georgia ag news march edition

AGNewsGeorgia Inside:

GPF Spring Meet Page 3Layer legislation Page 8Ag labor issues 1

How to prune roses Page 12

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North Georgia’s Agricultural Newspaper March 2012

See Firewood, Page 6

Photo by David B. Strickland

Making predic-tions: Predicting weather conditions can run the gamut from modern sci-ence to folk say-ings. Georgia has, so far, seen a fairly mild winter; but March weather has been known to give the state some sur-prises.

Weather predictionscan vary, old and newBy Barbara OlejnikGeorgia Ag News [email protected]

GAINESVILLE — For the winter of 2011-2012, the Farmers’ Almanac forecasted “clime and punishment,” a season of unusually cold and stormy weather. For some parts of the country that means a frigid climate; while for others, it will mean lots of rain and snow.

While it was expected to be cold to very cold in the northern half of the U.S., above-normal temperatures are expected across most of the southern and eastern U.S. Drier-than-normal weather is forecast for the Southwest and Southeast corners of the nation.

This was, of course, according to the publication’s pre-dictions.

The Farmers’ Almanac has been in the business of issu-ing yearly weather forecasts based on a “secret formula”

See Weather, Page 7

Be mindful of firewood at home and at campsites

Sharon Dowdy/UGA

Firewood tips: For safe and efficient firewood, make sure to use a sup-ply that has been properly seasoned. And if burning wood at a camp-site, it is being stressed to not travel with your own supply from home to stop the spread of destructive forest pests.

By David B. StricklandGeorgia Ag News [email protected]

GAINESVILLE — The win-ter in Georgia may have, so far, been mild, but it’s always important to keep a mindful eye on firewood, home heating and even campfires. The win-ter season has been known to bring Georgia some surprises in March.

On the topic of firewood, a couple of aspects are very im-portant — choosing and using good firewood for heating at home, as well as making sure that you use locally produced firewood when camping.

SeasonedWith fruits and vegetables,

fresh is fantastic; but with fire-wood, fresh is not so great.

Seasoned firewood has the optimal qualities for efficient heating.

In information provided by the University of Georgia, Paul Pugliese, the UGA agriculture and natural resources agent for Cherokee County, says that fresh cut firewood contains a tremen-dous amount of water.

“If you’re in the market for firewood, keep in mind that when firewood is first cut, 40 percent to 50 percent of its weight comes from water,” Pug-liese notes. “One fresh-cut cord, or 128 cubic feet, of oak can contain enough water to fill five and a half 55-gallon drums.”

He added that, “to burn fresh-cut firewood in a wood-burning stove or fireplace, you’d first have to boil off all that water. That doesn’t make for very ef-ficient heating.”

His report recommends buy-ing from a vendor that sup-plies seasoned firewood, which should contain a water content amount of less than 20 percent.

Burning fresh cut wood, as well as burning at too low of a temperature are factors that con-tribute to a buildup of creosote in a chimney, Pugliese added.

“Some people assume the sticky, gum-like resins in pine firewood cause more creosote residues than hardwood. Re-

2 GEORGIA AG NEWS, March 2012

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By Steven ThomasSpecial to Georgia Ag News

GAINESVILLE — Ever since the local paper pub-lished my phone number, I have had the opportunity to talk to a lot of folks about selling their products at farm-ers markets all over the state of Georgia.

Whether it was an estab-lished farmer with acres of produce, a backyard farmer with too many blueberry bushes, the owner of a new bakery or someone who makes the best knitted hats; these conversations have made me realize the variety of people who have a talent and are looking for an oppor-tunity to share the fruits of their labor with others.

My attitude has always been that people should figure out what they do well and then see if they can make money doing it.

At the market I manage, the Downtown Gainesville Mar-ket On The Square, I have met a woman who makes jewelry from antique items, potters, painters, soap makers and a man who makes folk yard art from metal objects. These people have turned their hob-bies into extra income. They sell at farmers markets and

other events, not just as a way to make money but also for the interact ion i n v o l v e d in meeting other people and the joy of showing

off their talents.The groups of people I get

questions from the most are bakers. I bake myself and know how enjoyable it is. Part of that joy is sharing what I do with others, which I do each year at Christmas by baking specialty fruit breads (this year it was peach bread with peaches from the market that I saved in the freezer) and cookies.

Last season I was lucky to meet a woman who made some of the best European-style desserts I have ever had. Another woman made excel-lent small cakes and fried pies. Both of these women baked for the love of bak-ing and sold their products at the market, not because they were making a lot of money, but simply for the experience — they got to bake wonderful things and share them with others.

Can I sell this?This brings me to the most

asked question I get from peo-ple who call. There are more people out there who bake and want to sell their goods at farmers markets than I would have thought possible. There are also a lot of people who make things like jams and jel-lies. The question they ask is — can they sell these things at farmers markets?

The answer is yes — and no.

The first thing I ask is; are they doing this at home or in a licensed and inspected com-mercial kitchen? The Georgia Food Laws, specifically the Department of Community Health’s Rules and Regula-tions for Food Service, state that some food items may be made in a private home and sold direct to the consumer for nonprofit events or at ap-proved farmers markets. This includes jellies, jams, pickles and baked goods that do not have a filling.

According to this exemp-tion it would seem that the an-swer is yes. However, there is something called “venue limi-tations.” These items may be sold at local farmers markets that are sponsored by civic groups, local governments or nonprofit organizations.

Many farmers markets are set up as nonprofit organiza-tions and are, therefore, ex-empt from some of the rules and regulations. On the other hand, many farmers markets are not nonprofit organiza-tions and do not fall under this exemption. Also, the decision as to whether or not to allow sales of products made outside of a licensed and inspected kitchen is ultimately left to the market manager.

What to doSo, what can you do if you

are really good at baking or making jams and jellies, canned items such as pickled vegetables, tomato sauce or fruits? The answer is to find a licensed kitchen to work from. There are a few of these kitchens around that will rent by the hour, but from what I have heard there are waiting times and it may be cost-pro-hibitive.

Having given this some thought I would recommend finding a restaurant owner and making friends with them. There are many restau-rants that are only open for breakfast and lunch, leaving the kitchen unused during the late afternoon and evening hours. Other restaurants are open for lunch and dinner and are unused in the early morn-ing. For a small rental fee, or even a trade for product, a deal could be reached to al-low access to a kitchen that is not only fully licensed and inspected, but gives access to all the utensils and equipment needed. The restaurant owner could also assist with ordering supplies from wholesale food distributors and the packag-ing supplies you would need, which could result in a big savings for you.

PackagingSpeaking of packaging,

there are a few things you need to know. The Georgia Food Act requires that all baked goods and other prod-ucts be packaged in an appro-priate manner and must be la-beled with the common name of the product, the name, address and phone number of the person who made the

product and must list all in-gredients used.

Most people also include an allergy warning if the prod-uct contains nuts, or was pro-duced in an area of the kitch-en where nuts were used.

Finding successIf you believe that you can

make a product that people will want, selling at a farm-ers market is a good way to see if you have what it takes to be successful.

My advice is to visit area markets and look for people selling the same items. Talk to them about how they start-ed — market vendors love to talk about their stuff.

Make sure you talk to the market manager first to see if you can sell your product made from your home kitch-en.

Start small to make sure you have a viable product. Look for a market that doesn’t have many vendors selling the same thing you are mak-ing; established vendors have the advantage and a loyal cli-entele.

If you decide to go forward, then make the best product anyone has ever had, package it as professionally as you can and remember to have a good time. If it feels too much like work, you’re not doing it right.

Steven Thomas is market manager of the Downtown Gainesville Market on the Square. He can be reached at 678-943-4442; by e-mail at [email protected]; or the web site http://www.hallfarmers.org.

Turn hobby into income at the Farmers Market

Thomas

GEORGIA AG NEWS, March 2012 3

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By Michael WheelerSpecial to Georgia Ag News

GAINESVILLE — With hay being short this year everyone is looking for ways to make their hay stores last as long as pos-sible. This will be a tall order though, even with the best man-agers of hay, due to the extreme-ly poor condition of pastures and hay ground this past summer.

In talking to area cattlemen, some reported they were dipping into their hay as early as August.

Here are a few ideas to help maximize your hay stocks.

Cover itHay stored on the ground

with no cover will result in ma-jor losses. Weather damages the outside layer of hay. This weath-ered layer will often be at least 4 inches deep around the whole bale. In many years, weathering can result in damaged layers that are over 8 inches thick.

This weathered layer essential-

ly becomes like a thatch roof, but not before the hay becomes useless for animal feed. The weath-ered layer that is 4 inches deep results in 25 percent

hay loss. These days, there is a major cost to that amount of loss. As University of Georgia Exten-sion Forage Specialist Dennis Hancock often says, “if you store hay outside, you are paying for a barn whether you want to or not.”

Use a RingOne of the best strategies for

stretching hay is by doing a bet-ter job of feeding it. If hay is fed on the ground without any device to keep the animals from treading or soiling the forage, feeding-re-lated losses may be fairly high.

These losses can be reduced by using a hay ring to limit the animals’ access to the hay. As a result, hay rings can keep feeding losses below 10 percent. Newer, cone-style hay feeders can el-evate the hay off the ground and further reduce feeding losses.

Certainly, hay can be fed di-rectly on the ground with very little waste, but the amount of hay that is fed needs to be only what the animals can clean up in less than four hours.

Restrict accessAnother strategy for stretching

hay is to limit the time cattle have access to the forage. New research out of the Midwest indicates that mature cows can have their access to hay restricted to eight hours without loss in weight or body condition score. Under the condi-tions of their study, this strategy helped stretch the hay by an extra 15 percent.

Restricting access can help stretch hay, but do not take it too

far. In this same research, access to hay was restricted to only four hours and the cows’ body condition score and weight were reduced. If you are really trying to stretch hay with restricted access, be sure to separate out your young and thin cows that need to gain or regain weight and condition. Boss cows tend to get their fill, but they can root out thinner and less-dominate animals.

However, be sure you are feed-ing good quality forage. If their ac-cess is restricted, every bite has to count. Being able to keep weight and condition on your animals will be contingent on feeding high quality hay. If you are considering this strategy for stretching hay, be sure to test your hay for quality.

If you are unsure how to test hay or need advice on how to get an accurate sample, consult with a local county Extension agent or

follow the National Forage Test-ing Association’s “Recommended Principles for Proper Hay Sam-pling,” which can be accessed at http://www.foragetesting.org.

For more information on this and other forage management subjects, check out the web site at http://www.georgiaforages.com or contact your local UGA Coopera-tive Extension office at 800-ASK UGA1 (800-275-8421).

Source: 2008, Hancock, D. Stretching Hay. Georgia Cattle-men Magazine. December 2008.

Michael Wheeler is the Hall County Extension Coordina-tor and agricultural Extension agent. He can be reached at 770-535-8293; e-mail at [email protected]; or http://www.hallcounty.org/extension.

Some ways to help stretch hay supplies

Wheeler

GPF is making plans for annual spring meeting

GAINESVILLE — The 2012 annual Spring Meeting of the Georgia Poultry Federation will be the weekend of April 13-15 at Brasstown Valley Resort, Young Harris, Ga.

The non-profit Research & Service Exhibits will open at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 13. Regular exhibitors are: AgGeorgia Farm Credit, Georgia Poultry Federa-tion, Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network, Georgia Tech Research Institute, USDA Russell Research Center and the University of Georgia Departments of Population Health and Poultry Science.

The annual Business Meeting, with election of of-ficers and directors for 2012-13, will be on Friday eve-ning, April 13, followed by a Family Bingo Game, which features prizes from poultry, allied and area companies. Those who donate prizes, value of $25 or more, and notify the federation office by March 16, will be listed in the program and announced during the game. All donors will be recognized.

Those who plan to attend the meeting may bring

their donated prizes to the federation desk at Brass-town Valley Resort by 6 p.m. on April 13. If this is not possible, donated prizes may be delivered to the Georgia Poultry Federation office at 518 South Enota Drive, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 by April 6 — please include name and address of donor.

On Saturday, April 14, sports events will include a golf tournament, horseshoes tournament, a 5K race, one-mile fun run and one-mile walk. The day’s activi-ties end with the Saturday Evening Banquet.

The weekend meeting concludes with the tradition-al Poultry Industry Church Service on Sunday, April 15, at 9 a.m.

ExhibitsThe research and service exhibits are a key part of

the annual Spring Meeting, GPF notes, adding that, they provide an excellent opportunity to visit with re-search and service personnel.See GPF, Page 5


Viewpoint

Corporate HeadquartersPoultry TimesP.O. Box 1338

Gainesville, Georgia 30503Telephone: 770-536-2476;

770-718-3444 (after 5:30 p.m.)Fax: 770-532-4894

General ManagerCindy Wellborn770-718-3443

[email protected]

Editorial/Advertising StaffEditor

David B. Strickland770-718-3442

[email protected]

Associate EditorBarbara L. Olejnik

[email protected]

Graphic ArtistCourtney Canaday

[email protected]

Account ExecutiveStacy Louis

[email protected]

Account ExecutiveDinah Winfree770-718-3438

[email protected]

Companion Publications:Poultry Times; A Guide to Poultry Associations; Poultry Resource Guide.

The opinions expressed in this publication by authors other than Georgia Ag News staff are those of the respective author and do not nec-essarily reflect the opinions of Geor-gia Ag News.

Georgia Ag News assumes respon-sibliity for error in first run of an in-house designed ad only. Advertisers have ten (10) days from publication date to dispute such an advertise-ment. After ten (10) days, ad will be deemed correct and advertiser will be charged accordingly. Proofs approved by advertiser will always be regarded as correct.

By Steve L. BrownSpecial to Georgia Ag News

ATHENS — In a year when Georgia’s economy struggled to get back on its feet, agriculture gave local communities a much-needed boost, according to a re-port released by the University of Georgia Center for Agribusi-ness and Economic Develop-ment.

The 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report showed Georgia agriculture’s farm gate value hit a record high $12,002,461,213 in 2010. This huge number mul-tiplies several fold when you factor in the Georgia industries that process, package, ship and market Georgia’s agricultural output, offering an economic ladder that helped many small businesses and local commu-nities climb out of a deep eco-nomic hole.

What impact does $12 billion have on Georgia’s economy?

Not all of that money goes into the pockets of farmers. It goes to local seed companies, chemi-

cal compa-nies, local farm work-ers, tractor companies, banks, fuel companies, f e r t i l i z e r companies, veterinarians and more. What does

go into the farmers’ pockets then goes out into the community to pay for home mortgages, cars and equipment, education, pow-er bills, medical care and other community-based businesses.

We’ve all come to know that an economy can’t be solely based on services. Somebody has to actually produce something that has value. That’s exactly what Georgia agriculture does. It produces more than $12 billion worth of value and pumps it into our economy. Not only do farm-ers benefit, all Georgians do.

With our legislative session underway, it’s important to as-sess the public value of our in-

dustries, keeping in mind that agricultural output is dependent upon reliable, science-based in-formation to sustain this growth. Twelve billion dollars worth of value doesn’t just happen.

Research and education from state-supported institutions, like University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University, help keep Georgia’s largest industry not only economically viable, but growing in a very competi-tive world market. The competi-tive advantage that comes with

sound research and education helps Georgia farmers produce safer, more nutritious products while protecting the environ-ment to continually improve the quality of life in Georgia.

Here are a few interesting facts found in the 2010 Farm Gate Value Report that shows how lo-cal communities across Georgia benefit from agriculture:l Georgia produces 20 differ-

ent commodities with farm gate values more than $100 million and 48 commodities with a val-ue more than $10 million. That’s not only a sign of high value, but high diversity as well.l Colquitt County had the

highest farm gate value in 2010 at $475,048,630 followed by Franklin, Habersham, Madison, Banks, Mitchell, Hart, Jackson, Tattnall and Hall to make up the “Top 10” agriculture producing

counties.l The top livestock county

was Oglethorpe.l Laurens County topped the

forestry category, while Grady County led in ornamental horti-culture value.l Bacon County was the high-

est in the fruit and nut category.l Dooly County led the row

and forage crop category and Colquitt County was tops in vegetables.

Check out the online report to find out what Georgia agricul-ture means to your local area at http://www.caes.uga.edu/center/caed/pubs/2011/documents/AR-11-01.pdf.

Steve L. Brown is the assistant dean for the University of Geor-gia Cooperative Extension with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Georgia’s farm gate value at record high

Brown

“Georgia produces 20

different commodities with farm gate values more than $100 mil-lion and 48 commodi-ties with a value more than $10 million.

”

Groups urge: Ag needs Farm Bill nowWASHINGTON — “We must work to pass

a Farm Bill in 2012 because our nation’s farm-ers and ranchers deserve a measure of certainty. Farmers require a safety net that works effectively, and they need access to tools that help them be good stewards of our natural resources,” said Jon Scholl, president of American Farmland Trust. “Those people less fortunate during these eco-nomic times deserve a helping hand so they don’t go hungry, while our nation as a whole needs the security which effective food policies and pro-grams can bring.”

American Farmland Trust and more than 60 organizations have sent a letter echoing Scholl’s

comments to the Senate and House leadership of the agriculture committees.

“We, the undersigned, have heard calls for an extension of current law. We ask you to reject these calls for delay and aggressively act to ensure that a new, comprehensive bill is passed this year,” the letter stated. “A temporary extension of current policy creates tremendous uncertainty . . . ”

In the difficult fiscal climate, Scholl added that, “It is unclear exactly what budget cuts will be made and the implications for farms, farmland and food, but it’s perfectly clear that agriculture will

See Bill, Page 8


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Exhibitors for 2012 will in-clude:l AgGeorgia Farm Credit

— AgGeorgia Farm Credit is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, a network of banks and associations that is the largest sin-gle lender of agricultural credit in America. According to Tom Kight, marketing officer, AgGeorgia has been making loans to serve the needs of Georgia’s families and ru-ral America for close to 100 years.

Kight said, “We are committed to serving agriculture and have numerous products and services to offer our clients. Our staff under-stands agriculture and can relate to the many needs for today’s farm-ers.”

For more information, visit their booth at Brasstown Valley Resort or contact the nearest AgGeorgia Farm Credit office or visit their web site at http://www.aggeorgia.com.l Georgia Poultry Labora-

tory Network: — Dr. Louise Du-four-Zavala, executive director, says the lab’s trifold exhibit will summarize the mission and ac-tivities of GPLN. The network has three locations throughout Georgia offering monitoring and diagnostic services for commercial and non-commercial poultry. It operates in coordination with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the

Georgia Poultry Improvement As-sociation and the Georgia Poultry Federation.l Georgia Tech Research In-

stitute — Georgia Tech Research Institute’s Agricultural Technology Research Program conducts both contract and state-sponsored ap-plied research that seeks engineer-ing solutions to challenges faced by the poultry industry. The display will highlight ongoing technology development and prototype system activities. Program and project dis-plays and videos describe current research activities.l Department of Population

Health, University of Georgia— Mark Jackwood, department head, describes the mission of the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC) as threefold: “teaching, research, and service in poultry medicine. The teach-ing function includes teaching of poultry medicine in the profes-sional curriculum in veterinary medicine, teaching poultry medi-cine in the poultry science cur-riculum, preparing veterinarians to work in the poultry industry via the Master of Avian Medicine pro-gram and training researchers in poultry medicine through the MS and Ph.D. programs. The research programs emphasize the diagno-sis and control of economically important diseases of poultry. Ap-plied and basic research is focused

on solving problems of importance to the industry. The service func-tion exists to provide diagnostic and consultative services to the commercial poultry industry.”

This is accomplished, he says, by providing diagnostic, necropsy, consultation and field services to local companies as well as com-panies located throughout the U.S. and the world.l Department of Poultry Sci-

ence, University of Georgia: “The Department of Poultry Sci-ence at the University of Georgia has outstanding programs in re-search, Extension and teaching. These programs are instrumental in helping the Georgia poultry industry maintain its position of global leadership in poultry pro-duction and processing,” said Dr. Mike Lacy, department head.

The department’s undergradu-ate instruction, graduate training, research and service programs will be highlighted in this year’s exhibit. Outstanding teaching fac-ulty, relevant research programs and applied Extension projects will be summarized and the impact of these programs upon the Georgia industry will be described, the group noted.

RegistrationRegistration information may

be obtained by e-mailing the fed-eration at [email protected], Ph:

770-532-0473, or Fax: 770-532-7543.

Room reservations may be made by calling Brasstown Valley at 800-201-3205 or 706-379-9900, and mentioning that you will be

attending the federation’s annual Spring Meeting. More information on the resort and the area may be obtained at http://www.brasstown-valley.com/.

•GPF(Continued from page 3)


Lifetime Achievement Award: Abit Massey, presi-dent emeritus of the Geor-gia Poultry Federation, was recently awarded with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Associ-ation’s Harold E. Ford Life-time Achievement Award, during the 2012 Interna-tional Poultry Expo in At-lanta. Massey, center, was awarded the honor by John Starkey, left, USPOULTRY president; as well as Harold E. Ford, right, a past presi-dent of the association, and namesake of the award.

ATLANTA — Abit Massey, president emeritus of the Georgia Poul-try Federation, was honored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association during the 2012 International Poultry Expo, where he received the Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious honor was presented to Massey by Harold E. Ford, past president of US-POULTRY, and for whom the award was named.

The Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual whose dedication and leadership during the years have far exceeded the ordinary and impacted both the poultry industry and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association in an exemplary manner. The award is presented non-annually and when the Awards and Recognition Com-mittee unanimously recognizes and endorses the need for occasional, unique recognition for exceptional contributions.

“In addition to being recognized as a Georgia poultry industry icon,

Massey receives award

See Massey, Page 8


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search has found this is false,” he noted. “The buildup is more often the result of burning wood at relatively low temperatures. Burning poorly seasoned wood favors creosote buildup because evaporating water cools the burning process.”

He also added that too high of a temperature in a fireplace or stove can also cause chimney damage, and potentially start a fire.

Pugliese noted to, “Add only enough wood to keep the fire at the desired temperature. And re-member, dry well-seasoned wood is important for an efficient heat source.”

Use only localAnother important aspect to keep in mind regard-

ing firewood, especially firewood that will be used in campfires, is making sure to only use firewood that has been prepared locally and has not been moved from too great a distance.

The Georgia Forestry Commission stresses the importance of local firewood to assist in stopping the spread of destructive and harmful insects and tree diseases.

The GFC states that Georgia is “currently battling a non-native insect known as the redbay ambrosia beetle that has been spread by the movement of firewood. It has killed millions of our native Red-

bay trees, and is also killing our native Sassafras.”Additional insect threats to forests and trees, that

have been known to travel through firewood move-ment, the commission notes, include: the Asian longhorned beetle, the emerald ash borer, the sirex woodwasp and gypsy moths.

The commission adds that these non-native pests cannot travel very far by themselves, but by travel-ing along hidden in firewood; they can move hun-dreds of miles very quickly.

As for a range to gauge “how far is too far” in determining where to obtain firewood, officials suggest that 50 miles is too far, and that 10 miles or less is the optimal range.

Along with making sure to just use local fire-wood, GFC suggests that if you have, inadvertently, brought your own firewood from home to a camp-site; make sure to burn all of it completely on-site. If you are unable to burn all of your firewood, the commission advises to turn the remaining supply in to local park rangers. Keep firewood inside the county of its origin; and when visiting a camp-ground, make sure to leave firewood at home. Some of Georgia’s state parks have firewood available for purchase to use at campsites.

More information about firewood and the dan-gers of moving firewood can be obtained at http://www.gatrees.org, as well as http://www.dontmo-vefirewood.org.

•Firewood(Continued from page 1)

Deal addresses poultry executives at Expo

Special

Governor visits IPE/IFE: John Starkey, left, president of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, welcomes Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who spoke at a poultry executives luncheon during the 2012 International Poultry Expo and Interna-tional Feed Expo.

By Barbara OlejnikGeorgia Ag News [email protected]

ATLANTA — The poultry industry is facing a “challeng-ing period,” particularly as it relates to grain and energy products, said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal in speaking to a group of industry executives at the recent International Poultry Expo.

The governor noted a major problem is the federally man-dated ethanol requirement.

“I continue to be concerned about the negative impact of this nation’s policies divert-ing food products into our fuel supply,” Deal said.

He pointed out that this year, for the first time, more corn is being used for fuel than for feed. In addition, last year saw the smallest corn in-ventories in 37 years.

“This is a broken, unsus-

tainable policy,” Deal stat-ed, adding that “the day we decide to let free enterprise work, food for fuel will end on that very day.”

The governor also said there was a need to ensure a dependable labor force.

“We must move on the na-tional level to ensure access to a dependable, quality labor supply . . . We must reform existing federal programs that aren’t working for America’s job creators,” Deal stated.

Additionally, Deal said, there is a need for expanded markets for poultry prod-ucts.

“We must have the abil-ity to sell in a wider range, to be able to grow. We have to expand our global base,” the governor stated. “Here in Georgia, we believe we can play a key role in this pro-cess.”

He pointed out that Savan-

nah is currently the largest exporter of poultry in the U.S.

In 2010, Savannah export-ed poultry valued at more than $734 million. Recently, a $4.75 million project was approved to expand the Port of Savannah to increase re-frigerated container capacity by 45 percent.

“We are well positioned to help America grow poultry products,” Deal stated.

He also noted that Georgia is working to protect poultry “by ensuring the integrity of our product, across the board.”

To do this the state is build-ing a new, state-of-the-are poultry lab that will facilitate expanded diagnostics and im-prove biosecurity.


that was devised by the founder of the Almanac, Robert B. Thomas, in 1792.

The Almanac staff says the secret formula is locked in a black box in the offices in Dublin, N.H.

While Thomas believed that Earth’s weather was influenced by sunspots, the formula for current Almanac forecasts has been refined and is based on three scientific disciplines: solar science, the study of sunspots and other solar activity; clima-tology, the study of prevailing weather patterns; and meteorol-ogy, the study of the atmosphere.

The Farmers’ Almanac claims its prediction rate is 80 per-cent correct.

While current forecasters based their predictions on “secret formulas” and/or scientific means, people have been forecast-ing the weather long before there were such things.

Earlier predictions were based on observations of the sky, nature and animals.

A lot of these predictions have evolved into traditional say-ings or proverbs that oftentimes turn out to be accurate.

Some of these are:“The higher the clouds, the finer the weather.”“Clear moon, frost soon.”“Ring around the moon? Rain real soon.”“Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sail-

ors take warning.”The Woolly Bear Caterpillar has the reputation of being able

to forecast the coming winter weather. The caterpillar has hairy bands on its body of black and brown or orange. According to folklore, the wider the middle brown section is (i.e., the more brown segments there are), the milder the coming winter will be. A narrow brown band is said to predict a harsh winter.

Weather can also be predicted, again according to folklore, by watching the animals

When cats sneeze, it’s a sign of rain. Bats flying late in the evening indicates fair weather. When rabbits are fat in October and November, expect a long, cold weather

And, of course, the most famous predictor — as evidenced by Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania and General Beaure-gard Lee in Georgia — is the groundhog. If the groundhog sees its shadow on Candlemas Day, Feb. 2., there will be six more weeks of winter.

For 2012, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, while General Beauregard Lee here in Georgia did not. However, the first day of spring will be March 20, regardless.

Weather has also been predicted using a persimmon seed. Cut open a persimmon seed and look at the shape of the kernel inside. If the kernel is spoon-shaped, lots of heavy, wet snow will fall. Spoon = shovel. If the kernel is fork-shaped, expect powdery, light snow and a mild winter. If the kernel is knife-shaped, expect to be “cut” by icy, cutting winds.

Even using traditional methods, predicting the weather can be a hit or miss activity.

•Weather(Continued from page 1)

ATLANTA — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the American Feed Indus-try Association have signed an agreement with the Ameri-can Meat Institute to co-locate the AMI trade show with the IPE/IFE in Atlanta, annually in January, starting in 2013.

The three shows will operate under one umbrella creating one of the largest 50 shows in the U.S. It is expected that the entire show will include more than 1,000 exhibitors and close to 1 million square feet of exhibit space. The meat and poultry exhibits will be com-bined on one large show floor, and the IFE will be held in the adjacent hall. One badge will allow all attendees into any exhibit.

“We are very excited about this partnership with AMI, and the co-location is some-thing our exhibitors have asked about for a long time. The consolidation of the trade shows will allow our respec-tive organizations to build on the synergies of the poul-try, feed and meat sectors, as well as provide a benefit to our exhibitors and members who produce or exhibit across multiple protein sectors,” said John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY.

Starkey also said he expect-ed the co-located shows to continue the Tuesday through Thursday schedule, which was put into place for the 2012 show. However, he said, the show will continue to be responsive to preferences of attendees, based on a survey conducted at the conclusion of each yearly show.

All three associations will continue to operate indepen-dently, serving their respective

Photo by Barbara Olejnik

Three expos co-locating: The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the American Feed Industry Association and the American Meat Institute have signed an agreement to co-locate their three trade shows in At-lanta, beginning in 2013. Recently announcing the agreement were, left to right, the presidents of the three organizations: Joel G. Newman of AFIA, J. Patrick Boyle of AMI and John Starkey of USPOULTRY.

AMI to co-locate expo with IPE/IFE in 2013

See AMI, Page 10


have to do more with less.”This spring, however, agriculture has an opportunity

for better policies and programs, Scholl noted, adding, “I believe this farm bill can be transformational. Our country must make big decisions about the nature of government and how it will spend our money, and agriculture and food policy will be no exception.

“I am excited about the prospects for getting one of the most important pieces of legislation Con-gress will consider this year done. Protecting farm and ranch land and keeping farmers on their land; providing healthy and safe food; and addressing environmental concerns are the top priorities of a majority of Americans — priorities that we be-lieve can be a part of a Farm Bill this year.”

•Bill(Continued from page 4)

Abit is recognized as a leader in several fields, in-cluding the lobbying profession, association man-agement field, and among collegiate supporters,” said Gary Cooper, Cooper Farms, immediate past chairman of USPOULTRY. “Abit is well respected and highly regarded within the industry; and his legacy will be acknowledged for many years to come.”

John Starkey, USPOULTRY president, said, “Abit has labored diligently and efficiently on be-half of the Georgia poultry industry, and his touch can be seen and felt on many of the initiatives and programs that have contributed to the state’s poul-try success, as well as nationally. On behalf of our association, Abit has provided a constant source of knowledge and experience. He has been a vision-ary in evaluating the industry’s future needs and has acted to address those needs. The hallmark of Abit’s career has been his integrity and his per-sonal touch, which forms the foundation of every

relationship he has.”A graduate of the University of Georgia and

an Eagle Scout, Massey is past chairman of the board of directors for the American Society of As-sociation Executives, past president of the Geor-gia Society of Association Executives and GSAE Foundation, past president of the University of Georgia Alumni Association, and organizer and first president of the State Poultry Executives As-sociation.

Massey has been listed twice by Georgia Trendas one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. He received the Inaugural Medallion of Honor for Service to the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in June 2006 and the sev-enth Presidential Citation presented by Georgia Tech in March 2009. He has also been recognized with the 2008 Distinguished Service Award from the Agricultural Economics Association of Geor-gia and received the Key to the City of Gaines-ville, Ga., in December 2008.

•Massey(Continued from page 5)

By Barbara OlejnikGeorgia Ag News [email protected]

ATLANTA — Passage of the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 is a prior-ity issue for the Alpharetta-based United Egg Producers.

The bill, which represents an agreement between UEP and the Humane Society of the United States, would establish federal regulations on how egg laying hens are raised.

Bipartisan legislation to enact the bill was finally introduced in the House of Representatives on Jan. 23 by Congressmen Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) and Sam Farr (D-Calif.).

David Lathem, UEP chair-man, noted that egg produc-ers had “worked very hard” to

get the legislation to this point. “This is a big undertaking, but we feel we can get this accom-plished. We need a level playing field for all egg producers.”

Gene Gregory, UEP president and CEO, said egg producers should not have different, cost-ly rules in all 50 states. That’s where we are heading if we don’t pass this federal legislation. We need this legislation for our cus-tomers and consumers and the survival of egg farmers.”

The bill — H.R. 3798 — would:l Require conventional cages

to be replaced during a phase-in period with new, enriched colony housing systems that provide all egg-laying hens nearly double the amount of current space;l Require that, after a phase-

in period, all egg-laying hens be

provided with environmental en-richments, such as perches, nest-ing boxes and scratching areas, that will allow hens to express natural behaviors;l Require labeling on all egg

cartons nationwide to inform consumers of the method used to produce the eggs — “eggs from caged hens,” “eggs from hens in enriched cages,” “eggs from cage-free hens” and “eggs from free-range hens”;l Prohibit feed- or water-

withdrawal molting to extend the laying cycle, a practice al-ready prohibited by the United Egg Producers Certified pro-

gram;l Require standards approved

by the American Veterinary Medical Association for eutha-nasia of egg-laying hens;l Prohibit excessive ammo-

nia levels in hen houses; andl Prohibit the transport and

sale of eggs and egg products nationwide that don’t meet these requirements.

“This agreement between the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States represents an important and necessary step in address-ing the patchwork of state laws facing the industry and provid-

ing stability for farmers moving forward,” Rep. Schrader. “I take my hat off to both organizations for putting aside their historical differences and working togeth-er to reach a deal that provides certainty for our farmers while providing improved conditions for the hens.”

The UEP-HSUS agreement, which was signed on July 7, was termed “historic” because the two groups have long been at odds over animal welfare is-sues, particularly the egg indus-try’s method of housing hens

Legislation introduced on layer production

See UEP, Page 10


Make it at Home RecipeSouthern-Style Chicken StewNational Chicken CouncilServings: 4

Ingredients:1 1/2 pounds chicken breast halves, boneless

and skinless, cut into 2-inch pieces4 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper3 tablespoons olive oil, divided1 medium onion, chopped1 (14.5 oz.) can low-sodium chicken broth2 sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks1 bunch (about 1/2 pound) collard pounds,

rough-chopped into 2-inch pieces1/2 pound cooked smoked sausage, such as kiel-

basa, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds

Directions:Place 3 tablespoons flour in a large bowl, season

with salt and pepper, add chicken pieces and toss gently to coat.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven

or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken, reduce heat to medium and cook until browned, 10 minutes, turning occasion-ally. Transfer chicken to a plate.

Add remaining tablespoon oil to pot over medium heat. Add onions to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and just beginning to brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Turn heat to high and add chicken broth and 3/4 cups water to pot. Scrape up any browned bits. Return chicken to pot and add sweet po-tatoes and smoked sausage. Bring to a boil, re-duce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Make a paste with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour and 3 tablespoons water.

Uncover, whisk in flour and water mixture and continue to simmer until chicken is cooked through, potatoes are tender and liquid has thickened, 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir in collard leaves and simmer 2 minutes more. Serve immediately, with cornbread and hot sauce on the side.

More chicken recipes may be obtained from the National Chicken Council at http://www.eatchicken.com.


constituents and will offer targeted education and networking oppor-tunities that meet the customer needs and compliment the expo. The operations of the show will be handled out of the USPOULTRY of-fices, and AMI and AFIA will be instrumental in driving attendance promotion and exhibit sales efforts.

“We are very pleased about the co-location with AMI. The con-solidation will provide a more diverse event for our members and allow for more educational opportunities for attendees,” said Joel Newman, AFIA president.

Newman added that a broadening of the show will provide at-tendees, including international visitors, greater access to the latest technology, as well as educational sessions.

“This partnership will enhance the value of our trade shows to exhibitors and attendees alike,” said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. “Now we have one show that provides more education, network-ing and hands on demonstration of equipment and supplies from farm through distribution. Our entire industry will benefit from the reduction in travel expenses, exhibit costs and see an undeniable increase in value.”

The 2013 show will be held on Jan. 28-31at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is an all-feather organiza-tion representing the complete spectrum of today’s poultry indus-try. AFIA is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to representing the business, legislative and regulatory interests of the U.S. animal feed industry and its suppliers. AMI represents the interests of packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey products and their suppliers throughout North America. Together, AMI’s members produce 95 percent of the beef, pork, lamb and veal products and 70 percent of the turkey products in the U.S.

•AMI(Continued from page 7)

in conventional battery cages. In the past, HSUS has been in-strumental in seeking state bal-lot initiatives that would require the industry to move to larger cages.

“The HSUS and UEP have been long-time adversaries, but have come together and identi-fied a solution that balances ani-mal welfare and the economic realities of the industry,” said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO. “The nation needs this kind of problem solving, and the Congress should enthusiastically embrace an agreement between all of the key stakeholders.”

Other groups favoring passage of the bill include the Associa-tion of California Egg Farmers,

Colorado Egg Producers Asso-ciation, Florida Poultry Associ-ation, Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, North Caro-lina Egg Association, Ohio Egg Processors Association, Ameri-can Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the National Consumers League.

However, there is opposition to the legislation from other ani-mal production organizations. These groups say that federal regulation would set a “danger-ous precedent” for allowing the federal government to regulate on-farm production practices.

Among those raising concern about the legislation are the American Farm Bureau Federa-tion, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation,

National Milk Production Fed-eration, National Pork Produc-ers Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

If enacted into law, the leg-islation would require egg pro-ducers to increase space per hen in a tiered phase-in during the next 15 to 18 years, increasing from about 67 square inches of space per hen to a minimum of 124 square inches of space per hen for white hens and up to 144 square inches for brown hens. The move would affect all 280 million hens involved in U.S. egg production.

Egg producers are expected to invest an additional $4 bil-lion during the next decade and a half to achieve the industry-wide transition to enriched col-ony housing.

•UEP(Continued from page 8)

ATLANTA — The 2012 Inter-national Poultry Expo and Inter-national Feed Expo drew more than 20,500 poultry and feed industry leaders from all around the world. In addition, the show had 895 exhibitors as compared to 900 last year.

Sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the Ameri-can Feed Industry Association, the annual Expo is the world’s largest poultry and feed industry event of its kind.

“We are very pleased with the number of exhibitors and attendees on the exhibit floor for IPE/IFE Week,” said 2012 USPOULTRY Chairman Mark

Waller, with Ingram Farms, Cullman, Ala. “We (had) a great turn-out this year, and the ener-gy and excitement on the floor (was) evident.”

The central attraction was the large exhibit floor. Exhibitors presented the latest innovations in equipment, supplies and ser-vices utilized by industry com-panies in the production and processing of poultry, eggs and feed products, the association’s noted. Many companies use the annual event to highlight their new products. All phases of the poultry and feed industry were represented, from live produc-tion and processing to further

processing and packaging.A variety of education ses-

sions also complemented the exhibits by keeping industry management informed on cur-rent issues, the groups added. This year’s educational line-up featured five new programs. The Executive Conference on the Fu-ture of the American Poultry and Egg Industry drew an extremely large crowd and featured presen-tations from Jeff Simmons, pres-ident of Elanco Animal Health; Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist for Wells Capital Man-agement; and Dr. Elisabeth Ha-gen, USDA’s undersecretary for food safety.

Also new, the Pre-Harvest Food Safety Conference was very well attended, USPOUL-TRY said. The conference re-viewed the known and unknown issues associated with the con-trol of foodborne pathogens in pre-harvest operations.

Thousands attended annual poultry expo


Exhibit floor: Approximately 900 exhibit booths and more than 20,500 visitors were on hand for the recent International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo in Atlanta.See Expo, Page 12


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ATLANTA — In January, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black released a report on agriculture labor in Georgia, offering practi-cal solutions to address the concerns of Georgia’s largest and oldest industry.

“The results of this survey continue to make clear that the solution to labor issues facing Georgia producers rests in the hands of the federal government,” Black said. “Agricul-ture is our state’s number one industry, yet the federal government is failing to provide our farmers with the skilled labor they need to har-vest crops in a legal and efficient manner. It is time that our friends in Washington step up to the plate and provide us with a system that works.”

The first recommendation in the report points out that only the federal government has the ability to reform existing agriculture guest worker programs to make them useful and ef-fective for farmers. Available options for farm-ers are too cumbersome, unreliable and bureau-cratic to be practical in today’s modern econ-omy, the department notes, adding that more resources need to be put in place for educating the agriculture industry about the federal H-2A program. The third and final recommendation suggests more research be conducted in order to fully understand the complexity of agricul-ture labor in Georgia.

“More than 40 percent of respondents in our study said the federal H-2A program is not applicable to their operations,” Black said, noting this includes year-round agriculture needs, such as dairies, ginners and landscap-ers. “Another 20 percent of respondents were completely unfamiliar with the option of H-2A for hiring workers and an additional 16 percent had only heard negative things about it.

“The findings of this report also indicate there are opportunities for improved relations between the agriculture community and the Department of Labor for worker recruitment, while education and outreach will help provide better resources for growers,” Black said.

He also noted that in 2011, Georgia senators and representatives offered proposed federal legislation addressing agriculture labor.

“We need senators and representatives from other states to join this effort in creating a solu-tion to fix the problem,” he said. “Our liveli-hoods are at stake.”

As consumers increasingly want to know more about where their food comes from, the

department of agriculture’s survey illustrates the need for a real discussion about a solution to fix labor issues, GDA noted.

“Georgians are concerned about where their food comes from; it is important to them. Our state has a great production capacity, but we need an effective way to get those products from the farm to the table,” Black said. “I chal-lenge consumers to look at the produce avail-able in local stores — you’ll always be able to find blueberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches and the other products you desire — but where these products are grown and sold is directly linked to who is available to harvest them.”

The study obtained responses from 138 Georgia counties, with more than 800 produc-ers responding to the survey, including those from small and large scale operations.

The full report is available online at http://www.agr.georgia.gov.

Other highlights from the report include:l Forty-eight percent of respondents found

their part-time workforce to be roughly the same over the past five years, while 20 percent reported their workforce to be smaller.l Twenty-one percent of respondents indicated

that fewer full- and part-time workers were hired in 2011 when compared to the last five years; ma-jor reasons included a poor economy, loss of rev-enue, poor worker retention and lack of available workers.l It is unknown if the lack of full- and part-time

workers in 2011 was a direct result of the passage of Georgia HB87, however, the study’s findings suggest this could be an issue and identifies a per-ception that the lack of workers could be related to the passage of HB87.l The survey shows producers pay both full and

part time workers at, or above, federal minimum wage.l In 2011, more than 50 percent of survey re-

spondents who are producers of blueberries, cab-bage, cantaloupe, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, squash, tobacco and watermelon reported income losses.l More than 40 percent of respondents said H-

2A was not applicable to their farming operations; another 20 percent indicated they were unfamiliar with the program.l Most respondents use word of mouth to re-

cruit workers; approximately 13 percent use the Georgia Department of Labor and 3.4 percent re-ported using H-2A.

Agriculture report urges solutions for labor issues

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The 2012 National Grocers Association Consumer Panel Report has been released and the group notes that it contains more than 75 shopping attributes to help indepen-dent grocers grow their businesses.

The national consumer study, conducted by SupermarketGuru.com for NGA, and sponsored by Valassis, shows the differences in the demographics and lifestyles of grocery consumers, the as-sociation added. As in the past two years, the exclusive annual survey focused on consumer trends, including fresh foods, social causes, checkout and caring about customers. Demographic in-formation such as grocery spending, age, ethnicity, gender and household income is also examined in the report.

“This survey provides important insights for independent gro-cers to remain competitive including the latest consumer trends and perceptions about convenience, eating healthy, food choices and food safety,” said Peter Larkin, president and CEO of NGA. “This information provides important data for independent gro-cers to help guide decisions about growing sales and their com-

Survey outlines independent grocergrowth opportunity

See Grocers, Page 13


The Hatchery-Breeder Clinic provided information on incuba-tion needs for modern breeds and a disease update for breeders, along with a variety of other time-sensitive topics. Another popular program, the Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit reviewed the challenges and solutions of animal agriculture stewardship. A distinguished panel participated in a discussion on sustainability im-plications for the poultry industry, including Jim Perdue, chairman of Perdue Farms; and Mike Helgeson, CEO of GNP Co.

The College Student Career Program attracted 325 students from 23 universities throughout the U.S. The graduating students inter-viewed for jobs and internships with 25 industry and allied firms. They were also able to visit the exhibit floor to see the most current technology used in today’s poultry industry.

New product and service launches, exhibitor-sponsored programs, organization meetings, the International Poultry Scientific Forum, Featherfest® activities, publisher-sponsored programs, the Pet Food Conference, educational sessions on a variety of industry-specific topics, and once-a-year networking were all opportunities the as-sociations noted as making the 2012 IPE/IFE, “an exciting place to be.”

•Expo(Continued from page 10)

Photo: Georgia 4-H

4-H Day at Capitol: Georgia 4-H’ers group together for a photo during a tour of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on the group’s recent Annual Leadership Day and 4-H Day.

By Capri MartinezSpecial to Georgia Ag News

ATLANTA — More than 245 4-H youths, leaders and volunteers traveled to Atlanta for the 11th Annual Leadership Day and 4-H Day at the Georgia State Capitol on Feb. 6.

Sponsored by the Department of Community Affairs, the event brings together leaders from across Georgia to share best practices and identify ways to improve leadership efforts in Georgia.

Held at the Atlanta Freight Depot, the annual event recognizes leadership programs sponsored by DCA, including Georgia 4-H, the Fanning In-stitute’s Community Leadership Program and the Georgia Academy for Economic Development.

In all, more than 500 youth, county leadership team members, graduates of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and government of-ficials attended.

The day included speeches from Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Speaker of the House David Ralston, DCA Commissioner Mike Beat-

ty and Development Manager and Georgia 4-H alumna Lisa Gipson.

Members of the Georgia 4-H Performing Arts group Clovers & Co., including Jado Cato of Henry County, Clay McArthur of Pickens Coun-ty, Gracie Rowe of Heard County, Garrett Collins and Ansley Hutcheson of Butts County, Destan Musgrove of Crisp County and Tifara Brown of Ben Hill County, provided special entertainment for the day.

While in Atlanta, 4-Hers also visited the State Capitol to meet with their representatives, tour the capitol and witness the legislative process in action. State 4-H President Dowdy White of Crisp County addressed both the House and Senate and thanked them for their support of 4-H during the past year. Sen. Johnny Grant and Reps. Richard Smith and Rick Jas-perse hosted the 4-Hers’ visit. Proclamations in both the House and Senate recognized 4-H honorees.

Capri Martinez is a Georgia 4-H AmeriCorps VISTA member.

Youth leaders enjoy4-H Day at State Capitol

By Frank M. WatsonSpecial to Georgia Ag News

WASHINGTON, Ga. — Mid February to early March is the best time to prune roses. To achieve a high quality rose bush, you must remove all dead and diseased wood and reduce the remaining canes by at least a third.

Following these tips from the University of Georgia Co-operative Extension will help you get the job done efficiently and effectively.

The right toolsThe key to successful rose

pruning is having the right tools for the job. Buying a quality pair of bypass, not an-

vil, pruners will be well worth the average $25 cost.

A good pair of pruners pays for itself in reduced physical effort and nice, clean cuts.

Know your varietyPlants that flower repeat-

edly through the season can be pruned severely. However, if the plant blooms only once a year, such as Climbing Queen Elizabeth and Lady Banks Rose, the less pruning you do the better.

These once-a-year bloomers flower on old wood, so pruning will decrease potential blooms come spring. Instead, return to these plants after the spring bloom and shorten their canes by a third.

Do a trial cutAs you prune, you should

position the shears so that the

Now is the best timefor pruning roses

Frank M. Watson is the Uni-versity of Georgia Coopera-tive Extension agent in Wilkes County, Ga. See Roses, Page 13


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petitiveness in the marketplace.”Findings of this year’s survey include:l Stores that help consumers feel more comfortable

in this stressful economy will be better positioned to build shopping frequency and spending amounts.l Most consumers don’t focus exclusively on low

prices when selecting a primary supermarket. For the fourth year in a row, low prices as being “very impor-tant” slid, coming in at 39 percent in 2012, down from 51 percent in 2009.l Shoppers are not exclusively loyal to their pre-

ferred store. More than three-quarters said that they would at least try out a new store in their neighbor-hood, especially if it was of their preferred size.l Stores supporting humanitarian causes are in-

creasingly popular with consumers. Nearly 57 percent

of U.S. adults would pay up to 2 percent more to buy food in stores that support causes they believe in, with 10 percent willing to pay up to 5 percent more. Causes that consumers want grocers to sup-port include fighting childhood hunger and educa-tion issues.

SupermarketGuru.com conducted the national consumer panel on its web site in November and December 2011. In all, 1,805 chief household shoppers completed surveys that detailed their experiences, behaviors and sentiments on what appeals to them (or not) about supermarkets, as well as their purchase influences, eating habits and nutritional concerns.

More information about the National Grocers Association may be obtained at http://www.na-tionalgrocers.org.

•Grocers(Continued from page 11)

cutting (sharp) blade is below the stationary blade. Make a few trial cuts and examine the wood on either side of the wood if you are unsure of the blade’s position.

The side of the cut hitting the stationary blade will show a small tear on the bark. The other side will be cleanly cut.

Inside that countsIt is the inside appearance of

the cane and not the outside appearance determines wheth-er the cane is a keeper or not.

Located in the center of the cane, the pith transports mois-ture and nutrients upward to the leaves. Removal of dam-aged canes will stimulate the production of new canes, which will allow the plant to be more efficient.

If the pith is brown or black, continue to cut down the cane until green or white pith is re-vealed. In some cases this may mean a drastic reduction of the cane. Occasionally, the pith will become darker with each

successive cut, and the cane will have to be removed at the bud union using a small pruning saw.

Other cutsExamine the configuration

and number of the remaining canes. Remove any canes that

cross through the center of the plant or grow inward. The goal is a configuration where canes grow up and out from the bud union leaving the center of the plant open for good air circu-lation. If there are more than five or six canes, remove the oldest, least productive canes until the strongest, youngest five or six remain.

Those after a garden dis-play will usually prune higher (3 feet) so that more bud eyes are left on the plant. More bud eyes mean more shoots that will ultimately result in more buds and more blooms. For fewer but larger blooms, prune much lower (about 18 inches).

No matter where you decide to cut, make the cut about a fourth of an inch above a bud eye that faces away from the center of the plant. Growth that emerges from such an eye will grow outward and help keep the center of the plant open.

Sealing cutsIt is not crucial to seal prun-

ing cuts, but a general purpose glue, like Elmer’s, can be used. Avoid the school glue formulations that are water based. If using pruning paints, use caution as dripping them on an emerging bud eye could result in damage.

•Roses(Continued from page 12)


Pruning roses: Now is a great time to prune roses. Following tips such as using the proper tools and making the right cuts will help the chore be productive and effective.


Picking quality plants for landscape use

Sharon Dowdy/UGA

Selecting quality plants: Before adding new plant material to your landscape, like this blooming redbud tree, make sure you’re buying a healthy specimen.

By Michael WheelerSpecial to Georgia Ag News

GAINESVILLE — Now is one of the best times to plant new additions to landscapes. Planting during cooler months gives trees and shrubs a better chance of getting established before the heat of summer hits.

Whether you need a shade tree to cool the patio or a new ornamental to replace a diseased shrub, always begin with a solid plan and a list of appropriate plants. Most im-portantly, by selecting qual-ity plants, you will improve the growth of new trees and shrubs. Close examination of

the plants being purchased is necessary to assure success.

Healthy rootsThe root system is ex-

tremely important and should be in balance with the top of the plant. Plants with a large, heavy top and a small root ball will establish slowly with spring planting. The limited root system must be able to supply water and nutrients all of the leaves on the branches. Each inch of trunk thickness measured 6 inches above the soil needs 10 to 12 inches of root ball diameter for good growth. So a 2.5-inch tree trunk should have a 25- to 30- inch root ball.

To check the roots, simply remove the plant from the pot and examine the roots on the surface of the soil mix. White, healthy root tips are desirable. A lot of white roots means the

See Plants, Page 16

Michael Wheeler is the Hall County Extension Coordina-tor and agricultural Extension agent. He can be reached at 770-535-8293; e-mail at [email protected]; or http://www.hallcounty.org/extension.

WASHINGTON — On Feb. 16, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA’s National Agricultural Library, in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, announced Start-2farm.gov, a new online portal that helps provide assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers.

The portal includes links to training, financing, technical assistance and other support services specifically for begin-ning farmers and ranchers, as well as successful case studies about new and beginning farmers and ranchers.

“America’s farmers and rural com-munities are vitally important to our nation’s economy, producing the food, feed, fiber and fuel that continue to help us grow,” Vilsack said. “USDA is working to provide opportunities for the next generation to get into agriculture in order to continue the record success of

America’s farmers and ranchers who are seeing record farm incomes and record exports. Start2Farm.gov will help us protect and sustain these successes, so that we continue to build an agriculture industry diverse and successful enough to attract the smartest, hardest-working young people in the nation.”

Start2Farm.gov was funded via the NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), pro-gram that funded the development of education, training, outreach and men-toring programs to enhance the sustain-ability of the next generation of Ameri-ca’s farmers and ranchers.

The program has been funded since fiscal year 2009. It was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill with $75 million through FY12. In the first year of NIFA’s Begin-ning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, three-year grants supported

training for 5,000 beginning farmers and ranchers. In 2011, it is anticipated that these grants will have supported training for more than 10,000 beginning farmer and ranchers.

The BFRDP legislation requires the secretary to establish an online clearing-house that makes available to beginning farmers or ranchers supporting educa-tion curricula and training materials and programs. This clearinghouse, Start-2Farm.gov, allows potential and begin-ning farmers to search for programs and resources that will help them find train-ing, financing, technical assistance and support networks. Additional features include a “Thinking about farming?” tutorial and an event calendar. Start-2farm.gov also showcases stories of how other BFRDP grantees have started, and stayed in, farming and ranching.

Beginning farmers, by USDA defini-

tion, are those operated by individuals with 10 years or less experience oper-ating farms. About 20 percent of the 2.1 million U.S. farms are classified as beginning farms, based on the USDA definition. Most beginning farmers are not young (that is, under 35 years old), do not have a college education, nor have access to farmland through their relatives, and more than one-quarter have zero value of farm production.

Most beginning farmers and ranchers experience shared challenges in get-ting started, USDA said, adding that, the two most common and important challenges faced by beginning farm-ers are (1) having the market oppor-tunity to buy or rent suitable land and (2) having capital to acquire land of a large enough scale to be profitable.

USDA web site to assist beginning farmers


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Turfgrass planning: This may not be the season for lawn mowing, but you can still prepare turfgrass for summer. Take time now to inspect and repair lawn mowers and irrigation systems.

Planning now will help out turfgrass in the summerBy Becky GriffinSpecial to Georgia Ag News

MARIETTA — On cold winter days, you may dream of summer and the return of cookouts or flag football games on soft, springy lawns. Or you may just long to sit and admire your beautiful turf-grass with a cold, sweet tea in hand.

There are several steps you can take now, in winter, to help you enjoy a beautiful lawn in the summer.

Turfgrass battle planBecause of past droughts and resulting legis-

lation, outdoor water use will continue to be an issue in Georgia. Water usage is something every homeowner must seriously consider and plan for. How much water did you use last summer to keep your lawn green? If the water regulations tighten, how will you irrigate your lawn?

By planning ahead you will be able to support

a lush lawn by making wise use of limited water resources. A few simple things can make a big dif-ference in your water bill and our state’s water usage.

Don’t block sunlightFirst, rake up the leaves leftover from the fall.

Leaves can trap moisture and block out sunlight. Both are bad for turfgrass, especially cool-season grasses like tall fescue. Moisture trapped between the leaves and grass encourages disease.

Blocking sunlight is detrimental for grasses. The warm-season grasses are actually active after we think they are dormant for the season. They still need sunlight and good airflow.

If you don’t want to take the time to rake the leaves, shred them with a lawn mower. Keeping grass as healthy as possible prepares it for summer stresses like heat and drought.

Soil testNext, get a soil test.The University of Georgia Cooperative Exten-Becky Griffin is the University of Georgia Co-

operative Extension turfgrass associate in Cobb County. See Turfgrass, Page 16


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plant has roots that are ready to grow in the land-scape once transplanted. Avoid brown or black roots, which are soft and will not carry water and nutrients to the rest of the plant.

BranchesInspect the shape of trees and shrubs to avoid future

problems. A well-formed shade tree will have a strong, central trunk with horizontal branches arranged every 12 to 18 inches up the tree.

Shrubs should be uniformly branched in all direc-tions and fairly dense. Avoid leggy shrubs, which have no lower branches and will likely remain bare at their base.

Additional factorsCheck the plant’s growth potential. The amount of

growth a tree or shrub made in the last season indi-cates the strength of the plant. Very short, thin twigs are signs of a struggling and weak plant. For evergreen trees and shrubs, abundant foliage will indicate last year’s growth.

Be careful not to bring home a pest problem. Check the stems and under the foliage for insects. Also look for broken or damaged branches or trunks. Damaged plants are harder to establish.

With a little forethought, you can be an educated consumer. Demand top quality plants, and you will be rewarded with a nice addition to your landscape that will last several years.

•Plants(Continued from page 14)

sion offers soil testing for a small fee. The soil is tested for fertility and pH. Information from a soil test will help you develop an efficient liming and fertilization program that will result in the healthi-est lawn possible. Contact your local UGA Exten-sion office for more information on soil tests.

Check mowerNow, take a look at your lawn mower. Re-

place the oil and clean or replace the oil fil-ter. Check all nuts and bolts to make sure they haven’t become loose.

Most importantly, sharpen mower blades. Dull mower blades actually tear grass leaves

and injure the plant.

IrrigationNext, inspect your irrigation system. Hopefully,

the system has been shut down and the water has been drained out and turned off. Replace broken irrigation heads and position the heads so they don’t water the sidewalk or road. Now you are ready to test and cali-brate your system come spring.

Simple things like raking leaves, testing soil, per-forming mower maintenance and inspecting your ir-rigation system can make a big difference for your lawn this summer.

For more information on managing turfgrass in Georgia, see the UGA turfgrass web site at http://www.georgiaturf.com.

•Turfgrass(Continued from page 15)

The Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Fall-ing fuel demand, an ethanol over-supply and high corn costs could lead some Midwest biorefineries to cut back or idle production until profit margins improve, industry analysts say.

Troy Gavin, general manager of the Midwest Renewable Ener-gy ethanol plant near Sutherland, Neb., said the 28-million-gallon-per-year plant is halting produc-tion for a period of up to eight to 12 weeks because of the supply-demand imbalance.

“It’s got to work itself out of the system, and it will,” Gavin said on Feb. 13.

Ethanol futures on the Chicago Board of Trade have dropped nearly 50 cents during the past five months to $2.21 a gallon, and corn, the alternative fuel’s primary feed-stock, is hovering around $6.36 a bushel.

Meanwhile, ethanol stocks as of Feb. 3 climbed to an all-time weekly high of 21.1 million gal-lons, according to the Energy In-formation Association.

“We went from some of the best margins we’ve ever seen to some of the worst in 30 to 45 days,” Gavin said. “That is volatility like no other industry.”

Rick Kment, a Nebraska-based ethanol industry analyst for agri-cultural data company DTN, said much of the lackluster demand is seasonal.

Ethanol is blended into gasoline, so a driver pumping fewer gallons affects both industries. And fuel demand typically drops during the winter months between the holiday travel season and their spring-sum-mer road trips.

Kment said larger ethanol plants will likely cut back on production rather than go cold, as a shutdown can be more disruptive.

“That way they can jump back into it when margins improve,” he said.

Another contributing factor could be the Jan. 1 expiration of the 45-cents-per-gallon blender tax credit. Although it didn’t go directly to ethanol producers, it had been an incentive for oil com-panies to buy ethanol and blend it with gasoline, said Matt Hartwig, spokesman for the Renewable Fu-els Association.

“Part of that might be a little market adjustment with the tax credit going away,” Hartwig said.

In early February, Archer Dan-iels Midland Co. announced it

was closing its ethanol plant in the North Dakota city of Walhalla, ending 61 jobs. The company said the plant wasn’t profitable enough because of its geographic location and scale.

Kment said ADM’s announce-ment seemed to be more of a corporate strategic decision rather than one based on industry profit margins.

Volatility in 2008 led to the bankruptcy of VeraSun, then the nation’s second largest ethanol producer.

As skyrocketing corn costs be-gan cutting into ethanol produc-ers’ profits, many tried to control

costs by hedging, which sets future prices for corn sellers while help-ing buyers avoid the risk of volatile price swings by letting them lock in at a set cost.

After VeraSun locked into prices for its feedstock, corn went into a sharp decline from almost $8 per bushel to less than $5 per bushel.

Gavin said the industry is now better equipped to handle volatility, as companies have reduced their debt and are a lot less exposed.

“The industry has become a lot more intelligent and has managed risk in a lot different fashion,” Gavin said. “Risk management has become a daily occurrence.”

Supply & demand affecting ethanol industry

georgia ag news march edition

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