HOUSE AG COMMITTEE SCHEDULES FARM BILL FIELD HEARINGS

The House Agriculture Committee has announced a series of four field hearings on the 2012 farm bill, the first of which was scheduled for Mar. 9 in Saranac Lake, N.Y.

According to a committee press release, the hearings are the next step in development of the next farm bill and will give committee members a chance to hear from farmers about the effectiveness of U.S. farm policy.

Last summer the committee conducted a series of audits as a preliminary part of fashioning the 2012 farm bill. The 2008 farm bill is scheduled to expire in December 2012.

“Field hearings represent one of the best parts of writing the farm bill because it gives us a chance to see the countryside and visit with folks who are directly impacted by our policy decisions in Washington,” said House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.).

“Agricultural policy affects every American. Ensuring that our farmers and ranchers have the necessary tools they need to continue to produce an affordable and stable food supply is as important to our country as national defense. It’s critical to all of us that we get it right. I look forward to hearing from our producers and from those who live and work in rural America.”

The field hearings will be held March 9 in Saranac Lake, N.Y., March 23 in Galesburg, Ill., March 30 in State University, Ark., and April 20 in Dodge City, Kan. Plans also call for a live webcast of the four field hearings, which can be accessed online at http://agriculture.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=70&LSBID=71|72|73.

The Senate Agriculture Committee changed the dates for the last two of its farm bill hearings. The hearing on nutrition, originally scheduled for March 14, was moved to March 7, and the hearing on risk management and commodities, originally set for March 21, was moved to March 14 to allow more time for negotiations over provisions in the bill after the hearings.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, speaking at the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn., urged Congress to pass a farm bill in 2012 rather than extending the 2008 farm bill and addressing renewal in 2013, saying that the task of writing the legislation will not get any easier. Vilsack discussed the USDA’s priorities for the 2012 farm bill. He said the crop insurance system leaves protection gaps that should be filled in order to assist farmers in times of crisis, allowing them to maintain their farms.

Vilsack said that the farm bill should include provisions that help the U.S. maintain its export programs by reducing barriers to trade and helping to maintain relationships with overseas partners, noting that $137 billion worth of agricultural goods were exported in 2011.

March 7, 2012 www.gfb.org Vol. 30 No. 10

Leadership Alert page 2 of 9 GFB, GA. AGRITOURISM ASSOCIATION HOST SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP

A group of 25 people received direct, hands-on training on how to open accounts with social media websites and then post content to them during a one-day social media workshop on March 1 at the Georgia Farm Bureau home office in Macon.

The training was conducted by Georgia Farm Bureau in conjunction with the Georgia Agritourism Association, with the goal of helping social media beginners develop skills that can be used to communicate agricultural topics on the internet.

GFB President Zippy Duvall and GAA President Jeff Manley welcomed the participants and stressed the importance of using social media to advance agricultural causes.

The training, facilitated by GFB Commodities Specialist Brandon Ashley, walked participants through the set-up and content-loading processes for social networking site Facebook, Gmail, social messaging site Twitter, blog site WordPress and video sharing site YouTube.

Elbert County Farm Bureau Director Mandy Williams enrolled to enhance her skills to promote community service projects ECFB is already implementing, including serving as a collection point for donations to assist the local school system. She said she hoped using social media would help inform the public about ECFB’s activities and perhaps prompt visits to the ECFB office by people who wouldn’t go there otherwise.

“I think it’ll be a good tool,” Williams said. “It'll also create interest and hopefully get some people in to the local office that would not normally stop by. Because a lot of people maybe would pull off a Campbell’s Soup label and not have a child that would be in the school system.” U.S. EPA MOVES FORWARD WITH “WATERS OF THE U.S.” GUIDANCE

The EPA is moving forward with its “waters of the U.S.” guidance, which would significantly expand the agency’s regulatory reach, including giving the EPA authority over isolated wetlands and all tributaries.

The EPA is expected to eliminate the term “navigable” from the definition of “waters of the U.S.,” which would broaden the EPA’s Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdiction to even small depressions and ditches that only carry rainwater.

Farm Bureau maintains that by using guidance to expand federal jurisdiction over state waters and private property, EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers are circumventing established procedures on how regulatory changes are to be made and assuming authority beyond what Congress intended when the CWA was enacted.

In a related development, a U.S. District Court in Florida has ruled that the EPA’s numeric nutrient criteria for Florida streams and unimpaired lakes are unlawful because they are arbitrary and have no scientific basis.

While the court upheld the EPA’s ability to issue federal standards, it agreed with arguments by the plaintiffs - which included American Farm Bureau - that two key types of restrictions were unlawful, rejecting EPA standards that prohibit any increase in nutrient levels and ruling that states have the power to determine water quality standards under the CWA. The decision will likely have implications in agriculture and other sectors in numerous states.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 9 GA. EPD DECLINES FLINT RIVER BASIN DROUGHT DECLARATION

Noting that reducing irrigation would be ineffective in increasing stream flows, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has announced it won't issue a severe drought declaration for the Flint River Basin, though some streams in the lower basin appear likely to go dry during summer months.

EPD is required by the Flint River Drought Protection Act to make an announcement by March 1 of each year regarding severe drought. The law authorizes the compensation of farmers who voluntarily stop irrigating their crops following a severe drought declaration, although no funds are currently appropriated for this purpose according to the EPD. The only severe drought declarations were made in 2001 and 2002.

“EPD has analyzed data on stream flows and determined that a reduction in irrigation that might be achievable through operations of the Flint River Drought Protection Act would have a negligible impact on surface water flows this year,” EPD Director Jud Turner said in a release. “Southwest Georgia has experienced historically low basin inflow within several areas of the lower Flint River basin for several months, and it’s going to take a significant amount of rain to improve conditions.”

According to the release announcing there will be no drought declaration, the EPD will use data collected in the past decade including the number of acres under irrigation in the region, location of irrigated acres most likely to impact stream flows and the amount of irrigated water expected to be used in dry years along with hydrologic date from the current climatic cycle to make recommendations regarding changes to the Act in the 2013 legislative session.

GA. SENATE PASSES BILL TO COMBAT METAL THEFT

The Georgia Senate passed SB 321, which includes a number of provisions to address the issue of metal theft.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford), passed by a 44-5 vote following floor debate which included a video testimony from Madison County Farm Bureau member Dennis Moon, who detailed damage metal thieves have done to his poultry operation.

The final bill approved by the Senate requires that metal recyclers obtain permits from the local sheriff and obtain additional information from metal sellers, including clear photos of the metal being sold and the seller’s face, requiring a 14-day waiting period for payment, and several other provisions. The bill advances to the House for consideration.

USDA MAKES EMERGENCY LOANS AVAILABLE FOR EQUINE OPERATIONS

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced on Feb. 29 that equine operations are now eligible for loan assistance under the FSA’s emergency loan program to help them recover from losses due to natural disasters or quarantine.

Emergency loans may be used to restore or replace essential property, pay all or part of production costs associated with the year in which the disaster occurred, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize the farming operation and refinance certain debts.

For additional information about FSA’s emergency loan program, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=fmlp&topic=efl.

Leadership Alert page 4 of 9 GA. PEANUT COMMISSION SEEKING FUNDING FOR AN ENTOMOLOGIST The Georgia Peanut Commission is encouraging all farmers and industry representatives to contact their state legislators request funding for a peanut entomologist at the University of Georgia. There is an opportunity to fill limited positions at the University of Georgia that have been vacant for a while. The Commission Board Members have made this a top priority due to the increased insect pressure farmers have faced in recent years. Find your Georgia state senator and representative online at http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/SenateMembersList.aspx and http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/HouseMembersList.aspx.

VEGETABLE GARDENING 101 March 12 Houston County Extension Office 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Perry This informative one-night seminar will provide information on seed propagation, soil preparation, plant selection and planting techniques. Cost is $10 per person. Preregistration and advance payment is required before 5 p.m. on March 7. Interested persons may send an email message to mg@uga.edu to have a form sent to them by email, and the registration form may also be downloaded at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston/news.html. GFB EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE March 24 Macon Marriott 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Macon This annual conference includes workshops covering commodity promotion for the 2012-2013 school year and how to effectively develop a program to combine classroom activities with on-farm visits. Stephens County teacher Katie Perrin will share ideas for classroom activities. A 7 p.m. meet and greet event will take place on March 23. Deadline to register is March 9. Registration for the conference is $45 per person. The group rate for hotel rooms is $114 per night. Contact your county Farm Bureau or Donna Rocker at dhrocker @gfb.org or 478-474-0679, ext. 535 for more information. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM GENERAL SIGN-UP The USDA will conduct general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) from March 12 to April 6. CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. Producers with expiring contracts and producers with environmentally sensitive land are encourased to evaluate their options under CRP. For more information on CRP or other FSA programs, visit your nearest FSA service center or http://www.fsa.usda.gov. AGRICULTURAL WEEK IN GEORGIA KICK-OFF March 13 Georgia Depot Atlanta Gov. Nathan Deal and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black will host this event. Exhibits, food and entertainment will begin at 11 a.m. The program starts at 12:30 p.m. and includes the announcement of the winners of the Environmental Stewardship Award for Agriculture and the grand price winner of the Flavor of Georgia Food Contest. For more information contact Steven Meeks by phone at 912-207-0813 or by email at steven@fmrburchfarms.com or meekss@me.com.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 9 NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD NOMINATION MEETING March 15 Georgia Peanut Commission headquarters 1:30 p.m. Tifton During this meeting, the Georgia Peanut Commission will select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board (NPB). All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop. ��John Harrell of Whigham is the current Georgia National Peanut Board member and Andy Bell of Climax serves as the alternate. The term for the current Georgia board member and alternate expires December 3. ��NPB encourages all persons who qualify as peanut producers to attend the meeting and run for nomination. It is USDA's policy that membership on industry-government boards and committees accurately reflect the diversity of individuals served by the programs. For more information on the nomination meeting, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229-386-3470 or via email at info@gapeanuts.com. UGA CAES ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS DEADLINE IS MARCH 15 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 March 15. The Young Alumni Achievement and Alumni Excellence awards must be received by March 15. For more information or to make nominations for these awards, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html. GEORGIA DOL AG PRACTICES SURVEY DEADLINE IS MARCH 16 The Georgia Department of Labor is conducting a voluntary survey of the state’s fruit and vegetable growers to determine the “valid prevailing and common agricultural practices in Georgia.” The results of the survey will be used by the U.S. Department of Labor to determine employee benefits and working conditions to be provided by Georgia agricultural employers who use the H-2A program. The survey can be filled out online at http://www.research.net/s/AGSurvey2012. Georgia Fruit & Vegetable growers who did not receive a survey should contact the Georgia DOL Agricultural Services Unit at 404-232-3500. RAY CITY OLD FASHION PLOW DAY March 17 Ray City This event features an antique tractor show and plowing demonstration with antique tractors and mules and horses plowing in the field just like they did 100 years ago. Parade begins at 11 am and plowing to follow. Arts & Craft vendors, Food vendors, fun and games for kids, bluegrass gospel concerts featuring the bluegrass gospel band, the Wauka Mountain Boys, a baking contest with prizes, frying pan toss contest, and much more. Free admission. Join us for a day of agricultural history. For more info contact Greg Harrell 229-237-3223.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 9 CHEROKEE COUNTY AG EXPO March 22 Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce 4:30 – 6:30 Canton This event, cosponsored by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, is part of Cherokee County Farm Bureau’s Agriculture Week celebration, features 20 different booths along with food and drinks. For more information, contact CCFB at 770-479-1481, ext. 0. PEANUT PROUD CELEBRATION March 24 Downtown square 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Blakely This fourth annual event begins with a 5K fun run and ends with an evening street dance. In between, visitors will enjoy annual Peanut Proud parade, live music from the Blakely Mass Choir, country artists Daryle Singletary and John Berry and others, a wrecking ball, train rides, trampoline jump, recipe contests and much more. For more information, visit http://www.peanutproud.com. GFB CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT SEMINAR March 26–27 GFB Home Office Macon Individuals interested in running for public office will have a chance to gain valuable tips on how to conduct an election campaign during the campaign management seminar, hosted by Georgia Farm Bureau in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation. The event will be facilitated by AFBF Director of Grassroots/Political Advocacy Cody Lyon and will cover various aspects of campaign strategy, fund-raising, interaction with media and much more. The fees to attend are $150 for Farm Bureau members, $200 for non-members and $75 for candidate spouses and campaign managers attending with their candidates. Enrollment is limited to 30 people and the registration dadline is Feb. 24. For more information, contact the GFB Field Services or Legislative department at 478-474-8411. OLD SOUTH FARM CAMP March-May Old South Farm Museum & Ag Learning Center Woodland Each of this series of three-day camps begins at 7 p.m. on the first day with supper and orientation and ends by 11 a.m. on the third day. It includes six or more classes on a variety of topics ranging from milking a cow to lye soap making and more. Fee is $200 per person, including meals, housing, transportation and class materials. Pre-registration is required. For registration information and specific camp dates call Paul Bulloch 706-975-9136 or visit http://www.oldsouthfarm.com. GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION 51ST ANNUAL CONVENTION April 4-7 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This jam-packed four-day event covers all things beef, including a forage conference conducted by UGA’s Dr. Dennis Hancock; a herbicide calibration clinic offering CEU credit hours; Pfizer Cattlemen’s College seminars on the topics of political/regulatory issues, risk management, nutrition and road safety; a livestock marketing seminar conducted by UGA’s Dr. Curt Lacy; the annual awards banquet; a “Beef Rocks” seminar hosted by the Georgia Cattlewomen’s Association; the GCA general membership meeting; angus, hereford, commercial heifer and club calf sales; the annual Cattlemen’s Ball; coffee and donuts with new Georgia State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb and a new products and junior awards luncheon. For more information or to register, visit http://www.gabeef.org/gca/conventionregistration.htm.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 9 2012 OTTAWA FARMS STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL April 14-15 Ottawa Farms Bloomingdale This annual event is filled with family fun, including cloggers, hayrides, cow train rids, a wild west show, the Mobile Dairy Classroom, Corn Cannon, pig races at the Ottawa Speedway and much more. The strawberry field will be open for visitors to pick their own strawberries and a variety of farm products at the Ottawa Farms General Store. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 14 and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 15. Admission is free for children under age 6 and $5 for everyone age 6 and up. For more information call 912-748-3035. INAUGURAL GOLDEN ONION COOKING COMPETITION April 22 Vidalia Community Center 12:30 p.m. Vidalia This competition, presented by the Vidalia Onion Committee, will serve as the official kick-off of the 35th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival. This professional competition will feature chefs from across Georgia preparing dishes featuring Vidalia onions. Prizes are $500 for first place, $250 for second and $100 for third. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, visit http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com. HEIFER EVALUATION &REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE April 24 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229/386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. 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. 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. 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.

Leadership Alert page 8 of 9 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 SCHOLARSHIP 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. 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 9 of 9 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.