FOOD CHECK-OUT WEEK GIVES TIPS FOR BETTER NUTRITION ON A BUDGET

Eating healthy while on a budget is possible for most Americans, if they’re willing to invest some time in strategic shopping. During Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 17-23, Farm Bureau volunteers and staff will focus on spreading the word about how consumers can stretch their grocery dollars with healthy, nutritious food.

The price of unprepared, readily available fresh fruits and vegetables, such as lettuce, bananas, whole carrots, apples, broccoli and tomatoes, has remained stable compared to dessert and snack foods, according to studies by the United States Department of Agriculture. This suggests that the price of a healthy diet has not changed relative to an unhealthy one.

Farm Bureau offers shopping tips for achieving better nutrition on a budget, including knowing your budget, planning home-prepared meals that include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains, shopping at competitively priced supermarkets close to home while checking prices online or in newspaper adds and clipping coupons. For more tips on maximizing your nutrition and your food budget, visit http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=events.foodweek.

Food Check-Out Week, now in its 15th year, also highlights the variety and dependability of America’s food supply, made possible by America’s farmers. According to the most recent information (2011) from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, American families and individuals spend, on average, less than 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food. In comparison, Italian consumers spend 14 percent; Chinese consumers spend 33 percent and Pakistani consumers spend 46 percent. On average, farmers only receive 16 cents out of every dollar spent on food. The rest of the dollar covers wages and materials for food processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. Recent food price increases are due primarily to higher energy costs associated with processing, hauling and refrigerating food products.

To celebrate the safe and affordable food supply our country enjoys, Georgia Farm Bureau is asking its county chapters to hold events in their local communities to educate the public about eating healthy and shopping on a budget. Many county Farm Bureaus are accepting cash or canned food donations to assist the hungry in their communities as well as cash to provide food assistance to the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta.

Each year, the Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee rotates the state donation to a different Ronald McDonald House. In previous years, donations have been made to the Ronald McDonald Houses in Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah. If you would like to make a donation visit your county Farm Bureau office.

February 20, 2013 www.gfb.org Vol. 31 No. 8

Leadership Alert page 2 of 7 GEORGIA SENATE PASSES BEEF COMMISSION BILL –

The Georgia Senate passed SB 97 on Feb. 14 by a vote of 47-0. SB 97 would give cattle producers the opportunity to vote in a referendum to decide whether to create a Georgia

Agricultural Commodity Commission for Beef. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Georgia Farm Bureau supports allowing beef producers to vote on whether to have a commodity commission to fund research, education and promotion of beef produced in Georgia.

If Cattle producers get to hold a referendum, they must approve the commission by a two-thirds vote before it goes into effect.

If approved by the producers, the commission would be required to conduct a reaffirmation vote every three years under the Georgia Agricultural and Commodities Promotion Act of 1961.

The purpose of a beef commission would be to promote beef products, educate consumers, and fund research to help cattle producers. Funding for these activities would be generated by a

state cattle checkoff that cannot exceed one dollar per head. Cattle selling for less than $100 would be exempt from the checkoff.

SB 97 is the result of an initiative of the Cattle Industry Stakeholder Investment Group. The group held its first meeting at the Georgia Farm Bureau building on June 29, 2012. Representatives of Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Georgia Milk Producers, and the Georgia Livestock Marketing Association attended the meeting.

The group supported the creation of a Georgia Commodity Commission for Beef, and on Oct. 3, a joint letter was sent to Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black requesting the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s assistance in the effort. Georgia Farm Bureau supports passage of SB 97.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa) presented the bill on the floor on Feb. 1 with Sens. Bill Heath (R-Bremen) and Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville) as cosponsors. Both Heath and Ginn are members of the Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee.

“The current system we have with the National Beef Checkoff has not been able to keep up with the growing population and its respective beef demands. This new commission will sustain beef research, promotion and education efforts that farmers have enjoyed in the past,” Wilkinson said.

The state currently oversees 12 farmer-funded commissions for apples, blueberries, corn, cotton, eggs, equine, milk, peaches, pecans, soybeans, tobacco and vegetables. BILL TO LIMIT DIRECT PAYMENTS INTRODUCED IN U.S. SENATE

A bill that would limit amounts of direct payments was submitted on Feb. 12 by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.).

The Farm Program Integrity Act of 2013 would establish a per-farm cap of $50,000 on all commodity program benefits except those associated with the marketing loan program, which would be capped at $75,000. According to a release from Grassley’s office, the bill would require a person to be “actively engaged in farming in order to receive farm payments, closing what the senator referred to as the “management loophole” and preventing general partnerships that have multiple non-farmers qualifying for farm payments.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 7 AG DEPT. TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANTS

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has announced the competitive solicitation process to award the 2013 Specialty Crop Block Grant. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that “enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.” Specialty crops are defined as: fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass/sod, nursery and greenhouse crops, including floriculture. Please see a specific listing of all eligible crops at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/scbgp

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will make approximately $55 million available, with Georgia’s share being approximately $1.13 million, contingent upon federal funding becoming available. Grant amounts will be awarded from $10,000 to approximately $150,000 per project.

Grants will be awarded for up to three years. GDA’s intent is to fund projects that can produce the highest degree of measurable benefits to Georgia’s specialty crop producers, in relation to each dollar spent.

Grant applications must be received by GDA by April 15 at 4:30 p.m. via email or US mail. Please refer to the links available on the GDA grants webpage located at http://www.agr.georgia.gov/grants.aspx for the grant application, guidelines, and additional information.

For questions or additional information contact Jeanne Maxwell, Esq., GDA Director of Grants Development & Compliance, 9 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive SW, Room 216, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. Maxwell can be reached by phone at 404-657-1584 or by email at Jeanne.Maxwell@agr.georgia.gov. MORE GEORGIA COUNTIES DESIGNATED AS DISASTER AREAS

The USDA has designated an additional 36 Georgia counties, all of them south of the fall line, as primary disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by persistent drought conditions.

On Feb 6, nine counties received the primary natural disaster designation, with an additional 14 counties in Georgia receiving contiguous disaster designation. The primary counties were Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Colquitt, Effingham, Jenkins, Miller, Screven and Seminole. The contiguous counties are Baker, Brooks, Burke, Candler, Cook, Decatur, Early, Emanuel, Evans, Liberty, Mitchell, Thomas, Tift and Worth.

On Feb 13, the USDA designated 27 more Georgia counties as primary disaster areas and 24 as contiguous disaster areas. Those counties are Appling, Ben Hill, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Candler, Coffee, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Wayne, Wheeler and Worth.

In addition, the following counties received contiguous disaster designation: Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Charlton, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Dodge, Dougherty, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Mitchell, Pierce, Thomas, Ware and Wilcox.

Farmers in the affected counties could be eligible to receive low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 7 COTTON REFERENDUM ENDS MARCH 5 The reaffirmation referendum for the Georgia Cotton Commission continues through midnight of March 5. ��� ���Producers of cotton who have not received a ballot should call 404-656-3678 to request one. The Commission respectfully urges growers to take this opportunity to cast their vote. A favorable vote of 66 2/3 percent of those producers voting must be received in order for the Commission to continue its programs of research, promotion and education. For more information about the GCC, contact ���Richey Seaton at 478-988-4235 or gactn@windstream.net. CERTIFIED EGG CANDLING CLASSES Feb. 21 Coweta County Extension Office 9 a.m. Newnan These free classes for owners of “backyard” flocks provide the Georgia Department of Agriculture candling course and exam, which must be completed by those wishing to sell eggs in Georgia. The five-hour course includes training and licensing to classify and grade eggs according to the USDA Egg Grading Manual, as well as techniques to prevent certain diseases from entering poultry flocks. For more information or to enroll, contact Lee Lancaster at 229-386-3489 or lee.lancaster@agr.georgia.gov. 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. 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. For more information please visit www.gfagrow.org or call 478-992-8110. 2013 GEORGIA FARM TO SCHOOL SUMMIT Feb. 21-22 Georgia International Conference Center College Park This two-day event, presented by the Georgia Farm to School Alliance, of which Georgia Farm Bureau is a member, features 16 workshops featuring experts and leaders from around the state, four field trips, a youth leaders panel, food and farm safety workshops for cafeteria staff and farmers and networking opportunities. Keynote Speaker Debra Eschmeyer is the Co-Founder and Director of Parterships and Policy of FoodCorps and an organic fruit and vegetable farmer. The GICC is located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA, 30337. Registration is $125 for both days or $100 for Thursday only. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/afzu7ed. 36th ANNUAL FARM, HOME AND MINISTERS CONFERENCE March 5 Fort Valley State University Pettigrew Center Fort Valley This annual event sponsored by the FVSU Cooperative Extension Program, starts at 9 a.m. and runs through 3 p.m. Topics include health care reform, food safety and a hoop house technology tour. The event is open to the public and lunch will be provided. Registration deadline is Feb. 22. To register online, visit http://bit.ly/XTX5qq. For more information, contact E. Jean Willis at 478-825-6269 or willise@fvsu.edu.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 7 ORNAMENTAL PRUNING CLASSES Feb. 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. In addition to proper pruning techniques, participants will learn what equipment to use, when, where and how to prune certain plants and techniques for creating a professional-looking landscape. Participants will also learn pest prevention through pruning. 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. GFB SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEB. 22 Students wishing to apply for one of 10 Georgia Farm Bureau Scholarships have until Feb. 22 to apply. The scholarships are for high school seniors who plan to pursue undergraduate degrees in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or related agricultural fields. Students submitting an application must currently be a Georgia high school senior and plan to enroll in a unit of the University System of Georgia or Berry College during the 2013-2014 academic year. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information or an application. A copy of the application may also be downloaded from the GFB website by visiting http://www.gfb.org/programs/aic/EducationLinks.htm. Applications must be approved and signed by the Farm Bureau president of the county in which the applicant resides or attends high school. Winners will be announced in May. DAIRY HEALTH FINANCIAL CHECKUP SERIES Feb. 26 Burke Co. Extension Office Waynesboro Feb. 27 Macon Co. Extension Office Oglethorpe Feb. 28 UGA Tifton Conference Center Tifton March 27 Trinity United Methodist Church Clermont March 28 Pennington Church Annex Madison This series will help dairymen assess their financial health and discover ways to make adjustments, including recognition of a variety of important financial indicators. Meetings are open to dairymen, managers, and employees free of charge and will last from 10 a.m. until noon, ending with lunch. Please preregister for meal by calling 706-310-0020. The series is sponsored by Georgia Milk Producers, Inc., Dr. Curt Lacy, University of Georgia and SARE (Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education) UGA CAES ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS DEADLINE IS FEB. 28 The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association invites you to make nominations for its Young Alumni Achievement Award, Alumni Award of Excellence and the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame. The Young Alumni Achievement Award is for alumni who are 35 years old or younger and who have achieved excellence in their chosen field and/or in their community. The CAES Alumni Award of Excellence recognizes extraordinary CAES alumni 35 years or older. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals making unusual and extraordinary contributions to agriculture and agribusiness industries in Georgia. Hall of Fame nominations must be postmarked by Feb. 28. The Young Alumni Achievement and Alumni Excellence awards must be received by Feb. 28. For more information or to make nominations for these awards, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 7 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. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNER AND OPERATOR TRAINING March 6-7 UGA Livestock Arena Athens This annual training for animal waste operators and planners features sessions covering certified nutrient management plans, updates on government regulations, emergency action planning, emissions and lagoon issues, and much more. Speakers include experts from UGA, the NRCS and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Georgia Milk Producers sponsors the event for dairymen attending. Preregistration is required by March 1. For more information contact Melony Wilson at 706-542-2735 or mlwilson@uga.edu. CAES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS March 1 Deadline to apply for Freshman Scholarship June 1 Deadline to apply for Transfer Scholarship The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association is accepting applications for its Freshman Scholarship, for freshmen entering UGA in fall 2013 and the Transfer Scholarship for students considering transferring into a CAES program in fall 2013. For more information or to download the application form, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html. FARM SAFETY WORKSHOP March 4 Walker County Ag Center 6 p.m. Rock Spring This workshop, sponsored by Walker County Farm Bureau, will include both classroom presentations and demonstrations with farm equipment. Since pesticide safety will also be addressed at the workshop, farmers attending that have a private pesticide license will receive one hour of pesticide recertification credit. The program is free of charge and open to any local adults or youth interested in attending. Call the Walker County Extension office at 638-2548 by March 1 to RSVP. BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE March 5 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Registration starts at 9 a.m. For more information contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. CHEROKEE COUNTY AG EXPO March 14 Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce 4:30 – 6:30 Canton This event, cosponsored by the Cherokee County Farm Bureau, Cherokee County Extension Office and Chamber of Commerce, is part of the county’s Agriculture Week celebration. The event will feature more than 20 booths highlighting locally grown food, ag products and ag businesses. Samples of grits, honey, jams and locally made bread will be served. The public is invited to attend to learn how agriculture impacts life in Cherokee County daily. For more information or to make a reservation, contact CCFB at 770-479-1481, ext. 0. The Chamber of Commerce office is located at 3605 Marietta Hwy in Canton.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 7 MARCH 15 IS DEADLINE FOR GA. AG HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS Nominations for the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame are being accepted until March 15. The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals of impeccable character who have made unusual or extraordinary contributions to agriculture and agribusiness industries in Georgia. For information about the award and the nomination procedure, visit http://tinyurl.com/a6y9f2g. PEANUT PROUD FESTIVAL March 23 Courthouse Square Blakely This annual celebration of Georgia's peanut industry features the Peanut Proud Parade, a 5K run, a wide variety of arts and crafts, kids games and free entertainment featuring country artist John Berry and Diamond Rio. For more information, visit http://www.peanutproud.com. FILING FOR WOMEN, HISPANIC FARMERS ENDS MARCH 25 The filing period ends March 25 for women or Hispanic farmers alleging discrimination by the USDA in loan application or loan servicing processes between 1981 and 2000. The voluntary claims process, which is offered as an alternative to litigation, will make available at least $1.33 billion for cash awards and tax relief payments, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief to eligible claimants. There are no filing fees to participate. For more information call 1-888-508-4429 or visit https://www.farmerclaims.gov. CONFERENCE ON UNMANNED SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE March 28-29 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton This conference, cosponsored by the Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Georgia Center of Innovation, is designed to introduce Georgia farmers to the benefits and practical applications of unmanned systems. Speakers include Young Kim, general manager of BOSH Global, John Deere Manager of Field Robotics Stewart Moorehead, UGA Tifton Dean Dr. Joe West and others. The program features live unmanned systems demonstrations and interaction between potential users and manufacturers. To register, visit http://www.ugatiftonconference.org. For more information, contact Karen McIlroy at kmcilroy@uneqconsulting.com. GEORGIA FORAGES CONFERENCE April 3-4 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry For the second straight year, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association’s Annual Convention begins with its focus on “Making the Best Better” with the Georgia Forages Conference. On April 3 UGA Extension Forage Specialist Dr. Dennis Hancock will begin the program with a mini-“hay school,” which will cover key steps to making more and better hay. UGA Extension Livestock Economist Dr. Curt Lacy will provide an economic outlook for 2013 and cover some of the new drought insurance products that are on the market. On April 4, specialists from Auburn University and the University of Florida speaking on the opportunity to renovate and improve tall fescue, bermudagrass, and bahiagrass pastures. For more information or to register for the event, visit http://www.gabeef.org/gca or call 478-474-6560. You can also learn more about the Georgia Forages Conference at http://www.georgiaforages.com.