Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - November 18, 2015

November 18, 2015

www.gfb.org

Vol. 33 No. 46

UGA: HPAI AN INDUSTRY ISSUE, NOT PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN While Georgia’s poultry producers continue their efforts to prevent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and states hit with the disease earlier this year continue moving toward recovery, a University of Georgia poultry science expert is emphasizing that HPAI is not a concern for the general public.

In a Nov. 8 UGA press release, Dr. Brian Jordan, an assistant professor in UGA’s Poultry Science Department, wrote that while the HPAI H5 virus has caused some severe devastation for the U.S. commercial poultry industry, there have been no reports of infections in humans and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk to people from this virus to be low.

In the rare instances in which there were reported cases of human infections with type A avian influenza, direct or close contact to live, infected poultry was identified as the originating source.

The spread of type A avian influenza viruses from person to person is rare. This virus is not likely to infect people. It is being very closely monitored and all infected birds are properly disposed of and documented.

For more information on avian influenza, visit cdc.gov/flu/avianflu.

Between December 2014 and June 2015, HPAI infections were detected at a total of 211 commercial poultry operations in 21 states. Of those, only one (Wisconsin) is east of the Mississippi River. The disease resulted in the loss of 49.6 million birds according to USDA data.

A Nov. 12 USDA report indicated that all but a handful of those 211 commercial poultry operations are eligible for restocking their flocks.

The two hardest-hit states, Iowa and Minnesota, are nearing the point where all of their affected commercial poultry farms can resume production.

On Nov. 6, the Iowa Department of Agriculture announced that quarantines have been lifted for all of the state’s 72 commercial poultry farms that had confirmed cases of HPAI. Iowa, the nation’s leading egg-producing state, lost 31 million birds as a result of the disease.

Minnesota, the nation’s leading turkey-producing state, lost nine million birds on 108 farms with confirmed HPAI cases, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. Of those, 104 have completed steps to become eligible to restock their flocks. The other four remain under quarantine while they complete final steps needed to have the quarantine lifted.

GFB News Alert page 2 of 9 GEORGIA’S VERDANT KITCHEN MAKES OPRAH’S FAVORITE THINGS LIST Christmas elves are busy filling orders at Verdant Kitchen thanks to Oprah Winfrey including two of the Georgia business’ products on her 2015 Favorite Things list. Verdant Kitchen makes its products using organic ginger and turmeric grown on Lebanon Plantation in Chatham County.

Verdant Kitchen’s gift set of ginger syrup and ginger-infused honey is one of the 87 items Winfrey selected for her annual list of gifts she likes to give and receive. The items included on the list, published annually in “O, The Oprah Magazine,” are personally sampled and chosen by Winfrey, company cofounder Ross Harding said.

“We feel we have a responsibility to live up to her Ginger, left, and turmeric endorsement. We’re trying to make sure every single product that goes out is as perfect as it can be,” Harding said.

Harding and business partner Howard Morrison began their company three years ago out of a desire to grow a crop that is both delicious and healthy and could offer an agri-tourism component. Verdant Kitchen is a member of the Chatham County Farm Bureau.

Harding says the daughter of an employee at Lebanon Plantation was attending a cocktail party in New York City where she overheard the editor of “O Magazine” lamenting the lack of products made with U.S. grown ginger. The daughter told the editor about Verdant Kitchen ginger products, and the wheels were set in motion.

Harding, who grew up around ginger farms on the east coast of Australia, thought Savannah’s coastal climate would be suitable for growing ginger and turmeric. The farm is waiting to harvest its third crop of ginger and turmeric. Harvest usually runs from December into early March after a frost kills the foliage. The roots are hand harvested using a broad fork. After the roots are thoroughly washed, the roots are dehydrated and ground into powder.

The powder is then shipped to the company’s production facility in Atlanta where the ginger and turmeric powder is used to make the company's line of food and wellness products. About 10 percent of the roots are saved and replanted in March. The foliage grows in the summer.

Verdant Kitchen’s line of gourmet and wellness products includes ginger ale, ginger pecans, ginger and turmeric powder capsules, ginger and turmeric mint tea, ginger and turmeric infused honey, and ginger cookies, Savannah Snaps, which won the 2015 UGA Flavor of Georgia prize for the snack category.

A member of the Georgia Grown program, Harding thanks the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Organics and UGA Cooperative Extension for the assistance they provided in helping him and Morrison get their crops and company started.

“They’ve helped us. They’ve promoted us. Georgia has a very good network,” Harding said.

“We’re very fortunate to have gone from a very innocent conversation that started here at Lebanon to end up on Oprah’s list,” Harding said.

Both Harding and Morrison say they’re still learning how to grow ginger and turmeric.

“We’re experimenting. We’ve made about every mistake we can make, but we’ve tried not to make the same mistake twice,” Morrison said.

The duo say insects don’t pose much of a problem for ginger and turmeric because the plant leaves are infused with the spice scent but the plants do have to contend with fungal pressure.

Ginger requires about 100 inches of water a year. Since Savannah gets about 50 inches of rain a year Harding and Morrison use drip irrigation to supply the remaining water the crop needs.

To view pictures from the farm visit http://tinyurl.com/verdantk.

GFB News Alert page 3 of 9 PAUL JONES NAMED FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT The Georgia Board of Regents named Dr. Paul Jones the 10th president of Fort Valley State University on Nov. 10. Jones previously served as interim president of Darton State College in Albany, a University System of Georgia state college. Prior to that he served as chief budget officer at Georgia College and State University (GCSU) in Milledgeville. He also served as GCSU interim president and as vice president and vice president for institutional research and enrollment management.

“Paul’s success at Darton combined with his leadership capabilities have made it clear he is the ideal candidate to be appointed permanent president of Fort Valley State University,” Hank Huckaby, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, said. “Fort Valley State University and its long-term success is critically important to our university system. With his solid Dr. Paul Jones background in finance and fiscal affairs, combined with his proven experience as president within our system, Paul will work to quickly build a close, team relationship with Fort Valley State University faculty and staff.”

During Jones’ interim presidency at Darton State College, the campus expanded its online degree offerings by adding four new baccalaureate online degrees. He also established new articulation agreements with Albany State University.

Jones holds a doctorate of philosophy degree in education and human resource studies from Colorado State University and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Utah State University. He and his wife, Sylvia have two children, Isaiah and Daphne.

GPC TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEANUT FARMER The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) is accepting nominations for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Jan. 21, 2016, in Tifton. The award is sponsored by the GPC and BASF. The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award is based upon the applicant’s overall farm operation, environmental and stewardship practices and leadership, civic, church, and community service activities.

“We have so many young peanut farmers making a difference in their communities and I consider this awards program a great opportunity to recognize one young peanut farmer for their contributions to the agriculture industry,” GPC Chairman Armond Morris said.

The award is open for any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, as of Jan. 21, 2016. An individual may receive the award only once. There is no limit on the number of applicants from each county in Georgia.

Previous Georgia winners include Andrew Grimes of Tifton, Randy Branch of Baxley, James Hitchcock Jr. of Tennille, Brad Thompson of Donalsonville, Greg Mims of Donalsonville, Jim Waters of Blackshear and Jimmy Webb of Leary. The award winner receives registration and hotel accommodations to attend the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in July and a sign to display at his or her farm.

Applications are due to the GPC office by Dec. 15. The award application is available online at the GPC website, www.gapeanuts.com or by contacting Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690 or joycrosby@gapeanuts.com.

GFB News Alert page 4 of 9 MOORE RETIRING FROM GA AG EXPOSITION AUTHORITY Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority Executive Director Randy Moore announced his retirement effective March 1, 2016. Moore informed the authority of his decision on Nov. 11. ! !

“After 32 years of service to the state of Georgia, I am honored to have worked with such an amazing group of leaders and teammates,” Moore said.

“As I reflect on my time spent at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, I realize it has been extremely satisfying to be part of a team which excelled during very challenging economic conditions. I am fully confident the authority and staff will continue to enjoy success as the program moves forward. I am looking forward to new challenges and achieving new goals during future endeavors.”!

The authority will conduct a nationwide search for the new executive Randy Moore director. !The position will be posted Dec. 1 on the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter website, www.gnfa.com, as well as the International Association of Fairs and Expositions website, www.fairsandexpos.com.

MONSANTO ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS Monsanto is offering $1,500 college scholarships to 352 students nationwide through its America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders scholarship program. The National FFA Organization is administering the program, but students don’t have to be FFA members.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be under the age of 23; be high school seniors or full-time college students, meet the FFApublished criteria for eligibility listed at www.FFA.org/scholarships, and have a permanent address in one of the following Georgia counties: 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. Each of these counties planted at least 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton and/or vegetables based on USDA numbers.

Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. College students applying for the scholarship must be pursuing a degree in an ag-related field listed on the Grow Ag Leaders website at www.GrowAgLeaders.com from a two or four-year school.

Students have until Feb. 1, 2016, to complete the application available at www.FFA.org/scholarships. Three farmers who live or farm in any of the eligible counties must endorse an applicant. Farmers and applicants do not have to live in the same county. Students will receive an application ID number when they start an application that they will provide to the farmers.

Farmers must visit the Farmer’s Endorsement Database at www.FFA.org/scholarships or call 1-877-267-3332 before Feb. 8, 2016. Farmers do not have to be a Monsanto customer. Farmers may endorse their children or other family members. Farmers will be required to provide the student’s application ID number and the farmer’s name, address and phone number. No other information about the student is required. Farmers are asked to endorse no more than three students.

GFB News Alert page 5 of 9 FDA PUBLISHES FINAL FOOD SAFETY RULES On Nov. 13 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized rules implementing the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), establishing enforceable safety standards for produce farms and making importers accountable for verifying that imported food meets U.S. safety standards, according to an FDA press release. The agency also issued a rule establishing a program for the accreditation of third-party certification bodies, also known as auditors, to conduct food safety audits of foreign food facilities. These final rules will help produce farmers and food importers take steps to prevent problems before they occur.

The new rules– referred to as the Produce Safety rule, the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs rule, and the Accredited Third-Party Certification rule – are key elements of the comprehensive food safety overhaul envisioned in FSMA, which directs the FDA and food producers to prevent problems across the entire food system, rather than waiting to act until illness occurs. The new rules formalize industry accountability and best practices for food importers and the produce community, the FDA press release said.

The Produce Safety Rule establishes standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce that are designed to work effectively for food safety across the wide diversity of produce farms. The standards in the final rule include requirements for water quality, employee health and hygiene, wild and domesticated animals, biological soil amendments of animal origin (such as compost and manure), and equipment, tools, and buildings. When followed, the standards are designed to help minimize the risk of serious illness or death from consumption of contaminated produce. The FDA maintains that the rule will reduce the risk of harmful contamination while also allowing appropriate flexibility for farmers and producers.

The Foreign Supplier Verification Programs rule requires food importers to verify that foreign suppliers are producing food in a manner that meets U.S. safety standards and that they are achieving the same level of food safety as domestic farms and food facilities. In 2013, USDA estimated that imported food accounted for about 19 percent of the U.S. food supply, including about 52 percent of the fresh fruits and 22 percent of the fresh vegetables consumed by Americans. The final rule ensures that importers conduct verification activities (such as audits of a supplier’s facility, sampling and testing of food, or a review of the supplier’s relevant food safety records) based on risks linked to the imported food and the performance of the foreign supplier.

The FDA has also finalized a rule on accredited third-party certification, which is part of FSMA’s new food import safety system. This rule establishes a program for the accreditation of third-party certification bodies (auditors) to conduct food safety audits and to certify that foreign food facilities and food produced by such facilities meet applicable FDA food safety requirements. To prevent potentially harmful food from reaching U.S. consumers, the FDA can require in specific circumstances that a food offered for import be accompanied by a certification from an accredited third-party certification body.

GFB News Alert page 6 of 9 See page 9 for a list of ongoing Farm Bureau-affiliated farmers markets!

GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION FORESTRY FORWARD SERIES Nov. 19 Flinchum’s Phoenix Athens Dec. 9 Interfor Southeast Region Office Peachtree City Dec. 10 James-Bates-Brannan-Groover LLP Macon Dec. 15 TOOHOLLY Tree Farm Oliver Dec. 17 Location TBD Rome Jan. 7, 2016 Oxbow Meadows Columbus Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) members and those who depend on Georgia’s working forests are encouraged to attend the local, reception-style events to learn more about the priorities of the GFA and the challenges facing working forest landowners and the forest industry. GFA is also partnering with Dr. Dale Greene, dean of the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, for the Athens and Columbus events.

Attendees at those events will have the chance to meet Dr. Greene and learn about the future of the Warnell School. Space is limited at each event. To RSVP visit www.eventbrite.com/o/georgia-forestry-association-7811066383.

FREE BQA CERTIFICATION PERIOD Through Nov. 20 online Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica will pay the $25-$50 online training fee for every person completing the Beef Quality Assurance training through Nov. 20. Individuals who work with beef cattle or dairy cattle are eligible. Visit www.bqa.org to take advantage of the open certification period.

DAIRY MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM SIGNUP Dairy producers have until Nov. 20 to select coverage under the Dairy Margin Protection Program established by the 2014 farm bill. The program provides financial assistance to dairy producers when the margin – the difference between feed costs and the price of milk – falls below the coverage level selected by the applicant. Enrolled dairy operations must pay a $100 administrative fee annually to receive basic catastrophic coverage. Greater levels of margin protection are available for a higher premium, and provide expanded coverage based on historic dairy production. Once enrolled, producers can change their levels of coverage each year. Dairy producers are encouraged to review protection options online at www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy or by visiting their local FSA county office. The nearest FSA county office can be found at http://offices.usda.gov.

GFB News Alert page 7 of 9 CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE FOR TREE FRUIT PRODUCERS Nov. 20 Deadline to purchase Producers of apples, blueberries and peaches have until Nov. 20 to purchase crop insurance policies for those crops. Coverage is available for apples in Fannin, Gilmer, and Rabun counties.

Coverage is available for blueberries in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Burke, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Long, Pierce, Ware, and Wayne counties. Coverage is available for peaches in Bacon, Banks, Brooks, Crawford, Dooly, Hall, Henry, Macon, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, Peach, Pierce, Pike, and Taylor counties. Crop insurance provides protection against production losses due to natural perils such as drought, hail and excessive moisture. Policies are sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online with the RMA agent locator and cost estimator at https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestimator/. Growers can use the RMA to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at www.rma.usda.gov.

MM CATTLE COMPANY AND CALLAWAY BULL SALE Nov. 21 Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn noon Carrollton Sale includes 50 Angus and SimAngus bulls and more than 40 commercial replacement heifers.

For more information contact Mike McCravey at mmcattle@yahoo.com or 770-328-2047 or John Callaway at callawaycattle@gmail.com or 770-355-2165.

EMERGENCY MANURE SPILL RESPONSE DEMONSTRATION Dec. 1 UGA Coastal Plain Experiment Station 1 p.m.

Tifton The University of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Agriculture have organized this educational opportunity for a live action manure spill emergency response demonstration, the first demonstration of its type to be held in Georgia. Kevin Erb from the University of Wisconsin Environmental Resources Center will conduct this activity. The demonstration will feature a controlled spill of manure across the soil surface and demonstrate several actions that can be taken to stop the flow of manure into sensitive environmental areas. The event will include two lagoon agitation boats to allow producers to see how the boats can be utilized in their manure management system. For more information visit www.aware.uga.edu.

2015 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU ANNUAL CONVENTION Dec. 6-8 Jekyll Island Convention Center Jekyll Island Gov. Nathan Deal and former Senator Saxby Chambliss are slated to speak on Dec. 7 and GFB President Zippy Duvall will give his annual address. Other events at the GFB Convention will include commodity conferences for Georgia’s 20 major commodities on Dec. 7, announcements of the 2015 state award winners on Dec. 6 and the annual trade show Dec. 6-7. Voting delegates will adopt the organization’s policy for 2016 on Dec. 8 and elect the 2016 GFB Board. For more information contact your county Farm Bureau office.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 9 GFB AG FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER BREAKFAST Dec. 7 Jekyll Island Convention Center, Ballroom G-H Jekyll Island This breakfast, part of the 2015 Georgia Farm Bureau Convention, begins at 6:45 a.m. Program includes an update on the GFB Foundation for Agriculture and will highlight the children’s book Bacon County Farm Bureau published this year about blueberries. Tickets are required for entry and are $25 per person. Seats are limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Checks for tickets should be sent to: GFB Foundation for Agriculture, P.O. Box 7068, Macon, GA 31209. For more information, contact the GFB Foundation for Agriculture at 478-474-8411 or by email at jcevans@gfbfoundation.org.

FSA COUNTY COMMITTEE ELECTIONS The USDA begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2015 FSA County Committee elections on Nov. 9. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 7 to ensure that their vote is counted. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. Voters who do not receive ballots can pick one up at their local FSA office.

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 7. Newly elected committee members and their alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2016. For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. You may also contact your local USDA Service Center or FSA office. Visit http://offices.usda.gov to find an FSA office near you.

WETLANDS, AG CONSERVATION EASEMENTS The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting enrollment for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). To be considered for the fiscal year 2016 program, applications must be submitted by December 18. ACEP, created through the 2014 farm bill, has two components, known as Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE). ACEP combines NRCS’ former Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) and Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). The WRE applications are accepted directly from producers on eligible lands. These easements would restore and enhance wetlands and improve habitat. Applications for ALE are accepted from eligible partners. These eligible entities may submit proposals to NRCS to acquire a conservation easement on eligible agricultural land. Some examples of eligible entities include county boards of commissioners, land trusts and land conservancies. Approved ALE easements would prevent productive working lands from being converted to non-agricultural uses and maximize protection of land devoted to food production. Applications are available at your local USDA Service Center and at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. For more information about ACEP and other farm bill programs in Georgia, visit http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov.

GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW Jan. 21, 2016 UGA Tifton Conference Center Tifton This annual event organized by the Georgia Peanut Commission runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to view more than 100 exhibits in the trade show, attend educational sessions, earn pesticide application certification and win numerous door prizes. A free lunch will be provided. Call 229-386-3470 or visit www.gapeanuts.com for more information.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 9 2016 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 21 Carroll County Ag Center Carrollton Jan. 22 Unicoi State Park Cleveland Jan. 25 Cloud Livestock Facility Bainbridge Jan. 26 UGA Tifton Conference Center Tifton Jan. 27 Blueberry Warehouse Alma Jan. 29 Georgia Farm Bureau Macon This annual series is supported by an endowment from Georgia Farm Bureau with support from the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Agribusiness Council. The keynote topic will be a discussion of sales tax distribution patterns and how tax reform programs, such as the Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) and the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), have affected Georgia counties. A study released by UGA earlier this year shows GATE has had little impact on most counties. UGA economists will also provide an economic outlook for 2016.

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

GA COTTON COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING & UGA COTTON WORKSHOP Jan. 27, 2016 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This event begins at 8 a.m. and includes updates from state and national cotton organizations.

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

ONGOING FARMERS MARKETS NOTE: Schedules are subject to change according to produce availability HINESVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays until Nov. 19 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Downtown Hinesville This market, sponsored by the Liberty County Farm Bureau, offers customers fresh local produce and other farm items, cut flowers, plants, baked goods, specialty foods, prepared foods, and original crafts. Market is held in Bradwell Park on Commerce St. across from the Hinesville City Hall. To apply to be a vendor or for more information call the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority at 912-877-4332.

ROCKDALE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Through Nov. 21 Tuesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. – noon, Thursdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Rockdale County Extension office, 1400 Parker Road Conyers Rockdale/DeKalb County Farm Bureau manages this market with support from the Rockdale County Extension, set up to allow farmers to sell locally grown products directly to the public.

For more information or to receive a vendor application contact the RDCFB office at 770-9223566.