Georgia Farm Bureau News - September 2013

Vol. 75 No. 5

GEORGIA

September 2013

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

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september 2013

departments

we, the farmers PAGE 4

legislative update PAGE 5

commodities update PAGE 10

AITC update PAGE 19

around georgia PAGE 20

public relations staff

Paul Beliveau Director Jennifer Whittaker Editor

Jay Stone Print/Web Specialist

Lillian Davis Publications/Advertising Manager

Ray D’Alessio Senior Producer/TV Host

Rick Treptow Senior Radio-TV Specialist Michael Edmondson Web/Video Manager

Mark Wildman Radio-TV Specialist

Dean Wood Radio-TV Specialist

Damon Jones Radio-TV Specialist

Vickie Amos Office Coordinator For questions about your membership or member benefits, call 1-800-633-5432.

For questions regarding editorial content call 478-474-0679, ext. 5334 or e-mail jawhittaker@gfb.org For questions regarding advertising contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., 1-800-397-8908 Visit the GFB Web site today! www.gfb.org Georgia Farm Bureau TV: www.youtube.com/georgiafarmmonitor “Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GeorgiaFarmBureau Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gafarmbureau Check us out on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/gafarmbureau

GFB holds annual commodity conference

GFB Commodity Committee members heard information about animal rights activists, the USDA National Appeals Division and national legislation during the GFB Commodity Conference held Aug. 1 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

Committee members also began the organization’s annual policy development process by reviewing the organization’s position on issues pertinent PAGE 6 to their commodities.

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

contents

Ga. ag community gathers for issues summit

The Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption program, immigration reform, water issues and farm exemptions for commercial drivers licenses were discussed at the Ag Issues Summit co-hosted by Georgia House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairmen Rep. Tom McCall and Sen. John Wilkinson Aug. 6 in Perry. U.S. Rep. PAGE 8 Sanford Bishop gave an update on the farm bill.

Former governors discuss immigration issues

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell explored issues related to immigration during an event hosted by the Essential PAGE 11 Economy Council in Atlanta on Aug. 19.

Research shines at Expo despite wet fields

Like most Georgia farms this summer, the Sunbelt Expo farm in Moultrie has been battling wet weather, but crop research to benefit Southeast farmers continues along with preparations for the 36th Annual Sunbelt Expo, Oct. 15-17. PAGE 12

Young Farmers focus on future at Leadership Conference GFB Young Farmers gathered on Jekyll Island for competition, fellowship and learning during the organization’s annual YF conference. Read about the highlights of the weekend and meet the finalists for the three GFB YF Awards to be named in PAGES 16-17 December.

on the cover

(Photo by Alex Tanner) Pierce County Farm Bureau Agency Manager Stephen Tanner entered this photo shot by his daughter in the employee/family category of the 2013 GFB photo contest. The Tanners shot the picture on May 18 last year at the farm of PCFB member Alvin Walker, Jr., who has been a PCFB member since 1974.

There were several great rainbow photos entered in this year’s contest. After this historically rainy summer, we wanted to feature one of the photos on our cover to remind everyone that the rainbow is a symbol of the covenant God made in Genesis 9 to never again destroy the earth with a flood.

Visit http://www.gfb.org to see the winning photos from this year’s contest selected at the GFB Young Farmer Conference. The winners will be featured in the fall Georgia Neighbors.

Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 3

Photoby Jay Stone

table of

we, the Photo by Jay Stone

farmers Zippy Duvall, GFB President

Two are better than one

Summer is coming to a close and that means fall annual meetings, policy development meetings, good food and wonderful fellowship. I can’t wait to share with you some of the many successes that we have had in the name of agriculture in recent weeks.

You know I’m passionate about GFB’s Young Farmer Program. Bonnie and I came up through the program, along with several of your state Farm Bureau leaders, so I value the program for developing the next generation of Farm Bureau leaders.

In July, GFB hosted our annual young farmer conference. It was a pleasure to visit with the young people who will be the future leaders of Farm Bureau. The conference offered educational workshops, but more importantly, it gave them a chance to fellowship with other young farmers facing the same challenges of raising a family while juggling the demands of farming.

The finalists of the GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet, Achievement Contest and the Excellence in Agriculture Award were also announced at the conference. I’d like to congratulate these outstanding young folks, who will compete for state awards at our annual convention in December. I encourage you to read all about the conference and meet our contest finalists on pages 16-17. I know you’ll feel as good about the future of our organization as I do.

On Aug. 1, GFB held our annual commodity conference at the UGA Tifton Campus. This meeting gave the members of GFB’s Commodity Committees a chance to hear national speakers discuss the farm bill, animal rights

activism and the process of appealing adverse decisions issued by USDA agencies.

We also presented our annual GFB Commodity Award to John Bulloch, who chaired the Georgia Senate Agriculture Committee from 2002 until 2012 when he retired. GFB had a good friend and colleague in Sen. Bulloch, and it was a great privilege to present him with the award in honor of the work he did for Georgia.

GFB’s 2013 policy development process began at the conference as our commodity committees met individually to review the sections of our policy pertaining to their commodity. County Farm Bureaus have until Sept. 13 to submit policy resolutions to our legislative department. The GFB Policy Development Committee will consider these resolutions when it meets Oct. 7 and Nov. 4. Farm Bureau’s policy development process is what makes us a grassroots organization. Through this process you, the farmer, determine the position GFB takes on legislative issues, and you determine what our priority issues will be for the coming year. This process is why Georgia Farm Bureau can say we are “the Voice of Georgia Farmers.”

When I meet with elected officials to share GFB’s position on an issue, I make sure to tell them that I’m not just speaking as one farmer. I’m voicing the opinion of all the farmers who belong to Georgia Farm Bureau. Your participation in the process is crucial to developing policy that reflects the needs you have as a farmer. So please, get involved in your county Farm Bureau’s policy See WE, THE FARMERS page 14

GFB President Zippy Duvall, seated left, listens as U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R- 9th Dist.) speaks during a GFB legislative tailgate luncheon at CeNita Vineyards in White County Aug. 8. Collins discussed issues related to immigration and the farm bill during the visit, part of a multi-day ag tour through the district.

4 / September 2013

GEORGIA

FARM BUREAU NEWS

The Voice of Georgia Farmers

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Farm Bureau Members: Included in dues — $1 per year Non-Members — $15 per year To subscribe call 1-800-898-1911, ext. 5238.

OFFICERS President ZIPPY DUVALL 1st Vice President/South Georgia Vice President GERALD LONG North Georgia Vice President BERNARD SIMS Middle Georgia Vice President ROBERT FOUNTAIN Jr. Treasurer/Corporate Secretary Wayne Daniel General Counsel DUKE Groover

DIRECTORS FIRST DISTRICT: Wesley Hall, Cumming; Henry J. West, Rydal SECOND DISTRICT: Bobby Gunter, Dahlonega; Randy Ruff, Elberton THIRD DISTRICT: George Chambers, Carrollton; Nora Goodman, Temple FOURTH DISTRICT: Skeetter McCorkle, Dearing; Marvin Ruark, Bishop FIFTH DISTRICT: Ralph Adamson Jr., Barnesville; Jim Ham, Smarr SIXTH DISTRICT: James Malone, Dexter; James Emory Tate, Denton SEVENTH DISTRICT: Gary Bell, Bellville; Ben Boyd, Sylvania EIGHTH DISTRICT: Scotty Raines, Sycamore; Don Wood, Rochelle NINTH DISTRICT: Lucius Adkins, Elmodel; Paul Shirah, Camilla TENTH DISTRICT: Daniel Johnson, Alma; David Lee, Alma YOUNG FARMER CHAIRMAN: Garrett Ganas, Waycross WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Nanette Bryan, Summerville ADVERTISING POLICY

All advertising accepted subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for content of their advertising. Publisher maintains right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaint about advertiser service or products. Publisher does not accept per-order, political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in the Georgia Farm Bureau News.

For advertising rates and information, contact Hurst and Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, 1-800-397-8908.

Georgia Farm Bureau News was established in 1937.

Copyright 2013 by the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. Printed by Panaprint, Macon, Georgia.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News

legislative update Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director

AFBF Legal Advocacy Program fights for farmers

Alt v. EPA

West Virginia poultry grower Lois Alt operates her farm in an exemplary fashion.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, issued an order demanding she obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for ordinary rainwater runoff from the farmyard outside her eight poultry houses.

EPA considered the Alt farm as an industrial site and rainwater running off the farm as point-source pollution requiring an NPDES permit. EPA’s action against Alt represented the agency’s effort to broaden its regulatory power. If EPA is successful in this action against Alt, all livestock and poultry farms would be similarly affected.

AFBF joined Alt in a lawsuit against EPA. EPA later withdrew its NPDES order and asked the court to drop the case. AFBF contended the agency should never have issued the order against Alt and argued the case should go forward for clarification in the future.

The court agreed with AFBF because the ultimate decision will clarify the extent of Clean Water Act permit requirements for ordinary rainfall runoff from a typical farmyard. The final outcome is still pending, but this case addresses important national issues about EPA’s authority to regu-

late livestock and poultry farms under the Clean Water Act.

Ecological Rights Foundation v. PG&E and Pacific Bell

The Ecological Rights Foundation (ERF) is an environmental group that filed a lawsuit against Northern California utility companies because of the utilities’ use of treated wood poles.

The ERF argued that using treated wood poles constituted the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States directly or through stormwater runoff. Such a broad interpretation of the law would require an NPDES permit before setting a power pole.

The ERF also contended the poles should be considered solid waste and thereby regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

AFBF filed a brief in the case in opposition to ERF. AFBF pointed out the setting of a utility pole in the ground is not a pointsource of pollution, nor is a utility pole solid waste. Finally, the brief noted the preservative used to treat wood poles was registered with the EPA in 2008, and the agency had ruled its use as environmentally acceptable.

Last April, the court ruled that using treated wood poles does not require addi-

tional permits. Had the decision gone the other way, additional regulations would have been forthcoming for fence posts and other farm structures made with treated wood.

AFBF v. EPA

Environmental groups filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for the names, addresses and farm locations of livestock and poultry farmers in several states, including Georgia. EPA complied with the request.

Since that release earlier this year, AFBF filed a lawsuit to stop EPA from violating the privacy rights of farmers by disclosing personal information in the future. AFBF also requested a temporary restraining order to stop EPA from releasing additional information in response to FOIA requests. AFBF’s goal is to get a favorable law establishing that privacy protections in FOIA be extended to the name, home address, email and phone number of individual farm families.

Each Farm Bureau membership supports this important work. For more information about the AFBF Legal Advocacy Program, visit http://www.fb.org and click on Legal Advocacy.

Jon Huffmaster is the director of the GFB Legislative Department.

Harden confirmed as deputy agriculture secretary The U.S. Senate confirmed Mitchell County native Krysta Harden as deputy secretary of agriculture – the second-highest post in the USDA - on Aug. 1.

Harden, who worked the past two years as chief of staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, was nominated to succeed Kathleen Merrigan after her resignation in March.

A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, Harden has worked in a variety of public policy positions, including USDA assistant secretary for congressional relations and as staff director for the House Agriculture Peanut and Agriculture Subcommittee.

“Growing up in a farm family – particularly one with such a diverse farming background – gave me an understanding of the strength America enjoys from our ability to grow a wide range of crops and livestock,” Harden said in her testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee.

She is married to former U.S. Rep. Charles Hatcher.

Photo Courtesy of the USDA

The American Farm Bureau Federation Legal Advocacy Program (LAP) is an important tool for maintaining farmers’ rights in today’s regulatory climate. LAP represents farmers in court by opposing unnecessary or excessive restrictions on farm practices and private property rights.

The number of legal cases affecting farmers is limitless, but legal battles are expensive to wage, especially in cases where the government is the adversary. Cases chosen by LAP are based on a variety of criteria. Much weight is given to how the outcome of the case might affect agriculture in a broad sense. The likelihood of legal success is also a consideration.

Below is an outline of some of the cases with which LAP has been involved.

Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 5

GFB holds annual commodity conference By Jay Stone & Jennifer Whittaker ______________________________________

Animal rights activists pose threat to ag

In his speech, Kopperud focused primarily on the tactics of the Humane Society of the United States. Kopperud stressed the importance of farmers becoming trained to interact with members of the media and urged them to take great care to ensure that animals in their care are not abused.

“We have never been as much at risk of losing consumer confidence, losing processor confidence, losing retailer confidence as we are at this point in time,” Kopperud said.

“HSUS is the single greatest threat to livestock production in the U.S.” In a pointed and sometimes colorful speech, Kopperud said livestock producers should not assume the trust and support of customers and advised conference attendees to talk to the media and take other steps to 6 / September 2013

Photo by Jay Stone

G

FB Commodity Committee members heard information on animal rights activists, national legislation and the USDA National Appeals Division during the GFB Commodity Conference, held Aug. 1 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

Steve Kopperud of Washington, D.C. consulting firm Policy Directions Inc. presented information on animal rights activists.

American Farm Bureau Federation Executive Director of Public Policy Dale Moore discussed national legislation affecting farmers. Amanda UrKopperud banek, deputy assistant director of the USDA National Appeals Division (NAD) Southern Region, gave an overview of the process through which farmers may appeal adverse decisions issued by USDA agencies.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black spoke during the conference luncheon, providing updates on the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption, the closing of the Georgia Egg Commission, nominations for additional seats on the Georgia Cotton Commission along with news about other commodities.

During a break at the conference, UGA specialists talked to GFB committee members about their research. UGA Blueberry Specialist Erick Smith, left, talks to GFB members about projects he has undertaken, including a study on treatments that increase the calcium levels in the fruit, making the berries more marketable.

explain what they do and why. He also admonished them to take steps to ensure their animals are treated well.

“The local media has to know who you are. They have to know who to go to when HSUS shows up with a press release,” Kopperud said. “They have to know you are willing to talk. You’ve got to stand up. You in this room are the single most credible source for what you do, how well you do it, the importance of what you do.”

Moore gives national legislation update

Moore discussed the farm bill, waterway reconstruction and immigration reform.

Moore said that while much has been made of the fact that the farm bill passed by the U.S. House did not include a nutrition title, the commodity, conservation and crop insurance provisions in the House and Senate versions of the Moore farm bill are close to being the same.

“People have asked me why there’s so much fighting over this farm bill,” Moore said. “What we’ve seen is not that the fighting has changed, but that because of technology everybody is in on the fight now. We’ve got all these armchair farmers and armchair

ranchers that think they know better than you all do how to run your operation.”

Moore stressed the importance of reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act, which takes steps to improve flood protection and has provisions to improve water infrastructure projects.

Moore also touched on efforts to advance immigration reform, noting that farmers need a “good strong ag labor program that works, that is uncomplicated and as repeatable as possible.”

Process for appealing USDA decisions

Urbanek explained how farmers may appeal adverse decisions issued by the USDA Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service or Rural Development Agencies. The USDA National Appeals Division (NAD), created by Congress in 1994, operates independently from the USDA agencies for which it hears appeals. Urbanek stressed that the appeals process is free and doesn’t require a lawyer.

“It’s a really easy process to file an appeal. You can come to the National Appeals Division at any point. Whether it’s when you first receive an adverse decision from a USDA agency or after you go back to your county FSA committee or state committee to appeal a decision,” Urbanek See CONFERENCE next page Georgia Farm Bureau News

CONFERENCE from previous page said. “I have found by and large the county committees really try to do the right thing.

I encourage you to talk to your county committee if you get a decision that you don’t agree with.”

To file an appeal, farmers must send the NAD Southern Region office Urbanek in Memphis a letter stating a desire to appeal the negative decision or e-file an appeal via the NAD website within 30 days after receiving the decision. Producers should state the decision they are appealing, why they are appealing and include a copy of the letter from the USDA agency notifying them of the adverse decision.

When NAD receives an appeal request from a producer, the division evaluates the request. “Normally we say ‘yes’ by and large

Urbanek said face-to-face hearings usually do not include the county staff or county committee members of the USDA agency whose decision a producer is appealing. The length of the hearing may range from an hour to several days depending on the complexity of the issue.

If a producer doesn’t have time for a sitdown hearing, he may opt for a telephone hearing, which, Urbanek said, gives producers the same level of customer service as a face-to-face hearing. Producers may also opt for a record review where the hearing officer just looks at what the documentation shows.

After the hearing is held, the hearing officer usually has to issue a decision within 30 days. The entire process takes about 75 days.

A producer unhappy with the hearing officer’s decision has 30 days to ask the NAD director to review the case. The USDA agency involved only has 15 days to ask for a review.

See USDA APPEAL page 15

to everything that comes in our office,” Urbanek said. “We would say ‘no’ for timeliness reasons if you’re late filing or if it’s not in our jurisdiction, as is sometimes the case with crop insurance issues.”

Once NAD green-lights an appeal, they send the producer a letter with an appeal number and contact information for a hearing officer. The producer then has a prehearing telephone conference with the officer, which usually takes 20-30 minutes, to establish what the issue is the producer wants to discuss at the hearing. The hearing officer will set a hearing date and ask the producer’s preference for a sit-down hearing or a telephone hearing. Producers have a statutory right to a hearing within 45 days of requesting the hearing.

Georgia currently has one NAD hearing officer located in Marietta with a second officer scheduled to come onboard soon, Urbanek said. Hearings are held throughout the state as close to the producer as possible.

By Jay Stone ___________________________________ Retired Georgia Sen. John Bulloch, who championed agriculture as a state legislator for 14 years, received the 2013 Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Award during the GFB Commodity Conference Aug. 1 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus.

The award is given annually to honor an individual who has supported and promoted Georgia agriculture.

Bulloch retired from the Georgia Senate in 2012 after serving in elected positions for 34 years.

“Georgia Farm Bureau had a good friend and colleague in Sen. Bulloch. It’s a great privilege to present him with the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Award,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said. “His leadership will be missed. We were all sad to see him leave the Senate, but we know he will enjoy spending more time on his farm and with his family.”

Bulloch attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and returned to his native Thomas County, where he became the fourth generation to farm his family’s land, growing pecans and row crops.

His public service began in 1978, when he was elected to the Thomas County Board

of Commissioners, on which he served for 20 years before winning a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. While in the House he was appointed to the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. In 2002 he was elected to the Georgia Senate representing the 11th District, which includes Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Thomas and Seminole counties.

Bulloch’s work in the state Senate included chairmanship of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and vice chairmanship of the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee, as well as serving on the Appropriations and Rules Committees and as an ex officio member of the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.

Bulloch was instrumental in getting poultry contract legislation passed in 2004, giving poultry growers certain rights in the process of structuring their contracts. He was a key figure for agriculture on the Senate Appropriations Committee, helping to secure funding for UGA Extension and research as well as helping to fund Extension specialist positions for various commodities. Until his retirement in 2012, he served as a key voice in the Senate on agricultural water issues.

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Bulloch receives GFB Commodity Award

GFB President Zippy Duvall, right, presents the 2013 GFB Commodity Award to former Sen. John Bulloch.

Outside of elected office, Bulloch has served as a board member for the Boys and Girls Club, the Thomas County Central High School Booster Club, the Archbold Hospital Board of Trustees and many others.

“I want to thank you for what y’all have meant to me, because I did it out of love,” Bulloch said. “The day I die, I’m going to be a farmer, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Bulloch and his wife Miriam have three daughters, Dee, Joni and Ashley and four grandchildren. The Bullochs are members of First Baptist Church in Thomasville.

Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 7

By Jay Stone ___________________________________

County Farm Bureau leaders in Northeast Georgia had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-9th District) during a legislative tailgate luncheon Georgia Farm Bureau held Aug. 8 at CeNita Vineyards in White County.

Habersham County Extension Coordinator Steven Patrick gave an overview of agriculture in Northeast Georgia. Collins and GFB President Zippy Duvall each talked about immigration and the farm bill, and Collins fielded questions about waterway restoration funding to expand the Port of Savannah.

Patrick pointed out that poultry growers in Northeast Georgia produce a sig-

nificant portion of the state’s largest commodity, and several Northeast Georgia counties rank in the state’s top 10 in production of cattle, goats, horses and swine.

The counties in Collins’ district are the state’s main producers of apples and wine grapes and are among the state’s leaders in production of numerous vegetables.

Duvall emphasized the importance of solving the immigration issue, noting that food processing jobs and other occupations in the food and fiber industries depend on the raw products from farms.

“The bottom line is there are jobs in agriculture that Americans don’t want to do any more,” Duvall said. “So it is vitally (See TAILGATE on next page)

Photo by Jay Stone

Rep. Collins tailgates with Farm Bureau

Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia’s 9th Congressional District speaks during a GFB legislative tailgate at CeNita Vineyards in White County on Aug. 8. Collins spoke about issues related to immigration and the farm bill during the visit, part of a multiday ag tour through the district.

By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________

M

embers of Georgia’s agriculture community attending the Ag Issues Summit co-hosted

by Georgia House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairmen Rep. Tom McCall and Sen. John Wilkinson Aug. 6 in Perry heard updates on the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) program, federal immigration reform, Georgia water issues, farm exemptions for commercial drivers licenses and the farm bill.

“We’re glad to have all of you here and thank you for coming,” Wilkinson said.

McCall added, “We’ve been holding this meeting for the past five years to address current issues affecting all of agriculture to bring production agriculture people up to speed on the issues.”

Bo Warren, with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and Amy Oneacre, policy manager with the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR), gave an update on the GATE program that went into effect Jan. 1. Oneacre said the DOR will monitor the use of GATE cards.

Warren said the GDA has issued 31,200 GATE certificates as of Aug. 5. He reminded attendees that their current GATE cards will expire Dec. 31 and may be renewed online at the GDA website or by calling 1-855-FARM TAX beginning late October 8 / September 2013

to early November. To comply with a state law that went into effect this year, farmers who apply for or renew their GATE card will have to supply a notarized affidavit verifying they are legal citizens of the U.S. Bill Brim, president of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tift County, discussed the need farmers have for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Brim, who farms 5,500 acres of vegetables, and has used the H-2A program for 15 years, described the program as cumbersome and tedious, saying he has four full-time employees who handle the H-2A paperwork for his farm.

Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Jud Turner said his vision is for Georgia to address its water issues rather than to have outside forces work on the state’s water issues through the court system.

Turner said SB 213, which passed the Georgia Senate during the 2013 session, is intended to commission studies that will allow the state to figure out how to fix problems with the Flint River Drought Protection Act. Georgia State Patrol Lt. James Steen gave an overview of farm exemptions for commercial drivers license (CDL) under federal transportation legislation, “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21). Covered farm vehicles (CFV) are exempt from CDL requirements if certain conditions are met and the vehicle has a CFV designation form DPS TR0025

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Ga. ag community gathers for issues summit

Georgia House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McCall, left, and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Wilkinson, right, welcomed members of Georgia’s agriculture community who attended the Ag Issues Summit held Aug. 6 in Perry.

that has been registered in the state database. Visit http://gamccd.net/FarmVehicle. aspx to complete the form.

U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop gave an update on the farm bill. He called the strategy of House leadership to separate the commodity title from the nutrition title a mistake, saying, “Splitting the farm bill was a mistake and has divided the historic partnership between rural and urban America.

It’s going to make it more difficult, I think, for our farm programs to survive.”

(See SUMMIT on next page) Georgia Farm Bureau News

SUMMIT from previous page Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall stressed the importance of Georgia’s agricultural community working together to get things done in Atlanta and Washington. “If all of us aren’t working together, we’ll lose our balance and fall down. We in agriculture have got to stay together because we are the backbone of this economy and this country.”

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black said that by Dec. 31 all of the licenses that the department offers will be available through online applications. He also said the department will continue to work with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to reduce traffic accidents between farm equipment and motorists.

TAILGATE from previous page important, not just to the farmer, but to other people who depend on those processing jobs.”

Collins, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said the key aspects of the nation’s immigration problem are security, legal immigration and illegal immigration. He expressed a desire to have bills passed to address agricultural guest workers and the security issues.

“I think if you pass the security bill you’ve got to also pass the guest worker bill,” Collins said. “You can’t just cut off the flow at the border and have agriculture die. You can’t do that.”

Regarding the farm bill, Duvall noted that its conservation programs are very

important to farmers in the northeastern portion of the state.

“It’s important that we have a good farm bill and that we have a good safety net,” Duvall said. “I didn’t say a giveaway check. I said a safety net for agriculture that helps preserve agriculture like we know it.”

The luncheon was part of a multiday tour of agricultural sites Collins took during Congress’ August recess. Earlier in the day, he took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony at Jaemor Farms’ new market in Commerce. Along with Collins and Duvall, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black spoke at the ceremony.

AFBF buys farm events, publications

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) announced Aug. 5 its purchase of Cygnus Business Media’s agricultural events and publications. The purchase includes five IDEAg branded farm shows – Minnesota Farmfest, Dakotafest, Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show, Northern Illinois Farm Show and the IDEAg Interconnectivity Conference. The business also publishes Feed & Grain Magazine and Case IH’s Farm Forum magazine.

The events and publications will operate as part of IDEAg Group, LLC, which is wholly owned by AFBF. For more information about the IDEAg Group publications and events, visit: www.ideaggroup.com/.

SOCIAL MEDIA SEMINAR

Sept. 24 • UGA CAES Activity Center 8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. • Athens The UGA College of Agriculture is hosting this free class with a USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Grant to help farmers gain the skills they need to establish and maintain an effective online presence for their farm. Registration deadline is Sept.

17. To register, contact Chris Morgan at 706-542-7102 or acm@uga.edu.

Visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/aged/ beyondthefarmgate/events.html for more information.

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For more information, or to apply, contact your local Farm Bureau agent today Existing Farm Bureau Bank vehicle loans are excluded from this offer. * Rates disclosed as Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and are based on automated payments (ACH) and acquiring one of the following collateral protection products: Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) or Major Mechanical Protection (MMP). Additional discounts do apply for purchasing more than one collateral protection product. The advertised APR of 2.99% is effective as of January 31, 2013. Final APR may differ from the loan interest rate due to additional fees (such as a loan documentation fee, which may be applicable). For a $25,050 vehicle loan with a term of 36 months, a 45 day first payment date and a 2.99% APR, the monthly payment will be $727.76. To qualify for the disclosed rate, customer must be a Farm Bureau member. Rates may vary based on the amount financed, term and first payment date. Non-member rates may vary. Finance charges accrue from origination date of the loan. The APR may increase during the term of the loan if automatic payments are discontinued for any reason. Some restrictions apply based on the make and model of vehicle offered as collateral. All loans are subject to credit approval, verification, and collateral evaluation. Other rates and financing options are available. Non-member rates may be 1-3% higher than posted rates. Loans for RVs, motorcycles, trailers, ATVs, watercraft and commercial vehicles may be 0.50% higher. This offer is not available in all states and rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Rates and financing are limited to vehicle models 2004 and newer and subject to change. Farm Bureau Bank does not finance totaled, rebuilt or salvaged vehicles. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB.

Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 9

commodities/marketing update

Joe McManus, Assistant Director of Commodities/Marketing Dept.

Nov. 1 deadline to enter GFB Hay Contest Georgia hay producers have had a difficult summer to harvest hay. Persistent, wet weather left many producers struggling to get hay out of the field. Even though the August 26 crop condition report indicated that 98 percent of range and pasture conditions were in the fair, good or excellent condition, making quality hay has been a challenge. Not only has excessive rain leached away essential plant nutrients, but hay must be harvested with the right maturity and with ample time to dry in order to maintain quality.

Farmers who feed hay know the importance of the quality of their roughage.

Livestock owners have to manage feed rations according to the inputs they have.

Knowing the analysis of their hay is critical to this process.

Georgia Farm Bureau members are encouraged to enter their Bermudagrass hay in the 2013 GFB Quality Hay Contest, which is designed to encourage the production of better quality hay in Georgia. One way to appraise the management of your hay fields is to have your hay analyzed. The University of Georgia Testing Lab evaluates hay entered in the contest using the Relative Forage Quality Test (RFQ).

RFQ predicts the fiber digestibility and likely animal intake of the hay. By entering the GFB Hay Contest, not only will you have the RFQ values of your hay, but you will also be able to compare it to what other farmers are doing. Farmers who have their hay tested every year can see, thru multiyear analysis, the improvements they make in managing their hay fields.

Entry forms outlining the procedure for entering the contest and rules may be picked up at your local county Farm Bureau office. There is a $15 fee for each entry to cover the cost of the lab test. Producers may enter more than one sample. The deadline for entry is Nov. 1. Contest participants will receive a detailed copy of their hay analysis information and a free listing in the GFB Hay Directory, if they choose.

Winners will be determined by the RFQ analysis. Nitrate levels above 4,500 parts per 10 / September 2013

Photo by Jay Stone

Bartow County Farm Bureau member Harry Pugliese, second from right, winner of the 2012 GFB Quality Hay Contest, received this new Vermeer Trailed Mower on May 17.

Pictured from left, Georgia Farm Bureau Assistant Commodities Director Joe McManus, Michael Smith of Smith Equipment and Vermeer Sales Manager Bryan Setzer present the mower to Pugliese.

million or moisture above 18 percent will be disqualified. The top five places will be announced at the GFB Hay Commodity Meeting Dec. 9 during the GFB Convention on Jekyll Island.

Prizes will be presented for the top five places. The first place winner will receive the free use of a Vermeer TM 850 Trailed Mower for a year, compliments of the

Vermeer Manufacturing Company. The winner will have the option to purchase the mower at a reduced price at the end of a year. Second place will receive a balermounted hay moisture tester.

The GFB Hay Advisory Committee sponsors the GFB Bermuda Hay Contest.

Joe McManus is assistant director of the GFB Commodities/Marketing Department.

GFB seeks listings for hay directory Georgia Farm Bureau members with hay for sale are invited to list their farm in the 2014 GFB Quality Hay Directory. The directory is scheduled to be printed in late November. Producers should complete a form and send it to the GFB office in Macon with a check for $10 for each listing. Checks should be made out to Georgia Farm Bureau.

Because this publication is used for the entire year, producers should include normal and projected production of round and square bales they anticipate selling.

Directories are distributed to all county Farm Bureau offices, county Extension offices, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, cattle producers, dairy producers, horse owners, directory participants, the Sunbelt Expo and at the annual GFB Convention.

Forms for both the GFB Quality Hay Contest and the Quality Hay Directory are available at your local Farm Bureau office or on our website http://www.gfb.org.

Contact Joe McManus at 1-800-342-1196 for more information on the hay contest or the hay directory.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo by Jay Stone

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, left, and former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, right, talked about agricultural issues, current legislation in Congress and political hurdles to be overcome in advancing the cause of immigration reform in the United States during a panel discussion held Aug. 19 in Atlanta. The discussion was moderated by Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editor Kevin Riley, center.

Former governors discuss immigration issues By Jay Stone ___________________________________ Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell spoke at the Essential Economy Council’s “Comprehensive Immigration Reform in America,” a conversation exploring issues related to immigration at the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta on Aug. 19.

Barbour, a Republican, and Rendell, a Democrat, are co-chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Immigration Task Force. While emphasizing that compromise will be essential to moving any immigration package forward, they both voiced support of the comprehensive immigration bill passed by the U.S. Senate on June

27, saying it takes steps to enforce rules for immigrants who have overstayed their visas.

Both men shot down the idea that the bill would grant legal status for illegal immigrants at the expense of those who are in this country legally.

“The good thing about the Senate bill is it gives those people who have applied for visas the right to have their visas before any of the 11 million undocumented people get theirs,” Rendell said. “There’s a lot of disinformation out there saying that those people who played by the rules are going to get passed over by these people who broke the rules. That’s simply not true.”

Rendell said it is highly unlikely the House will bring S. 744 to a vote because of a rule House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has invoked re-

quiring bills to pass the Republican caucus before they can be brought to the floor.

Georgia Farm Bureau 4th District Director Skeetter McCorkle liked the fact that Rendell and Barbour have found common political ground on how to deal with immigration.

“At the end of the day we’re all farmers, and farmers have to have workers. If we don’t have a workforce, we don’t have a business. We don’t have a farm,” said McCorkle.

Barbour said the Senate bill is a step in the right direction and makes improvements over the current immigration framework.

“The status quo is awful,” Barbour said. “To do nothing is the worst outcome.”

Morgan County dairy farmer Everett Williams attended the event and said it shed light on the importance of immigrants in the United States.

“They are vital to our economy,” Williams said. “Any kind of economic study shows that they are contributing, and they produce way more than they cost.”

The panel discussion, which was moderated

by Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editor Kevin Riley, drew approximately 60 representatives from a variety of stakeholder organizations, including several agricultural groups. Georgia Farm Bureau was among the event’s sponsors.

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Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 11

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

During the Sunbelt Expo Field Day July 11, UGA Extension Agronomist Stanley Culpepper talked to growers about planting rye as a cover crop to control pigweed.

Research shines at Expo despite wet fields By Jennifer Whittaker __________________________________________________________________________ Like most Georgia farms this summer, the Sunbelt Expo farm in Moultrie has been soggy. Although rain held off until after the annual Sunbelt Field Day ended at noon on July 11, there was standing water in the fields bearing evidence of the abundant rainfall the farm has received this summer – 6.95 inches of which fell from July 1 thru July 11. As of Aug. 27, the farm has received 51.5 inches of rain since January, according to the UGA Automated Environmental Monitoring Network.

But wet fields and muddy roads didn’t dampen the enthusiasm researchers and company representatives had for telling the 400 farmers who attended the event about variety trials and new management practices that could improve productivity.

Georgia Farm Bureau cosponsored a biscuit breakfast with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to start the day.

Sunbelt Expo Executive Director Chip Blalock welcomed farmers to the event saying, “This is a sneak peak of what you can see in October. We’re going to show you the latest seed varieties and crop management research. With it being wet, farmers couldn’t be out in their fields so they came out to see our research.”

GFB 1st Vice President Gerald Long thanked the Expo staff for the work they do at the farm to benefit Georgia’s farmers.

“One of the greatest partnerships we (Georgia Farm Bureau) have is with Sunbelt and the Georgia Department of Agriculture in sponsoring the Georgia Agriculture Building, which gives us an opportunity to tell our story of how Farm Bureau represents the farmer in Atlanta and D.C. on legislative issues,” said Long, 12 / September 2013

who spoke at the event as GFB President Zippy Duvall was in Washington.

At the UGA cotton plot, UGA Entomologist Phillip Roberts told farmers he attributes an increase in stink bugs to the wet spring and summer.

“One of the things we’re really preparing for is stink bugs. As cotton begins to bloom, that’s when stink bug scouting needs to be on the minds of growers. We’re observing a high number of stink bugs in corn, and a high population in corn means there will be a high population in cotton and other crops,” Roberts said at the UGA cotton plot.

Visit http://www.ugacotton.com to learn more about stink bug control.

UGA Extension Agronomist Stanley Culpepper talked to growers about planting rye as a cover crop to control pigweed.

“We’ve grown rye and got it really tall, about 7-10 feet tall, because we need a large amount of biomass to block the sunlight so pigweed seeds can’t germinate,” Culpepper said. “If it doesn’t come up we don’t have to control it.”

In late March to early April, farmers can roll the rye to kill it. After a rain, they can plant cotton using a strip-tiller. DVDs detailing this strategy to control pigweed are available at most county Extension offices.

The video may be viewed at http://www. gaweed.com.

Field day attendees also heard about peanut research and soil moisture meters.

The 36th Annual Sunbelt Expo will be held Oct. 15-17. Attendees are encouraged to visit the Georgia Agriculture Building, sponsored by GFB and the GDA, located at the main gate.

Harris named Sunbelt Expo Ga. Farmer of the Year

Early County Farm Bureau member Will Harris of Bluffton is the Georgia winner of the 2013 Swisher Sweets/ Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award. A farmer for 37 years, Harris joins nine other state winners from the Southeast as finalists for the award. The overall winner will be announced Oct. 15 at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie.

Harris and his wife, Vonn, have three daughters, Jodi, Jennie and Jessi.

The family farms 1,100 acres of owned land and 1,200 acres of rented land as White Oak Pastures, the largest organic farm in Georgia. The farm includes 700 beef cows, a sheep operation with 400 ewes, a 50-nanny goat herd, a 30-sow hog herd and 150 doe rabbits. Annually, Harris raises about 300,000 chickens, 3,000 geese, 3,000 ducks, 5,000 turkeys and 5,000 guinea fowl. He also grows irrigated organic vegetables on five acres.

Harris’ other specialty enterprises include sausage products, a composting operation, honeybees, tanning hides for leather, mushroom production and an heirloom fruit orchard.

In 2007, Harris built a beef abattoir followed by a poultry abattoir in 2011.

Vertical integration and controlling the processing and marketing of the commodities he produces allows Harris to capture more of the retail value for his products than if he simply sold live animals on a commodity basis. Future plans call for building a pet food processing plant, a lodge to attract agricultural tourists and a vegetable canning plant.

As the state winner, Harris receives $2,500 cash, a $500 gift certificate from Southern States, the choice of either $1,000 in PhytoGen cottonseed or a $500 donation to a charity from Dow AgroSciences and a Columbia vest from Ivey’s Outdoor & Farm Supply.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

USDA to survey peanut & grain producers USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will spend the first two weeks of September surveying farmers in Georgia and other Southeastern states to get a clear indication of small grain production and grain stored on and off the farm. The data will be collected by mail, phone and personal interviews. Growers will also be given the opportunity to report on the Internet.

“The results of these surveys will provide the basis for official USDA estimates of 2013 acreage, yield and production for small grains. The data collected from this survey will also help set small grain acreage and production estimates at the county level. In addition, NASS will ask those with on-farm and off-farm grain storage about their stocks of whole grains and oilseeds to assess U.S. supply,” said NASS Southern Region Director Doug Kleweno.

In October, NASS will begin contacting

peanut growers to learn about their production practices during the 2013 growing season for the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). NASS and USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) jointly conduct this three-phase survey, of which the second phase gathers data on farmers’ chemical use, pest management and irrigation practices for the peanut crop.

“In recent years there have been significant changes in the peanut industry,” Kleweno said. “The results of this survey will update information on these major sectors of agricultural production and will ensure that agricultural leaders, legislators, and producers themselves can base their decisions on accurate data that comes directly from the growers.”

The peanut survey, conducted in three separate phases during the growing season, serves as the primary source of information on production practices, resource use and economic well-being of America’s farm operations and farm households. During the second phase of the ARMS, NASS will collect information only through personal interviewing. Trained representatives will conduct face-to-face interviews with ap-

proximately 900 peanut growers nationwide beginning in October and continuing through mid-December. NASS will publish the chemical use data in a May 2014 report.

“Interviewers will ask peanut growers to provide information on their fertilizer or nutrient use and biocontrol or chemical use and their pest management and irrigation practices,” added Kleweno. “Early next year, we will follow up with some participants to obtain additional economic and cost of production data. Better data equates to better decisions.”

Farmers, producer organizations and agribusinesses use the survey data in a variety of ways that directly benefit growers.

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

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes data only in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual operation or grower can be identified.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, visit http://www.nass. usda.gov or call the NASS Georgia Field Office at 800-253-4419.

INTERNATIONAL AGRIBUSINESS CONFERENCE & EXPO

SEPTEMBER 25 — 26, 2013

Pre-Conference Farm Tour - $50 Fee Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL

Leaving from Savannah, GA in the morning and returning mid-afternoon.

The farm tour is a day-long event that includes multiple stops at operations in Southeast Georgia that are involved in producing, processing, and packaging agricultural products for export.

AGRIBUSINESS

CONFERENCE & EXPO

Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, Savannah, GA

Networking Opportunities with International Trade Representatives Sponsorship and Exhibit Opportunities Available

IMAgine the Possibilities!

Post-Conference Georgia Ports Tour - $50 Fee Friday, September 27, 2013 - 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

There is no charge for the tour but a $50 transportation fee must be paid in advance to Georgia Southern University at the time of registration.

Registration information will be provided in advance to the Georgia Ports Authority and you must present a photo id in order to gain entrance to the port facility.

Finding Markets and Buyers for Your Products

Visit the Port of Savannah, and tour the United States’ fourth largest container port, Garden City Terminal. At 1,200 acres, Garden City Terminal is North

Delivering Your Product to Your International Buyer

Pricing Your Product for Export

A COLLABORATION WITH GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

For registration information call toll free 1.855.478.5551 or visit our website at iace.us.com GGAFarmBureau7.125wx4.6875h.indd eorgia Farm Bureau News S eptember6/4/13 2013 12:01 / 13 PM 1

EPD Director discusses water issues with GFB Turner said potential actions that could offer long-term drought protection in the Flint River Basin include targeting areas in the basin with action where Floridan Aquifer withdrawals most affect stream flow, having water users withdraw water from lower aquifers such as the Claiborne or Clayton, and pursuing stream flow augmentation projects.

“The reason we have stream flow concerns is if someone comes in with concerns about an endangered species and an injunction is placed on irrigation, we’ll have to find an alternative source to surface water,” Turner said.

Another part of providing long-term drought protection to the area lies in reforming the FRDPA, Turner says.

During the 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly, the Senate passed SB 213 to amend the FRDPA so that if the EPD director were to issue a drought declaration for the state, it would no longer trigger the program to offer farmers in the Flint River Basin cash incentives to refrain from irrigating their crops. Turner explained that the lack of state funding for the FRDPA is an issue.

“It’s my opinion that the Flint River Drought Protection Act doesn’t work as designed. SB 213 was just a step in that direction,” Turner said. “It would commission some studies that will allow us to figure out what our options are to really reform the act. That’s really the big thing that will come in the future.”

The Georgia Senate and the House Agriculture Committee passed the bill, but SB 213 was never called for a vote on the House floor. Action is expected on the bill in the 2014 session.

Turner also discussed the Governor’s WSP, a state effort to fund the development of new water resource projects to address current and future water challenges.

On April 30 the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Board approved a pilot study for an aquifer storage and recover (ASR) project in Baker County. The project calls for withdrawing water from the Floridan Aquifer when water is plentiful and pumping it deeper into the ground into the Claiborne and Clayton Aquifers. During a drought, the stored water can be pumped back up into the Floridan Aquifer and used to augment surface stream flows.

WE, THE FARMERS continued from page 4 soybeans, pecans and peanuts have all bendevelopment meetings.

On Aug. 8 we held a legislative tailgate efited from China’s growing population lunch for U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Dist. and demand for ag products. Recognizing 9) in Cleveland. County Farm Bureau lead- the potential export market for Georgia ers from Habersham, Hall, Lumpkin and commodities in Asia, Gov. Deal invited White counties met for lunch at CeNita Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Vineyards in Cleveland where the Crumley Black, department of agriculture staff and family is honoring the dairy farming legacy me to join him on a trade mission to China of their parents Cecil and Juanita Crum- and Japan from Aug. 22-30.

The trade delegation consisted of more ley. This gave Rep. Collins a chance to learn about Georgia’s wine and agritourism than 50 representatives of Georgia’s agriindustry, a growing part of Georgia agricul- culture, business, education, government, ture. It was also a great way for him to meet tourism and transportation sectors who and hear from his farming constituents in were charged with promoting Georgia the Northeast Georgia district he began products and services. This was a wonserving in January. He expressed a sincere derful chance to serve as an ambassador appreciation for the farmers in his district for Georgia agriculture and tell potential and discussed other ag tours he held with buyers of Georgia crops what a great job other county Farm Bureaus in his district Georgia farmers do of growing the safest and best food in the world. during his August recess.

Speaking of international trade, if you In recent years Georgia agriculture has seen trade opportunities for our commodi- are interested in learning how to capitalties explode with China. Georgia cotton, ize on the growing export market, then I

encourage you to attend the International Agribusiness Conference & Expo that UGA and Georgia Southern University will host in Savannah Sept. 25-26. GFB is sponsoring this event because we want to help our farmers learn how they can export their goods and how exporting can help their profit margins. For more information about the event visit http://www.iace.us.com.

In Farm Bureau, meetings are a way of life. We enjoy good fellowship, eat well and work hard for our farmers.

I know it is difficult to leave the farm to go to a meeting, but just remember what the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4 verses 9, 10, and 12 (New King James Version). Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him. Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Jud Turner gave an update on state water issues while addressing the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors on July 25. Turner discussed long-term drought protection for the Flint River Basin, Senate Bill 213, which was designed to revamp the Flint River Drought Protection Act (FRDPA), the stream flow augmentation project being conducted in Spring Creek in Miller County and Governor Deal’s Water Supply Program (WSP).

Jud Turner

14 / September 2013

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Georgia Farm Bureau members Mable Brown of Pickens County, John Redding of Walton County and John Woodard of Crisp County were inducted into the Southeast Conservation Hall of Fame Aug. 12. The induction occurred during the National Association of Conservation Districts Southeast Region meeting held Aug. 11-13 in Savannah. The three honorees were inducted into the Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors (GACDS) Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Brown has served as the Pickens County Supervisor to the Limestone Valley Soil & Water Conservation District for 32 years, during which time she was the first woman appointed to the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) Board and the first woman to serve as president of the GACDS. Redding served 32 years as a district su-

USDA APPEAL from page 7 The NAD director will review the facts of the case and issue a decision without holding a hearing.

“Once it goes to our director it is done.

That’s a final departmental decision. The agency cannot appeal,” Urbanek said.

If NAD finds that a USDA agency made an error, the agency has 30 days to implement the NAD decision.

“I’m not going to tell you that if you get a decision from us that the agency made a mistake that you’re automatically getting paid,” Urbanek said. “If you file an appeal over an agency saying you couldn’t file an application, and we rule in your favor, that doesn’t mean you’re getting paid. It just means you get to file an application.”

Concerning crop insurance, producers may only appeal decisions issued by RMA. Decisions issued by a crop insurance company may not be appealed to NAD. An example would be RMA denying a request for changes in written agreements to alter commodities covered or premium levels.

Producers may also appeal being placed on the ineligibility list for crop insurance.

Equitable relief is another circumstance for which NAD offers farmers relief.

“This is what you, as a producer, need when you’ve been told something incorrect

Photos courtesy of Chris Groskreutz, USDA NRCS

Georgians honored for conservation efforts

Mable Brown

John Redding

John Woodard

pervisor for the Walton County Soil & Water Conservation District and continues to serve as the district’s outreach director. He serves as the treasurer of the National Association of Conservation Districts Foundation and is a past president of the NACD. Woodard has served as a district supervisor for the Middle South Georgia SWCD

for more than 25 years. A farmer since age 19, Woodard began utilizing conservation practices early in his farming career and was named the Crisp County Conservationist of the Year in 1974 and 2012. The Cordele-Crisp County Chamber of Commerce recently honored him for helping to found the Georgia Watermelon Festival.

by your county office, and you followed their advice,” Urbanek said. “If your county office told you the deadline was April 14 but the deadline was April 1, and you got your application in on April 12, that is an equitable relief situation. You did everything that you thought was right, but the county committee has to deny you because you late filed your application.”

Urbanek stressed that NAD only grants equitable relief if the producer has acted in good faith.

“It’s really important that the agency can’t say, ‘Well, they were lying about their

losses or they were lying about their yields.’”

USDA records show that nationwide, NAD issued 607 farm program decisions in 2011 and found error in 148 cases. In 2012, NAD issued 482 farm program decisions nationwide of which it found error in 118 cases.

In Georgia, NAD issued nine decisions in 2011 regarding FSA, RMA and NRCS of which NAD found an agency error in one case. In 2012, NAD issued 15 decisions for Georgia and found error in two cases.

More information is available at https:// www.nad.usda.gov .

Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 15

GFB Young Farmers focus on future at Leadership Conference Articles & photos by Jay Stone _____________________________________

The 355 participants at the 2013 GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference received information on planning, farm management and service while enjoying the many recreational activities available on Jekyll Island.

The annual event, held July 11-14, gave the young farmers a chance to connect with other farmers from around the state and featured the preliminary rounds of the Young Farmer Discussion Meet. In addition to the educational offerings, GFB young farmer families enjoyed the beach, Summer Waves Water Park and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

“You get down here and you realize that you’re not the only family that deals with the agricultural issues that we have going on,” said GFB Young Farmer Committee Chairman

Garrett Ganas. “You realize that somebody beside you in the next county over has kids, and they’re facing the same problems you are.

Through the family aspect, there’s a bondbuilding going on, and it’s tremendous.”

GFB President Zippy Duvall spoke to the conference attendees, sharing his experiences with them and emphasizing that the possibilities are endless.

“There are opportunities in this organization and in this program, that you can discover what your God-given strengths are that you can excel in,” Duvall said. “You can make anything and everything possible, and along the way while you’re doing that, you’ll be helping your family, your farm, your community and the industry that we love so much.”

Educational sessions included a financial and estate planning roundtable discussion

with five estate planning experts. They all agreed that while discussing the subject of estate planning can be uncomfortable, communication is crucial.

“Communication is the first key to it,” said attorney Will Thompson of James-BatesBrannan-Groover in Macon. “The second key is starting with the basics – starting with a properly drafted will. I tell people that if you haven’t drafted a will, the state of Georgia has drafted one for you. It’s not great. It’s not something you’re going to want to handle your assets if something happens to you.”

The conference also offered breakout sessions on topics tailored to the interests of young farmers, who also had the opportunity to witness the release of rehabilitated sea turtles from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

American Farm Bureau Federation Dep-

Young Farmer award finalists named

T

he 2013 finalists for Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Achievement, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture Awards were named during the Young Farmer Leadership Conference held July 11-14 on Jekyll Island.

Kyle Dekle of Habersham County, Tri-

sha Lastly of Madison County, Ali Merk of Jackson County and Constance Reid of Greene County advanced through the preliminary rounds of the discussion meet to earn spots in the final round to be held in December during the GFB Convention, also on Jekyll Island.

Pictured from left, GFB President Zippy Duvall congratulates the 2013 GFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet finalists Kyle Dekle of Habersham County, Trisha Lastly of Madison County, Constance Reid of Greene County and Ali Merk of Jackson County as GFB Young Farmer Chairman Garrett Ganas also congratulates them.

16 / September 2013

The discussion meet, which drew 26 contestants from around the state, is intended to simulate a committee meeting during which agriculturalists discuss issues impacting agriculture.

During the first round of competition, the contestants discussed what farmers can do to stimulate economic growth. In the second round, they talked about how farmers and ranchers from various types of agriculture can work together to promote a more positive image of agriculture. In the third round, they discussed how young farmers and ranchers can work with government officials to eliminate excessive regulations placed on agriculture.

The winner of the state discussion meet competition in December will receive a $500 cash award, an Arctic Cat 500 4x4 all-terrain vehicle and an expense-paid trip to the 2014 American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 12-15, to compete for national honors. The state runners-up will each receive $350 from SunTrust Bank.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

uty Chief Economist John Anderson gave a seminar on risk management, focusing on crop insurance and marketing strategies that can help farmers remain competitive.

Georgia Rep. Sam Watson, a member of the GFB Young Farmer Committee, Georgia FFA Executive Director Ben Lastly and AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee member Jake Carter discussed how farmers can serve agriculture and the role of Farm Bureau.

GFB Legislative Director Jon Huffmaster and GFB National Affairs Specialist Tas Smith talked about the organization’s legislative process and agenda.

During a lunch meeting on July 12, Alan Lambert of the International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) described the organization’s program, which places young adults ages 19 and up with host families in other countries with the goal of promoting cultural exchange.

Elliott Marsh and Hunter Stone of Ag Technologies discussed Farm Works Software and how it can help farmers manage the flow of agricultural data on the farm. Attendees also had a chance to meet their district rep James and Brooke Hitchcock of Washington County, Russ and Mandy Moon of Madison County and Charlie Sanders of Greene County were named finalists for the Young Farmer Achievement Award, designed to recognize the accomplishments of young Farm Bureau members in production agriculture and leadership development.

These finalists will be featured in the Nov./ Dec. GFB News.

Each family receives a $200 travel allowance to the GFB Convention, where the state winner will be announced Dec. 8. The state achievement award winner will receive an Arctic Cat 500 4x4 all-terrain vehicle, a $500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to the AFBF Convention.

Lauren Boykin of Screven County, Paul Harris of Pierce County and Clay Talton of Elbert County were named finalists for the Excellence in Agriculture Award. This award is designed to honor outstanding ag professionals who do not derive the majority of their income from on-farm production. The state winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize and an expense-paid trip to the AFBF Convention. The runners-up will

The crowd at the July 11 low country boil enjoyed shrimp, potatoes, corn and sausage links prepared by GFB staff and volunteers.

resentatives on the GFB Young Farmer Committee and their GFB field representatives.

During the conference, attendees voted in the 2013 GFB Photo Contest, which was won

by Anna Raley of Glascock County.

Those who arrived on July 11 had a chance to play in a golf scramble at Indian Mounds Golf Course with the proceeds deseach receive a $500 cash prize.

The national winners of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet, Excellence in Agriculture and Achievement Award each receive their choice of a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado or a 2014 GMC Sierra and paid registration to the 2014 AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference.

The AFBF Discussion Meet finalists

ignated to benefit the Harvest for All program. There was also a low-country boil at Great Dunes Park.

Crawford County Farm Bureau Vice President Leighton Cooley gave the vespers devotion on July 14, exploring how young farmers can balance their faith with the demands of their families and farms. each receive a Case IH Farmall 55A tractor, a $2,500 cash prize and $500 in merchandise from Stihl. The AFBF Achievement Award finalists each receive a Case IH Farmall 65A tractor, a $2,500 cash prize and $500 in merchandise from Stihl. The AFBF Excellence in Agriculture Award finalists each receive a Case IH Farmall 45A tractor, a $2,500 cash prize and $500 in merchandise from Stihl.

GFB is offering the Excellence in Agriculture Award this year to recognize young professionals who promote agriculture in off-farm jobs. Pictured from left, GFB President Zippy Duvall, far left, and GFB Young Farmer Chairman Garrett Ganas, center, congratulate award finalists from left, Paul Harris of Pierce County, Lauren Boykin of Screven County and Clay Talton of Elbert County.

Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 17

County Farm Bureaus get AFBF grants projects in their communities. The grants were awarded based on how effectively the submitted projects demonstrate a connection between agriculture and education, encourage students to learn more about agriculture and the methods for meeting project goals.

Turner County Farm Bureau used its grant to give copies of the book “How Did That Get Into My Lunchbox?” and the accompanying educator’s guide to 18 kindergarten, first and second grade classes at the Turner County Elementary School along with a copy to the school library. Pictured from right, TCFB Office Manager Karen McCurdy and TCFB Women’s Committee Chairman Melanie Raines present the books to Principal Vickie Brown and school staff Paulette Lumpkin and Penny Bateman. TCFB members are scheduled to visit the classes to read and discuss the books with a goal of teaching the students where their food originates and the connection between their lunchbox and agriculture.

Harris County Farm Bureau is using its grant to add two more raised beds to the school garden at Park Elementary School. The beds are being designed for special-needs students. The school garden involves all 675 students at the school. HCFB did the “Garden in a Glove” activity with pre-K and kindergarten students last spring to learn how seeds germinate. These students passed their germinated seeds along to the first and second-grade students, who planted the seeds in Dixie cups. Several weeks later, these students teamed up with the third and fourth-graders to plant the seedlings in the outdoor garden. This fall, HCFB plans to help the students plant winter vegetables and greens in the raised beds.

HCFB Office Manager Linda Luttrell, second from left, presents the grant to, from left, Park Elementary Principal Janice Ownes, teacher Lesley Risinger and Gary Brown, a support parent.

18 / September 2013

Photo courtesy of HCFB

Crawford County Farm Bureau used its grant to buy books about agriculture for county volunteers to use when they visit classes and for local kindergarten teacher Andrea Seagraves, left, who uses an ag literacy curriculum in her class. CCFB Women’s Committee Chairman Betty Harris, right, presents books to Seagraves.

Photo courtesy of TCFB

Photo courtesy of CCFB

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA) has awarded $500 grants to the Crawford, Harris, Turner and Wilcox County Farm Bureaus to fund new or expand existing ag literacy

Wilcox County Farm Bureau bought compost tumblers for the Wilcox County Elementary School to be used by science teachers Tracey Futch, second from left, and Tanya Copeland, second from right, in planting a school garden for the third, fourth and fifth grades.

Participating in the presentation were, pictured from left, WCFB Women’s Committee member Joan Boozman, Futch, WCFB Women’s Committee Chairman & WCES Media Specialist Sue Powers, WCES Principal Gary Howell, WCES Assistant Principal Pam Gibbs, Copeland and WCFB Committee member Janice Clark. Futch’s and Copeland’s classes will collect buckets of compost items each day from the third, fourth and fifth-grade classrooms and add the contents to the compost bins. The compost will be used to enrich the soil in the school vegetable garden. Local FFA and 4-H members will assist the students with their garden and composting project.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Photo courtesy of WCFB

By Jennifer Whittaker ___________________________________

The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special project of the AFBFA. There are three opportunities for counties to receive funding.

• The Mini-Grant Program is offered to state and county Farm Bureaus in amounts up to $500 for classroom education programs for grades K-12 to initiate See GRANTS page 21

Photo by Donna Rocker

The Georgia delegation (pictured left) attending the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minneapolis this summer picked up great tips for teaching children about agriculture.

GFB members attend AITC Conference

By Donna Rocker __________________________________________________________________________

More than 500 persons attended the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minneapolis in June. There were 23 attendees from Georgia, which included teachers, county office managers and county volunteers. Only Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois had more attendees!

The conference included a wide variety of workshops and a make-and-take session.

The event gave attendees the opportunity to network with people from across the country to share and learn new ideas for promoting agricultural literacy. The workshops included many hands-on activities and covered topics such as the national Common Core education standards, agri-

culture careers and school gardens. Karrie Perrin, GFB’s 2011 Georgia Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award winner, presented a workshop at the conference. Her workshop “Getting AGtive with Agriculture: Quick & Easy Ways to Implement Agriculture Across the Curriculum” had an enthusiastic reception.

The attendees had 11 agriculture tours from which to choose such as a robotic dairy, high tunnel vegetable production, commerce on the Mississippi River and agriculture’s contribution to baseball. There were also about 35 exhibitors displaying materials the attendees may readily use in the classroom.

One of the highlights of the confer-

200 varieties of fruit, nut and berry plants

Georgia Club Lamb Producers hold event

Grow Half-Dollar Size Muscadines and Blackberries FREE Color Catalog Buy Direct from the Grower Photo courtesy of GCLPA

About 80 kids showed 175 lambs in the Georgia Club Lamb Producers Association Futurity held July 14 at the Georgia Agricenter in Perry. Event judge John Rayfield, center, congratulates grand champion Emily Hostetler, left, of Gordon County, who won $1,000 and reserve grand champion Claire Woodard, right, of Morgan County, who won $600. Georgia Farm Bureau helped sponsor the show.

ence was the teacher recognition award program. Crawford County Farm Bureau member and teacher Andrea Seagraves was one of five recipients of the national Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award. Seagraves had the opportunity to share some of her classroom experiences as part of the ceremony. Dennis Peavy, another CCFB member who teaches in Houston County, was also honored as one of eight teachers to receive the White-Reinhardt Scholarship from American Farm Bureau to attend the national conference.

To download some of the activities from the conference or view photos of the events, visit http://www.agclassroom.org and select 2013 Conference Highlights.

The 2014 conference, “The Sweet Story of Agriculture,” will be held in Hershey, Pa., June 24-27.

Donna Rocker is GFB’s AITC Coordinator.

Since 1934

Ison’s Nursery

P.O. Box 190 • Brooks, GA 30205

1-800-733-0324 www.isons.com

Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 19

AROUND GEORGIA

News from County Farm Bureaus

CHARLTON COUNTY Charlton County Farm Bureau made a $500 donation to help sponsor the FFA Forestry Field Day held at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Folkston last spring. The Georgia FFA Association, Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Forestry Commission organized the event. High school and middle school students from 10 counties participated in the field day to practice for regional and state competitions. Students competed in 10 events including forest management, tree identification, ocular estimation, compass and pacing, land measurement, reforestation, forest disorders, timber stand improvement, cruising for board-foot volume and cruising for cord volume.

COFFEE COUNTY Earlier this summer, Coffee County Farm Bureau hosted a lunch for U.S. Rep. John Barrow, pictured far left, with Coffee County farmers. Local farmers spent the afternoon with Rep. Barrow discussing issues of concern to them, such as the farm bill. The event gave farmers an opportunity to speak freely with Rep. Barrow and express their concerns and opinions. Prior to the lunch, Rep. Barrow toured the row crop and poultry farm of CCFB member Wayne McKinnon.

COLQUITT COUNTY The Colquitt County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee hosted a luncheon honoring about 50 Colquitt County High School FFA and 4-H graduating seniors. CCFB Young Farmer Chairman Darren Hembree introduced GFB Young Farmer Coordinator Jed Evans as the guest speaker. Evans talked to the students about the GFB Young Farmer Program. Each student 20 / September 2013

received a GFB flashlight as a graduation present.

FORSYTH COUNTY Forsyth County Farm Bureau hosted a booth during the Strawberry Festival at Warbington Farms in May. Seven FCFB volunteers taught kids about planting seeds and helped them make a terrarium so they could watch the seeds they planted sprout. FCFB Director Wade Castleberry, pictured, and other volunteers also helped kids make bird feeders using pinecones.

GREENE COUNTY Greene County Farm Bureau participated in the county’s annual Southland Jubilee last spring attended by more than 3,000. GCFB Secretary Chanda Hardman, left, and her daughter Emily manned the Farm Bureau exhibit educating festival attendees about the ABC’s of soybean production and the many uses of soybeans.

GCFB member Jackie Copelan, not pictured, provided ponies for the Farm Bureau petting zoo during the event.

HARRIS COUNTY Harris County Farm Bureau held their annual Farm Day last spring at Jenny-Jack Sun Farm in Pine Mountain. Young farmers Chris and Jenny Jackson hosted the event for second and fourth-grade students showing the fruits and vegetables they grow and discussing how the plants grow from seed to harvest.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

Chris is shown talking to the students about growing okra and other vegetable plants from seeds.

Students also learned about the chickens and pigs raised on the farm.

After lunch, the students made sunflower terrariums from water bottles to take home and held a sunflower seed-spitting contest. The classes also competed in egg-toss, egg-on-a-spoon and hot potato games.

JACKSON COUNTY Last spring Jackson County Farm Bureau held a farm day for 650 fifth-graders in the county. About 50 volunteers affiliated with the JCFB and Jackson County FFA chapters manned stations and exhibits covering a wide variety of ag topics including: bees, poultry, goats, llamas, veterinary technology, Kubota equipment safety, tree farming, USDA services, deer management and Cooperative Extension.

MADISON COUNTY Madison County Farm Bureau worked with Georgia House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Tom McCall, standing, right, to host a breakfast and farm tour for local elected officials in May. Following the meal, the group toured Lathem Farms, an organic egg operation, and visited Still Water Farm, a beef cattle operation owned by Terry and Deborah Chandler. FFA students gave a demonstration of deworming cows.

NEWTON COUNTY Newton County Farm Bureau held its third annual Ag Day featuring an antique tractor show on the square in downtown Covington last spring. Cade Mitcham and NCFB Women’s Committee Chairman Hazel Brand discussed the soybean dis-

play at the Farm Bureau booth. Booths were set up around the square to educate attendees about agriculture while a live country band provided entertainment. NCFB Young Farmer Chairman B.J. Marks shuttled tractor show participants from the parking lot to the square.

TIFT COUNTY Pictured from left, Tift County Farm Bureau Vice President John Dunn and his wife Kay, who serves as the TCFB Women’s Committee chairman, met with Sen. Johnny Isakson along with TCFB Office Manager Lauren Grimes during a listening session held last spring in Tifton. Isakson discussed the farm bill and immigration reform. Rep. Austin Scott, not pictured, gave an update from the U.S. House.

GRANTS from page 18 new programs or expand existing programs to additional grade levels or new subject areas. There are two cycles for the minigrants. Cycle 1 is due to AFBFA by Nov. 1 and Cycle 2 is due to AFBFA by May 1, 2014.

• The Educator Scholarship provides travel funds to educators employed by a public or private school system to attend the national Ag in the Classroom (AITC) conference. Applications are due to AFBFA by Nov. 1.

• The Volunteer Educator Scholarship provides travel funds to formal and volunteer educators to attend the national AITC conference. Applications are due to AFBFA by Nov. 1.

County Farm Bureaus interested in applying for a grant will find instructions on the Georgia Farm Bureau Sharepoint website under Field Services/Ag Literacy/White Reinhardt Fall 2013. Visit the AFBFA website at http://www.agfoundation.org and click on “What We Support” for more information.

There are other tools on Sharepoint to help complete the application. If you would like GFB Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Donna Rocker to review your application before you submit it to AFBFA, you must send a draft of the application to her by Oct. 4.

For help in completing the application, contact Rocker at dhrocker@gfb.org. Once she has provided you with feedback, you will then need to submit the application online by Nov. 1.

Donna Rocker contributed information for this article.

Georgia Farm Bureau News September 2013 / 21

Photo courtesy of The Camilla Enterprise

33 counties qualify for $82,500 in donations

Nov. 30 deadline to enter Monsanto charity program

Farmers in 33 Georgia counties have until Nov. 30 to register to win $2,500 for a charity of their choice in the 4th Annual America’s Farmers Grow Communities program sponsored by Monsanto. Suggested charities include local 4-H or FFA programs, fire departments, hospitals, libraries or schools. No purchase is necessary to win.

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, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth. Each of these counties planted at least 30,000 acres of corn, soy-

Baker County Farm Bureau Director Shane Kelley, fourth from left, was one of 33 Georgia farmers chosen to allocate donations to local charities of their choice in the 2012 America’s Farmers Grow Communities program sponsored by Monsanto. Joining Shane in the presentation were his wife, Allison, standing in front of him, and representatives of the Newton-Baker Fire & Rescue, the Baker County Senior Center and Monsanto representative Jason Pittman, far right.

beans, cotton and/or vegetables in 2012.

The program is open to farmers, age 21 and older in eligible counties, actively farming a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cotton or 40 acres of open field vegetables or at least 10 acres of tomatoes, peppers and/or cucumbers grown in protected culture.

Community non-profits that wish to encourage farmers to support their cause may do so at the aforementioned website.

Segers joins UGA as beef cattle specialist The UGA Cooperative Extension has hired Jacob Segers as a beef cattle specialist. Segers’ responsibilities include helping Georgia’s cattle producers make the most of their herds and helping consumers have a better understanding of beef. He will also teach courses at UGA’s Tifton Campus.

“Helping people translate scientific research into terms that they can understand, and hopefully use, is extremely important, and, to me, typifies the mission of world class land-grant universities like UGA,” Segers said.

A Georgia native and UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences graduate, Segers previously worked at the University of Illinois at UrbanaSegers Champaign.

Segers grew up near Jasper, Ga., and was involved in 4-H and FFA. He was on the 2007 UGA Livestock Judging Team and served as a recruiter for the UGA Animal and Dairy Science Department.

Former UCFB President Harvey Deaver dies Harvey Deaver, 71, of Blairsville, died July 18. Deaver was past president of Union County Farm Bureau, serving from 1994 to 2005 and was a UCFB director at his death. He was a deacon at Ivy Log Baptist Church for more than 25 years.

Deaver is survived by his wife of 46 years, Janie Deaver of Blairsville, daughter, Robin Deaver of Blairsville and son and daughter-inlaw, Tim and Monica Deaver of Blairsville. Condolences may be sent to 841 Deaver Road, Blairsville, Ga., 30512.

22 / September 2013

Deaver

Charities must be recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (3) or as a unit of government under Section 170 (c) (1).

One winner will be drawn from each eligible county provided at least one entry is received from the county. Monsanto will announce winning farmers and their recipient charities in January 2014. Visit http:// www.growcommunities.com or call 1-877267-3332 to apply.

Warren to head Agribusiness Innovation Center

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has announced Bo Warren, with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), as the new director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Agribusiness. Warren replaces Donnie Smith, who recently retired.

Warren Warren remains with the GDA, where he has led the development of new programs to increase awareness of Georgia agricultural products domestically and abroad. He worked as a legislative specialist for Georgia Farm Bureau from 1996 to 2000 before going to Monsanto and then the GDA. GDEcD and GDA have partnered since 2012 to streamline export assistance for Georgia agriculture. The Agribusiness Center of Innovation will remain in close partnership with the University of Georgia and maintain its office and staff on the UGA Tifton campus.

Georgia Farm Bureau News

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