CHAMBLISS HOSTS FARM BILL FORUMS IN JESUP, TIFTON

The farm bill Congress is about to write will look a lot different than previous ones, Sen. Saxby Chambliss told farmers attending farm bill forums he hosted March 16 in Jesup and Tifton.

“I want you to understand that there will not be direct payments and there will not be countercyclical payments in this next bill,” Chambliss said. “If we’re going to work within the budget numbers we’ve got and be WTO compliant we have to go in this direction.”

Chambliss, who expects the Senate Agriculture Committee to begin writing its farm bill in the next 30 days, said the best chance to pass a farm bill slipped by last

November when the Super Committee failed to reach an agreement to reduce the federal deficit. As the Super Committee worked to cut $1.2 trillion in federal spending over 10 years, the House and Senate Ag committees recommended the elimination of direct payments and $23 billion in cuts for agriculture.

Numerous ag groups, including the National Cotton Council (NCC), have proposed replacing direct payments with revenue programs tied to crop insurance.

“STAX wouldn’t have been the cotton industry’s first choice if not for the federal budget and WTO issues,” NCC Economist Gary Adams said at the Jesup forum. “This program is trying to target a level of risk that past insurance programs haven’t targeted. This would cover low level losses from five to 30 percent, which previous insurance programs haven’t covered. STAX doesn’t address deep losses. Producers would need to buy additional crop insurance to do this.”

Speaking on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, Bob Redding stressed that peanut growers need a choice between a countercyclical-type program and a revenue program.

“These revenue programs assume you have a futures market in place for your commodity but peanuts don’t have one and economists say such a market wouldn’t work for peanuts,” Redding said. “We would recommend that the Rotterdam price be used for peanuts in place of a futures market price.”

Redding said peanut growers would also be at a disadvantage under a revenue program because peanut farmers only have yield insurance available to them. He said consideration must also be given for yield differences between irrigated versus non-irrigated peanuts.

“Agriculture is enjoying good prices now, but we will see low prices again and that’s why farmers need a safety net because we can’t afford to let other countries feed our country,” GFB President Zippy Duvall said during remarks at the Jesup meeting.

The Senate Ag Committee held its final farm bill hearing in D.C. on March 14. NCC Chairman Chuck Coley of Dooly County testified in support of the cotton industry’s proposed STAX plan.

February 22, 2012 www.gfb.org Vol. 30 No. 8

Leadership Alert page 2 of 9 VIDALIA ONION AWARDS, SHIPPING DATE ANNOUNCED

The Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) named Alan Sikes as its 2011 Grower of the Year and Bo Herndon as the latest inductee into the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame during an industry banquet held Feb. 18.

Sikes, a Tattnall County Farm Bureau member, holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science and a master’s degree in education from the University of Georgia. He runs Sikes Farms with his wife Tracy and their three sons.

Herndon, a Toombs County Farm Bureau member, has served on the VOC for most of the past 25 years, during times in which the industry developed controlled-atmosphere storage, changed standard sales units from 50 pounds to 40 pounds and pursued a variety of other initiatives. Herndon is a past president of the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association.

The Hall of Fame award honors a person who has protected the Vidalia onion name, promoted the quality of Vidalia onions, used creative selling methods, promoted research and growth and demonstrated dedication to the success of the Vidalia brand and the industry as a whole.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has announced that the official 2012 shipping date for the Vidalia onion marketing season is April 12. Vidalia onions may only be shipped prior to that date if the Federal-State Inspection Service (FSIS) certifies that they meet established grade requirements and are under positive lot identification. FARM VEHICLE EXEMPTIONS KEPT IN SENATE TRANSPORTATION BILL

The U.S. Senate passed a transportation bill (S. 1813) by a 74-22 vote on March 14. The bill reauthorizes a number of transportation programs and provides $109 billion in funding over two years, and the final version included a number of amendments important to agriculture. The current transportation bill expires March 31.

One amendment, supported by American Farm Bureau, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) would exempt certain farm vehicles and their operators from requirements for commercial drivers licensing, hours of service rules and other rules governing the operation of motor vehicles.

“The amendment is important because some states exempt farm vehicles while others do not,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “Under the current situation, merely the act of crossing state lines can trigger conflicting requirements for some farmers who are doing nothing more than hauling their own crop. These regulations can be particularly burdensome for farmers and ranchers living in counties bordering another state where their best market might be just across the state line.”

Another amendment that passed, sponsored by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and supported by Farm Bureau, would exempt some farm truck drivers from regulations on maximum driving and on-duty times during harvest and planting seasons. It applies to drivers transporting agricultural commodities within 100 miles of the farm that produced them, or those carrying farm supplies for agricultural purposes within 100 miles of the wholesale or retail distribution point. This amendment was also supported by American Farm Bureau.

Sikes Herndon

Leadership Alert page 3 of 9 GFB ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR 2012 PHOTO CONTEST

The Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee is accepting entries for its 3rd Annual Picture Agriculture in Georgia Contest - open to any Georgia Farm Bureau member who receives no income from photography.

Cash awards will be presented in two categories - Farm Bureau Members and Farm Bureau Employees. Prizes for the member category are: 1st Place - $150 and 11 Honorable Mentions - $75 each. The winner of the member category will be featured on the front of the 2013 GFB Young Farmer Calendar. Prizes for the employee category are: 1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $75, 3rd Place - $50.

Only digital photos that are a minimum of 1 megabyte (MB) in file size may be submitted with a limit of two entries per person. All photos must have been shot in Georgia in 2011 or 2012. Photos altered in any way will not be judged. All photos become the property of GFB.

Digital photos must be sent as a JPEG file attachment via email to yf@gfb.org by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27.

If children or people are included in photos, you must complete a Model Release Entry Form that must be received by GFB by 4:30 p.m. April 27 via fax or U.S. mail. Visit your county Farm Bureau office for contest rules, entry instructions and the Model Release Form or visit the GFB website at http://www.gfb.org.

Contest winners will be posted on the GFB website in early August and featured in the fall issue of GFB’s Georgia Neighbors magazine.

NACD HONORS REDDING WITH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) awarded its distinguished service award to Walton County resident John Redding during its annual meeting in recognition of the 32 years he served with the Walton County Soil & Water Conservation District (WCSWCD). The NACD is a non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 people who serve on their governing boards.

“This is a well-deserved honor, and John is to be commended for the work he has done during his 32-year involvement with the Soil and Water Conservation program that has helped farmers not only in his district but throughout Georgia and nationally,” Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. “As a farmer, I can testify that the programs the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts offer provide a great service to Georgia’s farmers by helping us

reduce soil erosion, conserve and protect the water on our farms.” Redding, a graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and UGA, worked with the

Georgia legislature in the 1990s to secure funding for Georgia’s Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Districts to purchase no-till planters and lagoon pump-out equipment. Redding also held numerous leadership positions with the NACD beginning in 2004 including secretary/treasurer and president from Jan. 2008-March 2009. President George W. Bush invited Redding to participate in the 2006 Collaborative Conservation event in St. Louis, Mo., and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack asked Redding to serve as a panelist at the 2010 National Rural Summit.

Redding

Leadership Alert page 4 of 9 GA. PEANUT COMMISSION HOLDING REAFFIRMATION REFERENDUM The Georgia Peanut Commission is holding its reaffirmation referendum through April 15. State law mandates that a referendum be held every three years. Georgia peanut producers invest $2 per ton to fund the commission and its research, education, promotion and communication programs. The last referendum in 2009 passed with 87.4 percent of the voters in favor of reaffirmation. Peanut producers who do not receive a ballot may obtain one by calling the commission at 229-386-3470 or writing to the commission at P.O. Box 967, Tifton, GA, 31793. Individuals who receive ballots but no longer farmer are asked to write “no longer producing” on the certification envelope and return it to the commission. 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. GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION FORAGE CONFERENCE April 4-5 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This first-time event, to be held in conjunction with the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting, will provide participants information on a variety of forage-related topics, from identifying & preventing stand decline in Bermudagrass to insect management options. Registration on or before March 23 is $40 for the Wednesday program and lunch, $25 for the Thursday lunch and afternoon program and $20 for the Thursday program only. After March 23, registration is $50 for the Wednesday program and lunch, $30 for the Thursday lunch and program and $25 for the Thursday program only. For more information or to register, Visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/forages/events/FC12/FC12.html. 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. GEORGIA PECAN GROWERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE March 28 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The doors open at 7:45 a.m. and the conference begins at 8. The conference includes a variety of sessions on pecan-related topics ranging from hedging pecan trees to results of trial treatments against aphids and the pecan weevil, as well as a full compliment of exhibits in the trade show. Cost for the show is $ 25 per attendee and includes luncheon meal. For more information or to register, visit http://www.georgiapecan.org.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 9 NRCS ACCEPTING CIG APPLICATIONS THROUGH APRIL 12 The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) is accepting applications for conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. The deadline to submit an application is April 12. For FY 2012, a total of $300,000 is available for Georgia CIG projects, with a limit of $75,000 per project. Funding categories include energy, nutrient management and specialty crops. Applications may be submitted electronically at http://www.grants.gov or mailed to Dale Bogardus, State CIG Technical Contact, NRCS, 355 East Hancock Ave., Mail Stop 200, Athens, GA 30601. For more information, visit http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig.html or contact Bogardus by email at dale.bogardus@ga.usda.gov. NRCS OFFERING INCENTIVES IN PIGWEED CONTROL PROGRAM The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia will provide an additional $1.1 million in financial incentives for an initiative in the currently participating counties of Bibb, Crawford, Dooly, Houston, Macon, Peach, Pulaski, Taylor and Wilcox, to control glyphosate-resistant palmer amaranth, more commonly known as pigweed. This project area has received approval for expansion to include the counties of Appling, Atkinson, Ben Hill, Berrien, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Irwin, Lanier, Lee, Lowndes, Mitchell, Schley, Sumter, Tift, Telfair, Turner, and Worth. Applications must be received by April 18 to be considered for funding. 29th ANNUAL GEORGIA EGG COMMISSION RECIPE CONTEST May 16 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The theme for this year’s contest is “Your Supreme Pizza with Eggs.” Recipes must be original, include a minimum of four whole eggs (which can be incorporated in the crust or toppings), serve at least four people and be prepared in 60 minutes or less. Entries must be postmarked or received by email or fax no later than April 1. Each recipe will be prejudged, and the top 10 will prepare them in a competitive cook-off on May 16. Judges will be chefs from the Mellow Mushroom, and the winning recipe will be featured on the Mellow Mushroom menu in select restaurants. Prizes are $2,000 for first place, $850 for second and $650 for third. To enter, send your recipe to Pizza Contest, Georgia Egg Commission, P.O. Box 2929, Suwanee, GA 30024. E-mailed submissions should be sent to goodeggs@bellsouth.net; faxed submissions should be sent to 770-932-4625. For complete contest rules, visit http://www.georgiaeggs.org/pages/special.html. GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION FORAGE CONFERENCE April 4-5 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This first-time event, to be held in conjunction with the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting, will provide participants information on a variety of forage-related topics, from identifying & preventing stand decline in Bermudagrass to insect management optionos. Registration on or before March 23 is $40 for the Wednesday program and lunch, $25 for the Thursday lunch and afternoon program and $20 for the Thursday program only. After March 23, registration is $50 for the Wednesday program and lunch, $30 for the Thursday lunch and program and $25 for the Thursday program only. For more information or to register, Visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/forages/events/FC12/FC12.html.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 9 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. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM GENERAL SIGN-UP The USDA will conduct general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through 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. 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. VEGETABLE GARDEN 102 CLASS April 12 Houston County Extension Office 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Perry The University of Georgia is offering this class, which will lead participants down the path to controlling problems in their vegetable gardens, covering topics ranging from plant disease to pest control and more. The class costs $10 per person. The registration form may be found at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston/news.html. The deadline to preregister is April 10. 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. MOUNTAIN BEEF CATTLE FIELD DAY April 18 Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center Blairsville Georgia cattle farmers will gain useful research-based information at this free event, which is sponsored by AgGeorgia Farm Credit, Pasture Management Systems and Resaca Sun Feeds. The field day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes lunch and refreshments, Topics include pasture ecology, soil and fertilizer management, beef cattle efficiency, weed control in pastures and hay field and fly control. For more information, call 706-745-2655.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 9 USDA SUSTAINABLE AG & CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS April 21 Dillwood Farms Loganville 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 give participants the opportunity to observe organically grown crops in various stages of development along with a variety of production practices. Local chefs will conduct cooking demonstrations utilizing Georgia-grown produce. Information about how to become eligible for USDA programs will be shared, and the even at Camp Westminster will include a special pasture management and equine field day. Regstration 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 or contact Willie Torrey at 678-376-9518 or visit http://www.ebtfarmersmarket.com. 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. 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. 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 8 of 9 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. 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. 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.

Leadership Alert page 9 of 9 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. 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.