GFB COUNTY PRESIDENTS TAKE PRIORITY ISSUES TO WASHINGTON

A group of 110 Georgia Farm Bureau members and staff met with Georgia’s congressional delegation on April 19, asking for support on legislation relating to issues important to the organization - the 2012 farm bill, Clean Water Act, federal estate tax reform and farm labor.

During a breakfast meeting, Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss each spoke to the GFB group. Isakson noted that a number of forced changes in the U.S. tax code set to take place on Jan. 1, 2013, make the post-election period in 2012 “the most threatening and potentially the most exciting seven weeks in the history of American government.”

Isakson noted that the federal estate tax is scheduled to revert to a $1 million exemption with a 55 percent top rate on Jan. 1, and the marginal tax rates established in 2003 all go away.

“I hope we’ll take the opportunity with the crisis we’re going to have with all these things expiring and all the rates going up by having true comprehensive tax reform,” Isakson said. “It’s been 26 years since the U.S. looked at the tax code, put it on the table, and did away with the deductions and exemptions that didn't work and attempted to lower the marginal rates. Now you have nothing but uncertainty, and that uncertainty causes people to sit on their capital, sit on their investment, and it keeps our economy very sluggish.”

Chambliss gave a farm bill update, noting that the Senate Agriculture Committee was close to issuing a proposed bill. (A story about the bill, which was released on April 20, is on page 2.)

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman gave a brief overview of activities of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), a coalition of national agricultural groups that just finished its first full year of existence.

“There’s a whole cadre of people out there making a living trashing what we do,” said Stallman, who is also president of the USFRA. “We agreed to focus on one thing … to develop this dialogue with the consumers, so consumers can directly relate to farmers and ranchers, and they don’t have these other people making up stuff and telling them what they ought to be thinking.”

AFBF Senior Director of Regulatory Relations Don Parrish discussed efforts by the EPA and the Obama Administration to remove the term “navigable” from the Clean Water Act. “They’re trying to cut corners and do what Congress wouldn’t do,” said Parrish, who urged GFB members to express support for legislation that would prevent this from happening.

On April 20, Kay Johnson Smith of the Animal Agriculture Alliance, spoke at a breakfast meeting and stressed the importance of educating consumers and media about the care taken for farm animals.

April 25, 2012 www.gfb.org Vol. 30 No. 17

Leadership Alert page 2 of 8 SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE RELEASES DRAFT OF FARM BILL

The Senate Agriculture Committee released its proposal for the 2012 farm bill on April 20 and was scheduled to begin marking it up on April 25, according to a summary released by Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).

Due to concerns about omissions from the bill, Georgia Farm Bureau joined the Georgia Peanut Commission, Georgia Peach Council, Georgia Corn Growers Association and 39 ag organizations from other states who wrote a letter to Stabenow and Roberts asking that the markup process be delayed to allow more time for a review of the bill. The full committee was allowed to review it over the weekend and submit proposed amendments by April 23. On April 24,

Stabenow announced the markup would be delayed. The 900-page bill eliminates direct and countercyclical payments, the Average Crop Revenue

Election (ACRE) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE). Peanut and cotton storage payments are maintained.

The bill does not restructure the current federal crop insurance program, though Stabenow indicated that it “expands access so farmers are not wiped out by a few days of bad weather.”

Stabenow’s summary said the bill will improve accountability in the nutrition portions of the bill.

The bill proposes cuts that will result in $26 billion in deficit reduction over 10 years, $3 billion more than the committee’s original proposal submitted to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction last fall. Of that amount, $19 billion is to come from commodity programs. There are no cuts to the current crop insurance programs.

The bill maintains the current marketing loan rates for all commodities except cotton, for which the loan will change to a floating rate between 47 and 52 cents per pound in an attempt to stay in compliance with World Trade Organization findings in the U.S.-Brazil cotton dispute.

Conservation compliance is linked to the new shallow loss program and the marketing loan program, but not to crop insurance.

The bill consolidates 23 conservation programs into 13 programs in four functional areas: working lands, easements, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Region Conservation Partnership Program. Enrollment in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is capped at 10.3 million acres annually, down from 13 million acres in the 2008 bill. CRP enrollment will be reduced from 32 million acres to 25 million acres over the next five years. EPA APPROVES E15 USE FOR GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLES

The EPA has approved the first applications for registration of ethanol-blended gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol, known as E15, for production, sale and use in model year 2001 and newer gasoline-fueled cars and light trucks, accounting for more than half of the vehicles on U.S. roads.

According to an EPA press release, registration is required before E15 can be introduced into the marketplace. Before it can be sold to consumers, manufacturers must first take additional measures to help ensure retail stations and other gasoline distributors understand and implement labeling rules and other E15-related requirements.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 8 GA. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HIRES LABOR REPRESENTATIVES

Floyd Taylor and Taylor Williams have hit the ground running in their new positions at the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) as agriculture labor representatives, positions created with funds the Georgia General Assembly added to the GDA’s budget this year to help farmers address the labor issues they are facing.

“The need for this program was brought to the attention of the House Appropriations Committee by a number of state representatives from areas of the state growing crops that require hand labor,” said House Appropriations Chairman Terry England (R-Dist. 108).

Taylor, a native of Moultrie, previously worked for his family's ag supply company selling fertilizer and ag chemicals, buying peanuts and running a cotton gin.

“We aren’t labor regulators or enforcers,” Taylor said. “Our role is to be a representative from the Department of Agriculture to troubleshoot for farmers and to go to bat for them.”

Williams, a native of Oconee County, grew up on a farm and graduated from UGA. “We want farmers to know we care about their concerns and are doing everything we can to

address them,” Williams said. “We hope farmers will call us when they have an issue, and we’ll travel down the path with them to find a solution.”

Taylor and Williams are currently traveling across the state meeting with farmers who rely on labor to harvest their crops. Williams will be based out of the GDA’s Tifton Agriculture Laboratory while Taylor will work out of the GDA’s Atlanta office. Farmers who would like to contact either representative should call the GDA at 404-656-3600.

USDA CONFIRMS BSE IN CALIFORNIA DAIRY COW

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed a positive test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California.

This is just the fourth confirmed case in the U.S. since 2003. According to a USDA press release, the animal’s carcass was being held at a California rendering facility and will be destroyed. It was never presented for slaughter for human consumption and at no time presented a risk to the food supply or human health. USDA veterinarians examine every animal before processing and condemn those with any signs of illness.

Cattle most likely to have BSE are older animals that are either unable to walk or are showing signs of neurological disease. Such animals are banned from the human food supply, as are parts of the animal most likely to contain the BSE agent if it is present in the animal. BSE is not found in meat like steaks and roasts; it is only found in central nervous system tissue like the brain and spinal cord. BSE is not transmitted through milk consumption.

The cow was found to have “atypical” BSE, a very rare form of the disease not generally associated with consumption of infected feed. For verification, the USDA shared the lab results from the test with animal health labs in Canada and England that have extensive experience diagnosing atypical BSE. The USDA has begun an extensive investigation.

The USDA “remains confident in the health of the national herd and the safety of beef and dairy products. As the epidemiological investigation progresses, USDA will continue to communicate findings in a timely and transparent manner,” the release said.

Williams Taylor

Leadership Alert page 4 of 8 35th ANNUAL VIDALIA ONION FESTIVAL April 26-29 Vidalia This four-day event offers the Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant, a children’s parade, outdoor music concerts, arts and crafts festival, street dance, car show, the Kiwanis Onion Run, the Vidalia Onion Festival Rodeo and the famous onion-eating contest. For more information visit http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com. FOOD SAFETY UPDATE FOR CANTALOUPE GROWERS May 1 Gulf Coast Research & Education Center Wimauma, Fla. This workshop includes a lunch sponsored by the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. Registration is required by April 27. Session topics include an update on the cantaloupe market, an introduction to good agricultural practices (GAPs), instruction on personal hygiene, the Food Safety Modernization Act, food safety audits and more. For more information contact Alicia Whidden or Shavon Filmore with the Hillsborough County Extension Service at 813-744-5519. 13TH ANNUAL PANHANDLE MULE DAY April 28 Panhandle Mule Farm 9 a.m. Reynolds This heritage of breaking land comes to life at this annual event, which is designed for the entire family to enjoy. Mule Day features plowing, hay cutting and baling demonstrations, and antique engines, tractors and farm implements will be on display. Lunches and refreshments will be available through Crowell Methodist Church, and there will be live entertainment. For more information, call Steve Montgomery at 478-837-1044. TEAM AG GEORGIA SPRING WORKSHOP May 10 Dillard House 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Dillard This free one-day workshop, which includes a complimentary lunch, is for small, beginning and limited-resource farmers. Topics include fish and wildlife management, farmers markets, organics, financing, winery & vineyards, small ruminants, farm bill resources and the Farm To School program. Registration is required and the deadline to register is April 30. To register online, visit http://www.teamaggeorgia.com. For more information, contact Neal Leonard at 706-546-2207 or neal.leonard@ga.usda.gov. 2012 YOUNG HARRIS/UGA BEEKEEPING INSTITUTE May 10-12 Young Harris College 8 a.m. each day Young Harris This event, one of the most comprehensive beekeeping educational events in the Southeast, offers classes for beekeepers at all levels of experience and the annual honey show. May 10 is dedicated training and certification exams for journeymen and master beekeeper qualifications, as well as the Welsh honey judge training, the first licensing program for honey judges in North America. May 11 and 12 provide entry-level training and certification, including individual and colony biology, low-tech beekeeping, equipment construction and much more. Registration fees for 18 and older is $96 for one day and $152 for two days. For ages 11-18, fees are $44 for one day and $70 for two days. Participants are urged to preregister by April 30. On-site registration is allowed on a space-available basis, but classes generally fill up quickly. For more information, visit http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/young-harris/index.html or contact Samantha Holland at YHCbees@uga.edu or 706-769-1736.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 8 UPCOMING DEADLINES FOR FSA PROGRAMS Below are upcoming enrollment deadlines for programs administered by the Farm Service Agency: May 1 Certification of planted acres for tobacco June 1 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payments (DCP) June 1 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payment Program (SURE) July 15 2011 Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) July 15 Certification of planted acres (all crops except tobacco) Aug. 1 Farm Reconstitutions (changes) for 2012 crop year Sept. 30 Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Dates vary Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), check with FSA service center for dates) and Crop Insurance (Contact a crop insurance agent or the regional Risk Management Agency (RMA) office.) For more information about FSA programs visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1 Applications are being accepted for the Georgia Centennial Farm Program, which recognizes farms continuously operated by members of the same family for at least 100 years. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia EMC and the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. Application forms are available online at http://www.georgiashpo.org/historic/centennial_farms. For more information, contact Steven Moffson at 404-651-5906 or steven.moffson@dnr.state.ga.us. FORT VALLEY FARMERS MARKET SEEKS VENDORS The Fort Valley Farmers Market is seeking farmers, vendors and civic clubs to sell at the weekly market that will operate in downtown Fort Valley from May 5 through October. The market, located at the intersection of East Church and Lowe Street next to the Passenger Depot in downtown Fort Valley, will be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. The Fort Valley Farmers Market supports the Georgia Made, Georgia Grown market plan, which means products sold at the market should be grown or made locally. Approved market items include fresh produce, plants, flowers, crafts and homemade baked goods. Space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and vendors may set up on the days of their choice. Vendor fees are $20 for the season or $5 per weekend. On June 8 and 9, the Georgia Peach Festival will be held in Fort Valley, and the Farmers Market is busy with entertainment and crafts. On Sept. 7 and 8, Fort Valley will host the Com South Hambone Jam, the final event of the Georgia BBQ Association, and the Farmers Market is very busy that weekend. For more information, call the Fort Valley Main Street/Downtown Development Authority at 478-825-5986 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 4TH ANNUAL ST. JUDE ANTIQUE TRACTOR RIDE May 5 Lane Packing 10 a.m. Fort Valley The ride, which begins and ends at Lane Packing, is a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The event includes a lunch and tractor contests like a slow tractor race and barrel maneuvers. Riders will pay a $25 entry fee per tractor and donations from non-riders are welcomed. For more information contact James Emory Tate at 912-375-8367 or Neil Skipper at 478-286-1940.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 8 TURKEY CREEK FESTIVAL May 5 Ga. Highway 23, west off I-75 exit 122 Byromville This annual festival features family-oriented fun for everyone. Events, include a 10 a.m. parade, exhibits, the local museum, game, rides, food, entertainment and much more. For more information visit http://www.turkeycreekfestival.com or contact Mary Jo Jeter at mjojeter@yahoo.com or 478-244-1318. USDA PIGFORD SETTLEMENT CLAIMS FILING DEADLINE May 11 is the deadline for claims to be filed in the USDA Pigford II settlement case. The settlement arises from a class action lawsuit against USDA that alleges the department discriminated against African-Americans who applied for or attempted to apply for farm loans or other farm benefits between January 1, 1981 and December 31, 1996. The settlement applies only to African-American farmers who meet specific eligibility requirements, including the requirement that they previously submitted a request to file a late claim in the 1999 Pigford I class action Consent Decree. Claimants must register for a claims package by calling 1-877-810-8110 or 1-866-950-5547 or visiting the website www.blackfarmercase.com. A claims package will be mailed to claimants. EARLY DAYS OF YESTERYEAR May 11-12 Copeland Hall, Bowdon-Tyus Road Bowdon This free event will feature antique farm equipment and engines, tools, antique cars, entertainment, activities for children, vendors and food. For more information, contact Gearald Fielder at 770-228-9502 or GFIELDER@aol.com. MONROE COUNTY HERD SALE May 12 Sleepy Creek Farm 12:30 p.m. Forsyth More than 80 bred heifers will be fore sale during the event. Data available on the heifers includes A.I. breeding and sire EPD’s, pelvic area, frame score, disposition score, weight per day of age and average daily gain. For more information contact the Monroe County Extension office by phone at 478-994-7014 or by email at uge2207@uga.edu. Information about the sale may also be found online at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/monroe/HERDProgram/herd.html. GEORGIA COTTON WOMEN SCHOL. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 15 The John M. and Connie H. Mobley Memorial Scholarship is presented annually by the Georgia Cotton Women to the child or grandchild of an active Georgia cotton producer with priority given to children of Georgia Cotton Women members. In the event there is no child or grandchild of a GCW member eligible for the scholarship, the GCW Scholarship Committee has the discretion to present the award to another qualified candidate. This scholarship was established by the late John M. Mobley. It was continued by his wife Connie and is now carried on by their family. The $1,500 scholarship will be payable one-third each quarter or one-half each semester. Scholarship applications may be downloaded at http//:www.georgiacottonwomen.org. For more information contact Charlotte Wingate at 229-985-1435 or Nancy Coleman at 229-941-2930 or rosehillfarms@windstream.net. The deadline for application is May 15.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 8 USDA SUSTAINABLE AG & CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS May 17 Camp Westminster Conyers June 14 Love is Love Farm and Oakleaf Mennonite Farm Atlanta These three workshops, offered by the Upper Ocmulgee River Resource Conservation and Development Council, will show participants organically grown crops in various stages of development along with a variety of production practices. Information about how to become eligible for USDA programs will be presented. Registration is free but must be done in advance. To register, visit http://tiny.cc/LBdf2b. For more information, call the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service at 770-963-9288, contact Willie Torrey at 678-376-9518 or visit http://www.ebtfarmersmarket.com. BEEF MONTH PROMOTION WORKSHOP May 19 Ga. Farm Bureau 10 a.m.-2p.m. Macon The Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and Georgia Beef Board (GBB) is holding this workshop to help county cattlemen’s associations and county Farm Bureaus prepare to promote beef in June, Georgia Beef Month. GBB staff will distribute beef month materials and discuss promotion ideas. Representatives of county cattlemen’s associations will share promotion activities they’ve used in the past. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Communications Daren Williams will provide media training and cover how to talk about beef with consumers. The event is free but attendees are asked to RSVP by May 15 by calling Brooke Williams at 478-474-1815 or emailing her at brooke@gabeef.org. APPLY BY MAY 21 FOR FARMERS MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM The USDA is seeking grant applicants for the 012 Farmers Market Promotion Program. Approximately $10 million is available for marketing operations, including farmers markets, community supported agriculture and roadside stands. The grants are administered by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and are available only though a competitive application process online at http://www.grants.gov. The deadline to apply is May 21. The grants aim to increase the availability of local agricultural products in communities throughout the country. They will help strengthen farmer-to-consumer marketing efforts. For more information about the program, visit http://www.ams.usda.gov/FMPP. CALHOUN BEEF CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP May 29 NW GA Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 6 p.m. Contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706/624-1398 - pworley@uga.edu for more information. HEIFER EVALUATION & REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE May 30 NW GA Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or pworley@uga.edu CAES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS June 1 Deadline to apply for Transfer Scholarship The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association is accepting applications for its Transfer Scholarship for students considering transferring into a CAES program in fall 2012. For more information or to download the application form, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.

Leadership Alert page 8 of 8 COTTON SCOUT SCHOOLS June 11 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton June 19 Southeast Research and Education Center Midville These programs, which run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., offer basic information on cotton insects and scouting procedures. The programs will serve as a review for experienced scouts and producers and as an introduction to cotton insect monitoring for new scouts. For more information about the Tifton session, contact Debbie Rutland at 229-386-3424. For information about the Midville session, contact Peyton Sapp at 706-554-2119. 2012 GEORGIA YOUNG FARMERS ASSOCIATION SUMMER TOUR June 15-16 Tour begins in Lavonia This annual tour, conducted by the Georgia Young Farmers Association, begins with a picnic dinner at Lavonia City Park, followed by a private showing of “Land of Spirit,” Franklin County’s folk life play. The second day’s stops include Transplant Nursery for a look at one of the South’s largest azalea and rhododendron growers and the Fieldale egg hatchery. Fees are $40 for ages 12 and up and $15 for ages 6 to 11. For more information, please contact Owen Thomason at othom@franklin.k12.ga.us or 706-384-4525. GEORGIA EGG ASSOCIATION 51st ANNUAL MEETING June 20-22 King & Prince Beach & Golf Resort St. Simons Island The Georgia Egg Association meeting offers educational sessions, reports from the American Egg Board, United Egg Producers and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. The association will also hold its awards banquet, a spouse’s breakfast and much more. For more information, call 770-932-4622. DAWSON COUNTY FARM SAFETY FAIR June 23 Field on HWY 9@ canoe ramp near Riverview Middle School Dawsonville The AGCO equipment company and Dawson County Farm Bureau are hosting a farm safety training from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for adults. AGCO will demonstrate new safety features available on hay equipment, and EMS personnel will give safety presentations. The local FFA will sell food as a fundraiser. For more information contact Tammy Wood at the DCFB at tewood@gfb.org or 706-265-3350. Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Field Day July 12 Spence Field Moultrie See crop progress and new research tests on field plots for cotton, peanuts, corn and more. Shuttles start at 9 a.m. and door prizes will be awarded at a sponsored lunch. For more information call 229-985-1968 or visit www.sunbeltexpo.com.