GEORGIA FARM BUREAU HOLDS 75th ANNUAL CONVENTION

More than 1,700 Georgia farmers and agribusiness leaders from across the state met on Jekyll Island Dec. 2-4 for the organization’s 75th annual convention. The three-day convention

included a trade show and commodity conferences where farmers heard updates on policy and production issues impacting Georgia’s major commodities. During the general session on Dec. 3, convention attendees heard from Gov. Nathan Deal, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard.

While delivering his annual address to Georgia Farm Bureau members, GFB President Zippy Duvall urged Congress to take action during the lame duck session to prevent federal estate taxes from rising on Jan. 1, 2013. Rising estate taxes pose a threat to the ability of Georgia farm families being able to pass their farms from one generation to the next because families may be forced to sell land, buildings or equipment to pay taxes due on the death of an owner.

“Federal estate taxes threaten our farms, and unless Congress acts soon, many farm families could be faced with some very difficult financial decisions if there is a death in their family,” Duvall said. “We urge a lower tax rate with increased exemptions indexed to inflation.”

Deal gave the GFB members an overview of tax reform legislation, House Bill 386, passed by the Georgia General Assembly earlier this year. In addition to eliminating sales taxes on energy used in manufacturing and the “birthday tax” Georgia residents have been paying when they renew their car tags each year by their birthday, the bill also expands existing sales tax exemptions on products used to produce farm commodities.

Deal acknowledged the role Georgia Farm Bureau played in securing expanded sales tax exemptions for farmers saying, “Your Farm Bureau leadership was critical in making the importance of your case known to the General Assembly. Without Farm Bureau’s voice being added, this particular part of the tax reform package probably would not have been included.”

Black also addressed the convention attendees during the general session. “The Georgia Department of Agriculture has been delighted to be here with you at your 75th

convention. There’s a lot to celebrate here in this room. It is a big thing to celebrate 75 years. Congratulations to all of you,” Black said.

Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard, gave GFB members a synopsis of the Army National Guard’s many programs. Jarrard pointed out that the U.S. National Guard will celebrate its 376th anniversary on Dec. 13 saying, “The Minutemen, the farmer-citizen, is what started our militia, so we have a common thread there.”

December 5, 2012 www.gfb.org Vol. 30 No. 49

Deal

Leadership Alert page 2 of 6 GFB MEMBERS ELECT DUVALL PRESIDENT FOR FOURTH TERM

Voting delegates at the Georgia Farm Bureau 75th Annual Convention, held Dec. 2-4, on Jekyll Island, re-elected Zippy Duvall of Greene County to his fourth two-year term as president of the state’s largest general farm organization. Irwin County Farm Bureau President Gary Paulk also ran for the position.

In the past six years, Georgia Farm Bureau has worked diligently to ensure the economic viability of Georgia’s farmers. The organization spearheaded a statewide effort to get its members involved in the Statewide Water Management Plan, secured sales tax exemptions for materials used to produce commodities and secured state laws to thwart metal theft. GFB continues to represent farmers’ interests on labor issues and the farm bill.

In other elections, voting delegates selected their state board of directors and officers for 2013. Robert Fountain of Emanuel County was re-elected to his second consecutive three-year term as Middle Georgia vice president. Fountain has held the position since 2009 and previously held the position from 1997 to 2006.

In district director races, D.E. “Skeetter” McCorkle of McDuffie County was elected as a GFB 4th District director. Scotty Raines of Turner County was elected as a GFB 8th District director.

Gerald Long of Decatur County was re-designated as the organization’s 1st vice president. He begins the third year of his second, three-year term as GFB South Georgia vice president in which capacity he represents 53 counties in South Georgia.

Bernard Sims of Catoosa County begins the second year of his second, three-year term as GFB North Georgia vice president. He was first elected to the position in 2008. Sims represents 49 counties in north Georgia.

Garrett Ganas of Ware County was named chairman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee. Nanette Bryan of Chattooga County, was named chairman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. Both will serve a one-year term as committee chairmen and will sit on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors. EPD DIRECTOR JUD TURNER GIVES UPDATE ON STATE WATER ISSUES

When Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Jud Turner declined to declare drought under the Flint River Drought Protection (FRDPP) Act earlier this year, the move drew criticism because the stream flows in Southwest Georgia clearly warranted the declaration. Turner, speaking during a meeting on water at the 2012 Georgia Farm Bureau Convention, noted that the payouts to farmers who pulled acreage out of irrigation when the FRDPP was triggered in 2001 were about $136 an acre and the state had access to federal funds to handle the cost. That funding wasn’t available in 2012, he said, and high commodity prices further complicated the financial aspects of the FRDPP.

“The act doesn’t work in its present form,” Turner said. “The [stream flow] numbers were there to do it. I made no bones about that. But we don’t have the money.”

Meanwhile, the state continues to explore the viability of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), a system where water is pumped into underground aquifers and held until it is needed. It has water quality and other challenges, Turner said, but it also has several advantages, including fewer environmental impacts than building reservoirs.

Duvall

Leadership Alert page 3 of 6

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU PRESENTS STATE AWARDS

The Georgia Farm Bureau Federation recognized the best of the organization’s volunteers and county chapters during an awards program held Dec. 2 at the GFB 75th annual convention on Jekyll Island. The state award winners were honored for the programs they conducted this past year to promote agriculture.

Georgia Farm Bureau named a McKemie Award winner - the highest honor given to a county in recognition of its outstanding member programs - from each of its three membership categories.

Bacon County Farm Bureau, whose president is David Lee, received the McKemie Award for the 0 to 1,392-member division. Finalists in the McKemie competition, listed in alphabetical order, for the 0 to 1,392-member division were: Crawford, Heard, Jasper, Macon, Screven, Upson and Wilcox counties.

Pike County Farm Bureau, whose president is Tom Lacey, won the McKemie Award for the 1,393 to 2,335-member division. Finalists for the 1,393 to 2,335-member division were: Cook, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Jeff Davis, Monroe, Polk, Spalding, Troup and Washington counties.

Cherokee County Farm Bureau, whose president is William Grizzle, received the award in the 2,336 plus-member division. Finalists in the 2,336 plus member division were: Carroll, Coffee, Elbert, Habersham, Henry, Jackson, Madison, Newton and Stephens counties. The McKemie Award is a memorial to W.J. McKemie, who served as GFB president from April 1970 to November 1970.

Dr. James E. “Jim” Strickland of Tattnall County was honored with the Georgia Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award. Strickland has made numerous contributions to Georgia’s livestock industry during his career as a large animal veterinarian. The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor GFB gives to one of its volunteer members, recognizing Farm Bureau leaders who have made an outstanding contribution to the organization and agriculture over a long period of time.

Chris and Marilyn Hopkins of Toombs County were named the Young Farmer Achievement winners. The Hopkinses grow about 600 acres of cotton, wheat, corn, peanuts, watermelons, and pecans. Matt Bottoms of Pike County won the Young Farmer Discussion Meet. Both contest winners will enjoy an expense-paid trip to the AFBF Convention in Nashville to compete for national honors.

Montgomery County Farm Bureau, whose president is David Carswell, received the GFB Membership Award for the 0 to 1,392-member division. Jenkins County Farm Bureau, whose president is Dobie Gay, won the award for the 1,393 to 2,335-member division. Elbert County Farm Bureau, whose president is Randy Ruff, received the award in the 2,336 plus-member division.

Other state awards presented included: Outstanding Promotion & Education Award received by Franklin County Farm Bureau; Outstanding Women’s Leadership Award received by Crawford County Farm Bureau; Outstanding Legislative Award received by Coffee County Farm Bureau; Outstanding Young Farmer Committee Award received by Newton County Farm Bureau and Outstanding County Office Manager Award, received by Charlotte Wingate of Colquitt County Farm Bureau.

Strickland

Leadership Alert page 4 of 6 GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AG ACCEPTING GATE SIGNUPS The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is accepting applications for the Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) certificate, which Georgia farmers must have to receive sales tax exemptions on farm input materials effective Jan. 1, 2013. Applications may be completed online at http://www.agr.georgia.gov or downloaded and mailed to the GDA. Application forms for mailing are available at most county Farm Bureau offices. There is a $20 fee to process applications online and a $25 fee for mailed applications that may be paid with Visa, MasterCard or a personal check made payable to the GDA. Visit the website or call 1-855-327-6829 for more information. CALHOUN PERFORMANCE TESTED BULL SALE Dec. 7 UGA NW GA Research & Education Center Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. in the livestock pavilion of the Northwest Georgia Research and Education Center. For more information contact Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or by emailing pworley@uga.edu. TECHNICAL LARGE ANIMAL EMERGENCY RESCUE TRAINING Dec. 7-9 TLAER Facility Gray This course will provide certification training on the practical considerations behind safe extraction of live large animals fro entrapments like trailer wrecks, ditches, barn fires and more. Cost is $475 for operations level and $170 for awareness level on the day of the course. For more information visit http://www.tlaer.org/. AG WATER PERMIT SUSPENSION MEETING Dec. 12 Terrell Co. Govt. Building Dawson The Georgia Environmental Protection Division announced July 30 it has suspended issuing new applications for ag water withdrawal permits for a 24-county area in the lower Flint and Chattahoochee River basins. Permit applications received by July 30 will be considered. The suspension will be re-evaluated annually beginning in November 2013. The UGA Cooperative Extension is hosting this meeting to discuss why EPD suspended issuing permits, how farmers can conserve water and the future of ag water permits. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the meeting starting at 9 a.m. and running until noon. RSVP by calling 229-386-3377. UPCOMING SURVEYS TO BE CONTUCTED BY NASS Below are upcoming surveys to be taken by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Georgia office, and the dates they are to begin. Call the Georgia NASS office at 800-253-4419 with any questions or comments. Through Dec. 12 Off Farm Grain Stocks Questionnaires will be mailed on Nov. 21 and producers will be called from the Georgia Field Office, Dec. 10-12. Results will be published in the Grain Stocks report on Jan. 11, 2013. Through Dec. 14 December Agricultural Survey Data collection for the December Survey will begin with a mail-out on Nov. 21 and be followed with a call between Nov. 29 and Dec.14. Results will be published in the Annual Crop Production report on Jan. 11, 2013.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 6 COMMERCIAL MEAT GOAT MEETING Dec. 18 Macon Farmers Market 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Macon This free event will address strategies for development of a Georgia commercial meat goat market and the federal and state certification requirements for meat processing. There will also be a review of technical assistance and funding offered by USDA Rural Development. For information or to register contact Bryan Zulko at Bryan.Zulko@ga.usda.gov or Deborah Callahan at Deborah.Callahan@ga.usda.gov or 706-546-2162. USDA TO CONDUCT DECEMBER HOGS AND PIGS SURVEY In December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its final quarterly survey of pork producers this year. The agency will survey producers to measure this year’s U.S. hog and pig inventory.During the first two weeks of December, NASS will ask producers to report their market hog and breeding stock inventories as well as their farrowing intentions as of Dec. 1. Only state and national-level data will be published, and information provided by NASS survey respondents is confidential by law. NASS will publish survey results in the quarterly Hogs and Pigs report on Dec. 28. These and all NASS reports are available online at http://www.nass.usda.gov. These and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov. For more information, call the NASS Georgia Field Office at 1-800-253-4419. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Jan. 10-13, 2013 International Trade and Convention Center Savannah This annual conference features 12 different crop-specific workshops plus workshops on business operations and food safety. Attendees will also have the chance to receive legislative updates from Washington and Atlanta. For more information or to register, visit http://www.seregionalconference.com. GEORGIA GROWN EXECUTIVE CHEF PROGRAM SEEKS APPLICANTS Georgia Grown and the Georgia Restaurant Association are seeking applicants for the Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program, which promotes the Department’s Georgia Grown campaign statewide. The program offers participating chefs a mark of honor and distinction, while increasing awareness for both restaurateurs and consumers about which local Georgia products are available for the cooking season. The application process runs through Jan. 11, 2013. Visit http://www.garestaurants.org/GeorgiaGrown to apply. The selected chefs will be announced at the Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception on Feb. 19, 2013. 2013 GEORGIA DAIRY CONFERENCE Jan. 14-16, 2013 Savannah Riverfront Marriott Savannah This annual conference is designed to provide dairy producers with significant and practical take-home information on topics ranging from economic factors affecting feed prices, lowering somatic cell counts, promotion and agritourism and much more. Fees for out-of-state dairymen are $100 per farm for all three days or $50 per farm for two days or less. The Savannah Riverfront Marriott is offering special room and parking rates for those who make reservations before Dec. 13. The hotel may be reached at 912-233-7722 or 800-284-0398. Mention Georgia Milk Producers to receive the discounted rate. Reservations may also be made online at www.marriott.com, with group reservation cote gdcgdca. For more information, contact Farrah Newberry at 706-310-0020 or gamilkproducers@gmail.com.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 6 BEEKEEPING SHORT COURSE Jan. 19, 2013 Atlanta Botanical Garden Day Hall 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Atlanta This one-day course will provide everything beginning beekeepers need to know to get started in urban beekeeping. Topics including the life cycle of the honeybee, bee biology, varroa mites, honey harvest and more. The $95 registration fee includes admission to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, a light breakfast, lunch, parking, supplies and presentations. For more information, visit http://www.metroatlantabeekeepers.org/shortcourse.htm. 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. CALHOUN BEEF CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP May 28, 2013 UGA NW GA Research & Education Center Calhoun Workshop begins at 6 p.m. in the livestock pavilion of the Northwest Georgia Research and Education Center. For more information contact Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or by emailing pworley@uga.edu. GA HEIFER EVALUATION & REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE May 29, 2013 UGA NW GA Research & Education Center Calhoun Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. in the livestock pavilion of the Northwest Georgia Research and Education Center. For more information contact Phil Worley at 706-624-1398 or by emailing pworley@uga.edu. 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.