $1,000 donation in the winner’s name to a local charity or civic organization. To apply, visit http://tinyurl.com/rootedinag. The entry form includes space for a 200-word description of how agricultural roots are helping then entrants, their families and thrive communities thrive. Entrants can also upload a photograph or video that visually supports their written entries. Syngenta will then post all finalists’ entries at http://tinyurl.com/syngentathrive and ask visitors to help choose the grand prizewinner by voting for their favorite. These votes, along with the judges’ scores, will determine the winner. Online voting ends Sept. 15, with Syngenta announcing the grand prizewinner in October.

GFB News Alert page 11 of 12 18th ANNUAL SOUTHERN PEANUT GROWERS CONFERENCE July 21-23 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Miramar Beach, Fla. This three-day event provides farmers with information on peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions. In addition to the conference sessions, the event offers a ladies program and a golf tournament. For information on registration and accommodations, visit http://tinyurl.com/16sopnutconf.

ONGOING FARM BUREAU-SPONSORED FARMERS MARKETS SHIELDS-ETHRIDGE HERITAGE FARM CULTIVATORS’ MARKET 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.

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.

COBB COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS MARKET Tuesdays beginning May 24 Lost Mountain Park 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Powder Springs Cobb County Farm Bureau in cooperation with Cobb County Parks and Recreation will host this farmers market. CCFB Cobb County is offering vendor space to farmers, growers, and producers in Cobb and surrounding counties, with the goal of offering locally grown produce and food to the community and to engage the community about where their food comes from as well as support Cobb County farmers. Each vendor must be a member of Cobb County Farm Bureau or Georgia Farm Bureau. Vendor fees will be waived in lieu of this membership. Only direct growers and their agents will be approved – no resellers. Farm visits will be conducted and all licensing and state compliance will be required. The vendor application may be found at www.facebook.com/CobbCountyFarmBureau. For more information contact emailing Market Manager Sonia Lopez at twobytwofarms.@comcast.net or 770-608-1119 or Debbie Payne at dmpayne@gfb.org or 770-943-3531.

PAULDING COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS’ MARKET Through 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 until Oct. 28. 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.

GFB News Alert page 12 of 12 DODGE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Saturdays 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. For more information contact market manager T.I. Papel at 478-374-5895 or tipapel@bellsouth.net, or visit www.facebook.com/dodgecountyfarmersmarket.