AFBF DELEGATES APPROVE SEVERAL GEORGIA POLICY RESOLUTIONS

During the recently completed American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting, Georgia Farm Bureau submitted 43 policy resolutions for consideration and several were adopted

outright. AFBF’s legislative agenda is based on resolutions approved during its annual policy session.

“Georgia Farm Bureau’s Policy Development Committee did a fantastic job reviewing more than 300 policy submissions from the county level last fall, and we’re pleased that a number of these were adopted on a national level by AFBF,” said GFB President Zippy Duvall.

GFB resolutions that were approved concerned immigration and agricultural labor,

foreign boll weevil suppression, farm bill commodity protections, the sale of unpasteurized milk and prohibitions on photography on farm property without consent.

The AFBF delegates approved a Georgia resolution calling on Congress to improve or replace the current H-2A temporary seasonal agricultural worker program with a program that allows farmers to obtain a stable workforce and provides a way for undocumented workers to adjust to a legal status. Recent laws in several states, including Georgia’s HB 87, have resulted in disruptions of farmers’ access to migrant agricultural labor. GFB has maintained that immigration is an issue that should be dealt with on a federal level.

The Georgia delegates were crucial in developing language acceptable to Georgia cotton producers regarding international suppression of the boll weevil. Georgia’s boll weevil eradication program has been highly successful for years and has been used as a model by other states developing their own programs. American producers would like to see similar steps taken in other cotton-producing countries. AFBF will work to develop “a means to assure the boll weevil remains suppressed outside the borders of the U.S.”

A statement supporting a revenue insurance program for peanuts was adopted. Additionally, AFBF’s new policy calls for a farm bill with “producers being allowed a choice of program options.” Direct and countercyclical payments are not mentioned in the new policy document.

There was lengthy debate regarding the sale of unpasteurized milk products. For reasons of public health, GFB opposes the sale of unpasteurized milk. The AFBF delegates agreed, and the language was added to national policy. Activist groups have continued shooting and disseminating undercover photos and video on privately owned farms in attempts to sway public opinion about various farming practices. Delegates adopted a GFB resolution calling for laws to prohibit photography on private property without the landowner’s knowledge or consent.

January 23, 2013 www.gfb.org Vol. 31 No. 4

Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 HARDWARE, RESEARCH ON DISPLAY AT PEANUT FARM SHOW The 2013 Georgia Peanut Farm Show, held in Tifton for the first time in 30 years, drew an estimated 1,800 attendees and a record 97 exhibitors to the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center on Jan. 17.

The event featured the Georgia Peanut Commission’s annual awards program, tours of the UGA Tifton research facilities and the new GPC headquarters building, as well as educational sessions that covered topics ranging from weed management and soil fertility to crop budgets and maturity determination tools. Producers were also able to kick the tires on the latest farm equipment and get an up-close look at a crop-duster from Thrush Aircraft.

“It’s all about the peanut farmer getting the best information from research and from the exhibitors,” said GPC Chairman Armond Morris.

Washington County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee Chairman James Hitchcock was named the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. Other award winners were: Doster Warehouse President Jack Chastain (Distinguished Service Award); UGA Professor and Peanut Breeder Dr. William Branch (Research and Education Award); The Douglas Enterprise (Media Award); Dr. Jonathan Williams (Special Award).

While the surpluses from a record 2012 crop likely will mean fewer peanuts planted in 2013, Morris indicated that overseas markets have helped boost demand.

WILKINSON, MCCALL TO CHAIR GA. AG COMMITTEES

Sen. John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa) was named chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee following the retirement of Sen. John Bulloch. Wilkinson is a member of the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame and has worked as a program manager with the Georgia Department of Education, overseeing the state’s agricultural education programs.

Rep. Tom McCall (R-Elberton) has been reappointed chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. McCall has chaired the House Ag Committee since 2005.

STUDY: GEORGIA FORESTRY INDUSTRY IMPACT TOPS $25 BILLION

A Georgia Tech study for the Georgia Forestry Commission revealed that economic activity generated by the forestry industry topped $25 billion in output and provided 118,459 jobs in 2011.

The “Economic Benefits of the Forest Industry in Georgia: 2011” report shows increases in output, compensation, employment and total economic impact, as well as impact statistics by region. The report, released on Jan. 11, shows that between 2010 and 2011 revenue generated directly by the forestry industry rose 4 percent to $15.1 billion. In that same time period, forest industry workers earned $2.9 billion in wages and salaries, up 13.3 percent.

Georgia’s forest industry directly employed 46,378 people, up 6.8 percent, the first upward trend in four years.

Georgia’s pulp and paper industry continued to dominate all sectors within the forest industry (over forest management/logging; lumber and wood preservation; veneer, plywood, and engineered wood; and secondary products) in revenue output, employment and compensation. The industry also generated more than $487 million in revenues for the state budget in 2011.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 6 GFB MEMBERS NAMED TO AFBF ADVISORY COMMITTEES

The American Farm Bureau Federation has chosen 14 Georgia Farm Bureau members to serve on its 2013 commodity advisory committees. The committees provide farmer input on AFBF policy and make recommendations relative to their commodities to the AFBF Board of directors. The committees will meet on a staggered schedule for three days each in Washington, D.C., the week of Feb. 17.

GFB Forestry Committee Chairman John Mixon of Pike County will chair the AFBF Forestry Committee.

Other GFB members serving on AFBF committees are: Matt Bottoms, Pike County, Ag Nursery & Greenhouse Committee; Bobby Rowell, Brantley County, Honey/Apiculture Committee; Bob McLeod, Wilcox County, Horticulture Committee; Eddie Green, Dooly County, Cotton Committee; Wes Shannon, Tift County, Peanut Committee; Jimmy Phillips, Whitfield County, Soybean Committee; Jerry Wooten, Jeff Davis County Tobacco Committee; Farrell Roberts, Tift County, Hay and Forage Committee; Larry Cooley, Crawford County, Poultry Committee; Terry Danforth, Berrien County, Swine Committee.

James Gaston, Sumter County, will attend the Feedgrain Committee meeting as an alternate for Brian Ogletree of Spalding County. Patricia Parson, Elbert County, will attend the Goat & Sheep Committee meeting as an alternate for Mike Bunn of Walker County. FDA PROPOSES NEW FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS

On Jan. 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published two new proposed rules to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, which was signed into law in January 2011.

The proposed rules, which apply to all food and produce sold in the United States, shift the food safety focus from an approach of reacting to outbreaks to one of preventing them.

According to an FDA press release, the first rule would require makers of food to be sold in the U.S. to develop a formal plan for preventing their food products from causing foodborne illness.

The FDA is proposing that many food manufacturers be in compliance with the new preventive controls one year after the final rules are published in the Federal Register, but small and very small businesses would be given additional time, according to the release.

The second rule proposes enforceable safety standards for the production and harvesting of produce on farms. The FDA is proposing that larger farms be in compliance with most of the produce safety requirements 26 months after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. Small and very small farms would have additional time to comply and all farms would have additional time to comply with certain requirements related to water quality.

Before issuing the two rules, the FDA conducted extensive outreach that included five federal public meetings and regional, state and local meetings in 14 states, including one in Georgia in 2010.

The FDA indicated that additional rules addressing new responsibilities for importers will be issued soon, with the goal of verifying that food products grown or processed overseas are as safe as domestically produced food. To review the proposed rules, visit http://tinyurl.com/a2c5syh. To make a comment on the proposed rules, visit http://tinyurl.com/a9rfsz8.

Mixon

Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 2013 SOYBEAN/SMALL GRAIN EXPO Jan. 24 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Expo will provide soybean and small grain producers with up-to-date marketing projections and the newest production techniques. The event will also feature presentations from UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences professors on kudzu bug control, soybean breeding and the world outlook for southern commodities and others. Pesticide credits are available. For more information, contact the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association at 706-542-3793. 2013 AG FORECAST MEETINGS Jan. 25 Ga. Center for Continuing Education Athens Jan. 28 ECO Center Rome Jan. 29 Georgia Farm Bureau Macon Jan. 30 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton Jan. 31 Decatur Co. Livestock Complex Bainbridge Feb. 1 Toombs Co. Agri-Center Lyons UGA economists will give the 2013 ag economic outlook and guest speakers will discuss international trade and how the global economy impacts local businesses. Check-in for all sessions, except Tifton, begins at 9:30 a.m. Seminars run from 10 a.m. to noon followed by lunch. The Tifton event is a breakfast that runs from 7:30 a.m to 10 a.m. Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table sponsorship, which includes eight seats. Advance registration is required by January 23. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiaagforecast.com call 706-583-0347 or email carlam@uga.edu. These meetings are a UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences program endowed by Georgia Farm Bureau and supported by the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture and Georgia Agribusiness Council. NORTHEAST GEORGIA BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE Feb. 1 UGA Livestock Instructional Arena 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Athens This one-day course will cover minerals, weed control, reproduction, forage quality, cattle handling, toxic algae in ponds and marketing. Cost is $15, which includes lunch and instructional materials. Door prizes will be given away. Deadline to register is Jan. 25. For more information contact your county extension office or call 1-800-ASK-UGA1. GA COTTON COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING & UGA COTTON WORKSHOP Jan. 30 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton Event begins at 8 a.m. Speakers for the Georgia Cotton Commission’s annual meeting include: Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. President Mike Tate, Cotton Incorporated VP of Agricultural & Environmental Research Dr. Kater Hake, Cotton Council International Executive Director Kevin Latner and National Cotton Council President & CEO Mark Lange. The UGA Cotton Production Workshop will provide updates on research funded by cotton growers through the Commission checkoff. Event is free but pre-registration is strongly encouraged to help with meal plans. To register visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/external/tccc/ select Registration & then click on event or call 229-386-3416. For more information contact the Cotton Commission at 478-988-4235.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE DEADLINE IS FEB. 4 The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the census every five years to get a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches and those who operate them. Completed Census of Agriculture forms are due by Feb. 4. Producers may fill out the census online via a secure website, http://www.agcensus.usda.gov, or return their form by mail. Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the census and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential. Local, state and federal governments, ag organizations and agribusinesses rely on census data to help farmers. The Census of Agriculture includes anyone who produced or sold $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2012. NASS has mailed out the forms to collect data for the 2012 calendar year. For more information call 1-888-424-7828 or the Georgia Field Office at 1-800-253-4419. BERMUDAGRASS STEM MAGGOT MANAGEMENT WEBINAR Feb. 6 11 a.m. online This webinar, this webinar is an excellent opportunity for cattle and forage producers to get an update on the bermudagrass stem maggot. Drs. William Hudson and Dennis Hancock from the University of Georgia will discuss the status of this new invasive pest and provide research-based information on what is known about its biology and management. Questions for the speakers can be submitted during the webinar via e-mail and will be answered during the webinar. The webinar will be recorded so it can be viewed at any time after Feb. 6. This webinar has been organized and facilitated under a partnership with Auburn University. Information on how to connect to the live stream can be found at http://www.aces.edu/events/index.php. CLIMATE ADAPTATION WORKSHOP Feb. 8 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tifton This free one-day workshop, sponsored by the Southeast Climate Consortium, the Florida Climate Institute and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will bring together experts from the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, and Auburn, Clemson, Florida State and Florida A&M to discuss the latest techniques for helping farmers manage unpredictable weather conditions. Producers will also be on hand to talk about how new irrigation systems, crop varieties and land management techniques have worked on their farms. Sessions will be offered on sensor-based irrigation management, variable rate irrigation, drip irrigation, sod-based rotation, conservation tillage, cover crops and energy efficient farm systems. There will also be discussions on crop insurance issues, barriers and solutions to changing management and the seasonal climate outlook. For more information or to register visit www.agroclimate.org/seclimate/events. FLAVOR OF GEORGIA FOOD PRODUCT CONTEST The UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development sponsors this annual contest, designed to help Georgia-based food entrepreneurs showcase their products. Contestants may submit as many products as they like. The categories are: barbecue and hot sauces; jams, jellies and sauces; confections; meat products; dairy products and snack foods. Registration is open and runs through Feb. 8, 2013. Finalists will be invited to take part in a final judging on March 11, 2013 and a public tasting on March 12 at Ag Awareness Day in Georgia event, when the winners will also be announced. For more information about the contest, including registration information, visit http://www.flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.ed or call 706-583-0347.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DAY AT THE CAPITOL Feb. 12 Georgia Depot and State Capitol 9:30 a.m. Atlanta Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol is a chance for Farm Bureau members to meet with legislators and other government officials. Orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Blue Room of the historic Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, located next to Underground Atlanta. Free parking at Turner Field will be available with a shuttle service that runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact the GFB Legislative Department at 1-800-342-1192 or your local county Farm Bureau office. GA PORK PRODUCERS MEETING & PORK ACT DELEGATE ELECTION Feb. 12 Georgia Farm Bureau Home Office Macon Georgia pork producers will elect delegate candidates as outlined in the Pork Act for the 2014 National Pork Forum at 1:30 p.m. along with a meeting of the Georgia Pork Producers Association Board of Directors. Producers should bring a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff was paid to participate in the election. This meeting will follow the 2013 Georgia Pork Congress that begins with the meeting at 8:30 a.m. For information, contact the Georgia Pork Producers Association at 229-246-8297. ORNAMENTAL PRUNING CLASSES Feb. 15 & 22 UGA Research and Education Garden 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Griffin This one-day course will teach participants how to properly prune ornamentals and cover how to prune fruit trees. Participants will also learn pest prevention through pruning. Taught by UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences horticulturists Bodie Pennisi and Bob Westerfield, the class will consist of both indoor lectures and outside, hands-on demonstrations. Participants should check the weather and dress accordingly dress for the outdoor session. The cost of the course is $59, which includes lunch and break refreshments. Visit http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/?public=viewStory&pk_id=4629 for more information. Pre-registration is required by calling 770-228-7214. 2013 FOREST BIOENERGY CONFERENCE Feb. 21 Central Georgia Convention Center 7:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m. Forsyth Interest in forest biomass as a potential feedstock for renewable energy facilities has been especially keen for the past several years and much of the activity has been centered in Georgia. While many issues are becoming clearer, much uncertainty remains with regard to government policy and market prices for fossil fuels. This conference is an excellent opportunity to hear from some of the players on the front lines of developing markets, influencing government policies, and conducting research on how these changes may impact our wood supply system. The conference is sponsored by the Georgia Forestry Association and the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. For more information please visit www.gfagrow.org or call 478-992-8110. BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING Feb. 28 Ramada Conference Center Perry Meeting begins at 2 p.m. Call 229-469-4038 to RSVP or for more information.